Fever

[Gwilym]

7^th of Undecimber
Year LV
3.39

A hiss of pain was followed by a roar of frustration, echoing from the mouth of a natural cave. Rain had come over the valley, and it hadn't stopped, simply becoming colder and more unbearable, turning the ground into mud and the mud into ice. It was not a time to be sick. It was not a time to be injured. But he was.

Gwilym lay at the mouth of his current home, half in the moonlight and half out. He was in his human form, but as he groaned and let his head fall back, his grimace revealed a rows of long, pointed teeth. Hot and cold rushed over him in waves. Usually, he would bury himself in the mud from warmth; but he had endeavoured as best as he could to keep the ever-weeping gash in his middle clean.

How long ago had it been since he fought that blasted Guardian, the red-head? How long since she had torn him open and handed him to death? He felt that he might die. Some how, the wound had grown angry, and now he was sick and weak, barely gripping onto the fringes of reality. Yet he seethed, burned through his pain, knashing his teeth: revenge! The very thought seemed to give him life.

He would taste the sweet flesh of a human, a precious one, he would make sure; and he would see her disappointment, her anger, her grief, even if he had to die for it. Weakly, he extended his mind, like a hand held out for assistance. If he was to have his revenge, he would have to live. Hopefully one of those rare anomalies among the Gewin, a being with caring for its fellow, would happen upon him and seek a remedy for what ailed him.

Mermaids - Peter Pan

[Naia]

What a horrible day. Naia just hated the cold, it was raining, she was wet and the wind just made it worse. Even now that she's in her natural wolf form she can feel the cold piercing trough her tick fur to her skin. The femme growled slightly in annoyance and continued on her way seeking shelter. She knew of a few caves that she can take refuge in. She was too busy feeding on a human's body to notice the rain coming. But it was worth it. Naia was for once happy that she had this human form, it just locked her prey into her trap. It was as easy as stealing food from a pup. All she had to do was act lonely and scared, a man that had chopped fire wood was returning back and heard the sound of someone crying. He approached her and asked her if she was okay, her hazel optics filled with crocodile tears. Before he can say another word he was a goner. What a sad evening for his family yet a glorious night for the gewyn. Being completely satisfied she couldn't complain much.

Again her mind was flooded with thoughts of a warm dry cave, she didn't notice the scent of another. Leaping up she landed on a large boulder, before her eyes another of her kind. She halted right in her tracks looking at the in human form gewyn. She backed up a bit but then noticed the scent of blood, was he injured? Hazel optics looked around the area, there were lots of other caves around this place, but she just arrived at one yet it's occupied. Though this one seemed to be injured. Not thinking she stormed right into the cave, he was injured so she figured he couldn't posses much of a threat to her. She wandered a few feet away from him, then shook her body, water drops were send flying in every direction, not towards the other. She then turned towards the stranger, he was indeed hurt. She lowered her posture slightly, not dominant but neutral. She slowly approached him.

It was something that came natural to her, her hazel optics looking into the male's. She took yet another daring step towards him now in reach of his arms. May I? She asked politely, looking now to were his wound is. Naia had been in a pack before, wars had been fought and most of the time she had to tend the warriors wounds and fetch their needs along with a few other females in the pack. He seemed to be in a lot of pain. She'd help him if he wants help. Sometimes there are those that are stupid, they have to much pride and prefer to die than to get cured. Hopefully he wouldn't choose to die. She could use another's warmth for awhile. Her coat had a faint scent of human blood in it, the rain has washed most of the blood out of it, but a small amount still remains. She was satisfied but maybe even that faint smell can drive him crazy.

[Meriwether Strangeway]

Dominic

With Samhain just a little more then two weeks away the demand for meat and leather was up, so were pelts since the colder weather was coming. This was one of the busiest times for the hunter in the village. However this village had the unusual set back only being able to set traps once, maybe twice a day, during the day. Though the hunters were probably the men that had most skill to be able to take down a Gewyn, most of them still wouldn’t dare to hunt or check traps after the sunset. Usually Dominic was fine with that, the early morning hours and evenings were when he got to spend time with his family.

But at the current moment the hunters weren’t supplying the demand, in fact they were barely catching enough to even make a decent sell. Well Dominic wasn’t going to let a shortage happen if he had anything to do with it. So he was going to start his rounds early in the morning so that he could have the traps set more and have the advantage of getting the animals when they first started to stir. Was he worried about the Gewin? Of course! He grew up here and there was enough evidence for him to believe the legend. But he wasn’t about to let his family and the villagers starve or go cold this winter because him and the other hunters were to scared to go out at night.

Having gotten about five hours of sleep, Dominic put on his thick leather hunting garb, boots, long leather coat, and a axe over his shoulder and musket over the other. He trudged into the forest with no light, he knew his way around the forest better then he knew his way around the village, and headed toward the first set of trappings. Six rabbits and a deer was found, he had back track and left those on the boundary of the village. Now he was tracking back toward the caves to see what if any meat might be lurking in them.

He had been climbing the rocks, now a more adventurous challenge then work, when he heard the muffle of a voice. What were people, if they were people doing up here? Readying his gun Dominic cautiously stepped up to the level of the cave and was able to make out two figures, a man and woman. At first he thought he should have been more cautious and ignored the muffles, for he was sure they wouldn’t want to be caught. However when his eyes adjusted to the shadows it looked like a man laying in a pained position with the woman hovering over him, “Is everything alright here? Is he injured?” his voice was a bit gruff but there was worry in it. It was bad to be injured, but it was worse to be injured out in this forest at night.

[Gwilym]

Gwilym struggled with his concentration, trying to determine whether or not the pretty female leaning over him was indeed there, or simply a mirage created by his feeble, sick mind. She spoke to him and he nodded, opening his mouth to speak. It was dry -- he needed water -- he needed... oh, how hot it was, and he was freezing! Burning up. He couldn't keep his head on straight.

The scent of human made his hackles raise. His eyes darted quickly to the girl's -- er, woman's, she was older than a girl, though she had delicate features -- and hunger and questioning burned there. But in the next moment, his confused senses cleared -- for a male voice boomed out, gruff and without the velvety quality inevitably belonging to those of his kind.

He spoke quickly, his mind racing. Possibilities! A meal! Or... aid. Aid from a human? Like that age old fable about the mouse and the lion. Well, this lion needed his ropes cut, and he wanted to eat, too.

"Yes! He croaked, his eyes still on hers, urgent. Follow along, they said, and he sent out his mind-voice with a similar message. "Thank the Gods! My wife and I have been out here for days. I am hurt, she used her clothing to dress my wounds, but... but... oh, they were dirty, my wound is wide, we are starving." It felt odd, talking to a human this way. He had made a feeble attempt to explain away the fact that both of the people in this cave were nude.

[Naia]

Having seen the wound, first thing that came to her mind. She needed to find some way to disinfect it and seal it then hope it will cure. In his state, probably he wouldn't care who'd help him as long as he got help. He seemed to be pretty much in pain. The wolf can't really do much in this form. With her snout she moved his hand away from the wound. Then seh gently started to clean it. It is said that a gewyn's saliva can cure the nastiest of injuries. Something wasn't right, in the distance she can hear something, like two legs walking. Naia wasn't sure what it was, it could be a human, to be on the safe side she decided to shift into her human form. It took only a few minutes for the change, fur disappearing, bones repositioning themselves her fangs disappearing into normal teeth.

The sound came closer and closer, now being able to scent it she knew it was a human. Was this their lucky day? A human heading their way, food coming to them! Finally the human was there, his smell was almost irrisistable. She'd kill the man in a matter of seconds and feast on him, just then he spoke. Just when she was about to say something Gwilyim spoke. He was thinking up something, she can already see it. Smart indeed, hopefully he will guide the two back to their village. Please, help us sir. A wolf attacked us, my husband protected me from it now he's injured. Can you please find him a doctor? She said her voice sounding like she feared for his life. O it was all an act to get them what they wanted. Her hazel optics looking at Gwilyim they had this worriedness in them. She knew very well how to put an act. She hoped that he'd fall in it and take them to the village. She can already see it, what a master plan this is.

OOC: sorry it's so short. I'm not used to type on a laptop...

[Meriwether Strangeway]

Dominic

Dominic had been slowly inching his way over with gun pointed. It was obvious that these people would have been travelers; no other villager would be out here, and some travelers couldn’t be trusted. Even he knew this, though he was infamously known for taking in outsiders. Still what would people have been doing up in the caves? Getting up here injured to take shelter would have been too much of a hassle, and caves were never a good place for shelter in the first place because who knew what creatures were inhabiting it. At that thought he suddenly took a quick survey of the area. The creatures inhabiting this area could be the dreaded wolves.

His head jerked back to the couple when the man spoke in a pained voice. For days they were out here? How had they been able to survive! It should have raised suspicion in him instead it raised worry. Though he was one of the best hunters in the village and felt no remorse for killing animals, he had a fierce amount of concern and kindness for his fellow men.

His eyes having adjusted to the darkness he saw that both were in fact naked, though didn’t notice there was no shredded clothing around them, however that was the least of his concerned. Except maybe for the fact that the woman was. Looking down on the man he could make out a large dark spot which he guessed was the gash. “Dirty or not clothes couldn’t have dressed wound like that.” Sliding the axe off his back and setting it and the gun down he also took off his leather coat, and without looking at her handed it over to the woman to cover herself up with.

“A wolf? Both of you are lucky enough to still be living.” Dominic knelt down by the injured man trying to get a better look at the wound. He could smell the blood. “I live in the village not to far from here. If we can get you to my home I could possibly get the doctor to come and look at it. Can you walk at all?”

[Gwilym]

Gwilym had to resist the urge to smile at her. What an actress! She was perfect. He wanted to lick her cheek and tell her that she was fantastic, but that was hardly a human thing to do. The man came in slowly, and his smell was overwhelming. A strong human, a robust and healthy human. Gwilym could hear his blood pounding through his veins, and his own veins seemed to ache in longing for that selfsame blood, as if they had suddenly gone empty and needed to be filled.

He suppressed his bloodlust and sat up, not without some pain, moving an arm as if to protect the nakedness of his 'wife' from the eyes of the man. Again, he had to repress a smirk as the man -- a hunter, it appeared -- placed down his gun, avoiding looking at the nude form of the pretty female. Humans and their modesties. Sitting up, it was apparent that Gwilym was very tall. In human standards, both of them were quite taller than normal."I can," He ground out, breathing heavily. His wound throbbed horribly. "I fear we barely have. The thing seemed to have been wounded already. But... if you hadn't have come..." He flinched, placing one hand over his wound and fondly adjusting the coat over Naia with the other. "But no. We're safe now, darling. We are going to have a warm fire and bread, and we'll find your brother come daylight. We will find him."

[Naia]

A cold breeze blew inside the cave, she hated being in human form, no fur to protect her from the cold. As the man approached she took a glance at Gwilyim then back to the man, remembering human behaviour she tried to cover herself with her arms. Actually it was more for the cold. She didn't say anything, she just let the human look at the wound and state what he thought. Then she thought of, were their clothing could be if he got suspicious, but he doesn't seem to know anything. If he asks for it she already thought up something to tell him, of course it's raining, they got wet so keeping wet clothing on they will get sick. Once he lowered his weapons, she almost smiled, but kept a worried face.

O this was perfect, he fell in their box of tricks. He even took off his coat for her! She took it from him and covered herself with it. Thank you sir! It was getting very cold. She said as Gwilyim adjusted the coat on her. The human still wasn't looking, she winked at Gwilyim almost smiling. It was working, her face still worried. She didn't say much seeing most human women didn't say much. She noticed that mostly the human men spoke. It's been while without being able to rest on a bed. She said turning now to the man. You see, my brother is also a hunter and he come out here but never returned. Her voice trailing off, she looked down at the solid cave ground. I'm afraid that..that...the wolves might have. Her acting was so good, tears started to run down her cheek. She took in a deep breath trying to control herself, for the human probably her emotions.

But the scent that was on the coat, the human aroma on the warm coat was almost mind switching from acting to rip him into pieces. Thank you sir. She said getting up, at the same time trying to help Gwilyim get up too by placing an arm beneath his shoulders and getting up. Careful love. She said acting as if he was the love of her life. She turned back to the man once she was up, well he can start leading the way back to the village. She can already imagine the many humans roaming the village. Hopefully they won't lose it and give in their true identities. For now the act must go on. Something hit her, the previous conversation she had with another Gewyn, so it all plotted in her mind. She'd give Gwilyim the details of it once they made it into the village, that is if they make it. So far he doesn't have a clue what they really are.

[Meriwether Strangeway]

Dominic

Dominic shifted his weight and held his arm out for the man to use as a support to help him up. “Are you sure?” he asked when he saw him flinch. He was used to carrying deer slung over his shoulder, by the looks of him the man was probably wasn’t to heavy and that Dominic could carry him if need be. It wasn’t an easy trip down cliffs for an uninjured person, much less a fatigued man with a large gash. Once the wife helped her husband up Dominic carefully slung the gun and axe back over his shoulder and also stood up.

He started searching for the easiest way down as the man spoke with the woman. Dominic stopped however when the man mentioned a brother. There was another person stranded out here? How unfortunate this couple was. Surely the woman’s brother did not survive. The Gewin wouldn’t be merciful to let this couple go and a single man that got separated from the group. But he tried to be reassuring, “Your brother should have the knowledge to survive and defend himself if he is a hunter.” he said with a small smile.

Dominic lead them slowly down the cliff trying to find the least strenuous path. “I and my fellow hunters will search for your brother. Right now both of you need rest and nourishment, my wife will take care of you.” he said wondering if he should take them to the doctor first or bring them to the house and fetch the doctor. He glanced back at them seeing how well they were making it down.

[Gwilym]

Gwilym smiled at Naia lovingly. He almost honestly felt it. She was quite good at this, and very unexpectedly. He was already thinking about going out and catching a fat hog from the woods when this was through. As a thank you gift, of course. He eased up onto his knees, and then onto his feet. Humans were often shocked at the first sight of a Gewyn -- they were bigger than humans. Taller, and generally more lean and muscular. He was six feet and four inches tall, and well built. His skin was riddled with scars, and his eyes a piercing blue that looked too light and too luminous to be normal. However, he tried slumping his shoulders and cradling his wound like wounded men do.

"Do you hear that?" He said, making his voice as gentle and reassuring as he could. The pretence was that it was for the sake of his 'wife', but truly it was to detract from his threatening size. "He will be fine. He knows his way, he's right. He's probably in a village on the other side of the woods by now, sending a message out." He averted his eyes from the hunter and smiled without showing his teeth, his head a little bent; these were signs that to him represented a lack of threat, though they were not so obvious to the human world.