A Quest for Humanity

[Jetamio]

Jetamio raised an eyebrow in surprise at P'Nala's offer, and then watched the two silently. She didn't want to take sides but she didn't know what would happen to Tajer.

"Well as I said I want to wait another day. I think whatever transformation she went through is complete, but I want to be sure. I don't even know if she can still digest blood, and if she can't then she is probably doomed anyway unless her body learns to support itself again. And she..." she broke off, deciding not to mention that she wouldn't need to hurt anyone to do so. Jetamio was pretty sure that she could take it from a cup rather than right from the vein so long as it was fresh...she knew that blood began to decay very fast.

She also knew that there was a limit to what she could do for Tajer otherwise. She looked away from them both, her gaze falling on the dark ship sailing with them.

[Gilliadson]

P`Nala nodded to Jetamio.

"Perhaps there may be another method to transfer blood from one to another. I know Mother was assisting Queen Christanos in some experiments of that nature. My sister would most likely know if they were successful and what would be needed to facilitate such a transfer."

[Xar'Zith]

In her bed below deck, Tajer lay silently listening. She couldn't help it, her hearing was still far beyond normal. A small knot of fear added itself to the bigger one growing inside her. She was afraid of what had happened to her, afraid of what the future might bring, afraid of the fact that she could not defend herself if they did decide to kill her. She was also afraid of wasting away to nothing and dying in her sleep. Yet she did not crave blood, and usually when she was so weak it was all she could think about.

She glanced over at Aidhan who had fallen asleep on the other crib. Thankfully he did not see the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

[Jetamio]

Jetamio frowned.

"I'm not sure I want anything to do with that woman's experiments... for someone who hates the Sanguine she has a strange fascination with blood. If she can still digest blood then she can be fed a cup."

[Gilliadson]

"The experiments were not upon the Sanguine but upon a few that had survived vampiric attacks but were still dieing from insufficient amount of blood left. From what I understood, they used a device to siphon some blood from some healthy Teir`Dal into the victims. There were some mixed results the last that I had heard but at least one survivor and some new discoveries. That is all I know about the experiments."

[Mujbura]

Standing at the railing she overhears the conversation stares over the seas surface and her thoughts begin to form. She had promised to help her friend, but that didn’t necessarily include others. But, then again, helping this being, whom he seemed fond of, would help put him at ease.

She sits slipping her boots over her feet and laces up the front quickly. She turns looking over at her friend and his comrades and bites her lower lip. Could she do this? Would it help? Would her revelation to him make her appear,,,, differently to him? She takes a breath summoning up the courage then nods before walking over towards the others.

Stopping by Stormfollower she looks at the others with a shy smile then over to him. Her voice is shy, soft as she speaks, “Stormy,,,, may I speak to you a moment?” As he looks towards her she takes his hand gently pulling him a few feet from the others. She looks up at him, pausing a moment while chewing on her lower lip, not sure how to say what she was about to say. Afraid to make this admission but hoping it will help.

She lowers her head and eyes bashfully while her fingers fidget with the lacing of her leather bodice. Her voice is nearly a whisper, hardly heard above the waves crashing against the side of he boat, “I apologize, I don’t mean to be rude…. But,,,, I overheard you and your family….” Her fingers tie and untie the laces nervously, “I thought,,,, maybe,,,, I could be of help….”

She looks up at him, her face serious and shy at the same time, “Well,,,, if it will help…. I can,,,, I mean, I will,,,, help. You can have whatever of me that you need.” She glances up at him as if he should understand then quickly lowers her eyes. “I don’t know,,,, but,,,, it could. You see….” she stops then raises up on her tiptoes as she pulls the front of his armor pulling him down to her so his ear is near her lips and whispers softly.

Finished with her whisper she peeks up a shy, and very blushing, slight smile and shrugs. “It is what I’ve heard…. And,,,, if it helps,,,, I am willing.”

[Jetamio]

Jetamio had forgotten about the other elf until she spoke. She always seemed to be around but was as quiet as a mouse and Jetamio didn't know what to make of her. They had not even been introduced that she could remember, yet it seemed she could always be found near Stormfollower. If Jetamio had been a jealous person she might have objected, but she trusted her husband, even when the mousy little woman pull him down close to her. She managed to hide her bemused expression as she imagined her fainting at the sight of her own blood. She certainly seemed the type, but perhaps there was more to her than it appeared.

[Stormfollower]

Stormfollower looked at Mujbura with caring eyes.

"You honour us deeply with your offer Mujburra. Truely you are a great friend to offer such a gift to one whome you know nothing of simply by merit of her association with me, and you are correct that blood as pure as yours would do a great deal to heal Tajer, but we do not yet know what we are dealing with here. Is she still sanguine? Does she still need blood to live..or is this malady just some withdrawal symptoms from her long use of it. I prefer to believe the latter and that by denying her the sacred soul containing liquid we are in fact helping her to overcome its addictive effects."

He hugs her close and kisses her on the head before looking at Jetamio.

"Would you not agree my love?"

[Xar'Zith]

Aidhan jumped awake, looking around embaressed. He hadn't meant to fall asleep. Tajer watched him from her prone position, her dark eyes glittering in the flickering light of the oil lamp.

"They are deciding my fate." she said softly.

"Who is?" he asked before he listened to the faint murmuring from on deck. He could hear them talking, but not what they were saying. "You can hear them?"

She nodded, then smiled faintly at his awed expression.

"Jetamio says I need blood... Stormfollower does not allow it, and some others are offering theirs. 'Tis quite amusing actually. Only a week ago they feared my kind, and now they are falling over each other to feed me. Funny how none of them have asked me what I want...perhaps I am just a prisoner and you are just my warder."

He shook his head slowly, even as his eyes devoured the sight of her. She was becoming too thin and her skin was starting to take a greyish undertone in daylight. Time was not on her side. But in the soft light of the flame her skin was the colour of twilight, her eyes deep pools of liquid black. It was in her eyes that he saw her strength... her body might be failing but her spirit was strong. She barely moved at all, conserving every spare ounce of strength. He sat on the edge of her bed and ran a lock of her silver hair through his hand and decided he would wash it for her in the morning.

"I'm here because I choose to be." he said softly.

[Jetamio]

"I suppose we shall find out when she dies of anemia. Until then I will do what I can..." she turned away and headed down to the berths to hide her tears. She was beginning to fear that Remis was not the only one they'd be burying on the Isle of the Dead.

[Mujbura]

Mujbura returns his hug gently peeking up a caring smile before looking towards the others. As Jetamio answers then disappears below deck Mujbura steps back bowing slightly towards the group, "My apologies. I didn't mean to be rude." She looks up at Stormfollower placing her hand on his arm, "I am here, if you need me." Then turns to walk down the deck and leave the others to their discussions.

[Jetamio]

Aidhan jumped off Tajer's bed when he heard the cabin door open. Jetamio paused when she entered, feeling like she had interrupted something, but Aidhan only smiled and Tajer just looked at her. She seemed so frail, Jetamio was almost afraid to touch her. She glanced at the bedside table at the almost untouched food. Obviously she still had little appetite and Jetamio felt a touch of frustration. Why did she have to have drunk from Remis, why could she not have just made a clean kill?

"He asked for it...it was the only way I could trap him. He'd still be free to destroy your people otherwise..."

Jetamio stared at Tajer. Evidently there was still a lingering bond between them, and her touch had allowed that link to open briefly. She stood up as an idea began to form in her head.

"Aidhan, help her clean up a bit please. I'll be back soon." With that she left the berth.

[Stormfollower]

The Goblin Queen slid quietly through the calm waters of the Guarding Sea. The light winds making their progress seam slow yet Stormfollower insisted the journey would be only four days total. The Wolf Cult fleet sailed with them, even the faster ships reefed their sails to keep close to the main flotilla. As the sun arced across the sky the day grew warm and many passed time sunning themselves on the decks. The seabirds cicled awaiting their expected scraps as each ship prepared their meals on the go. Up ahead in the distance the first signpost cloud of the island appeared in the sky above it though the island itself was still far beyond the horizon.

Amongst the civilian population there was much speculation of what might be going on on their shamans boat but they all kept a respectful distance. Each preparing themselves for the ceremonial burial of Remis, content in the steps towards the finalization of his life story. Now that they had his body, the childs soul would be able to be put to rest. Stormfollower would carry him beyond the hallowed spring and down the sacred river into the underground waterway. "Through caverns measureless to man. Down to the sunless sea." ... as was their custom, in the way of their ancestors. It was as it always had been. This ideal of continuity gave them the peace they now enjoyed.

[Jetamio]

As promised Jetamio returned a short while later. Tajer sat propped up by pillows on her bed, her hair still damp from the washing Aidhan had given her and now she eyed the druid with curiousity. Aidhan sat quietly to the side, also curious as to what Jetamio had in store.

Jetamio sat herself crosslegged in front of Tajer on the bed and took her hands.

"I am going to try something... Basically what I did to Remis to rejuvenate him, but I will try to have more control over it. I'd rather do it on deck because I don't know for sure what might happen, but I don't want to create a scene either."

Tajer looked apprehensive but nodded.

Jetamio closed her eyes and held Tajer's hands firmly in her own. In the berth nothing seemed to happen at first, but on deck the wind picked up, catching the unfurled sails of the fleet and pushing them onwards. In the room Jetamio shook her head and the wind settled to a steady breeze. She focused deeper still, concentrating on the woman who's life she held in her hands. She felt Tajer tremble in both pain and fear but attempt to keep her cool, but she didn't let up. Deeper she plunged into Tajer's being, touching fibres deep inside fusing together broken tendrils of existance.

Aidhan stood up but stayed back, unwilling to approach the two woman now surrounded by a faint golden nimbus, like dandilion fluff on a summer breeze. Tajer's face was etched in pain as her very bones burned from the inside out, but still Jetamio continued whatever she was doing. The Dark Elf's complexion changed, losing the greyish undertone, and she sat up as her muscles strained against the pain. Tajer began to whimper but Jetamio looked serene, sitting perfectly still with her eyes closed while Tajer writhed.

Suddenly Tajer let out a blood curdling shriek that could be heard on deck and jumped off the bed as Jetamio released her hands. She staggered out the room and up the stairs to the main deck, scattering everything in her path as her unsteady legs took her on a ragged path to the rail. She held onto the rail for dear life, taking huge gulps of the sea air while the pain dissapated. Finally she turned around and leaned on the railing, oblivious to the passengers staring at her.

Jetamio and Aidhan had ran after her but stayed a safe distance to give her room.

Suddenly Tajer laughed, a carefree laugh of relief.

[Gilliadson]

Gilliadson and Sineliniel watched with curiosity as they saw Tajer run toward the rail. Sineliniel commanded Fluffy to be ready to fish her out of the water quickly should she fall overboard.