Thomas was gathering rocks to build a fire pit when a strong shock jumped up his arm from a stone that had been part of the elemental's chest. Dropping it out of instinct, Thomas jumped back and began massaging his arm.
"What happened?" Asked Alex as she caught his movements.
"I'm not sure. It felt like an extremely powerful static shock, but that's not right. It tasted earthy. Weird. It's faded now though. I'm fine."
"You'd better be. And you're going to the healing ward as soon as we get back." Alex's tone told Thomas that she would carry him there herself if he didn't comply.
As he slept that night, Thomas felt a massive powerful presence reaching out to him. It did not exactly speak, but he understood perfectly.
Thank you, ShamanWe have been waiting for you to returnThe child lost will grow with you Guard you Thank you With that the presence sank back into the background hum of elemental energies that was always part of Thomas' life.
When the sun rose, the students began to prepare for the journey ahead. The litters were completed by laying two poles, each eight feet long with handles carved into the ends, across a woolen blanket, dividing it into thirds. Then the outer sections were folded over the poles. The carried person's mass prevented the blanket from sliding.
"Okay, Thomas. The litters are ready. Let's get going," called Durin.
"Right," answered Thomas, as he finished tying up his pack. "I'll take Lenard with Alex. Mark, you take Lief with Elidin. When it's time to switch, Durin, Sara, and Everit will work as a team."
"What?" Roared Durin. "I can handle my half a load alone. I don't need a third."
"I never thought you did. But Sara and Everit can't. I need you to balance the two of them together."
Durin looked over at the two smallest members of the party. "Aye, I see your point. And my height matches their stride better than any of you long-shanks too."
"I know that, but wasn't going to bring it up," said Thomas with a grin. Most of the others shared the same expression. "Karen, will you be able to help out if needed?"
"For short stints, yes. Alex helped with my arm, but it still feels sore and weak."
"Great. Sara, are our injured ready for the trip?"
"Almost. I want to cast another healing on them before we go."
"And I'd like to run some ropes to keep them in the stretchers, if that's all right?" Everit asked in a tentative voice. It had become obvious that group input was seen by Lenard as a threat to his authority.
"Good idea." Said Thomas, giving a nod of approval. "As soon as you're finished, we'll set off."
Less than five minutes later, the work was finished. Each patient was webbed snugly in their stretcher with a single rope making a series of diamonds down its length.
Just as the group reached the center of the clearing, a huge stag lept over the wall of broken vegetation. With a shimmer unique to Druid magic, the stag changed into Druid Moonstone. Looking at the assembled teams, he shook his shoulders to settle into his natural form again. "Well, well. What do we have here? I received a message about a young shaman going off to fix a lay-line, and I find more students than was mentioned, and some being carried." He smiled a relatively friendly grin. "I'm not a fan of surprises, so why don't you set your burdens down and catch me up."
As the others looked nervously between themselves, Thomas stepped forward. "Sir, we have several injured, one critically. Lenard was hit on the left side by an earth elemental. We think it broke all the bones from his wrist to his sternum. His right arm broke when he slammed into a tree. He's also concussed. We used a sleep spell to keep him calm while we transport him." Thomas delivered the information in a steady professional tone. "Lief has a broken leg. We were just about to head back to the road before turning toward the school, in the hopes of finding aid along the way."
As Thomas was speaking, the old elf was inspecting the litters and their cargo. "Good plan, for what has happened. But how did this happen? And why didn't you send for help earlier?"
"I did, sir. I sent a messenger bird off yesterday afternoon, explaining the situation." Said Elidin.
"I see, we must have passed each other. I left yesterday morning when the message about the broken line arrived. At least you didn't rely on those incompetent fools who know nothing about training Shamans."
"That was a lack of choice, sir," explained Elidin, blushing slightly, "I can't use mimic speech yet, so I had to send it to the Druid teachers."
Mr. Moonstone grunted. "So where was this broken line? Farther up the mountain, I'm guessing."
"Almost directly beneath you sir. We camped here last night to give the wounded some time to heal." Thomas took up the narrative and completed filling the teacher in.
After Thomas had finished, Druid Moonstone looked over the students. "Well, that's a tale to be sure. And I have to say you've all done well. Maybe not smartly, but you kept your heads and did the best you could, all things considered. There will be more questions when we get back, so let's be about that."
Druid Moonstone opened his pouch and withdrew several rocks with runes impressed on them. Taking care to align the two with mirror images in a straight line on the ground, he placed the third in a tangle of ornaments at the top of his staff. Carefully aligning the third stone between the first two, he then lifted it above his head and waited. After a minute or two, accompanied by Druid Moonstone grumbling something about air headed mages, the stones began to emit a shimmering film that met between them. With a flash of light, the film was replaced by a picture of the grounds of the school, the commons between the administration and medical buildings to be precise. In the middle of the picture was Ms. Nightfrost holding her own staff above her head.
"Stop gawking and get moving!" Snapped Ms. Nightfrost, heard clearly through what was obviously a portal. "I can't hold this door open forever."
"Sara, go. Alert the medical center." Thomas quickly began organizing the passage of his party. "Alex, Durin, take Lenard. Mike, Elidin follow with Lief." As the two litters passed through Thomas signaled the rest of the party. Thomas was the last student to pass. After he was clear, Ms. Nightfrost called over to the Druid, "Don't you dare loose those markers, Moonstone. They're Shaman made. I'll never get my hands on another set."
"No worries, you little cat. I'll keep your precious stones safe. See you when I get back." With that, Druid Moonstone lowered his staff. With a sound that was a cross between a pop and a crash, the portal shattered into shards that dissolved in the morning sun.
As the group sat in the healer's ward, getting all the minor bumps and sprains checked out, the Headmaster's baritone voice approached. "Clear the way! Back to class now!" With those commands he pushed through the throng of students who had gathered as usual. Thomas thought they should just install a viewing gallery to save themselves the trouble.
As soon as the Headmaster entered the hall, Thomas found himself again explaining what had happened. By the time he completed the tale, the Headmaster was nodding along.
"Aside from you recklessly charging off to help some random spirit, you seem to have handled yourselves well. But, let me make sure I heard you correctly. Lenard attacked you, Thomas, not the elemental?"
"Beats me, sir. I was deep in the elemental layer at that point. That's just what Alex told me."
"That is what happened, Headmaster." Alex affirmed. "Lenard's attack wasn't within twelve feet of the elemental and bounced off the barrier I placed on Thomas. I felt the strain of the strike. Lenard was not holding back at all."
"That is how I saw it, sir," said Sara. "I was in the wood line, and had a clear view."
Elidin also supported Alex's story, while Karen claimed that the elemental blocked her sight, but she did hear the distinctive sound of a blow landing on a magical barrier.
"What about you three?" asked the Headmaster, turning to the conscious portion of Lenard's party.
"I have to agree that the elemental was protecting Thomas by the time we interfered," said Mark. "I was charging the elemental next to Lenard, but he went after Thomas. And as soon as he hit Thomas, the elemental spun past me and smashed Lenard so hard he flew into a tree."
"I was on the flank of our charge, but I could see that Lenard was not charging the same target as the rest of us." Durin answered as the Headmaster's gaze turned to him. Everit and Lief, who had regained his senses while the group was being questioned, both agreed that Lenard had attacked Thomas.
"Well now, this has turned into a much more serious matter than a party getting in over its head," said the Headmaster after hearing everyone's testimonies. "There will have to be an inquiry. You are not to speak about this with anyone until it is complete. Until that time, you are all restricted to campus."