It's been a year and a half since I first sparred with Mother Nature, and I was practicing on one of the practice dummies in the training grounds when I suddenly heard a portal open up behind me, and I heard gasping and grunts of pain. I immediately turned around and saw Abungu coming through, being held up by Nimbus, and they were both bleeding. "Abungu! Nimbus!" I shouted as I made my way towards them. "What happened!?"
"Well, let's just say there was a group of hungry tigers and leave it at that." Nimbus mentioned. "Can you help me get him to the medical wing?"
"Sure, but I refuse to just leave it at that." I hooked Abungu's other arm over my shoulder, and helped Nimbus get him to the medical wing. Once we got there, Nimbus tried to get some medical equipment out, but I noticed he was scratched up pretty bad too. "No, Nimbus. You sit down on one of the beds too."
"What? And who's going to mend Abungu?"
"I am. I'm going to tend to you both. I'll start with Abungu, and then I'll get to you, but you're scratched up too."
"Fine." He groaned out and sat on the bed next to Abungu.
"So..." I started as I looked over Abungu's injuries as he laid on his back on the medical bed. "...what did the two of you do to agitate tigers?"
"What makes you think we agitated them?" Nimbus questioned, and without looking I could tell his arms were crossed.
"Oh? So...tigers just all of a sudden decided that they were hungry and thought that two spirits were their ideal meal?"
"Well...when you put it like that..." Nimbus breathed out. "We got into a fight."
"With each other or another spirit or the animals?"
"With..." Nimbus started in a guilty tone, but then Abungu finished for him.
"...with each other."
"You have some nasty gashes on your open chest and your clothes are ripped at your waist. Your waist is bleeding pretty bad too, and from what I've seen of your legs, they're cut up pretty bad by claws..." I moved to get the proper medical equipment such as the special wound cleaning solution Mother Nature invented, gauze, stitches, thread, and bandages. "...I'm going to have to ask you to remove the rest of your robes..."
"Fine...I'm wearing shorts underneath...but you'll...have to help me."
"I'm okay with that." I told him honestly and helped him get his robes off, which seemed to agitate the wounds even more. Once his robes were completely off I tossed them into a basket under the medical bed, and brought the tray of medical equipment over. "So...what was the fight about?" I asked as I dipped a cloth into the bowl of cleaning solution and started cleaning the blood off of the chest gash first.
"I was...using my powers to thicken the forest grass...for the...tigers...and Nimbus came in...and caused a...lightning storm...and started...a fire. Mesi and Adara...are taking...care of it..."
"Okay, Nimbus, what happened?"
"I...just told...you!" Abungu growled out through the pain.
"Abungu, keep in mind, I am the one with the medical equipment." I let out a sigh and nodded my head slowly as I started to continue cleaning his wound. "I heard your side of the story. There were two people involved in the fight, so I want to hear it from both. So, Nimbus...without any interruption from Abungu, what happened?"
"Well...the area I was flying over...seemed a little dry...even for the tigers and...other creatures...so I started a storm, but I didn't know...Abungu was down there. I didn't...know...my storm...would cause...a fire."
"Nimbus? Are you alright?"
"I'm sore...I got cut up pretty bad too..."
"Go ahead and lay down and try to breath slowly and calmly." He nodded his head and did as I asked, which made me let out a small sigh of relief, but I was still worried about the two of them. "So what else happened?"
"When the...fire...started...I tried to put it out with some rain, but the lightning storm was still going and two more bolts of lightning left my clouds, starting two more fires...and it frightened the tigers while...they were in the middle of...hunting. That's when I noticed Abungu down in the brush, and he...was trying to...get away from the fire. I dove down...and tried to...help him, but he didn't want me to...and...the tigers that were...frightened by my storm...started attacking us while...we were fighting. That's...when...Adara saw us. She...called for Mesi, and had her summon a portal...for us...then we...saw you."
"Huh...sounds a bit different than the ground level version, doesn't it Abungu?" I questioned as I gave him a risen eyebrow look and a thinly lined smile.
"I...apologize..." Abungu said as I started to clean the gash at his hip. "I shouldn't have...blamed you...so quickly..."
"It's alright...I'm sorry too."
"I'm glad that the two of you made up, but perhaps you should let each other know where you'll be from now on. It would also help if either of you should need each other when you get yourself into a situation like this."
"We're supposed to do that..." Nimbus breathed out. "...I was too excited to...get out of the...domain. I didn't tell Abungu...where I was going...and that's why I didn't...know he was...down there."
"It's alright. We...were both...fools. I should've...looked for you...too. I told the others, but...I didn't look for...you."
"Well, at least the two of you learned from this." I told them as I finished cleaning the gash on his legs that I started not too long ago. "Alright...now...if you'll let me...I think I can numb you."
"How are you going to do that?"
"I'm going to run my finger along the outside of the gashes and use my magic to numb your muscles where my finger touched."
"Well, I don't...see why not."
"Okay..." I nodded my head at him and did exactly what I said I would do. "Does that feel better?" I asked as I took my finger away from his chest.
"Actually...yes. I don't feel anything there anymore. I think you...did...great."
"Well, I guess we can add...numbing agent to...Jack's list of interesting powers."
"Hey, I'm at least glad I can do this. I know I can do it on an adult, but for some reason I also know that I have no clue how to do this on a child...don't ask me why...I just don't."
"Perhaps it's because a child's wound is smaller and more tender." Nimbus offered.
"I think you may be right." I told him as I started to stitch the gashes on Abungu's chest, and then I repeated the actions on the other wounds. It took about two hours, because I had to restitch the one at his waist, but once I was done he was able to move a little better. "Alright, Nimbus. You're turn. Abungu, how do you feel?" I asked as I changed out the cleaning solution with a fresher one, and got a new wash cloth.
"I feel better than...when I got in here. I will have to tell...Mother..." He groaned out the last part as he started to sit up.
"Well, if you're concerned about that, she's been standing in the doorway for a while now." I chuckled as she started walking in.
"M-Mother?" Nimbus questioned as he propped himself up. "How much of that did you hear?"
"Since Jack put Abungu in his place and got your side of the story."
"Yeah...well...I needed it." Abungu said honestly as he looked at his feet that brushed against the floor. "I should've known better."
"The both of you learned from this. Jack...thank you for getting them to stop arguing. Usually they get along great, but when they argue...well...let's just say the quickest end to an argument I had ever seen with them...it lasted three days. I'm impressed you got them to not only stop arguing, but you got them to admit they were both wrong, and apologize. I could never get them to settle their fights that quickly."
"I just didn't want them fighting, and they both wanted me to just leave it at just a hungry tiger incident. I couldn't do that, and then I heard Abungu's side of the story. It was clear that he instantly blamed Nimbus, and only accepted his help, because he could barely stand. Then, I asked for Nimbus's story...and they both realized they were being childish fools that had no communication." I glared at both of them with my last sentence.
"Yes, thank you, Jack. We understand." Nimbus rolled his eyes as he smiled at me.
"I'm glad you do, because it wasn't one or the other's fault, and it wasn't even the tiger's fault. Both of you hurt each other."
"Glad to see someone else putting them in their place. Remind me to have you as backup for when all of my children fight."
"Nah, don't think so." I chuckled out as I put the equipment away.
"Oh, you seem to think you may have a choice."
I rolled my eyes and walked over to her. "Don't I?" I questioned with a wide smirk, and I took notice at how her eyes gave the slightest glint of mischief, but at the moment, I couldn't fathom why, so I decided to continue. "...Or would you rather we have another sparring match? How many have I won?"
"Mother has won eight, and you have won nine." Nimbus stated confidently and with amusement laced in his voice.
"Huh...I don't quite remember it being those numbers."
"Oh, it was. I was there for every match." Abungu added.
"You are my children, you are supposed to be on my side!" She pouted slightly, but it was dramatic and she tried to bat her eyelashes at them.
"Uh...no." Nimbus laughed out. "Not when Jack is your equal in sparring matches. Besides, the matches between you and Jack are always amusing, fun, entertaining, and interesting. We never know who's going to win until it's over."
"Ah! I'm wounded, Nimbus!" Mother Nature held a dramatic hand over her heart, and I couldn't help the fit of giggles that erupted from me. "Is something funny, Jack?"
"Oh, yes!" I started to laugh. "It's just...I can see the resemblance between you and Nimbus now. Both of you can be so dramatic."
"Huh..." I looked at Nimbus who gave Mother Nature a soft and kind smile. "...never really noticed it before."
"Apparently Jack can see the unseen in everything."
"Not everything." I heard Nimbus snort and I gave him a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, honestly it's nothing. C'mon Abungu, let's spar!"
"Oh no you don't!" Mother Nature scolded, and I could hear the thunder in her voice. "Both of you are going to be separated for three weeks, even at the dining table."
"We're...grounded?"
"That's what it sounded like." I told them with a sympathetic smile.
"That's exactly what it is. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to assist the evening spirits with dinner."
As soon as she left I noticed the upset and saddened looks on Abungu's and Nimbus's face. "What's wrong? It's only three weeks."
"Don't worry about it, Jack."
"No can do, Nimbus." I told him as I sat on the medical bed next to him. "Neither of you are happy about it, and I think it's more than just because the two of you got in trouble. C'mon...you can tell me."
Nimbus narrowed his eyes at me and tilted his head slightly. "You...you really want to know." It wasn't a question, but a statement of shock and astonishment.
"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"
"Well...usually all anyone ever sees us as is our name, what type of spirits we are, and what we've done during the current year."
"That's ridiculous!" I scoffed and shook my head. I then ran a hand through my hair, trying to comprehend what I was just told.
"What do you mean?" Abungu questioned with a concerned but patient tone.
"What I mean is...you...all of you...you're more than just your powers and jobs. You're people. You have feelings, wants, needs, fears, dreams, hopes, memories, wishes, and you each have something that is precious to you and some things that upset you. You're more than your powers, magic, and jobs. That's what I mean. It's ridiculous to think otherwise. I mean...it's also condescending and hypocritical. How can one spirit say that about another when it should be the same for them too...and the fact that you're treated like that...and think it's okay...well...it's not!"
"J-Jack?" I looked at Nimbus, who for the first time since I met him, seemed nervous, and there was pure caution and something that looked like a glint of hope in his eyes. "D-Do you want...I mean...it sounds like you...do you actually...want to know us?"
"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I?" I asked him as I crossed my arms, but they quickly dropped back down to my side as I noticed tears quickly falling from Nimbus's eyes as he stared at me with a dropped jaw and wide eyes. "Nimbus? Are...are you alright? I didn't mean to upset you."
"No!" He told me quickly as he held a hand up to me, and used the other to wipe away his tears. "Y-You d-don't understand..." He started laughing gently as he used both hands to wipe away his tears. "Dammit! They w-won't stop!" He dropped his hands and rested them on his knees in defeat.
My heart ached at seeing him cry, but it didn't ache in the same way it did when I saw Mother Nature cry alone. It was entirely different, but it ached still. I walked forward to Nimbus and let the strong instinct I felt at the moment...take over. I wiped away his tears and he immediately looked at me in shock and let out a shaky breath. I only had to wipe away his tears twice, and then they stopped. "What don't I understand?" I asked once I was sure he was finally calm, and I stood in front of him, patiently waiting for his answer.
Although he was calm, he was still silently sobbing without any tears. So, through small gasps of breath he began to explain, "Y-You...aside from Mother, of course...but you're the only one that...that wants to know us. We've gotten to...gotten to know each other...but...that was mainly...because we had to. We know each others...likes and dislikes...what pushes the other's buttons...but we don't...we never...you're the only one other than Mother Nature that...wants to genuinely know us...completely. At least...that's what it...sounded like when you were saying that we...had our own hopes, wishes, and dreams."
"Yes...that's what I meant." I smiled at him gently and with sympathetic eyes as my heart continued to ache. It ached at the fact that something as simple as getting to know one another meant so much to him that he would cry tears of joy. "But...why does that make you cry?"
"I...I'm happy. Way more than I...probably should be." He gave a short laugh as he looked to the floor. "It...it means more than I can say. Think of all the spirits you've met here...and imagine about a hundred thousand more...and then some...and before you...in all the long years we've existed...Mother was the only one that genuinely wanted to know us...like you're saying you want to know us. It's...almost overwhelming, but I'm overjoyed like you wouldn't believe."
"I'm glad that your happy, but it makes me sad for the reason...so...why did the two of you look so upset at not being able to see each other for three weeks?"
"Well...out of everyone, I am closest to Nimbus." Abungu answered with a heavy sigh.
"And I'm closest with him. We don't like fighting, but we hate being too far away from each other for too long."
"Hmm...well...what if I was like a messenger every now and then? That way you two can hear how the other is doing, and you won't feel completely without each other."
"That would mean a lot to us." Abungu sight gratefully. "We had been punished like this before for much less violent fights and we couldn't see each other for a week. It was awful. Since we've known each other, he has truly become like a brother to me."
"I can see that..." I chuckled out.