Solo A Fish out of Water

[Ireth Telemnar]

Fall 70, 513 A.V

Ireth shot up in her bed. Her body, dressed in naught but her nightgown, was drenched in a chilling sweat. In her abrupt terror, she threw the sheets from the old mattress. "Savio, Savio!" She cast her gaze around the room in a wild, almost feral attempt to find her lover.

He wasn't there.

Drawing in ragged breaths now, Ireth drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her bare arms around her legs. Her room was void of life save herself, there was no one there. Her body trembled with vigor, shivers from the chill that was settling onto that horrid sweat that had seeped from her pores. Her gasps for air began to couple themselves with sobs of fear and hot tears that streamed down her chattering cheeks.

A sob hiccuped in her throat, and Ireth fought to swallow. Stumbling from the bed, she collapsed on the worn wooden floor beside the pack of her belongings. Unplugging the cork of one of her water pouches with fingers that quaked, her vision beginning to blur with spots of red and black, Ireth sucked at the liquid. The water offered instant, nearly miraculous relief to the woman's struggling throat. After taking several enormous mouthfuls, she pulled the bag away from her lips and leaned against the wall.

Then, as her breathing regulated and the chattering of her teeth slowed, her mind cleared. The fear that had seized her in her sleep, that panic that had taken a hold of her with a steely grip of ice and stone... She couldn't remember where it had come from. Putting a hand to her head, Ireth moaned. What had happened? Why did she wake so? And that ghost of dismay that had enveloped her when she couldn't find Savio there beside her in the bed?

What's wrong with me?...

Ireth stared at the pouch of water with a sorrowful gaze akin to that of an alcoholic. Slowly, with unsure but smooth movements, she brought the bag up and poured water into her cupped hand. It was like a dream, the way the clear liquid formed shapes and drops before her eyes before falling into her palm. They were so beautiful, and she let it drip out until it overflowed from her hand and dropped onto her bare leg. The water slid across her skin with the grace and movements of a slow dancer until it fell to the floor. Bringing her hand then to her mouth, Ireth didn't drink the fluid more than simply let it spill onto her chin and down her front.

Her actions were infantile, they had no meaning. But one thought, one thing was ripping at her mind, aspiring to become.

Water...

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[Ireth Telemnar]

Using the wall as a support, Ireth brought herself to her feet. Her knees threatened to give out when her head rebelled against her again. She grimaced, and clutched at her hair in some weak attempt at relief. She wasn't... nay, couldn't function properly. And with each throb of her head, all she could think about was a feral feeling that she needed water.

Water...

A realization hit Ireth. Water? She'd never, ever been at lack of water. Her Ravok was the city atop water after all! Crystal clear, it flowed through the city in canals that the people used for transportation, and it extended for miles all around the city, making travel to and from the mainland a killer. She'd never lacked for that elixir of life.

But here, in this city of earth and soil, stones and storms, perhaps she was fighting for thirst. Not literally, although it did take a strong moment for her to choke down the soup that the Haven called water. But Ireth needed water in a way she never had before. The animal desire for her Lake pounded against her temples, almost making her whimper. Her Lake, her Lake... It wasn't even plausible for her to think about attempting to return to her city. After getting caught up with Savio... Ireth hadn't been able to leave Nyka early enough. She'd been told that it was near-suicide for her to travel in the winter.

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[Ireth Telemnar]

With each throb of her head, a grimace swam over Ireth's face. She straightened up, digging through her belongings. Her clothing was rumpled from lack of proper folding, but she didn't have much care for that at the moment. Thinking hurt, but as she pulled the clothes roughly over her head she attempted to make clear the swarming illusions and realities that were running around in her head.

Water, in Nyka... She could almost hear her father laughing, that big galumph that Zhidynach would give whenever she'd missed something, some observation that made her look like a fool. He'd been a sailor. A sailor in Nyka. On the sea.

Ireth collapsed on the edge of the bed, trembling slightly as she pulled her boots on. This... sickness? It scared her. How could anyone miss water so much? She'd never heard of it before, it was baffling her so much.

Just as she opened the door from her room, attempting to steady herself with the door frame, the deep and unforgettable rumble of thunder sounded out loud above the SafeHaven Hostel. Swinging around dizzily, Ireth grabbed her cloak and threw it over her messy shock of hair.

There was no thought of food or pause when Ireth pushed her way through the Hostel's lobby. The innsfolk were just getting up, making for the poor breakfast that was provided before them and getting prepared to go about their business in this city. Vysia was busy, arguing with one patron and serving another. There was shouting going on in one corner between what looked like two monks and a colossal man wearing a ragged bandage over one eye. Even children were running about, playing games and getting in the way.

Ireth took none of this in.

She made her way through the lobby, swaying a bit and avoiding as many people as she could. She thought perhaps that Vysia had called out to her, but she wasn't sure and would have ignored the woman anyway. All her thoughts were centered on the clean scent of water.

The opening of the SafeHaven's door brought on an onslaught of rain. It poured from the sky with loathing and desperation in its tone. It waterfalled from the rooftops and pooled between Nyka's cobblestones. Passing carts flung water into the air, sometimes drenching the passerby. Shouts would go up, curses and threats. Ireth tucked her face beneath her hood and walked out from beneath the Haven's cover.

"East, East..." Her soft murmurs came from beneath the blackened hood of her cloak. The thumping in Ireth's head scrambled Savio's directions and her sense of direction. Making her way past a group of children, Ireth walked through puddles and under dripping storefronts.

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