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The elders that were accompanying them to the hot springs, told Andriel that they did not need any swimming outfits. Their bodies were so wrinkly they did not think anyone could tell if they were wearing clothes or not. Besides they were the only ones that went all the way up to the first hot spring pools. The only ones to see them way up there, was the occasional Saurian flier.
Andriel found it very relaxing to be there. There were no sand beaches. All the beaches were made of small round stones. The water was very shallow for a long way out and there were no predators in the water. The fish that were in the water, were all small plant eaters. So it was safe for the children to go into the water to play.
You had to go out more than twenty meters before the water level reached your waist. Some of the young Sisters did gasp the first time they saw Father Chitrah in his swimsuit, than they giggled when they realised they had been tricked. Chitrah loved his new swimsuit, and he was all for teasing the Sisters. It only took him a few days to learn how to swim underwater. He was surprised that his Chagrian skin still worked like it should. He found that he could stay under water for around twenty minutes at a time, before he had to surface and fill his lungs with fresh air. The instructor only took her class to knee depth, before she started to instruct her class on how to make water shields. To test them she would throw a ball of force fire at them. They had to form a water shield to protect themselves, or be burnt. The young Sisters loved it, because it was just like they were in combat.
After they were comfortable with forming water shields, the instructor took them to waist depth to teach them how to make water javelins. She showed them how in the water they only need to use a flick of the wrist to send it flying. The water would absorb most of the energy, if they tried to use their whole arm. The javelin itself would only travel a couple of meters when thrown with the arm, before dissolving. If you just flicked your wrist, you could easily send it twenty meters or more. She always asked Krillgan if he knew where Father Chitrah was before she would let them fire off the water javelins. He was the only healer in the group, so he was the most sensitive for feeling where the life force of creatures where. She did not want to accidentally impale him with a water javelin.
Now that they were waist deep. Chitrah would swim by and touch a Sister in the small of her back or on her leg. Which has made more than one Sister suddenly scream, until they figured out what was happening. The Sisters found it a little eerie because they could not see him in the blue water, unless they were looking down, and could see him against the stones on the bottom. The Sister instructing them, did not mind these attacks, because it kept everyone on their toes. It also made them more attentive. Here they were being attacked by someone that meant them no harm. In the cold lake where they would be doing their final training for this session. There were creatures that wanted to make a meal out of you.
When everyone was comfortable with water javelins, it was time to go deep. Everyone knew how to place air shields around their heads, so that they can breathe underwater. They also needed to be able to make water shields and javelins at the same time as maintaining their air shield. The final thing they needed to learn as a group, was to form one water shield completely surrounding them, also known as a water bubble. Because one of the predators, in the cold water lake, liked to stun its prey with a jolt of lightning. The people of Dathomir did not know what electricity was, even though they had seen it used. To them lightning was the closest they came to understanding electricity.
With their warm water training complete. The Sisters sent everyone else back to the village. They would be going on to the cold water lake by themselves. Before leaving, Mother Andriel gave the instructor a specially designed silk under garment. Andriel told her that it should help keep her warmer for a longer period of time in the cold lake. As she was the only one in the group, who had experience in the cold lake, the Clan Mother wanted her to try it out before letting the students wear it. She did not want to take away from their staring death in the face experience. The garment was a long sleeve top, and a full length bottom. Only the elbows, shoulders and knees had been cut out, so as not to restrict her movements. Mother Andriel suggested that she wear it underneath her swimming outfit, and she does not need to pre-wet it. She told her that if she approved. There were custom made outfits for each one of them, with their names on it, for the trip back. What she did not tell her was that she had made Krillgan a silk top to wear under his regular swimming top. She felt that the silk top with his fur, should make him the warmest of all the Sisters.
At the lake they found a cold water outfit lying on the ground for each one of them. There were even boots made from the same material with tree bark sewn on their bottoms to act as the sole of a shoe. Krillgan asked the instructor if the boots were a normal part of the outfit, or was this something new. She told him that the boots were part of the outfit, but the tree bark was something new. There was also a pile of flat rocks. The instructor told them that they would need to put the flat rocks into pockets sewn into the lower half of the outfits, to help keep them weighted down, so it was easier to walk along the bottom. Since it was late they would sleep there that night. They would eat a big breakfast first thing in the morning, because they would not be able to eat anything else until they made it to the other side. There was one Sister with them that this was her third attempt to go through the training. There was a certain point in the lake, where they step off of a cliff, and sink to the bottom. It is called the point of no return. Any Sister, if she does not feel comfortable, for whatever reason, is allowed to turn back before taking the step. For some reason the predators do not attack when you are in the shallower water. Some Sisters think it is because you use the natural sunlight to see. Once you step off the cliff, you only have blue force light to see by, also known as a ball of cold flame. So you can't see as far as you can in the shallow water. Krillgan suspected that it might have something to do with the Saurian Fliers he saw from time to time. This Sister has turned back twice already. She was determined not to turn back a third time. In the morning, while they ate their breakfast they had each put their outfits in the water to soak, and placed a couple of flat rocks on them so they wouldn't float away. The instructor found that because she was wearing the silk outfit, the shock of putting the cold water outfit on, was not as great. At the cliff the instructor went up to each student, and merged her air shield with theirs to ask them if they were turning back. This was the only way that the instructor knew how to talk with someone underwater. None of the students wanted to turn back. So when she tapped them on the shoulder they knew it was time to generate the blue light and step off of the cliff.
While he was floating down to the bottom, Krillgan could sense the creatures approaching, staying just outside the light. Suddenly one of the creatures charged. Krillgan stepped into the path the creature was taking, and threw up a water shield. The creature smashed into the shield. Then Krillgan forced it back by flicking water javelins at it. The creature had scales like a fish, but moved and had teeth like an eel. It was about as big around as his father's thigh, and close to two meters in length. He was sure those teeth were razor sharp. The water javelin was not able to penetrate its scales. But Krillgan was sure it felt like it had received some solid punches. The instructor had warned them that the younger creatures were much more likely to attack, since they had not encountered Sisters before. The older predators would stay outside of the light, and wait for an opening to appear before attacking. Ludia and Diennu had each followed Krillgan's example, in thwarting attacks. They were getting much better at sensing life. The Sisters continued moving in the direction the instructor had indicated. They could just barely make out footprints on the lakes bottom, indicating where others had gone before. The attacks started increasing in number. Suddenly they started attacking two and three at a time. One of the Sisters started to panic, and was hyperventilating. The instructor and the Sister that had turned back twice before, went up to either side of her, to help stabilize her air shield, and calm her down. Krillgan went up to her and combined his air shield with hers. Because he had blue skin like his father's, he was sure the air in his air shield had more oxygen than hers. He told her that he had taken more air in his air shield than anyone else, and was willing to share it. She started breathing easier, and thanked Krillgan for sharing his air.
They were only able to get a little further, when suddenly they were swarmed. Krillgan called to everyone like they were Rancor, telling them to form the water bubble shield. They formed it just in time. The predators started bouncing off of it from all directions. The one Sister had started to panic again. Because the instructor and the other Sister were able to help stabilise her air shield, and because the water bubble held. She started calming down again. Then a new predator showed up. It was twice as big around as the others, and had a coarse skin rather than scales. Krillgan knew from the instructor's description, that this was the predator that liked to stun its victims with lightning. The Sisters did not know how to move, and maintain the bubble water shield at the same time. They had to maintain the bubble shield to protect themselves from this creature's attack. They also had to move because they were all getting colder. Soon they would start losing control of their bodies. This might also cause their air shields and water shields to collapse.
Krillgan had an idea. The new predator was not the only creature here that could play with lightning. He told the Sisters what he was planning on doing, just like he did before. The instructor did not know how they were able to hear him, but every Sister nodded at him saying they understood. What he had told them was that he was going to force his one hand through the water bubble. To act as bait. When enough predators came around to try and take the bait, he was going to blast them with force lightning. Because they were underwater, he doubted that he could burn them. He was hoping that he could stun them like the fat one does. Then they would have to collapse the bubble and make a run for it.
By concentrating, he was able to get his one hand through the water bubble. Because of the blue force light, his hand almost seemed to glow blue. It did attract the attention of most of the predators, especially the fat one. Krillgan had noticed before, that the others had kept a healthy distance from it. But because they were all interested in his hand they were crowding in. One of them suddenly moved. Krillgan suspected it was going for his hand, he had hoped that they would be closer, but unleashed the force lightning anyway.
What was unexpected, was the fat one had also released its lightning. Krillgan felt it in his hand. He hoped the predator did it as a defensive reaction to being stunned.
The Sisters broke the water bubble and started walking as fast as they could. Krillgan brought up the rear because he could sense life further than he could see. He sensed a lot of new movement around the creatures he had stunned. He could also smell blood in the water. Krillgan hoped that this meant that other predators were feasting on the ones he had stunned, and would leave them alone. He sent a water javelin at any life that he sensed breaking off the other group and started coming towards them. That usually stopped them. The Sisters where finally at the place where they could climb up to shallow water and to safety. They all tried moving as fast as they could, when they saw the hut. Krillgan again spoke to everyone to jettison the flat rocks, they can pick them up on the way back. They all did what he said, and floating up. As soon as they surfaced, they no longer needed to maintain their air shield, and started swimming, using their force energy to propel them that much faster. As soon as they reached the hut, they all helped each other out of their outfits. Which was really hard to do when you are shivering, and your hands are shaking. Once they removed all of their clothing, they all knew what to do next. There was an extra wide mattress. Krillgan laid down on one side. Ludia right up next to him and Diennu right up next to her, and so on until the instructor was at the other end. They had all pulled up quilts to cover themselves and the Sisters on either side of them. It took a while for them all to stop shivering. Eventually they felt warmth coming from the person right next to them. The instructor had asked Krillgan to take the one side, because she knew from the Bonding Ceremony that he had a thin layer of fur all over his body. So could tolerate being the end person more than any other Sister. She took the other end, because she felt it was her responsibility, and no one had volunteered. When she felt warm enough, she was sure the Sisters in the center were even warmer. She told everyone that it was time to get up and finish their chores before they could go back to bed.
Krillgan pretended he had fallen asleep, so Ludia had to shake him, to get him up. First they dressed into the warm clothes that had been brought there for them. Then they wrung out their outfits outside, and hung them up to dry. Next they all did their assigned chore. In no time they had a nice fire going, with a stew they had put together. Some flat bread was cooking on the rocks next to the fire. It wasn't long before they all had a nice bowl of hot stew and some freshly baked flat bread to go with it, and some hot tea to wash it all down. Now they were ready to crawl back into bed. They just removed their outer layers, and laid back down in the order they had first laid down. They did not need all the quilts they had used before. But they were comfortable and warm, and it wasn't long before they were all fast asleep.
It was still dark outside when the instructor suddenly sat up. She was glad they had not missed it. She quickly got everyone up, and organised a quick breakfast. After breakfast she reminded the Sisters that what they were about to see was the reward for coming here. She suggested that they all grab a quilt, and follow her to the top of the cliff. She also said it was okay to hold hands with the person next to you. It is a better experience if you share it. When they made it to the edge of the cliff, they could see that the Great Desert was already becoming light, even though it was still very dark in the mountains where they are. Krillgan sat between Ludia and Diennu. They did not hold hands. Instead both young ladies rested their heads on his broad shoulders, while he had an arm around each of their waists.
They saw the first rays of sunlight touch the desert. It must be coming through a mountain pass somewhere, because it looked like a javelin of light suddenly traveling from one end of the desert to the other end. Then the javelin became wider and finally filled the whole desert. As the sun rose higher, the colours of the desert changed. It was like a master artist had quickly spread a wash of colours over it, then started blending the colours together to make new colours. All to the background of a pale blue sky in the direction they were facing. It was really worth the price they paid to come there.
After the sun rose high enough that the colours no longer changed, the Sisters slowly stood up. The Sister that had made it across on her third try told the instructor that she envied Krillgan, Ludia, and Diennu. She thought they had the ideal life, it was so romantic. The instructor told her that it was only ideal for now, but the three of them are heading for major heart break.
The Sister asked her to explain. She told her that all three of them had pledged to be celibate until they marry. It's pretty clear that Krillgan loves them both. But he can only marry one. So his heart will be broken when he has to choose one. The young lady he rejects will also have her heart broken. The young lady he chooses will have her heart torn because of her two friends. For added pressure, everyone knows that Mother wants him to marry her daughter Ludia. Now there's a mother-in-law you don't want to say no to.
When they returned to the hut, the instructor told them that if anyone wants to go back inside and nap, they can. Everyone was too wide awake after seeing such a spectacular view. So they all had a second breakfast. The instructor outlined the plan for the day. They were supposed to rest and rebuild their energy and food reserves. Krillgan asked if the way the predators attacked them was normal. The instructor told them that this was the worst she has ever encountered, and thanked Krillgan for his quick thinking, he had literally saved everyone's life. They all started thanking him. Krillgan told them that he had to do something or Mother Andriel would have been very upset with him. The Sisters laughed because he was trying to be modest. The instructor mentioned that when the slow moving lightning predator shows up, the others tend to disappear before they appear on its menu. They knew from her instruction in the warm water lake, that the lightning predator can be killed with the water javelin, they just need to wait until it has discharged its lightning. You have to act quickly, because it only takes a few seconds for it to recharge itself. The instructor asked Krillgan how he was able to communicate with all of them. It had never been done before. Krillgan told her that he just pretended that he was talking to Rancor. It's not a great stretch on the imagination if they remember what they all look like in the outfits. This caused the Sisters to laugh. In a way they did kind of look like Rancor in the outfits. The Instructor would definitely be passing that information along. She also reminded Krillgan to share it at the next Bonding Ceremony. She was sure that this was one experience that they would all want to share.
Diennu asked the instructor how everything got there. The quilts, the food, and the firewood. They could not be brought underwater, and they had fresh meat in their stew last night. The instructor shared with them what they would be learning the next time they went for training on the water elements. They will learn how to make water shields on the surface of the water, and walk across the lake. She told them that it is much harder than it sounds, because water shields are very slippery, they are also not anchored, so if they do not step on it just right, it can shoot out from underneath them. "During your training, expect to spend as much time in the water as we did, with our training."
She told them that they will be responsible for bringing the supplies for the next group that will be making the trip along the bottom of the lake. "They don't know it yet, but they are depending on you for their survival, just like we depended on the previous group for our survival. We are Sisters, we will always need one another."
Because they are facing west when sitting on the top edge of the cliff. They actually saw the sun itself set over the desert. It was just as spectacular a view as the sunrise, except there was as much colour in the sky, as on the sand.
When they went back to the hut, the instructor found the package containing the custom made silk underwear that Mother Andriel made for them. She was warmer for a lot longer than she had ever been. She was still shivering when they finally made it to the hut, so it was not a perfect fix. But it was a big help, one she was going to recommend.
The trip back was uneventful, as it always seemed to be. Krillgan noticed that the predators hung back more than they did on the first trip. What they weren't expecting was that there was a big fire waiting for them on the shore. The previous class was waiting for them. Only the instructor knew that they were there. This was another tradition the Sisters had, to help bring them closer. The previous class helped them out of all their clothing. They were surprised to find them all wearing silk underwear. After helping them out of their wet clothes. They quickly dried them off, then they wrapped a quilt around the cold Sister with the assisting Sister wrapping herself in the quilt with them to share their body heat. The only snag the Sisters had was deciding who would be assisting Krillgan. They were surprised when Mother showed up and randomly picked a Sister to assist Krillgan. They were not surprised to see Butashe with her. It made sense that they would be there. Sisters that were mothers always came along to help the class when their daughters were walking the lake, this also was part of their tradition. Mother had chosen to assist the instructor, because there wasn't enough Sisters in the previous class to assist everyone. Butashe brought them all nice warm cups of tea to help warm them up.
The instructor told Mother about their walk to the other side, and how Krillgan saved their lives, and how he was able to communicate with them. She also told her that the silk underwear did help keep them warmer for much longer, before the cold finally set in. Mother said that that must be the reason that her skin did not look that blue from the cold, when she helped her out of her clothes. After they stopped shivering and dressed. Butashe had a hot bowl of stew and some fresh baked flatbread for everyone.
Word eventually got out to the other clans that the Singing Mountain Clan was training a male Sister. A purple skinned male Sister. Everyone knew that meant that he had to be a healer. The Nightsisters' Mother told her Sisters that they needed to find out as much as they can about this male Sister. Now she knew who to invite to their special banquet from the Singing Mountain Clan. Every five years they hold a banquet on the Glass Mountain. To the clans it is known as their recruiting banquet. To the Nightsisters it is so much more. This is where they get most of their Intel on the health of the clans. Who is being given special training? Meaning a possible successor to the current Clan Mother. How satisfied or dissatisfied are the clan Sisters with their clan? Which clans are currently fighting over territory? This banquet was sanctioned by the Council of Mothers to the first Mother of the Nightsisters, when the Nightsisters still had in ally in the council. The Nightsisters could invite one person from each of the clans. At first it was used as a recruitment banquet, but then the Clan Mothers got wise and started sending other Sisters in place of the one they invited, saying that they were going through special training. So now it was a strategy play. The Clan Mothers would try and determine why the Nightsisters chose to invite that clan Sister. Do they allow her to go, or do they send another. The Nightsisters only send out the invitations a month before the banquet. So the Clan Mothers do not have much time to plan a counter move. But the Nightsisters take a long time in planning their guest list. The other thing the Clan Mothers know, is that the Nightsisters like to hold the banquet during a major high tide period. When at least three moons are lined up to affect the tide. So if a clan Sister chooses to depart the banquet early. She can't, since the mountain is usually surrounded by water.
Mother suspected that Krillgan would be invited, once the Nightsisters found out about him. Now that the clans know, it is only a matter of time, before the Nightsisters do. It was time to put him on display.
Krillgan is considered fully trained as a healer. (Every year when they send Sisters to the settlements that still give them tribute. The Singing Mountain Clan makes sure that one of the two Sisters going to visit the clan is a healer.) This year they are sending three Sisters, and Mother Andriel. Mother Andriel and Krillgan work very well together as a healing team. Mother Andriel does the initial first physical contact with a patient, so the two of them can make the initial diagnostic assessment. If the patient requires some physical manipulation. Mother Andriel will do it, strengthened by Krillgan. Mother Andriel has set quite a few dislocated joints. From dislocated fingers to dislocated shoulders, and dislocated hips. After Krillgan has checked the patient using the force, to make sure that everything is in its right place. Then Krillgan can step in to do the final healing. When the patient leaves, it is like the dislocation never happened. No walking around with a brace or sling until the stretched tendons and ligaments return to their proper shape.
Mother Andriel has also set a few fractured limbs. She told Mother how strong she feels when Krillgan strengthens her. She can set a fractured limb by herself that normally takes two normal people. Because she was sending Krillgan, she had to send Ludia and Diennu. Those three are inseparable.
They were the ones who approached the Herd Mother for her approval on the Rancor they would be taking on this trip. Diennu would be taking Protector, but she also wanted Mother Andriel to ride with her, since Protector was the largest of the three Rancor they would be taking. Ludia had bonded with a young female Rancor, she named "My Friend", Krillgan had not yet bonded with any Rancor, much to the Herd Mother's disappointment. But any Rancor was willing to carry him, and every Sister was willing to lone him hers if she was not riding it.
Aliyanna had bonded with a Rancor she called "Strongman", but because she is still too young she has not been allowed to go on any caravans. So she is only allowed to use him with the odd jobs around the village. Aliyanna is one of only a handful of beastmasters that have figured out how to ride a Rancor, and still communicate with it. If asked, she will admit that Krillgan helped her. So when she is finished all her chores, and all her training. She and Strongman can be seen running through the woods around the village, with Aliyanna on Strongman's back.
Krillgan had asked Aliyanna's and Strongman's permission, before asking the Herd Mother if he could ride Strongman on this trip. The Herd Mother gave her blessing. So now it was the Clan Mother's turn to give hers. She had told them that this trip was also going to be a goodwill gesture to the clans. As Ludia and Krillgan will be carrying the yellow flags, there should be no conflict with any clan Sister. They will all want to meet this male Sister from the Singing Mountain Clan.
Chances are that many Sisters will invite him to sleep with them. Which is another reason that Diennu, Ludia, and Mother Andriel are with him.
The Clan Mothers will want to meet both Krillgan and Mother Andriel, and will probably have private talks with them, as if they were receiving a Clan Mother.
Chitrah had told Krillgan that there is an artisan in the Great Canyon Clan that knows how to make stone knives. He needs to have a pair made, just like his mother's and father's. When he gets back Chitrah will share with him the techniques the Togruta employ to keep their knives hidden.
The last thing the Clan Mother warned Krillgan about, before they left, were the healers of the Misty Falls Clan. They will want to thoroughly examine him. If they do not have any healing skills they are willing to share, than ignore them. They will only consume his time.
They were well received when they arrived in the Singing Mountain Clan's compound, next to the town. The town's people invited them to join them for dinner. Krillgan politely turned them down. He told them that they needed to rest before pushing on. The women looked at him like he was crazy. Why cook your own meals, when someone is willing to cook for you. Krillgan told them that he felt something off about the town, and did not want to go inside.
They had enough provisions, so that this was not a big issue. They were just tired of cooking for themselves. After dinner Krillgan went to sleep right away. At least they get to sleep on beds. Diennu decided to put her Ranger training to work. She wanted to see if there really was something wrong with the town. She made herself appear small and went into the town. The town's people where in their dining area talking about the purple male Sister, who turned down a free dinner. Diennu snuck into their kitchen, because they had finished washing up. They were just sitting around drinking their ale and talking.
As Diennu listened, it wasn't long before she realised that there was a woman with them, who wasn't from the town. At first she tried getting as much information out of them as she could. When she realised that they did not know anything. She started polluting the hearts and minds of the town's people against Krillgan.
Diennu was furious! She knew that she had to put a stop to it. She boldly walked into the dining area and confronted the woman.
"You witch. All you are good at is twisting truth and planting lies. Leave these innocent people alone."
"What are we too good for you?"
"You Nightsisters are good for no one, including the people of this town."
"I suppose you want to fight me?"
"The only reason I have not killed you already, is to protect the neutrality of this town and the innocent people in it. You are not worthy of a fight."
This scared the Nightsister. First she did not even know that the clan Sister was in the building. Second that this Sister claimed to be powerful enough that she could dispatch her without having to fight her.
She was told that the Sisters of the Singing Mountain Clan do not boast. They can always back up what they say.
The Nightsister got up. "We will meet again."
"If we do, you won't know it."
The Nightsister fled. After the Nightsister left, Diennu apologised to the people of the town. She told them that her companions normally greatly enjoy the hospitality of good people. But one of them sensed the presence of one that was not good, which is why they retired to their own compound. The town's people where speechless after witnessing the confrontation between the two women.
One of them finally spoke. "The fault is our own for not recognising the woman for who she is. Normally the town's Rancor will warn the beastmaster that there is a Nightsister in town, but she made sure she avoided the Rancor." Diennu told them that it did not matter anymore. If they need the services of a healer, they should come by their compound in the morning, there are two capable people who can look after them.
When Diennu went back to the compound, Mother Andriel and Ludia, were waiting for her. They asked her, what did she find? She told them that Krillgan was right in doing what he did. There was a disguised Nightsister in town. Ludia asked her if she got rid of her. Diennu told them she did, she pretended that she was as powerful as her mother. Mother Andriel went up to her and hugged her. She told her that she doesn't have to pretend, because she is. She can even ask her mother.
The next morning the entire town came to the Singing Mountain Clan's compound with breakfast. They told Diennu that all of the town's people where fine, but one of their Rancor was recently injured. Do healers also look after creatures? Mother Andriel told the people that they will go have a look at their Rancor. As Krillgan followed his mother, he grabbed something off of a plate to munch on, on the way. The women from the town had to laugh. He was definitely a guy. As the people from the town were eating and conversing with Diennu and Ludia. They were surprised that the healers returned so soon. Mother Andriel told them that their Rancor was all better. The two of them sat down and helped themselves to what the people brought.
One of the town's people asked Andriel, if she was the Builder's wife that they had heard about? She told them she is. They said that they did not know that she was also a Sister. She told them she wasn't. She was just a seamstress, weaver, and mother, when she wasn't helping with healing. They asked her how she can be a healer if she wasn't a Sister. She told them that if healing only involved the force, then only force users would get injured or sick. But because anyone can get injured or sick, it was the person with the right heart that can bring healing.
After breakfast the beastmaster went up to the Rancor that was injured, and asked about the injury. The Rancor said there was no injury. The beastmaster asked the Rancor what the healers did. The Rancor just said the healer healed him. The beastmaster could not get any clarification. So the beastmaster went around to the other Rancor to ask them. They all said the same thing. Now the Rancor had never encountered a healer before. So they thought that what the healer did, is what the healer was supposed to do. That is why he was called a healer.
The group decided to first go to the settlement that had dug into the base of a hill to hide themselves from pirates. When they entered the entrance way, they could smell something wrong in the air. When they found the people, everyone looked sick. One of them said it was because of the floods that came almost every time it rained, now. Their settlement has not been dry for months. Now they have mold growing everywhere. Mother Andriel ordered everyone outside into the fresh air. It bothered her that there was a pregnant young lady that was breathing in, all this moldy air. No wonder everyone looked sick. Now they were all contaminated.
Mother Andriel had grabbed some pots and pans on her way out. She handed a pot to Diennu and asked one of the people from the settlement to show her where she can find fresh water. Ludia took that as a hint, and started a fire going. Krillgan spoke to the leaders of the settlement, about what their possible options were. They just squatted there, dumbfounded. They had no place to go. All they have is a soggy hole in the ground, which is making them all sick. They had to let their Brackaset go fend for themselves, because they refused to go into the dwelling. Fortunately they came back every morning and every evening to be milked or they would have already starved to death.
Krillgan asked them, where they make their cheese? They told them that they make it in their home. Krillgan told them that their cheese is full of mold spores and would have to be destroyed.
"Where do they store their grains?"
"In their home."
Krillgan told them that their grain would have to be washed, than roasted, then washed again, before it can be cooked for eating. The only way that they can go back to living inside, is if the entire settlement was purified by fire.
Before they can think of doing that, they have to first find a way to stop the flood waters from coming into it. Or they'll will be right back where they started.
The first order of business, was to decontaminate everyone. He asked them about their bathing situation. They told him that they have a large wooden bathtub, and some homemade soap. Krillgan asked them to go get it. He also sent Diennu and Ludia to go hunting. He told them that if they encounter anyone, tell them to keep away from them, because they are contaminated as well. They are covered in mold spores.
Krillgan went to talk with his mother. He asked her what they were going to do about clothing. The best thing to do is to burn all the clothes, and let everyone run around naked, after taking a good bath. But these people need to live. To live they need to work. To work they need food, and clothing, and tools. They need a warm safe place to sleep at night. Or every time they turn around, they will contaminate themselves again. Mother told him that they will have to find a way.
When the water had boiled. Andriel made a tea from her supply that should help remove toxins from the blood. She made enough for everyone in the settlement to drink.
When Diennu and Ludia returned from the hunt. There were two Sisters from the Red Hills Clan that had followed them. They kept at a safe distance, and asked how they could help? Krillgan asked them if they could loan them a tent, some clean clothes, and some basic supplies. Mother Andriel told them what garments they needed and the quantity and sizes. They called back to say that they first needed to check with their Mother. They did not anticipate that there would be a problem. Krillgan thanked them, and asked them to convey to her, the greetings from their Mother.
Mother Andriel had Diennu fetch some fresh water. Then she helped Ludia set the meat for roasting. After they brought the wooden bathtub to the top of the hill, and some soap. Krillgan grabbed a pail, and asked directions to where the fresh water was. He then instructed them that they need to bring everything out of the settlement to be burnt. They should start with the wooden furniture and clothing. Then all of the foodstuff, and everything else, including wooden cupboards. The people were not happy. Everything they had was made by someone from the settlement. Everything had a purpose, and a memory. The work of their fathers and forefathers was about to go up in smoke.
When Krillgan returned with a pail of water, he put it in the bathtub. Then he took a brush and the homemade soap. Krillgan knew from what Mother had taught him that there was not very much that can grow on the soap that was made on Dathomir. It was probably the only thing in the settlement that was not contaminated by the mold. As he scrubbed the tub, a green scum formed in the soapy water. Krillgan ignored it as he kept scrubbing. One of the children watching him, asked him what the green stuff in the soapy water was. Krillgan told him that it was mold that had started growing on the wooden bathtub. He told the child that he was cleaning the tub, because everyone had that stuff growing on their skin, and they needed to take a bath to wash it off. The child asked him if that was what was making everyone sick. Krillgan told him it was, then continued to scrub the tub. When the rest of the children came over to watch what he was doing, the first child told them what the purple stranger told him. After Krillgan finished cleaning the inside of the tub. He flipped it upside down, and cleaned the outside.
When Andriel had the second pot of water boiling, she made more of the detoxifying tea. This time she made enough for them to have as well as the people from the settlement. She told everyone that after they go pee, they need to see the purple young man.
After Krillgan had cleaned the tub completely he filled it with water. He then threw force fireballs at the water in the tub to try and heat it up quickly. This had everyone's attention, because they have never seen that before.
Mother Andriel rescued some bed sheets from the pile of debris the adults were bringing up, out of their home. She asked Krillgan to soak the sheets with soapy water. He needs to build a blind to put around the tub. People need their privacy while bathing.
"We are not all like Sisters."
Krillgan took the hint, and did as he was told.
Soon the people from the settlement started coming up to Krillgan. They whispered the instructions the red lady had given them. Krillgan told the adults to place their hands in his, then look him in the eyes. He watched as their eyes became clearer, as their bodies forced what was left of the mold inside of them out. When he told them that he was finished they were surprised at how much better they felt. They asked him what he did. He told them that he had helped their bodies rid themselves of the mold inside of them. They assumed that he used the force to do that, because they had seen him hurl fireballs at the bathtub.
When the children came up to him, he asked them to pull his finger. They would always ask him if he was going to make a noise if they did that, because adults always make a noise when you pull their finger. He told them that he might. So they pulled his finger. When they didn't hear a noise. They asked him if something was wrong. He told them that maybe he was broken, then asked them to try another one. After they had pulled all his fingers. He asked them how they felt. They told him that they were feeling better. He told them that that was good, they don't need to pull his fingers anymore.
The children thought he was a strange man, but they liked him. Mother Andriel started cutting off pieces of roasted meat and stuck them on small wooden sticks and passed them around for everyone to eat.
A caravan from the Red Hills Clan showed up with everything they had asked for. The Clan Mother herself came out to meet them. She promised them that they will help them anyway they can. She told the leaders of the settlement that this was just one neighbour helping another. They set the tent up where Mother Andriel told them. She then explained what everyone was supposed to do, to minimise the chance of spreading the mold contamination. They were going to start by bathing the pregnant young lady. When she was finished they would need to come over and dry her and dress her in clean clothes, then take her to the tent. Then they will bathe the children. After all the children, they will bathe all the adult females. Andriel told them that she, Ludia, and Diennu would be part of that group. After that it would be the men's turn. With Krillgan being the last. After he has finished, everything has to be moved to the rubbish pile, without being touched, and burnt. Everyone understood what they were supposed to do. Andriel went in to help the pregnant young lady bathe. She made sure that she gave her hair a go scrubbing.
When she was finished. Andriel signalled for the Sisters to come for the young lady. She helped her out of the tub, but only used the hand that she had helped wash her with. She told her not to touch anything else. When the young lady looked back at the bathtub, she asked if the green stuff had come off of her. Andriel told her yes, and it was making her and her baby sick. She thanked Mother Andriel for coming when she did.
While Andriel was washing the children, Diennu and Ludia gave their Rancor a good scrubbing, and told them to wait with Strongman. They asked them why he wasn't being scrubbed. They told them that Krillgan had not ridden him after they had all become dirty. The Rancor accepted that, and went to wait for them. While the men were taking their turns in the Bathtub. The Brackaset showed up for their evening milking. They were a bit skittish, because they could smell Rancor, and there were a lot more humans in the area than normal. But they were looking for their humans. When the women saw them they asked if it was okay for them to come into the tent with them. Andriel did not see any reason why not, they had refused to go into the moldy hole in the ground. The women asked the Clan Mother if they had any containers that would hold milk. The Clan Mother checked with her Sisters. They were able to find a few containers. So the ladies milked their Brackaset.
The Clan Mother asked them for the milk, she would have some Sisters take it to one of their farming villages and exchange it for some cheese. The women agreed to that arrangement, because they had nothing that they could do with it except drink it. The Brackaset were content to stay in the tent with their humans. The humans were happy to have them back with them. Not everything was lost.
When the bonfire was started, the Clan Mother met with Mother Andriel, Krillgan and the leaders of the settlement to plan their next move. The Clan Mother offered to help them build a new home. The people of the settlement where hoping to salvage the old one. The Clan Mother looked at Krillgan, she whispered, "You're the Builder's son. Can you do anything for them?"
"I can try."
With that she returned to her main village. She left a couple of Sisters with them in case they needed help. Krillgan wished his father was there. He always had good ideas. He drew the settlement on the ground the way he remembered it. He asked the people if his drawing was accurate. They told him it looked good. He told them that the first thing they have to change is the entrance way to the settlement. The way it is now, the flood waters push themselves into the settlement. He then drew a separate drawing of how he thought the entrance should look like. It was like it had a protecting wall running along the wall of the hill. With the opening into the wall downstream of where the entrance to the settlement was. He told them that if they changed the entrance way, to look like this. The rushing flood water would actually pull any water that was in the entrance way out with it. The people where interested in what Krillgan was saying, and it would be an easy alteration to do.
He then asked them, what the highest level the flood waters has ever reached, in the settlement? One of the adults stood up and indicated how high up the flood waters came on her body. They reached her hip. Krillgan said that looks like about a meter to him. The other elders agreed. Krillgan asked if they could build a ramp into the entrance way that first went about a meter and half up than turned and came back down. It would make it harder to carry things into the settlement. But it would supply added protection against the floodwaters. One of the leaders said they could not do it right at the entrance way, because of the slope of the hill itself. But he showed on Krillgan's first drawing where they could do it. The other leaders agreed. Krillgan told them, that he noticed, that they did not have good air circulation through the settlement. Which meant that when one person became ill, chances are, everyone else will become ill shortly after. What he proposed was they build a chimney right at the very back. They should place an oil lamp in it, and keep it lit day and night. The heated air around the lamp will go up the chimney because hot air rises. This will create a drop in air pressure at the base of the chimney causing air to flow all the way from the front entrance to the back of the settlement. This way they will always have fresh air flowing through the settlement. One of the adults asked if the pirates could spot the heat being given off by the lamp. Krillgan said that they could if they were directly overhead. But the heat given off would be less than what a human body gives off. They would probably think that they stumbled across some creature's den, and move off.
The next morning, while most of the people of the settlement sifted through the ashes of the bonfire. To see what they could find that was salvageable, like pots, pans, utensils, and tools. All of them metal components with their wooden handles burnt off. Krillgan outlined his strategy for rebuilding the settlement with their leaders. First they need to start by building a fire right in the entrance way. Once that area was purified, they could push the fire in further while the settlement starts rebuilding the entrance way to deflect the rushing flood waters. The fire needed to be maintained at a very hot temperature, but not necessarily very big.
"Because of the lack of air circulation, you don't want the fire choking itself out."
Then they would have to start all over again. For Krillgan, Ludia, and Diennu, it meant using the fourth element. Wind and fire, the least understood and most difficult to control. After they have finished rebuilding the front entrance way, the next priority is the chimney at the back. Hopefully the settlement would have been purified by then, and cooled down enough that they can start working at the back.
It is only after the chimney is built and an airflow established that they can start moving back into the settlement. Mother Andriel suggested that they try and coax the Brackaset into the settlement first. If they are willing to go in, then they know that it is safe for everyone else.
As the meeting was ending, a dust covered child approached the people of the settlement, then collapsed. The people ran for the Sisters.
They ran out to the child, and Mother Andriel picked her up and cradled her in her arms. Krillgan had gone and fetched some fresh water. After they made the child drink, Mother Andriel started washing her face, and she revived. She begged them, with tears in her eyes, to please come to their settlement and help them. "A Kamurith had attacked our herd of Brackaset. My father had gone out to try and drive the creature away, using the fire harden wooden spears that the Sisters taught them to make. The Kamurith would not back down, and attacked my father. It had chewed up his left leg pretty bad, and was starting to drag him away when my mother grabbed another spear and charged it, impaling it in its side. The creature ran away but it is badly wounded. We have no one in our settlement that can help father with his wounds. Everyone is also worried that the Kamurith will come back and kill them all."
The four of them quickly conversed. Mother Andriel did not want to leave the pregnant young lady. She could give birth at any moment. They could send one of the Sisters that has stayed to help them, to go get a healer from her clan to come help her. Diennu was the best with the fire element, so she should stay to supervise the purifying of the settlement. They had to burn all of the healing herbs they had brought with them, because they were contaminated, so Krillgan was their only healer. They would need a warrior to deal with the wounded Kamurith. So Ludia would have to go as well. She would also have to help Krillgan with the healing. Then Krillgan would have to help her track down, and kill the wounded beast.
Ludia took the young girl up on her Rancor. While they were riding, Krillgan explained to Ludia what she would have to do. Since he could not touch the man, until he was ready to be healed.
The little girl could not understand what they were talking about. Why couldn't the guy touch her father?
As they were riding, Krillgan spotted a plant he recognised, in what may have been a riverbed. He was actually surprised to see it here. This was not its normal habitat. He would have expected to see it in a swamp. He could make a narcotic out of this plant. There was a high chance of addiction for a healthy person to consume it. But for a man in great pain, and Krillgan believed he was, it would help dull the pain. The plant had gone to seed. So Krillgan scattered the seeds after he picked the plant. Someday another healer might need it.
When they arrived at the settlement, it was the one where they dug into a canyon wall, Krillgan examined the patient. He had claw marks on a number of places of his body from the Kamurith. Some on both forearms, and a gash on the upper thigh of the leg that was bitten. But the worst was the bite mark itself. The lower leg look like the flesh had been shredded, and at least one bone had been crushed. When Krillgan used the force to see it, he saw that the other bone was broken in two places. Krillgan was sure that the breaks would line up with the width of the Kamurith's jaw.
The man's wife told Krillgan that she had washed his body the best that she could. But she was afraid to wash the wound, and only washed away the surface blood. Krillgan suspected from the smell that an infection had entered the wound. So they would need to wash the wound with a mild antiseptic. He could see some dead flesh, which didn't surprise him from the amount of tearing. The flesh on the foot itself still looked alive, so some blood was getting down to it. Krillgan believed that by some miracle, neither a large artery, nor a major vein, had been severed. Or he would have bled out by now.
The next thing he did, was extract the narcotic from the plant he picked. He made it into a drinkable solution, and gave the man a sip, because he was still conscience. He put Ludia in charge of the solution. He told her not to give more than one sip to the man in any hour, no matter how much he begs her. The solution will dull the pain, not get rid of it. He told her that if she gives him more than a sip, there is a chance he might get addicted. Krillgan believed that there were four sips left, which gave him five hours maximum with all his preparations. He asked the wife if they have any plants that grew nearby, that had a medicinal benefit. The lady said she did not know of any, or they would have harvested them. Krillgan knew he could make an alkaline solution out of the ash in their cooking stove. But it might be too strong and burn the flesh. He asked the wife if they make tea out of any of the plants in the area. His mother had taught him that most teas are acidic. A mild acid wash might be the way to go. She told him that there are berry bushes nearby, and they make a tea from its leaves. Krillgan grabbed a big pot and told her to lead the way.
When she pointed out the bushes. Krillgan reached in and started picking the oldest leaves. She told him not to do that, or the tea will be very bitter. Krillgan told her that the tea was not for drinking. It would be used to wash the wound. The bitterness in the leaves is what he wanted. She went to another bush and started picking old leaves to help him. Krillgan sighed, too bad it wasn't berry season. This would have been a much more enjoyable task.
When the pot was two-thirds full. Krillgan told her they had enough, and asked her to take him to their source of water. She took him to a pool of water. As he suspected, they had a seasonal source. Spring water would have been healthier for washing the wounds. He put enough water in the pot that it would not run over when it came to a boil. When they arrived back at their apartment in the settlement, the wife rekindled the stove. She used dark chunks of something that looked round in shape, as a fuel source. He asked her, what was she using? She told him it was Brackaset dung.
Krillgan told her that they were going to need a lot of light for when they start washing, and setting the bones in the wound. She went to all of her neighbours and borrowed every lamp they would give her. Because she had their lamps, they felt that this gave them permission to stand at the doorway and watch. While they were waiting for the water to boil, Krillgan went back to the pool of water with another pot. He let the berry leaves boil for a number of minutes, because he wanted the tea to be as strong as possible.
After he thought it was ready, he took the pot off the stove. He asked her how they were going to strain the leaves out. She went to her neighbour who was at her door, and asked if she could borrow her large pot. She then sent another neighbour to go get a clean piece of cloth that they used for making cheese. When they both came back, she told the healer to pour the contents of the one pot into the other, through the cheese cloth. The audience gasped when they realised that he was not touching the hot pot full of tea. The hard part was pouring it slowly, so he did not splash scalding hot tea on the lady.
After all the tea was poured out, the lady put the cloth with the berry leaves aside. She then took the now empty pot and gave it to her neighbour as exchange for the one she borrowed. Krillgan now tried doing two things at once. He held the big pot with the boiling hot tea, using the force. At the same time he tried making a water shield from the smaller pot that he had filled with water. When Ludia saw what he was doing, she told him to concentrate on the big pot of water, she would control the water shield. She formed the shield and set it horizontally. Krillgan rested the big pot of tea on it, holding it in place. The woman asked him what they were doing. He told her that they were cooling the pot of tea down to a temperature, where they can safely handle it and not burn her husband. He knew from personal experience that water shields are very cold, and very slippery.
Ludia, had to concentrate very hard to keep the shield from melting. Every once and a while he would ask the wife to put her hand over the pot, and tell him if she could feel the heat coming up off of the tea. Each time she did, she told him it was less than before. Finally she said she could not feel it. Krillgan grabbed the pot with his hands, and told Ludia that she can put the water back in the pot. She let the shield collapse back into the smaller pot, allowing some of it to splash around it. Krillgan knew she must be fatigued to have done that. He put the pot down and came up to her from behind, placing his hands where her neck comes from her shoulders. He cannot have her fatigued. Not now when the most delicate part of the work needs to be done. He used his hands to gently rub that big muscle, at the same time transmitting some of his energy to her using the force. He asked her, if she felt better? She smiled at him and told him much better. They then took all the lamps the woman had borrowed from her neighbours, and lit them, placing them around the wounded leg, to try to give light without shadows. The wife had given Krillgan a clean washcloth, which he put into the tea. He then brought the pot of tea and placed it next to the man's knee. He then told Ludia, how she needs to wash the wounds.
When she had finished, Krillgan took a sniff of the wounded leg. All he could smell was the bitter tea. He hoped that meant that the entire wound was clean. Krillgan then reached out to the man with the force, and slowed the man's heart right down. This made the man go unconscious. Krillgan told her that she will now need to work, as quickly as possible, because it is not good to leave him in this state for too long. He did it because this next phase will be too painful, causing him to have spasmodic movement, as the body tries to protect itself.
The first thing she needed to do was cut away all the dead flesh. Right now it was only in their way. He told her that it was okay to cut away some of the healthy flesh with it. He knew that her mother had given her a pair of Dathomirite daggers before they left. So she had the right tool for this job. When she finished that. Krillgan told her that she now needed to stretch the man's leg, until the broken fragments of the lower bone line up properly. She asked him, how she will know that. He told her he would tell her. He touched her to strengthen her, at the same time he used the force to let him see the bone. What they did not know, was because he was touching her, she saw a faint image of what he saw. So when the bones lined up as she stretched his leg, she asked if it was okay to relax the leg now. He told her it was, and asked her how she knew. She told him it was because she somehow saw a faint image of the bone. Krillgan removed his hand and asked her if she could see it now. She said she could not. He touched her again and asked her if she could see it. She said that as soon as he touched her, she could see it.
Krillgan tucked this knowledge away, it could be useful in the future.
Krillgan told her, that the next part of what she must do, will take a lot of concentration. She needs to take the pieces of shattered bone and put them back together like a puzzle. It will help the man heal faster. Krillgan started pacing behind her. Every once and a while he would gently touch her. The wife noticed, and asked him what he was doing. He told her that what Ludia was now doing is very fatiguing, so he was sharing some of his strength with her, so that she could continue to concentrate without growing tired. She asked him why he was walking back and forth. He told her that he needed to do something. She asked him why he wasn't doing this work. He told her, that it would not be beneficial to her husband right now. With the type of healing he will be performing, if Ludia sets everything up properly, he should be able to fully restore her husband's leg. She asked him, what other type of healing was there? He told her that most healers would have amputated her husband's leg at the knee, because they could not do anything more for him.
The wife did not say that this was what she thought they would do. But if he thinks he can restore her husband's leg, then she was not going to interfere. Obviously this clan Sister helping him, believes in him, or she would not be helping him. She knew that he was a trained force user. She knew that traditionally, trained male force users were also healers. Maybe male healers could heal in different ways than female healers.
When Ludia said she was finished, Krillgan looked over her shoulder to see how she had down. He told her that she had done excellent work. The only thing left to do was to lay the flesh flat, then let him take over.
When she finished. Krillgan blew out all the lamps, and gave them to the woman. He told her they did not need a lot of light for this next part. "Let the neighbours know that we are extremely grateful." He sat down next to the man and placed a hand just below the knee. He started increasing the man's heart rate because he needed his blood to take the Kolto where it was needed. He increased his heart rate slowly, hoping the man would stay unconscious. The last thing he needed right now, was for the man to move in any way.
Krillgan was also hoping, that the man's body would knit the bones back together before restoring the flesh. The sooner the bones where healed, the better the odds for complete healing. When Krillgan smelt that the man had soiled himself, he would call over the first person he would see to clean him up. Since there were no lamps near Krillgan, all the neighbours had gone home, because there was nothing new for them to see.
The wife made dinner when Krillgan took over. Ludia had to feed him his dinner, since he could only use one hand. He had instructed the wife to burn the pieces of dead flesh in her stove until they were ash. Ludia had taken the tea she used for washing the wounds and dumped it in a field, because it now contained blood. The pot got a good scrubbing when she returned. She asked him what they do next. He told her that they will need to take shifts being awake through the night. He can only remove his hand for short periods of time, like when he has to go to the bathroom. Otherwise he needs to keep his hand where it is, even when he is sleeping. He told Ludia to go rest, as he was taking the first shift.
There was only one bed in the apartment, and the little girl had been sleeping on it, since they arrived at the settlement. When her mother and the nice lady who let her ride her Rancor laid down next to her, she woke up. She found the purple man in the kitchen with her father. Since he was just sitting there, she thought it would be safe to talk with him. She pulled up a chair next to him. Krillgan told her where her mother left some dinner for her, in case she was hungry. Actually the woman had left it for Krillgan. When the girl came out of the bedroom, Krillgan believed she would be hungry, so he offered it to her. She went and got the plate, and sat back down on the chair. She asked him how come he was purple. He told her that he really wasn't purple. He told her that he has a red layer of fur, but if you push some of the fur aside, you will see blue skin. He held out his one arm so that she could see. It was dark in the kitchen, so when she pushed some of the fur aside, she just saw it was dark underneath. She believed it was blue because he had no reason to lie to her. After eating some more food, she asked him, what was he doing? He told her that he was healing her father. She wanted to know how. He told her that he cannot tell her. All he can tell her is that he has a special gift, and he was using the gift to heal her father. She asked him, if it was painful? He told her that her father was the only one who was in pain. Then she thought she should ask him if he can talk and heal at the same time. If not she was in big trouble. He told her that these two things he can do at the same time. There are other things that he cannot do at the same time. She asked, what was that? He told her that he could not whistle and sing at the same time. He could only do one at a time. She sat there sitting and eating, for a long time wondering if she could whistle and sing at the same time. By the time she finished eating, she decided that she could only do one at a time. She than asked him how long it was going to take him to finish healing her father. He told her that he did not know. He had never healed anyone who was injured so badly before. She told him that she was feeling tired, and wanted to go back to sleep. As she slipped of her chair. Krillgan told her that it was important for her to get her rest, if she wants to grow up into a beautiful young lady. She asked him what makes him think she was going to be beautiful. Krillgan told her that beauty starts in the heart, and she has a beautiful heart. She asked him about the nice lady that let her ride with her on her Rancor, was she beautiful? Krillgan told her that she has a beautiful heart, and is a very beautiful person. The little girl thought so too, and went back to bed with a full tummy.
After Krillgan and Ludia left with the little girl, the one Sister was sent back to her clan to get a healer. Diennu and the other Sister each took a person from the settlement to the closest wooded area, which was within the town's territory. They made a second trip to bring two more. The people they brought where instructed to collect all of the fallen branches, and to make two piles. One would be for the branches that should be burnt. The other pile would be for the branches they can use, to replace the wooden handles on all their tools. After the second trip, the Sister continued on to the town to let them know what they were up to. In case they had any objections.
Right after all the Sisters had first left. The young lady that Andriel had been keeping an eye on, her water broke, and her contractions started. Before a healer had arrived from the Red Hills Clan, Andriel had delivered a healthy baby girl. This was a great thrill for Andriel, since this was the very first baby she had delivered on her own. What she did not know was that all the women from the settlement that were with her, were more experienced in delivering babies. Since they had delivered each other's babies. They let her take charge, because in their eyes, she was a healer.
They asked afterwards what she would do in the situation where the baby had not turned before delivery, because they had encountered this a few times. She told them that this was something she has never encountered, because there were always Sisters with her that could use the force to turn the baby. The male healer had made sure the baby was in the proper position for delivery before he left for the other settlement. They told her that when a baby is born butt first, there is always a great risk that the umbilical cord can get caught under the baby's chin during delivery, and cut off the blood supply going to its head, causing brain damage. They don't have the use of the force to prevent that.
Andriel told them that when her mother started teaching her their traditions. She mentioned that a good midwife, knew how to massage around the edge of the belly to get the baby to turn to the right position. This can be done right up until the time the water broke and the contractions started. After that, only the force could be used to turn the baby. The women thanked her for sharing that. Now they knew that they had a chance to force the baby to turn before it was too late. Now they believed that she really was a healer to know this. Because none of the Sisters that helped them with deliveries, told them they could do it.
Diennu asked one of the people that were with her in the woods, to show her which tree would have the best wood for making a new bathtub. They told her that it was best if it was the wood of a resinous tree. That way after the bathtub was put together. They could heat the wood, and the resin will come to the surface, and form a waterproof barrier.
After walking through the woods for a period of time, the person pointed out a tree to Diennu. That tree has the right type of wood that would make a good bathtub.
Diennu cut it down at the base with one swipe of her Dathomirite sword. She had Protector drag it to the settlement while she ran along to make sure he did not accidentally drag it through one of their fields.
When they arrived back at the settlement, she trimmed off all of its branches. They would be perfect for the fire she needs to build. Then she used her sword to cut the tree trunk into long boards. One of the leaders that was there, when she found out what the wood was for, asked her to cut up one of the outside boards into small sections. While she did that the leader told Diennu that they could now use these pieces as plates, until they have time to carve out proper plates later.
When Diennu went back to the woods. Diennu suggested to the Sister that they go hunting together so that they had enough meat for the people of the settlement, and for their Rancor. The Sister agreed.
While they were hunting, they came across a lot of wild Brackaset, but did not kill any, because they did not know how the people of the settlement would react to that. After hunting, they went and took the two piles of wood to the Settlement. This way they had wood to cook the wild game the Sisters had killed, and they had wood to start remaking their tools.
When they went back to retrieve the people they left at the woods. Both Sisters asked their Rancor if they would be okay if they each carried two of the people from the settlement on their backs, while they ran along beside them. This way they would only need to make one trip, and they could all start eating when they returned to the settlement. The Rancor where hungry, so they agreed to what the Sisters asked them.
What they did not know, was that someone was watching them. The Nightsister that Diennu had scared out of the town, did not return to the Glass Mountain, she was afraid that she would be whipped in the temple for being a failure. She did not get too close, because she was afraid that Diennu would detect her and kill her. So she was always scrambling when she saw any of the clan Sisters on the move. She had figured out that something bad had happened to the settlement, because the Sisters from the Red Hills Clan had brought a tent and were helping them. She was forced to stay too far away, so had not seen the male Sister all day. When she smelt the meat cooking in the wind she assumed that they were returning for the night. So she did her own hunting and caught some small creatures. Biting their heads off and drinking their blood before ripping them open, eating their meat. She could not afford the luxury of building a fire. She just made sure she did not rest where she had eaten, because predators would be attracted to the remains. Predators can be quite a nuisance when you're trying to sleep.
During dinner the settlement leaders went up to Diennu. They told her that she was building a burden of debt for them, far greater than they, or their children could ever hope to repay. Diennu told them that they must be mistaken. There was no debt. The Singing Mountain Clan was only offering them their services which their years of paying tribute demanded of them. Her Clan Mother was very serious about making sure that they help the settlements in any way they could, because of all the years they have payed tribute. So if anyone owes anyone anything, the Singing Mountain Clan is obliged to help them for many years to come.
The leaders of the settlement were very pleased with what they heard. This was not charity from the Singing Mountain Clan, it was a service being offered for the fees they have prepaid. They asked Diennu about the Red Hills Clan's involvement in all this. Diennu told them that the Red Hills Clan has always been a close ally of theirs, so any debt for their involvement is between the Singing Mountain Clan and the Red Hills Clan, and does not concern them. The leaders went back to tell all their people the good news. There is no debt, all this help is because they have been faithful in paying tribute each year for generations. Their forefathers have covered this debt for them.
After the leaders left, the Sister from the Red Hills Clan went up to Diennu. She was impressed by how she was able to handle the leaders and absolve them of any debt. She never would have thought of any of that. Diennu told her that she cannot take any credit for that. Her Clan Mother had made it clear to them, what the clan's responsibility is to the settlements, she basically told them what her Mother had told her. Still the Sister was very impressed by her, and feel's honoured to be given the opportunity to work with her.
It was after dinner, when Diennu and the Sister went to check on Mother Andriel, that they found out about the baby. She told them that the parents wanted to name the baby Andriel after her. They were pleased to hear that her name means princess.
Ludia woke up when her internal alarm clock told her that it was her turn to keep an eye on things. She made her way carefully off of the bed, not wanting to disturb mother or daughter. When she came out to the kitchen she told Krillgan, he can rest now. She will look after things. He reminded her that if the father starts moving around, she must restrain him using the force, no matter how much he struggles. When he comes to, he probably will not understand what is going on. In his confusion he will try to get away. Ludia politely reminded him that he has already told her all these things, a number of times. So he needs to put his head down and get some rest. She will restrain him if she has to, so that he will keep his hand on his patient. Krillgan smiled and put his head down. She definitely was in charge.
When she heard his breathing become shallow and steady, she believed he was already asleep. She stroked her fingers through his hair. Which he enjoyed. Then she whispered, "Krillgan, I love you!" That was the last thing he heard while he drifted off to sleep.
Krillgan wanted to tell her that he loved her, but he only said it in his dreams. In the morning when the woman came out of the bedroom to start making breakfast, Krillgan partially woke up, because he had detected life movement nearby. He did not fall back asleep, he only rested.
The mother made Ludia and herself some tea while she cooked their meal. She commented that Krillgan must have been hungry last night because the plate of food she left him was empty. Ludia told her she did not think it was Krillgan. She pointed out that someone had moved a chair to sit next to him. The mother asked Ludia if she was in love with him. Ludia asked her if it was that obvious. The mother told her, only to someone who has been in love herself. Then she asked her if he loves her. She told her that he did, but he also loves someone else. The mother said that that was okay that he loved two of them, doesn't clan law allow for that? Ludia told her that it wasn't that simple. He comes from a heritage where it is one man and one woman for life in marriage. When he was old enough, he committed himself to stay celibate until he marries. She did the same, because she wanted to marry him. The mother said, let me guess, the other woman did as well. Ludia said yes. She asked Ludia about the other woman. Ludia told her that she is the best friend that she has in the world. They were best friends before Krillgan came into their lives. They are cousins, but their relationship is more like sisters. When he came along, they both just absorbed him into their group. After that it had always been the three of them. They have had wonderful times together. The mother said life can be complicated.
"What if he chooses her over you?"
"I love them both so very much. I would not stand in their way. I will give them my blessing, and start looking for someone else. I know it will be hard, because there is no one like him."
The mother told her, "I have nothing against your cousin, and I am sure you both love her. But I have seen you with him, so I hope he chooses you. From what you have said, your cousin will be just as gracious, and will bless the two of you."
Because Krillgan was only resting, he heard the whole conversation. He knew that if he moved now, it would give him away, and Ludia will be upset and hurt, and he did not want that.
At that moment the little girl came into the kitchen. She thanked her mother for putting aside some dinner for her last night. She was really hungry when she woke up. The mother asked her, "What makes you think that I left it for you?"
The little girl pointed at Krillgan, and said, "He said you did."
Then she looked at Ludia. "He thinks you're beautiful."
Ludia turned red, and asked her, "What makes you think that?"
"He told me."
"Why did he tell you?"
"Because I asked him."
Ludia decided it was time to wake Krillgan up, because breakfast was ready. So she gave him a little shake.
"Wakeup sleepyhead."
Krillgan lifted his head and tried to make his voice sound groggy, "Are we there yet?"
The little girl giggled. He's a strange man, but she likes him.
Krillgan whispered to Ludia, "I do think you're beautiful."
Ludia turned even redder than she was before. "How much did you hear?"
"I heard the little girl say that I think you're beautiful."
Krillgan did not say anymore, and Ludia was afraid to ask.
Breakfast was about the same as dinner. They take grain and roast it. After it is cooled down, they remove its husk. Then they boil it for their meal. Sometimes they add some herbs to change its taste. Along with this they serve a chunk of cheese. You can either stir the cheese into the boiled grain where it will melt and make a tasty but gooey mixture, or you can eat them separately. Krillgan preferred them mixed.
After breakfast he checked the wound. The bones where knitting together nicely. The father was not in as great a risk as he was before.
Krillgan asked the patients wife, how long has he been lying on his back? She said, "Since he was carried in here."
Krillgan told Ludia, that they have to flip him onto his belly for a while, or he will get sores. When they picked him up using the force. His wife asked them to hold him there. She removed the quilt from the kitchen table that he had been resting on, because it had blood and tea stains on it. Then she ran into the bedroom, and snatched the quilt that was on the bed. She folded it into three, and placed it on the kitchen table, to be his new mattress. When they turned him over and put him down. Krillgan started massaging his back. They let him rest on his front for about an hour, before turning him again to lie on his back. They started doing this for him twice a day. Which was also good for Krillgan, because he had a chance to get up and move around while giving the massage.
Diennu had to enlist the help of the two Sisters from the Red Hills Clan, for purifying the settlement with fire. She told them what Krillgan had proposed they do. Since neither he nor Ludia where there to help her, she would need their help. The Sisters wanted to build a really big fire at the entrance. She told them that Krillgan said to keep it small but hot. Besides the bigger the fire, the more fuel they would need to get, and the harder it would be to control. She reminded them that it would be the perfect opportunity to practise their fire element.
After they pushed the fire further into the settlement. The people started building the new wall to protect their entrance from the flood waters.
Diennu and the Sisters found that they had to keep down moving on all fours, to stay in the cool airflow they were using to fuel the fire, while they brought the wood they needed to place on the fire, and to move the fire around. The heat radiating off the cooked walls in the settlement was stifling. They also found that they had to consume large amounts of fluids. They sent the healer to bring them some kegs of new ale, because Mother Andriel told them that drinking straight water was not good for their stomachs.
The people in the settlement were disappointed, when they found out that the new ale was only for the Sisters. Whenever one of the Sisters would come out of the settlement, drenched, and steam rising from their bodies. The people wondered if they were bathing in it, inside the settlement.
It was only after the settlement was purified, and the front wall was finished, that they were able to experience a little of what the Sisters experienced. They had to negotiate the settlement on all fours to get to where they needed to start building the new chimney. If they stood, they would easily be overcome by heat. This was after the settlement had a few days to cool down.
Krillgan called Ludia to him. He told her that the creatures inside of him had stopped producing the healing oil, and he wasn't even halfway to finish healing the patient. Ludia asked him how she could help. Krillgan told her that he needs more nutrients in his diet than what he was getting from the settlement's food. It was filling, but he needed more variety. Fruits and vegetables would be nice. It was too bad they did not have any new ale. It has tons of nutrients. He would even drink it warm, though it tastes awful that way. When she goes hunting with the Rancor, it would be nice if they let him have the internal organs, like the liver, because they always have more nutrients than just the flesh.
Two things struck Ludia at once. First she had forgotten completely about the Rancor. Second he was asking for foods he did not like. She asked him, how much time before he uses up all the reserves of kolto in him? He told her anywhere from an half an hour to an hour, before he was completely spent. Ludia went to the patient's wife and tried to explain the situation to her. She told her that Because of the healing technique Krillgan uses, he needs a high amount of various nutrients in his system, which he uses to transmit to her husband, so his body can rebuild. In a short time he will not be able to help her husband anymore. She asked what that meant. She told him that if Krillgan cannot finish healing his leg, the only option left is to cut it off. There is no such thing as a partial healing. She told the wife all the things Krillgan would need to eat and drink to help him get back on track. She was going to the Rancor to go hunting, to get the meat items Krillgan had mentioned. Now, the settlement had a supply of items that they kept on hand for special occasions. She knew that there was at least a half a keg of new ale hidden somewhere. There were dried fruits and berries. Some of the people kept some of their favorite herbs hid away. There were seeds from wild plants that they use on occasion. She needed the settlement' full cooperation if her husband was to walk again.
She told them of the healer's predicament. Basically she said that they had to treat him as if he was pregnant and nursing a child at the same time. Only it was her husband he was nursing, and she wants him to walk again. The people of the settlement knew how strong of a contributor he was to their community.
Because of his quick action, the Brackaset are still giving milk. It was only the two that were initially attacked that did not give any milk, since they were too traumatised. The clincher was when the wife said that he was so desperate for nutrients that he was willing to drink a glass of warm new ale. Only a pregnant, nursing mother was that desperate.
They poured Krillgan a glass of new ale. It was warm because they did not have a chance to chill it. They gave it to the wife to give to him, and they all went to watch from the doorway.
Krillgan thanked her, he was so desperate for nutrients. He chugged it down quickly, in an effort not to taste it. The people were satisfied. They opened up their meagre supply of special foods for him.
Ludia was a bit ashamed of herself for forgetting completely about the Rancor. She apologised to them. Strongman told her that My Friend thought that the injury to the man must be very bad, because they did not come out and say something.
"So she said we have to hunt for ourselves. She told me that we cannot hunt Brackaset, because we did not know which ones were friends with the humans, so we hunted other game. She is a very good hunter, we did not go hungry. We even have some to share if you want some." Ludia told them that Krillgan needs something from inside the game animal, because he was not getting enough of the right foods to eat in the settlement. My Friend looked at Strongman, "It's for Krillgan. You know how good he is to all of us."
Strongman left and came back with a lobe of liver. He said he was saving it for later, but if it can help Krillgan, than he can have it. Ludia wanted to hug and kiss both Rancor. This meant a lot to her. They could tell because they saw the tears in her eyes when she thanked them. She ran back to the apartment in the settlement. She found him munching on dried fruit and berries. She told Krillgan not to fill up on that because she has something good for him, and showed him the piece of liver. Krillgan said he would rather eat the berries. Ludia told the little girl to take the plate away from him, and not give it back until he finished eating the liver. She asked if she was allowed to have any. Ludia looked at her mother, then said she could have one piece. Krillgan told her not to eat the berries. So she picked a nice big piece of dried fruit and sat down and munched on it while Krillgan looked at her and made faces. Ludia stared at the liver sitting on the cutting board. She did not know what to do with it. She knew it was easy to overcook, than it could be as tough as a Rancor's hide. The wife looked at Ludia, "You're not a cook, are you."
Ludia shook her head no. "Let me show you an easy way to cook it."
She cut the liver into cubes. She took out some flour, herbs, and sea salt, and breaded the liver. She told her daughter to put the dried fruit down, and go get her some fresh Brackaset milk. She also told her not to let anyone see that she is chewing dried fruit, because it is supposed to be for Krillgan. She heated up a skillet, and put a little bit of oil in it, coating the bottom. She then threw all the breaded cubes of liver in it, browning their sides. By this time her daughter returned with the milk. She lifted the skillet off of the heat, and poured some of the milk into it. She told Ludia that two thing were happening at the same time. The milk was cooling down the skillet, so the liver would not be overcooked. The skillet was also bring the milk to a boil, and mixing with the browned breading on the liver, making a nice thick sauce. She but the skillet back on the stove, but on a cooler spot so the sauce only simmered. She covered the skillet, and gave the rest of the milk to her daughter to drink. Her daughter's eyes were bright. Two special treats in one day. All because of the blue and red man.
The little girl asked her mother, if Krillgan can live with them forever?
"What about Ludia?"
"Krillgan really likes her, so she can stay too."
The mother poured the contents of the skillet onto a plate, and told Ludia to be careful. It was still hot. Ludia put a small amount on a spoon, and blew on it to help cool it down, then she fed it to Krillgan. He told her that it actually tastes good. So Ludia tried a little herself. It did taste good, and she knew how to make it.
While she was feeding Krillgan, he told her that the little critters where happy, they had started producing the healing oil again. He also told her about having to drink the warm new ale.
After he finished eating all the liver, the little girl reluctantly gave him back his plate of dried fruit and berries. He wasn't hungry so he just let it sit. The wife told Ludia, that tomorrow at dinner time she can prepare the liver the way she just taught her, and spread it on top of the boiled grain, they go good together. Ludia asked her for another favour. She had been ignoring the Rancor these past few days. Fortunately they have been able to fend for themselves. She would like some help making porridge cakes, because that is what they normally have for breakfast. She told Ludia that if she does the hard work like pounding the grain. She can help her make the cakes.
It was entertaining for Krillgan and the little girl, to watch the two women working together to make the porridge cakes. The next day the man regained consciousness, his leg still hurt but not as bad as before. He could feel that Krillgan was doing something down there. When the settlement heard he was awake, they all wanted to see him. His wife let them in, a few at a time. But only after she covered him and Krillgan's hands, so that they could not see what he was doing. When they asked him how his healing was going, he would tell them to look at the claw marks on his arms. Now they just look like scratches. The ones who carried him in, remembered the bloody mess that he was. They didn't know what the healer was doing, but from what they have seen so far, he was the best healer they have ever met.
It took about five and a half days of Krillgan's constant touching, to fully heal the man. Which is about how long it would have taken if he was immersed in a Kolto tank. When he walked out of the apartment, he was a little shaky on his legs but he was walking. Everyone wanted to see the leg. The children were disappointed that there was not a wicked scar. The adults were quite surprised that there was no noticeable scars. Nothing to indicate he had been mauled by a Kamurith. The only noticeable indication of trauma, was that the leg that was healed was skinnier than the other leg. Krillgan told the family that this would disappear over time, as the man used his legs.
Ludia told them that first thing in the morning, they were going to hunt the Kamurith that did this. Ludia opted to go on foot, and left the Rancor behind. They found that the canyon that the settlement was in, was part of a maze of canyons. They followed the old trail of blood, into a dead end canyon. Inside the canyon they found a den with a wounded female Kamurith guarding it. Inside they could hear a number of creatures. She had a clutch of young. Ludia was reluctant to kill it. She told Krillgan that it was a mother trying to feed her young. Why can't he heal her? Krillgan told her she was a predator that had acquired the taste for human flesh. Which means the man they healed was not her first taste of human. "She was planning to drag him here while he was still alive. To let her young acquire the taste. The whole settlement was going to be prey to her and her young. What chance would the little girl have against such a killer? None. What about the other children in the settlement, they would all be snacks for her little ones."
Ludia drew her bow and took aim at the hissing creature. It was a clean shot, right through the heart. Krillgan reached in with the force, and brought the young out, one at a time, where Ludia used her dagger to dispatch them. She did this, because they had no one to provide for them, they would have just starved to death.
After they had finished their grisly task. Ludia asked if they could burn them. Krillgan told her that in doing so, they might accidentally condemn another family of predators to death. It is better to leave them, so that they can provide sustenance for others. He would not be surprised if by this time tomorrow, all they would find here is some bones. He but his arm around her, to comfort her as they walked back. She may be a tough as nails warrior. But she has a kind, compassionate heart.
Things were progressing well in the rebuilding of the settlement. The men did not like the tunics they were given by the Red Hills Clan after they took their cleansing bath. They thought they were too long for shirts and too short for dresses. So they took the hides of the animals that were used to feed them, and fashioned themselves a crude pair of pants. They cut the tunics back to the length of proper shirts, and gave the excess material to the women. The women used the rags to help them grab the hot cooking pots out of the fire.
When the chimney was finished and the small oil lamp lit. It wasn't long before they felt a gentle flow of air through the settlement. They coaxed the Brackaset to come inside. Once the Brackaset were in, they made themselves at home. So the people knew it was safe to return to the settlement to live.
It was just after they started work on the ramp. The backup protection for the settlement. That the Brackaset bolted, and went to the tent. The people knew that it meant rains were coming, and with the rains came floods.
All the people abandoned the settlement and followed the Brackaset to the tent, this time they brought all their meager possessions with them. After the sun came out, and the ground started to dry, everyone wanted to see how the settlement faired. It was bone dry, even the Brackaset seemed to approve when they returned. In fact, they no longer bolted when the rains came. They were content to stay and munch on the hay the humans had given them, whenever it rained.
With the sun, came the return of Krillgan and Ludia. The people were proud to tell him how well his designs worked. Mother Andriel could hardly wait to introduce them to baby Andriel. Diennu was just happy to see her friends. She was also happy that she had people she could share the burden of leadership with. Krillgan and Ludia had their own adventure stories to share with Diennu and Mother Andriel. After the first harvest, the settlement was back to being fully self-sufficient again. They no longer needed the help of the Sisters. So Diennu, Ludia, Krillgan and Mother Andriel, where escorted by the two Sisters from the Red Hills Clan to their main village.
The first thing Mother Andriel did when they arrived at the village was commandeer the seamstress's shop. Like the men from the settlement she wanted to wear something more substantial than a tunic. The Clan Mother had suspected she might do this, since she had a good reputation as a seamstress herself, and asked them to give her their full cooperation. She did not have to do this, since the seamstresses already knew of her reputation, and were eager to work with her. They had no sewing machine in this village, so Andriel had to coordinate all the seamstresses to function as her sewing machine. She would cut out the fabric, then assign a seamstress to join a seam. She would dictate what stitch pattern would need to be sewn where. The older seamstresses found they were called upon to use patterns they had not used since they were first trained, and forgotten what its purpose was, so had not passed it along. Mother Andriel reminded them of its purpose. So now they knew they would have to train the younger generation in its use, after Mother Andriel left.
Mother Andriel had even designed an outfit for Krillgan. This excited the seamstresses because they had never sewn anything for a man before.
The Tailors complained to the Clan Mother about this, they thought they should have been used to sew the male Sister's garments. She told them that Mother Andriel is a seamstress, not a tailor. She would have felt uncomfortable having to go into the tailor's shop, to have them sew his clothing. After all, she was responsible about how the delegation from the Singing Mountain Clan looked.
When Mother Andriel heard about the complaint, she personally went to the tailor's shop, and apologised to the tailors. She told them that she was thinking about speed of execution, rather than on who was doing it. Since she wanted everyone from the Singing Mountain Clan to be properly dressed as quick as possible.
She left them with a second outfit design for Krillgan. The tailors struggled with the design, because they were not used to making clothes based on a seamstress's design. They ended up going secretly to the seamstresses to get them to come and help them understand the design. The seamstresses thought this was funny, since they were the ones who made the initial complaint. The tailors told them, this is why they were too embarrassed to go to Mother Andriel. Since they had boasted that they could make anything she wanted, if they just had the drawing and measurements. With the cooperation of the seamstresses, they were finally able to finish the outfit.
When the two Sisters that had worked with Diennu, returned. They first reported to their Clan Mother. The Clan Mother called a meeting of all the Sisters and had them repeat the report. As a result of this report, the Sisters of the Red Hills Clan nicknamed Diennu, the "Fire Lady". With their utmost respect.
After the Clan Mother heard the report from her two Sisters, she requested a meeting with the people from the Singing Mountain Clan. She told them that she wasn't concerned with how they looked, she just wanted to get to know them. They knew that their Clan Mother had a very close relationship with the Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan, so they believed that Krillgan's healing abilities, were fully known to her.
They found her just as easy to talk to, as their own Clan Mother. What they did not know, was they were missing the afternoon nap. The Mother wanted to know how Krillgan came up with his designs for saving the settlement. She also wanted to know about the details of their mercy mission. When she heard how Krillgan almost lost his healing ability, because of the lack of varied nutrients in his diet, while at the canyon settlement. She told him to let her know if he thinks that he might not be getting enough nutrients. He told her he did not think it would be a problem. Ludia now knows a terrific recipe for liver, and mother has wonderful recipes for everything else, he doesn't expect to have any problems.
The Clan Mother talked to them about getting a new medicine pouch, and replenishing it with what the healers had on hand. Because mother was busy with making them new clothing, Krillgan told her that he would rather go out and pick what they need fresh off of the plants, if a local healer can show him where to find the plants. She told him that her healers also prefer to pick what they need off of the plants. It was only the elders that kept reserves of the dried plants. She also told Mother Andriel that she does not have as large a selection of teas, as they seem to have at the Singing Mountain Clan. Andriel told the Mother that a number of the teas she had with her were brought by her to Dathomir when she first came. She had always been fascinated by the healing properties that some common teas seem to have, so she has always maintained a healthy supply, except that they are not common on Dathomir. She did not tell the Mother that she knew someone who could get them for her.
After the meeting, the Clan Mother instructed Krillgan to go stop by the cobblers, and describe the medicine pouch to them, that he would like them to make. He had already promised her some vials of his healing oil, combined with the healing essence of some medicinal plants. It should work just as well as if he was present himself to administer it. He had agreed to let her healers watch him prepare it, in exchange for showing him where to find their medicinal plants.
When Andriel went back to the seamstresses, she was disappointed that they had not completed as much as she had been expecting. At first she wondered if they might not be working as hard, when she was not there. The next afternoon, when they all got up to go home and take a nap, she understood why they had not accomplished as much as she expected the previous day. Was she ever glad, that she had not said anything! She stayed and worked by herself while they were gone. They next day when they went for a nap, Andriel was feeling tired herself. So she also went for a nap.
After visiting the cobblers, some local Sisters found them, and gave them a grand tour of the village. They were all very proud of the windmills the Builder had designed for them. Each village had their own windmill, but the one in the main village was so much bigger, because it supplied power to more things. The added bonus to having a windmill, which the Builder might not have imagined, is that they had started predicting changes in weather, by observing how the wind changed. Krillgan told them that he will let the Builder know this. He was sure he would be pleased to hear about it.
The Sisters knew that Krillgan was a healer, and Ludia was a warrior, but they had not yet heard the training that the Fire Lady has. She told them that she also was a warrior, but that the Singing Mountain Clan has two warrior groups that learn slightly different techniques. It keeps things more competitive, as they both try and prove who has the better techniques. The Sisters from the Red Hills Clan told them that they would love to see some of their different techniques. Both Ludia and Diennu told them they can't. They have been instructed by the Sisters in charge of training. That they are only allowed to show them their basic techniques. The Sisters said that they would be happy to see even that.
Neither Krillgan, nor the girls had had a workout since leaving home, and they all really wanted one, so they agreed to give them a demonstration after dinner. The Sisters from the Red Hills Clan were surprised to see Krillgan join the two warriors on the practise field. They had all been given fighting sticks. When they all said they were ready. The Sisters suddenly saw a flurry of fighting stick movement. Sometimes it was every Sister for herself, sometimes it was two against one, with allegiances switching at a blink of an eye. They knew now, that though Krillgan was a healer, he was also a warrior. He had been given the full Sisters training. After they finished their demonstration. They told the Sisters that they have been playing and training together since they were little children. So each one of them knows something about the other's discipline. So he can call on them to help him prepare medication for a large group of people if the need ever arose. They know that he will protect their backs if it ever came down to a fight.
The Sisters from the Red Hills Clan did not like that they were such a tight group, it will definitely make things harder if they try to establish a relationship with him. They can expect his two friends to interfere. That did not stop a couple of them from coming right out and asking him if he would spend the night with them. He told them that when he came of age he took the pledge to remain celibate until he married. Later other Sisters tried to persuade him to spend the night with them.
Apparently it took a while for word to get around that he was not on the market. Ludia and Diennu were surprised at how brazen the Sisters were.
When they told mother, she told them that Chitrah had the same problem when they first arrived on Dathomir. Some of the Sisters of the Singing Mountain Clan believed that because he was not married on Dathomir under clan law. That the married status did not apply to him. He had to point out that he loved his wife, and was not interested in anyone else. No matter what they believed. Now Ludia, and Diennu were really embarrassed, because they did not think that anyone in their clan, would act like that. Mother Andriel had just shown them, they were wrong.
When word finally got around about Krillgan's status. Sisters still approached him, but these Sisters had also promised to be celibate until they marry. They were hoping that they might make a connection with him. They were disappointed that he was not interested in connecting with them. They suspected that it might have something to do with his two friends always hovering nearby. For the most part, they were well received, and well respected.
The healers were grateful that he intrusted them with the secret of his healing ability. They understood the importance of keeping it from the Nightsisters. They found it also interesting that the strength of his healing oil could be expanded by mixing it with the essential oils of their own medicinal plants.
When the delegation from the Singing Mountain Clan left the settlement, escorted by the two clan Sisters from the Red Hills Clan, the Nightsister decided to talk to the people from the settlement. Now the people were very suspicious of strangers, especially single females that walked around the countryside by themselves, without any fear of attack. They did not believe her when she said she was from the town. They told her that they were not interested in taking in anymore adult females into their community. When she asked them about the purple man that had passed through town on his way here. They told her that he did not spend very much time here. A young girl had come there from the canyon settlement because her father had been mauled by a predator. So he left with one of the Sisters to help them. The Nightsister now knew why she had not seen him for a long stretch of time. The other person she had not seen during that time was the daughter of the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan. They shared their dinner with her because they were still using the fire pit on top of the hill to cook their meals. They told her she could stay in the tent with the young couple and their new baby. They did not want her coming into their settlement and seeing all the changes that Krillgan had them do.
They were very proud of Krillgan, and all the help that he gave them. Normally they would not stop boasting about him. But this was a Nightsister, you do not tell them anything good or bad about someone you care about, because they will find some way to use it against them.
The Nightsister, to be polite, ate the dinner they gave her. Then she went out into the fields and stuck a couple of fingers down her throat to bring it all up. It had no meat in it, and she wanted meat. So she went hunting. When she entered the tent, the young mother thought she smelt blood on her. Their baby was quite a handful that night. Fussing and crying all night long, not giving the couple a moments rest. They were not surprised to see the stranger leave as soon as the sun came up. What did surprise them was that the baby calmed right down after she left, and fell asleep. They also fell asleep right away. When they were awakened to share breakfast. They told everyone what type of night they had. They also told them, that they were moving back into the settlement. They now felt very vulnerable and exposed being in the tent. The people let them know they were welcome. They knew the couple had stayed in the tent because of the baby. When a baby cries in the settlement everyone hears it. They will put up with the crying, knowing that the family feels safe.
When the single female showed up at the canyon settlement, the people there were not happy to see her either. No one invited her into their apartment. The only ones who would talk to her was the family that Krillgan had come to help. They felt obligated to Krillgan to do so. When she asked about the purple man, the young girl tried to correct her, saying he was red and blue, not purple. The Nightsister ignored her, and her parents reminded her that she had chores to do. She left in a bit of a huff. Adults never seem to listen to the truth.
Her parents told the Nightsister about how badly injured the husband was by the Kamurith, and how the purple man spent five and a half days using the force to heal him. They shared this information freely because they were sure she would not believe them.
They were right. Because the Nightsister did not see any major scars, she believed that they greatly exaggerated the extent of his injuries. She thought that maybe it was someone else that was injured, but she had no sense that they were lying to her, or were trying to deceive her. That the only medicine he had used was berry leaf tea was incredible. Had he really discovered a new technique of using the force to heal?
She left the village, and went into the canyon, in the direction they said that they had gone to hunt the creature down. She did not have to go very far to find the only human footprints going to and from the settlement. She followed them to the pile of bones next to an abandoned den. She delighted in what she saw. They slaughtered the creatures with no thought of mercy. Just like a Nightsister. Could it be that the roots of corruption were already at work in their hearts? If the dark side was already at work in them. Then it should be a simple matter to enslave him, so that he would be their healer. They might even be able to use him as bait to make a Nightsister out of the daughter of the Singing Mountain Clan's Mother.
In the history of the Nightsisters on the Glass Mountain. The Singing Mountain Clan is the only clan that they have not been able to recruit a Nightsister from. Mother would be so pleased if they could recruit two Sisters from that clan. One being the daughter of a Clan Mother. She knew she had to get back to the Glass Mountain right away. Mother will be so happy to hear this news. Maybe she will even let her pick which slave she gets to sleep with when she gets back. You know you have pleased the Mother when she lets you pick, rather than picking someone for you.
Mother Andriel had let the Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan know when she can expect them to move on. The Clan Mother had talked to her Sisters about putting on a dance exhibition for their guests for the last night they would be there. The Sisters in turn had asked their guests if they also would dance for them. They mentioned that they never brought their dance costumes. A couple of the Sisters agreed to lend Ludia, and Diennu, their outfits. Since they were close to the same size. They all went as a group to see if Mother Andriel could quickly make something up for Krillgan. She drew up a pair of baggy pants, with no openings in it whatsoever. They idea being that the seamstresses could later take it apart and make something useful out of it. It had a drawstring at the waist, and was tucked in at the ankles. Andriel picked a bright yellow dress fabric for the pants. The tailors had never worked with such a bright fabric before. But the pants were very easy to make. Normally when making an outfit for dance. The Sisters had learnt long ago to have at least one strap coming over the shoulder, so that the Sister does not lose the bottom of the outfit, when she was going to do a big jump. Embarrassing moments like this were averted, because the elders insisted that a dance costume be worn in a rehearsal, before being worn before the public.
Krillgan was well aware of this, and wonder why his mother had come up with this design. He had to modify his dance routine to make sure that he always had a hand or hands at his waist, holding his pants in place when he went to do a jump.
The Clan Mother was seen by the people of the village going down into their water well. They knew she was a very hands on type of woman, and when she came up and suggested that they place a couple more kegs of new ale, and regular ale in the well to cool, they figured she went down to check on inventory. What she really went down for, was to hide the vials of healing oil Krillgan had made up for them. Mother found the well to be a very convenient place to hide small, but important things. Krillgan had intrusted her with four vials for her clan, and two vials for the settlements. He was quite the blessing for her clan.
Another way he blessed them, was by scattering the seeds for that narcotic producing plant, after he picked it. Her healers had not found such a plant before in all of their territory. They had always relied on the Frenzied River Clan, and the Misty Falls Clan, to provide them with powerful pain killing plants. Because of the frequent territorial disputes with the Frenzied River Clan, it was not easy to negotiate for the plants. The Misty Falls Clan was also hard to negotiate with these past few years, with the arrogant attitude of their healers. It was like they expected you to kiss their feet, even before you start negotiating.
If it wasn't for the Singing Mountain Clan and their little gifts of appreciation. They would have been in bad trouble a number of times. She sent one of her healers to check the area, where Krillgan said that he found the plant. She was so happy and excited when she came back. She found a number of baby plants, and said that in a couple of months they should be able to start harvesting their own plants. She said that she believes that there is an underground stream running underneath the riverbed, which is probably why the first plant was able to take root and live.
During dinner that evening, a number of Sisters were eating with their guests from the Singing Mountain Clan. Mother Andriel told everyone that she was so looking forward to telling her husband, and everyone else in the Singing Mountain Clan about the baby named after her. Since her name means princess, there are now two princesses on Dathomir.
Their Clan Mother had informed her Sisters about who Mother Andriel and Father Chitrah were to Dathomir, when she was told they were at the settlement in the hill and needed their help. They were told to treat her like the Queen she is, but do not call her Queen, it can hurt her, and bring a curse on their clan. One of the Sisters without thinking, said, "They may have a little princess, but we have the Queen right here with us." Right after she said it she knew that she made a mistake. All the Sisters suddenly became very quiet. They wondered whether their foolish Sister had brought a curse on their clan.
Krillgan took what she said, and put a little spin on it. "I know that I consider you a Queen, and so do all your children."
Ludia said, "Mother Princess must just be another name for Queen, because you are certainly a Queen to me."
Diennu also said that she felt that Mother Andriel was like a Queen to her.
To Mother Andriel, the three of them were still children. Specifically, her children. She watched them all grow up in her home and was very proud of them. She got up from where she had been sitting with tears in her eyes. She went up to each one of them, and hugged them. Thanking them for the compliment. She told each one of them, that they make her feel proud every day. But she never feels prouder than when they call her mother.
The Clan Mother did not realise that she had been holding her breath. These three Sisters from the Singing Mountain Clan are amazing. They just turned a potential curse into a blessing.
All the Sisters had tears in their eyes. Like the Clan Mother, they knew that a curse had been transformed into a blessing. They were all that much more excited to see how well they dance.
They had told their guests that they wanted the Fire Lady to start off the dancing. Then two Sisters from the Red Hills Clan would dance, followed by Ludia. After Ludia two more Sisters from the Red Hills Clan would dance, than Krillgan would get to finish the evening off. The Sister who had lent her outfit to Diennu was one of the Sisters that helped her out at the settlement. She had warned Diennu that she would be asked to go first. So the two of them decided to make the opening a spectacular event. When Diennu was asked to start. She took her position. Then she announced, "I am the Fire Lady!" Then she threw a huge ball of force fire straight up in the air. Her new friend had been standing by at the well. When she saw the ball of fire go up, she quickly made a small water javelin from the well water, and threw it at the huge fire ball. Because it was a very small water javelin, it did not put the huge fireball out. Instead it caused the huge fireball to explode into a whole bunch of little fireballs, then they went out. Everybody clapped, especially the children. Then Diennu started her dance while her new friend ran back to her place so she did not miss it.
When Diennu finished, everyone clapped for her, and it wasn't because they were being polite. She had given a great performance, now the pressure was on for everyone else to give the same quality of performance she had just demonstrated. Her new friend ran up to her and put a cloak around her, and hugged her. She was so proud that she was wearing her outfit. She made her sit with her through the rest of the dances.
The local girls did equally well in their routines. Which made the people of the village feel proud. When Ludia's turn came, the Sisters compared her routine to Diennu's. They saw some common elements performed very well, which is what they expected, since they knew they practised together. But they also saw some important differences, which they attributed to the different warrior techniques the two Sisters were trained under. The Sisters applauded another outstanding performance.
Again the Sister that had lent her the outfit she was wearing, came out and put a cloak on her, and hugged her, and made Ludia sit with her. The next two local girls were able to maintain the excellent quality of their performances, as the dancers who had gone before them.
Then it was Krillgan's turn. He had a nice bright pair of pants, but no shirt on. The Sisters started teasing him that this was scandalous for a Sister to be dancing without a top on. This made Krillgan more embarrassed than he already was. The Sisters did not know that he had dark blood, so his face and chest went dark when he was embarrassed. Because it was dark out his face became hard to see. They wondered what type of dance performance he would give, since very few healers also dance.
Krillgan loved to jump in his dance routine. So every time he jumped, they were expecting him to leave his pants behind. They also saw elements he had gleaned from his two warrior friends. He ended his dance by doing a number of tumbles and somersaults, as if each one started where the last one ended in smooth transition. Then he launched himself straight up into the air. So high, that they could only see his pants. The he turned and came straight down head first. At the last moment, when it looked like he was going to smash into the ground, he flattened himself out, and hit the ground with such force, that everyone could feel the ground shake.
When he stood up everyone jumped to their feet to applaud him. They all believed that his performance was a fitting way to end the dance exhibition. The Clan Mother brought out a cloak for Krillgan, than invited all of the day's dancers to come out and stand with him. Ludia and Diennu quickly stood on either side of him. The other four dancers went two to a side. All the people got to their feet again to applaud all the dancers. Many of them believed that they would never see such a nice performance again.
The Clan Mother told the dancers, that there was food and drink waiting for them in the dining area. She then turned to the people. She told them that she was sure the dancers would not want to eat alone, so the kitchen had prepared a celebration dinner for everyone. The children were excited to hear that they were invited with everyone else. They were also told that it was okay for them to talk to the dancers. The first thing the children wanted to know, was whether Krillgan had to do anything special to make himself purple. He told them that he did not know if he was doing anything special, but he loved to eat berries. He especially loved to eat the big purple ones. The children told him that they also turn purple when they eat berries. But then their mothers make them wash it off. Krillgan told them, that when he was their age, his mother made him wash the berry juice off as well. But she could not tell if he did or not, until she kissed him. So he used to get lots of kisses from his mother when he was their age. The children guessed that what he said was funny, because all the Sisters around them laughed.
Some of the young girls that had just started to train as Sisters, told Ludia and Diennu that when they grow up, they want to be able to dance as nice as they do. Ludia and Diennu pointed to the four local Sisters that had also danced. They told the little Sisters that they have four excellent dancers right there, to help them learn.
