Keeping Watch

[Ritah Lowen 0]

This events in this log take place shortly before "The Nature of Man" by Commander Farrington

 

 

The Traveler quickly drifted off to sleep but they both knew their patient would not rest easy. She would suffer through a fitful night in spite of the potent medication she had been given. But Vai was confident. She was almost certain the Traveler had arrived in time. One way or the other, they would know by dawn.

 

Kree lifted the small wooden bowl and sniffed the few drops of liquid left in it. He grunted and quickly tossed it aside. "You added paifain to the elixir?

 

His life long companion looked at him incredulously. 'Of course. Sleep is conducive to healing."

 

"No wonder she didn't want to drink it," he snorted. "The sweetest of honey can not mask its foul taste."

 

"She?" Vai knew her mate had physically observed the Travelers. But she had only heard about them. The information she had obtained was very general...few if any specifics on such details as gender and appearances. Vai had always been fascinated by the details. "So this one is a female. I assumed as much."

 

The Shaman nodded slowly in response. "Yes, and fairly young as well." He reached out to stroke their patient's cheek. "The males are larger but they are all bare skinned."

 

"Except for their heads," noted Vai. She couldn't resist running her slender fingers through the Traveler's tousled blonde curls. "And this color....do they all look like this?"

 

"No," replied Kree, wondering why such things mattered. "They have different colors. Some have none at all." He paused and sat back a little. "When do you think she will awaken?"

 

His tone of voice captured Vai's attention. She studied him for a few seconds while carefully extracting her fingers from the Traveler's hair. "Before dawn....why? Are you concerned about Ne'e and the Council?"

 

It was a rhetorical question. Of course he was concerned. So was she. News traveled quickly through their tightly knit community. Even though it was the middle of the night, they both knew the word had already spread.

 

It was young Kai who had given the order to assist the injured Traveler. She felt obligated. One of them had inadvertently saved her life. It was only right that she repay the debt. Kree and Vai never questioned the Prime Sentry's decision. They accepted the Traveler into their home and administered the necessary aid. It was the proper thing to do. But they had all violated the Council's mandate. There could very well be repercussions.

 

"These are intelligent beings," insisted Vai. "And they are naive to the ways of our world." She waved a hand toward the Traveler. "It is wrong to refuse aid when one so desperately needs it."

 

The Shaman smiled at his mate and reached over their sleeping patient to gently stroke her weary face. "I agree," he replied quietly. "They appear intelligent and they certainly are naive." He dropped his hand and squeezed her arm reassuringly. "Get some rest. I will keep the first watch."

 

She decided not to argue. He had good reason to keep the first watch. Ne'e would probably arrive shortly and he would not be pleased. It would be Kree's responsibility to calm the First Elder...to convince him it was right to assist the Travelers. Vai wasn't looking forward to that conversation. But it was now inevitable.

 

Slowly standing, she moved toward an opening in the back of the room that led to another sleeping area. "Rouse me if she awakens," Vai called over her shoulder. "Or if anyone else suddenly shows up."

 

"I will call you if the Traveler wakes up," promised Kree. "But that won't be necessary when Ne'e arrives. I'm sure the whole forest will know he's here."

Edited September 20, 2008 by Ritah Lowen