There is a pulse.
Matt gives a shudder, and his eyes begin to blink open, his gaze unfocused and his mouth hangs open, tongue pertruding from his lips. He moves his mouth, but only a moan emits. He shifts about and you see a plum of bright red blood seep from a gaping head wound just behind his right ear.
Ryland hurls open the door and looks out. At first he seems to be looking at a dank hallway within a building, but looks up and is startled to see the pale blue sky up above. Looking left and right, he sees a long corridor with building corners jutting out at various sections. While he can see for about 60 feet in either direction, the jutting of the houses gives large blind spots, making it difficult to see if people are within this corridor with him.
Looking across, now knowing that his is within a pseudo-alley, he isnt surprised to learn that the alley is very, very narrow. He can reach out and touch the opposite wall without leaving the door frame.
"He is alive." Fia says with relief. "But I don't think he will be very coherent or limber unless I can heal him, and that may take time. I fear doing so will also light a signal fire, giving away our position to the children in this city. Not that they won't find us soon anyway. I am no healer, Rhoekk, apart from what I can do with the power. We could try carrying them, but that will also slow us and may hurt them further besides... She pauses, listening for sounds of pursuit...
Ryland turns his head so the others can hear him. "Alley. We need to get moving!"
Fia glances up and nods. "Yes. I dont like moving them like this, but the other option is even more risky. Kodokura, carry Alathea while I take Cauthon. Rhoekk and Ryland are best equipped to fight among us. They will clear our path and guard our backs as we go. Let's be at it then."
Kodo nods gently gathers up Alathea's small frame after seeing to her injuries, his concern plain on his Saldaean features. He moves up behind Ryland and murmurs, "Which way?"
Ryland sticks his head out of the door and breathes deeply through his nose.
Perception (Scent]:
Fia murmurs to Matt as she does her best to wrap a makeshift bandage to his head and side wounds. Lie quiet. We need to move quickly, so I'll be carrying you until we are safe enough to heal you properly.
When she has done what she can for him, she lifts him onto her shoulder as gently as possible and heads toward the doorway behind Kodokura.
Rhoekk takes up a rear guard possition, watching for all possible signs of danger as the party moves ahead.
Matt just mummers and gurgles like a baby, letting fia lead him.
Stepping into the alley, you feel trapped, the walls so close that you have to lift your arms over your head just to turn around. For Rhoekk and Ryland, thier shoulders lightly touch each side. The term "tight quarters"
seems to have been coined from this very alley. You pray that you wont have to fight in this alley, as it would almost be impossible to do so.
Fia, stepping into the alley, moans quietly as she has to turn sideways and walk the narrow opening, Matt draped upon her shoulder.
Kodokura, Seeing Fia struggle, worries about his companion, and finally slings her over his shoulder, and slides into the alley as well sideways.
Moving through this area is difficult to say the least. The haphazard construction of this area allows for some buildings to be built so close that one feels like they are squeezed as the move between these support beams of the rickety shack buildings.
About 2 minutes pass of heavy breathing within cramped space when you hear a loud shout, followed by a heavy thud, a thud so loud that some of the buildings shake as if struck by a heavy object.
You push on, struggling, until you come upon a T intersection.
Scent:
Ryland attempts to point and scrapes his knuckles before nodding his head towards the left. "More people travel that way. Do we want to try and blend in or stay away from them? I would think that big thud was none other than that big one the children spoke of. We need to decide quickly, but I do not think we will out distance them unless he gets stuck in that alley."
"It may be difficult for us to blend in, given the circumstances," The aiel woman glances significantly at the man and woman slung over their shoulders. "But neither will we long outrun them like this either especially if they keep herding us like this. I will trust your judgment. Can you tell which direction is more likely to lead out of the city?"
"I would have to think the direction of the people. At least we could find a way out that way, and if they have another wolf lord after us it could throw him off our scent."
I also fail to see how we're going to "blend in", thinks Kodo as he shifts slightly to ensure his shoulder doesn't dig uncomfortably into Alathea's abdomen. Still, Ryland knows what he is about.
A loud ear shattering roar erupts from the direction you just came from.
"Let's move!" Kodokura snarls.
Left!" Fia exclaims and pushes forward with the others.
Rushing to the left, the buildings begin to press even tighter. Before there was room to normal, now you are forced to walk sideways, and even that is getting tight as you feel the wall press upon your back and see it press against your chest. It is virtually impossible to turn your head.
Yet, all is not lost, you see it. A crack. A sliver of light, not 3 feet away. And yet, the opening is narrow, very narrow. A good 3 inches too narrow for you to easily squeeze through.
Fia, somehow managing to be the first, looks closely at the crack and beyond.
beyond the crack you see a wide street, teaming with disheveled dirty people, some merchants cracking a whip to move the masses, and flocks of sheep moving towards slaughter.
Yet, beyond it all, you see it. A clear shot to the country side. With large flowing hills, tall grain and corn fields to hide in, freedom and the ability to shrug off pursuit is within reach
Acrobatics:
Reflex:
Ryland looks closer at the crack, trying to quickly determine if it has a week spot befor trying to shove his friend through.
Perception:
Strength:
the wooden beams that form the corners appear to be well hewn, having little defects suitable for destruction.
Fia, her cheeks starting to turn red - partly from embarrassment and partly from the difficulty breathing, desperately wriggles and tries to push and pull her body through the tiny space. Forwards, backwards, up, or down, anything to try to unwedge herself! Should have climbed over...
Kodo scans the tiny area swiftly, trying to spot something that could help the situation.
Standing at the rear of the procession and unable to get anywhere near the trapped woman at the front, Rhoekk stands ready, watching to the rear, with nervous glances back to the front to see if anyone has managed to get through.
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As Fia's head begins to droop, her inability to get a lungful of air, her eyes glaze over and falls to the side, multiple sets of hands grasp onto her, some by her blouse, some by her hair; all pull hard and with a loud crack she pops out of the narrow confines.
Ryland, seeing her suddenly pulled out, bares his teeth and shoves himself hard through the narrow opening. His bones creak and threaten to snap as he slides through the gap, showing him those who pulled out his b&%%%.
The others struggle and finally manage to extract themselves from the narrow gap, pulling the unconscious forms of Matt and Alathea through.
A large group of people have gathered around this sight, all poor, wearing rags and dirty brows. Some look malnourished, some weary, others with a wariness of those that come from an exotic land from beyond expecting a second head to grow.
You must hurry. please, hurry. Head west, and then south by south west until the sun sets. there you will find a cut within the country side, with a small hut built upon the lowered elevation. Take shelter there for the night, and if not tomorrow, then the next day someone will be there to lead you to the next hut.
Stepping up, the unknown man places his hand upon alathea's brow. Her eyes flutter, she gasps softly, and then begins to snore. He does the same to Matt.
there, they will rest better, and by morning, she will awaken. I know not about Lord Matt, but he is within your care. Please do not abandon hope while he is within your charge. You carry the hope of the salvation, and he mustn't die.
pausing, the man looks at Kodokura, and beckons him close. As kodokura steps up, the man's face takes on a pained look. Son, you will be reborn, and become more powerful than what you once where. Have faith, there is one who can heal you, and she lives. She will find you when you are at your most desperate. have faith in yourself, the creator, and the Mistress.
Survival:
Rhoekk nods to the unknown man, thanking him for his directions, and then leads the group out.
As if following an unseen yet highly known pass, rhoekk leads the group past the city limits and into the farmlands, the path he takes one that leaves little to no trace behind. The loud thumping that followed them outside seems to have stopped, leaving the group with fearful caution.
As the sun sets, the group finds the low shelter, set within the washed bank of an old river bed, now dried from drought. The shelter appears solid, and a small stack of logs shows usage.
pausing, the man looks at Kodokura, and beckons him close. As kodokura steps up, the man's face takes on a pained look. Son, you will be reborn, and become more powerful than what you once where. Have faith, there is one who can heal you, and she lives. She will find you when you are at your most desperate. have faith in yourself, the creator, and the Mistress....
Kodo jaw goes slack as the man's words sink in. "Reborn? She?" he stammers. "What... Who are you? Who do you speak of, and how do you know me?" His typically blank expression is replaced by one of confusion, but also intensity. Though it pains him like a lance through his soul, he remembers the sweet, all-consuming joy of embracing the Source, and a hunger awakens in him, to experience again that feeling. "Give me more than riddles, man!" he growls. Faith, he says? Does he mock me? How can one such as me have faith in anything?
The man speaks again to Kodokura, speaking a line that is very much a slap in the face to the former asha'man.
You are not a man, unless you are whole. Those around you only see you as a hindrance, a half-man. Try all you will, the one you care for doesnt see you until you are whole
with that, the man slips into the crowd, disappearing from sight.
An Ogier, short for his race, yet wrapped with muscles similar to steel cabling, walks into an ornate room, his iron shod boots creating cracks upon the marble floor. Stopping in the middle of the room, he drops the axe of his back, the sharp tips piercing the stone floor, driving deep into the gold veined surface.
My lord, i lost them in the maze. He says, his voice gravelly, filled with disdain.
Lord al'Thor turns, approaches the short Ogier, and pats him on the shoulder.
[b]Hardly, Lord Amorial. If anything, your actions have proven... fruitful.