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Healing


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#1 Guest_Soris_*

Posted 06 January 2003 - 11:32 PM

Healing

Eric splashed and played close to the bank while Soris bathed further out. After a time, Eric grew tired of splashing about and crouched in the weeds, watching a fish swim slowly in the water below. He swished his tail in anticipation, making the weeds rustle around him. He waited and watched. He lunged forward and entered the water with a terrific splash. The fish, of course, escaped, but it was fun nonetheless.

Soris turned and smiled at the now-soaked little tiger. He splashed some water at Eric before returning to his bath.

Eric hauled himself onto the bank and went to find another fish farther upstream, glad that he had made his Soris smile. He had just located another fine trout when Soris screamed into his mind.

Eric help! Something is wrong. The bleeding…won’t…stop!

Eric knew that Soris’ wounds bled sometimes. The force of washing broke them open, but Soris always stopped the bleeding quickly. Eric thought the wounds looked gross, all black and crusty. He told Soris that the pretty lady should see them, but Soris always refused. Eric didn’t understand.

The little tiger arrived in time to see Soris take another futile drink from a healing potion. The water all around him was turning red with blood, and the sight of the red water sent shivers of fear through Eric’s heart. Soris’ face began to take on a ghostly white color, and Eric worried that he might faint and fall into the water. Eric knew he would not be able to pull him out.

Get out of the water! If you faint, you will drown. Get out! Eric started to run towards the camp.

Where are you going? Don’t leave me! I don’t want to be alone. Please, Eric! Soris pleaded, and Eric felt awful for leaving him, but he knew the pretty lady was his only hope.

Getting the pretty lady. You need help. Don’t argue, two-legs. Try to stay awake until I get back. Eric’s mental voice came out much more forcefully than he intended. He didn’t like calling Soris “two-legs” to his face, but he didn’t have time to think. Eric ran as he had never run before.

When he got to camp, the pretty lady was checking her healing supplies, carefully packing them back into their bag. Good. She’ll need those. He rubbed his head against her leg and cried, trying to capture her attention. She ‘shooed’ him away with her foot.

Boo! His two-legs could… But Minsc and Boo were gone hunting for supper. It was up to Eric. He bumped the pretty lady again, harder.

“Enough! It’s not time for supper yet, so why don’t you go annoy Imoen?” She reached down to push him out of her way, and he sprang into action. As her hand reached down, he bit it. Hard. She swore and dropped her bag. He snatched it and took off with the pretty lady in hot pursuit.

They raced down the trail towards the stream where Soris lay. Eric dropped the bag next to him and collapsed. Viconia stopped short as soon as she saw Soris. Blood was everywhere. Even the small pool where he had been bathing was tinged red with blood. She realized what Eric had done.

“Eric, I’m sorry.” Her voice cracked.

The little white tiger whined and nuzzled Soris. Viconia gently turned him over and examined him. Phaere left nothing untouched. The sheer savageness of what had been done astounded even Viconia. Blood still seeped from several angry, blackened wounds. She recognized the damage, tentacled rods.

“You idiot!” She cursed the unconscious Soris. “Why did you not come to me immediately? All that time, I thought that you…”. She fumbled with the ties on her bag. I only hope I’m not too late. These wounds…I envy your strength, my mrann d’ssinss. Not many could have survived this. A chilling thought occurred to her. He might not either.

“Eric! Go get Imoen and Jaheira. I will need their assistance.” Eric dashed off.

She knew there was actually very little the other two women could do. Wounds from tentacled rods required special attention. If left unchecked, the wounds festered, eventually poisoning the entire body. They also resisted magical healing. If she were to have any hope of saving him, she would have to cut out the infected areas, and then repair the damage. The procedure was risky. She had performed it several times on Valas, but he had never been injured this badly…

Finally the bag came open, spilling its contents out onto the ground in front of her. She snatched up what she needed and bent over Soris.

“Shar guide me, I cannot fail now.”

************************************************************************

The procedure was long and tedious. Jaheira and Imoen gave their aid where they could, but Viconia bore the brunt of the work. When she finished, she stepped back. Blood stained both her hands and her clothes. She had done all she could for him. She washed her hands in the stream.

Soris was still unconscious, and it was too early to tell if he would actually pull through. His wounds were healed as best as they were able. She made a salve that would have to be applied daily for several weeks to ward off infection. Even then, despite her skill and Jaheira’s, he would bear scars. He had also lost much blood. She strengthened him with magic, but there was a limit even to what it could do.

Minsc and Keldorn had arrived about halfway through the procedure, but they were virtually useless, so Imoen sent them back to the camp to prepare supper. They went without complaint. Imoen and Jaheira then prepared a stretcher using several long branches and a blanket, and the three women bore Soris back to the camp. Eric walked behind, keeping watch.

When they got back, supper was ready. Imoen prepared a place for Soris to sleep near the fire, where he would be warm, and Viconia saw that he was placed properly before she sat down to eat.

Minsc and Keldorn looked at Soris with worried expressions, and Imoen quietly filled them in on the day’s events. The two men and the rodent had prepared something that they were calling Boo’s Stew. Imoen seemed to find it humorous, but Viconia really didn’t want to eat anything named after a rodent. Surprisingly, it turned out to be pleasantly non-toxic, and Viconia helped herself to a large portion.

Imoen also found the meal adequate. She was more vocal with her appreciation. “Hey guys, this stuff’s not to bad.”

The two men beamed at the complement. Boo let out a decidedly satisfied squeak.

After the meal, the two men insisted upon taking all of the watches for the night, and the weary women did not argue. Jaheira and Imoen took out their bedrolls and immediately fell asleep.

It was not so easy for Viconia. Adalon’s last words to her kept returning. She hadn’t understood just how hard it would be to give everything. She understood more now. She had given everything she had to his healing, and it wasn’t enough. Despite all her strength and skill, Soris’ life now rested in the hands of the gods and in his own. That last thought comforted her more than the first. She realized how utterly powerless she was, and she hated it. After tossing about fitfully for some time, she finally fell into an uneasy slumber.

Eric awakened, hearing Viconia’s fitful murmurings not far away. He hesitated leaving Soris, but he knew that the pretty lady had done all she could to save him. She deserved to get some sleep. He quietly padded over to where Viconia lay and nuzzled up under her arm. Once he was nestled against her side, she relaxed. Both soon fell fast asleep.

Soris awoke several hours before dawn. He immediately noticed that he was back at the campsite. The last he remembered was blacking out by the stream after Eric left him. He also noticed that his back and his entire body felt better. The sharp excruciating pains were replaced by a dull ache, confined mostly to his upper back. He wondered what Viconia had done. Whatever it was, he was grateful for it. The spot that Eric normally occupied was empty, and Soris looked about the camp for him. He finally found his little companion snuggled up at Viconia’s side, her arm curled loosely around him. He grinned. If Viconia found out about this…

Warm, soft…good for sleeping. Eric’s thoughts were incoherent. He was still sleeping.

Soris grinned again. “You little traitor.” He spoke quietly and gently scratched Eric’s head. His gaze wandered to Viconia and lingered on her face. He brought his lips down to kiss her, but something stopped him. He ran his fingers through her hair instead, reveling in the feel of it. He looked at her face again, and felt an awful twinge of frustration. “Soon, my love, very soon, I hope.” He left Viconia and his little tiger sleeping and walked over to the fire. Keldorn handed him a bowl of stew. Soris ate it and looked up at the stars. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity a faint smile of contentment broke across his face. Things were looking better.




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