An Element of Remorse and Comfort
Sleep was something that was becoming harder and harder to accomplish. After hours of home remedies recommended by the tale's of old wives, something eventually seemed to work/ Perhaps it was from all the energy that it had taken to concentrate on these simple things, such as counting sheep or drinking warm tea, made with herbs to help one relax. Or perhaps it was the trips running back and forth from the camp and into the woods to relieve a bladder that she kept filling up in order to try to relax. Exhaustion was running high tonight and it would be even higher the next day, for the both of the forms that now lay before the fire, beneath the canopy of trees, under a dark velvet sky.
Though sleep was met, it was anything but restful – restless, more like it. Tossing in turning she did upon her mattress made from the thick hide of a bear that was killed by the man days, maybe even weeks, prior to this night. Delicate fingers twitched as dancer-like legs kicked, her torso twisted towards the side and then back again, as she tried desperately to seek some type of comfort in her sleep. Odd coloured hues twitched behind the thin lids, even the corners of her mouth twitched downwards, forming a frown. One look would tell you that the pointed ear individual was dreaming. Good or bad, one would never know until the time she awoke from a restless slumber – if she remembered.
Twisting her torso away from the fire, the action itself seemed strong enough to cause the rest of her to follow suit. Now she lay there, her back arched over as knees were brought toward her torso; almost curled into a fetal position as the fire warmed her back. Usually one would feel all the more safe, knowing that such a purifying element was right near them and providing heat and a sense of protection, but this element could also bring pain – lots of it.
Within closed eyes, images of pain were flashing before her eyes as if she were in a theater. Everything was reenacted, the very events that had been long forgotten, and now possibly remembered, all because of the fire warming her covered back.
“There is an old saying,” a voice of an older woman spoke, the elder of the elves to be exact. “When you fight fire, dear child, a stronger fire is created. In other words, you fight fire with fire.” The woman's palms began to glow a bright orange, just like flames or a fire.
A meter or so before her would be Rannel, held captive by two male elves that were tall and toned in stature. Their arms looped with her own, as a strong hand of each pressed themselves against the back of a bare shoulder blade as if they were holding her in place. Stripped of her modesty she was, as she stood there – or learning, rather – in the bluff as she awaited punishment for a crime she had committed. Though perhaps, depending on how one views it, maybe it was they who committed the crime and she was the only one to stand up to it. Nevermind what it was, but punishment for an evil deed would be repaid with one.
A sudden burst of heat blew against the back of the pink haired elf, though it had not hurt just yet. It would take a second or two for complete impact, but it seemed as if the strong heat wave was made to tease and increase the torture more so than it needed to be.
Then, the flame touched the once perfect pale skin that covered her back. Full lips parted to let out a scream of pain, only for it to go completely ignored by the people she would have once led in the future. Her very own people watched their elder-in-coming be tortured by the elder of the now.
Heat traveled up the middle of her back, burning into pale flesh and perhaps melting her spine. This hadn't been completely true, but that was what it felt like. Back down did it go, over the same path it had created on the travel up. Again would it go up, but this time move in a pattern that was like a tree – a tree with no leaves.
“A tree of no leaves is what you have become,” the elder scolded as she continued to burn her sucessor. “A tree of no leaves is a tree that is dead, Rannel. Standing tall you will be, but dead you will feel!”
The heat had finally subsided after such waspish words. The sobbing mess of a girl could not even have a moment to fall upon her knees and scream from both pain and agony she felt. Instead, she was forced to walk upright as her back was exposed to the air of the evening. After that, everything went completely black and she had lost herself in a forced darkness.
Eventually, light had returned, but it was in a complete blur. Blinking bright eyes multiple times, she tried to regain her sight but the sounds all around her convinced her that maybe she should just let it be a blur. The roaring of rapid water was heard towards her left – behind her. The bottoms of her feet were both wet and cold, and she was standing on something both slick and hard. It did not take long to figure out where she was entirely – standing on a rock, just after a raging currant that turned into a steep waterfall. Just by the sound and feeling itself, she recognized where she was.
However, as soon as lips parted to take in a breath, a strong breath of air smacked into her front side and had caused her to slip. It all felt and seemed to be in slow motion at this point. Pink tresses shifted within the strong currants of wind. One arm extended forth, delicate fingers spreading and curling, trying to grip onto anything... just as her toes curled to try to get a grip upon the slick mineral beneath her. It was no use either way, as she had fallen.
Like a damaged bird did she fall, plummeting to the lands of Escaband quicker than one would have liked. It was all over at that moment. She was sure that this would be the last time she heard the very source of what she was named after, even feel it. This would be the last breath she would fill her lungs with and the last beat her heart would ever make. A blank gaze would remain upon the rock she fell from.
It was of no use.
An impact most unexpected was felt. Pink jewels widened in shock as her breath had been taken from her, but in a whole different way. Tilting her cranium back, those bright eyes would regain their composure and come into contact with weather minty hues. Ivory brows furrowed as the minty gaze almost ate a hole through her being. Rannel felt both chilled and warmed by this.
“Mr. Tobias?” The nude and bewildered elf asked as she felt her body grow limp in the soldier’s hold. “How did you know?”
A sudden jerk would bring the female to full consciousness. Raising to sit up, fragile hands rubbed roughly at tired eyes. This was enough to cure blurry vision or perhaps worsen it all the more.
Pink orbs gazed at the fire, with an expression looking both confused and completely horrified. The muscle with the cage of her chest would beat frantically, causing a swelling in her throat and air to lock itself within her lungs. Helplessly, she gasped for breath as she was sending herself spiraling down the path of having an anxiety attack.
Leaning forward, the elf placed herself upon all fours and crawled helplessly across the ground covered in twigs and dead leaves towards the man that had caught her in her dream. He had been laying upon his back, with one of his arms hanging slightly off the bear hide of a mattress he too had for himself. This proved to be more of a blessing on her part, than his.
Reaching forward, such a dainty hand grabbed hold of the much larger. Applying a soft squeeze, her fingers curled and locked themselves around three of his own. Immediately did she feel warm, safe even, by something as basic as this. The burning in her back had subsided, though it was rather odd as she had felt warm all over. If he had awoken, he would have possibly stared at her as if she were crazy and remove his hand from her grip. He would possibly even tell her to go back to her mattress and rest, or say nothing at all. But this was a risk she was willing to take.
“Even if you don't like it,” the elf started in a quiet whisper, bowing her head and applying a bit more pressure to the sturdy three digits, “just let me have this moment for a little while longer. I feel safe, Mr. Tobias.”
