Chapter Fifty One
Aruka snapped when Phalyssa screamed. Something deep the dark recesses of his mind came loose of it's chains, shoving consciousness to one side.
The Crinos werelion rose to his full thirteen and a half foot height and cut loose with a stone cracking roar. His muscles bulged as he leapt into the fight, blood flying as claws and teeth went to work. He mauled the creature that had hurt Phalyssa, savaging the corpse until everything was covered in gobbets of flesh and gore. Then, with blood dripping down his fur, he turned on the other foes.
They stared at the Raging beast before them, utterly terrified for the first time in their lives. Aruka fell upon them, ravaging and ripping.
It was over in seconds. One beast even managed a good hit on Aruka—not that it mattered. He reduces all of them to quivering piles of mush, gore, and bodily fluids.
When all movement ceased, Aruka collapsed to his knees in exhaustion. Phalyssa moved to his side, putting one hand on the lion youth's shoulder. "Are you okay, Aruka?"
The young man looked up at her with sorrow in his eyes. "Are you okay, Phalyssa? I didn't want them to hurt you. I'm sorry I wasn't faster…" A tear leaked from his eyes. "I…I…I understand…if you don' wanna be my friend no more…"
Phalyssa hugged him, laughing quietly. "Oh, Aruka. What would I do without you? I'm not gonna stop being your friend. I like you for you, not what you do for me. C'mon, let's go in."
She led the shrinking young man back into the pens, wondering if her mother had formed an escape plan yet. Apparently, Jea was still thinking, and any plan would have to wait any way—they passed Laguna and Dumbugg. The new duo were on their way to the Arena.
Jea glanced up when they walked in. Taking immediate stock of their injuries, she motioned. "Aruka. Sit. Phalyssa. Freeze."
She inspected the wounds on the boy's torso, and pulled out her first aid kit. Using hot water, she cleaned the wounds and then applied a poultice of herbs. Then she took soft, stretchy bandages and wrapped the injuries.
Aruka flexed his arm and relaxed against the hay. He was tired and soon was fast asleep.
Jea looked at her daughter. "Get rid of that shirt so I can doctor your ouches."
Her teenage daughter stripped the tattered top off and dropped the ruined bra next to it. Jea cleaned the wounds and inspected them. Grabbing the poultice, she gently administered the herb paste before pulling out a needle and thread.
Phalyssa groaned in agony. "Aw…Mom…can't you just heal them? Do you have to use stitches?" She winced as the needle pierced her flesh.
Jea calmly looked up over the teen's shoulder at her face. "Kid, you know full well that healings too soon, too often undermines the body's own healing ability to heal. If I keep healing you, your body will soon forget how to heal itself. I try to save if for emergencies." Calmly, the ranger/druid stitched up the wide, gaping gashes on her daughter's back. Phalyssa gritted her teeth to ignore the pain.
At last, Jea finished and handed Phalyssa a clean shirt and bra. "All done, kiddo."
Phalyssa growled and took the clothing from her. Carefully, she put them on, trying not to tear the stitches.
Finally, she collapsed face down on the hay, exhausted. She slept fitfully for several hours, pain not letting her rest.
Phalyssa woke finally about midnight, itching to walk around. She rose stiffly, tucking her silver hair behind her ears. The teen made her way to the door and exited into the hallways, intent on a bath.
She found the room without any problems, and immersed herself in the hot water, sighing in obvious relief. Phalyssa let the heat soak into her muscles and bones, easing the aches and pain.
A few minutes passed and a noise reached her ears. A whining voice and someone talking, growing ever louder. A young woman entered the bath with something furry and squirming in her arms. Phalyssa sat up. —Wait a minute.—
The youth set the furry bundle down. "There you go, little friend. Can you stay while I wash up?"
Phalyssa stared at the furry ball of fuzz. When a little puppy nose started sniffing the air furiously, she realized—it was Lupin. He ambled towards her.
"Lupin!" Phalyssa called. "What are you doing here, half pint?" The Shadow climbed out of the tub and confronted the woman. "What are you doing with Lupin?" she demanded harshly.
The other blinked. "He is yours? I found him toddling down the hallway. I picked him up because it is not safe."
Phalyssa picked up the squirming puppy. "Thank you," she murmured quietly, cuddling Lupin.
"No biggy," her companion replied. "I'm Xiera Lao."
"Phalyssa Kimsteed," she said softly, extending her hand.
The two started chatting quietly. Xiera inquired on Phalyssa's presense in the country—and the Arena. Phalyssa told of their plight, giving a full explanation of their imprisonment. Xiera seemed intrigued, but didn't inquire further than the quarter elf was willing to share. They would have talked much longer, but a young man called Xiera's name.
"Xiera! C'mon! Father's gonna be looking for us soon!"
Xiera blanched and gave hurried apologies to the silver haired teen before dashing out the door. "Xiao! I'm coming!"
Raising one eyebrow, Phalyssa dressed and took the now hungry Lupin back to their "campsite." She fixed him some of the milk supplement and fed the puppy until he burped noisily and curled up to sleep.
The silver haired teen smiled down, cuddling the baby animal, and gently falling asleep on the hay.