There was nothing but darkness for the longest time.
But then, the feeling of a tongue against her more grievous wounds roused the downed warrior from her endless slumber. And as she awoke... Pain. So much pain. Large bite wounds littered her body, her neck and shoulders oozing blood and some kind of clear liquid. She was healing, but it would be slow. The all encompassing pain would distract her from the fact that she couldn't feel her tail at all - or move it. But that would be a realization for a later time. Raiths scent enveloped her and her racing heart calmed. Red eyes opened then, puffy and crusted with blood from herself and others, and she stared at him as tears formed along the waterlines. She had failed. The reality of it hurt far worse than any physical wound. Her brothers weight provided some sense of comfort as she curled into him, mindful to always avoid touching his hip - even though she was unaware of how much worse it was now. As he licked her wounds clean, she returned the favour, and the siblings groomed each other in silence until most of the lacerations were more manageable. She didn't notice any infection on him, and that was relieving. "Bu chòir dhomh a bhith nas làidire." (I should have been stronger.) she finally choked out after a lengthy silence, her voice sounding infantile and shattered; like some inexperienced girl who had been broken down. What would father think? Aurelius? She had trained for months and she hardly stood a chance against those disgusting Mainlanders. A sob escaped from her chest, and the fallen warrior clenched her jaws together before burying her disgraced face into the dirty, yet blush furs of her brothers neck. It was only there that she would allow the tears to flow freely, to cry out her immense disappointment and shame. All of her dreams and asperations were quick to come crashing down all around her. |
She curled into him, seeking his warmth and desperately grasping at his body for some semblance of security and comfort. This would not come from her father, she knew, not after their obvious and devastating defeat on the battlefield. She wasn't even sure how her mother would react, though Searla assumed she would only be sad about her offspring being hurt. She was aware that her older brother had perished in a war before she was born, and her older sister was taken as a ward, so she could only imagine the fear and anxiety her mother must be feeling.
Raith was calm, as always, cleaning away the dirt in her wounds and providing a comfort she greedily drank in. The sound of his gaelic voice provided a familiarity she needed very much, and she leaned into him once he was done licking away the dirt, grime and blood from her; though her nose eventually sought the areas of him that were also soiled, and she dutifully doted on him, providing the care he gave her back to him in an effort both to help him and distract herself from diving headfirst into a steep depression. Searla sighed at this, nodding her head slowly as she finished up cleaning away the dirt. She could tell he was badly wounded, but wasn't sure just how bad. A slow whine escaped her maw as she was silent for a few moments before looking at her brother. "We need to get out of here, and soon. You are very hurt - we need to get to the healers back in the fortress to help you." but she had no idea how they were going to accomplish this, especially with how injured he was. "I will think of a plan. Until then, we need to rest. And don't answer any of those Mainlanders questions - either we will break out or someone will come get us. I am sure of it, brother." her voice held a warmth only her brother was given, and she nuzzled into him snugly as she willed them both to a peaceful sleep. When she awoke, she would have a plan. "Rest now, my kin. Tomorrow, we will rise like phoenixes." renewed strength filtered into her voice as she willed herself to be strong for the both of them. - exit searla via sleep - * speech is in Gaelic! |