Stormclouds

It's a real relief to finally reach the apartment. The wounds on my legs are burning, and I can feel blood squelching in my boots. My back feels like it's on fire. I push open our door with a sigh. Home. Finally.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Djhuety looks up, and his eyes flash red. I smile wearily. "Not as bad as it looks." Turning, I stand clear of the door. "Everybody in. Lay Sori on the couch Liam, everybody else, kitchen table, I want to check those wounds in a decent light before I heal them." I drop into a chair-and yelp, arching my back as the long cuts sing with pain.

"And who's chewing on the other leg?" Djehuty rises and surveys the group, moving protectively to Liv's side as Sori is helped past. "Gods above and below, can't you stay out of trouble long enough to let the last wound heal?" He grimaces.

"Accident." I grit between my teeth, sitting on the edge of the chair to keep the wounds in my back from further pain. "Ran into some damn species purists." I lay my hand on the table, surveying the damage. Not to bad actually, a lot of blood but nothing serious. The other wounds feel about the same. "Help me out of my jacket..."

I walk in and filter my way to the table as my blood cools further. The act of sitting causes me to slip back into the calm persona. I look around the table and hesitantly reach up to my eye in shock. A woman's face is her pride... and I have had mine cut clear across.

"Damnit," he growls, gently slipping the coat off her shoulders and folding it with a look of distaste. "What's next, dearest? Your not even safe in groups any more." He pauses and takes her hand gently by the wrist and looks at the damage before folding both of his over hers. "They're not so bad," he smiles, "Though you'll probably remember them a while."

I hiss between my teeth as the wound in my hand shoots a lance of pain up my arm. "I'll remember all right if I can't concentrate enough to fix these...damn..." I draw a deep breath, trying to turn away from the pain in my head. Finally, I manage the distance I need, and raise my voice, reminding my body of its workings and its proper function. Finally, the slow sick ebb abates. I glance down-and note a long white scar, almost a perfect rune, across the back of my hand. I glance at Djhuety, then pointedly at the scar. "Looks like I will be remembering this after all. Watch your words, my own."

"Best I not need them then watch them," Djehuty says, rising and pocketing his book and pens. His eyes shine black a moment before fading storm grey. "The other's won't lose much more blood, but you ought to get to work on them." He turns out of the room and stalks down the hall to their room, closing the door softly behind him, the half print of blood left by his shoe marking his progress.

I glare down the hall. Insensitive behavior thou name is men. Then I shake my head, and turn to Kiou. "Here kit, let me see. You cut anywhere else?"

"I... i'm uncertain..." My voice shakes and whimpers lightly. "My face.... it is..."

"It won't scar, I promise. Don't worry."
I'm very, very careful on this wound, and it shows; you'd never know there had been a wound on her brow, and though the smaller cut on her arm does scar a bit, it should heal soon. In fact, it seems that I can't avoid leaving one or two scars on everyone. Djhuety should have watched what he said. Or had he meant that? I know he worries...but damn, it's the Nightside for the sake of the Gods, it's not like I went out looking for a fight! He should know that.
"I can do all the small injuries and the burns; will you be okay with that?" I ask Sori. She nods wearily.
By the time we're done, I'm a little tired, though not near as woozy as the healing on Sori should have cost me. Grudgingly, I glance down the hall.
I step into the kitchen, heat the kettle and pour tea for us all. "You'll want fluid after blood loss." That, and it helps the nerves of course.
Kiou is checking her face in the mirror surreptitiously. I smile. "Don't worry, I keep my word."

"The... The other men thinks little of our appearance I'm afraid. A woman's face is her mark of honor. If it is damaged, then no one will marry you." i sigh softly. "Thank you though... For protecting what little I have left."

I nod, smiling. Then I take up the last cup of tea.
"Licorice and rose hips." I say quietly, stepping into our bedroom. "Thought you might want something for the nerves too."

Curled on the bed, the black coat looks like a lake of shadow fallen on Djehuty, his back to the door and face turned into the depression in the blankets where the bed remains unmade. "Nerves and pulse," he mutters into the sheets. "Got the others patched then?" He says without turning.

"Well enough. Sori's still healing but she said she had it in hand." I take a seat on the edge of the bed. Damn, his head looks like a stormcloud. "Sorry. I don't react well when I'm in pain. Though the scar was rubbing it in a bit much, don't you think?"

"Not if its the only bleeding way to get you to remember what's happening around you," he grunts, inhaling deeply and feeling some of his tension slip as he inhales the scent of Liv in the cloth.

A growl rises in my throat. "I didn't go looking for a fight, Djhuety. Have I ever done that?"

Rolling to face her, his eyes go dark again. "No," he says half raising himself off the bed, "You ignore the fight and the enemy until its got its damn fangs in you."

I sigh, bowing my head."I know. I've been kicking myself all the way back. If I'd been on my guard, if I'd been watching instead of teasing with Liam and Sori, this wouldn't have happened. It was almost easier when I traveled alone. These days...I get distracted, and every time I get distracted, someone gets hurt. First Kaija, then Kiou, now this." I flex my hand, watching the new scar move. "Maybe I do need this."

"Guilt is a useless emotion," He growls, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her till she looks him in the eye, the colors rolling like a sea storm with conflict.

"What are you so angry about?" I ask, twisting out of his grip, staring him in the eye. "No one was badly hurt. Hell, we've both been hurt worse, we've all been hurt worse than that and you know it. We got in trouble, we handled it. Problem over." For the moment, a nasty little voice whispers in the back of my head.

"You dealt with it," he snorts derisively. "What problem would that be, Love? A group of mindless thugs?"

"A family of Ielles. So, yeah, practically. Damn it Djhuety, I tried to get everyone out of there but by the time I got their attention the Ielles were on us already. I...I couldn't do anything more." My throat feels tight. "I tried, gods know I tried. But I wasn't fast enough."

Djehuty falls back on the bed, covering his face with an arm. "Why did they attack you, Dearest?" he prods. "Why can't you walk the bloody streets without an escort?"

I stare at him, my brow furrowing in shock. He can't really be doing this.
"Don't you think I see that?" I state in a voice that's rough, "Don't you think I realize that I put my friends in danger when they walk beside me? I KNOW, damn it all, I ALWAYS know. Walking around with a halfbreed they might as well have targets on them. Why do you think I'm always trying to watch over them? I put them in danger, and I keep trying to keep them safe and I can't. They're getting hurt because of me! It's bound to happen every time someone takes exception to what I am! And it terrifies me! But what am I supposed to do?! You tell me, what am I supposed to do?!"

"Make them respect you, River Queen," He sighs,

"Daughter of River and Foot-weary Bard,
Your route hedged in iron, unyielding, hard.
Stubborn and arrogant, meek and afraid
Face up to your future, do not turn ‘way

Your task none will envy, at very least kin,
Two become one, unite kindred and men"