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CLINIC - MORNING
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Tarbin lies in the ward of the clinic, darkness enveloping him as his body sends dozens of dulled pain signals. The lizard begins to wonder why his memory is so foggy, and why he hurts so bad... And why the ocean is so silent and still. With a rolling groan, Tarbin attempts the first movement he's made in days, his stiff arm reaching to rub a bleary eye as he wakes.
Doc Plume is elsewhere in the clinic, just finishing making a fresh cup of tea. They swivel and ear tuft at the sound of the groan and quickly pace over toward the recovery area. Noticing Tarbin's slow movement, they speak calmly and clearly toward the lizard. "You're in a clinic, recovering from your injuries. I'm here to help you."
Tarbin turns his head toward the voice, squinting against the blurry lights, his hand finally making it to rub at his eyelids. He tries to respond, but his dry throat only leads to some coughing.
Doc Plume walks over to the side of Tarbin's bed. They fetch a canteen of water from nearby and open it before squatting down and holding it up to the lizard's lips. "Here, drink..."
Tarbin gratefully partakes from the canteen, nodding when he's had his fill. He lets out a sigh of relief as his throat feels less like cracked sand, pausing before finally replying to Plume. He notes that they were speaking an unfamiliar language. "[Thank you Doctor. Do you know Yurettan? How long have I been here?]"
Doc Plume re-corks the canteen and sets it aside, cocking their head to the side. "I'm sorry, I don't understand you... um..." They wrack their brain, trying to think of any language that might help. After a few moment, they recall one lesson, though they doubt it will help. [You talk Yak-tongue maybe?]
Tarbin closes his eyes, rubbing them again as he tries to parse the words. After a few seconds, he opens his eyes and blinks at the ceiling, still seeing little more than blurry light. He slowly shakes his head, turning to where the voice was coming from and seeing Plume's silhouette. "[This is not going to be easy...]" He does the first thing he can think of to move things along, tapping his chest. "Tarbin, lizard [from] Yuretti."
Doc Plume blinks. They point at Tarbin. "Tarbin, yes?" They then point at themself. "Doctor Plume." They frown a bit, pondering this language barrier more. "I think I know someone who might be able to help..." They point at Tarbin again, then show an open palm in a 'stop' motion before pointing at the ground. "Tarbin waits here."
Tarbin vaguely sees the motions, and gets the bare minimum of what the doctor wants, not that the strange feeling in his legs is making the lizard want to get out of bed anyways. He nods slowly, smiling. "Tarbin, [yes]. [Doctor] Doctor Plume, [yes]."
Doc Plume nods to Tarbin. They move the canteen within his reach before heading out at a quick pace to find Nesseth.
Tarbin waits, emptying the canteen shortly after Plume steps out and continuing to try and rub the blur from his vision. His memory slowly comes back to him during the time alone, causing him to give up on rubbing his eyes as he waits, sighing to himself.
Doc Plume returns with Nesseth in tow no more than four minutes later, almost out of breath as they lead Nesseth over to the ward. "Please, see if you can talk with him..."
Nesseth strides along with Plume, a bit less out of breath than they are. "I'll try... It's been a little while since I've spoken my native tongue, though."
Doc Plume nods. "For all we know, it could be a different lizard language all together... but you're my best option."
Nesseth nods. "We're pretty widespread, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's speaking another dialect. Hopefully there's enough overlap for us to at least talk, though."
Tarbin turns his head at the familiar voice, seeing both figures, one a vaguely familiar shape as he smiles. "[Ah, {Doctor}] Doctor Plume, Tarbin [has drank {all the water}]".
Doc Plume looks to Nesseth. "Well, did you get any of that?"
Nesseth blinks as he lays eyes on Tarbin, tilting his head a bit as he listens to the somewhat unfamiliar accent and dialect. "So, good news is that it sounds familiar... but not exact..." He clears his throat and steps a little closer to the bed, mentally switching to his native tongue, "Tarbin... [I hope this works, but... can {you understand what I'm saying?}]"
Doc Plume smiles to Nesseth and nods. "Good. Do your best." They walk over to Tarbin and gently takes the empty canteen, moving to refill it at the sink.
Tarbin brightens up as he catches some meaning, nodding a little more vigorously and trying very briefly to sit up, though he gives that up as his stiff, sore body protests. He gladly releases the empty canteen when he feels it being tugged by Plume's silhouette. "[{Yes! Yes, I understand some! You are a lizard? I} am relieved! So I am not doomed!]"
Doc Plume returns shortly with the canteen, watching the two lizards attempt to talk.
Nesseth holds a hand up and gestures for Tarbin to just stay resting. [{Lay still, friend... You're} still nowhere near healed, but {you're safe.}] He shakes his head a little, [{I don't fully understand you,} but it's familiar enough.]
Doc Plume looks at Nesseth. "What's he saying? Ask him if he's hungry..."
Tarbin pieces the missing parts together as best he can, nodding as he relaxes a little. "[{Thank you. What is your name, friend?} Would you please {tell Doctor}] Doctor Plume [{I am grateful that} they have saved my life?]" He turns his eyes towards the black-and-white figure, grinning toothily.
Nesseth nods and looks towards Plume, pausing for a moment as he mentally shifts back to the common language shared by everyone. "He, uh... he's saying he's very grateful that you've saved his life. He's mostly just really happy to be alive right now. He also seems to think your full name is Doctor Plume." He chuckles a little, then smiles and dips his head towards Tarbin, [{My name is Nesseth. Plume has} already told me {your name is Tarbin. It's good to meet you.} Are you {feeling hungry?}]
Doc Plume giggles a bit at that. "Well, you can fix that..." They walk over and watch Tarbin more carefully, following his eyes and hands and making mental notes.
Tarbin shakes his head slowly, as he refocuses... well, looks toward Nesseth. "[{No, feeling no hunger, I'm just very thirsty.} In fact, my {stomach hurts... everything hurts a little though.}]" He shifts his body experimentally, wincing sharply when he tries to move below his waist. "[{What is wrong with my legs?}]"
Nesseth glances down towards Tarbin's legs and grimaces a little. [{I, uh... wish I didn't have} to bear bad news, {but... well, you might be stuck} in bed for {a good while.} You got pretty {beat up in that shipwreck you were found in.}] He also takes a moment to talk to Plume, "He says he's not hungry, just thirsty and sore."
Doc Plume nods. "All right.... I can give him some willow bark and make a gentle broth..." They cock their head as they focus, noticing something a bit off about Tarbin's eyes. They hold out the canteen toward the patient before speaking to Nesseth again. "Here's more water for him."
Tarbin pales, some more recent memories flicking to mind as he notices Plume's movement, unable to make out the shape being held toward him, though he catches the word 'water'. "[{Shipwreck? Was the crew found? I can't stay} if they are not found. {I must heal faster.} Can] Plume [sit {me upright soon?}]"
Nesseth takes hold of the canteen and holds it a bit closer to Tarbin. [{Here, have some water, first...}] He sighs as he looks over at Plume again, "How soon do you think it'll be before he can sit upright again? Also, he's saying he can't stay, and that he needs to heal faster for some reason..."
Tarbin takes the canteen with a nod, realizing what it is as it's passed between the two figures, gratefully drinking from it. He seems to calm down slightly.
Doc Plume frowns a bit. "His upper body is all right, so we should be able to sit him up a bit." They move around the bed and grasp Tarbin's shoulders gently, slowly lifting his back higher and then wedging an extra blanket in behind it to help keep him upright.
Tarbin lets out a slight grunt of surprise as he's lifted, not expecting to be moved so soon. He pauses, nodding as the blurry view of his own blanketed legs and tail can be registered. The pain in his hips flares from his new posture, but he doesn't let on about it, setting his jaw and taking a deep breath instead. "[{Thank you...} this way will work, perhaps.]" He tries to distract himself from the mild pain, looking toward the two. "[{Where am I, after all?}]"
Doc Plume notices the wince and moves off once Tarbin is settled to fetch a few strips of willow bark.
Nesseth sighs a bit after a moment and shakes his head once Tarbin is sitting up a bit straighter. [{As for the crew... the person} who found you {didn't find anyone else. At least, no} one else has washed up on the {shore in that bay.}] He pauses again, then nods, "[{You're in}] Respite Falls, Aephix. [{I'd say welcome, but... I can't} imagine a less {pleasant arrival than what you} had to go through.]"
Doc Plume returns to the bedside and looks to Nesseth. "I brought him some willow bark. Please tell him to chew it gently and not swallow it."
Tarbin can't help but chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "[{Respite Falls}], Aephix? [{Thank you.} As for {welcoming, I've had less pleasant. I look forward to} trying to make my way for a little bit.]" He sniffs briefly, looking towards Plume and holding out his hand for the bark. "[{Numbing bark?}]"
Nesseth nods. [{Yes, just chew, don't swallow. It'll ease} the pain in your legs.] Another pause, then another nod, [{Then, welcome to Respite Falls, where... er... new beginnings await.}]
Doc Plume looks to Nesseth for confirmation that Tarbin understands before putting the bark in his hand. "I hope this eases your pain..." They then move to a cabinet at the back of the recovery 'ward' and extract more pillows, using them to support Tarbin's hips from the sides.
Tarbin nods, taking the bark. The scales on his fingers seem to shift from their blue to the orange hue of his stripes around contact with the bark, which itself appears to gain some of it's own color back, as it becomes fresher before being popped into his cheek to slowly chew. He looks to Nesseth, his finger scales reverting to blue. "[{How do I say my thanks to}] Plume?"
Doc Plume blinks at the changes as they happen. "Magic?"
Nesseth tilts his head as he notices the subtle color changes on Tarbin's fingers as he takes hold of the bark. He almost misses the question, but blinks and looks back up at Tarbin. [{Oh, uh... I can tell them for you. Are you a mage?}] He pauses, then glances towards Plume, "He says thanks for the willow bark."
Tarbin nods at the question, considering things for a moment before pulling the blanket up to his knees, revealing slightly beat up shins and an idly twitching split tail. "[{Born. That's... Not a problem in}] Aephix, [{is it?} Hunters do not kill indiscriminately {here, right? Also, I would like to learn the language}, if you would indulge me,] Nesseth."
Nesseth shakes his head. [{Not a problem, no. There are a couple of mages that} live here comfortably. {The common language isn't too} difficult to learn, though {it may be easier with a proper teacher.}]
Doc Plume looks to Nesseth. "I'm going to pop over to the Minnow and get the barkeep to make up a pot of rich broth for our guest. Keep chatting with him for now. If he gets drowsy, make sure he spits out the bark before falling asleep."
Nesseth nods, smiling a bit. "Alright, Plume. I'll see you when you get back."
Doc Plume gives Nesseth a quick peck on the cheek before heading out. They pop their head back in to remark "Ring the night bell if you need me back sooner," and then they're gone again.
Tarbin listens to the others speak, disappointed that he only hears a couple vaguely familiar words, and they could mean anything in their language. "[{I do not wish to} inconvenience {you}], Nesseth." He looks towards his hips, sliding the blanket down and setting his palm upon a particularly painful spot, though the bark is doing it's job well. "[{I will repay you for anything you can teach, friend.}]" The scales on his palm shift color, some along his hand and forearm changing in single scale spots. He looks frustrated as he gnaws the bark, staring at the blur of his arm.
Nesseth blushes just a touch at the quick kiss from Plume, but shifts his attention back to Tarbin as they depart for the Minnow. [{I can try, but I'm not sure how good a teacher I might be, Tarbin.}] He tilts his head curiously as he watches the lizard doing... something to his hip, [{What... are you trying} to do? Healing magic?]
Tarbin chuckles quietly, his arm shaking a bit as he concentrates. "[{I am using simple} healing magic. {Nature Mage, I can} influence {the Order} somewhat... Not very well, right now though.]" He relents, his scales returning to their normal color as he huffs a bit, before laughing. "Plume [{is right, I might be hungry. Doesn't feel like it though.}]" He looks towards Nesseth's silhouette, smiling.
Nesseth hums and nods. "[{You've been out for a few days,} so you might need {some food.} Plume [{just left to get some broth} from the inn nearby. {Your body's likely weak from a} lack of food, right now.]"
Tarbin sighs, nodding as he runs his fingertips over the bandages around his torso. "[{I remember very little...} but that's not important right now, it will not help {me recover.}]" He shakes his head slightly, thinking for a moment. "[{Are you a Doctor as well}], Nesseth?"
Nesseth chuckles and shakes his head. [{No, I'm a hunter and a town guard. Plume just} happens to be my partner.] He pauses for a moment, then amends his statement, [{Rather, I'm a game hunter, not a mage hunter.}]
Tarbin nods slowly, though he laughs at the amendment. "[{Thank gods}, trying to {kill me} with a heart {problem!}]" He yawns, trying too late to stifle it out of decorum. "[Pardon me, it seems {I was not ready} to wake yet.]"
Nesseth hums and nods as he goes to grab a small bowl for Tarbin. [{Then, in that case, I'll} let you rest. Plume {said to spit out the willow bark before} you fall asleep, though. Don't need you swallowing it {on accident.}] He smiles a bit, [{We'll wake you} up again when Plume gets back {with the broth.}]
Tarbin nods, taking the bowl. He bends his jaw over it, dropping a... completely unchewed, fresh piece of willow bark into it. He sets the bowl down on the nearest surface he can feel out to his bed, the scales surrounding his lips fading from yellow-orange to blue as he turns back to Nesseth. "[{Thank you. I feel safe, here} for once. {I look forward to} seeing you properly], Nesseth. Ah, [{before you go, though. How can I thank}] Plume, [{if you don't mind.}]"
Nesseth seems a little thrown off by the fact that the willow bark looks, if anything, newer than when Plume first gave it to Tarbin, but he recovers after a moment. [{I'd say you could thank them by just being a good patient.} Anything more, I think you'll {have to ask them personally. Or I could translate, of course.}] He nods, [Anyway, go ahead and {get some rest, Tarbin. Food will} be here soon.]
Tarbin sighs, nodding as he chuckles quietly, giving up for now. "[{Thank you}], Nesseth. [{I will.}]" He pulls the folded blanket from behind himself, dropping to the position he found himself in on waking, with a little grunt. He sets it on his chest, sighing as his eyes close and he immediately falls asleep from exhaustion.
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ERIKA'S GARDEN - LATE AFTERNOON
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Fiora sighs, still struggling with this after her talk with Gareth. She crosses her arms at the edge of the entrance, closing her eyes. Then at last steps forward and calls out, "Erika... where are you at?"
Erika jolts awake, having fallen asleep leaning against one of the bigger trees in her garden. "Mmh? Oh! Here, Fiora!" She attempts to get up, a bit unsteady being back on two legs again, steadying herself against the tree.
Fiora walks in slowly towards Erika's voice, "Erika... okay... listen, we need to talk about some stuff, and... it's not going to be easy for me, but I need to do it, and I need to-" She turns the corner along the path and finds Erika, "-Oh! Oh you're naked." She pauses, "You're... You!? That is you, right Erika?"
Erika grins excitedly and despite her clear lack of clothing, nearly bounces towards Fiora in an attempt to hug her: "Yes! I'm me again, in all of my unglorious glory!"
Fiora eeps as Erika rushes to hug her, certainly not expecting this, but she sighs as Erika glomps on, and slowly brings her hands up to hug back. "You're... you. Ah dang... like meeting you all over again. I'm glad... I... I was worried. I know I didn't... I tried to... to be cool about it, but... damn, Erika. I'm glad, that's all."
Erika giggles and feels like tearing up again: "I was so lost, it felt like cure would not ever happen, that you'd never see me like I am." She closes her eyes, just hugging tightly.
Fiora nods slowly, suddenly feeling even more conflicted, "I... I had no idea what to expect. I mean, you were you as far I as I knew. I don't know if you being back to normal makes this easier or harder for me, though."
Erika lets go of the hug, looking at Fiora in confusion: "What do you mean? I mean I guess you haven't seen me two-legged bef - gods that feels odd to say - before now."
Fiora chuckles, tearing up as she looks down at Erika. "Cause I suck, and I was keeping something from you, and it's the whole reason I came here, but... I don't know. You had this whole transformation thing I didn't want to hurt your feelings any further, and part of me just wanted to leave, cause you don't need me. Let's be honest, Erika, you're here, you're happy, with your garden and that badger-guy, and your... life? Right? Sure, the four-legged thing was weird, but you figured it out! You're awesome! I'm... just..." She sighs. "Rambling, mostly, aren't I?"
Erika looks at Fiora for a moment, then lets out a bit of a giggle: "Rambling good. Gets all those thoughts out. Even the weird ones. Cavro is good for me, but Cavro isn't family. Well, in that way anyway. You are. I'm happy you're here, Fiora."
Fiora can't help but giggle as well, giving Erika one more squeeze before letting her go. "Wh-what if... we weren't cousins, like we always thought?"
Erika blinks, tilting her head: "Huh? I thought we were though?" She muses on this: "I guess it'd be odd since that's what I've seen you as, but even if we're not family, I can still consider you as such, right?"
Fiora chuckles, "Y-yeah. But I mean, uh no. We're still family... Erika... I don't want to hurt you any more then the past few weeks has hurt you but... I'm gonna explode if I don't tell you. I only learned it recently, after my... W-well, that doesn't matter." She chokes back more tears, as it clearly matters a lot more then she's saying. "But I learned you're not my cousin. You're my... S-shit, why is this so hard?!"
Erika blinks several times as she listens, then few more at the last exclamation: "I'm your... huh?" She then looks at Fiora intently, somewhere between confused and concerned. She nods her head and belatedly realizes to use her hand, to point out the back porch and the stairs of it: "Let's sit down, yea?"
Fiora glances towards the porch and nods, following Erika over to take a seat upon the steps. "Ugh... I'm so pathethic... I have literally kicked down doors into rooms full of criminals, charged through fireballs and swords without flinching... a-and I can't tell my damn sister she's my..." She blinks, slumping. "S-sister. Half-sister, Erika... We're sisters..."
Erika blinks again several times: "You... we're... huh." She stares for a second, before leaning to hug her cous- SISTER tightly once again: "I have a sister?!"
Fiora flinches slightly, knowing how the fact that her Mother had lied to her for years had impacted her, the anger, the betrayal, combined with the feelings of loss and hatred all building in her like a pressure cooker. She balls her fists, waiting for the outburst. She is utterly unprepared for the hug. "Bwha huh wha?"
Erika laughs: "I've always wanted a Sister! Someone to share stuff with like no one else!"
Fiora blinks, slightly trapped in the hug, "Bwaha?! Y-you... you're okay with this? I mean... it's not the worst news, but... I don't know, it was all sorts of crazy when I learned it. Even as your cousin, you always were nice to me in our letters but I kinda worried... I don't know. Like, it would change things?"
Erika giggles despite tearing up again: "I d-don't know? Should it?" She looks at her sister: "B-but why wouldn't I like it?"
Fiora finally raises an arm up to hug Erika. "I don't know! I... I didn't know. Change... breaks things." She glances at Erika, "You're really happy about this? About being my... sister? C-cause... I was gonna leave... a-after you got better. After I told you all about this. I don't know what to do now, though."
Erika tilts her head, feeling a bit sad: "Leave?" She blinks: "O-oh. Yeah. The bounty hunter thing... g-guess that's a reason."
Fiora sighs, craning her neck down, "Heh... yeah... truth is, I don't have anywhere else to go. Not anymore. You're the only family I have now."
Erika looks at Fiora with concern: "Well, I'm sure Mom and Dad will have no probl-" She blinks, thinking on this: "Wait. That would mean... D-dad? He's... like also yours?"
Fiora nods quietly. "He knows... I talked to him when I first got here... before I came looking for you. Guess my Mom is the one who started this whole 'cousin' thing. Hell if I know why." She clenches her fist again before forcing herself to relax.
Erika nods, thinking. After a moment of quiet, she just take's Fiora's hand in hers: "W-well... guess it doesn't matter. If you're my Sis, then I'm gonna treat you as one."
Fiora blinks as Erika takes her hand, "You... really don't have to treat me any differently."
Erika shrugs, smiling: "Don't have to, but can if I want?"
Fiora grips Erika's hand tightly, "I mean... if you do, then I'll have to figure out what the heck I'm doing and treat you the same."
Erika gives a soft chuckle: "Well, you can start from 'you don't have to treat me any different." She winks: "Do what your heart tells you. Like it told you to come talk to me again."
Fiora slowly smiles, "It did. I was really, really scared, Erika. I almost left town without saying anything... I'm sorry for that."
Erika holds Fiora's hand tightly in hers, but leans over to poke her sister's chest with the other: "Yet you didn't though. What changed your mind?"
Fiora glances away guiltily, "Lots of stuff, I guess... my partner put a right proper boot to my head. Said I needed to stop running. I'm... scared of settling down. I'm scared of things changing, you know?"
Erika blinks, then nods: "Well... yes. I know firsthand how scary change is, now." She looks at Fiora: "Though, I figure it's up to you how you deal with it."
Fiora nods, then starts to break into laughter, "Guess I got nothing to say on change compared to you. I... I don't know. I've got to take this all one step at a time, you know? But... there's probably worse things then living in a small town like this, with folks you know..." She smiles at Erika, "And... family you love."
Erika winks: "I might not have much of a comparison point there, but there's certainly worse things."
Fiora giggles, "And this town does have good ice cream so... maybe it's worth looking into as a uh... 'home base'. You know, a place to crash between jobs?"
Erika glances at her abode behind them: "Well, you're of course always welcome to crash here 'til you find another place."
Fiora raises an eyebrow, "You always walk around the place naked, though? Or did I just catch you at a weird time?"
Erika blinks, looking down: "Oh. Well no, not usually. But uhm, haven't left the garden since I woke up from... well, change, and... well yeah, here I still am."
Fiora chuckles, "Guess that's a pretty good excuse, but my question is, have you eaten much? Cause you know what we've not gotten to do is get food together, and you might want to put on some clothes for that, cause... I think I owe you a meal, at the very least, for putting up with me today. And for like, ever. You're the best pen-pal I ever had... and the best sister too."
Erika smiles, then gives Fiora another shoulder-hug before getting up: "Sounds like a plan. Gimme a moment, I'll pick something up." She pauses as she stands up: "Uhm... if I remember how to do that. Muscles still all remember being on all fours, you know?"
Fiora shakes her head with a chuckle, "Not a clue, but I believe you!" She stands up as well and gives Erika some assistance, "...I'm glad you're you again, just that we can... figure this out, whatever it is."
Erika smiles, then looks at Fiora just a tad hesitantly: "...come help me get clothed?"
Fiora stretches her neck out a moment before she nods. "Least I can do to help, uh... sis?"
Erika lets out a small giggle as she opens the back door to her small house: "Sis. Sounds so weird still, but... right, you know?"
Fiora follows Erika into the house with a laugh, "Now, see, that I do know! It definitely does, but... give it time, I guess?"
Erika laughs a bit as well: "Certainly worse things to get used to, I'd say." The two (with some muscle kinks on Erika's part) get Erika dressed enough for a meal outside, for the first time as sisters.