Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter eight of "Running Around." This chapter shows some of the characters from the two fandoms doing their first assistance of applying aid to a war victim. I am glad to have finally gotten to this point. It has been a while in coming, but it was worth it. Stay tuned for chapter nine.
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Chapter 8: A Bit of Carnage
Eric and Snow White walked around the main room. They listened to the moaning of the injured and dying. They spotted a young woman laying on a cot. The lower parts of her arms were bandaged due to gashes. She moved her head from side to side. They turned to see a middle-aged man being brought in by two teen boys. He had a stab wound in his leg. They looked at each other.
"This place is teaming with the wounded and dying," Snow White said, her body shaking a bit.
"Aye. It wasn't this bad when we fought Ravenna," Eric responded.
"That war didn't last very long. We managed to drive her forces away from Tabor after she was defeated," Snow White pointed out.
"Then you lifted the law banning the mentioning of Xena and Gabrielle's names," Eric added.
"That law was unbelievable. You can't stop people from mentioning names. It is downright impossible," Snow White commented, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Aye," Eric agreed. "I listened to the stories during my depression. They gave me hope, but I would push it to the back of my mind after a little while. I was too focused on mourning Sara."
"No one blames you for that, Eric," Snow White said sympathetically while taking his hand into hers. "Depression can't be pushed away in an instant. It has to be allowed to gradually go away."
"I know. You were the reason my depression went away. You helped me to have a more positive view on life," Eric said warmly.
"It helps to remain hopeful, even if things look hopeless. The smallest chance of victory is a reason to keep fighting," Snow White whispered, her heart skipping two beats.
"That is true. Our chances of victory against Ravenna were slim, but we had to fight her," Eric responded, flaring his nostrils. "It was time to bring her decade-long reign of terror to an end."
"She will never—" Snow White started.
Yelling came out of nowhere. The couple turned to see thirty-year-old Luis slapping a Kiforthian soldier in the face. He was around Eric's height. His frame was a bit lean. His skin was so pale that he looked like a ghost. His long brown hair was up in a ponytail. His brown eyes contained scars at their corners. They headed toward him.
"You should've watched where you were going, Kiforthian pig!" Luis snapped.
"I am sorry! I didn't see you there!" the soldier pleaded.
Luis raised his hand. "You deserve another slap."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Snow White shouted and grabbed his wrist. Eric joined her side with a huff. She flared her nostrils. "You have no right to hit that man. He did nothing to you."
"He deserves it because he bumped into me!" Luis insisted and yanked it out of her hand.
"No one deserves to be slapped for doing that accidentally," Eric responded and narrowed his eyes at him.
"What's your name?" Snow White asked.
"Luis. Who are you two?" Luis demanded.
Eric exhaled. "I am Eric. This is my wife, Snow White. We are here with Xena, Gabrielle, Solan, and William."
Luis gasped in shock while lowering his hand. His body started shaking quite a bit. He didn't dare move, fearing Eric and Snow White might get on his case. He swallowed hard.
"What in the hell are the legendary Xena, Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William doing in Passili?" Luis wondered.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is you are treating someone who isn't like you badly," Snow White said in a fierce voice.
"You don't understand, young lady. These Kiforthians are monsters. They have caused so much pain and suffering for my people. They need to be dealt with. If it means not giving them much medical care, then so be it!" Luis said, glaring at his rival.
"You can't just deny medical care to someone simply because they are not part of your people. It is cruel," Eric said, seriousness lining his voice.
Luis narrowed his eyes at him. "You have no right to tell me how I provide medical care."
"What I am telling you is innocent people from both sides are suffering. It doesn't matter where they are from. They deserve to be healed all the same," Snow White insisted.
"You should be tending to your kingdom, Snow White. This is no place for a queen," Luis retorted and emitted a snarl.
Snow White clenched her teeth. "I am perfectly capable of taking care myself, you bastard."
Eric pointed his finger at Luis. "I would listen to my wife if—"
A loud bang came out of nowhere. The trio turned to see two young men bringing in a Kiforthian soldier on a stretcher. The middle-aged man had a crossbow bolt in his left side. He had a gash on the upper part of his right arm. He emitted a loud moan.
"This soldier needs some help!" the first man called.
"He is in terrible pain!" the second man added.
"Go put him with the other Kiforthian filth," Luis insisted and pointed his finger toward a group of soldiers nearby.
"No. Put him over here!" Snow White shouted, looking at a cot and waving her hand toward herself. "Come on!"
"Follow us," Eric said, going toward the cot. "Now!"
Snow White went after her husband. The men carried the solider to the cot and laid him down as he passed it along with her. They let go of it and moved aside. Xena came to Eric's side, as did Gabrielle.
"What's going on?" Xena wondered.
"This soldier has two nasty-looking injuries," Eric responded and looked down at the crossbow. "That thing looks like it is wedged in tight." He shot a glare at Luis, who walked up to them. "Luis wanted to put him with a bunch of Kiforthian soldiers without giving him any treatment!"
"What? That's cruel!" Gabrielle blurted out shockingly.
"Let's not worry about that, Gabrielle," Xena said, shaking her head. "I need some water, rags, and bandages."
"I heard some—hey, that is a Kiforthian!" Chase said as he approached the group.
"Get over here and hold your comrade's hand. It will help keep him calm," Xena commanded.
"You are in no position to—" Luis started.
"Shut up," Xena snapped and eyed Gabrielle. "Go, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle ran off as Chase came to his comrade's side and held his hand. Xena looked at Eric and Snow White.
"Eric, Snow White, come here and keep this man still," Xena commented firmly. She looked over her shoulder as William arrived. "William, tend to the other wound."
"It's on his arm," Snow White said while going to the left side of the man's head. She eyed Eric, who took the right side. "You might be repulsed by it."
"Okay," William said and headed to other side. He gasped at the sight of the gash. "Oh, shit. It does look bad."
"Go get needles and threads," Xena said, looking at Luis.
"Hey, you can't—" Luis started.
"Now!" Xena commanded in a fierce voice.
Luis snarled and walked away. Gabrielle arrived with a bowl of water and set it on a table next to the cot. Jason had bandages and rags in his hands. He laid them near the bowl. Xena grabbed two rags and dipped them in the water. She rang them out and tossed the first one to William, who caught it easily. They started to wipe the blood away from the wounds. The soldier let out a loud groan and started to move some.
"It hurts. It hurts so bad," the soldier cried pitifully.
"I understand. Don't worry. I will get it out," Xena whispered comfortingly.
Gabrielle shushed softly. "Just be thankful your other wound did not get infected."
William nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
Luis came to the table with needles and threads. He laid them there and narrowed his eyes at Xena.
"You might as well go ahead and kill a Kiforthian. Just don't touch any Passilians," Luis said.
"You better shut your mouth before I go over there and do it myself," Eric warned sternly while shooting a glare at him.
"Come on. I dare you," Luis taunted and waved his hand toward himself. "Come on."
Eric hissed and began making his way over to Luis. Snow White grabbed his arm and pulled him back. William went over to him and took hold of his shoulder. Luis laughed mockingly at him as they held him back.
"Look at you. You have to have your friend and wife hold you back," Luis said with a smirk.
"That's enough!" Xena yelled, anger showing in her voice. "We are all here to help this man, not act like little children. Is that clear?"
William and Snow White released their hold on Eric, who shot a fierce glare at Luis. They returned to their positions. William and Xena finished their work and laid their rags aside. He came over to get a needle and thread. He returned to the wound. He poked it through the top of the wound. He pulled it through. He proceeded to stitch it up. She broke the tip of the bolt off. She grabbed it and proceeded to pull it out slowly.
"There is no need to go so slowly," Luis said with a roll of his eyes.
"You can't just yank an arrow or crossbow bolt out of a wound, Luis. It can cause more damage. If the weapon is wedged deep in the arm or leg, it may have to be cut off," Gabrielle explained in a stern voice.
"Believe Gabrielle. She has seen many people with such injuries," Eric commented.
Luis emitted an annoyed scoff. Xena managed to get the bolt out and laid it aside. She picked up a needle and thread. She poked it at the bottom of the wound. She pulled it through. She proceeded to stitch it up. The soldier began shaking. He calmed down when Chase squeezed his hand.
"Ah!" the soldier yelled in agony.
"It's okay. I am here," Chase said soothingly. "I am not leaving you."
Xena sighed in a soft way. "He is lucky that bolt didn't hit any major organs. He would've bled out if it did."
"I have seen my men with such injuries. It pained me every time to see them bleed out," Chase admitted, swallowing hard. "I am sure you had to deal with such a thing."
"I did many times," Xena whispered, a frown forming on her face. "I've also put soldiers out of their misery because they were suffering so badly. I didn't want to do it, but I did because it wasn't fair to them."
"Life isn't always fair. Neither is death," Eric said, his voice quieting to a whisper on the last word. "Things can happen so fast that you don't have time to blink."
Snow White touched the soldier's forehead. "Like when Ravenna took over my kingdom after she killed my father."
William snorted. "Exactly."
William and Xena finished stitching the soldier's wounds. They grabbed their daggers and cut the threads. They laid the needles aside. She grabbed a bandage and slipped it to Snow White, who handed it to him. She got one with a sharp exhale. Eric and Snow White shuddered as William and Xena placed the bandages against the wounds and proceeded to wrap them.
"We haven't been here long. We are already helping with a patient," Snow White whispered.
"Aye. It is not going to be pleasant being here," Eric said and suppressed a yawn. He narrowed his eyes as William and Xena sped up the wrapping of the bandages somewhat.