Free (Closed.)

[Cornflower MM]

The squirrelmaid was unconsious, all the bleeding she'd done over the past two days taking its toll.

OOC You can do som r very slight PP if you want.

[The Skarzs]

"Rest easy. . ." Garth repeated as he saw she was unconscious. He felt very much alone now, like he had before he had met Arya. Everything was darkening, all he felt good about, all that seemed good that might continue into the future. "No," he said to himself firmly. "I'm going to make sure Arya is fine." Being as careful as he could, he re-bandaged her wound with some clean bindings from his pack, adding some dock leaves.

OOC: How shall she get moved?

[Cornflower MM]

OOC Hmm. . . Maybe bridal style?

[The Skarzs]

OOC: I considered it, though I was going to ask you first.

BIC: Garth draped Arya's cloak over her, putting his own on as well as the two packs. He lifted Arya up in his arms, taking a few steps. You can do this, he told himself. Just one paw in front of the other. Slowly, Garth set out in a westerly direction, hoping for the best.

[Cornflower MM]

Arya twitched, being lost in a nightmare.

"Hello, pretty one."
"I'm not your pretty one."
"Now you are." The vermin said as he swung her up against a tree, and started kissing her, no matter what she did. "Arya? Arya!" The horrified sound of Alexis voice. "Alec, run! Forget me, just go!" She screamed, gasping. But the vermin o n ly laughed, and one grinned. "Hay, boss. What about having some fun with this kid?" He suggested, and the leader smiled. "Yes, I think that's a marvelous idea." The young squirrel, fighting for his life. Laughter, jeering. . . Then, the stab to the heart. More laughter, cheering,, congratulations.  Arya snapped. Lunging forwards, she grabbed the sword out of the still warm body. All attempts to stop the squirrelmaid were futile. With the powers of rage, grief, and madness she killed them all. Something had snapped in Arya that day. It was never healed.

Arya screamed once, "NO!" Then was silent again.

[The Skarzs]

Garth stumbled when Arya yelled, and nearly fell over. Setting her down, he felt her leg: it was very warm. Gritting his teeth, Garth picked her up again and hurried on, hoping beyond hope to find help. Otherwise. . . he dared not think it, but if her wound wasn't healed, Arya's leg might have to be amputated.

[Cornflower MM]

Arya was locked in that one memory, replaying it over and over. A tear trickled down her cheek.

[The Skarzs]

"Hold on Arya," Garth whispered. "You'll be- !" He had been looking down, and didn't notice the end of the ground in front of him until it was too late. His paws met nothing but empty air, and he plunged down the rocky slope, sliding and tripping as he tried desperately to get a hold with his paws. Leaning back drastically, Garth managed to slide the rest of his way on his back, holding Arya tight and doing what he could to keep her safe from the flying rocks. Thirty feet later he lay still, gasping for breath and aching from the bruises and cuts he had received coming down the slope. The food in the packs were all but sludge, and his walking stick was shattered. Further up, the squirrel's axe was wedged between some rocks.
"'Ey, 'o're you?" An old mouse hobbled up to him, leaning on a stick.
"Uhh. . ." Garth groaned, setting Arya gently down.

[Cornflower MM]

"I asked ya a question, boy." The hermit semi-growled, his eyes assessing Arya.

[The Skarzs]

"My name is Garth, but that's not important right now. Would it be possible for you to help her? Her leg is seriously wounded, and it's getting infected. If nothing is done. . ." he looked at Arya's face sadly.

[Cornflower MM]

"Bring 'er." He sighed, then the old mouse hobbled off, to his hut. "Comin'?" He asked over his sjoulder.

[The Skarzs]

Garth picked Arya up and followed the old mouse, setting her down on a bed when he went inside. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

[Cornflower MM]

"Aye. Go outside. Get firewood. I don't care. I'm gonna haft a do somethings that will hurt like fury, but if you want to hear her screams, then stay." The mousesaid blunly, waiting for Garth to  make up his mind.

[The Skarzs]

Garth was not about to let Arya suffer by herself. "I'm staying."

[Cornflower MM]

The hermit didn't say anything, but merely collected his tools - A small knife, bandages, herbs. The lot. Then he made sure to block Garth's veiw. A few moments later, the squirrelmaid screeched, but lapsed back into unconsciousness.  Twenty minutes later, the mouse moved, and washed his rather bloody paws. "Sit." He commanded, looking at the dirty bandage on Garth's bshoulder.