Her head was throbbing. The last thing she could remember was the sound of falling rocks. Dust still rose and filled her nostrils, the single shaft of sunlight breaking into the place making them shimmer for a split-second, so that the air was filled with what seemed like tiny particles of light. A dull pain somewhere in the lower part of her body nagged its way to her brain. It took some time for her to realise where it came from as she gazed blankly into the dark rocks before her. Scraps of cloth and wood were scattered about, and, as she caught a glimpse of purple poison dripping down a blade stuck in a wooden shell, the message of pain finally reached her mind. Her leg was jammed under a rock. She opened her mouth and let out a stifled yell.
A shadow covered her face. She could not see well, because the sun was shining right through the hole in the ceiling of the cave her last battle had caused, and into her eyes. She closed them. The rustling of a cloak told her the figure moved, and by the time she opened her eyes once more, it had disappeared, but this time there was the sound of rummaging. The pain was beginning to scream its message not only to her brain, but throughout her body. The bone had probably been shattered, and some blood vessels ruptured. She could not bring herself to gather enough chakra to heal it. Her mouth opened in a silent scream of pain, emitting, at the end, less than a squeak. She had less than a second to be taken by surprise when the pressure of the rock lifted, and she sank into darkness..
Cool. Dark. Slight breeze. The falling of a drop of water. A hint of light. A small sound of movement. Cloth, rustling. Smooth, clean, cool cloth. Cotton. Breath. Pulse. She was there. Her eyelids opened. She was clean, it was quiet, safe. Then, she felt the pain again... and the comforting cool and calmness of the darkness turned into the blazing red of agony. She clenched her teeth, breathing deeply through her flared nostrils. Concentrate! She closed her eyes, and sent healing chakra down her leg. The first effort was tremendous, but after she repaired some of the damage, she inhaled a shuddered breath, and fell asleep.
The next time she opened her eyes, the darkness was more solid, the coolness leaning to cold, and there was another blanket upon her, besides a towel folded neatly across her forehead. Her mouth was dry. Again, the pain called for attention, but not as urgently as before. This time, she could feel the stiff brace supporting her injured leg. Focusing, inhaling and exhaling, putting all her mind to one purpose, she again sent chakra to her wounded leg, working with its flow, restoring the tissue. When she was exhausted, she fell asleep again, a light, furtive sleep, interrupted by fits of fever, dreams such as she had never seen, nightmares where she had to battle unnamed fears, all calling, cajoling her. As the fever subsided, so did the nightmares. Exhausted, she drifted into a dreamless sleep...
Quiet, subtle, cold hands wiped the sweat off her, and changed the towel on her forehead. A candle-lamp made its way out of the room.
A few hours later, she opened her eyes again, and looked into the darkness. She was rested, but she had no energy or will to summon chakra just yet. Her mind was as dark, cool and still as the place she was in. She did not want to think. Turning her head to one side made her hair rustle on the pillow. A soft movement to her side startled her, but she could barely pull herself upright, when a hand supported her back, and she felt the rim of a cool ceramic cup touch her lips.
"Drink," said a dark voice gently.
Hesitating for a moment, she drank the cool, sweet water. It felt like spring rain inside her soul as she felt the water go down, soothing her body. When the cup was emptied, the hand supporting her carefully laid her down again, and whoever it was sat back into their chair beside her bed, and continued to watch her in the dark. Questions like, "Who are you?" "Where am I?" "What happened?" just drifted off into the darkness, and she simply lay her hand open, stretching it out to the sitter, her loose sleeve whispering on the sheet as it moved across. A soft hand took it, gently cradling it from beneath. Into the darkness crept a smile, lighting where the eye cannot see.
Sleep came, dreams came, and the Night was never gentler.