by Caolan on Sun Sep 11, 2022 4:45 am
Trigger warning: animal death, gore
When the world trembled, he was there. The gold elf had been a part of it, in a way, documenting every slip, every jolt of electricity, every drop of sweat the casters shed in their difficult task. The violence of the climax sent him skidding, flying back, book and quill lost to the ground as he recovered... and Caolan stared in disbelief as they succeeded in their task... and yet... the skies screamed of failure.
Trembling inside, he righted himself and knew that while the aftermath was concerning, people had been hurt among the companions gathered, so quickly he went to work. Burned lungs and damaged hearts, deafened ears, and bruised bodies, were mended while he had the chance, but the Empress demanded they leave. Immediately.
The book forgotten for someone else to use, he followed through the opened portal and was instantly heartbroken by the scene before him. Dead lay scattered and wounded climbed to their feet, everything that could be broken and scattered indeed was. It took a moment for him to digest the carnage, then after the Dragon Lady barked orders, he started calling out commands to organize aid. Severely wounded inside, slightly wounded to carry the dead, and he wasn't much concerned about who was supposed to be working inside or outside either. Bodies had to be moved, lacerations and cavities and broken bones needed mending before anything else could happen.
He spent days there, ignoring his pains and working to exhaustion several times, even nodding off during a healing session! Yet, he persevered, he ensured everyone he could heal, or resurrect, was tended to. Instructions for wound care were given to the attendants for lighter, smaller wounds. Small pouches of herbs and bottles of water were handed out to help with muscle pain as the bodies adjust...and only after things calmed down did he slip out quietly and head home.
The house that was once a simple brick home but now was tall and sprawling was not in the best of shape. The roof on one side had been taken out by a large tree falling on it, most of the windows broken, doors shattered. The porch swings were not where they were supposed to be. The bathhouse and hot spring were in shambles with soaps and beauty supplies scattered far and wide. The greenhouse and outbuilding were both destroyed, glass having been sent flying...but it was as he rounded the corner to the barn when his breath was lost and his stomach bottomed out.
The corpses of chickens were sprawled throughout the grounds, some killed by flying glass, some dead with their throats slit and hanging upside down from trees by their feet. Only one of the goats survived with a fractured leg, the other one broken in a nearby tree, and the hard-working cow? Slaughtered, guts were strewn out as if to try and carpet the ground, and her heart missing. Only Samson, his stallion, survived from his horses, with a rather bad gash on his left flank and a broken halter hanging from his neck. Buttons and the yearling foal were treated much the same as his cow.
A hand went to his mouth to cover it, the little elf staggering briefly, whimpering as things were looked over. Tears rolled down his cheeks as the golden elf moved to heal Samson, and then his goat before his mind realized that there was no barking. No howling. No yowling. Nothing. "Miss Tilly!! Aiya! Sam! Li! Mia!" He screamed their names, desperate to find his wolves, his wind walker, his Dethstrier, his cat!
Sam was the first to respond! The Dethstrier barked from afar, which made those long ears twitch and try to find the noise...a few more barks and he spun around, finding his darling pup across the river and he let out a sigh of relief. He stood and moved closer, pausing at the water's edge, "Sam, you stay there! Be a good boy, stay with Ice and Jade!" Sam seemed happy with that, and from what Cao could see he was unharmed, so he had others to find.
It was purring which greeted him next; loud and rumbling. He turned and trotted the few feet towards his darling Mia, the wind walker with a few superficial cuts but nothing terrible. He knelt before his kitten, arms wrapping around her and she was held tightly, face buried in her fur as he cried softly for a while. During this sobbing, he healed his wind walker, making sure she was okay before he kissed her on the forehead and started looking for the wolves, and Miss Tilly.
Into the house is where he started, searching under furniture, cupboards, closets, and finally in the kitchen pantry where he found a very frightened, very fat, calico tucked in behind the potato bin. It took some coaxing but eventually, she came out and was scooped, cuddled, and checked over. Some dehydration, shy a pound or two, and a little matted, but otherwise okay. Miss Tilly got kisses and cuddles, fed, watered, and brushed gently before the mats were trimmed out. He didn't even have cleaning on his mind. He needed to know his wolves were alive.
Nightfall came and went with Caolan exploring the woods around his home, whistling and calling and crying for Aiya and Li, begging and bargaining with himself, with the deities he wasn't sure he believed in, with anything that would listen! It was just before dawn when the elf stumbled home and headed for the porch, barely awake, so it took him a moment or two but then-- "Aiya! Li!" The pair were stretched out on the porch, one on either side of the door, and Miss Tilly napping on the first step. He ran, tripping over his own feet as they didn't move fast enough, crashing into the steps and hugging each wolf, relief washing over him.
Once everyone he could find and save was comfortable, fed and safe inside, the elfling moved to the kitchen and began to clean up in there. It had the most glass and dishes broken, so it was most dangerous. The elf cleaned obsessively, morning coming around before he collapsed on the couch, eyes closing. He hadn’t received a fae, he hadn’t been rushed a message by a rider, and he hadn’t gotten a magical message either. He assumed those he considered his were okay, or at least somewhere they were taken care of. He slept, soundly, halfway through scribbling out a letter…
When the stars were supposed to be our again was when he woke, rubbing his face. The animals were fed, then he restarted the letter he had been working on, and wrote several others to go with it. They were rolled up and sealed, then he called for a fae and sent the letters off to the far corners of where ever they needed to be.
One was addressed to Droyn, stating his love for the ranger and apologizing but he had to leave again. Please take care of his goat, and Samson, and he would leave some coins to help pay for feed, and if he could coax Miss Tilly inside his own home to make sure she was safe.
The next letter was to Ice across the river, asking her very kindly take care of Sam, as it was far too dangerous where he was going to take him. A small bag of coins would be left by the river so she could be compensated for his keep, and that he would miss her and be back as soon as he could.
Erin was written to thirdly, and he asked her to stay away from the house, for her own safety. If she needed to collect anything to please bring someone with her, and to take a small pouch of coins he’d leave on her dresser. Then he apologized for going in her room, and he wished her well.
Yuri, the adorable little fox, got a letter now. As with Erin’s letter, he asked him to stay away from the house, and if he needed to collect his things please do so with someone with him, and there would be a bag of coins. Another apology for going in his room, that he loved him, and wished him well.
Next came a letter to the Empress herself. Sincere apologies were conveyed for his having to leave the palace when he did, as he considered it far too soon. Another apology was issued for being unable to assist in further adventures with her selected few, and he told her the rough area of where the journal had been left so it could be used by someone else. He even offered to refund some of the coins she had given him to help and said he would do that upon his return if desired.
His final letter went to Lady Vexademus once more with apologies. He explained he had been tending to the chaos at the palace in previous days and was unable to make it to Dethsiris, and that he currently would be unable to assist as he needed to handle some family affairs before he can return. The elf stated that if she felt the need to replace him as part of the Tower of the Way, he would absolutely understand and issue his pre-emptive resignation if so desired.
A letter go each of his bosses, Miss Babi and Miss Hannah, respectively. He apologized for being unable to assist with any damaged done, but something vital had come up and it required his immediate attention. He wasn’t too sure how long he would be gone, but he would return as soon as possible.
Yandel’s would be the final letter sent. He apologized again, and gave a brief statement that explained the slaughter of his animals and that he only knew one person who could be responsible. No one in the Empire disliked him enough to kill his livestock, at least not that he was aware of, so he had to go and put a stop to this once and for all. Another bag of coins left for him, and asked if he could please stay away from the house, just in case.
Others.. he couldn’t think of anyone that would worry, or that would have the chance to miss him considering the chaos. He moved about the house and property again, setting down bags of coins for those who were told about them, then he began to pack. Clothes he wasn’t all that worried about, his leather armor tied on. He packed on every weapon he could get his hands on, gearing up as though he were heading to war… and in his mind, he was. Daggers strapped to legs instead of tucked in boots, quarterstaff wrapped to ensure a firm grip. The circlet was woven into his hair, the wrist crossbow was mounted on his off hand, quiver of bolts strapped to his hip. His bag was crammed full of bandages and herbs and small bottles of water he could use, a bit of food, and his winter cloak. The rain cloak was draped over the bag, and his regular cloak slung around his shoulders. He confirmed his boots were on properly, giving them a brief kick against each other, then a stomp.. deep breath.. he looked to make sure that nothing was left behind.
Caolan Leafwhistle tromped down the stairs then, giving a whistle for his wolves and wind walker, looking over the house one more time, left in chaos and disarray, damaged and broken everything scattered about. Despite all this, he still locked the door behind himself, giving Miss Tilly some affection as he said, “I’ll miss you, baby girl, but it’s not safe. Stay alert, okay?” A kiss for her head, as though she could understand him, and then he turned and started on his way.
He thought of all the people he was leaving behind, the people he cared for despite how they felt a out him, the ones who were lost to the world that may never return… and he sniffled. A deep breath, his shoulders squaring and his expression changed, hardening. The love and tenderness he always showed being pushed aside, the happiness and joy he tried to live with every day abandoned as he walked with his companions. Vengeance was on his mind, and one of them would have to die, and come what may, this elf would have blood and ashes on his hands before he returned home.
Available at any time;
Caolan (Gold High Elf, General Store Assistant Manager, Healing House attendant)
Vaden (Silver moriel cat, Body Arts artist and piercer)
Thythm (Earthly Drak`Sen Bastard)
Billie Chersky (single-tailed orange foxkit)
Pms are always open to anyone