And Although I Wasn't Losing my Mind

[redlightgreenlight]

Characters:Valdis and open
Date: April 2017
Location: Various
Situation: Various
Warnings/Rating: In Headers



March hadn’t been the greatest of months. Her discovery of Milyn’s affiliation with the cultists had led to a less than pleasant confrontation with the Foreigners regarding the matter. She would have been lying if she told people she wasn’t surprised by some of the venom contained within certain conversations. But it was all part of the plan, at least, until Milyn had been murdered by the Snakes.

Even then, it took several days before she realized what the odd feeling in the pit of her stomach was. Guilt. The moment she realized it, Valdis fled Keeliai and disappeared into the mountains. While she wandered, she discovered a shrine, a mural depicting the turtle's shell and an eight pointed star. The peace radiating from within the small cave reminded her of the serenity of the turtle's head before Malicant's taint destroyed it. She lingered for days, meditating and finding a sense of peace. She was loathe to leave the place, but it was a discovery that she had to share with some of the others. Perhaps it could even help them awaken Tu Vishan.

Comments

[jinzhong]

"H-hey, take it easy," Jackie said, turning around to face the Snakes and taking a step backwards, his hands open and empty.

The skinny one with the pistol spat on the ground as he circled. "Foreigners used to get special treatment. Know I saw you around. Like you were Yunxu's pet."

"What did your kind ever do for us? Aside from betray us!" one of them growled, and lunged for Jackie, who dodged backwards, avoiding the knife. His next dodge wasn't quite so lucky, but at least he wasn't hurt too badly; he didn't have his knife with him so he sank into a fighting crouch, pressing one hand to the cut on his side. Not too deep, but it hurt; he'd have to get it seen to, if he lived.

"We're gonna make you pay and make sure you never come back."

[redlightgreenlight]

The other Snakes closed in while the one with the pistol watched, not feeling the need to get involved. One of them threw a punch aimed at the back of Jackie's head while another slashed at his arm with a knife. The biggest kedan darted in with more speed than expected, trying to stab Jackie in the abdomen.

****

She moved slowly, taking her time and occasionally straying from the path, knowing that Jackie would end up back at the Hotel anyway and she could always speak to him there. But when four separate scents joined the boy's, her hackles rose and she followed the trail a bit faster now, not certain if caution would be needed or not.

[jinzhong]

The sucker-punch to the back of the head made Jackie see stars, and the slash opened up a gash in his non-tattooed arm. The Snake he'd been shoved into shoved him back, and he overbalanced and fell backwards, still dizzy.

He was beginning to entertain the very real possibility he wouldn't get out of this alley at all.

Granted - he'd already been killed in probably the worst, most painful, most horrifying way a guy can go out. But he wasn't exactly itching to repeat the experience.

Blood!

[redlightgreenlight]

The scent of blood on the air caused Valdis to dig in and she turned the corner into the alley just as Jackie went down. She released a vicious, heart stopping snarl and charged down the street at the Snakes. She slammed her head against the one who had been watching, throwing him into the wall and then put on the breaks, spinning to catch the arm of the largest Snake as he tried to dispatch Jackie. She bit down gently, not enough to sever the arm, but her teeth still slid easily through the skin.

The man shrieked and she released him, ignoring him as he gripped his arm and tried to stem the bleeding. The other two Snakes had fled before the furious black hound, dragging their unconscious companion with them. The entire attack had taken less than five seconds and now Valdis stood between the badly injured Snake and Jackie, her head raised high, blood dripping from her jaws.

Something weird happening! :O

[jinzhong]

The snarl froze Jackie's blood cold.

He somehow managed to stumble to his feet in full fight-or-flight mode (flight, definitely flight) before he realized what had happened.

He threw his arm out to steady himself, his vision wavering, wanting to push the screaming Snake away from him despite the black hound between them, and...

...there was a whumph sound as the Snake fell to the ground, still screaming, and Jackie felt what little energy he had left leave him.

"V-Valdis?"

[redlightgreenlight]

She heard Jackie movie around behind her, but her focus was on the injured kedan for now. The man seemed unsteady on his feet, but his sudden tumble backward was a bit more forceful that a normal fall would have been. Her head dropped and she turned to look behind her at the sound of Jackie's voice.

It's me. she replied, deciding to ignore the Snake and bring her full attention to Jackie. She turned to face him. Are you alright?

ALSO I MESSED UP WHEN I WAS PHONE TAGGING AND DIDN'T NOTICED ONE OF THE SNAKES STABBED AT HIM

[jinzhong]

Jackie nodded, a little too stunned to speak more, before remembering that he was hurt. His wounds were beginning to pain him again now that the adrenaline was draining from his system. "Arm, stomach," he mumbled, and leaned his head against her side. He'd been stabbed - he hadn't noticed it earlier, but it was hurting now.

[redlightgreenlight]

A brief, low whimper was her only response to the feeling of his head against her side. The injured snake wasn't forgotten, however, so Valdis knew when the man began to crawl away, not daring to continue the fight. Her eyes shifted to follow him as he left the alley.

Can you walk? she asked, directing her attention back to Jackie. She would deal with the consequences of injuring the Snakes later. Or do I need to carry you to the Hotel? Either way, we should call for Raine or another healer.

[jinzhong]

"...I think I can walk," he said, but he knew he was lying. He wouldn't get far like this, even with Valdis for support. He was just lucky he hadn't come off worse in that fight.

[redlightgreenlight]

Liar

She slowly lowered herself to the ground, careful to not unbalance him, settling on her stomach so that it would be easier for Jackie to get on. She wasn't going to drag him around like a pup.

Get on.

[jinzhong]

Jackie really, really should have known Valdis would call his bluff. Wincing, he clambered onto her back gracelessly and did his best to secure himself.

"Sorry if I bleed on you," he mumbled.

[redlightgreenlight]

Don't apologize.

She lurched to her feet, hoping that he had a good enough grip on her fur to stay on. Valdis was tempted to run, to get him to a healer as quickly as she could, but to move too quickly risked dislodging him and he was dazed and losing blood.

Just stay with me, ok?

She began to walk and as she felt him stay steady she broke into a gentle lope, skipping the middle gait entirely. If he could sit that, then she could get him to the hotel faster.

[jinzhong]

"Uh-huh."

Jackie was losing blood, but this wasn't the worst he'd been injured. Mr. Tong had done a lot worse to him before - well. He didn't like to think about that. But he'd never broken. He'd never called Wei a rat. Never.

He was a little ashamed that Malicant, of all beings, had sown the seed of doubt in his mind about it, but he'd never give up his best friend. Even if he knew he'd never see Wei again.

Jackie was half-awake, half-passed out, lost in reverie about how things used to be before Keeliai.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis got to the Hotel as quickly as she could, shoved her way into the lobby and then immediately turned and exited into the Water Sector. She knew the way to the Healer's Guild by heart and didn't even have to think about where she needed to turn. She released a sharp yip when she saw Raine exiting the Guild hall and carefully slowed so she wouldn't dislodge Jackie.

He was attacked by the Snakes, he's bleeding, she said quickly.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine had hoped to have seen the last of crises for the month, but that didn't stop her moving to action quickly. "Here, set him down--" She reached up to Jackie, planning to at least steady him on Valdis' back. She couldn't tell from here quite how badly he was injured, but hopefully, in a few moments, that shouldn't matter anyway.

She angled her staff behind her and focused on mana, and the typical white circle spun beneath her as she concentrated. "Heal," she said firmly, before much longer, and light fell warm over Jackie, sinking into and healing his wounds.

"The Snakes?" He'd said there might be reprisals. "What happened?"

[jinzhong]

"Hi Raine," he mumbled when he heard her voice. It hurt too much to talk more than that, but soon the pain was washed away in a calming white glow.

It was nice. Relaxing. Not like dying had been. Dying had felt different, so at least he was reassured that he wasn't currently dying.

"They called me a traitor," he said. "Since I left."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis carefully lowered herself to the ground, thankful that Raine helped to steady Jackie, but the boy seemed too weak to get off. She waited, an ear twitching as Raine cast her healing spell, relieved when Jackie spoke and his voice sounded stronger.

Four of them attacked him, she added, It was simply luck that I came by when I did.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine had hoped Jackie wouldn't attract that sort of attention. She had known it was a small hope: but she'd hoped, nevertheless. Now her expression drew down, and for a moment Raine looked genuinely angry before she smoothed it out, and sighed. "Do you need some place to lie low for a while?" she asked.

To Valdis, she added, "Regardless of luck-- thank you." It was a genuine relief that someone had been there to help Jackie.

[jinzhong]

Jackie shook his head. "Nah. They haven't tried anything before...I think they were just trying to get me alone. They don't bother me at the bar or the Hotel, and I've always been around people when I've been out. Tonight was just...kind of dumb on my part."

He looked at Valdis. "Yeah...I don't think I said thank you. So, thanks! I would have been dead without you."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis' upper lip curled back to show her teeth, a low rumble in her throat indicating her displeasure at the situation.

No one hurts my pack.

But she didn't think this was on Yunxu's orders, just like she didn't didn't think that Milyn's death was on the man either.

[ruinsprofessor]

"Regardless of whether or not you should have taken precautions, the fault lies with the ones who attacked you," Raine said, absently annoyed on Jackie's behalf. "Valdis, I assume you're not hurt?" She hadn't noticed the hound favoring anything, and in any case she regenerated, but anomalies had occurred before. She rested the butt of her staff on the ground and surveyed them both once more, just in case.

[jinzhong]

Jackie blinked at Valdis. "I'm your pack?"

He honestly hadn't thought he'd meant that much to her. Or to anyone, really.

[redlightgreenlight]

She flicked her tail at Raine, I'm fine.

Then, eyes still on Jackie, Valdis reached out with her nose to poke his hand.

Of course.

She didn't understand why he felt so surprised. You trusted me when many others wouldn't have and you helped me despite being afraid. That's what pack does.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine leaned on her staff, regarding the two of them now not with studying intent, but a quiet smile. This was a side of Valdis she didn't often see, and the opportunity was a welcome one.

"What will you do now?" she asked of them both. "Is there anything else you need from me, at the moment?"

[jinzhong]

"I'm probably gonna go back to the Hotel. At least I can be pretty sure they won't bother me there. And hey, thanks, Raine," Jackie said. "You saved my ass, too. Come by the Golden Koi sometime. You and Solomon. You'll be taken care of."

He looked at Valdis. "Yeah, well...I don't give up on my friends. You're in with me, you're stuck with me, got it? That goes for both of you."