From One Thing To Another|Raynham, Reave

[Kender Bard]

"Could have used his help," she sighed but then brushed the matter off and started poking and prodding arould Locke, asking a number of questions, both mundane and embarassing. "Take off your shirt please."

[Deleted]

Locke stripped reluctantly; he really was freezing. Off came the mantle, belt, tunic, long-sleeved tunic and armbands. The shivers he had hidden became quite apparent, and he wrapped his arms around his chest again.


(Basically he has a very high fever and coughs like he's having very bad asthma attacks.)

[Kender Bard]

"This won't take long," the herb lady promises as she touches his forehead, cheeks, and chest, testing temperatures and then lays her head over his heart and lungs, listening for any rattles or problems (I don't think they had stethescopes so I thought this would be the next best thing?). After a few moments she nods and starts handing him his things back. "Aye, you're quite sick. I'm going to look around for a concoction that will help open your airways up a bit. Go to bed and get as warm as you possibly can. I'll be over soon with my remedies, okay? Also, don't lie on your back. Sides only."

[Deleted]

"Yes ma'am," Locke said weakly. Forces, he had really gotten himself into a mess now, hadn't he? He dressed hurriedly, thanking the stars his clothes were still warm, bowed to the herb-woman, and went back to his tent. Finding the blanket someone had given him to lie on, he wrapped it around himself and sat on the bed of grasses and leaves he had made for himself, shivering.

[Kender Bard]

Soon the woman arrived, two steaming mugs in each hand and a thick blanket tucked under an arm. First, she set the mugs down near Locke with explicit instructions to drink both - they were herbal teas and unfortunately not too delicious. Then, she spread the extra blanket out on him and looked around, frowning thoughtfully. "Do you think those Fire types can make a smokeless fire?"

[Deleted]

"Not unless they sat and just made the air burn for a while," Locke decided after some thought. "It might-" he broke off to cough and hastily steadied the mug in his hands. "Might be more convinient if I just sat by a fire outside." He held his nose and downed half the contents in a gulp, finished quickly, made a face and reached for the second mug.

[Kender Bard]

"Only if you wrap yourself up in those blankets too," the woman advised. "Best thing to do with a fever is sweat it out. Those teas should give your immune system a boost and open up your breathing a little too, but no promises. You're quite sick, and everyone behaves differently. Meanwhile, I'm going to see about getting some of those Fires to do something helpful and heat stones to put under the beds of the sick and help them get even toastier. Now you send for me if you need anything, okay?"

[Deleted]

"Yes, ma'am," Locke promised. Guilt was telling him not to hold back if he got any worse; the people he had been around would probably get sick as well, and by using him as an example, the herb woman would know how to catch it before it got as bad as he did.

Feeling disgusted with himself, Locke finished the tea, wrapped himself in the blankets and stepped outside to make a fire.

Some help HE was.

[Kender Bard]

Quite suddenly, without any warning, Charminei teleported near Locke. She'd walked into Reave, but had figured out where Locke was and felt like surprising him. "HI LOCKE!" she shouted, trying to give the poor man a little fright, not knowing that his condition didn't warrant such merciless teasings.

[Deleted]

The reaction Charminei was certainly not a good one: Locke actually screeched from the surprise, "GAAAH!" and doubled over coughing again, harsher than before. It felt like he was going to hack up a lung. Either that or the tightness in his chest was going to squeeze one out.

Blood splashed the ground and Locke tried to tell Charminei he couldn't inhale properly, only to find his voice was useless, and frantically touched his Sign. << I can't breathe! >> he projected, hoping it would work. Short-distance was his weakness.

[Kender Bard]

Charminei reacted with the reflexes of someone used to dealing with unforseen crises. Without a word she snatched him into her arms and rubbed his back, firmly. She'd smack it if she thought that would help, but fluids tended not to dislodge like objects and the best she could hope for was to calm him down. In a firm, steady, maternal voice she ordered Locke, "Push any breath you have out, pause, then breath. Nice and easy, as best as you can." She'd call for help but.. who would she call? If Locke passed out she could give him life-breath, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that. What on Naruta had happened while she was gone?

[Deleted]

Charminei's arms were strong and steady, comforting; Locke leaned into them gratefully as he shakily took the deepest breath he could and exhaled forcefully, repeating the pattern until the coughing slowed and he could breathe somewhat normally, if a bit wetly.

"Thanks," he croaked, then stopped talking because it hurt his throat and touched his Sign again. << You shouldn't stay too close. I don't know how contagious this is, whatever it is. >> If Charminei got sick from being around him, Locke wasn't sure how he would deal with a lot of angry Fires. Damn it, if Charanth got even sicker from their brief visit, Locke was pretty sure he might not be welcome around any Fires for years to come.

Faintly, the Mind wondered if the wheat merchant in Illyamen was all right. He was the only person Locke could have picked this up from.

[Kender Bard]

~Meh~ was all Charminei said in response as she continued to rub his back and look around. ~Good Forces, you're on fire, and not in the good way.~ Peering into his hut, she takes inventory and guides him back inside, easing him - forcefully - to his bed. "Wrap up, nice and snug. I'm going to make this place a healing inferno." Even as she spoke, she moved around and reached towards the ceiling, feeling around until she felt a soft spot in the roof and poked a hole into it, then cleared an appropriate spot directly underneath it on the floor. "How long have you been sick?"

[Deleted]

"Six days," Locke replied, meekly arranging himself on his bed under the blankets. "I thought it was just a chest cold, so I took the herbs for that and kept working." He held up a hand to forestall any scolding. "I know it was stupid."

[Northen Light36]

Sensing out the presence of another Mind type and believing that Aideen is still with Locke, Tavin teleports into Locke's hut. He imediately looks embrassed and apologectic as he realises Locke is with company. "Oh, excuse me for barging in, but are you Locke? I'm Tavin."