Disclaimer: I own none of the original characters (a.k.a. Daine, Numair, Kit, Cloud, ect). They, along with Tortall, are Tamora Pierce's.
"Daine! Thank the gods you're alright!" The girl with the nasty shoulder wound gave a soft moan and sat up. Her eyes were bleary and every inch of her ached.
"Numair," she croaked, "where are we?"
"In a town about a mile or so away from where we were fighting. It's called Teraville, I believe. Though I admit it's not the best when it comes to healers, it was the closest place to us, and you needed medical attention."
As her teacher spoke, Daine surveyed the room around her. It was clearly an infirmary, though not a very good one. The curtains were what appeared to be burlap, and the sheets were of coarse wool. Several healers were running to and from the beds, shouting orders and bandaging wounds with whatever clean cloth they could find. Clearly Teraville was one of the main battle grounds.
Daine didn't like it. Too many people were soaked in their blood. Too many were dying next to her."When can we leave?"
"In another day or so. You lost a lot of blood, Magelet." Numair's voice seemed shaky as he told her this.
"Is it serious? It was only a little cut." She bit her lip to stop from crying, but couldn't hide the worry in her eyes.
"Little? You're lucky to still have your arm! The healer told me that you should be dead!" He caught the glint of fear in her eyes too late.
"I feel like I already am," she muttered under her breath.
Numair laughed and grinned down at her, shaking his head. His student smiled back.
"Daine, you must have a god watching over you." I'll have to thank the Badger.
Yeah, but which god? Is it-Maybe he was- No. The Weiryn god can't be my da.
Or can he? That sensible voice in her head wanted to know. Daine pushed the voice aside. She'd worry about that later.
"Get so sleep. You've only slept for a few hours." Numair gently smoothed a stray lock of hair out of his friend's face. She yawned, and then settled back under the covers. She gripped Numair's hand feebly before falling into a deep, deep sleep.
Daine walked along the shore, the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing on the beach matching the sound of her own heart. The moon was full, and the stars up above glittered like a thousand diamonds strewn across the sky.
A silver light flickered in front of her.
"Hello Badger."
"What did you do? You almost died!"
"It was only one wound! Not even that deep!"
"It was deep, admit it. You dropped your guard, and got cut be a poisoned feather."
POISON?!
"Yes, poison. Lucky for you, some of your aunts and uncles are very influential."
"What are you talking about? Ma was an only child!"
Memory flared. The Badger talking to her for the first time, mentioning her da. The slaves in Carthak saying she was the child of a god. Ma praying to an antlered god. The strange man with green in his tan and horns in his head that she saw both times she died.
"Its da's siblings. The Weiryn god's family." she said it slowly, as if she had spoken a word of common in her life.
"Your family," the Badger said, nodding his head.
"NO! Ma was family! Grandda was family! YOU are family! Not Weiryn, not the gods.
"Have you yet to realize I AM a god?" Badger poked himself in the chest.
"Fine. The gods MORTALS worship will never be family to me."
"I think you'll change your mind about that."
Daine stuck out her stubborn chin and raised her head high. Her lips sealed tight, signaling the end of the conversation, and of the dream.
Daine opened her eyes to a good twenty animals surrounding her bedside. It was an odd sight to see. Usually twitchy mice now sat perfectly still before her. The cats didn't even bother to give chase to the mice.
A medley of dogs sat on the cold dirt floor, ears pricked, eyes open. A bird sat on top of one of the dogs head. It was a wonder this day-bird was awake this late at night.
Daine smiled and thanked them all for coming. Looking over at Numair, she saw that her teacher had fallen asleep in a chair by her bed, and that her hand was still in his.
Thanks for reading! Sorry if its no good. Review so I can improve!
