Hidden Away[[Ethan]]

[Canali]

Summer
Day 5
Year 508 AV

"How much are these, sir?" Canali questioned, flicking one hand over the books which littered the table. All sizes and each in a different state of abuse, the books ranged from thick to thin and long to short. None of them look anymore than three or four mizas; some could have been free! Warily, the vendor glanced at her, dark eyes full of mistrust and suspicion. He seemed to have been disturbed from watching those around her, seemingly uncaring of whether she was going to steal from him over not. If someone had wanted to bet on the man's sleeping, Canali would have won claiming he was faking it, to encourage the thieves. A wicked looking knife lay on his hip, threatening and promising all in one.

A grunt was Canali's reply before a glint came into his dark eyes. "Depends on which one you be gettin', swee's. " A slow, manipulative smile curved his cracked lips as he grabbed the thinnest book on the table. "This be ten mizas. Ain't none less!" A pause. "Unless you be wantin' to earn it…" Crowing at Canali, she suppressed a shudder as his eyes ran hungrily over her thin body. "A man's got needs, ya know? Ain't no woman gotta learn how to read, anywho. Nuttin' but trouble can come from tha'!" Doubling over in laughter as if it was the funniest thing in the world, a bald spot gleamed at Canali from the top of his head. Calmly, Canali shifted the bag on her back, waiting for the most likely insane and sexist vendor to settle down.

Several chimes later, he did. During these few precious moments, Canali looked through the books, scanning titles. Voiding 101… Tasting the Tasteless… Getting Away With Murder… The Sane of the Insane… Seduction Takes Skill… Edible Mushrooms… Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Boiler… Tying Knots… Sea Leggery. Finding some of the titles just downright idiotic, they didn't stay long in Canali's nimble fingers. Flicking through the Edible Mushrooms one, she thought back to see if mushrooms had ever joined her dishes. No, none of those fungi. "How much?" Raising an eyebrow at the man, Canali held up the beaten book. Several pages slipped out, tapping against her fingertips, and the binding was tore to all petching pieces! In fact, a ribbon had been tied around the whole book, to keep it from falling apart. Perhaps some good information in it, though. Grey eyes focused on the vendor, her fingers tapped slowly against the book's hard edge.

"Ten mizas."

A laugh burst from Canali. How absurd! "I'll give you four." Knowing he would counteract with a higher price, she picked a number low enough to keep him from placing the next offer too high, but high enough to keep him interested.

Seeming to think over it, the vendor grinned. "Six and a kiss." Scoffing, Canali dug around in her pocket, slapping the six gold mizas into his hand. "Wha'? No smoochies?" Seeing Canali shake her head, the man let loose a loud, dramatic sigh before turning to help another customer; his back partially turned. Taking the time to look back through the old books, Canali hummed lightly under her breath, trying to seem non-suspicious. If this was going to work, the man needed to let his guard down. No way was he going to do that if Canali was being shifty eyed and jumpy. Rearranging the order of the reading utensils, Canali put several books closest to her. A light sheen of sweat covered her body, making it glisten. Thankfully, the day was hot.

Done with the customer, Canali tried to act suspicious herself, as the merchant turned back. "That woman just took two extra books!" she exclaimed, seemingly shocked. Keep a straight face. Repeating the words to herself mentally, Canali pointed after the casually walking away woman. "She stole them!" Outraged, the merchant shouted after the customer, even taking a few steps in that general direction. Using her chance, Canali grabbed a handful of books, including the one she had bought, before taking off in the opposite direction at a sprint. Hearing another shout, Canali ran faster, twisting her body left and right to leverage a faster movement. Clad feet slapping against the ground with each step, taking her just that much farther from the merchant. Adrenaline pulsed through her as she weaved between people, bumping into many but not taking the time to apologize. No one took the law into their own hands to accost her; to make her stop.

Sure the merchant would follow her, Canali pressed on, ignoring how her legs were tiring quickly. Spotting the woods ahead, Canali pushed herself to continue running. No one was stupid enough to try and follow their prey into the thickness of the trees, right? Reassuring herself that no, the merchant wouldn't follow her into the wilderness, Canali tightened her hold on the books. Diving into the underbrush, she dodged a tree, launched over a small bush and kept running. Fairly soon, though, Canali grew tired and slowed to a walk, before completely stopping altogether. Not very far into the woods, but enough to hide if necessary. Dropping to the ground, she discarded the books beside her. The heavy pack on her back was set down, also. Leaning back against a tree trunk with her head, Canali's grey eyes closed for a moment and short pants slipped out of her mouth.


Close call.

[Ethan]

Ethan was going to die, and he knew it. He had lost his master, his home and any real reason to live. He had been searching the sea's non stop for half a season. Each day without results just ebbed away at his hope. There wasn't much chance that his master wasn't dead. So why should he be alive? Whats the point of living when the only one you loved is dead... Nothing could help the Kelvic anymore. So he just decided to die. He didn't have the stomach to eat as time wore on. He had become frail and weak. Only a boy of sixteen but his rib cage was sticking out and there was hardly any meat else where. The harsh ocean winds weren't good to him either as he searched night and day. Most of his body was too sore to move. Deep cuts were visible along his shoulders and arms. Where he had crashed into the forest a day ago from exhaustion. Now he only had the energy to lay listless on a low handing branch, too high for most predators to reach him. He wasn't in animal form. His body was too vulnerable for that, and he didn't have to energy to change anyways. Ethan also felt like he was freezing. He didn't have much fight in him left. So he closed his eyes and prepared to slip away. Leaving his life behind was little concern to him now. When Canali ran up panting he didn't hear her. He didn't hear her put down her stuff or even sit against the tree he was sleeping in. Nothing came to his ears anymore. Drifting off slowly he was being comforted by sleep with no dreams. He would die soon without help. By night fall his body would be too cold and shut down. It would be peaceful and quiet. Although Lhex had no intentions of letting the creature die like this. As fate would have it. In his sleep and exhaustion he lost control of his body and started to slid off the branch. For a Bird Kelvic, falling off a perch while sleeping. Even in human form, was unheard off. A true sign Ethan was done for. The vertigo never woke Ethan up until he hit the ground. He was a couple feet to the right of Canali and thankfully missed the knotted roots of the tree. Never the less he woke dazed and screaming in pain. His open cuts littered with dirt and leaves. He felt like he broke a rib and couldn't get up. He rolled on his side gripping his head in pain. ”Fuck!” He yelled in between incoherent sentences and ramblings. He could hardly speak anymore and his whole body felt broken. Why couldn't he just die!? The young boy began weeping as he lay curled up dying.

[Canali]

Screaming bloody murder when a body smacked solidly against the ground next to her, Canali literally jumped about a foot in the air in the process to get away. Tripping over the discarded books, she fell on her rump. Heart thumping loudly in her ears, Canali faced the body, knees up, books under her. Scuttling to her knees, Canali pushed a book off of her foot, crawling on her hands and knees cautiously towards the now crying boy, she soon reached him. Tears coated his face and he seemed slightly delirious. None of his sentences were making sense to her, besides the cursing. He was naked. Stark naked. In his birthday suit naked. Why on earth would a man be in a tree wearing what he was born with? Wouldn't that be very uncomfortable on his, uh, nether regions? The bark and the roughness… Shoving the thought away, Canali softly, timidly, touched his shuddering shoulder.

"Hello? Are you alright? Are you in pain?" whispered from her gnawed lips. Underneath of her exploring fingertips, his ribs prominently stuck out, just below the pointy shoulder blades. Concern slid through her making her heart thump loudly in her ears. Was the boy dying? How could someone become this malnourished; how long would it take? Had he eaten at all? A level of grime covered his naked body. Even with the ocean so close, couldn't he manage to wash off the dirt which had collected upon his skin? Judging just from his thin frame, Canali would guess he had spent more time elsewhere; working off his calories and fat. Perhaps running? A film of sweat covered his body, dripping to the ground below with each shiver and twitch.

Running her hand gently over half of his body, Canali grimaced. He was in bad shape. Deep, flushing cuts graced most of his upper body. Thinking quickly, Canali decided to move him. Nearby, if she was correct, was her camp. Just inside of the wilderness borders, out of sight from the outside, but close enough to easily make her way out if necessary. "I'm going to move you now. Lay still or I'll end up dropping you and causing you more pain than you are in right now. You need to be placed somewhere in better condtion." Giving him a moment to settle down after speaking so sharply, Canali shuffled away from him, headed towards her bag and the pile of books. Shoving as many as she could into the leather backpack, and leaving what few were left, Canali moved back over to the boy; bag in hand. "Lay still! Now then, tell me if it hurts."

Sliding one hand under his head and the other arm around his knees, bracing on the other side by his knees. Careful of how she lifted him, Canali was surprised at his weight. The boy must not have weighed more than a hundred pounds. Less than she herself. Reshifting him in her arms, Canali began to walk in a general direction towards where she believed her camp to be. Only a small time later, a still set up tent popped out from behind several bushes. Sighing with relief, Canali would be happy to set the now-becoming heavy man down.

[Ethan]

Ethan was falling deeper into delirium. The fall only made it worse. Fever was settling in and he hadn't eaten or drank much for the past couple of weeks and not at all for the better part of a day. Ethan needed all the help he could get but wouldn't of accepted any if he weren't half dead. Thankfully for both of them he wasn't fully there at the moment. When Canali came up to offer help he barely heard her or even realize she was there. The only things coming from his mouth were deep wails of pain mixed with sorrow. Small mumblings and groans. Mostly incoherent but one phrase kept repeating 'I can do it!'. He would mumble it constantly and even shout it. Completely unaware of the woman poking around. When Canali realized he wasn't right and started checking his body he grunted in pain. Feebly trying to push her off with no success. He didn't understand what was happening but he still tried to fight. Even as he pushed his mind was slipping into a more dream like state. Processing the information in an unusual way. Images of his master flashing in his subconscious. The sickly dark clouds of the storm. The cracks of lightening, blinding flashes followed by roars that destroyed your ears and rattled your teeth. As she picked him up he gasped in pain. Every joint in his body was on fire. His skin was taunt and thin. The harsh flying and weather only made it worse. As she carried the young man he started to calm down. The pain settled in his joints and the rocking forced him deeper into dreams. Reminding him of a ship at sea. By the time she set him down there was no fight left in him. He wasn't awake and it was for the best. His body was slowly preparing to shut down. The dreams racing threw his mind were only a small intermission before the curtains dropped. It was better this way. No pain or sorrow, no feeling of self hatred or regret. Just a memory and death. ”You can't fucking go do you hear me!?” Taken by the collar the boy was shoved back into the wall hard. Rattling the thick oak door her was pressed against. Master I need to go please! I beg of you!? The young lad tried his best to loosen the others grip. Only to be met with the back of the older mans hand. Stiff knuckles splitting the skin on his cheek. Determined the boy pushed off the wall and tried again. Tears searing the broken flesh. Ethan wept bitterly as he lay in her tent. It wasn't certain, even to him Whether he wept for the loss of his master or the bitter punishment.

[Canali]

When the boy fell asleep, Canali grew deeply worried. Word had reached her ears before about people sleeping deeply enough not to wake up for several days, or even months. More than often they had died, but… Feverishly, she hoped he hadn't slipped into this living death-like state. Setting his heated frame down carefully upon the bedroll, Canali fluttered around for several minutes before slapping a hand backwards against his sweating forehead. Her skin practically boiled from the warmth. Ethan was running a high fever. Deciding it would be safer to tend to the cuts on his arms and shoulders, Canali laid him flat on his back. A search through the tent didn't bring up much besides large stuff that couldn't fit in her backpack. Among these were a change of clothes, a couple of weapons, and… Two pots of honey. Honey was a supplement which could sterilize an open wound. Smiling to herself internally, Canali scuttled over to take an old, used shirt from the pile, along with a pot of honey.

Sitting next to Darik, Canali ripped the shirt into many strips. Enough to go around his skinny arm and be tied. Her waterskin was nearby and Canali fetched that, also. Soaking one plot of the torn shirt, Canali softly rubbed the cool water against the open flesh. To rub out any easily removed dirt. Though the wounds were bright red and screaming in anger, they didn't look too deep. Ethan had to be rolled to the side slightly to really wash all the scrapes. Once the slow and tedious task was completed, Canali dipped two fingers into the pot of honey. Gooey and stick, it clung to her hand like a baby to a mother's teat. Working studiously, Canali applied honey to all of the wounds. In between rubbing of the honey, Canali tied strips of torn shirt around his tiny arm. The shoulders were a little more difficult, but Canali slid one large patch around each shoulder, tying and wrapping it on the underside of his arm. The boy was openly crying during this and she took that as a good thing; it meant he was still alive… There was still a chance of him surviving.

Smoothing his hair back from his forehead, Canali stared at him with a worry whirlpool in her grey eyes. He looked to be only a year or two younger than her eighteen notches. How had he gotten this way? His naked form was all bones and skin. The memory of him in her arms haunted Canali. Practically all of his bones were feelable with a little pressure. Pulling Ethan's legs to the side, Canali slid him inside of the bedroll and covered his body up. He may have a fever, but a familiar method of breaking it was by sweating it out. Or something like that.

Figuring the boy wouldn't have enough energy, much less the stomach, to eat a meal, Canali tried to figure what she could make which was fulfilling and easy to eat. An idea popped into Canali's head. Broth! Of course! While it would fill his most likely empty stomach, the liquid would also be easy to get down. More likely to stay down, too! Canali headed out of the tent after one more glance at the sleeping boy.

[Ethan]

Ethan was unconscious and unaware that Canali even existed. Her hands tended to his wounds but he never felt a thing. His sobs and moans were through gritted teeth and clenched eyes. The tears were for sadness and fear. Little to do with the pain tearing through his body. He was scared of the storm. The dark clouds and ripping winds. The thunder claps that made him shrink in fear. Out of all the noises that night. The screams of fear. The rattle of his teeth as he was hit. The howling winds, like demons in the sky. Out of all that. It was the the dull snap of the mast that would haunt him for life. It was A slow deep groan. You could feel it in the hollow of your chest. As it stretched and twisted., until snapping with a terrible crunch. When it crashed onto the side of the deck. It not only struck fear into the Kelvic's heart. It also meant the death of every man on that ship, and Ethan knew it. The sound played over and over in his dream. The fear slowly crushing his heart. His sobs of fear and pain only got worse. The memories where tearing the young boy apart, as much as the fever or wounds. His dream like state was worsening. He was less than conscious. Hardly alive and fully living the memories. If he had any food in his belly he might of wretched and slowly choked. It was a vivid dream. The dull thud of his head hitting the oak doors. Was real as it had ever been. Grimm had him against the door to his cabin. Slapping him hard across the face. Drawing as much blood as he could, to stop him. Because both of them knew the second he lost his grip Ethan would be gone. No matter the pain he received. No matter the hatred and loathing and urges he had for Grimm. He was his master and that was something Ethan could never stop loving him for. He would lay his life down to see him safe. The young Kelvic wept as the hand struck his face. His cheeks were swollen and his lips bleed furiously, but he did not weep for himself. He wept for Grimm. He wept because he knew there was no hope. No one on this ship would live through this storm. Unless he got away. Unless he could fly... Ethan remembered the feeling of that mast crashing into the deck. Seeing it fall. Seeing it tear a gaping hole in the deck. Men and Women shouting in terror and pain as they tried to keep the ship afloat. The crash sent Grimm flying against the wall. He had lost his hold on the boy and only for a second. His master lost his footing but Ethan hadn't. With the grace and furry of a wild animal, he sprinted away. Seeing his chance to save the Master he loved and loathed. The poor cruel thing that he was. Ethan had never loved anyone so much as him. If the gods only gave him the strength for this one last flight...

[Canali]

After rummaging through her backpack, Canali tried to figure what she could throw into her iron pot, Canali decided on an ounce of basil, three ounces of onions, half a pound of smoked beef, an ounce of salt and a tad bit of honey. First, though, she had to wash her hands. Given that Sunberth was next to the sea, many small creeks and rivers ran along through the underbrush. Canali set off to find one, waterskin in hand, and pot tucked under her arm. Deciding to go east, as that was back towards Sunberth, Canali brushed several branches away from her face when they threatened to smack her like a professional boxer. Within chimes of starting out, Canali was attacked by a swarm of angry mosquitoes after her gushing blood. There must have been thousands of them, Canali figured! Buzzing around like mini bees.

Screaming in terror, Canali flailed her free arm towards the mob. They dive bombed it, little suckers going straight for the veins! Taking to smacking them, Canali nearly grimaced at the sight of squashed bugs on her skin. Gross. Ignoring this and padding along on the mossy ground, she kept her eyes peeled for any type of movement. Thieves resided in these woods, along with very dangerous, even deadly, animals such as wolves and bears. Being mauled to death was not on Canali's list of things to do or have done to her. Teeth ripping her skin to shreds and blood pooling around her body did not seem very attractive. Much less comfortable. Shrugging the slightly terrifying thoughts off, Canali walked purposely through a bush, just to remove any of the mosquitoes who had become determined. In the process, Canali's foot stepped in something wet.

Water!

Grinning to herself, Canali dropped to her knees. There was enough dirty water to fill the pan and the water skin, easily. Having brought along the water additive, Canali figured there would be two liters of water in the pot. For every half a pint there had to be a drop of the liquid, which meant there would be eight drops of the additive added. Proceeding to fill the pot and the water skin, Canali measured out the right amount of water additive before adding it to the water. Fairly soon, the blackness disappeared and the water looked almost.. Drinkable. Adding a drop to the waterskin, Canali repeated the process of getting back to the tent.

The boy was still sleeping. Fitfully and almost painfully, but his eyes were closed and he was breathing. Thus, Canali grabbed her flint and steel before slipping back out. Tucked in the underbrush near her makeshift camp, Canali had collected many pieces of wood for fires, which kept the deadly animals away at night. Thus, there was also a ring in the middle of the camp, surrounded by rocks, where Canali had the fire. Settling down in front of said spot, she grabbed four twigs to set up like a teepee. This way the smoke would be able to breathe instead of suffocating. Shorter, smaller, drier sticks were set in the middle. Reaching for the flint and steel, Canali held the steel in her left hand; flint in the right at a downward angle. Thumb pressed against the back of the steel, Canali struck it against the flint, also at a downward angle. All of this was done near the drier twigs. Sparks sputtered, but no wood caught. Canali repeated the process, this time concentrating on the sparks, willing them to catch. They did and smoke slowly began to rise. Dropping the utensils, Canali dropped to her knees, blowing gently on the surface. Fire crackled, a flame rising above and licking at the teepee top.

Since she had had a fire before, there was a makeshift stovetop overhead made of two long, Y branches and one straight one to lay in between. While this wouldn't hold much, the sticks were thick and well picked. Canali looped the pot handle through the top log, letting it hand little less than a foot over the fire. While she waited, Canali used her eating knife to mash the onion into four pieces, as one would a clove of garlic. This left the onions as twelve instead of three. The basil was diced unceremoniously and hurried, with the left hand; right holding the basil still, along with balancing the tip of the blade to make sure it moved in a flowing pattern. The beef was cut into chunky squares. Within five minutes, the water was boiling from the cackling fire below. Pleased, Canali slid the beef in first, then the onions. The basil would wait, as would the salt and honey. Stirring with the eating knife, also, Canali occasionally mixed the dish up. To make sure it didn't burn. Because the pot was so low to the fire, the meal cooked quickly. Canali seasoned it with the basil and salt, adding the honey bit by bit, to test the thickness caused by it.

Fairly soon, the air smelled like dinner.

[Ethan]

Gods be good, gods be good. Everything was crushing and dying around Ethan. A gaping maw in the deck left from the mast. He Jumped over in one swift leap. The wood he ran on was slick with sea water and blood. He never tripped once. Men and women alike screamed after him as he ran. He couldn't tell if they wanted to stop him or where begging for help. Something was wrong. This wasn't how it happened. The deck was too long. So many people, so much blood. The ship slowly started to tip on its side. He kept running. No matter how vertical the deck was becoming he ran. Never looking back never giving up. Ethan was nearing the railing. He had to scurry across the deck on hands and knees at one point, but it was too late. The deck was sinking. Spilling its contents to be victims of the ocean. Men and women he knew, loved and hated. Flew off the deck. Swallowed by the waves. Ethan clutched onto the railing. It was all he could do to escape the same fate. ”Zulrav!” The young boy screamed. It was a name he had never heard before, yet he knew it now. He screamed the name at the top of his lungs. Fearful and desperate not to die. All his loved ones had died. Everything he knew was sinking. Yet he could not face the storm. He was a coward, and the only response to his pleas were clap of thunder and the sizzle of lightening as it came crashing all around him. The sky was ablaze with the storms fury. Nothing could stop it, nothing was safe. When the boy would not let go, the waves and the wind did it for him. The ship was no longer tipping. It was sliding. Sliding into the ocean on a giant wave. He could feel the wind whipping his face and sucking up his screams. Instinct took over and he looked... Gods be good why had he looked? He saw the ocean part before his eyes. Black abyss laid before him. Splitting the ocean in half. His vessel was begging carried by the waves. Right into hell. Fear grabbed his heart and crushed it. He had seconds to live. Seconds til he was swallowed like the rest. No, he would not die. Ethan would never die. Fear had no place in the heart of an animal. He looked back down at the cabin. Grimm was there. Unconscious, helpless and dying. His master and the only man he ever loved, but Ethan was an animal. Sentimentality was death to an animal. He gazed at his Master for a heartbeat and pushed off the railing. He looked up at the light coming down from the sky. The storm was still ranging above but the light was sweeter than the total darkness below. He spread his arms out, ready to change, ready to live. When he was yanked down... The ship had a mind of its own. A rope had caught around his ankle. It dragged him down with the rest. With force enough to shatter the bones in his leg. He screamed the whole way down. He was racing to sea floor. He couldn't breath. All the air was being snatched from his lungs. Tears blurred his eyes and made it hard for him to look down, but he couldn't help himself. He could see the stone beneath. The jagged spires and mountains of the ocean floor. It was cold and dark, nothing but bitter Grey rock. He couldn't breath. He couldn't think, he could only soil his breeches and scream. He screamed as the ship exploded on the side of a jagged mountain. Screamed as he flew straight into the ground. His body shattering on impact, leaving nothing behind. Screaming, hiis eyes ripped open. He could hardly lift his arms, but he flayed and kicked as hard as he could. He had no energy. It was weak and pathetic but his screams were nothing but terrifying and sudden.

[Canali]

Once the broth had been cooked thoroughly, Canali handled the loaf of bread she had bought from the Castle Commons several days ago. Even though it was nearly hard now, there was no mold on it. Breaking part of it into several pieces, Canali dunked each one into the moist broth, before traveling them to her awaiting mouth. The pieces of soggy bread practically fell apart, teasing Canali's taste buds with the broth's taste. For such a makeshift meal, it was pretty good! Could have used some pepper, but other than that, it was satisfactory. Ethan's screams terrified Canali, making her jump. The ladle of broth which had been in her hand was jerked to the side, scalding liquid falling onto her arm. Groaning, she quickly brushed at it with her shirt, shaking her arm to remove any other hot droplets. Taking a moment to force calm into her mind, Canali carefully set the ladle down on the edge of the pot before moving to her feet. The horrible, death-like screams continued, originating from her tent. Knowing that unless she shut him up someway, they would attract the unwanted attention of dangerous creatures lurking in the woods. Bursting into the tent, Canali tried to hold his shoulders down after leaning over him, but he was moving too much. Her hands were tossed away by his flailing and panic rippled through her. Was he in pain, somehow? "Hey! Hey!" Shaking his skinny frame with one hand, Canali tried to gather his attention. Perhaps he was just delirious? If so, what had made him scream like… Like someone was trying to kill him? In an effort to hold him down Canali crawled atop of his moving body. It was a difficult task given the circumstances and she was jabbed in the thigh by an elbow hard enough to bruise, but she managed. Hopefully her weight, which most likely more than his, would keep him down. Leaning towards his face, Canali shoved against shoulders, pushing him back into the bedroll. With each leg on either side of him, straddling his stomach, Canali struggled to calm his actions. Sure, he could keep tossing around like some fish out of water, but she had to shut him up somehow. Removing one palm from his shoulder, Canali shoved it over his open mouth. "Hey!" Trying to catch his eyes, Canali kept him from screaming blood murder like he seemed to want to do. "Shut up, you moron, before you get us petching killed!"