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RESPITE CLINIC - SLIGHTLY LATER IN THE MORNING
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Doc Plume finishes giving Louma's wounds a thorough examination and removes the reflector from their forehead. "Healing well. No issues with movement?"
Louma wiggles her tail, chuckling quietly. "Nope, you've worked your wonders as usual, Plume. Thank you. I admit I didn't stay at home as much as I should have, so I apologize if that made it take any longer."
Doc Plume shakes their head. "It's your health, not mine. I'm sure you did what you needed to. Anyway, I don't see any reason why you can't be released for light duty work. I wouldn't recommend any sparring or the like for a couple of weeks, just to make sure any infections don't flare up."
Louma frowns with a sigh, shaking her head slightly. "A couple weeks? I suppose I can fight the urge to fight for a bit longer, since it's you asking." She turns to smile at Plume, "But I suppose reading reports all day will be a good substitute."
Doc Plume moves over to the medicine cabinet and fetches Louma another sealed pot of salve. "Sure. Hopefully you'll have a bunch of it to do soon... I mean, when things go well and we get all the prisoners back from that Abyss..."
Louma nods slightly, her smile slipping a bit. "It will be a happy day when all our people come back." She pauses, taking a slow breath. "How have you been, Plume?"
Doc Plume closes up the cabinet before circling back to the examination table and giving over the salve. "I... am trying to stay hopeful. And to be ready for whatever news comes back to us. Either way, folks will need my help so I guess part of me is preparing for the worst..."
Louma nods, taking hold of the salve, patting her other hand on top of Plume's. "Nesseth is there, he'll bring them back. That lizard won't give up unless everyone is safely home. Including himself."
Doc Plume nods. "I have to believe that... but good folk have been lost." They smile at Louma, a hint of trepidation in it. "But if any sort of providence exists in the world, it'll bring them home. As many as it can..."
Louma nods again, giving a warm smile. "One bit of reassurance for you; I didn't train Nesseth. His tail will be arrow free."
Doc Plume gives a little laugh. "Fair enough... just more thorns and brambles then."
Louma giggles, shrugging. "Also not something he learned here." She slips down from the examination table, stretching a bit. "I also wanted to thank you, on the subject. For being here for May while I was gone."
Doc Plume nods. "Well, May and I have a good amount in common, and she's my friend." They shake their head a bit. "Besides, as the doctor, I'm here to help everyone. I've had more than a few talks with folks whose only issues are their family members being gone..."
Louma settles a bit as her tail coils, crossing her hands on top of her tail. "You really are a great support, Plume. I'm glad you came to Respite. I do hope it's not too much of a burden for you, though."
Doc Plume shakes their head. "Not really, no... but I could use more folks to talk to about my own problems... I have to be professional with patients, can't exactly go 'me too' and delve into my issues when I'm just here to be supportive."
Louma nods with a smile. "I'm around, if you need someone."
Doc Plume walks over to their desk and puts the kettle on to boil. "Thank you. Let's do that... just not right now. After work maybe?"
Louma chuckles, glancing toward the waiting room door. "I don't know, I could order Baldwin to do a loop of the wall right now to buy us some time." She looks back to Plume with a grin. "I'll come by around four, then."
Doc Plume laughs a little. "Thank you, Captain. Just send Baldwin in, please..."
Louma gives a slight bow to Plume, turning toward the door. "As you wish, doctor. Thank you, and take care." She slithers toward the door, tail uncoiling as she goes, and sends Baldwin through a minute later as asked.
Doc Plume makes themself a cup of tea in the meantime, trying to keep their mind on work and not worrying about a certain lizard too much.
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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S ABYSS - MID AFTERNOON
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Dyvrisse: The fight between Dyvrisse and Fiora had been drawn out, with the two going blow for blows. Any time either of the combatants had gotten an upper hand, they've respectfully distanced themselves and reset the situation. Fiora's blade has managed to find several more gaps in Dyvrisse's armour, making the Saur more and more bloodied over time, though refusing to surrender.
Narrator: While confused as to why either side would choose to draw out the duel at first, the Saurs have gradually settled into the spectacle, simply enjoying the duel for what it is. It's nice to be able to enjoy senseless violence vicariously through Dyvrisse after several weeks of being denied it. They're equal parts cheering for Dyvrisse, while continuing to boo Fiora, though the boos have become less contempt for Fiora. And more simply just part of the fun.
Fiora has had her fair share of hard strikes as well, with the broken bone in her leg limiting her mobility, and the accumulated bruises definitely making her hurt like hell. Her armor has, for the most part, held up, but the figure beneath is mostly being driven by adrenaline and the burning need to see the innocent freed which has given her an almost unnatural durability through
Fiora this fight. In one of the moments of seperation, she glances at the Abyss, and finally spots the faint smoke signal in the distance, the signal that the others have completed their mission. She lets out a sigh of relief and nods to Dyvrisse. "...It's done."
Dyvrisse nods minimally to Fiora. "Then it is time for me to face Yzzayt." Dyvrisse solemnly replies, fully expecting Fiora and her army to betray her. She starts charging her lightning again, taking in a deep guttural breath, her tattered furs letting the glow inside of her show more prominently than before. She looks to be taking aim at Fiora, though at the last moment instead shoots past Fiora into the crowd of Saurs.
Narrator: The Saurs cheer as they did earlier, drowned out by the crack of thunder and flash of lightning. When hearing and vision recovers, the Saurs look at the aftermath, shocked to discover that some of their own had been hit, the bolt having jumped and scorched a number of them. In stunned silence, they take the moment to process what happened. Did Dyvrisse just miss?
Fiora blinks, having been preparing to take that hit herself, clutching her side with one hand to hopefully shield the damaged bit of her armor from further burns to the skin beneath. She blinks beneath the helmet, then steps towards her, lowering the sword, "What...? What are you doing?"
Dyvrisse: "Fight, Furious One." Dyvrisse simply replies to Fiora, stomping her way over to the crowd of Saurs. She is stern and blank as she cleaves her tail into a group of her own people.
Narrator: The Saurs are confused as Dyvrisse marches over to them at first, a few backing up from her, and others being caught by Dyvrisse's tail. They go down to the blow. A few ready their spears against Dyvrisse, the act snowballing across the rest of the Saur force as they catch on, pulling out their own weapons against their leader, starting to attack her hesitantly. None of them particularly want to fight Dyvrisse, and sadly for them, they find their weapons mostly ineffectual at penetrating Dyvrisse's armour.
Fiora tightens her grip on her sword and gives Dyvrisse a subtle nod, and then suddenly she is besides her. The Saur, already surprised at Dyvrisse's turn against them, suddenly find a second foe of equal ferocity amongst them. No longer holding back to defensive action alone, Zorya is unleashed with the full Righteous Fury that helped cement Fiora's nickname as a Bounty Hunter. She does what she can to defend Dyrvrisse as well, though it seems little necessary as they cut through the ranks of Saur onlookers.
Narrator: After a minute or so of the fierce warriors dispatching the Saurs, the diminishing ranks quickly drop their weapons, quickly coming to the realisation that they've got little to no chance of defeating the pair. Only the fiercest and bloodthirsty fight to their end. One of the Saurs, with raised hands, questions Dyvrisse. "Keeper! Why?" They spit in a mixture of confusion and anger.
Dyvrisse keeps her maul raised at those that have surrendered, though aside from a heavy-hearted sigh, she doesn't answer.
Fiora slows as the fighting comes to a halt, the Saur mostly surrendering now, and Fiora is definitely well past her limit. She sighs, shaking her head. She glances at Dyvrisse. "I'm sorry it came to this. Do you need our help?"
Dyvrisse: "Hm." Dyvrisse lowly and unsatisfyingly hums back to Fiora, not believing her apology. Dyvrisse replies, looking amongst her Saurs, both alive and dead, with veiled anger behind her dry gaze. "Do what you must." Dyvrisse replies coldly. "If you're not here to kill us, then I wish to talk to your leader."
Fiora shakes her head, tone cold. "We never were. We were here to free our people, and to stop any future attacks. I'd say were're past the point of any kind of peace negotiations, but at least you can spare the folks who are left." She sighs, then turns around and starts limping back to the camp. She glances back over her shoulder, "I'll tell them to send out whoever they want to speak with you, now, Dyvrisse."
Dyvrisse nods, keeping her eyes on the Saur. When Fiora leaves, she spends the moment talking with them. While the Saurs are not at all happy with the situation and don't understand why Dyvrisse has turned traitor, they understand that they're in no position to fight.
Fiora limps back to camp, until at last a few guards rush out to meet her, likely having been flagged to aid her by Gareth. She smirks as they give her support, finally letting her take weight off her broken leg. She relays the message, with a laugh "About time you helped. Send someone to negotiate..." And with that, she slumps forward, passing out into unconciousness.
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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S ABYSS - A SHORT TIME LATER
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Xochi returns to the battlefield after word is sent of Fiora's return, as well as the first wave of the prisoners, the healthy ones returned from the upper mines, being successfully returned to the camp. The others are moving more slowly with the injured and malnourished folks who were held in the lower mines, but for the moment, the camp is bouyed by the sense of victory. To Xochi, any bloodshed feels like a loss. She approaches Dyvrisse, with Nesseth and a few others behind her geared up for battle as precaution, though the Coatl herself is unarmed and unarmored as always. She slithers up silently, bowing her head in respect and sorrow.
Nesseth walks up just off to the side of Xochi, looking as geared as before, though his crossbow is now unslung and loaded. Knowing the Saurs are a lot closer than the last time, he's on his guard as he watches them all carefully. It's his job, and those of the others accompanying the two, to protect Xochi if this happens to be a ruse.
Dyvrisse: Dyvrisse turns to face Xochi, her expression reflecting her anger. She drops her maul to the sandy rock below to take off the gauntlet covering her right hand, letting it drop as well. With her now bare and bloodied fist, she silently approaches Xochi slowly and punches her in the shoulder once with gritted teeth. She isn't aiming to break any bones or cause any serious damage, but she hits decently hard, letting her anger and frustration out.
Nesseth and the rest of the guards quickly level their crossbows as the blow connects. The order to fire sits right at the tip of his tongue as all present aim for any weak spots in Dyvrisse's armor. Nesseth in particular already has a bulky-looking bolt loaded into his crossbow, clearly something more than a simple, standard shot.
Xochi is old, but the snake's body is hardly frail, twisting to prevent any serious damage as she topples back at the unexpected hit, but does not react otherwise. Her tail winds around her to push her body back up. "Keeper Dyvrisse... I am sorry."
Nesseth sidles in between Xochi and Dyvrisse as he keeps his crossbow leveled, almost daring the Saur to try again. "Back off. Now. You're doing a wonderful job of tripping up any hopes of peace, acting like that."
Dyvrisse: Dyvrisse eyes the weapons being leveled at her blankly, not really seeming to care. She makes no further moves on Xochi, crossing her arms. She looks to Nesseth. "Kill me if you will. You'll only prove me right." Dyvrisse replies, looking between Xochi and Nesseth. "I care about all life. I struck my own because more lives, both mine and yours, would have been lost if fighting were allowed to break out."
Nesseth meets Dyvrisse's gaze with steel. "Prove you right? Bullshit, just give me one good reason. Enough with trying to justify yourself, already. Conduct the peace talks and save the holier-than-thou attitude."
Xochi regains her composure, slightly shaken, "I wish we could have found some common ground and avoided any bloodshed at all... but it was your people who attacked Respite. We have no wish to escalate things... but we could not allow our people to remain prisoner, to be used as... bargaining. it is our way. We can not sacrifice one of our own, or negotiate with lives. To do so would betray our own convictions."
Dyvrisse: "I have given you reason. It is on you to be receptive to it." Dyvrisse replies. "Your actions and your words are at odds. You talk of peace, yet engaged in deception for your own benefit at our detriment. You wish retribution for those that attacked your people, yet you openly house those that did so. You are no better than The Whisperer. Leave us be, Sister."
Xochi shakes her head, "Retribution is a cycle that only ends with more dead. We do not wish it. We engaged in deception when given no choice, for your own words told us that any other path would lead to more of our people dying. If you wish to be left alone, then all we ask is that you will not raise arms against Respite and its people again, and then we shall depart."
Dyvrisse: "I never did, Sister." Dyvrisse replies, turning away from Xochi. She takes the couple of steps over to her belongings, picking them up and starting to walk off back towards The Abyss.
Xochi sighs, "Then farewell, Sister. We shall go to speak with the Whisperer, and may the Moon guide you to find your own peace." She nods to Nesseth a bit helplessly, prepared to turn and go as well.
Nesseth eyes Dyvrisse carefully as the Saur turns to leave, knowing full well she could easily turn and fry them the moment they let their guard down. While the other guards move to flank Xochi, he brings up the rear, watching the Saur all the while until they're far enough apart that he feels comfortable turning his back on this so-called "honorable, reasonable" Chosen.