The sky was still, though it seemed the clouds were spinning. Geoffrey pushed himself up from the dirt, it was morning. He felt sickly, and awkwardly turned sideways in his seated position, vomiting into the forest needles on the ground. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, cringing as he tried harder to stand. Still his legs were waving, and his mind was to. "What is meant cannot be undone." The words sounded again through his thoughts, but they were still, quiet. More of speaking in truth than in taunting confusion. "Ah!" The young skunk gave a shout. He looked down at his leg, not seeing the blood before, just now feeling the pain. Several of his own crossbow bolts stuck out from the flesh, his dark fur matted with the red of his own blood. He looked around wearily, franticly. He heard footsteps in the forest, closer, voices. "Lien!" he called desperately, his feet giving way beneath him. "Lien!" he shouted louder. In a quick, sudden action, the noises of the forest stopped, and Geoffrey held his breath. He began falling backwards, but was caught by a carmine colored hand.

"Geoffrey!" the worried girl swiftly knelt at his side, glancing over his wounded leg. "What happened?!" she was already scanning the woods, but when she glanced down at her friend again, she noticed the small wooden crossbow a few feet from where he lay, broken and splashed with blood. "Oh for goodness sakes!" She helped the dazed skunk to his feet, and the two limped awkwardly back from the woods.

Smoke was already rising from chimneys of the small town's inn. The few inhabitants of the surrounding lands came and gathered in the clearing of which it was built. Lien and Geoffrey's lodge set a few yards away from what some called a village, though the girl realized that someone else was likely to be found who was better tending to his wounds then herself. "Come on.." she encouraged, hoisting Geoffrey higher onto her shoulder. His feet began to drag, and she quickly stopped, laying him in the grass temporarily.

The small mass of people who gathered near the small tavern were mostly looking for a warm meal and a bit of nice conversation, but most all thoughts were cast aside as the red echidna stepped in the door, her friend semi unconscious in her arms, broken bolts protruding from his bloodied leg. Gasps came from several directions, but the tavern owners shooed them away, gesturing for the girl to set down the injured skunk as they brought forth a small torn blanket from beneath the counter.

Lien sighed as the older couple washed and tended to his wounds, she looked up, gritting her teeth and quietly speaking through moistened eyes. "Curse you Geoffrey.."