Echoes of a Memory (Mature)

Aelwynn nodded, "The children first. Then the others. Then, with your help, I'd like to gather provisions for the villiagers. It's not safe to let them wander out by themselves, and I'd like someone to watch my back so I don't get caught off guard."

Fenris nodded to her, waving to the villagers to bring their children forward. Most of those that had been struck or attacked had passed on; even though they had been elves, the children were still so fragile. Watching a few of them pass on since he had been there had softened his demeanor. "I will tell the others and prepare-"

"Fenris! How's the-... wooooolf?" He had to close his eyes, counting slowly and breathing deeply to keep himself from growling. "WhoooOooO's the laAady?"

He turned to them, sliding the werewolf venom into his pocket as he did. "She is a servant of the Church, sent to help us. Where have you two been? Your shifts started at daybreak. It is well passed high sun."

"Can't you just... live a little?" The other asked, a shorter one with almost truly olive colored skin. "It's not like.... there's a fight orrrr.... any'f'ing."

His eyes lit, the green flaring with the mystical energy of his powers. "

Ooc: sorry, my phone wouldn't let me type my full reply

"People have DIED! They have died, Maddox! I have watched children die in my arms and you expect me to what, drink my sorrows away? Get out of here! To your stations now, or by the Gods, I will destroy you both myself!"

"Yes.... 'ir" they both replied drunkedly, bumping into each other before grumbling and laughing to themselves about him, heading to their opposite and respectful posts.

"I... apologize for their behavior," Fenris said, shaking his head as he turned towards her, looking at her through the corners of his eyes. "They are worse than children."

Aelwynn nodded patiently, "We all have our sin. Theirs just happens to be more visible." she chuckled, not knowing if he would understand church humor. She jestured for the children to come closer, laying her hands on them and drawing out the venom one by one. Each time, she was careful to put the venom in a phial, and hand it to Fenris, and her patience tenderness and care never wained. Her healing made the children sleepy, and they started dozing off standing up.

Fenris chuckled, lining the phials up in front of him until one of the uninjured children came over with a large pottery dish for him to set them in. He smiled, thanked the girl and gave her a quick kiss before moving the phials to the container. She smiled, touched her fingers to her forehead and ran off to continue her chores.
"They will sleep well, I assume." The observation was an easy one, and he found it comical how quickly and easily they dozed. "There are a few more adults left. Beyond that, everyone else is missing. Our own scouts should be coming back before evening. I do not know what to do if no one returns." Clearly, he was scared for the sake of his men, knowing the perils that they now faced.

She nodded, "I will heal the rest, then we should search for provisions. And the others. I will inform you, tracking is not a skill I possess. I may be of little use to you in locating them, aside from sensing the presence of the beasts."

He smiled to her softly, still averting his gaze. "I can track them, and we have our signals. I do not believe you know my title... The others refer to me as 'the Wolf in the Fray.' I had a fascination with them as a small child, and would speak to them when I played. I can mimic their sounds and do so as a code to my fellow warriors." He shrugged, standing to help one of the villagers whose strength was failing. She had been attacked a week before. This was the first he had seen her out of her house. "She may be difficult." He checked her pulse, nervous. "The others tell me she was frail to begin with, and I beg your pardon madam." He pushed her hair back behind her shoulders as he spoke, "but she is also blind. The creatures toyed with her because of it."

Aelwynn nodded, "I understand." She took the woman's hands in her own, and closed her eyes, holding her hands in one hand, and covering her eyes with the other. She exhaled, and her hands glowed brightly. The woman's wounds healed rapidly, and when Aelwynn drew her hand away she gasped, blinking at the brightness of the light.

The woman looked to the sun, "I... See..."

Fenris very nearly dropped the vial he was holding as he watched her, completely an utterly stunned. "That's... impossible. How could you have...?"

Aelwynn took a step back, stumbling a bit. She blinked and exhaled smiling, "I thought it was worth trying, at least. Sometimes these things can be fixed. Other times, they cannot. I merely try, and pray to the gods I may be able to help."

The Wolf was mind-boggled, completely taken aback but her abilities. Even with faith, he could not see how any mortal could have such power as to reverse an illness that was nearly lifelong. "Ma... Madam... Would you like me to escort you home...? I can imagine that you have not seen it in a long while." He handed her the cane she had dropped while being healed, his body shaking. He was stunned, confused, and in complete awe. It did not seem even the least bit possible for blindness, of all things, to be healed.

Aelwynn thought nothing of it, and continued to heal the others.

Though only a few were left, Fenris took his time leading the room back to, and around her home. He reveled in the sight of her awe as she touched and saw things for the first time in centuries; this woman had been blind longer than he had been alive. "She is the worker of miracles," he murmured, blushing when the older woman looked to him.
"She has a gift of Gods, this much is certain. Protect her, little wolf. Do this last thing for me."
He stared at her, blinking and surprised. She had asked very little of him, typically for him to guide her, and this was not something he expected.
"You speak as though you know something, madam."
"That I do." She said nothing more, a finality in her tone that made him back away and excuse himself. Glancing over towards her, he gave her a quick nod before walking to his post and retrieving his gear.

Aelwynn stood having healed the last of the injured. The phials of black tar sitting next to her, "Ah, you've returned. Is she doing well?" She asked.

He nodded, adjusting his pack on his shoulders. "I have not seen a woman so happy in my four centuries of living. She is rather amazed... She also told me to protect you." He shrugged, fingers tapping at the sheath on his hip. "I have extra space for any supplies we find. Let me know when you are ready."

Aelwynn nodded, "I am honored that she would regard me so highly." She stood, "before we leave, I require assistance getting into my armor. It would be much faster that way."

Having been part of the warrior group since his initial training, Fenris was unaccustomed to aiding others in preparing themselves. He nearly nodded, however, smiling. "If it will speed things up at all. Hand me what you need."

She unloaded the pieces from her satchel, handing him the leg pieces first, "It will speed things up greatly."

Without another word, he stooped down to buckle her leg guards into place, carefully hiding the clasps behind the plate to help prevent them from becoming undone. "How often have you had to wear these?" He asked as he waited for the next pieces, studying the cleanliness and shine of the metal.

"In the church, I wear them daily." She mused, buckling in her arms, "It keeps me used to the weight, and prevents it from hindering my movements in a fight. I wore it almost the whole walk here. I stopped about a mile out and put it in the bag so as not to frighten anyone."

He chuckled softly, grabbing her breast plate and the back piece and buckling them both on. "You fight? I suppose I shan't be surprised. You did travel here alone. Though how, I will never know."

"I met no trouble. Then again, I suppose to the beasts of the wild, the big tall shiny thing must be quite frightening." She chuckled.

He couldn't help but chuckle, brushing his hair behind his ear. It needed cut or restyled, at least in the front, but he didn't much care either way. "Do you need anything from here? It was a long journey, I imagine you would be hungry, thirsty..."

She shook her head, "I dare not take from the villages supplies. They need all they have. Though I thank you."

He nodded, checking his blade before turning towards the nearest 'watchtower' and whistling. "We are going to gather supplies. If we are not back within a full day's time, get the villagers out of here. That is an order." Though the man blew him off, Fenris knew that he would obey. They dare not face his wrath, even if he were dead, and if something did kill them, the others felt that they would not be able to stand a chance either.

"Madam," he said, turning back to her and finally meeting her gaze, iridescent moss green eyes seeming nervous and gentle. "My blade is yours. I am at your disposal. Tell me, would you like to search for the others or supplies first?"