Chapter 2: Kiara Is Not A Threat
A/n: 2nd chapter, yay! If you've stuck with me this long I hope this isn't a disappointment. I love all of you guys so much and on behalf of my coauthor and myself I'd like to you for reading this story! Now all you have to do is review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice (sadly)
The fire glowed, but just barely. Just outside out its tiny glow, Daniel could see a small human shape. "Sh-show yourself!" he called. So she did.
The girl looked about is age, with blue-gray eyes and she seemed to be just at average height. Her pail white hair was pulled into a high ponytail that sat atop her head. Slowly, Daniel lowered the bow. She was wounded; blood seeped through her brown blouse from some unseen wound in her side. "Don't shoot! Please, I beg of you! Don't shoot!" she cried weakly.
Daniel dropped the bow and rushed to her side. When he reached her, he placed a hand on her side on top of the bloodstain. The girl hissed and collapsed to the ground. He removed his hand; it was covered in blood. Dropping to his knees, Daniel wiped the blood on his trousers and attempted to calm the girl with soft whispers; "It's okay, I'm going to help you. I am so sorry about the bow thing, I didn't know…"
"Say no more! Just help. Please," She whispered, holding up a hand to silence him. He nodded.
She stared at him as he hesitated. "Well, what are you waiting for? Take the blouse off will you!"
"I …can't," He muttered, dropping his eyes. He wasn't used to this sort of thing and the idea bothered him.
She rolled her eyes, " Is this because we don't know each other? Fine, My name's Kiara, what's yours?" she held out a hand and he shook it.
"Daniel," he replied.
"Hello Daniel, there, now we know each other. Get this over with, I'm in pain."
Daniel shifted so that he was behind her and untied the laces with shaking hands. When he was done, Kiara lifted her arms over her head and he pulled it over her head. He quietly thanked God when he saw that she was wearing an undershirt. "Okay, you're gonna have to lie down on your side-your good side I mean not your…never mind."
"Are you always this jittery?" Kiara asked, laying down the way he'd instructed.
"N-no I just- I just moved out of my parent's house an-and I have to go to my first assignment, I fell asleep in the saddle and ended up here- which is not a great star, by the way- oooh you're covered in blood…." Daniel trailed off again.
"Yeah, I know that. How bad is it?" Kiara asked.
"I'll have to clean it, but it doesn't look that bad," Daniel muttered. He took out a cloth and wet it with some off his drinking water before dabbing it on the cut. The girl hissed again, going ridged for a minute. "Sorry," Daniel whispered. Sure enough the cut wasn't as bad as he'd first thought. It was hardly more than a scratch. Just a really bloody scratch.
"Are you going to put a bandage on that or what?" Kiara demanded. "I don't exactly fancy bleeding to death."
"You aren't going to die," Daniel sighed. "And yes, I am going to bandage it." In fact, he'd just been about to do that when she'd asked. He layed a thick cloth on the wound and stuck it down with a sticky substance from the first aid pack Rangers carried. He wasn't quite sure what the substance was but when he asked, no one seemed to know. But, they were Rangers, not healers, so no one really cared. It just got the job done.
"What happened to you?" He asked her.
"Well I was wandering around, found this place and thought I'd explore it a bit. I tripped on a broken brick and cut my self on another," Kiara explained. She offered no further information.
"Okay, but why were you wondering around, and where do you live?" Daniel pressed.
"I'm from Caraway, and I was simply going for a walk, and got lost, happy now?" Kiara snapped.
"Okay, okay, just asking, and yes I am happy," Daniel said. " I'm actually supposed to be going to Caraway, that's the fief I am assigned to. You could come with me if you want."
"Really?" Kiara asked, thrilled. "You'd take me with you?!"
"Sure, why not? We might as well travel together, besides I'm afraid I'll go crazy if I only have lame excuse for a horse to talk to," Daniel laughed, gesturing in the direction of Brier.
The horse snorted, me? A lame excuse? Try you, stupid, the sound seemed to say.
Daniel stuck out his tongue at the horse, laughing. "I'm just kidding! No need to get all defensive on me!"
"You talk to your horse?" Kiara asked.
"Yeah, all Rangers do, it gives us some one to talk to on the road," He explained. "It's kind of a subconscious thing, my dad doesn't even realize he's doing it half the time." Kiara nodded, yawning. She tucked her hands under her head and closed her eyes. Eventually, her breathing slowed, and Daniel pulled her top gently over the wound and placed a blanket over her.
"G'night, Kiara," He whispered before going to bed himself.