Chap 21 Dark elf gets heatstroke- revised!
One day, Ilkar suggested taking us on a tour around his homeland. It was not the first time I missed that time we were near the human-places, for the domestic mounts. There aren't horses bred, as elves don't believe in riding when we have feet to walk everywhere. Boats will ferry people to mainlands. Of course our friend didn't like water-transport from the greenish pallor of his face looking out at the sea!
After bidding goodbye, and packed with about a week's supplies, we set off on this trip. The sun-scorch was of Calaius is green, covered by trees but there are some stretches when logging for natural resources had exposed the land. Trusting completely in Ilkar's experience, we failed to notice Drizzt's condition. The ranger elf was usually self-sufficient. I talked to them, excited to spend time together. Ilkar listened and replied. I always knew the drow would be quiet.
At each resupply of water, Ilkar and I purified and sterilised the water. This was crucial, or people will get some form of food poisoning or diarrhoea. Drizzt got increasingly groggy and took longer to rouse each day.
One day, the mage poked me until I woke from my midday nap. We had managed to erect a medium tent under the canopy. "I'm concerned. He's not waking up." A sheen of perspiration over his angular face, Ilkar's ears twitched in called Drizzt and tapped his cheeks. "Feels very hot. Get some water."
I didn't see a reason to panic yet and found a full waterskin. "He didn't drink yet?" I murmured. Serif as a small civet cat stared unflinchingly at Drizzt, his back arched. I called his name too and grabbed his sweaty arm and shook him. "Come on, elf. Open your eyes." Wetting a rag, Ilkar sponged his brow.
The ranger moaned and turned on his side.
To my touch, indeed Drizzt seemed to have a high fever. He shivered despite the heat. I tried to recall when he became so weak and ill. Serif yipped and pulled over one of our packs. He pawed at a cloth and I used it to cover the sick elf.
I noticed the mage form a hand signal and touch his chest. The dark elf's shirt had been open. Drizzt's normally dark skin was tinged grey. He gasped for breath.
"I don't have… enough mana." Ilkar gasped.
"Calm down." I grasped his right hand and searched for a spark. "What kind of spell? Cooling? Why not use mine?"
Serif licked the drow's cheek and whimpered. "All right. First we remove the rest of his armor. Now scry for what I have in mind and let's do this. See this pale red glow? That's the heat from Drizzt." I focused on forming a cool blue aura. After a brief session, my head got light and some tapping stopped me. The mage said I should rest.
"I should have taken notice. Did he tell you anything? Drizzt is always quiet." He confided. I reminded him to drink water too. Then I wiped my brow and waved off some flies. Luckily before we came out here, Rebraal advised that the drow change to a lighter leather jerkin which was easier to remove. I had no idea how to take off mithril.
"I don't remember. I think, Serif had been restless. Oh no." Now it was my turn to fret and I wrung my hands, pacing. I am sorry boy. You knew right? Poor elf, he had not mentioned…. Then my tummy growled.
"I'm hungry. Let's eat and then take care of him. Is there any nearby village we can reach in a day?"
Ilkar took out a map. While I chewed, he pored over it and said, "No good. He's too sick to be moved. Unless one of us goes for help, but I dare not leave you alone."
"Serif can look after him, and Guen! She's still on his belt." I scrambled closer. Eh not there? Was she lost, oh shit no no! A memory came to me, as Drizzt moaned softly. He found that wearing leather, his belt was too loose. So the ranger said he would put her figurine inside his pack. I also took out his cup.
"No I am not familiar with these parts, Fel. Maybe, he will recover in a few hours. Here it is shaded so should not be too hot. Let's keep him cooled. I'm going to search for more cloths."
He looked apologetic as he rummaged in Drizzt's pack. I spoke to the ranger. Although I had met the Julatsan elf first, having taken care of him, my voice now shook with panic. Drizzt was always there, patient and calm, a pillar of support. He did most of the hunting and cooking to feed us. How to take care of an ill dark elf? Their body anatomies are not the same as the locals or humans The coal black color seemed less healthy now. Tearing sounds beside me.
I propped him up and let him sip some water. My friend laid cooling rags on his chest and stomach, face too. Ilkar completely undressed him, loosening his belt.
"Ok, I've got ranger sitting duty now. Go and eat, don't collapse." I ordered.
The mage smiled and saluted me. I whispered into Drizzt's ear about what we were doing and held his hand tightly. He seemed so heavy and lifeless. As he frowned and tossed, my speech seemed to give assurance. Drizzt relaxed and his breathing eased.
Ilkar flipped through scrolls and spellbooks. Why? "Any change?" he murmured absently when I came closer.
"Not really. Ilkar are you panicked? Scared?" I asked honestly.
He lied he was not. "If not for the wild beasts and I had a horse, I could go for help. I feel responsible though." His face was haunted and pale. Beads of perspiration dripped.
I hugged him. He sighed. "Please don't say that. Oh Serif can Change. He changed into a big animal to transport you that time. Serif come here." I clicked my tongue. The cat loped over and curled his tail and looked steadily at Ilkar.
"I know. Problem is, I might get lost. Usually I don't navigate. Crap." He admitted sadly, squinting into the trees.
"I can. He's taught me how to mark paths." I smiled. The mage would not hear of it. "No offence. I think we should stick together. Let's get some rest." Later on in the evening, he tried to send out a flare signal. The effort made him weak at the knees. I grabbed him by the waist before he completely fainted and hurt himself. "Why didn't you tell me!" I scolded.
He said, "I think someone has got the message. Not much taken. Just need a moment." Ilkar patted my knee, lying down.
"Who?"
He murmured something in elvish. I raised my brow. "Oh I got an idea, I think I still have one healing potion or so left. Wonder if fevers can be cured."
Ilkar smiled. I rummaged in my bag until my fingers felt smooth glass surfaces, three of them left! All looked the same with red fluid. However I could not read so I brought one for him to check. "Illness, injuries, dehydration. Should be all right, never have I been glad you stole them!" But as Ilkar tried to get up, he said his vision was blurry and he lay back down. I made him sip some.
Awhile later, I propped up Drizzt and whispered to him to drink up. The drow did not respond much and my friend dribbled a few drops on his tongue. Drizzt coughed and his throat moved. "That's it, good one. Now we'll leave you alone." His hand reached out and almost smacked Serif. But my good natured Familiar just laid his head on the patient's chest and watched us with soulful eyes. Ilkar screwed the lid on the bottle and placed it back into my pack.
"Praying is one thing we can do. Who is his god?" he remarked, and to my surprise took out a small idol of a village god. I didn't know who it was.
"Ah… Mee-li-ki I think. Unicorn, he left his necklace at your home didn't want it lost." The mage nodded, but was silent. He had sat the idol near Drizzt on a rock and with eyes closed concentrated. I took a deep breath.
The sun had become deep orange and set. I had climbed a tree to see if anyone had come. This time, I lit the fire with my power because using stones and sticks had no effect. Ilkar blinked but made no comment. I rubbed the panther and summoned Guen to come forth. In a black mist, she materialised and sniffed at her master. He moaned and feebly his fingers wiggled. The fair elf watched warily, his chest rising and falling fast. "It's ok. She's our friend. We need her to hunt. Can you fish?"
Guen left quickly. He relaxed and asked if I knew how to cut meat. I said, "I don't, because I'm close to animals. I don't want to slay them. Drizzt will usually do it. Can you, Ilks?" He watched me solemnly.
"Nope. I'm not good at meat either. I can gather herbs and berries. Start the water boiling. Back in a while." He brought a pouch and a dagger glinted on his belt. I grabbed his arm and wished him luck. Ilkar nodded, stepping through some of the undergrowth to the south side. I took out a pot, filled it up and watched the flames.
Both returned at the same time, the elf walking beside Guen. She had several fish in her jaws. "Hello welcome back!" I jumped up. He grinned, saying that he had harvested berries and fruits, some edible fungi. "Cool you're awesome." I hugged him.
His cheeks flushed. "Haha, thanks. I'm glad I asked the elders where to find plants. My memory is faded about this region."
Thus, over the next few days when Drizzt slept deeply, we ate simply. I learnt to stay in water and grab fish, not minding being wet. The sun was so hot we got dry immediately. Fortunately, no severe monsoon rains soaked our area. The tents would not be able to withstand storms and it would worsen Drizzt's illness if he got soaked. Nobody came to help.
Finally one day, Drizzt began responding to healing. He must have made a tiny sound, and I heard: "It's fine take it easy. You had heatstroke I think." Ilkar was closest and supported him up. He leaned close to listen and nodded.
I let them have some time, before approaching. Drizzt smiled, still pale grey and not his usual color, but at least he was awake. "Hello Fel." I squeezed his hand. We gave him broth to take. It was after that Drizzt looked shy and patted his chest. Ilkar smiled.
"I undressed you. For nights, I covered you with a cloak."
"I see. Sorry… for the trouble. And thank you. Get some rest." He said in concern.
I didn't know how I looked like, but Ilkar had deep rings under his eyes. Aww.
"Yea kept waking up every minute. The fever is broken. I'll help you into a shirt." I turned the other way while the dark elf got dressed.
"We made a spell together! Helped a lot, want to do one again later?" I suggested smiling.
"It's not called making. Cast or weave is the right word. Now I'm not going to expend more energy." He grumbled and his voice was soft.
"Yes rest now. I didn't say I was going to die." Ilkar had folded up some clothes and yawned. Huh? I think they must have spoken in their own dialect, for I did not catch it.
"Then what did you say?" the mage wondered.
"I said am I safe. Misunderstood." Drizzt smiled and patted his shoulder. He wore a white shirt same as his hair, and it was loosely buttoned. "Thank you my friends. Oh, how is Guen? She came?"
"Fine. We didn't summon her outside too long." He fondled her figurine and smiled, then hugged me. Such a rare gesture. He declared he had improved and could hunt. Meanwhile we both got more restful sleep.
"Great you can cook for us again! We tried but it wasn't as nice, don't tell him. I think sometimes too bland, the soups." I whispered when I woke first.
Drizzt laughed softly. "Thanks. Did you have trouble finding food? I have to teach you, in case I get ill again."
"Eh. The map has the locations marked."
"Ok…. Drizzt, please don't get sick again!" I felt the sudden urge to hug him and did.
He did not speak and when I let go, only his hand stayed on my shoulder.
"Come, let me show you how to find herbs. These are edible, you can see by the insects crawling. But they will bite….." I watched as he demonstrated how to collect the fruit and herbs without insect hassling. And instead of answering me, he asked about Guen and Serif. I beamed, looking at a red flower shaped fruit which he had been peeling. "What is it?"
'Figs. They are available throughout the year and tend to grow in clusters. Sweet, peel them open."
My pet had followed us silently. I held out my hand and he scampered up to sit on my neck. He chattered, now in the form of an otter. He favored this shape since we came here. Drizzt waited and Serif jumped expertly, clinging to his hair. "I won't tell him about the poor cooking. He would be angry."
"Yea thanks. You can keep secrets. Me too. Er, I'm curious again, about your… um." I could not find the word.
"My kind? Of course." He gestured that we take a seat beside a creek. I glanced over to our campsite. Since Drizzt recovered, we decided to move to a cave because tents could not withstand torrential rains. The mage still remained in his cloak. Serif nodded at my command and scampered over to stand guard.
"What are the girls there like?"
He smirked. "They are priestesses, Felicia. Different from humans, the women tend to rule while males are lower in status. Do you understand?" He mimed a praying gesture. I could imagine a little
"Oh I didn't mean that, as in did you like any girl there? Back home?"
He shook his head, his features relaxing into his neutral-mood again. "How about past girls? In general."
He laughed and his ears pricked. His ears are longer than Ilkar's. I got a friendly knock from his fist. "Perhaps. Why are you so nosy? My… love was a woman. I watched her grow up, but she faded."
I noticed how the glitter was less in his eyes and his deep sigh. Ah, I couldn't talk about it anymore so I pointed to a shrub and asked what it was. As we headed back to camp, Drizzt thanked me again two more times.
"But I didn't do much. You could've told us when you felt thirsty and hot," I said frankly.
"I didn't expect my health to… worsen. I will, be assured." He was solemn and as the breeze passed his pale hair blew into his face. I went to greet Ilks and asked if he got word from any of the locals. Why had they not noticed our signal?
The bushes rustled as he was telling me no. We tensed and as the mage prepared a spell, Drizzt crouched unsheathing one sword. A tanned elf with face markings appeared and talked in their tongue.
Ilkar smiled. "He will be our guide. Drizzt, are you fine now? Want to rest?" It was dusk but the dark elf sank down. The stranger opened a satchel. It had some square packages. As our friend listened to him talk, he translated,"Here, chew on this. Better to go back tomorrow then."
"Thank you." I watched him chew the medicine and close his eyes. Yes he should not overstrain yet. The guide's name was too long to pronounce so I just thought of him as 'That guy' I was a little wary of him and hid behind my friends. Even as we lay down to sleep, I watched him poke the fire.
"We can let him guard us?" I whispered to Ilks.
"Um, no choice. I'm still tired from not enough sleep. He's one of my distant cousins."