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Journey to the East

Elann came by her husband in the night, but kept the same distance from him as she slept. It wasn't abnormal for her to take to the other side of the bed if she was warm enough, but it was fairly cold. Really she just didn't want to hurt him, but it also gave him a quiet space. In the morning, likewise she hurried about getting both of them breakfast, zipping off to do her own thing and to check on the bear pelt and to see what the doctor had thought of him.

There was a brief checking in the morning to which words of encouragement were given, stating that he would be able to be mobile probably by either that day or the next; that if he has to move, to do so with help and to do it slowly. The doctor even would encourage some minor bit of walking around camp in the evening given that the pace of the wagons was too fast currently for his condition. While there was bad mixed in with the good, it was still good, and soon he would be able to be free from the boredom inside.

Elann felt sad for him. He just looked miserable, and despite that fact, she still kept silent and distant from him. She either sewed or went about walking. Not hardly a word was spoken to him except to confirm he was alright and to see if he needed anything. It had been hours since she had spoken to him, and while drugged and likely lacking any notice of anything other than the outdoors he was likely tripping on, she decided it was time to come and give him a kiss on the cheek. She approached and sat next to him on the floor, rubbed his leg with a hand and if he turned to face her, she would give him a light peck there on his cheek.

A smile encompassed her as well as the light coming from out the back.

"Do you want to work on your storm gems a little?"

It was said with the perception that even though their bond was dulled, she could tell somewhat how he was feeling as she looked to him. If not, she would consider possibly slinking back to her back corner of the wagon to let him be.

Journey to the East

Elann was awake just long enough to feel the terror and panic. It was what made her shoot up awake. The feeling was pulled from her though slowly as well as the pain that washed over her. It seemed from Aimee that the caravan had come to a stop for the night and she then offered Elann to help with the tent.

"I think it is best if Noah doesn't move from here at least until tomorrow. I'll just stay here with him."

She slowly sat up and then moved up and over to a bench to sit and wake up.

"I'm going to go and make sure you have food for tonight as well as get some tea ready for later," she stated to her sleepy husband. She then would smile to Aimee and would move up nearer to her to the chest so she could get a pot and some of the leaves for later. She would have to ask the doctor how much would be safe to pour him, but it seemed he handled two leaves quite well. As she looked at him in the dark, she could tell he looked strung out on the leaves and she was just thankful they weren't hallucinogenic. Most of their medicine in the desert was.

Once the supplies were picked up, she would slip out the back of the wagon and would comment, "I'll be right back." Looking to Aimee she expressed, "Just come get me if you need help."

It was clear his sister was there to be by his side, and Elann just wanted to give him the distance she felt he had been pushing at her for. It hurt - her wanting to be near his side - but his lack of desiring her there made her feel it was the right choice.

Once out of the wagon, she could see the fire already starting to take shape and a line beginning to form to help out with various tasks for the cook. People were loving the bear steaks over gruel any day and Elann was welcomed among the people. Many asked how Noah was doing and eventually she made her way to the doctor's family to ask about the medicine. After some minor convincing, she got the cook to brew up some tea for her in the pot for later, and when food was served, she brought the pot back to the wagon.

"Oof...here. If you want to slide this up to the front," she said as she set it on the floor of the wagon. The doctor said a glass of that when the medicine is starting to wear off will make him feel better." She then lingered a moment incase there was something the matter, but if not, she went to eat a few quick bites and then brought some food back for both Noah and Aimee. Eventually she knew Noah would need both her and Aimee's help to get down from the wagon to go to the bathroom, but she hoped it wasn't anytime soon. She knew he would hate it just as he had before. There was nothing more demoralizing than having someone help you to go, and her husband already was not a happy camper. At least this time he could move his legs.

Journey to the East

Elann felt helpless, alone, and neglected in a minor way. It was fortunate her bond was dulled because it felt like to her that no matter what, she couldn't fully bring him the comfort others could. She was supposed to be the one to comfort him the most, but instead his mother, his sister, and even a stranger's daughter could do so better than her. He may not have been consciously ignoring her, but she felt as much. While he seemed to accept her actions, through the bond there was not near as much comfort as when someone else tried to comfort him.

Elann quickly fell asleep, letting the soothing voice of Aimee drive her from her worries, and she only woke up a little when Noah began to speak. It was almost worry for him that drove her to be alert, but upon hearing Aimee's whispers, she woke up slowly. The wagon had come to a stop and her eyes were slowly opened as she shuffled in the blanket. At some point she had turn onto her side away from him in her sleep as if it was their bed at home, but now she carefully rolled back onto her back to view him.

Her squinting eyes first looked upward to Aimee and then over to her husband.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, finally having the strength to sit up. If he still held her bond closed, she would wake up with relief, but if not, she would be a bit more groany.

Journey to the East

Elann had watched her sister change and eventually come to give the medicine. Her eventual question made Elann hum thoughtfully.

"The medicine he's been giving him has worked very quick. This is different, but I think since it's directly being chewed, it should work even quicker, and will work better."

She tried to encourage her pillow-hugging husband and said in a soft voice, "It'll be better soon. We are right here with you. I promise this won't be like before. We'll have you up in no time."

She offered him a sugar cube, "Here, this might take away some of that bitter," she volunteered, her experience in culinary flavors really coming through. It would likely only take one cube to nullify the bitter, but if he wanted more, she wouldn't hesitate. Eventually she would close the sack up and set it aside, then would roll to her back and would reach over to lightly pet his hair.

Her pain was simply sore, so she could lay on her back, but for her husband it was intense. Soon he would be asleep again, and since he took two leaves instead of one, it was likely he was going to be out all night too. Since Elann hadn't slept, she too would lay with him until the wagons stopped and into the night. Yet she would want to have some water and food for him. As it was, he hadn't fallen asleep yet.

She looked up to Aimee some more and said, "You should sing some more. Do you have some more songs?"

Journey to the East

A bright light shone as Noah complained about the pain. Almost immediately, the nude form of her sister comforted Noah. Elann watched as she began to sing to him, settling in and letting her be his comfort. If she hadn't been able to lull him to sleep last night and wasn't able to keep him asleep all night, she would have felt jealous. It did somewhat seem like everyone was able to comfort him but her at times, but last night he did seem soothed. As it was, she just lay there and tried her best to interpret and understand the song. Fortunately, songs were sung slow, and most of the words she was able to understand in concept, but she couldn't likely sing it herself at that point. She honestly didn't know if he would want her to at that point.

While Aimee pet his head, she felt his forehead for fever, one of the things she was to check on, yet it didn't feel too hot. His body though was quite hot and she would keep an eye on it and switched out the blanket for a lighter one.

"He gave me some medicinal leaves to make tea from, but he also said he could ingest the leaves. Seeing how we don't have a fire, he might just have to chew on them. He said they are really bitter though." Elann winced at the thought, knowing he wouldn't like that. "I have some sugar though. We could maybe use the leaf to hold some inside, it might make it tolerable?" She then added, "The good thing is, the leaf should be stronger than the tea. The bag of sugar and the leaves are in the right side of the trunk," she said to Aimee, who was closer to it than her. Looking to Noah, she compassionately looked to him.

"Would you want to take some love?" If he agreed, she'd explain that he would have to chew the leaf before swallowing it. The more he chewed, the more juice would be released and the more relief he would get. She was going to make sure to make a large pitcher of the tea that night, but hadn't had an opportunity in the morning before they moved.

Journey to the East

Upon helping Noah lie down and after preparing a bed for him, he quickly fell asleep with the aid of medicine. It was then Elann went out to get some breakfast and to find out what happened with the bear. It seemed they had harvested it, and on the edge of the trapper's wagon, he was stretching the bear fur for them for a blanket. He also had her bow. Upon retrieving it, Elann noticed Aimee come back and confronted her about her brother.

It seemed she had misjudged the path of the wagons and was thus all alone. Elann felt bad that she had to spend the night devoid of their presence, but was glad she hadn't run into anything dangerous. Elann also didn't rub it in her face that there was a divine showdown, seeing how the Kelvic woman had never experienced a God before. Elann and Noah had been ushered into this world of power and there was no turning back.

Elann encouraged her to go spend some time with her brother and to try not to wake him as much as possible. By the time the wagons started to move Elann had her bow about her and despite being in a dress, she was skipping through the grasses with the children of another family. The pain was intense for her, but given Noah's sleep she was able to play and keep attention on the children for most of the morning until early afternoon when he awoke.

A sudden rush of pain came upon her and Elann stopped playing for a little bit, making the children wonder if everything was alright. With a little nod, she sent the children back to their families and headed to her own wagon. With a brushing of her legs and shaking of her dress, and ticks or such animals that had clung on, were shaken off, having spotted one before climbing into the wagon. She didn't like bugs crawling on her, even as a little girl, so even though she didn't know what ticks were, or what they did, or how she could have gotten bitten by them, she wanted it off of her. Having cleansed herself of the offenders, she climbed up slowly and painfully into the wagon.

Elann came to lay down on the blanket bed beside her husband and happily petted Aimee on the head. Elann's cheeks had a rosy hue on them and the smells of Zulrav's breezes were fresh upon her as she had been in them for a while. Her skin even seemed to darken slightly at being out in the sun, leaving her an almost golden tan color. She huddled under the blanket to get warm, but avoided tugging on it, not wanting to disturb Noah's body.

"Is the medicine wearing off?"

Journey to the East

Elann quickly finished her meal, eating all the rest of it and not letting it go to waste. There wasn't too much left of the steak when Noah had finished with it. Her husband fortunately could eat, could walk, and that was a relief to her. There was mild annoyance through the bond only as she mentioned that he would have to stay there, and she interpreted it correctly. It was painful to see him have to go through the pain again of having her, his wife now, take care of him. He hated it before, and he hated it now.

Elann was just happy that the Kelvic eagle was not subject to the rules of nature, as he would have not been able to fly, eat, or anything and both times now would have been dead had it not been for her. Elann didn't do it either time for a thank you, or a reward, but simply because she loved him; before as a friend, and all the more now as a husband.

Shortly after she finished her meal, the doctor came by.

"How is he?" he asked, thinking Noah asleep.

"He's okay, just in some pain. Thank you so much for this."

"It's not a problem. Here..." he muttered as he put a few blankets into the wagon. "These are for you and him in case you get cold tonight. If anything changes, just let me know right away."

Elann nodded to him and gave him a small wave as he closed the flap. Elann reached over to the blankets and took one for her own lap. The icy cold water had chilled her immensely earlier, and she had yet to warm up. It was only when the thick blanket was placed on her lap did she feel an ounce of warmth come back to her.

"Are you warm enough under that blanket Noah?" she asked softly, not wanting to disturb him too much. She looked over her shoulder to see any visual cues he would give. Whether or not he wanted the blanket, eventually she would settle back against the bench and near to him where she was when eating, and would reach up behind her to lovingly caress his hair. Through their bond, she tried to send him comfort and the closeness she felt to him in her love, all to help lull him into sleep. She however would not be able to sleep all night long, and come morning, when the flap was opened by the doctor, she would be there ready to get him up and to carefully move him to their wagon. It would be tricky, hard, and slow going, but ultimately with Elann and the doctor's wife's help, they were able to get him down without jostling his back or arm and then back up again should he wish to go in. His wounds were in such a place it seemed even to hurt walking for Elann, how painful it must have been for him she wondered.

Journey to the East

Thankfully Noah didn't argue with her on staying in the wagon and he heeded the advice of the doctor. The last thing she wanted to do was have him pop his stitches in the middle of the night and yet be far away from the doctor.

Upon her wish, the bond opened and immediately her breath became shaken. After a few deep breaths though and a closing of her eyes to focus on bringing down the feeling and notice of pain, she set upon eating and seemed alright.

"Thank you love." said briefly to him, rubbing his leg affectionately before eating some more. Noah then lay down, much to her comfort. The doctor had wanted him to stay down and with him lying on his stomach, it was even better. A smile came from Elann as he thanked her for the food.

"Of course," she said cheerily. Seeing his dangling arm and sensing his boredom, she turned her back and leaned up against the bench he was laying on so she would be much closer to him and within his hand's reach. "I am going to stay here with you, so if you need anything, I don't want you getting up, you just ask me. I'll get it for you, okay?"

As Elann was seated near his head, he could smell something different about her. She not only had the normal scents that made her herself, but also the smell of nature. The sap, the grass, the wind, the river- they all made their strong mark on her and nestled in her hair, in her dress, and on her skin. Despite the new clothing she wore - having taken off the fur lined clothing - she was still marked by nature itself.

Journey to the East

There were pulses of pain surging through Elann as she talked and as Noah tested his limits and she huffed a breath to herself trying to shake the pain from her as she walked back. Once back, and having set down the food, their bond weakened. An exclaimed sigh came from her happily as suddenly all pain was near gone.

"Oh goodness...if you only knew how good that felt..." she whimpered in pleasure then and it was much easier to climb into the wagon. Elann nodded about Aimee and was just reveling in how good having your pain to be immensely there, and then not there.

She knew her husband was hungry, and so she began to feed him. She could feel the annoyance in him and looked curiously to him until he told her what he wanted her to do. She would immediately comply, not wanting him to be annoyed with her for a second. She could tell he didn't like the soup so she didn't feed him any, just sticking to the cut pieces of meat. Once he was feeding himself, though it was painful, she could feel his annoyance leave.

"Okay," she answered as he finished and she took the piece she had just cut and ate it herself. A little nod came from her. "The doctor thinks that's best, and after a night's rest, we can move you to our wagon until you've recovered enough not to pull out your stitches. Just try not to move too much okay?"

Elann came down to his feet, sitting on the floor of the wagon so she could face him, with the bowl of soup in her hands and the remaining steak placed inside for some additional flavoring.

"Noah, you don't have to close off our bond. It's okay. I'll be fine. I know how it makes you feel. I'd rather be in a little bit of sore pain, than have you in a lot of pain, and feeling like you feel without our bond present. At least with it open, I can maybe calm you and help you sleep, maybe take the edge off of it for you?"

Journey to the East

Elann hadn't eaten all day, which wasn't an issue for her, but given her stress and the pain she had gone through, her body was yearning for it as well. Noah had perceived her sigh as heavy. It was, not just for the emotional side, in which holding back all her emotions was taxing, but also the physical side. She shared his pain and also his discomfort, yet unlike him she had been awake the whole time. It had been pure torture and food could make it better.

He accepted and she grinned at the guilt of his hunger. His curiosity and question made her smile more.

"Of course I will. I don't know if it's ready or not. I don't even know what happened, if they were able to find my bow and the bear or not. I've been here the whole time."

It showed she was faithful to remain by his side in everything, and as she stood up, it was painful. Still, in stubbornness, she bent over despite the pain he sent her and gave him a kiss before slipping out the back. It was clear she was moving a little bit slower, but there was a relief in her as well now that she was able to finally move.

As Elann rounded the wagon, she saw the fire pit as well as the doctor and his family. There was quite a gathering of people around the blaze as food was being served, and as she approached, she felt like a celebrity. Just about everyone hoped that she and Noah were okay, would give hugs, and eventually ushered her to the front of the line. It made her feel a bit better, and especially since on a grill over the fire were large bear steaks and some soup.

"Ahh I was going to bring you some," said the cook.

"Well, here I am."

After a brief exchange of words on Noah's condition, she stepped to the side and talked just a little bit more, letting him serve others. Ultimately she left with a plate of a couple bear steaks and a bowl of soup with a knife in between her fingers, but before she could head back to the wagon, she had to ask the doctor some things.

"He is sitting up now. He seems groggy and in a lot of pain."

"I would imagine. He'll likely be in pain for a couple of days and then likely will be very sore after that."

"Um..." she muttered nervously, "Would you mind if we trespass on you tonight? I think it'd be far too painful to climb down from the wagon right now."

The doctor nodded and explained how his family was going to sleep in a tent anyways, and that in the morning, they'd see what they could do about moving him to their own wagon for his recovery. Satisfied, Elann headed back and came about the back of the wagon.

"Here is food," she said as she lifted it up onto the wagon chair to set it down. The action was extremely painful to her, given where his injuries were and she couldn't help but whimper tiny bit.

"I still didn't see Aimee. She was out way ahead this morning."

Elann then climbed up into the wagon and would help Noah to feed himself; cutting the steaks; bringing them up to his mouth; wiping his chin of any juice; feeding the soup to him; to which all of it would involve the movement of his arms, which given where his injuries were, would hurt greatly. Elann knew that for a fact, because as she moved, she could tell. If she was hurting as bad as she was, he would die in pain if he moved like she did. Elann loved being a servant to people, especially her husband, and as she fed him, there was a special kind of love within her bond for him. A loving care and gentleness.