“Nothing’s wrong, Keahi. The healer just found us out a little earlier than I might have hoped. Come on, time to go… .”

In other words, everything, Keahi thought. Why couldn't she just have even a few hours rest? How on earth was she going to move? She was getting more and more certain that "moving" might end up as "funeral". Just walking out into the street had been more than she should have been able to do for a week. Now fleeing? This just shouldn't be happening! And still, Keahi wasn't afraid; a little intimidated, but she didn't have the energy to bother trying to grasp the finer consequences of what this could mean.
Varian's arm slid gently under her back, as ever careful to avoid her sore spots. Slowly, he propped her up so that she was in the equivalent of a sitting position. THough she wished he could have waited, Keahi knew she probably wouldn't have made it up under her own steam. Thankfully, it hadn't annoyed her shoulder too much. Or maybe she was just growing used to the pain. Whichever, it made little difference.

“Do you have anything else to wear, or is that it?”

At first, Keahi was uncomprehending. She was in the clothes she had been wearing the day before, no? Bewildered, she looked down at herself, then slumped slightly. Of course. The healer had put in her the pearly nightgown. She had forgotten. Suddenly more self conscious than usual, Keahi scanned the room for her own clothing, in vain. They had probably been tossed; her shirt at the very least must have a massive scorch mark on it, not to mention the blood. And she could see waht Varian meant with his uneasy tone - a white gown was hardly inconspicuous. What was more, she hated dresses in general, not even to start on the color; white got dirty far too easily. Example being blood. She shuddered at the darkening patch below her collarbone. The fabric had already sucked up some of it. But what was there, unless they wanted to risk raiding the healer's wardrobe?

Keahi shook her head glumly. She had to prioritize, though. First thing was to get out alive - second could be fashion.

"I don't even know whether I can get out of here." she muttered, pausing every few words to take in air. She mercifully abstained from mentioning the part about "dying", since it would definitely antagonize Varian more. She avoided his face, looking instead to the window, and the lightening sky. She waited a moment for her breath, little as it was, to return. "If I- we make it, I know some safe places... I don't know how far though - I don't know where we are. And you could steal some clothes.... " the girl trailed off again, her breathing labored. This wasn't good...

"Get out now! The healer's going to call the guard!"

Keahi blinked, sucking in air so fast that her chest burned. "Who said that?" she breathed, peering suspiciously about. It hadn't been Varian... It sounded too... how could she describe it? It had been so velvety, and soft... but malicious.


words: 544
comments: sorry this reply took so long...

Varian had heard it too, but he didn't seem surprised, something odd. Did he know it from somewhere? And why did it seem to make him so uneasy? Keahi shook her head slightly - it didn't really matter. But whatever, whoever, owned the voice, Varian wasn't questioning it. It was as if the voice had finally broken the ice - it didn't matter, nothing really mattered anymore. She just had to get out - out, and fast. Varian was already moving to pick her up, and Keahi clenched her jaw against the surge of pain that was inevitable. No matter how gentle he was, by now it was nearly impossible to avoid pain from movement.
“Never mind who said that, Keahi. I’ll explain later, when it’s safe. In any case, I think you probably won’t get around meeting him…”

Keahi had no breath to waste of exclamations, she was short as it was. Once again, and not for the last time, she suspected, she put her trust in Varian. The number of times he had saved her - risked his life when he could get away. The girl refused to remind herself that if she hadn't been around, he wouldn't care whether he lived or died, since it undermined the heroic-ness of it all. And what had she done? Need she remind herself? No.

Varian slid his arm under her, and lifted her up, staggering only slightly at first as he brought her up close to his chest, into a position where she would be easy to carry. Keahi drew in a painful breath, and allowed herself to sink completely into his arms. With him here, she couldn't worry; because she knew he would be there.
Light on his feet, Varian was out of the healer's shop almost before Keahi knew what was happening. The rush of cool morning air met them as Varian walked into the street, terribly conspicuous with a white-gowned girl in his arms.

“Now, can you tell me where this safe place of yours is? I’ll try to find some way to get there.”

Keahi closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength. It was as if it was fleeing from her body before her eyes - sand in hands. Then, slowly, she forced her head up, to look about. She couldn't recognize the street, something that disturbed her. After a few tentative seconds, she murmured, "Where are we?"

Before Varian could reply, the voice did. "Market. East end." and then, "Follow." Keahi could just see some black shape slip out of nowhere before her head slipped back down onto Varian's shoulder, and she closed her eyes. Deep inside, she had a feeling this was too much - suicide - but she kept it locked up. She had to believe they would get through, or they - she - would definitely fail.

ooc// I have an interesting idea for this..... A little abnormal, but it is interesting. And yes, she is falling, she just has other htings to think about - for the moment. I'll go make a new thread and set it up.