Back on Her Feet


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The smell of woodsmoke and cooking meat drifts on the cool breeze. Zilvar sits near the fire with his head bowed, unmoving. His fur is matted and dirty, and his clothes have seen better days.

Kibra's nose twitches in her sleep..once, twice..again. Her eyes begin to open slowly.

The sky above has the pale orange of early morning, with blue patches peeking through the clouds in some places. A flock of some avian take to the skies, sounding raccous calls at one another.

Kibra opens her eyes, body tensing. She sits up stiffly, looking around.

The surrounding woods awaken, as if the calls of the fliers were some sort of general alarm. Nothing seems close-by, but the quiet murmur of a sleeping forest is a thing of your dreams.

Zilvar murmurs quietly, "Good morning, Kibra. I trust I did not awaken you last night."

Kibra's eyes take in the new bandages, then she stares at the pendant in her palm...She looks up, startled, at the voice. For a moment, her eyes are confused, then she remembers.."Zilvar. No..no..you didn't."

Zilvar raises his head to look at you. "I brought the medical supplies from your ship, but I cannot read your writings. I do not know how to use them."

Zilvar turns to look at the fire, poking it a few times to stir the coals.

Kibra says, "You..did all this..found..pendent..thank you."

Kibra's voice is low, unsteady.

Zilvar smiles a little bit, acknowledging the thanks. "Are you hungry? These creatures are edible, as far as I can tell."

Kibra's stomach rumbles suddenly and she blushes.."Yes..I am. And I will look at the supplies, to tell you how to use them."

Zilvar stands and moves over to a small pile of supplies. A shoulder pack of some sort, a large grey box with some symbols on it, and a smaller white box. He opens the largest of them and removes a plate, some utensils, and a cup. With these in one han d, he lifts the shoulder pack and carries it over to you. "There are some clothes in there. I think they will fit you."

Kibra nods, reaching up with her good arm to take the bag.."You found so much..I can't believe it."

Zilvar smiles crookedly. "I was in a little better condition to look than you were."

Kibra looks up at you.."Did something happen?"

Zilvar turns his back to you and kneels down at the fire, taking his time cutting at the cooked meat and filling the water glass. "Nothing really unexpected. Whatever happened to your ship has dumped a bit of hard radiation around it though."

Kibra's eyes darken and she nods.."I thought an attack of some sort, but I was in stasis, so I can't say for sure."

Zilvar tilts his head to the side thoughtfully. "That would make sense, given the damage I saw. Not all of it was caused by the crash."

Kibra nods, struggling a bit with the blanket.

Zilvar stands up and moves back over to you. "This is not the best meal I have ever cooked, but I doubt you have eaten much in a while."

Kibra nods, taking the dish.."Thank you."

Zilvar moves the pack of clothes to provide you with a little bit of back support. "Most welcome."

Zilvar stands and goes over to the pile of supplies, dragging both the large case and the medical kit closer to your impromptu bed.

Kibra leans against the pack, slowly eating some of the food.

Zilvar opens up the kits again, "I have no idea what plants are edible here, or I might have tried to boil something to go with that."

Kibra finishes surprisingly quickly, setting the plate down next to her. She looks at the kits from her leaning position. "This was enough, thank you. It was just what I needed."

Zilvar draws his fingers along the instruments in the medical kit, pulling some of them free from the restraining foam. "I am fairly sure that these are some sort of diagnostic equipment, but I have no clue how to interpret what they report." He points to another,

Zilvar says, "This is an injector, but I cannot identify the medicines.""

Kibra nods, pointing to the first. "You are right..if you can start them, I can read what it says..I can read the labels for the medicines too."

Zilvar makes a face and looks up. "In other words, I think I need your help as much as you need mine."

Kibra's eyes search yours.

Kibra says, "I didn't realize that would be such a bad thing."

Zilvar nods, picking up one of the scanners. He turns it over in his hand until he finds the 'On' button. At that particular moment, however, it is pointed at the wolf, and the readings that show up are somewhat strange. He blinks, and looks up again, "Oh..I was not serious. I guess I need to work on my smile some more."

Kibra looks at the readings and frowns.

Zilvar flips the device in his hand and points it in the right direction, "Oops. Well, at least I know how to turn the thing on now."

Kibra seems about to ask, but refrains.

Zilvar presses the switch, clearing out the old readings and replacing them with something more lifelike. "There. Hopefully that is more like it."

Kibra says quietly.."When it is finished, can you tilt it toward me so I can see?"

Zilvar nods, holding the thing steady for a few seconds. When it appears to have finished, he flips it again and presents it to you with a flourish. "Your medical report." This last is said with the same air of a waiter in an expensive restaurant offering a fine wine.

Kibra's eyes sparkle with something resembling humor, then they darken as she looks at the readout.

Zilvar arches an eyebrow. "What is the good news?"

Kibra says, "Three ribs, not two. My arm is broken. I have a slight concussion, and am dehydrated."

Zilvar blinks a few times. Then offers a quiet, "Ouch."

Zilvar shakes his head suddenly, "OK. The objective is to undue all of that. Where do I start?"

Kibra nods, handing the scanner back. "They..my captors..were not kind to me." She points.."Well, that is a bone-repair device. It should knit my ribs and arm."

Zilvar follows the direction of your gesture and picks up one of the instruments, "This one?" He looks over it for a second. "No..probably not this one. It does not look strange enough." He puts that one back and takes the one next to it. "OK. Now how do I use this thing? It has a few more buttons than the last one."

Kibra says, "My arm needs to be unbandaged. Holding it over the break, you press first the square green button, then the blue, then the two round buttons together."

Zilvar nods, shifting around to where he can work. Carefully, he slits the knot in the bandages with his knife, tossing it point first into the dirt with a casual flick of his wrist. After the wrappings are undone, he holds the device over the area with the worst bruising. Softly he asks, "Does it need to be set?"

Kibra nods, looking at you. "Yes."

Zilvar nibbles on his lower lip. "I am not very good at this. Any suggestions?"

Zilvar sets down the bone-knitter.

Kibra says, "You need to hold my arm firmly, one hand on either side of the break. A quick, very hard pull should do it."

Zilvar nods, moving his hands to take hold of your arms. His paws are warm and dry, though he appears a little nervous. "This is going to hurt. Do you want a painkiller or something?"

Kibra shakes her head, eyes on yours. "No. Just do it." She braces herself with her feet and good arm.

Zilvar watches your eyes for a moment. There is no hint in his stance when he pulls, no warning, just a sudden, controlled jerk of his hands.

Kibra gasps loudly and swoons a bit, eyes tearing.

Zilvar holds your arm immobile with one hand while the other reaches down and starts the device working. He holds it over the bruising and says, his voice very calm, "How long will this take?"

Kibra shakes her head, unable to reply for a moment.

Zilvar waits, hoping that the effort to answer the question will help you put aside the pain.

Kibra finally manages.."About five or ten minutes, I should think."

Zilvar nods, holding his hand steady. He nods with his head to the still half-full water cup, "Get a drink?"

Kibra reaches for the water, careful not to jostle her arm.

Zilvar watches the indicator lights on the bone-knitter with aimless curiousity as the minutes pass, since he has no real idea what they mean. "I wish I could have prevented that."

Kibra tilts her head, "Prevented what?"

Zilvar smiles a little bit. "I have some idea of how much that hurt, Kibra. I wish there was something I could have done about it."

Kibra shakes her head, her voice more steady now. "It's over..my arm needed to be set. I've..felt worse, believe it or not."

Zilvar looks down at his hands when the strange-looking little device goes 'Beep'. He nods, "I believe you...but I do not like to have to have been the one to have hurt you."

Kibra manages a smile of sorts.."I do not think you would hurt me deliberately, Zilvar. I don't know why I feel that way, but I do."

Zilvar chuckles softly. "Quite possibly because it is true." He takes the knitter away from your arm and says, "What can we do for your concussion?"

Kibra shakes her head.."Nothing but rest, unfortunately. There is a med to relieve some of the pain, but that's about all." She flexes her arm experimentally.

Zilvar moves over to the box and looks at the little vials. "Which one?"

Kibra says, "The greyish one."

Zilvar nods, picking up the injector and the indicated medicine. He twists it around in his hands for a few seconds until he figures out which way it is meant to click together. This he sets to the side, next to the bone-knitter. "I will let you handle the ribs, since you indicated that the bone fixer does not work through cloth. Do you want to do that before giving the medicine?"

Kibra nods.."Yes...but I can not do it myself, the angle would be wrong."

Zilvar smiles a little bit. "So much for that idea." He picks up the tool again and settles himself. "Lay flat..that should be more normal than with you leaning up. I would hate to have you put together crooked."

Kibra thinks..o O {I did not realize I was that unattractive.}

Kibra's eyes darken as she lays back, pulling her shirt up a bit. A long horizontal scar runs front to back, evidenced only by a long streak of white fur running against the gold.

Zilvar moves his fingertips along your side without actually touching. "Which ribs were they? There is not as much bruising here."

Kibra says a bit harshly.."The lower three."

Zilvar looks up at you for a moment or two. "That was not any form of insult, Kibra. I was trying to spare you some measure of dignity." He places the device against your side, above the highest of the broken ribs and activates it. "What, exactly, do you think I was looking at all night while you were sleeping, anyway?"

Kibra says, "I have no dignity, Zilvar. Not anymore. As for what you were looking at all night..I have no idea. "

Kibra's voice softens.."But thank you.."

Zilvar waits for the quiet 'Beep' before answering. "I spent a great deal of time looking at something I did not expect at all to see. I would say thank you, but I am afraid that would be rather out of line considering your means of arrival."

Kibra looks startled.."Thank me..for..what? I'm a burden..injured..slightly crabby..untrusting.."

Zilvar chuckles softly over the sound of the device beeping again. "You are something familiar, in a world I know nothing about. You are company, though you do your best to deny it. You are hardly a burden, regardless of your injuries. And I do not really think you are so untrusting as you want to be."

Kibra sighs softly.."No..I am not as untrusting as I want to be..or should be. And thank you for saying what you did."

Zilvar folds your shirt down when the 'knitter beeps a third time. He leans over and grabs the injector. "Why should you be so untrusting? Should I look for a vein, with this, or does it matter?"

Kibra says, "It does not matter."

Kibra says, "As for being untrusting..you saw the scar..that was the only one that left a mark."

Zilvar presses it against your shoulder and looks curiously at it for several moments, not noticing that it automatically fired off the proper dosage of painkiller. "How do you use this thing?"

Kibra chuckles a bit.."It does it automatically..it's finished."

Zilvar ohs, "I guess that is what the subsonic hiss was.

Kibra tilts her head.."You could hear that?"

Zilvar stands up and moves back to the medical kit, stowing things back where he found them. He looks up, distracted out of whatever thoughts were running through his mind. "Yeah. I can hear pretty well."

Kibra nods.."Oh." She sighs a bit.."Thank you for your help."

Zilvar closes the medical kit and moves it to the side. "What is wrong? I was happy to help you...believe me." He smiles a little bit, "Maybe if I keep at it I can even help get you back some of that dignity."

Kibra pushes the blanket aside, standing. She stretches, lifting her arms above her head and arcing her back. "That's much better."

Zilvar watches you, smiling.

Kibra finishes her stretch, lowering her arms. She blushes a bit and ruffles her hair.."I could use a bath, though."

Zilvar leans forward and pulls his knife out of the ground, cleaning dirt from the blade with a quick swipe of his hand. He slides it into the sheath and looks at the pool of water. "That is pretty cold stuff. There is some sort of collapsable bucket in the survival kit, though. I could warm some up and let you use it for a shower."

Kibra shakes her head.."No, that's too much trouble. I'll use the pool." She rummages through the pack, finding soap.

Zilvar winces and shivers. "oooh..."

Kibra chuckles.."I'm a snow leopard, remember?" Turning her back to you, she moves to the edge of the pond, quickly removing her clothes and diving into the water.

Zilvar watches you with a little smile until you start to divest yourself of your clothing. At that point, he turns with red ears to a meticulous examination of the insides of the supplies case. "Ahh..yes. I most certainly do remember."

Kibra calls from the water..."Remember what?" She paddles around for a bit, diving under the water and back up again.

Zilvar's ears get a little redder. "Umm..nothing. Just commenting that I remember you are a snow leopard."

Kibra paddles close to the bank, looking up over the bank.."Am I embarassing you?"

Zilvar holds up a small, palm-sized device. He frowns a little, examining it in both hands. One of his fingers taps the activation switch and he Yelps! dropping the thing back into the supplies case and waving his hand in the air. "Ow!"

Kibra leaps up out of the pool, water cascading off of her body. She rushes over.."What happened? Are you allright?"

Zilvar shakes his hand, flexing it a few times. "Yeah. I think I found the fire star..." He trails off, then finishes his sentance. "Umm..fire starter."

Zilvar's ears are now quite red.

Kibra stares at you for a moment, then looks down at herself.."Oh.." She blushes red and grabs for the blanket. "I'm sorry..I thought.." Her voice trails off..

Zilvar puffs on his hand a few times. "I feel rather stupid. I just tried to set my hand on fire and managed to get my ears in the process."

Kibra wraps the blanket around her, tucking in a corner. "Let me see."

Zilvar holds out his hand quietly, watching your eyes. It is obvious that he is trying to discipline his emotions and his face...it is equally obvious he isn't doing a good job of it.

Kibra looks at you for a moment, then takes your hand in both of hers. Her touch is soft and gentle as she looks at the injury.

Zilvar does not look at your hands as you examine the burn. He says quietly, "It will be fine. It already does not hurt."

Kibra softly touches the area, testing. Her palm is warm against the back of your hand and her breath tickles gently. "Does that hurt?"

Zilvar shakes his head, "Not after the initial contact, no. That thing uses microwaves, or something like?"

Kibra nods, "I think so, yes." She turns around, reaching down for a salve in one of the still open kits. Popping the lid, she gently spreads it on your palm, massaging it in.

Zilvar stretches his fingers out, pulling the skin a little tight. He smiles some, "I thought you were trying to be cranky."

Kibra blushes, not looking up from your hand.."I..you make it difficult." Her ears turn red.

Zilvar reaches up with his good hand, brushing one of your ears. "Good. I do not think you were really suited to be cranky."

Kibra blushes even more, looking up at you and flicking her ear.."Th..thank you." She finishes.."There..the burn shouldn't scar...you will need a bandage, I think."

Zilvar shakes his head, "Doubtful. If you scan it, you will probably see that the tissue is regenerating."

Kibra looks at you for a long moment, then nods.."I'll take your word for it." She lets go of your hand slowly.

Zilvar rocks back on his heels. "Thank you...very much."

Kibra looks at you for a long moment, then turns and kneels next to the pack, pulling some clothing from it. "You are welcome."

Zilvar stands up, gesturing toward the forest, "I, uh...I think I am going to find us some more food. Will you be ok here?"

Kibra nods.."Yes, I will be fine."

Kibra holds the clothing bunched over one arm, the other hand holding the blanket up.."Zilvar.."

Zilvar unhooks his knife and drops it, sheath and all, next to the supplies. He stops in mid-step. "Yes?"

Kibra says, "I..be careful..ok?"

Zilvar halfsmiles, "I would say 'Trust me', but I am not sure how you would take it. I will be careful."

Zilvar slips into the trees like a ghost, and is then gone.

Kibra nods, eyes following after the departing figure.