RPGTopia

"I've heard it before," Stryker said with a faint smile and a wince as Ivy smeared more aloe onto one of her smaller burns.

"I'm sure," Randy replied, standing up again to let Ivy work. "I'm guessing that you heard our conversation, then?"

"Just the bit about looking for a map," Stryker said, reaching up to gently touch her face. Ivy batted her hand away. "I guess I blacked out for a minute there."

"Yeah, I'd say you did," Randy said, crossing his arms. "Basically, we need to find somewhere we can get you patched up for good. We put a splint on your wrist, but that's a temporary solution at best, and the aloe is only so effective. We need to find a real doctor."

Stryker lifted her broken wrist, giving the wounded limb a dull, almost blank look. "I wonder...will we be in time?" she murmured. "Or will we find help too late...?"

"It's not like having a broken wrist is going to kill you," Randy said. Believe me when I say it could've been much worse," Nabonidus added.

Stryker let out a weak chuckle. "We all know a broken wrist is the least of my problems. I'm too injured to walk far, and the nearest village is a few days away...the only people here who could've helped have been murdered. Infection is more than likely...and that can kill me." She closed her eyes. "Maybe the best solution is just to end my suffering..." she added in a sigh, feeling unconsciousness grasping at her again.

"Oh no you don't!" Randy said, crouching next to Stryker. "Nabonidus just saved your life, and you're not throwing away a second chance! I swear, if you die, I'm going to kill you!"

That wrenched a true grin from the wounded woman. "Well, that's a good reason not to die, then," she joked, opening one golden eye to look at Randy.

Randy grinned triumphantly. "Good to hear," he said.

The eye closed with a sigh. "I hurt," the woman murmured, wincing at the throb of her injuries. "I'm not surprised," Ivy replied. "You may be my teacher, but you can be really stupid sometimes."

Randy sat down again. "I guess we'll just have to stay here for a while then..." he muttered.

Stryker shook her head. "No...we can't stay here for too long...he might come back."

"Not really much of a choice," Randy said. "You aren't exactly in any condition to walk several miles, are you?"

"Nor is it a good idea to stay in the open," Stryker said, trying to haul herself to her feet. "We all need shelter...we're not the most dangerous things out here."

Randy raised an eyebrow at that note, but shook his head. "Alright, that's all I needed to hear." Putting Stryker's arm around his shoulder to keep her on her feet, the Fire Elemental turned to Ivy. "Do either of you know a place we can hide, at least for the night? Maybe a cave or something?"

"Cave...yes! The Shining Cave; it's not far from here." Ivy actually bouned a little in excitement. "The crystals shine in the dark. We'll be safe there for the night."

"Well then, let's not waste any more time, shall we?" Randy said. "Lead the way, Ivy!"

Ivy glanced around to be sure of which way to go, then headed off towards where she remembered the cave was. Stryker shook her head fondly. "Just like a little kid," she murmured.

"She might as well be," Randy replied with a chuckle, letting Stryker lean on him as they followed her, Nabonidus drifting close behind...