Chapter 37 Blaze of Fury

Treize had been dazed by the renewed pain in his knee, but the strangeness of the night still managed to seep into his consciousness. That lightning would come spawned not of cloud but of mist was nearly unheard of and there was nothing natural about the way the fire had been swept aside like a curtain as they hurtled past only to close again behind them. There were forces beyond his understanding at work here and Treize idly wondered what a certain perceptive pair of violet eyes would make of the situation. But Duo was safe, Quatre and Zechs with him. It was one of the few thoughts in which he could take refuge from the pain. Quinze had assumed his prince was dead; but Treize would have known if that were the case. Vigilant golden eyes had taken note of a bit of in-pack wrangling but nothing that seemed serious by wolf standards. Zechs was fine and so were Duo and Quatre.

WuFei was muttering quietly in his native tongue not paying attention to anything but the hazy landscape that hurtled past fully focused on getting them both to safety. Treize grit his teeth against the pain and forced his thoughts toward his lupine companions. He silently conveyed an image the cave where they had sheltered and growled **Safe** knowing the wolf pair would understand. Zechs knew enough to let Bryn guide them. Treize only hoped Argent could make Heero and Trowa do the same.

Treize wasn't as attune to his father's eagles as he was to the wolves. But having an eye in the sky was a useful thing especially when ground visibility was problematic. It was one of the reasons he had been such a successful commander in the legion. Still the bird wouldn't fly at night but simply knowing where it had chosen to roost in relation to the two wolves could give Treize a pretty good idea that He and WuFei were traveling in the right direction. He had almost managed the link when Nataku leapt a small gully, jolting his knee once more. Flashes of light and color lanced behind his eyes every bit as brilliant as the lightning that linked earth and sky. He gasped and a small whimper escaped thorough his grit teeth and his concentration scattered like leaves in a gale.

This sort of pain had been his constant companion for the better part of two years but he'd never grown accustomed to it. Pain squelched his ability, leaving him only the ears and eyes he had been born with; that more than any thing else left him feeling half the man he ought to be, a pathetic cripple as Quince had named him. Then WuFei had given him respite from the pain and he had reveled in it. Now it looked as if the damage Quince had put him right back where he had begun. It was rare to come back from that sort of injury once, twice was impossibility. The pain came in waves each seeming worse than the one before. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he choked back a harsh sob. Breath came with difficulty and his head swam. Somewhere in the darkness the eagle screamed.

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WuFei could tell the older man was hurting. Quinze, had knowingly exploited Treize's injured knee, It was the epitome of dishonor. WuFei hated their enemy for that more than any other, and his anger burned. It burned clear and bright in such a way as it hadn't since he'd been taken from his mother. That anger destroyed more than half the village.

It was no wonder the elders hated and feared him. During his years at the temple there had been no question that WuFei lived by their forbearance alone. They feared his power and he had come to do the same. The chords of discipline they set would have likely held him indefinitely. But Treize benevolently challenged his five to be free regardless of their circumstances. And WuFei found himself tugging at the old restraints the elders were in no position to enforce.

The flash powder had been his first infraction. A few whispered words as he ground the ingredients and mixed them to ensure it would remain dormant and safe until need ignited it. The next was a bit bolder; true his fire-sticks had been prepared the same time as the powder using the same technique but persuading damp wood to burn required a bit more effort on his part. Being mountain born he knew the dangers of freezing to death when the chill wind blows. It was not a risk he wanted to take, especially when he knew himself able to remedy the situation. This, the third time was unforgivable. He had not even realized the elder's geas had slipped this far until it was gone. Quince had struck Treize cried out and fell. Then, someone dared try to prevent him from going to the man. The anger kindled within loosed an inferno that burned even now. The elders of the Long clan would have had him executed on the spot.

The string that confined his hair had broken. The severe style he kept was a constant reminder to hold his emotions in check. Now, when he needed that reminder the most, it was no where to be found. His hair fell free and the fire raced through vale. WuFei Tugged Treize's arms tight around his chest tried to reign in his emotion that fed the flames. WuFei could hear the occasional rumble of thunder and sudden flash in the vale they had left behind. At their current height among the mountains the clouds yielded little more than curling mist but the fire continued to sputter and hiss unwilling to die. As they rode the dampness persisted coalescing on skin till drops fell like sullen tears making the loose hair cling to his face.

It was near dawn and WuFei was more than grateful when Nataku found her way to the small cave where they had sheltered. WuFei was far from weak. He would have words with any who judged otherwise and they would soon have cause to regret their hasty assumption. But he was…by Roman standards, some what deficient in height and mass. Helping Treize to dismount and getting him into the cave was something of a chore; especially since the man's tortured knee had stiffened during their flight leaving him barely able to sustain his own weight.

It took a great deal of patience from Nataku and no small amount of brute force to get the russet haired noble situated in the cave. Treize was barely conscious by his time. His head lolled loosely to one side and he fought to keep his eyes open. "We are safe now. You can let go. Rest while you can." WuFei soothed. Treize was only too grateful to comply and it took only moments for him to succumb to oblivion.

WuFei knelt next to the cold ash left by their previous visit. It took barely a thought to kindle it anew. It was so easy it frightened him and he nearly doused it for fear of loosing control again, but his need was too strong. He held a burning brand close so he could get a true assessment of the damage done. It did not look good. His foot was twisted to the outside at a slightly unnatural angle and the knee joint was swollen, deeply purpled with bruising. WuFei regretted not having access to the many medicinal plants of his homeland. But all was not alien here. He would have to make do with what was a hand.

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"Here Treize." WuFei gently nudged the man awake from where he lay on a bedroll against the wall of the cave. "Drink this." He held out cup of steaming liquid.

"What is it?" The noble asked sniffing the bitter brew.

"My people call it Bailiupi tiquwu from the bark of a tree by the river. It is good for pain and diminishes fever and swelling."

Treize took a tentative sip and grimaced. "Willow bark, Sally uses it also. It is disgusting."

"Yes I know."

"Will I loose the leg? Treize looked incredibly weary as he voiced the question.

"No. I do not believe the injury is quite that serious. I took advantage of your lack of consciousness to drain some of the fluid off the knee. The swelling was hindering the energy flow but I believe I acted in time to prevent further damage. There is a small fracture in the bone but nothing like your previous injury. I reset the break and it is securely bound and splinted. I dare say it will heal properly but it will take some weeks to do so. Were you in my country, you would be treated with Mu Gua or Niu Xi to help it along but I do not think either plant grows here." WuFei shook his head regretfully, tendrils of ebony framing his face softening his angular features.

It was rare to see the young dragon's hair free of its severe tail. Treize could only think of three times he had done so. The first was when he accepted the young man's challenge and they fought together. The second was when he and the others acted as entertainment for Dorothy and her Suitors. This was the third. "You should wear your hair down more often." Treize observed. "It suits you."

"That…would not be prudent." WuFei said in little more than a whisper, self-consciously gathering the strands in one hand.

"Why?" Treize frowned.

"Do you feel up to rolling over?" WuFei tried to change the subject, "The tea will help with the pain but I believe I can do a bit more through massage and pressure points."

Treize slipped off his tunic but needed the boy's help to lie flat on his belly without jarring his leg. The noble had been subjected to some of the best masseurs in Rome. He had gone to take the waters in various places renown for their healing; He had found no relief from his previous leg injury. Yet with a few minutes of deep tissue massage and a few well places jabs the young man from the silk lands had been able to do what none other could, and now he began wielding his magic again. Treize let out a deep sigh as a he felt the throbbing in his leg ease and the tension slowly drain out of him. But he wasn't about to let WuFei distract him so easily.

"Prudent is a very strange word choice given the subject, dragon. This may not be your native tongue but I have found you never use words carelessly. Please tell me."

"You didn't see the valley. The place where we fished, I destroyed it, there is nothing but ash." Fists clenched.

"And how is that your fault?" Treize asked gently.

WuFei returned to kneading his shoulders and back. "The elders trained me to practice discipline." He punctuated the word with a firm pressure that made Treize's spine pop back into alignment. "My hair is a symbol of the seal they placed when I was but a boy. Being here, so far away from my home and the guardians of my people it didn't seem necessary. I was arrogant. I thought I could disregard the elder's warnings." The boy's hands felt soothingly warm against Treize's lower back. "I became reckless and when I got angry the Shenlong was loosed…I couldn't stop. I didn't want to. My emotion fed the flames. " WuFei brought a hand to his own chest touching the tattoo that marked him. It felt warm, hot actually, just as it had when the elders first given it to him.

"So you share the gift of the fire serpent?"

"In my country Dragons are creatures of the waters. They protect the rivers and seed the clouds with rain. The elders thought having the Shenlong tied to me would help quench the fire with in. Now I fear my guardian has left me and I have become danger to those around me. I suggest you rid yourself of me at the earliest opportunity.

"Not going to happen, my dear dragon. We are all unique and in that we can find our own strength. You are, not now or ever shall be left to fend for your self. You are a part of us and nothing will change that. I am quite stubborn when I wish to be and that is fact. Now I will hear no more self recrimination! I swear you are as bad as Zechs. The only thing for which I see fit to blame, you is for dragging my pathetic self away from my enemies and saving my life. And as to the fire, what ever its cause, it was the diversion that let us get away. The vale will heal; it is part of the natural way of things. And apparently so will I. Thanks to you. Treize nodded then frowned. "Unfortunately your skills are about to be needed once more. Epyon carries two and I suspect Heero is hurt worse than I am."

Chapter 37 notes

In traditional Chinese medicine, injuries such as Treize's fall into two categories. In one,—the tendon and muscle are usually overstretched and hurt. This kind of injury will cause motion problems: the body has limited motion and the person will experience pain. Acupuncture and acupressure can help. With knee injuries, in general, sometimes just one or two good treatments can bring about an immediate change, and without surgery. This is the technique WuFei used formerly to bring his master relief.

Although many produces traveled from China to Rome across the Silk Road it does not appear medicinal plants were among if they had been there is no chance the plants WuFei mentioned would have been found half way up the alps. But the white willow would have been native to both places and its medicinal properties were known throughout the ancient world. The Bark is an analgesic, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diaphoretic, and fever reducer. It is an effective pain killer and fever reducer but without a drug's side effects. White Willow Bark can also be used externally for wounds and skin irritations. Even today, Aspirin is a synthetic derivative of white willow bark

Many people wrongly belief that Traditional Chinese medicine does not treat broken bones and trauma. Chinese medicine does postulate that that everything that happens on the outside of the body in terms of damage or injury reflects an imbalance on the inside. In the case of knee difficulties, the knees represent the Kidney (they are associated with this organ, according to Five-Element theory). taken to extremes one assumes if you hurt your knee, treat the kidney. There are no accidents. That part is vulnerable for a reason. For instance, a person with a healthy body might fall, but they would never get an injury. They would take measures to strengthen the kidney yes, but they would also splint the leg do something for the pain and when the time was right use physical therapy to return full use.

When dealing with injuries during the early stage of healing herbal remedies are selected for their ability to quicken the blood and dispel stasis, move the qi and stop pain, possibly assisted by clearing heat and dispersing swelling. During the middle stage, Chinese remedies are commonly chosen which supplement the kidneys and strengthen the bones they quicken the blood and dispel stasis. During the late stage, the focus is on supplementing and boosting the qi and blood, soothing the sinews and quickening the network vessels. One study I found suggests that traditional herbal therapies, acupuncture, passive and active motion, and electro-magnetic therapies can help fractured bones knit in 2/3 the time as standard Western medical care. Thankfully I've never broken a bone so this is purely theoretical.

In ancient china there was a well developed system of treating 'battle damage' which pretty much describes his current injury. Trauma fracture or torn ligaments results in both pain and instability of the knee joint. In ancient china, nearly all trauma specialists were also masters of the martial arts. Likewise experts in Wushu and Kungfu, were also good at orthopedics. The reason for this phenomenon is quite simple, those who fight are more likely to get hurt and once injured had to learn how to cure themselves, or had to consult doctors from time to time. In this process, so they become familiar with various healing and recovering methods of physical injuries. An orthopedician must also have a strong body, or he cannot have the strength to pull apart dislocated bones and set them into the right place. Due to this cause-and-effect relationship between the two, it was common that in the past, many Wushu practitioners were also medical experts.

Even today, we can still see that traumatology in Chinese medical sciences is deeply influenced by techniques in martial arts. For instance, the "single finger Buddhist massage" treatment originated from "single finger Buddhist Qigong vital-point attack" technique in Kungfu. Quite a number of Kungfu techniques and actions are also applied to the medical method to set a broken bone and to massage treatment..