AN: Well, I'm BACK! Hey you guys, i hope you're still well and safe. Read the chapter, then we or rather I can chat. ;-)
Chapter 5: Tinkering in the Middle of the Night.
It took six hard knocks to rouse the Tinker.
"I'm old, not deaf." They heard the old man mutter as he reached the door. "By the stars, who's bothering me at this time of the night." There was a sound of a key being inserted into the lock but an eyepiece on the door opened first.
"What… Your Highness?"
Despite the circumstances, Queen Skyla smiled at his sudden change of tone. The Tinker opened the door, illuminating the group. Queen Skyla nodded her head as he bowed at her.
"My apologies for disturbing you at this hour, Master Tinker." She said and stepped aside so that he could see Breeze, who was still carrying Joanie. "But we wouldn't have come unless it was urgent."
The tinker gave Breeze one look, did a head count and visibly paled. "What happened?" He asked as he let them through. "How long have you been here?"
Skyla immediately picked up on his train of thought.
"She's not one of mine." She said quickly. "The other's aren't here. We're the only ones who came."
Breeze placed Joanie on the couch the Tinker had shown him to and stepped aside so that the healer could look at her. The old man knelt down and unwrapped the precious package. His eyes softened as he studied the youth's gaunt features. He took off her beanie and rested his hand on her forehead as he felt for her pulse.
"She's still very cold." He murmured. "Her pulse weak…" He looked at Skyla for an explanation.
"She had been out in the cold ten… Maybe fifteen minutes that I know of, there's no telling how long before that." The woman in formed him. "Listen to her breathing."
The Tinker had already brought his head to her chest. His eyes narrowed.
"Waterlungs." He confirmed.
"That's what I thought." Skyla replied and stepped closer. She had been standing with her three Skydancers. "She had been running and…"
"Collapsed, most probably because she couldn't breathe." The Tinker finished for her. "I'm not even going to ask." He sighed and sat back. "You did a good thing, bringing her here, my Queen." He said and stood up. "The first thing we'll have to do is get her warm." He moved to the other room, motioning to them to wait for him.
Skyla took his place and gently touched Joanie's pale cheek.
The girl stirred and without warning opened her eyes. She looked around the room before she met Skyla's gaze with a vacant look.
The Queen held her breath, waiting for a reaction but the girl closed her eyes again, took a painful breath – coughed – and slipped back to what ever recess held her mind. Breathing a soft sigh of relief Queen Skyla shared a look with her three Skydancers.
The Tinker returned and motioned to Skyla to follow him. "You can come as well Jade." He said as he watched the woman pick up the seemingly frail and breakable child. "We need to get her out of that wet clothes. I'm running a hot bath. Slam, Breeze, please, make yourself comfortable. My home is yours."
Shifting Joanie into a comfortable position Queen Skyla, followed by Jade, joined the Tinker.
The door closed behind them.
Breeze and Slam stared after them before they looked at each other. Breeze sighed and sad down on the closest chair.
"Angelica and Camille are going to be disappointed that they missed this." He told his friend.
Slam shrugged and dumped some logs in the cold fireplace. "Or, maybe they'll be relieved that they could sleep through the whole night." He pointed out. Pointing a fist at the longs he opened his hand. Flames leapt up between the logs. Slam kept his pose till he was sure they were on fire. Satisfied he moved to a chair closest to the fireplace and made himself comfortable. Breeze watched him do this before he turned his attention on the logs. The two boys stared at the flames in silence, allowing themselves to be mesmerized by the fiery dance.
They were so enthralled that they didn't notice when the door opened, admitting a very harassed looking Jade. She studied to two for a long time, hugged herself and chose a chair close to Slam. The two boys blinked as they noticed her for the first time.
"And?" Breeze asked, shaking himself awake. "What's happening?"
Jade looked up and shook her head as she placed something on the floor next to her. "She's warm." She offered. "But still unconscious. The Tinker is making some medicine that might help…" She shook her head again. Something in her posture made Slam stand up and join her. He placed an arm around her.
"What's up Jade?" He queried softly. "You don't look too hot."
His soft tone was a bit more than the exhausted Jade could handle at that stage as she closed her eye and leaned against him. Slam felt her fight to keep from breaking down. "It's not right." He heard her whisper. "She's so… Emaciated, for lack of a better word. Frayed around the edges." The girl shook her head. "It's just not right for a kid to look that way, you know? I mean, doesn't anybody care, or didn't anybody care enough to notice?"
Slam sighed as he held her close. "Sometimes, most people don't want to notice." He said softly. "It happens Jade."
The girl sniffed. "Yeah." She said heavily as she moved away from him. "It still doesn't make it right." She took a deep breath and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry you guys, she apologized embarrass. "I'm just a bit…"
"Exhausted?" Breeze quipped in with a smile. "Don't worry, we know how you feel. How's she doing?"
The girl's mouth thinned as she shook her head. "She's warmer." She said. "The Tinker and Skyla are trying to get some medicine into her. Her chest is very tight, I think they first want to focus on her breathing."
They faded into a solemn silence. Slam glanced at the object Jade had dropped on the floor. "Is that a bag?" He queried.
Jade blinked and nodded. "Yes, I almost forgot." She reached into her sowed in pocket. "This dropped out of one of her pockets as well." She held a faded silver object in Slam's direction. The boy blinked and took it from her. "A butterfly." He said, fiddled with the object and with out warning flung open the blade. Jade blinked at him surprised as she watched him maneuver the blade expertly.
"A butterfly?" She queried stunned.
Slam flipped the blade open and close a few times. "Yeah." He said pleased. "Slang. It's a flick knife you see? The handle is split in two and covers the blade. To open, you just flick open a switch and wala…" He demonstrated his smooth move again. "A butterfly."
Breeze smiled at Jade's disgust as he took the knife from Slam. "I heard their better than switch knifes." He offered in his friend's direction. "Harder to maneuver, but more practical because they don't have a spring that weakens."
Slam nodded and sat back. "Ditto." He echoed. "Great for close defense."
Breeze tested the blade with his thumb. "Not very sharp." He said. "But, then, I don't think it's used for cooking."
Jade frowned as she stared at it and rather looked to her feet. The bag she had brought from the room was still there. She lifted it to her lap and fiddled with the string to open it. Breeze put the blade on the table after securing the two handles.
"Skyla had said that we could go through it, try and see what we can discover." Jade offered.
Slam smiled, relieved to finally have something to do.
"Bring it on baby." He said and up ended the contents onto floor.
AN: I'm not very happy with this second version of the chapter, it doesn't flow as well as I would've liked it to but, there's nothing I can do I guess. Sorry you guys, as i had said, my computor had crashed thanks to some Cyber Loon's little virus (Why do they create that stuff? WHY? WHY?!). Luckily, i didn't loose that much work because I had made Back up's the week before but I lost a lot of this specific story's chapters because it's the only one I'm currently working on, i had worked ahead because i was about to start exams... But, there's no use crying over spilled milk. I've now invested in a flash disk so hopefully, this won't happen again. Oh, computors will rise and fall but hopefuly i won't loose my work again. Either way, i wanted to say something specific... Oh, my exams are done and I have about five days' holiday ahead of me before i have to start winter school so rest assured i will reguraly update this story now. Another thing, word from the wise and weary: Never Study Veterinary Science, it's a bummer.
I have a small request, if you feel that i'm loosing tract of the story - plot, or have any comments on a particular chapters style and story (positive or negative) - don't be shy, let me know - I'm writing a quite a pace so I have very little time for editing. (please, blind eye towards spelling mistakes. I see them on the Pages and shudder ;P)
Keep well and keep safe as always.
Alys.
Oh, P.S to Gem. Thanks for the confidence you expressed in my Sister. We can only hope. Atleast she has a great hubby and, my niece has ME! (Proud aunt beaming.) I can't waite to tell her stories. I've got a ton lined up!
Chapter 5: Tinkering in the Middle of the Night.
It took six hard knocks to rouse the Tinker.
"I'm old, not deaf." They heard the old man mutter as he reached the door. "By the stars, who's bothering me at this time of the night." There was a sound of a key being inserted into the lock but an eyepiece on the door opened first.
"What… Your Highness?"
Despite the circumstances, Queen Skyla smiled at his sudden change of tone. The Tinker opened the door, illuminating the group. Queen Skyla nodded her head as he bowed at her.
"My apologies for disturbing you at this hour, Master Tinker." She said and stepped aside so that he could see Breeze, who was still carrying Joanie. "But we wouldn't have come unless it was urgent."
The tinker gave Breeze one look, did a head count and visibly paled. "What happened?" He asked as he let them through. "How long have you been here?"
Skyla immediately picked up on his train of thought.
"She's not one of mine." She said quickly. "The other's aren't here. We're the only ones who came."
Breeze placed Joanie on the couch the Tinker had shown him to and stepped aside so that the healer could look at her. The old man knelt down and unwrapped the precious package. His eyes softened as he studied the youth's gaunt features. He took off her beanie and rested his hand on her forehead as he felt for her pulse.
"She's still very cold." He murmured. "Her pulse weak…" He looked at Skyla for an explanation.
"She had been out in the cold ten… Maybe fifteen minutes that I know of, there's no telling how long before that." The woman in formed him. "Listen to her breathing."
The Tinker had already brought his head to her chest. His eyes narrowed.
"Waterlungs." He confirmed.
"That's what I thought." Skyla replied and stepped closer. She had been standing with her three Skydancers. "She had been running and…"
"Collapsed, most probably because she couldn't breathe." The Tinker finished for her. "I'm not even going to ask." He sighed and sat back. "You did a good thing, bringing her here, my Queen." He said and stood up. "The first thing we'll have to do is get her warm." He moved to the other room, motioning to them to wait for him.
Skyla took his place and gently touched Joanie's pale cheek.
The girl stirred and without warning opened her eyes. She looked around the room before she met Skyla's gaze with a vacant look.
The Queen held her breath, waiting for a reaction but the girl closed her eyes again, took a painful breath – coughed – and slipped back to what ever recess held her mind. Breathing a soft sigh of relief Queen Skyla shared a look with her three Skydancers.
The Tinker returned and motioned to Skyla to follow him. "You can come as well Jade." He said as he watched the woman pick up the seemingly frail and breakable child. "We need to get her out of that wet clothes. I'm running a hot bath. Slam, Breeze, please, make yourself comfortable. My home is yours."
Shifting Joanie into a comfortable position Queen Skyla, followed by Jade, joined the Tinker.
The door closed behind them.
Breeze and Slam stared after them before they looked at each other. Breeze sighed and sad down on the closest chair.
"Angelica and Camille are going to be disappointed that they missed this." He told his friend.
Slam shrugged and dumped some logs in the cold fireplace. "Or, maybe they'll be relieved that they could sleep through the whole night." He pointed out. Pointing a fist at the longs he opened his hand. Flames leapt up between the logs. Slam kept his pose till he was sure they were on fire. Satisfied he moved to a chair closest to the fireplace and made himself comfortable. Breeze watched him do this before he turned his attention on the logs. The two boys stared at the flames in silence, allowing themselves to be mesmerized by the fiery dance.
They were so enthralled that they didn't notice when the door opened, admitting a very harassed looking Jade. She studied to two for a long time, hugged herself and chose a chair close to Slam. The two boys blinked as they noticed her for the first time.
"And?" Breeze asked, shaking himself awake. "What's happening?"
Jade looked up and shook her head as she placed something on the floor next to her. "She's warm." She offered. "But still unconscious. The Tinker is making some medicine that might help…" She shook her head again. Something in her posture made Slam stand up and join her. He placed an arm around her.
"What's up Jade?" He queried softly. "You don't look too hot."
His soft tone was a bit more than the exhausted Jade could handle at that stage as she closed her eye and leaned against him. Slam felt her fight to keep from breaking down. "It's not right." He heard her whisper. "She's so… Emaciated, for lack of a better word. Frayed around the edges." The girl shook her head. "It's just not right for a kid to look that way, you know? I mean, doesn't anybody care, or didn't anybody care enough to notice?"
Slam sighed as he held her close. "Sometimes, most people don't want to notice." He said softly. "It happens Jade."
The girl sniffed. "Yeah." She said heavily as she moved away from him. "It still doesn't make it right." She took a deep breath and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry you guys, she apologized embarrass. "I'm just a bit…"
"Exhausted?" Breeze quipped in with a smile. "Don't worry, we know how you feel. How's she doing?"
The girl's mouth thinned as she shook her head. "She's warmer." She said. "The Tinker and Skyla are trying to get some medicine into her. Her chest is very tight, I think they first want to focus on her breathing."
They faded into a solemn silence. Slam glanced at the object Jade had dropped on the floor. "Is that a bag?" He queried.
Jade blinked and nodded. "Yes, I almost forgot." She reached into her sowed in pocket. "This dropped out of one of her pockets as well." She held a faded silver object in Slam's direction. The boy blinked and took it from her. "A butterfly." He said, fiddled with the object and with out warning flung open the blade. Jade blinked at him surprised as she watched him maneuver the blade expertly.
"A butterfly?" She queried stunned.
Slam flipped the blade open and close a few times. "Yeah." He said pleased. "Slang. It's a flick knife you see? The handle is split in two and covers the blade. To open, you just flick open a switch and wala…" He demonstrated his smooth move again. "A butterfly."
Breeze smiled at Jade's disgust as he took the knife from Slam. "I heard their better than switch knifes." He offered in his friend's direction. "Harder to maneuver, but more practical because they don't have a spring that weakens."
Slam nodded and sat back. "Ditto." He echoed. "Great for close defense."
Breeze tested the blade with his thumb. "Not very sharp." He said. "But, then, I don't think it's used for cooking."
Jade frowned as she stared at it and rather looked to her feet. The bag she had brought from the room was still there. She lifted it to her lap and fiddled with the string to open it. Breeze put the blade on the table after securing the two handles.
"Skyla had said that we could go through it, try and see what we can discover." Jade offered.
Slam smiled, relieved to finally have something to do.
"Bring it on baby." He said and up ended the contents onto floor.
AN: I'm not very happy with this second version of the chapter, it doesn't flow as well as I would've liked it to but, there's nothing I can do I guess. Sorry you guys, as i had said, my computor had crashed thanks to some Cyber Loon's little virus (Why do they create that stuff? WHY? WHY?!). Luckily, i didn't loose that much work because I had made Back up's the week before but I lost a lot of this specific story's chapters because it's the only one I'm currently working on, i had worked ahead because i was about to start exams... But, there's no use crying over spilled milk. I've now invested in a flash disk so hopefully, this won't happen again. Oh, computors will rise and fall but hopefuly i won't loose my work again. Either way, i wanted to say something specific... Oh, my exams are done and I have about five days' holiday ahead of me before i have to start winter school so rest assured i will reguraly update this story now. Another thing, word from the wise and weary: Never Study Veterinary Science, it's a bummer.
I have a small request, if you feel that i'm loosing tract of the story - plot, or have any comments on a particular chapters style and story (positive or negative) - don't be shy, let me know - I'm writing a quite a pace so I have very little time for editing. (please, blind eye towards spelling mistakes. I see them on the Pages and shudder ;P)
Keep well and keep safe as always.
Alys.
Oh, P.S to Gem. Thanks for the confidence you expressed in my Sister. We can only hope. Atleast she has a great hubby and, my niece has ME! (Proud aunt beaming.) I can't waite to tell her stories. I've got a ton lined up!