Welcome back again puppitos
Don't question the name it's what I call everyone now
60 REVIEWS?! :D
So
PhoenixRune: I'm sorry, but thank you for not killing me. My poor Briarlight child ;-;
SunKatt: ;-; ;-; -; -; ;-; I'm sorry my favourite unofficial warriors couple
Ivystormrandomness: Yaaaaayyy mothpool! Yeah, most of my friends are in the LGBTQ+ community, and they all got girlfriends too. Then me, the pan of the group, has no one, and the girl I had a crush on that one time is straight ;-; Uh, please don't kill me. Mothpool is beauty, I will try to not ruin it. Um, about the Quora thing, sure?
Now onto le fic
Ivypool POV
I was asked to stay in the patient beds for that night so that they could keep an eye on me. Brindleshade was in the bed next to me, being treated for shock. I wasn't found as experiencing any, but I had a few scratches, and besides, they didn't have anywhere else for me to stay.
Blossomfall and Bumblestripe had been sent away while they started examining her for the operation that she would probably have soon, but Jayfeather was allowed to stay by her bedside on the excuse that he was a doctor too, and could care for her. She fell unconscious when they took her in for the X-ray and she hasn't woken up yet, though everyone suspects it's for the best she doesn't. They've said they'll try to get her back out again before Christmas, but it's not a promise.
Lessons usually stop for Christmas at around the twentieth, but they've ended them now so that everyone can take time to calm down again. Also so that the teachers can focus on what's needed to do.
Rumour has it they're going to sue the building company.
They'll also need to repair it and do a safety check
And find suitable places for us to stay
It's a lot more than you realise if you think about it.
It was around 11 in the morning and I was sat in the library, idly flicking through a book without really paying much attention to it. I couldn't not with all the events that had happened the previous night. I took a quick glance around and saw that quite a few others were experiencing similar problems reading, their eyes darting about and sometimes stealing a few quick, nervous glances at the ceiling.
I couldn't blame them. A couple of Thunders looked like they'd had troubles sleeping, and I knew for a fact that some people who were closer to the room like Cinderheart and her sisters and Bumblestripe had been awake a long time worrying, and Feathertail and Willowshine had actually asked for mild sedatives (they lived below the collapsed room). A lot of people were seen buying chamomile tea in the shops that morning too.
Usually the thing that calms me and Foxleap down is actually parkour, but a quick glance across at him told me the same thing; let's not disturb the roof anymore than it is.
But the library was where we spent most of our free time, so it was still comfortable to be in the quiet room. The school was in one of those still, solemn periods where the halls were as quiet as the library. Everyone walked briskly from place to place, no one talked, and everyone was worried. No one dared consult them for treatment for colds in fear of interrupting work with Briarlight.
I was surprised to hear the 'ding!' that notified me of a message, and took a quick glance down at the message before doing a double take and holding my phone up to my face.
Jayfeatah: Briarlight's allowed a visitor. The operation is done. Get up here, but don't bring Foxleap and I'll explain.
I almost nodded, but reminded myself that no one else could see or hear the message.
"Um, Foxleap? I have to go now. I-" I trailed off, about to say 'see you soon' but I realised I didn't know when I was going to see him next.
"You…?"
"I'll see you soon." I replied anyway, giving him a quick wave and turning to head out of the library.
Briarlight POV
Sleep was just as painful as consciousness.
I felt battered and bruised and scarred all over
But the worst thing was I couldn't feel my legs
They were completely numb
I felt like just a broken body slowly sinking in a black sea
But no matter what I couldn't break free of sleep
It enveloped me, dragging me down
I was scared
Scared I'd never wake up
But for the first time in what felt like an eternity I could hear voices
They were muffled, and it was hard to discern words
But it was comforting to know I wasn't alone
For the first time, I began to rise up through the dark sea
Their voices became more understandable
Ivypool's is the first one I recognise
Will she be okay? echoes in my mind.
My roommate...she got out okay...I was worried…
Then another
Jayfeather
Memories come back of my unconsciousness
The warm touch against my hands
The comfort in his presence
We don't know yet, but one thing is for certain
He breaks off with a defeated sigh, and I wanted to reach out and touch him, to comfort him
I've almost risen out of the sleep
She will never walk again
My eyes snapped open to a harsh white light
Featherwhisker POV
Briarlight didn't take the news very well, though that was expected. I looked through her student files the other day and she has the fastest running track record in the school at the moment. If I were in her position I'd be devastated too. At least the operation was successful, and we were able to stop the internal bleeding and remove the shattered bone. But even though she was awake, everyone on the medical team was worried she wouldn't make it through the month, let alone the rest of the academic year.
Some others like Leafpool had more hope than the rest, and they were, like Jayfeather, constantly by her side, treating her every need. Meanwhile the grey-haired teen was hanging between hope and devastation, unable to reach either. Hope that she was living. Devastation she couldn't do what she loved most.
I was going through paperwork when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," I called, pushing my reading glasses back up my face.
The door opened and Jayfeather slipped in, closing the oak behind him. I looked up.
"You here for information on Briarlight?" I asked politely, despite the fact that he was by her side every day. He just shook his head and continued forwards, stopping to sit down on the chair in front of my desk. He stopped halfway and looked at me. "Uh, can I sit down?"
"Sure. What is it you need? And, uh, how did you find the chair?" I replied slightly awkwardly.
"I've been in here for patience lectures so many times I know where it is."
"Okay, what's the matter?"
"I wanted to know if there was anything we could do to help Briarlight to walk again. Like bionic legs, or...some kind of artificial spine?"
I shook my head sadly. "It's possible to create artificial bones, but we'd have to go through large complications trying to reconnect and repair her nervous system. Most of the nerves in the area were shattered. And technology on the Five Islands isn't advanced enough for us to grant anything along the lines of bionic limbs. We couldn't afford it, besides."
"We could build some."
"While costing less, it would still be expensive and extremely difficult. And would you rather your girlfriend never walked again or exploded because of the flimsy mechanics she was provided by people with no training?"
Jayfeather bit his lip and looked down silently.
I sighed. "We're doing all we can, Jayfeather, believe me. If it makes you feel better, we do have a wheelchair for her, and if you're willing to help we can teach her to balance her weight properly on crutches, but there's no way at the moment we could get her back on the racetrack."
He sighed. "I...I understand. Thank you, Featherwhisker."
"No problem. Girlfriends are a precious thing, Jayfeather, keep her close."
"I'd never dream of not."
He slipped back out again and closed the door. The second he was out of earshot, I picked up my phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Thunder speaking?"
"Hey it's Featherwhisker. I, um, have an idea about Briarlight."
There is hope for Briarlight
See you on the flip side
~KT