#stormkitten

Smiling, she really had not expected a different answer. The will to live strong. Tempest wondered how bad the pain must truly have been for him to agree to such terms. Kneeling down next to him, she pushed her sleeves up on her shirt, further revealing three more tattoos. Placing one hand over his chest, the other she placed over his mouth to silence his screams. As much as she would have enjoyed the sound, she did not need an acolyte to come running. Closing her eyes she concentrated in her minds eye a picture of two more unseen tattoos.

Tempest could have made it virtually painless, but what fun was that. He might have suffered already but he had not suffered for her. However she did not make it as painful as she could. His body was already too stressed, if she choose to torture him then his body might give out under the pressure. That would result in her having to use more dramatic means to save his life. At the moment she did not like him that much.

Normally she might enjoy the show that a wounded body could make, but she did not have that luxury now. The damage was more than she had anticipated. Letting out a deep breath, she let her body fall away from the situation and concentrated her mind.  His major wounds started to heal first, skin forcing itself shut, then bones re-knit. Finally satisfied, she tapped his chin lightly calling for him to wake up.

“You are going to be weak most of the day… Maybe a couple depends on how strong you really are. When you get up, take it easy, you don’t want the scars to ripe open…”

Standing up and she checked the other two, but judged they were not as bad off as she had first suspected. On her way out of the tent she barely noticed brushing past an acolyte. She could see new wagons had arrived, that had not been there earlier. No doubt they would be bringing new healers and supplies. After a long moment of consideration she wondered over.

Finding someone with medical gauze she managed to get a roll. She refused the offered help to let someone bandage the few wounds that were still open. After a minor argument she was finally able to wonder away and find a place to sit. It took only a few minutes to wrap her arms. It took longer to tape her ribs but she knew the pain would only be temporary until her body could kick in again. Once she was satisfied she stood up and started wondering the camp again, trying to stay out of people way and searching for another seriously injured worth helping.

Waking and finding herself laying on a cold body might have been enough to give many people nightmares for the rest of their lives. For her, it was just the first sign of a great night. Sitting up slowly she let her pain tolerance adjust to her injuries. She knew before looking that their would be wounds unhealed. Her body had healed what it could and now the rest would simply take more time. If she wanted to she could force them to heal, but they were not life threatening and so of no concern.

Slowly climbing to her feet she took in her surroundings. Her green eyes could easily see in the still darkness. Even in the dusk she could see the mess and remains of chaos. The sun was beginning to lighten the sky and reveal sights better not seen during the day. Leaning down to pick up her fallen dagger she winced as the scar on her ribs threatened the tear. Wiping off the blades she placed them back into their wrist sheaths.

Feeling something brush against her skin she lifted her wrist a little higher noticing the cross that dangled gently from her wrist. The wire that held it in place was thin bracelet of barbed wire. Small scars, all healed long ago told of how long it took for her get use to the accessory. Checking her other wrist to make sure that its match had stayed in place she noticed what was s deep cut that had narrowly missed her tattoo.

The tattoo was one of almost two dozen. Each of them a binding symbol or rune of various sizes. A few were fairly modern, while others were from lost languages and people. They were a gift from her father. At the time they had been unwanted and caused their fair share of pain. It had taken most of her life to appreciate each one and the sacrifice each required and the gifts they gave.

Pushing a few strands of her burgundy hair out of her face, she noticed the blood on her hands nearly matched the red of her hair. Letting her hand drop to her side, she took another moment to get her bearings straight then headed for the camp. The walk was not nearly as long as she had anticipated. But then nothing was as bad when there was happy thoughts to remember.

She easily blended into the early morning risers and late night owls. The camp was coming alive, no doubt those who had survived would be trying to be up and about, not to waste another day. And those unable would be waiting impatiently for wounds to heal. Pulling her shoulder length hair into a tie so that it was out of her face she navigated to the tents housing the severely wounded.

For a moment she stood just inside the door, watching the three bodies that laid mostly still except when restless dreams forced a reaction. It seemed an easier job to simply end their misery rather than letting them die slowly. Approaching the closest one, her hand moved just above his skin feeling the sensation of magicked that had recently been used. No doubt those with magick had given their best effort to help, but with so many wounded it was likely only a few would receive a full healing.

Her fingers brushed the skin of his cheek, she didn't recognize him. Even having access to the other memories his face was not familiar to her. He physically jumped as if startled, his eyes flying up. She could see the fear in his eyes and loved it. No doubt he did not recognize her and she was not dressed as the acolytes and other healers he would normally see. For a moment she was so tempted to truly give him a reason to fear her but she hesitated.

“Do you want help.....”

She thought about making him beg for it, thought that might please her but consider the time it would take for her to be satisfied she decided to forgo it.

POUNCES ON MUKUROU AND EXCITEDLY SHOWERS HIS FACE IN KISSES!!!!!!!!!!

Laughs and hugs his good friend. "Haa.." He let out a sigh of air awkwardly. "You are surely ecstatic."

"What...?"