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sed, the dark fire of pain, and the cool numbness
of the birch
bark the only markings of time she had to go by. When she ran
out of
fyrewyne, she went to the Cafe to get more. When she had
fyrewyne, she didn't
go anywhere.
Her trips to the Cafe all blurred together, certain moments
clearer than
others. One night she ran into Sera`Vai, and threw her Dahn
Jasan at her.
Perhaps later she'll find out what happened. She wouldn't till
after she was
well and Thistle was home of course. It was just something for
her to ponder
while she waited out the sickness that wracked her form.
Flame usually had control over the body, Warrior sleeping most
of the time to
recoup the energy lost. The nature of the injuries such that
her body's
normal regeneration could not work on them, that was what the
Silver Birch
bark was for. The external wounds slowly closed, leaving angry
red scars that
would fade to white eventually.
Only the taint of silver still ran through her veins...and
brought the fever
with it.
* * *
Huddled and miserable, Flame curled tighter into herself, her
trembling at
odds with the sweat that poured off her normally warm body.
After a shivering
fit passed, she reached out for the glass of fyrewyne that sat
waiting for
her. Gulping down the bitter, stinging liquid, Flame sighed
softly as nearly
immediately her muscles began to relax.
~How much longer can we do this?~ The whisper was weak, still
almost quieter
than Flame could hear.
~As long as it takes. Thistle will be coming home soon.~
~Yes, Thistle...I remember now.~ Flame could have cried for the
honesty in
that statement. Only when Flame mentioned her did Warrior
remember anything
about Thistle. She knew why too...they weren't eating much.
Their body was
too weak to hunt properly, the small animals and the occasional
raw haunches
of venison they got from Briar just weren't enough.
~Hold on sister...the fever is almost passed, and soon we will
course through
the forest, taking down a grand feast for us to enjoy. You will
be strong
again...~ The words had become almost a chant, something for
Warrior to fasten
on, so that the tiger wouldn't slip away.
~Yes...we will...~ And always Warrior gave the same small, soft
reply.
Flame would have said more, but the now familiar dark burn was
beginning, the
fever's high tide that swept over them both, protected only by
the thin armor
of the birch bark. The battle was once again rejoined for the
body she
inhabited. Warrior groaned thinly and retreated further into
the recesses of
their mind, leaving Flame alone. It wasn't long till she wished
she could
retreat too.
* * *
~I remember now...~
~Remember what Warrior?~
~Thistle.~
~That is good.~
~Yes.~
It was a sign. A light at the end of the caved in tunnel they
had been
clawing through. The tides of the fever were slowly
diminishing, the birch
bark more and more able to fend off the more serious effects.
Flame reached
for the bottle of wyne that sat beside their bed, taking a deep
draught of the
bark laced liquid. She rolled onto her stomach, allowing the
slight breeze
that flitted into the window to play along her back, a small
shiver racing
through her, a pleasurable one.
They were getting better. And that was the important part....
~Thistle is coming home soon.~
~Yes Warrior...~
~I want to be strong when she does.~
~So do I.~
~Yes...~