Live Journal FeedMy apologies for taking SO LONG to post up another chapter!!
Hope you enjoy these chapters I've been working on!!-----------------------------------------
Zelkier? Lekrisa thought frantically, staring at the limp form of the wolf that lay near her. Worry filled her when she heard no response, making her grit her teeth with anger. She swallowed the last bit of meat, forcing herself not to throw up at the bitter taste.
What is poison? She asked herself. Of course, the word was unfamiliar to her and she sighed. Why can’t I remember anything?
Because of that elk, she answered her own question with another sigh. She continued to gaze at Zelkier’s still body. I feel so useless. He helps me and cares for me, but I can’t help him when he is in need of it!
You can try, the voice inside her head whispered.
With her unbroken arm supporting her, she crawled over to the wolf’s side and placed her hand on his back. She didn’t understand why he was not breathing, but she somehow knew that something was wrong.
I have to do something! She raised her eyes to the outside and saw that the light was starting to disappear. As the darkness started to descend on the forest, Lekrisa heard many wild cries and squeals of the many creatures that dwelled in the blackness of the night. A shiver crept down her spine and she snuggled against Zelkier. There was little warmth in him to comfort her and her eyes began to water.
I’m useless, she thought with her eyes tightly shut. Completely useless. Perhaps if I get some sleep, I’ll be able to remember what poison is…
But it would be too late. The thought struck her hard and she struggled against it.
I might as well try, was her last thought before darkness fell upon her.
~()~
“Wake up, my child! Wake up!” A soft voice called out making Lekrisa open her eyes. She immediately covered them from the bright light that engulfed the small room.
“Look at me, my child!” The soft voice ordered. “It’s alright. Look at me.”
There was such gentleness in the person’s voice that Lekrisa opened her eyes, removing her hand so that she could see the figure more clearly. At the moment she gazed upon the figure, she gasped. The figure that stood before her was a woman, tall with bright blue eyes that stared back at her fondly with her long, blonde hair slightly swaying in the breeze. But what really caught Lekrisa’s attention was that there was a faint, but bright light surrounding her.
She’s so perfect and beautiful, she thought with envy. There’s not a single flaw in her body. But why does she look so familiar?
“It has been long since I saw you last, my daughter. And you have grown so much!” The elf murmured. “But come! There is no time for talk. Your friend is in the hands of death and is in need of your help.” She motioned towards the still wolf that was covered in blackness.
“But there is nothing I can do,” Lekrisa said with her eyes focused on the ground. “How can I help him when I cannot even get up?”
To her surprise, the woman laughed softly. “This is a dream, my child. You can do anything while you’re dreaming,” she spoke with her soft voice echoing in the room. “Follow me, O daughter of mine. But I must warn you: I walk awfully fast, so make sure you keep up!”
Still doubting the woman’s words, Lekrisa carefully pulled herself up onto her feet with a hand against the tree. The figure watched her in silence with no expression on her face.
“You do not need to do that,” she spoke. “Look at your arm. It is not broken anymore.”
Glancing down at her arm, her eyes widened in surprise at seeing that what the woman said was right. She raised her arm up to her face and stared at it with her mouth open in awe.
“Time is being wasted. You want to save your friend, don’t you?” The woman asked with her eyes narrowed.
“Yes.”
“Then follow me.” The alighted figure went outside, turning her head to see if she was following. Lekrisa began taking small steps, watching her feet with wonder. She glanced up only to see that the woman had left and she quickly ran outside to join her.
The woods were still dark and the only light came from the woman she followed. Lekrisa didn’t find it very hard to keep up with her and found that her footsteps were exactly matching the elf’s. Shiny, glittering eyes that belonged to many creatures hid as they walked past. The faint screech of a winged beast echoed through the trees, making Lekrisa unknowingly jump up in fear.
“It’s just an owl,” the woman told her gently. “You do not have to be frightened of them.”
She led her to a tree where large clumps of plants were growing near the roots. Bending down, the woman brushed the grass away to reveal a small plant full of green, oval leaves. Lekrisa kneeled at her side and eyed the plant with a question on her face.
“This is basil,” she said as she plucked off a couple leaves and handed them to her. “The leaves heal poison wounds like the one the wolf has. Smell it!”
Not understanding why she was ordered to do so, Lekrisa brought one of the leaves up to her nose and inhaled the scent. Instead of smelling something sour like she had expected, Lekrisa caught the faint scent of a strong, but sweet smell.
“Basil has a sweet scent to it that makes it different from other herbs and easy to identify,” the woman spoke. “Use that to help your friend get better.” She stood and motioned for Lekrisa to follow.
After a few minutes, they stopped by a few brambles where a few plants grew. “This is marigold,” she said, pointing to a plant with flat yellow flowers that grew outwards in a ray, “and that is comfrey.” She nodded to another plant with broad leaves and bell shaped flowers that grew beside the marigold. She pulled a few leaves off of the first plant and gave them to Lekrisa.
“Marigold leaves are small and feel slightly hairy. Use them to heal your wounds and stop the infection before it spreads,” she told her. Then she took some leaves from the second plant and once again passed them to Lekrisa.
“Comfrey leaves are large and very broad. They will help mend the bones in your arm,” the woman continued, “Now in order for you to apply these herbs onto the wounds, you have to chew them up until they turn into liquid, but not too watery that it will just slide off!” She paused as she stuck a leaf into her mouth and chewed it.
After a few seconds, the woman spat them into her hand. “You see? If you feel that there aren’t any solid parts anymore, you just spit it out and rub it into the wound.” She shook the chewed up herbs off of her hand and turned to face Lekrisa. “Now repeat to me everything I said.”
Trying to remember everything she had been told, Lekrisa slowly repeated them word for word. “Finely done,” the woman praised her. “Now will you remember where these herbs are when you wake?”
“I’ll try.” Lekrisa closed her hand over the herbs and gazed up at the elf. “But why will I need comfrey? My arm isn’t broken anymore.”
“Have you forgotten that this is just a dream?” she asked. “Dreams aren’t reality.”
Reality… Reality…
The word echoed in Lekrisa’s mind and her vision began to darken. A shadow came across her, filling her sight in nothing but darkness. With her hands held out before her, she began to step ahead with caution.
Then, she saw a faint light ahead and she started running towards it. As she drew closer, the light began to darken until she found herself staring into an eye that was like the very depths of a fire. Lekrisa took another step closer, her gaze focused on nothing but the eye before her.
“Come closer!” A dark voice spoke with a sharp edge to its tone.
Even though the voice frightened her to the very bone, she obeyed and continued coming towards it until she could see nothing but the dark orb surrounded by many bright flames.
“Yes,” the dark voice hissed. “You are the one.”
She felt the heat scorch her arms and she didn’t even move when she felt an invisible hand brush her cheek. “Bow before me!” The voice growled. “Bow, or you shall suffer!”
With the wind whipping her hair against her face, she kneeled down with her eyes still focused on the eye before her. She began to dip her head to the floor…
“…isa, wake up!” A figure jumped out from nowhere and pushed Lekrisa to the ground. The figure turned out to be the woman who had spoken to her earlier, but she now stared down at her with fear in her eyes.
“Wake up! You’re not supposed to be here!” she cried. “Wake up!”
Lekrisa jerked awake and cried out as she slammed her broken arm against a tree root. She sat up and pulled her arm against her stomach, gritting her teeth in pain.
It was just a dream, she thought as she gazed down at her arm with anger. Just a stupid…
Her hand touched something leafy and she glanced down at it. Shock filled her as she saw that she still held the herbs that the woman had given her in the dream. Turning her eyes outside, she raised an eyebrow as she noticed that the sun was just starting to set, leaving a little of its light still shining into their haven.
I was only asleep for a few minutes! She realized. But it felt like I was sleeping for several hours!
Time is being wasted.
Remembering what she had been told, Lekrisa grabbed a few basil leaves and started chewing. When she felt that the leaves had a slight liquid texture, she spat the juices out into her hand. After she found the small arrow wound near Zelkier’s leg, she began rubbing the poultice in.
There, she thought when there was nothing left of the poultice. I do hope it will help him!
Seeing that there was still a little sunlight left, Lekrisa began to tend to herself, rubbing some marigold into her wounds and layering her broken arm with comfrey. A yawn escaped her mouth and she realized that she was still tired. She carefully laid down, trying to make sure that none of the poultice would touch the ground.
Please get better, Zelkier, she thought as she closed her eyes. Please.
~()~
The small, rays of sunlight shone over Lekrisa’s face, telling her that it was morning. The elf groaned tiredly and covered eyes from the brightness.
“Too tired,” she grumbled. “Want more sleep.”
Why? Haven’t you had enough?
Zelkier! Her eyes quickly opened as she recognized his voice and she turned her head in the wolf’s direction. Zelkier watched her through narrow slits with his head lying on his paws.
Oh Zelkier! I thought you would die-
Die? The wolf pulled his head up and barked with amusement. You thought I, Zelkier, would die from a mere poison wound? I am too strong to die because of a small thing!
Lekrisa’s eyes dropped down with sadness and she frowned. Zelkier cocked his head when he heard no reply form his companion.
Ah, so you do care about me, little pup. Alright, so maybe I could have died from that poison. He gently licked her hand. Thank you for saving me. That makes us even, right?
I guess so. Lekrisa watched as the wolf turned to sniff his leg.
So tell me, how did you manage to heal me if you can’t remember anything? He asked, placing his head back on his paws. You didn’t lie to me, did you?
No, I didn’t. Lekrisa began relating to him everything of her dream the other night, telling him of the area the plants were and even describing the eye at the end of it. The wolf listened in silence, his eyes closed in concentration.
The woman. Zelkier said when she finished. Describe her again.
She had hair like the sun and eyes like the sky. She was… Lekrisa paused. Perfect.
Oh Esteml! Zelkier tried to stand but his leg brought him back down.
Zelkier, your leg-
My leg will be just fine! The wolf snapped as he tried standing again. After he managed to do so, he faced Lekrisa with a serious look on his canine face.
In two days do you think you’ll be able to walk?
What? Lekrisa’s eyes filled with confusion.
Will you be able to walk in two days? Zelkier asked again sharply.
I’ll- I’ll try. She paused and stared at the wolf without blinking. But why? Can’t we just wait until I’m fully healed?
If we stay an extra day, they’ll find you. The wolf began circling around her.
They? Wh- who will find me?
The orcs and goblins.
Lekrisa narrowed her eyes, not knowing what the wolf was talking about. But can’t we just hide like we did yesterday? Can’t we-
No, we cannot! He stopped and faced her. They know where you are and they’re coming to get you.
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