A wretched figure made it's way through Wistvale. It wasn't injured, nor was it a monstrosity, but the eyes that peered out from under the ragged cowl were indeed pitiful enough to convey as much about the man, or rather a boy.
A man by consideration of most should his age be taken into account, a boy in the eyes of any seasoned enough to know better. At any rate, the figure bumped into a person here and there with an apologetic, almost scolded look and made it's way toward the town tavern. It was a path traveled by many at this time of the day, being that day was quickly becoming night.
The many regular patrons were done with their fields and fisheries, their stores and their schooling and were no doubt the demand that encouraged the supply of food that now tainted the evening breeze with a delicious, strange aroma.
If ever a man, or a boy looked hungry; this was that time. Picking his way through the crowd, he followed the path most worn into the stone road on his way toward that smell.
The day was now dusk and his shadow was long, as were they all.
(This is not for anyone in particular but is not a large party adventure. If you are interested, feel free to join. This is not an advanced story, but suited to anyone.)
Celaena had been in town a total of a few hours, and the first place she had gone to was the tavern to get some food. After being there for a little while, she finished her food and paid, stretching as she weaved her way around drunks and other customers and made her way to the door. After nearly tripping over someones foot, she quickly opened the door and let herself out, thankful for the cool air. She looked up at the sky, and shivered, as it was almost dark. Taking a deep breath of the clean air, Celaena started walking down the road, lost in thought as to where she could find a place to live.
Most people ignored the world around them and the others that inhabited it, which was very much their loss. A lot could be learned from taking time just to watch others for a while, and after long enough, it became all to easy to notice something out of place. Something like a person that just didn't fit in.
Green eyes followed the strange figure that moved down the street, weaving it's way through the people that hurried to their homes for the evening meal. The busiest time of day had come, and though Marlena would have moved elsewhere to continue her favorite past time, a tavern most likely, she was far too interested by the man in her sights to go anywhere.
She had an interest in newcomers to Wistvale, the outcasts, those that didn't seem like they belonged. This one certainly fitted that category and she knew where he would be heading, so, pushing herself from the wall she had rested against, she followed, keeping her distance but never letting him out of her sights.
The out-of-place man continued his trek toward the Tavern as Marlena had adequately guessed. She knew many shady types in town but this one did not count among them. Indeed, it was her job to know such people and yet, she'd not encountered this individual before. That would make him seem quite out of place.
He stopped before he entered the tavern but instead, looked about but a few feet from the door. A handful of people meandered about the street, some going into the tavern and others headed home. The man she followed seemed to not quite have a grip on whatever he was doing, his feet were shifting and he kept scratching at himself in an errant manner. Yes, it seemed quite obvious he was altogether nervous.
He then seemed to decide upon something and backed up some toward the wall beside the tavern door, facing the street. He watched a number of people go about their business and as an elderly couple came somewhat within earshot of his none-too-assertive voice, he asked them something very simple.
Celaena hadnt gotten very far, both with her thoughts and the distance between herself and the tavern, so she heard the voice asking for money. Had she been someone else, she probably would have not listened, but she couldnt stand the thought of not helping someone, so she stopped in her tracks. She quickly turned and spotted a man standing my the tavern doors, talking to an elderly couple. He seemed to be a beggar, and Celaena felt pity towards him, making up her mind quickly and started walking over. She would wait to see if he got any change, and then speak to him, wondering if there would be something she could do to help.
Taking her eyes off of the stranger for the first time in some while, Marlena's head turned to catch the girl that walked towards him. She couldn't have been older than herself, and if she was, not by much, though she struck Marlena as someone that would be far too nice for their own good. Handing over a few coins was nothing, most decent folk would do such when asked if they had the spare change. But very few would step towards a beggar and offer. She had no feeling that this beggar was anything but harmless, but even she had been wrong about people in the past once or twice. Not that she'd admit it.
She also couldn't help but notice that the girl was alone, another possible wanderer. Marlena didn't claim to know the face of everyone that called Wistvale home, but she made a point of trying. It always paid well to know about people, whether in money or or other means. So, she stepped closer, keeping to the buildings at her side.
The man's voice was barely audible and a long way off assertive and therefore, he went unnoticed by the elderly couple. They left the scene of course, though more people were about and he may well try his luck again.
If Celaena were indeed going to say something, she certainly had the opportunity to do so now. She as close enough that she had his attention and he looked at her with both hands cupped.
Celaena wished for nothing more right then to have a little bit of gold to give this man, and in answer to his question, shook her head sadly. "I have no money, Im sorry." She desperately wanted to help this man, and hadnt taken the time to think of how she could. "I would give you some if I did." she took a few steps closer and offered him a small smile. "My name is Celaena. Is there any way I could help you?" she hoped there was, aside from giving the man money she didnt have. All Celaenas attention was on the begger, so she didnt notice the woman watching.
It was a sad sight, the girl with no money and the beggar that needed a few coins. Marlena could be cold at times, many times, but she wasn't heartless, she could even be a considered a bit of a pushover for the right cause, though money was no longer a worry for her, it came in her direction fairly easily nowadays, a perk of her situation.
Tilting her head to the side, she considered how she should approach such a situation and what could come of becoming familiar with these people. There was always a use for someone, if not immediately, then in the future. This spurred her to approach them, slowly, but moving from the shadows and into the glow that came from the tavern windows.
I believe food is what would be most helpful currently, doll.
She was not being rude, simply stating a fact, and as she spoke, she took the chance to study the ragged person before them, the size of him and the features on his face made him look older than he probably was. She nodded then, as if agreeing to some decision she had reached with herself and stepped around the girl, moving to the tavern door and looking back at them both expectantly.
Come, both of you. It is not entirely warm out here and there is hot food to be had.
With nothing further to say at this point, she walked through the doorway, not doubting that one, or both, would follow.
A keener pair of eyes may have seen it first. A more experienced warrior might have reacted, but only barely. Someone perhaps more wary might not have been so dangerously close. But unfortunately, Celaena was too close, her eyes not keen enough and lacking such experience.
It's hard to realize when you've been stabbed. Shock works rather quickly, you mind knows something is wrong, your nervous system goes haywire and without any real thought or even comprehension of what has transpired, you hands fumble about until they find something wet. Warm. Sticky.
The touch, the sensation of blood seems to sear the pain into your mind and the attack on the senses is enough to make you swoon. Panic. Not breathe. Stumble, fall, lost between stopping yourself hitting the dirt and holding your entrails in.
Celaena did fall, how far is not for me to decide. But her stomach was pierced, a large wound enough for her to slide three fingers into, buried to the knuckles. Blood was pulsing out and it ran everywhere, her hand couldn't hope to keep it in. Things were wriggling, bulging and edging at the wound, looking to slip out. Could they? Had they? Were her organs intact? The pain was certainly severe enough.
There were so many questions, all flying through the now blackened landscape of her mind and vanishing over it's horizon before she could process them. There was a battle that preoccupied her thoughts, the questions of 'what just happened' and 'why' struggling to be dominant. No one witnessed this fight.
No one and especially not the beggar, now that he fled the scene and into a nearby alleyway. She was lost and couldn't quite remember him though.
She remembered one thing of her assailant. That manic, twisted smile and those vicious, crazed eyes.
Celaena had a vague sense of kneeling on the ground, her head was spinning too much to realize it though. Actually, it was hard to think of anything, except the pain, and the fact she seemed to be having a problem breathing. Oh, and dont forget the fact she was able to fit her fingers into her gut. What had happened? Why had it happened? Actually, she couldnt remember where she was and what she was doing there. She had to do something, but what? She knew there was something she could do, but she couldnt remember right now. She hoped someone could help her stop the pain, though. She could think that much to know she wanted and needed the pain to go away. Somehow, through the spinning going on in her head, she remember that she was a healer. Trying to keep her thoughts gripped on that one in particular, she struggled to heal herself, even just a little so she wouldnt die. Thankfully her hand was already on the hole.
Confusion struck Marlena when she heard the sound of footsteps moving swiftly away, truly surprised that either of them would have declined her offer, and she turned to see which of them had run off. Her body tensed slightly as she watched the back of the man disappear around the corner, her chest tightening she caught the sight of the girl falling to the floor out of the corner of her eye.
She had been wrong, even the best had bad days, but this time, an error had been made and with awful consequences. Though the girl had put herself in the situation, gotten herself too close, Marlena suddenly felt as if she should have known. She had watched him, and though he'd seemed harmless, he was obviously far from it, she should have noticed and pulled the girl away rather than offer them dinner, it was a silly mistake.
Marlena couldn't move for the few moments that it took for her mind to register what had happened, though when she could, she ran the few steps between herself and the girl, lowering to her knees a little harder than she would have liked in her haste, the hard ground bruising, she could not imagine what it felt like when the girl's body had crumbled. The dark crimson stain on the girl's dress grew and Marlena's hand moved to cover the girl's own, putting more pressure against the wound, her free hand moving to rest her palm lightly on the girl's cheek, trying to remain calm as she spoke.
I'm sorry, it will be ok... We'll get you fixed up.
With no ability to help the girl as she needed, Marlena tried to conjure options, the possibilities. Shen was the only healer she really knew, but he could be anywhere, he was of no help currently. Then there was the whistle at her neck. She'd almost forgotten about it. Kiga always seemed to show up and she'd not needed reason to call for him yet. But if he was not close enough to hear it, she would still be on her own. Refusing to leave the girl alone, running into the tavern was not an option.
So she did the one thing she could. She screamed for help.
The most confounding thing about Healing Magic might just be that when someone so talented in the art is injured grievously enough, they're not terrible good at focusing enough to better than own situation. Healing an injury, a critical one; takes a great deal of focus and calm of mind. Celaena had neither.
Oh, she wasn't unable to use her magic, but it was quite evident that it was having little effect. It might have slowed the blood a little, cause some small part of the wound to close somewhat, but not near enough to save her life. The very strain of trying to summon enough magic was too much to bear and simply holding her hand there was a very crude manner in which to try and achieve something so important.
Marlena had more luck with her screaming. People about the street halted in their travels, some pouring out of the swinging tavern door. More importantly, some Sentinel Guards immediately ran over to see to what the problem was. Another figured slipped from a rooftop, the only indicator of his allegiance being his blue hood that covered his features.
The sentinels were immediately assessing the wound and barking orders, another paid arriving. One of the guards, who appeared older than the others; spotted the hooded figure and nodded when they stared, then gave chase after the running assailant. It all unfolded very quickly.
They were holding pressure on the wound now, some wizened old chap looking at it and seeming quite well prepared to do so. Marlena was pulled free and to her feet, a guard stepping forward to occupy her vision.
Celaena felt like there was a large bubble around her, she could see things and hear things, but it all seemed far away. She knew the words spoken to her by the woman, and she understood them, but she couldnt grasp them with her mind. She glanced down at stomach; at the blood, and her fingers holding her guts in. And suddenly there were other hands there, helping to try and keep her together, and she was grateful. She was tired and just wanted the hurting to stop and to sleep. She was so tired, and it was getting difficult to keep her own hands on the wound. She felt the woman rise and leave her side, and despite the fact it was hard to make a coherent thought, she felt the absence which somehow made her feel..alone. She struggled to keep her head up and look at the owner of the hands. "Am I going to die?" she wanted to ask this so she tried, but she wasnt sure if the words came out or if she just thought it.
She did not resist when she felt herself being pulled away, though her eyes remained fixed on the girl until the man blocked her view, refusing to look at him, trying to see which way the people had gone in their pursuit of the beggar. She wanted to go after him also, but she wanted to be around to help if she could, maybe she'd at least be able to find out if the girl would be alright, even find out her name.
Marlena's attention was finally focused on the Sentinel when his question reached her ears. She could not help herself, she sneered and crossed her arms over her chest. The answer was so simple, it surely could not have been so difficult to see, and Marlena had a severe dislike of stupidity. Any other circumstance, she would have turned and walked away, left the person to figure it out on their own. Her dislike of Sentinels did not help her mood, they were the last people she would turn to given the choice.
Her fingers flexed and she shifted her weight. She was getting restless, her frustration at being rather useless setting in, beginning to look down the road to that alley again. She could hear the voices of the men that had given chase, the sounds getting fainter the further they ran.
She was stabbed, if your powers of observation are so lacking...
She got too close to him, the man they are chasing. Nothing more...