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

[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."

[redlightgreenlight]

Jackie...

Valdis ducked her head under Jackie's hand so that it rested on her head. She hadn't realized just how much she cared about the boy until faced with the fact that she might not get him to Raine in time. Now that Milyn was dead, she wasn't sure if death was permanent, but she had known that Raine could save him and she hoped the woman knew how grateful she was.

Thank you, Raine. I'll see him back to the Hotel.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine found herself touched, and she offered both of them a somewhat brighter smile. "Thank you," she said to Jackie, and, to Valdis, "Of course. Both of you-- let me know how things go, if you don't mind. I may not be strictly involved, but I'd like to be sure you're all right."

And she did find she meant both of them, despite some of the past rockiness in her relationship with Valdis.

[jinzhong]

Jackie nodded. "Yeah. Of course. I'm not gonna let your work go to waste."

He was a little surprised by Valdis maneuvering her head under his hand, and after a moment he gave her an awkward pat. What are you supposed to do when your hellhound friend does something like that? "Thanks," he murmured.

[redlightgreenlight]

Let's go, Valdis said to Jackie.

Dipping her head to Raine, the large hound turned away, ready to lead Jackie back to their home. She would have to speak to Yunxu about this. She was certain he wasn't dumb enough to order an attack on a foreigner, just as she was certain he hadn't ordered Milyn's death. If he was losing control of his people, then that was a problem for all of them.

[jinzhong]

Jackie said goodbye to Raine and left with Valdis. His head was awash with ideas, and the realization of how much Valdis actually valued him - and how much he trusted her in turn - helped him come to a decision.

"Hey - you know anywhere we can talk where we won't be overheard?" he said in a low voice as they walked.