A Friendly Spar (Banir, Alea)

by **Banir Ironwood** on January 30th, 2012, 10:41 pm

He had over done himself, with wounds still fresh from fighting with Yuros and the further exhaustion of running he had simply run dry of stamina. Leaning against a wall simply trying to catch his breath a stabbing pain hit his ribs. With a silent groan he watched as he leaned on the wall for support. With pained eyes he watched as Alea practically panicked over Yuros. This was his all his fault, he didn't deserve to have friends. His rage put them and people around him in danger, perhaps it would have been best if he just died before he was born. Believing that he wasn't needed and most certainly wouldn't be wanted, he didn't linger. With the tattered remains of his strength he left them. If he collapsed somewhere else then at least he wouldn't burden them further.

With heavy steps he left the stables, his legs struggled to support him as he walked forward. The air was cold outside, he didn't notice from the fire burning in his veins only moments before. With that fire gone his wounds screamed in pain, his body chilled, and his stomach called for a meal. With these stabbing at his mind and body he felt like he felt like he would break apart. But he paid it no heed as he walked the through Avanthal. Just looking to get a bite to eat, then rest, let his body heal for a while.

by **Yuros** on January 31st, 2012, 12:13 am

Te'Ran took a moment to look over Alea, to see the pained expression in her eyes and her paniced demeanor. In his heart he felt that familar tug he had when dealing with women, and with a sigh he decided to let the matter rest.

So the bleeding man is a Kelvic is he? He thought to himself, Well how different could it be from tending one of my horses? Thus rolling up his sleeves, Te'Ran bent closer to examen Yuros' body, examining each cut and gash in turn. A frown touched his lips as he glanced up at Alea, "The wounds themselves are not that bad, exept for this one here on his side." He indicated the 4 rips in the Kelvic's left side, just under the rib cage, "He is losing the most blood from this, but it looks like the wound did not penetrate so far as to puncture an organ. From what I can tell it is only a deep flesh wound." Biting his lip the man's deft hands scaled over the cuts, coating them in fresh blood, "Yeah, see here? That is a layer of fat just beneath the skin, and beneath that you can see a bit of muscle. Its deep, but not life threatening if we hurry. At this point it is more likely he will die of hypothermia before the blood loss."

Te'Ran knew that excessive blood loss coupled with the extreme cold of Avanthal's winters was a death sentence if measures were not taken quickly. He was thankful that this was the worst of the Kelvic's injuries. Each of the four cuts were about half an inch in length, and about a quarter of an inch in width. They were bleeding profusely, more so than any of the other minor cuts on Yuros' body, but Te'Ran was confident he could handle one serious injury like this. His eyes locked onto Alea's, calling her back from her panicked musings to help him, "Alright we need three things. One we need bandages and rags, both of which can be found with the rest of the stable supplies. I was intending on using them for the rags for the new calves birth, but this takes precedence I think." He leaned closer to Alea, making sure she was paying attention, "Next I need you to boil some water. The Kitchens might be a good place, and you can also ask them for any extra rags that they might have. Our first priority is to stop the bleeding, so the more we have to wrap the wound the better." Te'Ran's eyes returned once more to Yuros, running his nimble fingers over the Kelvic's head and neck, checking for a pulse. It was weak, but it was steady at least. Looking back at Alea he continued, "Finally we need some blankets. Use the Horses blankets if you have to, but we have to keep him from going into hypothermic shock. He's lost too much blood to maintain a steady internal body temperature, so we will have to slowly raise his temperature back to normal after we have stopped the bleeding."

Thus, with his instructions issued Te'Ran began applying pressure to the areas above the wound, between it and Yuros' heart in an attempt to slow the bleeding. Inwardly the man wondered if all he knew about horses would even apply to human's? Were the pressure points the same on a man as they were a horse? But with a shake of his head he dismissed these thoughts. There was a man bleeding and a woman crying so close to him. He did not have to time to question his methods.

by **Alea Davenport** on February 1st, 2012, 7:33 am

Alea followed Te'Ran's words closely, not bothering to waste time with a verbal reply. She was relived to hear that the wounds were not as serious as she'd imagined, but she still wasn't ready to relax. She fetched the bandages and a horse blanket at the same time, bringing them back and setting them on the table next to Yuros.

Then, she practically ran to the kitchens, explaining the situation and her need for boiling water. The people in the kitchens were very understanding, and let her have use of the hearth. Having never had occasion to boil water before, she wondered irritably how long it would take. She was feeling more useless than ever. She couldn't fight, she didn't know how to treat wounds, and now she couldn't even boil water. Was she completely useless? Somewhere in the midst of these dark thoughts, she remembered that she'd also been instructed to find extra rags and bandages. With a slightly manic look in her eye, she asked every person in the kitchens if they had and spare rags, and by the time the water boiled, she had amassed a small pile. Not wanting to waste anymore time, she took the pot and rags back to the stables.

Under Te'Ran's continued instructions, Alea began cleaning the blood away from Yuros' wounds. Most of the shallower cuts didn't look so bad once they were clean - more like some of the worse scrapes she'd get as a child. The big gashes were a bit more intimidating, but the bleeding had slowed down some. Given what Te'Ran said about his body temperature and such, she wasn't sure that was good. Was the bleeding only slowing down because he didn't have much blood left?

But worrying about that wasn't going to help right now. She helped Te'Ran bandage Yuros' cleaned wounds, wrapping them while he held Yuros up. When they were finished, Alea was amazed at how different he looked. Instead of a bloody mangled mess, he was dressed in clean bandaged (though his pants were still blood-stained, and blood was starting to soak through some of the bandages). They put the horse-blanket over Yuros, and Alea suddenly didn't know what to do next.

It was then that she noticed something out-of-place. There was a horse out of its stall, just sort of aimlessly standing about. And Banir was missing. Suddenly, an unprecedented fury welled up in Alea. Banir hadn't been in his right mind when he attacked Yuros, so she could forgive that. But there was no excuse for abandoning him now. Knowing Banir, he was probably off somewhere wallowing in his guilt.

"Would you mind watching Yuros for a bit? I have to go find Banir," she told Te'Ran with a hard edge to her voice. Without waiting for a reply, she ran out into the cold. It seemed that Banir had been gone for at least several chimes. She thought for a moment that it was a shame Yuros hadn't made him bleed more; at least then she'd have an obvious trail to follow. She examined the footprints in the snow around the stables, and hazarded a guess that Banir's would be the heaviest and therefore deepest. She managed to follow the trail for a bit, but then it seemed that Banir went to a more populated area, because his trail was overridden by countless others. Not willing to give up, Alea ran through the streets of Avanthal, hunting for Banir. She almost ran past him this way, but when she backed up and looked down a side street, there he was, slumped against a wall.

She stalked up to him, her hands balled into fists. "Get up," she said quietly, her voice shaking. "You think you're done? You think you get to do that to Yuros and then just walk away? You to get to hurt someone and then wallow in self-pity. You WILL take responsibility, you WILL come back with me, and you WILL help Yuros. Is. That. Clear?"

by **Banir Ironwood** on February 1st, 2012, 9:20 pm

The guilt hurt, far worse than his physical injuries. With his mind set dead that the friends he knew now hated him. And why shouldn't they? He had almost killed Yuros and his own mind was doing little to sooth the pain. With tears choked in his throat he stumbled past crowds of people, to many he would just look like a drunk. With mostly brusies and a set of broken ribs he wasn't bleeding much. Though this gave the exception when he coughed up blood but his scarf was stained before the snow white ground.

His head was low as he maneuvered his way through the crowded city streets, with the occasional bumb came sparks of pain. Wearyness gripped him, if he didn't find a place to rest hed colapse. He'd get in the way again, he'd just be someone obstructing the way of another. WIth a few limps he managed to find refuge in a deviation from the road. Against the cold stone ofa building he struck against it. At first he used it to support himself, but his legs where worn and felt heavier than they should have been. The voice of his father echoed into his head, scolding him and tormenting him further. 'You incompetent little shyke. I can't believe you are of my lineage. You can't do anything right!' To him these words where nothing but true. Every time he tried to make something he broke it. When he made friends he ended up hurting them. Nothing he did was ever useful and he was only a burden to those around him. He wondered why Kihala had given him life, and why Dira had insisted he live.

He heard people shuffling around him, slowly the seemed to get far away. His vision began to fail him, it was like walking backwards into a dark tunnel. He had lost consciousness, his mind slinking away and wrapped in the cold embrace of his own criticism. But eventually he heard a voice. One that demanded his presence, it was failure and pulled him from the recess of his mind. Opening his eyes slowly he saw someone before him. As she questioned him he slowly looked up. His voice choked in pain and sorrow made it difficult for him to speak.

"How in the name of the gods am I going to help? If you hadn't noticed I caused this, I hurt him. Its all my fault and, I can't help him, I'll just make things worse. Alea, I've tried hard to be useful in some way. I keep doing things wrong or worse. I'm worthless, I do not deserve, what I destroy. I can, barely stand." Banir was surprisingly emotional, it was an obvious struggle with his emotions. This was to a point where he hardly recognized the fury in Alea's voice, nor the tremble of her balled fists. Before her lay a man that was simply slumpt in his own depression.

This was not Banir, at least not the Banir that Alea had known. This one seemed more like a forgotten child. There was truth to this though, with Banir being a mixed breed he was cought between cultures and races. Coughing up more of his sliver dotted blood, he sat there pathetically. His words had shapped him into what he was.

by **Alea Davenport** on February 3rd, 2012, 12:17 am

Alea's fury fizzled slightly as she realized that yelling at him probably wasn't going to help. Instead of punching the infuriatingly depressed and guilt-ridden man, she bopped him on the head with her fist. "Idiot," she muttered sullenly. "If you keep talking like that...well, it won't be good. Come on, let's get you somewhere safe and warm at least." Heedless of any possible danger, Alea pulled on his least-metal arm, forcing her shoulders under him so she could drag him back to the stables if she had to.

She kept talking, trying anything to improve his mood. "If the cold isn't good for Yuros, it can't be good for you either. You should at least heal yourself; every living thing is made to fix itself, so you have to a least be able to do THAT. If you don't like destroying things, why do you wear that spiky glove anyway? Nevermind, you don't have to talk now as long as you come back to the stables with me." She spoke gently, ceaselessly urging him on. Her previous anger at him was not forgotten, but for some reason she felt a responsibility to help both of her friends, and Banir's wounds seemed to run deeper than just flesh.

by **Banir Ironwood** on February 3rd, 2012, 3:58 am

He barely felt the bop to his head. With pain and grief numbing his body it made standing hard. With weak legs he humbly accepted Alea's support. Not sure if her words made him feel better or worse he simply hobbled along beside her. Forcing himself not to lean on her too much he didn't want to burden her with his bulk. She was after all only a young human girl. As they moved down the street he heard her talking. He could barely hear what she was saying but he caught enough to piece it all together. He felt he should say something, but he wasn't thinking carefully. His response was the full truth, something he wanted to do so very badly. His voice spoke, it was difficult and clogged with tears still. But it was loud and easy enough to understand.

"I have this weapon, so I may kill, my father." Through the tear stained voice, pure rage dripped from the words. Littered with disgust and anguish, especially when he spoke the word 'father'. It was like he was talking of a man that had destroyed his life. But weariness gripped at him and his mind was hard to steady. It took a lot of his will just to walk and stand. With this the anger was forgotten for a moment. And for the first time his eyes where dominated by a brilliant sad sapphire blue.

by **Alea Davenport** on February 3rd, 2012, 4:34 am

Alea's eyes widened at Banir's revelation. If Banir's father was bad enough to be worth killing, that could explain so much about Banir's mental state... and why he'd lost control when she taunted him about his parents that time they went fishing. She wanted to ask him more about it, the curiosity burning inside her, but she exhibited a rare display of sense when she realized that they'd probably all had enough for today.

She did not speak again until they reached the stables, instead just rubbing Banir's back in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. When they got through the doors, Alea helped Banir sit on a stack of haybales. Then she looked at Te'Ran as if asking how Yuros was. She approached the table Yuros was resting on and brushed a strand of hair out of his pale face. She honestly couldn't tell whether he looked better than when she left or not. She looked toward Te'Ran, a silent plea in her eyes, asking what she should do now.

by **Yuros** on February 3rd, 2012, 5:26 am

Te'Ran did not have time to protest as the girl ran from the stables, a look that would frighten a grizzly plastered on her features. For a moment the man was uncertain what to do, but the sound of the Kelvics groaned made him turn. Yuros' eyes fluttered open for just a moment, searching for something, but it seemed that he could not remain conscious and soon his eyes closed once more. With a sigh Te'Ran checked the Kelvic's vitals, nodding slowly as he saw a bit of color returning to Yuros' face.

It seemed that it did not take the girl long to find the man and do what she needed to do, for in what felt like just a few minutes Te'Ran saw her return to the stables, the large man somehow being supported by her slight frame. When she set him down on the hay Te'Ran stepped aside to allow Alea to come closer to Yuros, giving her a respectful silence while she inspected her companion. At her look the man smiled, "Do not worry, he is only sleeping. It would be best to take him inside so that he can rest." Te'Ran nodded to Banir, "Do you think he could help us move him?"

The tree of them were able to lift the Kelvic from the table and make a slow march through the hold to Alea's room. Once there they laid him down on the bed, and Te'Ran checked on the bandages. From what he could tell the wounds were no longer bleeding, but just in case he left the extra bandages with Alea, giving her instructions to clean the wounds and change the bandages once again in the morning. Then, with a nod of his head he let himself out of the room, leaving Yuros in the care of his friends.

by **Banir Ironwood** on February 3rd, 2012, 6:28 am

Close to passing out from exhaustion, Banir was slumped in a corner of the room. It was an attempt to just get out of the way of others while he collected his strength. Or in this case a far more likely occurrence would be to fall asleep. The way his eye lids kept dropping, his body begging for rest. But he did what he could to force his body to remain awake. He didn't want to go through the embarrassment of falling asleep at a friends place again. He had scolded himself enough for doing that before. Trying to stand again with a deep breath, he felt the stabbing pain in his chest and his week legs. In hardly any condition to leave on his own he would need help. Though he was quick to dismiss this thought. Stumbling towards the resting Yuros he leaned heavily on the table. It hurt him to see his friend like this, more so that he had done it.

He felt like he should say something, anything. But the pain in his throat didn't let him, it was still sore from forcing down his tears. Letting out only a sigh as he focused on what he had done. The deep ruby red had long since reclaimed his eyes. Placing a careful hand on Alea's shoulder he patted it gently and made to leave. He lost strength in his legs and collapsed against a wall. He was standing again careful. A question came to him as his vision sank a little then snapped back. 'Why is the room getting darker?'

With eyes ready to close at a moment he could barely hear or feel. There where few times he had ever felt this tired, he didn't enjoy it. It meant he was still weak, and not strong enough to withstand a fight against a larger opponent. But soon the thought was lost as he felt his thoughts slip away from him. With his mind hard to focus he stumbled again against the frame of the door. Metal gently smacking against wood.

by **Alea Davenport** on February 3rd, 2012, 6:50 am

Having Yuros in a proper bed made Alea feel immeasurably better. He still wasn't conscious, but Te'Ran seemed to think that if he was allowed to rest, he would be awake in the morning. Seeing Banir practically falling over from exhaustion, she quickly laid her bedroll on the floor, and guided a protesting Banir to it. "Banir, you can barely stand. There is absolutely no good reason why you should not rest here until you feel better. If I let you leave, you'll just find another alley to sleep in."

Despite the fact that Banir was largely unable to move by himself, he still insisted that he leave. Alea was going to have to take more drastic measures. After guiding him to the bedroll, she kicked the back of his knees as hard as she could, to force him to fall down. When he still tried to get away, she planted a booted foot on his back. "Now you are going to stay there and you are going to sleep. You are going to do this because if you continue to struggle and make noise, you will disturb Yuros." If guilt was Banir's primary motivator, she suspected that bringing up Yuros might be the best way to calm him down.

After Banir stopped struggling, she put another blanket over him. Then she sat by Yuros' bedside for a while, stroking his hair. But soon she realized that watching sleeping people was rather unbearably boring, so she decided to let the two men rest by themselves, and she silently let herself out.