Alvin moved to his friend's side, placing a hand on his back, trying to comfort him.
Alvin: (His eyes were looking in the direction of the man on the bed.) Yurn, What else could we have done? (turning back to Yurn.) Everything was happening so fast. He would have bled out before we even made it to the broken wall. You did the right thing! (comforting voice.)
Yurn was listening as his gaze was looking down, closing his eyes. Escaping to a world of his own.
In the darkness of Yurn's mind, two eyes appeared, and the words echoed once more. This time, much deeper, the voice was inside his head, no longer trickling to his ears.
Unknown Voice: Remember your word, Yurn Lovvet. Find him free him from his pain! (distorted, soft tone to a growl.)
He could see the shadowy entity; another shape was in front of it, then a wall of faces behind it, ones he had seen before, they all melded, turning into the moss-covered wall. Then the etching on the wall shot into view, flickering in his mind, fading once more to the light when he opened his eyes.
The once-sulking man trapped in a sea of guilt. Only to be pulled out of it by the thing that spoke to him in the nightmare they just left.
The whole body of the man sitting on the bed jerked up, just as the apple did when Yurn plopped down next to it.
He was moving off of the cot, looking around. He was aiming for the drawers nearby.
Alvin: Whoa… I'm not that good at pep talks! (looking on, watching the man searching for something.) Yurn, what are you looking for? (confused.)
A voice shot from the far end of the room, behind the curtain.
Robert: What's with the racket? Hey… Yurn, get out of my drawer! (concerned and annoyed.)
Yurn: I need something to draw on quickly! (agitated.)
Alvin: This isn't the time for arts and crafts, Yurn! (Jesting.)
Something he had never heard from the man before, never in all the years he had known him.
Yurn: Now isn't the time for your stupid jokes! Are you going to help me or not? (angry expression and open eyes)
The jesting Alvin put his hands up, knowing to keep his mouth shut. He struck a nerve in the man who never acted that way; he always played along or held it in. This time, he was biting back at Alvin, not his tongue.
A shuffling at the end of the room rummaged around, ripping of paper could be heard, and then he moved forward to Yurn.
Robert: Will this do? (holding a stick of lead and some paper torn at the edges.)
Yurn walked forward and snatched it from his hands.
Robert: You're welcome! (sarcastic.)
Heading back to his cot, he began to scribble on it, using the bed as a support. He accidentally poked a few holes in the paper from where the mattress of feathers underneath didn't sit flat, inadvertently making eyes in the large round circle that looked to be like a body.
Both men watched the frantic actions until they stopped.
Yurn moved his right hand, the one holding the crude depiction of something.
Yurn: Have any of you seen this before? (Holding the paper to their faces.)
No words came. As they looked over the sketch, one pulled away, but the other squinted his eyes, looking deeper into the childish drawing of a four-legged animal.
Yurn: Well, have you?
Robert shook his head from left to right, shrugging his shoulders.
Robert: I'm no artist myself, but that looks like nothing I have ever seen before.
The other guard, who didn't speak, started to rummage around in his pocket, and in the middle of his hand was a small black stone, oval in shape with thin cracks; scratched into it was the same drawing.
Alvin: You wouldn't have a clue; you don't have kids. Robert, my sons used to draw something like this all the time; it's a Grover (pointing to the ass of the animal). Look at the coiled tail. (He paused and placed his open hand in the air.) I found this in the forest by the warding totem. Is this it? (Holding out his hand.) It kind of looks like your drawing. (moving the dirt from the etching.)
No jokes came from Alvin; only serious answers
Yurn: Yes, and no. I am looking for one that's on a moss-covered wall, not a pebble. (partially sad.)
Alvin: Well, it might belong to Amelia or Rubern; maybe they would know more. My sons would make something like this to play monster battles or as a gift to each other. As for rock walls, I have never seen one with that on it. We all heard Hyrne say she was awake. Though I don't think it would be wise to see her now, (worried look.) What's all this about? (shooting one eyebrow up.)
Robert: Grovers in monster battles? Really, kids these days.
The slick black hair from the sweat of the day shimmered in the light of the lanterns on the wall. Yurn snatched the stone from Alvin's hand and turned to the door, speaking as he moved.
Yurn: I need this; I'm off to see Amelia. (focused.)
Alvin: Wait a minute! (shouting.) What is all this about? Yurn, God damn it! (confused.) Robert, I'm sorry. I will be back. (turning to the man at the back of the room before leaving.)
Robert: Better you than me; I don't want to be there when the Lord chews his head off. (folding his arms, perching his head back.)
Robert shrugged and let the white draping curtain fall back. He had enough for one day; all he wanted to do now was stay by Uill's side.
The two men were gone, one after the other. The man who was tired of the night before and the day nearing its end moved to the chair closest to Uill.
Robert: (Now sitting next to Uill.) It never seems to end.
Two more people rushed into the room, one pulling a flailing body behind them.
Eral: I have found our surgeon. Robert, we need a sterilised blade now!
A cry broke out.
Louvan: WHAT! (shocked)
Robert reached down to his ankle; now he was brandishing a long, thin knife, holding the leather grip towards the coming healer, sheathing the blade in his hand.
Robert: All yours, Surgeon Louvan!
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In the forest, in the darkness of a cave. The thing that engulfed the flames was now watching over something. Looking down into the lightless crevice in front, it gazed into an abyss that no human eyes could perceive.
Unknown voice: Hold on! (distorted, its eyes now squinting, almost sounding soft and caring.)
A hand slipped out of the darkness, holding onto something.
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