Cyrania

To Claim a Starting World

Gwendolyn paused at the display, eyes furrowed as she stood and watched. Was this, the one that'd nearly killed Lutter? The monster that everyone had been scared of? Part of her wanted to kill it now, make sure that it didn't terroize anyone ever again. Part of her just wanted to run, warn the others about just what was in their forest.

The other part...saw the way he stumbled back in fear, how in pain he really was. Saw how the leg bent. He needed a splint if it was ever going to get better, and she was a healer. Everything else she could figure out later.

Slowly and carefully, she mirrored Arn's movements, letting Arn speak for now as internally she examined and planned what she would need. Definitely a splint and bandages. Maybe yarrow for the bleeding?

To Claim a Starting World

Head back to the village while one of the boy's are likely injuried? Yeah right. Then Gwendolyn raced after Arn, following the trail along with him. Her knife tightly gripped in her hand. Such a beautiful day too...Couldn't focus on that right now. She frowned at the arrow, examining it closer to see if she recognized the fletching. The hunters all had their own way of doing it, with their preferred feathers to use. No way it could be one of Lutter's though. Not unless someone 'borrowed' them.

After checking that out, she went towards the rent behind Arn and looked down towards the strange body below. Her brow furrowed. This, was clearly no ordinary wolf. She'd seen plenty of those before, though either as pelts or safe behind the village walls. If anything, this could only be the monster that'd attacked Lutter. But now on the verge of death itself?

To Claim a Starting World

I'll be ready to post soon. Just been a bit tired lately.

To Claim a Starting World

Ouch. Hope the headache clears up.

To Claim a Starting World

Gwendolyn paused in her gathering. Obviously, that didn't look good. There was little chance that those weren't the signs of the beast.

But the human tracks...The boys hadn't come out here, had they? No, surely not. And even if they did, none of them would be foolish enough to...

Oh they would have been, especially if dared by the others.

She looked up towards where the tracks led. With any luck, they'd be unharmed. But if they'd managed to catch up, she could only pray she'd be in time. She started forward, then stopped. What was she thinking? Whatever the creature was, she definitely couldn't fight it with only a knife. But if she went back, she could be too late if one of the boys were already hurt...

She heard a rustle in the undergrowth behind her, causing her to turn around then back up as the wild hunter charged forth. "Arn?"

To Claim a Starting World

Gwendolyn sighed. What on earth had spooked him like that? Something about the two women's argument?

She frowned, heading out of the town and towards the best clearing for yarrow and nettle, all the while pondering. Maybe he was only still thinking about whatever had attacked Lutter. That could have been it. There's still so much about that they didn't understand.

Which might be in the woods...

She stopped at the clearing and glancing around, gripping her knife. No, no way it'd be this close to the village...

Just needed to focus on the nettle and yarrow. Focus on that.

She stooped down to slice off what she needed.

To Claim a Starting World

Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow. When was Volkaser ever just fine? "If you say so.." Really he did seem more pale than not. And why was he outside rather than inside the tavern again? Unless... "Yvenna and Ryska having another row?" She turned her head towards the door. Really, if the two of them could just figure something out, or if Ryska could get married again. If anything, a good father might be the true answer to the village dilemma. But who? Lutter? No, he was too often swimming in the mead. Unless he could give that up, there would be no way he could be someone Ryska or her children could respect.

Maybe Kettil? He wasn't handsome to be sure, but he was a kind, decent, and would know about being firm like the boys needed him to be. He could even teach her sons how to hunt, and provide for the next child. It'd be perfect, if only she could somehow arrange for that.

Avatar: Order of the White Lotus

I could continue this.

To Claim a Starting World

Gwendolyn sighed. "No use harming the potential child to be for the sins of their mother. Even if she really needs to be a better mother." She rose from her seat, grabbing her cloak and herb basket. "I'll go for the yarrow and nettle. Don't wait over long for me, father." She kissed his brow. "I'll be back before you know it." Then she went out the door and into the village, mind pondering.

Perhaps she was simply oversensitive to the idea. She had been a foundling child after all, left to die by whoever abandoned her. Would have died if not for father. Never having a chance to grow and become who she was now. Yet she had at least seen the world and daylight. To just talk so casually about killing a child within their mother's womb...

It was a theory of his. And she could not blame him over much for not wanting Ryska's sons to grow in number and hurt more of the others in their cruelty. Yet, they had no way of knowing for certain that if she was expecting again, the child would be like that too. Or even if it would be another boy. It could be a daughter for all they knew. She would check on Ryska herself, see if she could confirm her father's words. She had thought she could sense the child when last they helped with labor. Maybe it was her imagination, but she could see. Even if it meant hearing her complain, nag, and wonder why she doesn't marry, again.

She huffed, blowing some of her hair away from her face. Why couldn't people be simple? Less likely to get on your case about things that don't concern them? Or willing to stop others from hurting other people just because? True, it likely would make things more boring and dull around here, but sometimes boring was not bad.

She paused as she came by the tavern, spying Voshker looking rather pale. "Chief Voshker?" She came up to him. "Are you alright?"

To Claim a Starting World

I'll put up something soon.