{Zeltiva} A Familiar Face [Lavine]

by **Thayer** on May 30th, 2013, 4:23 am

Lavine exited the tent, her cheeks looking heated, her hair no longer matted, but dried to ratty, tangling curls. The sky had died to a dull grey, no more threatening clouds seeking out a nice place to cry onto. The wind was still present, but definitely not as strong as it once was.

Lavine had spoken of heading out in search of food, which Toril had first assumed to be a good idea, but had later discouraged. “I don’t think going out and hunting for food for Thayer is a good plan. I remember hearing from some doctors my father happened to meet and tell the tale of that to feed someone who is in a state of pain, anxiety and serious fatigue could result in regurgitation as well as worsened problems.”

Suddenly the girl looked down, away from Toril’s face. He quickly shook away the savage look he must have still pertained and inwardly sulked at the sorrow he must have forced upon the poor child before him. He was sorry she had to see him like this, all anxious, angry and confused himself.

Apparently Lavine didn’t dwell on his terrible actions for long for she had moved onto more important things, discussing Thayer’s condition and its worsening issues.

Once the young Kelvic had mentioned that Thayer looked red in the cheeks and dreamy in the eyes, Toril had mentioned that feeding a person whom had been diagnosed with a fever could result in more vomiting and digestive problems.

“’It’s better to keep one hydrated than to feed one full‘, I once heard.” He then progressed with his Herbalism responsibility in asking his friend for more plants.

“If you say that Thayer might be getting a fever from all the trauma and weakness she has received recently, then the best plant for that would be the Echinacea.”

He saw confusion slap itself across Lavine’s sombre face, her shoulders hanging low, her head cocked to one side, minor smears of blood still obvious on her chin.

Toril smiled at her ignorance. He adored the way Lavine looked when she was confused or had no clue about something. “Echinacea has hairy leaves of a rougher texture. The stems remain unbranched, purple, but sometimes rarely yellow or white florets are arranged in a prominent, somewhat cone-shaped head. The tubes of the corolla are hairless or sparsely hairy. The flowers are pinkish, greenish, reddish-purple or yellow and have tubes shorter than the throats. The pollen is yellow and very obvious. It’s a pretty flower really, so you shouldn’t have much time having it be hard to locate it.”

“It’s used to treat fevers, raising the sweat glands in the human body to try and release the toxins within it out the pores of the skin. This certain plant, as I do recall, can also help stop pain and mild fatigue.”

Toril walked closer to Lavine, before setting his hand down in a tender, caring way, squeezing her shoulder in appreciation. “Don’t worry about hunting. We have some food you and I could eat here. If it gets time that Thayer must eat something, will be give her some of my fruits I have stored in the preserving kit in my pack.”

Lavine nodded her head in understanding, her feet pivoting on the heel. “Good luck,” were Toril’s last words before she sped off into the forest again for hopefully the last time this season.

by **Lavine** on May 30th, 2013, 5:07 am

Lavine headed out to the forest once more. This time, she kept her eyes peeled for Echinacea. A fair sized flower, hopefully it would be easy to spy, but with the clouds effectively blocking her light, it was getting harder to see color differences. She could only hope the rain would hold out just a little while longer.

As she wandered farther and farther from Thayer's tent, she found herself drawing nearer and nearer to hers. An idea struck Lavine in a sudden, thoughtless manner. It would be much nicer to have two tents to work in! Unaware of what she was doing, Lavine found her feet turning towards her own tent.

The thick block of color stood out against the green backdrop, making it easy for Lavine to find. She rushed toward it, forgetting the new herb in the attempt. Eagerly, she pulled the stakes from the ground and wrapped the tent into a tight roll. Her supplies fell to the ground before they were quickly scooped up and tossed into the tent bag. The entire thing, including almost all of her possessions, fit conveniently into the shoulder bag so it was quite easy to haul with her on trips. That was one of the only perks to a one-person tent.

By the time she had reached Thayer's tent once again, her arms ached from dragging all her supplies. Lavine was in no mood to set it up, let alone go hunting for Echinacea, but she knew both needed to happen tonight. Feeling slightly irritated, Lavine let her things fall onto the dirt with a satisfying "thump".

First things first, Lavine tried to scurry off before Toril caught her neglecting her duties. The flower proved more difficult to find than Hyssop mint. The woods were intimidating-looking with the setting sun casting long shadows all across the floor. The incident with the bandit still crowded in the back of her mind, causing an overwhelming feel of fear that made it hard to concentrate on finding a simple herb. The entire thing felt terribly trivial, like a scavenger hunt made for a child. Still, Toril obviously knew more than her, so if he wanted her to find the stupid flower, that's what she would do.

She could have sworn it took her bells, but she finally found two of the gorgeous flowers. She tromped back to camp, her eyes drooping with exhaustion.
"Thayer! You better love this!"

by **Thayer** on May 30th, 2013, 5:36 am

Toril turned back to his work, nothing coming to mind of which he could do. So, noting this strange phenomenon in his mind, he thought it would be a smart idea to gather both himself and his equipment in an organised fashion.

He started with the bedroll that wasn’t being used at the moment, finding it strewn about in an awkward position near the flap of the door. He picked it up between two strong fingers and placed it against the right corner, away from the door, flattening the corners and removing the creases throughout.

His pack had been trashed, the items inside scattered all along the floor. He noticed a large bag of yeast thankfully stilled tied tightly with a thick piece of string. A small container of rice still happened to have its lid secured on top, but the bag of oats had been opened, having them littered themselves across the floor. He quickly scooped up all he could, and put them back in the bag, tying it tightly with a thin band of yarn.

Something caught his attention abruptly, drawing it away from completely tying the bag of oats so that it was tight and secured in place. On the floor, next to his sister’s pack was her wooden flute. Toril had never known how to play the flute, but neither had Thayer. Perhaps she wanted to learn?

A deck of playing cards sat wound tight with a rubber band next to a canister of insect repellent, and next to the repellent was his personal winter blanket. He folded that up nicely and placed it next to his pack, after collecting all the mess of items that had somehow found them selves rough fully out of their proper positions inside the rucksack.

It had seemed like a long time since Lavine had returned back from searching for the flower she’d been told to scout out, and surely it didn’t take that long to find a vibrant, large flower with medical purposes. Toril, be the protective, yet curious man that he was, slipped out of the tent for a second to see what was the hold up.

He noticed that a large pack of unknown materials lay next to the tent’s door, so he scooped them up and placed them just inside the tent before going back to the boiling water with the Hyssop mint cooking inside. He’d say it was near time done cooking, so he carefully reached in until his fingers barely touched the flames, and drew out the hot bucket of water.

He set it swiftly on the ground next to the pyramid of inferno before going inside in search of a cup. He didn’t understand where he was going and why, for he knew he didn’t own any glasses. He was stumped for once. What would he put the tea into?

He thought dirty, nosing his way into the pack he’d found not moments ago lying on the ground just outside of his tent. Perhaps it was Lavine’s? Perhaps she wasn’t doing her requested duties and had run off to take down her own tent? It was nice of her to go back to her previous task, however, so it dulled the aggravation that started to boil from underneath Toril’s skin.

He rummaged through the sack, searching for dishware, and coming across a convenient clay cup. He pulled it out and ran back to where the pot of Hyssop mint tea stood. It smelled wonderful, no sugar, no spice needed. The minty flavour penetrated his nostrils as he scooped up the hot water with essential herbs mixed throughout.

“This will help you out, my dear sister,” Toril mumbled to himself, whilst walking back into the tent. He saw Thayer, eyes still in mere slits, a gullible smile spread across her face. She was tired, extremely exhausted, yet she was fighting to stay awake.

Smart girl.

“Hey Thayer?” The girl’s eyes fluttered open as if being forced upon by heavy weights, having it take much energy to lift them to an appropriate level.

“I need for you to drink this for me.” And the young Kelvic obliged, sipping thoughtfully as Toril tipped the cup into her open mouth. She guzzled it like it wasn’t still boiling hot. Wow, she must be thirsty!

He’d need to send Lavine out again for some more water.

by **Lavine** on May 30th, 2013, 5:59 am

Lavine finally found her way back to the tent, flowers in hand. When she arrived, she found Toril trying to get Thayer to drink some water. She held back towards the entrance to the tent, letting them talk seeing as they hadn't been alone together for at least a day. His deep, smooth voice carried love with it. Upon closer examination, Lavine recognized something was off.
Isn't that my cup?

Lavine quickly dismissed the thought as foolish, knowing Toril would never steal from her. He was too soft, too caring. Besides that, Lavine was far too tired to argue about it now. She placed the herb by the door and left to set up her own tent for the night.

It was harder than she thought, to set up a tent. There were stakes, doors with confusing zippers and ties hanging from every pole in the thing. Lavine tried to work quickly so she didn't get caught in the impending storm, but it seemed someone was against her.

With the tent finally up and in order, Lavine unrolled her bedroll inside the tiny room. It wasn't the best accommodations but it would have to do for now. There was no way she would be able to sleep with Thayer in the room. Honestly, Lavine wasn't sure she would be able to sleep at all. Despite the weight of fatigue, her mind hummed. This hum was soon quieted though, once she lay down. The soft bedroll around her was so familiar that once she closed her eyes, she could pretend it was another day- any day but this one.

by **Thayer** on May 30th, 2013, 6:15 am

Toril continued to talk to Thayer as if she understood and cared to listen to his droning voice, full of exhaustion and sorrow. He was so done with this unending day that his legs had merely given out on him on several occasions. He had observed his sister’s injured body in trying to figure out where the wound was, cleaning the dried blood off and whipping away the sweat; he had organised both his and his sister’s belongings into two places, separate items in separate packs; he’d cut the wood for a fire and had lit the fire using a mere flint and some stone; as well did he make tea out of herbs and tried his best to keep himself and Lavine calm at all costs.

He was beyond beat, yet he still had to watch over his sister throughout the night. Perhaps her could have Lavine’s help in taking turns with staying up to care for her, listen for her breathing, give her drinks of fresh water throughout the longing night.

A strange ruckus caused Toril to stop his thinking and come out of the tent. Two bulbs of the flower Echinacea were set on the muddy ground spotted as soon as he had exited the flap. A large object out of the corner of the eye had Toril snatching up the herbs before looking at it for closer inspection.

A tent, small in comparison to his own was put up deliberately next to his own. Toril smirked knowing that Lavine had put up her own tent, through the difficulty of stabbing the stakes into the ground and manoeuvring around rocks and other land obstacles. She was tired, struck down by both fatigue, defeat, pain in both heart and body as well as a sensation of sorrow held deep within her soul.

As Toril drew nearer to the tent, he poked his head in to see that his Kelvic friend was indeed sleeping, exhaustion consuming her whole. The least she could deserve was a night nap. It was very late after all.

Toril was near close to feinting from lack of sleep right where he stood. He procrastinated the thought of making the fever reducing tea he had sent Lavine out in search of the ingredients for. He suspected that if Thayer had a fever, the true signs wouldn’t show as severely as they would in the morning. If she was tough enough, she would survive throughout the morning. Perhaps that is all she needed was a good rest. That is what all these Kelvic children needed was a nice slumber throughout the stormy night and gloomy morning.

And that is just was Toril did. As soon as he entered his own tent again, he threw down the couple of flowers, took off his boots and plummeted straight down onto his bedroll, not even bothering with the blanket.

Sleep was good. Sleep was very, very good.

by **Lavine** on May 30th, 2013, 6:36 am

Timestamp: 11th of Spring, 513 AV

Lavine made it through the night without dreams or awakening, for which she was glad. The rest hadn't been quite enough of course, and left her legs feeling sluggish and her eyes droopy, but she knew it was needed if she was going to be doing anything worthwhile today. Lavine crawled from bed and stretched, making tiny grunting noises as she tended to do.

Lavine wanted nothing more than to go out flying before she started the day, and with no one else awake yet, it seemed the perfect time to do so. There was no reason not to.

First, think up an excuse. You were going...to the stream to wash off. Only Thayer would know this was a lie, and Thayer probably wasn't going to be much help to anyone. So, conscience aside, Lavine pulled her clothes from her body and gradually closed her eyes.

Lights flooded her vision so that she couldn't see her own arms. She knew what they looked like though- she had seen it plenty of times before. Lavine knew her arms were now feathered, her feet now short and rough, her mouth curved as a beak. She was an owl.

Lavine took flight with a single, powerful flap. She wasn't big- even for a barn owl- so her already quiet wings made a sound that was barely audible, even to her sharp ears. The wind caressed her wings with a welcome chill, running all through her body. Seeing as she wouldn't be hunting, the owl let out a loud screech. The sound echoed and bounced off the trees, reverberating back to her multiple times. A happy, warm feeling nestled in her stomach. It felt good to just let go and enjoy herself, even if it did scare all the prey off.

She didn't know how long she soared, but when she finally landed and pulled on her old, still dirty clothes, she found Toril awake and the sun rising in the distance. Instantly, her mind flew to Thayer.
Lavine called out to the man as she walked, "How is she?"

by **Thayer** on June 5th, 2013, 9:33 pm

Thayer stirred in her sleep throughout the whole night, waking her tiresome brother up with every wimper and groan she produced out of her light pink lips, gnawed down from incessant biting caused by constant anxiety and worry.

Eventually the sun came, shedding its dormant rays of light across the lands of which were occupied by Toril and his sister, along side their friend, Lavine, still presumably heavily sleeping in the next tent.

Toril began his day by wetting a piece of cloth he’d ripped from the cloak he’d found slung carelessly around his nude sister’s body. He then placed the drenched piece of thin cloth across Thayer’s forehead, earning a small smile of gratitude in response.

Thayer was now covered by a thick winter blanket, forfeited over by her brother throughout the night. Even though it was still quite cold out, being the beginning of spring, Toril found himself hot and restless as night stretched on till morning.

The branches outside were swaying in the light breeze that followed with the sudden warmth of the heat the sun brought. A cawing from a hawk or perhaps an owl was heard throughout the forest, bringing slight comfort to both Kelvic children. Toril was glad he wasn’t alone, whether the owl was just another animal or not.

“Hey Toril?” Thayer croaked, turning on her side.

“Yes, Thayer?” But the girl didn’t continue, for she had somehow fallen asleep once again.

Toril moved onto more chores before he wanted to wake his companion whom slumbered quietly in the tent beside his. He went to work on his sister’s wound, taking the bucket of water that still remained by the flap portraying as the door, and pouring it into the cup of which served for tea the night before. He then poured the cup of liquid onto Thayer’s wound, having the catnip herbs wash off her body and onto the floor.

Thayer squirmed awake at the feeling of the cold water’s touch. Toril instantly soothed her by setting a hand on her forehead, feeling that it was indeed warm. They needed to make a fever reducing tea today and this was going to be their mission.

Suddenly, as if by on command, Lavine walked in, all dressed and ready to go, wondering about the health conditions of her friend.

Toril blurted out what she needed to do, “Boil that Echinacea plant. It should be still lying outside.” He smirked, that little boy grin, his nose twitching in an inconspicuously seductive way. “We’re making tea today.”

by **Lavine** on June 13th, 2013, 9:21 pm

Lavine meandered towards the smoldering fire, Echinacea in one hand, cup in the other. Her mind floated elsewhere as she tucked the cup under her arm to free her other hand. She plucked a sturdy stick from the grass and let her hands ran over the stick from one end to the other, examining it for who knows what. Lavine eventually approved the stick and began to prod the fire, blowing gently as she did so. She watched, entranced, as the tiny, elegant flames leapt upward to embrace the stick, eager to feed off of it's dry bark. The heat effectively crawled into the morning air and dissolved the crisp dew on the nearby grass, creating a ring of warmth for the Kelvic.

Lavine tried to think back to how tea was made. Was it, rip up the leaves, let it soak, then stir it all up? Or maybe you have to leave the petals in one piece and drain them at the end? Lavine glanced behind her, hoping to seek Toril's advice but he was nowhere to be found. Making the decision for herself, she let the entire flower fall onto the water's surface, where it floated peacefully. Lavine sat the cup and the stick next to her on the ground, safely out of the fire's reach of course. The water wasn't boiling yet, just warm, so Lavine took the opportunity to scoop some in her hands and sip it slowly. Despite the fact that the flower had only been soaking for a few chimes, the water already had a soft taste to it. The tea could only be described as smooth. There was a slight hint of mint at first, followed by a fruity after-taste, similar to citrus. Her tongue and lips tingled gently with the cool mint feel. If I close my eyes, I could pretend it's wine! She thought giddily, but restricted herself to just one sip, for she knew Thayer needed it more than her.

Lavine squatted down inside her ring of warmth (one of the only places she would keep her pants dry) and waited for the fire to fully develop. The half-owl tilted her head off to one side and sighed. While the fire was beautiful, her inquisitive mind quickly grew bored and began searching for other things to ponder. It seemed there was nothing to do now but remember or think, and think she did.

Her mind wandered back in time, thinking over the day she had spent with her friend so far. Lavine was left with only questions. Toril only wanted her to help anyway, so would she be forced to leave once Thayer was well? He clearly thought she would stay awhile, but did that mean Thayer would be okay with it? The girl's heart ached for her friend as if she had lost her ten times over, when she knew Thayer was just a stone's throw away. What would it feel like when they were separated by real distance? And was it really Thayer her heart ached for, or might it be the healing rabbit-boy beside her? Lavine looked down at the earth, so many questions flooding her mind, as a strange urge passed over her. So she laced her hands together and did something she hadn't done in far too long- she prayed. The words sounded strange, but somehow more real when she spoke them aloud. So she whispered her worries to the fire, hoping, praying, someone would hear.

"Rak'keli? I know it has been ages since I last spoke to the you, to the Gods or Goddesses, but I don't think I can do this alone. The fire cracked and snapped, causing Lavine to jerk away, but she continued in her shaking voice anyway.

"Thayer is sick, horribly so, and all I can think of is her brother! It makes me wonder if I am the sick one! Rak'keli, I try to help her, I really try, but all I can do is watch a flower burn. Am I really so useless? Am I really such a one-trick pony that I can only tell stories? I'm fed up with it, I tell you! I can't help anyone! I watch the ones I love fall, one after the other, and me with no way to stop it."

Lavine didn't even notice she was crying until a tear dripped onto the hot ground, hissing and spitting. Frustrated with herself, Lavine wiped at her face harshly and stood. The tea was past ready when she poured it into the fragile clay cup. The hot tea splashed up the side of the cup and trickled down her hand. The drink splashed into the fire and hissed as though it were mimicking her tears. It felt like an ending, but she wasn't done yet. No, if she was going to spend her time praying, this Goddess was going to hear her out.

"Teach me." It wasn't a plead, it was a demand. It might not be the best way to handle speaking to the Divines, but Lavine was past caring now. She didn't need sympathy, she needed answers!

"I have to fight back. Death and sickness will be my enemies, herbs and care my weapons, and you, Rak'keli, my ally, if you should allow me." Lavine bowed her head submissively, finding herself looking straight into the tea. In it, a single petal floated with the beauty of a thousand sunrises. She didn't know who it was to, or what for, but she felt it needed to be said. Her voice was little more than a breath, but it rippled the water.

"Thank you."

A warm acceptance washed over Lavine. Whether it was from herself or the Goddess she would probably never know. Either way, it cheered the girl. She hugged the tea to her chest and fled to the tent as fast as her tiny legs would carry her.

by **Thayer** on July 27th, 2013, 6:23 pm

[font=TimesNewRoman]After Lavine had left the tent, Toril’s equilibrium wobbled on its axis, his mind spinning with emotion and question. All he had seen, all he had done and all he was going to have to pursue to continue were enough to have him fall to the ground, silent tears falling slowly down his pale cheeks.

“Thayer,” he choked, needing someone to talk to whether she was conscious or not, “I take care of you because I love you, not because I can. I’m not as strong and will powered as I look. I seem tough and fatherly because ours was never there for us. You remember him as a kind and gentle soul, but Thayer, he was cold hearted and mean to me and your mother.”

Toril pulled his knees up to his chest and leant against the tent’s wall, sniffling quietly, his nose no longer twitching with curiosity or excitement. He ran his fingers through his hair, black wispy tendrils getting caught in tangles around his pinkie and index finger.

“Your mother was also trying to find out what she could do to try and change her husband’s ways. He loved you so much, Thayer, but we couldn’t find out why he hated us so. Twice a week he would come into my room and ‘fix me up’. He said he wanted me to become a strong man when I grew up, and that meant taking pain like one, so that I would get the feel of loss, betrayal and hardship.”

“Thayer, I hated him. Every other night I would sneak up to our parents’ bedroom door and listen inventively for what sounds would come from behind. Mum would scream at him and then her voice would get muffled. I could hear slaps and then moans. Sometimes strong sobbing would scrape against my eardrums like nails on a chalkboard. I couldn’t take what he was taking from her. He was manipulating her to love him since she couldn’t involuntarily.”

Toril stopped talking then, petrified to finish his story, his rant of past times. He pressed his finger tips to his temples, feeling their icy chill from lack of night-time heat; and then he spoke, sombrely and emotionlessly, “Thayer, your father raped and abused us.”

He got up and walked over to his motionless sister, still lying helplessly still among the many blankets they owned. He brushed his right thumb across her cheek, moving away strands of hair that didn’t belong near her nose.

“I’m just terribly glad that he didn’t hurt you like he hurt us.” Shutting his eyes, and letting the last of the salty liquid fall down from his eyes, Toril breathed a sigh of relief near his sister’s forehead as he kissed her good morning.

His head had finally cleared, whether his nose was stopped up with mucous or not. His eyes were partially red, but he knew Lavine wouldn’t say anything. As soon as he was stepping outside the tent to see how his apprentice was doing, he knew Lavine wouldn’t mind, for her eyes were spotting red around the rims as well.

Toril didn’t say anything as they nearly crashed skulls, for he just looked into his sister’s friend’s eyes and opened his arms, embracing her in a warm, comforting hug, kissing the top of her head passionately.

She was falling; falling into a sea of blue darkness, that swam in and out of focus to the human eye. She couldn’t feel anything around her, not even the air that drifted in and out of her finger’s sensors.

She opened her eyes just to be engulfed in a pool of liquid, the splash of waves washing into her ears, eyes and nose, filling her open, screaming mouth with foreign fluids.

She thrashed and she kicked to try to rid herself from the discomfort of the inability to breathe, but soon gave up as she sunk to the cavernous floor of the ocean she found herself drifting in.

Her eyes were still open, glazed with longing and betrayal. They tried to seek out a way of escape only to find bubbles popping to their death along with the bare sand she now sat on. Then, her eyes found themselves observing a large rock, small bubbles coming from underneath it.

She swam over the curious looking piece of earth to find her nimble fingers absentmindedly reaching underneath the obstacle, pulling it up from its suction-cup position with the sea floor. She pulled the rock until it snapped as if on a hinge to its vertical place parallel to the seaweed it shared in space. Underneath the rock was a dark hole, seeming as a tunnel to an advert location.

Curiosity flowed through her veins as he head pounded with the desire to endure the feel of air once again. She had no other way to survive rather than to explore the depths of the hole, so she ploughed her way with her tactical doggy-paddle until the rock closed in on her.

Thankfully a door was visible among all the pitch of black. She crawled through the water with the little strength she had left, until she twisted the knob on the door.

Something with strong force pulled her into the door, having the door shut itself. Little water followed her into the air filled room she found herself in, spitting up liquid and relieving herself from the lack of oxygen. She was near cussing out for the confusing situation she had been placed in, when she realised she had no voice.

What the petch? she thought, grateful that she was still able to think to herself.

The room she was in was a small, dark area with a wooden floor, soggy from the water that had rushed in with about the same eagerness as she had. The walls were made out of rock, with a torch surprisingly lit attached to it by a makeshift wooden hold.

She hesitantly took hold of the torch as her guide before she took notice of yet another door to her right. She walked to the door, self consciously aware that she had some lack in the ability to control her movements, yet her body’s reactions to what was going on.

Her fingers latched onto the knob as if they were destined to be bonded with the steel of the knob, before turning it. The door opened tentatively, but she thrust herself through to see gems of many kinds surrounding her.

Oh my! This is amazing! she cooed to her mind, before throwing herself to the ground to be embraced in a feeling of royalty and wanting. Coral Agate was strewn over her left leg, whilst Akalite covered her right led with moral prominence. She found Diopside caressing her left fingers, followed by the darkness of the Black Jasper near her left elbow. The surreal purple and green colours of the Lansapa sat near her left shoulder, mirrored by the colourful Festival Opal.

She couldn’t believe her eyes with all these gorgeous gems and stones that surrounded and enveloped her body just now. She wished she could just take them all with her to where ever she went next.

Soon, however, before she had time to react, her legs stood up defiantly, her body and head following them diligently. She soon walked over to the far side of the wall, to find a small door placed near yet another torch.

What, did they think I’d lose the first torch? she thought in a snotty tone. Just then, as if from reading her mind, the torch she held in her left hand blew out. What the petch?

She stubbornly took the torch next to the door before opening the barrier between her and whatever lies next in her confusing adventure.

She knew with all her might that Nysel was playing with her mind, having her live a dream that would confuse her and aggravate her and mess with her all at the same time, for she was agitated and confused. She wished with all her heart that she could be back with her friend, Lavine and her brother, Toril on the safe grounds of Zeltiva’s woodlands. She wished with all her might that she wouldn’t have to be stuck inside a frightening dream of succeeding through the near death of drowning and the stingy feelings of royalty with all the gems that shrouded her being.

But above all, she wished that once she opened the door on the wall, she could have closed it, for her mind was splintered by a million dark thoughts she hoped she’d never come to remember.

Thayer awoke with a scream, thrashing around in the shroud of blankets that held her down in restraint. Toril rushed over to her, ending the bond of arms he and Lavine had shared. Toril was sure he caught a glimpse of sadness or jelousy in her eyes.

“Thayer, I’m here. I’m right here beside you,” he spoke in a fatherly way, his voice soft and reassuring. “You just had a bad dream is all. That is completely normal with what has been going on with you. You are running a slight fever.”

Abruptly remembering the tea he sent Lavine out to make for her, he asked of her to hand it to him. “Here, Thayer, drink this. Drink this and rest some more. We’ll be right here when you wake up again.”

And so Thayer drunk the liquid, feeling the warmth of the tea spread through her throat and into her stomach, resting comfortingly in the pit of her abdomen.

She smiled lazily at the two friends in front of her before dazing off into yet another restful slumber.

Toril looked back at Lavine and cleared his throat awkwardly, before hanging his head down to look at his feet and wobbling out of the tent.

OCC Information :

by **Lavine** on July 30th, 2013, 9:43 pm

Lavine shouldn't have been so surprised when Toril wrapped her in his arms. She shouldn't have just stood silently, frozen with uncertainty. She shouldn't have felt the annoyance nibbling at her when Toril left her to comfort Thayer, but that's exactly what she did.

Lavine rubbed her own arms rapidly, trying to get rid of the gooseflesh that covered her arms. Cold wasn't the reason the tiny bumps were crawling up her skin, but she tried anyway. She refused to acknowledge that they were from anything else.

As she studied his calm, loving face, Lavine couldn't help but notice the red tint to his eyes, once so powerfully blue. It was clear he had been crying, but questioning him would only make such a strong man uncomfortable, so she stayed quiet. When Toril's soothing voice reached her within the confines of the small tent, the effect was incredible. Thayer's nightmares were banished, sent back to the dream world to stay. Lavine felt the opposite affect, her chills intensified, her body cold as an icy flame. Just as she was about to invite him out of the tent- to speak- he stood. He cleared his throat in a way that suggested he didn't really have anything stuck in his throat, then shuffled out of the tent. His head hung like an ashamed dog, although she, at least, was sure she had done nothing wrong.

As badly as she wanted to follow him, she needed to stay with Thayer. She sat down on the floor, parallel to her friend. Lavine wrapped Thayer's pale hand around her own, comparing the two in the morning light. The two contrasted so greatly, she couldn't believe the two girls were so similar. Both Kelvics, both coming from a home in Ravok, both so scared in this time but somehow, their hands showed none of this.

Even though Thayer was naturally pale, she seemed even more so now, whereas Lavine's hand was tanned around the edges of her forming scar. Lavine's tiny fingers, which had once seemed so fragile, looked strong against the background of Thayer's limp digits. Frightened, Lavine clamped her friend's hand tightly. It seemed she had said it so often, but it was all she could say. She repeated it, over and over to the sleeping beauty.

"It's okay. It's going to be okay."

Closed {Zeltiva} A Familiar Face [Lavine]