The Darkness Life Conveys (Kavala)

[Charon]

Fourth evening of Spring, 510th year AV


Though the memories of winter had hardly waned from the minds of the citizens, the air was measurably warmer even after the sun had been set for some time. Hardly to be described as comfortable at night, the best indicator of rising temperatures was the fact that the morning grounds were not white with moisture any longer. Soon, the animals in Sanctuary would be much more comfortable and plenty warm during the evenings, but until that time, Kavala would ensure their comfort with her gentle ability to care for them.

It was still early enough in the season that the rains had not yet arrived. In fact, it had been weeks since the last moisture fell from above the city and with luck, that would change soon. Riverfall was not considered much of an agricultural center of Mizahar and the first rain of Spring would be celebrated, but until then the night lacked the audible pitter-patter heard beating against every roof, every rock, and every barn in the city. That lack of clatter allowed the silence of the night to smugly blanket the city almost eerily like the calm moments before a massive storm ravishes the lands. After a long day of working, though, the same silence may offer an artificial sense of comfort and peace to an unwary mind.

Regardless of the background noise or lack there of, it would not have taken a keen ear to hear the howl, or was it a cry, that pierced whatever sense of calmness Kavala may or may not have felt. The sound did not emanate from very far away so it may not be too difficult to locate its origin, but the animal which created the noise did not give the Konti a chance to worry about where the howl originated. Within moments of hearing the first sound, she could see a small dark, four legged silhouette scampering toward the Sanctuary at the quickest speed the young pup could manage. Upon moving closer to her, the canine seemed to be no older than the when winter started or perhaps just weeks before. With tongue lolling out of his wide open mouth, the pup slowed and eventually stopped not far from a fence. He stood there motionless and silent for a few short moments before closing his mouth and whining. With his brows raised and his dark eyes moist, the whine came again as if emphasizing his original point to whoever was close enough to hear... or care.

[Kavala]

Truthfully Kavala didn't want to see winter end. It was a quiet time of introspection for her. It was a long lost excuse to plan and not put any plans in action because most of them required at least a spring thaw and the passage of the rains that tended to flood the city out. Besides, winter suited her. She moved through the world when it was dressed in white all but invisible within it. No one watched her cautiously, speculating on if she was stable or happy. And she could take long rides that invariably ended in long swims and the water temperature never truly bothered her. It was as if winter gave her a chance to dwell alone in the crowd and enjoy her own company in a way that a true Drykas would have found alien.

But she wasn't a true Drykas. Nor was she truly Konti either. So in Kavala's mind, if she was walking a pathway between them, she might as well make it a pathway of her own desire. Sanctuary was that pathway for her. Each ache and pain the place demanded of her in the form of pounding nails, adding mortar, repairing endlessly horse-damaged stalls - was a small token to pay for the peace she'd found within its walls.

And somewhere along the way she'd found respect too. Though she'd be loathe to admit it, respect was something that she found hard to find these days, especially when it came to her own self, her own abilities, and finding something to do with her life that generated pride. Even among the Pavilions, Kavala had always felt like she was something of a burden, for she was never the healer her mother was... didn't know the herbalism Tamar had... wasn't the fighter her sister was... she was just someone who hadn't 'found herself' yet. There was a word for it in Pavi... 'Covanali' It was someone who was a stranger in their own skin. Kavala felt like that was changing here. She was gaining confidence and strength, even if it was only in small ways while waging battles that were more like what to plant in the garden rather than life and death things.

It was... comforting building a dream in the shelter of Riverfalls noble arms. Kavala couldn't describe it any other way. Endrykas was always fleeting, fluid, moving, changing. Whereas Riverfall was stoic, dependable, steadfast in both its location and its opinions. And its denizens were top notch. They treated her with respect and provided her with the comfort and yet room she needed to grow into her own.

But spring was coming. So too with it would come change. Kavala was not the Drykas Konti she'd been in the fall. Her values had changed and her whole entire life had changed. And sooner or later and Akalak would drop by and ask her for the one thing that she owed Riverfall. Kavala knew, even as she sat there on her freshly chopped wood pile, resting her aching arms and slightly proud of the fact she'd done the batch all herself... that she wouldn't refuse. How could she? After what the city had given her? The Konti would not be picky, but instead accept the first offer made and if that resulted in nothing, then she'd take the second and so on. With the chill of winter still in the air and the promise of spring only a rainy season away, it didn't seem like such a burden. Truth be told, it would be her pleasure. She wasn't sure when she'd started thinking that way, but she'd suspected it was when she realized how inherently damaged the Akalak were. Each child was a gift, a balm on the open wound of their looming extinction. And that did something to the healer inside of Kavala that made her realize that healing people, at least one at a time, wasn't truly out of her league.

Besides, it was only a physical act. There was no commitment beyond that. And it was something that Kavala got used to each and every time she made a breeding decision with the horses of Sanctuary. Speaking of which, her thoughts turned, and she watched Sivak, the seme stallion, snort and paw at the dirt in the round pen where he was having a little exercise time. She loved the way his breath billowed out around him and the dew clung to his flanks until he had fussed enough to heat up his muscles and warm the moisture away. He was a fine animal, big enough to sire animals that could comfortably carry the Akalak warriors about. And he made her smile with his good humor and antics. Currently those antics were directed at a Frostmarch mare that was slated to be united with him later in the day since her first attempt hadn't resulted in a foal right after the mare had birthed during Danica's visit.

It was into this line of thinking, this musing, that the howl pierced the air. Kavala's head swiveled around, seeking the source of the noise and she was on her feet immediately. When the four legged source barreled into view through the open gate that lead to the inner courtyard, Kavala was already on her way towards it. But the pup moved like something chased, tongue exposed, and she was down on one knee immediately, making herself smaller while calling out to it. "Hey there fellow... its okay... whats your rush?" She called to it again, noting it had stopped at the arena fence rather than passing across the compact surface of the oblong corral though it could easily pass beneath the bottom rail and make the sprint. The Konti rose again, and started walking around the arena, calling softly to the creature as she did so.

Automatically her senses extended and she was trying to read its mood, its surface feelings with her animal empathy while her eyes were habitually scanning its small form for injuries. If it crossed the arena and came to her call, she'd kneel and greet it with a rub and a gentle word. If it stayed where it was, she'd slowly circle the arena until she was at its location and could attempt to sooth it and make sure it was alright. Something, obviously, had scared it... some happening or misadventure. Kavala also kept her eyes on the gate, wondering why she'd left it open anyhow. If something dangerous was chasing the creature, the gate would be no barrier to it.

[Charon]

The thoughts that constantly nagged at Kavala through every day she spent in this city finally backed off and fluttered away almost instantly when the Konti heard the cry and saw the creator of it's pitiful noise. This may have been in itself a welcoming break, this chance to think about something other than her obligations to the society which she owed everything to, but the situation at hand did not give the woman the chance to enjoy it. This pup, out of breath and obviously on edge, demanded her full attention and Kavala instinctively devoted it to him.

The soft golden coat that would have flowed more beautifully along the canine's body in a more peaceful circumstance seemed to glow against the soft shades of light that caught it. The sun had only a faint signature remaining in the sky and before the next bell even those remnants would vanish completely. The silence filled the evening and seemed to create a barrier between the Konti and the pup as when she moved toward him, the dog took a stutter step backward. His gaze continued to stay locked on her and his brows remained raised while his dark eyes communicated a wariness that Kavala strained to read.

Her voice was gentle and coaxing, her movements not rushed or startling, so the canine maintained his ground and his stance. He rotated around to keep her in front of his stare while she attempted to position herself nearer to him. His face did not change and he did not attempt to move toward nor away from the Konti. Instead, as the woman slowly drew near, he let out an exaggerated whine that seemed to communicate an impatience with this dance they were sharing. He allowed her within about five feet of him before finally moving.

Just when Kavala thought she was gaining ground and while she was constantly trying to read the pup's thoughts and feelings, searching for any tell at all he would give, the golden canine turned as if to flee in the direction from whence he came. He only managed a few feet, though, before turning again to face the woman whose attention he had obviously gained. Had he changed his mind? Would he allow her to help? The thoughts running through Kavala's mind would be endless. The dog whined again, this time not as drawn out but it was in a way a much more pitiful and sad noise than he had made before. Though with the hurt in his voice was also an undertone of desperate tensions. He backed up another step or two, glanced over his shoulder, and gazed back up toward Kavala with those deeply dark eyes. She just had to understand.

[Kavala]

The Konti Healer studied the pup, understanding after a few moments that it wasn't going to let her hands touch it. Instead the pup seemed to want her to follow him. Kavala had learned a long time ago that animals were a lot smarter than they looked and to trust them until they proved untrustworthy. This was especially true of the innocent, a category puppies usually fell well within. "It's okay. Let me get my pack and I'll come with you little one." The konti said, turning and sprinting off towards the steps to the clinic. She took them one at a time and was back down onto the main courtyard in only a moment, pack in hand.

It was a field kit, one packed with all the things she'd need to treat any sort of emergency that was within her means. With the kit shouldered, Kavala set out on foot across the courtyard, glad she was dressed for a hike. Normally she would have taken a horse but something about the pup and the fact that she'd heard the piteous cry from so close, made her think it was unnecessary. So the konti moved with swiftness, calling softly to the dog, a waterskin slung over her shoulders and a pack on her back.

"Lets go. Lead on little one." She said, wondering if she should have left a note for the others and deciding at last minute it probably wasn't needed.

[Charon]

Noo- where are you going?!

The puppy whined subtly once Kavala decided to take her leave and ran into the clinic. He took two short steps toward her and paused, attentively staring off into the distance where the woman disappeared. Motionless, the most important decision in his young life was whether he should stay and wait or move on to find help elsewhere. Basing his decision on the speed with which the light-skinned woman left him, the dog stayed put long enough to see Kavala take one step out of the clinic. She's coming!

With excitement, the puppy performed a quick spin in one direction followed by another equally speedy turn in the other. With one paw still raised from the ground and eyes brightly lit, he waited until Kavala had almost caught up to his position before darting off toward in the same direction from which he came just moments earlier in the evening.

Shadows had completely engulfed every acre as the silent night arrived. Other than the howls piercing the still air earlier, the only audible sounds were the padding of the dog's paws against the hard, cold ground and Kavala's footsteps behind. Close behind. The puppy knew this was their only chance and consequently he throttled back his speed and constantly checked over his shoulders to ensure he was not losing her. Even considering his slower pace, his canine heart raced to pump blood through his veins and pounded within his chest. This isn't fast enough.

The pup ran faster. He knew that the help he recruited would not be able to catch up but he wanted to prove to himself that it was not too little and not too late. Trailing into the distance and getting lost in the heightening grass, Kavala was left behind. Ahead of her in the distance was a grouping of short, dead trees about four feet tall and void of leaves. After losing the sight and sound of her young new acquaintance, a whispered whimper finally came within earshot from the direction of the trees.

Nearing the trees, Kavala would be able to see a break in the grass. Her friend was there staring downward and away from her as she approached. He did not look up nor did he continue his spins displayed earlier. He remained motionless and when the Konti finally came close enough it became clear what this entire ordeal was about. Lying next to the pup in the grass was another dog. Her coat was lighter than the much younger canine and it was gently highlighted with strands of gray. She lie still, save for the slow and laborious heaving of her chest and stomach, and her eyes struggled to keep halfway open. She looked peaceful but when Kavala's eyes finally landed on her lower side, the smooth yet matted lightly golden coat gave way to a single widening splotch of crimson from which something was protruding. Upon closer inspection the smooth and straight wooden stick-like object seemed to be lodged deeply into the dying animal.

[Kavala]

She followed the pup as swiftly as she could. A year ago, she might have been huffing, but after her work at Sanctuary, the Konti Healer felt fleet and strong. The bag was heavy, weighted down with her gear, but she was determined to keep up. The dog needed her to follow. She could feel that much through her gift, and she didn't want to let it down.

The tall grass parted, pierced by the pale arrow of her body as she wove in and out, carefully watching her footing while at the same time trying to keep her eyes on the bobbing tail of the canine in front of her. Dusk was going to fall soon, and the further she got from Sanctuary the uneasier she'd become after dark. There was little danger of true predators, but big cats and glassbeak juveniles were not unheard of this close in.

She slowed when she neared the trees, winded, as she caught sight of her friend and his companion. Coming to a walk, Kavala approached quietly, eyes wide and assessing. She spoke then, quietly, her voice soothing. "Oh lovely girl, what have you gotten yourself into now? It's okay... It's going to be okay...." She said softly, her voice filled with friendly concern as she slowly knelt by the female's side. Pale fingers carefully set the pack down and then reached out to touch the dog. She could feel the animal's emotion, its pain, as the wound slowly weakened her to the point Kavala knew if she didn't have help she'd die. Kavala glanced at the darker pup, offered him a smile, and whispered softly. "You did good, boy... very good. Rest now... there's nothing more you can do. I'll see if I can help." She said gently.

The first rule of medicine was to assess the situation. Kavala did just that, eyeing the female's general condition, making note of her weight, the brighteness of her eyes, and checking her lips to see if in pressing against the pink flesh around her teeth if it refilled and turned red again immediately... which would show if she had plenty of blood left or had lost too much. She avoided the area of the wound at first, looking at everything else, taking careful note of anything at all that might be wrong with the dog other than the obvious.

When she was done with that, she got a closer look at the dog. She needed some information before she could truly help. Was the stick in a location that meant it was piercing major organs? How deep did it look? How big was it? Could she easily pull it out? Kavala had limited resources at the ready but she did have a few herbs and medicines in her bag that might help. She also had a waterskin that could be mixed with the clay soil that lay a few inches beneath the grassroots to make a mud compress. But if the stick was too deep... buried into something significant other than just rupturing the dogs body cavity, things would not go well.

And her light touch of Gnosis, Rak'keli's healing, would not be enough to heal internal wounds.

Kavala was a practical healer. As well as relying on medicine, she relied quite heavily on faith. She knew this would be a tough healing because she wasn't actually skilled enough for such a deep wound. She could help, and the dog would die without her, but still so much of it was left up to the dog itself. So quickly, as she stroked the females head calmly, she bowed her head and prayed.

"Rak'keli, one of the most humblest of mankind's companions is in need of your aid. She is lying here so quietly, so carefully after either having an accident or falling victim to some mischief. If it is your will to do so, please look favorably upon her. As your servant, I will do what I can, but I fear for her wound, for it is of a serious nature. Give us both the strength to see her through this ordeal if it is the will of the Gods." The konti whispered, and slowly reached out for her bag.

She pulled a bowl forth, a small trowel, and began digging into the dirt beside the dog, parting the grasses and revealing the clay. She brought up a large trowel filled with the clay and dropped it into the bowl. She dug deeper into her pack, pulled forth several packets of herbs that were designed to aid in healing... and mixed them into the antiseptic clay. Then she added water until the clay was a good consistency.. firm, cool, and workable. Setting the mixture aside, she used a bit more of the water in the flask to wash her hands, then used a little more of it to gently rise the blood away from where the stick protruded from the flesh. After getting a better look, she removed suture from her pack and laid out tweezers and anything else she might need to dig any debris or remaining splinters out of the dog.

Then, bowing her head, she grasped the stick firmly, and slowly began to pull all the while focusing her energy on the dog, on keeping it calm through her own emotions being calm, and carefully tried to withdraw the stick.

[Charon]

The golden boy stood warily watching as the fair skinned woman came rushing up, stark hair serving to halo her focused facial expressions upon arriving and assessing the situation. He let a nearly inaudible whine out as Kavala took up her kneeling position to assess the situation she had at her hands. After attempting to calm his mother, she reached toward him with a genuinely deeply felt smile that slowed the racing pace of his pounding heart but did little for his nerves. Leaning his body back to more of a lying position, he kept his eyes sharp and his mind aware while his body remained standing by for any quick action that may be required of him. If it were not for the incredibly calm demeanor of this two legged hope his mother's life depended on he would be pacing and whining to the brink of being uncontrolled. Half sitting and half lying on edge was considerable progress toward "resting" and the closest he would come.

The older female lie still without so much as a couple of slow blinks when Kavala spoke ever so gently to her. Her touch, just as gentle, did not necessarily encourage her. Not because she was in doubt of her abilities or because of any mistrust, but simply because she knew that encouragement would be a wasted emotion when this could be the final moments she had with her pup. He did so well getting help and apparently his intuition was spot on in regards to the talent he recruited. The Konti's calming voice and touch did make her own composed, if not entirely tranquil, deportment feel more appropriate.

Upon pressing on the dog's lips the darker pink shades did return, but they did not flush quickly back as they would when normal circulation was transpiring. If Kavala performed the same test again she would notice the color not recurring as quickly, even, as the first time. Blood was flowing, just decreasing in pressure at a measurable pace. The healer knew she did not have much time to waste here. Further inspection proved that the main, and only imperative issue, was indeed the stick lodged tightly into her side. A few other cuts and bruises could be found on the old girl's knees and body where she must have landed hard, but nothing that was threatening and all of these paled in comparison to the primary wound.

The stick's actual location was low on the body but to the side of the abdominal area. How far it protruded into her could not be determined by inspection, but the blood around the wound was not pouring at an incredibly alarming pace. About two inches in diameter, the stick was going to leave a large cavity from which crimson life would spill from feverishly if Kavala was not prepared for the aftermath of removing it from it's position. The situation did not look encouraging.

Upon seeing the woman lower her head and speak, the young pup raised his head and brows concurrently in concern. He did not understand that she was seeking some other spiritual help before physically going to work. Her actions concerned him but a quick glance to his mother calmed him to his most recent dip in anxiety. Her face stayed calm and her blinks did not speed up. She did not raise her head but simply rolled her eyes toward him, speaking to him in her sagely way. Her eyes were not dead and neither was her spirit so upon this the boy solace. He patiently waited for Kavala to finish her prayer before watching her work.

Kavala prayed to Rak'keli and honestly poured out her thoughts and emotions. It was all she could do- the Konti understood that her healing abilities granted to her by the Goddess would not be able to completely help this suffering animal. It was difficult for anybody who cared so much for another living creature to admit this, but Kavala had a level head in these situations and knew the bounds of her gift. Knowing her words were finished and it was time to act, she prepared for the most difficult part of what she needed to do.

Laying out her tools and readying herself for anything she might encounter, the woman put her effort into tuning into the dog's emotions and did her best to convey calmness and tranquillity during a traumatic experience. She was taking it well, the dog, until the first flash of immense pain shot up through her body and her eyes widened. For the first time her head raised slightly off the soil for a moment before putting it down with a sigh- her chest heaving ever so slightly. Her offspring reacted by standing again, but he did not move closer to avoid getting in the way. He remained quiet and continued to watch Kavala's now ruby coated hands even more intently.

Carefully pulling back, the stick firmly resisted at first. She increased the force with which she drew the protruding object ever so slightly as her focus balanced between keeping her patient calm and trying to save her life. With augmented force from Kavala the stick suddenly withdrew. Unfortunately, this sudden movement told the Konti two things: pain was once more darting it's way through the suffering body and since it was still relatively smooth, the tip must have been lodged in something. These facts would not allow her to give up on what she had to do. She was compelled to do what she could in more ways than just the young pup relying on her. Her job was to save this dog or do whatever she could in trying.

Try is what she did, not so much ignoring the dog's slight motions with her head signifying the pain she was experiencing but working through them understanding she could not worry about that right now. The stick was moving steadily and would be out shortly, though the time would seem eternal. Along with the contaminating object exiting the dog's body, she was losing more blood than Kavala could have expected. With one last pull, the stick ending in a roughly carved point jolted out revealing the gaping hole created when it pushed apart the skin and tore completely into the dog's small intestine. The situation turned from bad to dire immediately and the healer needed to take action.

[Kavala]

By Rak'keli - It was not looking good. Kavala didn't want to give up though. The female had waited patiently and hopefully for help to come, and even if the help was only one small half-trained healer, she was going to get all of what Kavala had to offer. Most people thought healers were peaceful creatures, pacifistic and mild. But that was about as far from the truth as possible. Healers were warriors. They went to battle in Rak'keli's name, waging war with impossibly horrible weapons. Poisons, drugs, wicked knives that could cut deep and true. They often rejected sleep, rest, and the chance to sit out a battle for the privilege of being on the front lines of some of the most silent non-witnessed skirmishes in the war for life ever.

This was one of those battles.

Normally, Kavala was realistic. She knew when something was beyond her ability. But there was something in the mother's eyes... something that said the dog was not going to give up that made the Konti want to fight just as hard for her. There had been many times that wounds were too deep, too painful and damaging to allow a person or creature to recover. In that instant, the Konti was freed up by her oaths to do the kind thing and show mercy by the edge of her blade. It was the only time it was easy to kill following Rak'keli.

Kavala hurried. Time was of the essence. However, she didn't get excited. She got more determined and a little bit angry than anything else. First though, the mother needed to be comfortable. It was hard to do that with a huge gash in her side. Kav pulled her bag close, dug deeply into it, and pulled out a vile of gildflower extract. She didn't bother with the dropper, for the contents of the vile didn't need to be distributed by drops on the wounds to cause numbing, but rather had to be applied liberally in one specific location. Kavala's knife dug deep - above the dogs spine - in a sharp unexpected shallow cut just past her shoulder blades. The healer upended the contents of the vial into the wound, bypassing the protective skin to allow the liquid to hit the dogs spine fairly rapidly. Once it soaked down through the tissue and into the bones and thus the nerves of her spine, the pain would disappear. So too would the feeling in the whole of her body below where Kavala made the cut. It wouldn't completely ease her discomfort, but it would allow the dog to remain awake, without pain, in what might be her last minutes...

It would still take a few minutes to work and even then Kavala couldn't afford to wait. She would have to cause pain knowing relief would come.

Next, she went back to the wound. Prying it open to get a better look, she removed the section of intestine that was punctured - pulling it from the dogs visceral cavity. Did it look like it could be salvaged? If not, Kavala had no qualms cutting a length of it out and stitching the tubing back together. It would heal easier, in the long run, if she did so rather than patch it. If the puncture was small where she could just stitch the intestine closed, she'd do so. Either way, she worked quickly, making neat stitches and the appropriate cut she needed.

Once that was done, the outside of the length of digestive track was sterilized with a sharp iodine mixture and then anything the stick had touched going out was handled in the same manner. Then Kavala did something she knew was futile for real help here ... she tapped her gnosis mark - the link to Rak'keli she was honored with - and pulled energy from it. Holding the length of intestine in her hand, she knew she couldn't begin to heal the damage, but that didn't matter. There were already stitches in place, the damage removed and repaired... all she was really looking for was a way to make it as easy as possible for the dog to recover.

Rak'keli's power poured through her. It was like drinking ice cold water in the heat of summer or diving into the crystalline waters of a perfectly blue sea. Every time she touched the healing goddess' strength, she was renewed. The power poured from her mark, filling her body all the way up until it coursed down her arms and out her fingers, surrounding the length of intestine in a pure white glow. Kavala wanted the small abrasions, the scraps too small to see, the bruising - all of that on the intestine itself to be healed. That she could do... so the mother dog could focus on just healing the cut.

Then carefully she tucked the length of gut back inside.

Then Kavala ran her fingers over the inside of the dogs visceral cavity - moving by touch and purifying any contamination. This allowing any of the toxic fluid that might have leaked from the breach in the intestinal wall to be neutralized. The glow from her digits illuminated the dogs organs As she did so, she thanked Rak'keli for the gift and asked her for the dogs life to be allowed to continue - for surely such an incredible courage needed to be rewarded - and if that was not possible to watch the mother closely and take her into her fold after death.

Once that was done, Kavala carefully got more suture together and began stitching up the dogs wound, finally sealing everything back where it was supposed to go. By now the mother was well and truly numb, so that spot on her skin where the shallow cut had been made was stitched with two tiny stitches as well.

As she worked, Kavalak talked softly to both of them, telling them what she was doing, when she was doing it, and why it was necessary. She invited them both to return to Sanctuary with her for the mother's recovery and promised them comfortable beds and food if they desired it. The only thing she asked was their good behavior around the other animals.

Then she rose, stretched, repacked her medical kit and tried to decide how best to transport the dog back to the compound

NoteWhat type of dogs are they? I'm not sure if Kav can carry the mother or if she needs to go get a horse and a travois to get her back to the facility.

[Charon]

Kavala set to working immediately, her hands and mind conscious of the war torn battleground that was the innocent victim lying before her. The younger pup remained slightly behind and slightly to the side of the Konti healer, lying down with chin resting on his front, outstretched paws. His eyes followed her hands as they moved, reaching for tools and medicines, touching his mother ever so gently, doing their work and steadily going about business he did not understand completely but knew to be beneficial. She spoke as she worked which helped calm his own nerves but realizing his mother needed no support to remain calm and allow the will of life do unto her as she deserved. Kavala was her only chance at survival and the white muzzled female seemed to be at peace with this fact.

Her first priority was her patient's comfort and though the dog winced as the incision on her back was made, Kavala knew it was for her own good and to avoid a likely unbearable pain later. The wince was accompanied by a tight closing of her aging eyes and reopening them was long delayed. The anesthesia would take its course soon, though and if this was the only outward sign of pain the dog would give off, the healer did not have to worry much longer about how she was dealing with the pain.

Due to time constraints, Kavala knew she had to begin before allowing the time for the numbness to set in. It seemed the bitch understood, but that was not the case for her pup. He quickly rose from his lying position with a small whine when he saw her hands getting to work on the inside of his mother. He gave Kavala a quick glance before his concerned brows were redirected toward the wound. The Konti's soothing words helped, but the pup remained standing as she moved the intestine out for better access. It was imperative that she do her job to best of her abilities if his mother would have any chance at surviving this and thankfully, the pup did not get in her way or alarm her in any way. It was clear he would remain a spectator through the operation regardless of how weary he became of the outcome.

Kavala began stitching the main wound to the intestine as carefully as she could--her hands working deftly and accurately during a time where she could afford no less. Though she continued speaking to the pair as she worked, the mother had closed her eyes gently giving an indication that the numbness had started to work. Finishing with the wound on the larger organ, Kavala moved to the smaller inflictions due to the passing of the projectile. Some of these were too small for any stitching while others could use a few but the healer knew that they would all need a bit more to regain their health. Tapping her gnosis mark and feeling the rush of her gift flow through her, she touched all the organs she knew could use the help and then placed the intestine back into its original spot.

Any extra medicines and dirt would be cleaned with the gift Rak'keli had given the Konti and some of the smaller abrasions and bruises would as well. Though all of these were key for the full recovery of the animal, they life threatening injuries simply were too great for her efforts to overcome. Kavala knew this and thanked the goddess anyway, asking for this innocent dog to live through her mishap. She sutured up the external wound and again cleaned the area as well as she could. She had done everything her hands could manage and everything Rak'keli had allowed her to do. The only thing left was to get these two to a place where the mother could be given the best chance for recovery and the pup could stay with her safely.

The lightly golden fleece of the mother covered a smaller body than the impression the hair gave off. Using her legs to carefully life, Kavala would be able to at least manage to carry the wounded animal back toward her Sanctuary. Her eyes still closed and air fragilely drifting from her nose, the mother was not apt to object to any transportation discomforts. The anesthesia would still be working and by this time would have easily reached all parts of her body. The darkly golden coated pup wandered about, encircling the two others and watched, seemingly desperate to help where he could. Once Kavala lifted and started moving back the way they came, the pup realized his only opportunity to assist would be to lead the way, though he continued to cast glances over his shoulders to check on the pair.

As they moved, the Konti's arms laden with the remains of the mother's life, the night seemed distinctly active. It did not feel like the usually calm evenings that the areas just outside of Riverfall experienced most every time the sun fell beyond the horizon of the Suvan Sea. Wanting to get back as quickly as possible, both the pup and the Konti sped their strides up. It was an effort found to be in vain.

From behind them and off toward their right side, two different voices were heard grunting and they seemed confused. They were not akalak voices, nor were they human. This of course could not be a positive sign though as they were, the trio could not do much. Hearing the noises first, however, the pup turned and darted quickly back toward the area which Kavala had just departed. She quickly lost sight of the four legged creature as the grass did wonders to conceal his location. This was an advantage he would be sure to use.

The pair of young Zith did not see the dog leap from the grassy cover. It was odd to see any of these creatures as close to the city as they were, but not too rare in the middle of a night such as this. One of these creatures was empty handed while the other held a shaven, carved stick similar to that which was removed from the female dog. The dog lunged from his cover and aimed for the armed creature first, teeth sinking into its arm with all the force he could muster and making it drop the crude weapon. The other Zith turned and lunged forward with outstretched hands but the dog was quickly around him and had jumped up to ensnare his thigh within his strong jaws, catching it just on the backside where the meaty flesh was easy to tear into. Blood was flowing from both Zith and from the dog's mouth but the battle was not over.

The first Zith who had dropped his weapon turned to flee into the grass and darkness that described this entire night. The dog was not sure if he was retreating or going for more help, but his attention did not stray from the single threat still turning on him to try and catch his neck or a place he could grab. The Zith's body again lunged and though his right, bitten leg collapsed under his weight, his body landed on the dog's hind quarters forcing a piercing yelp from the young pup that would surely reach Kavala if she had not heard the rest of the commotion. He struggled free quickly enough to not get trapped or grabbed by the Zith and he turned immediately with jaws open. There was one target in mind and as the Zith was pushing himself back up, the dog flew toward it's neck where he clamped down in a decent bite. The Zith moved at the last moment to avoid a fatal bite, but he still struggled to get the dog off of him for good.

Kavala had a difficult choice to make. The pup had obviously gotten involved and had experienced at least some pain based on the whelp she heard. But her arms were still full with his mother who was-

She was not breathing. Her chest was no longer filling with air and whatever gentle flow there was coming from her nostrils only moments ago was completely gone. Her internal wounds were healed as much as they could and Kavala did what she could, but she could not save the animal's life. Had it been the movement in an effort to get her to safety? Had this been her fate no matter what the Konti did? The answers were not there right now and the situation did not warrant plenty of time to search for them. She had an old dog in her arms who no longer had a life to live and a young dog who unknowingly just lost his mother and could be injured himself. The evening was apparently not getting any closer to concluding and Kavala would need her strength again before the sun would rise over the Sea of Grass.

[Kavala]

Kavala held the mother's life in her hands, literally as well as figuratively, until such as time as she passed into Dira's hands. Every healer knew the battle began and ended at such transitions, and even if it was well fought, ultimately they all ended the same way. This one, though, was special. Kavala had gotten personally involved somehow - perhaps through the pups courage or perhaps through the aged dogs quiet strength - and she'd really wanted to wrestle more time for the creature to enjoy the life that she had. There wasn't time, however.

One battle in life often lead to another, sometimes with little or no break in between. What Kavala had been through in the seasons past had driven that point homeward with an acuteness that sometimes lingered like a weight on her soul. The weight in her arms... changed from life to meat and she bowed her head over the corpse and laid it gently to the ground.

She was aware of the pups battle, the zith fighting and fleeing both, but there was a calmness in her soul that came straight from the place where violence had inundated her to such a point where there was no reaction at all in the face of something as horrible as a zith.

Kavala should have been terrified. Kavala Denusk would have been. She would have screamed, dropped the meat in her arms, and fled. But somewhere along the way, out on the grass within the confines of a slave wagon, the surname had been dropped and the konti had come into her own. It wasn't that she wasn't afraid. She was. Very much so. But there was a calmness that infused her actions now, that would not allow her to freeze or turn and flee in the face of the pups bravery. No... there was more too her now. It was a strength of sorts, though most people would have mocked it for nothing at all since she drew no weapons nor gave any yells and charges to frighten the creatures off.

Instead, she knelt swiftly beside the the corpse of the brave mother dog, promised her silently that she wouldn't let her son fall, and pulled forth her sharpest scalpel from her surgeons kit. Kavala was fast, sure of her moves, and focused on what she was doing. The Konti pulled a vial of darkseed, a poison they used to give a quick painless death to the hopeless, and coated the blade in the thick tar-like substance. Then she rose, narrowed her eyes, and launched herself at the zith that was entangled in pup... her friend. She had the scapel ready in her hands and while the zith was occupied with the dog, she planned to slice at its wings from behind. There was a good reason for it. Wings needed lots of blood, so they were full of veins and arteries. All she had to do was cut one and get enough of the euthanic poison into its system to slow ti down and maybe even kill it. Kavala was no warrior, but because of Hatot she knew a bit more than she had a few short seasons ago. The Konti moved, circling around the zith grappling with the dog, and then darted in to try and get her blade sunk into the wing tissue.

She knew pressure points. She knew medicine. She hoped together with perhaps a little luck she might get a shot in that would slow the Zith down enough to allow her to incapacitate it from behind while the poison worked on its body from within.