AFK - Away From Keyboard

Chapter 2:

Emica's POV:

   The days went more quickly than I thought they would. On the second day I acquired the knowledge that I wasn't alone in the woods; two men were beating up a younger boy, trying to take his supplies and gold.

I was going to help, but a cloaked figure jumped in between the men and the boy and fought off the thugs.  I still wanted to hurry over and treat the young boy since he might be hurt, but my eyes tightened, my brain clenched, and a wave of carelessness washed over me. I walked on unnoticed.

Later I wondered why I hadn't helped, but something in the back of my mind reassured me. 

There were about ten more minutes in my journey. It was about noon so I decided to have my lunch. There was a suitable branch high in a tree for me to lounge on. I climbed the tree and began eating my lunch.

A sudden sound provoked me into looking down. A girl wearing all black scurried up the tree to me. She swung onto the branch, perching beside me and flashing a smile. "Mind if I sit here? I'm waiting for someone."

"I don't mind a bit." I smiled shyly. The girl beamed and started fiddling with an arrow. "The hunting in this forest is excellent. I've never gotten so much out of a single day before." She took out a bow and made sure it was strung properly.

"Yes. I suppose." I replied. I wasn't a hunter, I had been taught to hunt for plants and things with medicinal value, but that was all. This girl looked to be a very good hunter. I doubted that she missed her mark often. She flicked back her hood and let her raven black ponytail tumble about her shoulder. "Shouldn't be long now..." She mumbled.

I was done with my lunch, and wasn't in any particular hurry to reach Fieryn; so I though I might wait to see who the girl was meeting with.

"Bingo." She muttered.

I directed my gaze to the forest floor and saw a cloaked figure hobbling along the path. It was the same one who had helped the boy.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the girl drawing her bow.

"What are you doing?" I asked, becoming a bit frightened.

"What does it look like?" The girl rolled her eyes and aimed the bow.

"You can't kill them!" I cried.

"Duh. Not until I take their stuff. This arrow has a paralyzing effect so they can't fight back." The girl explained quietly.

"Stop!" I yelled and reached for the bow. I wasn't quick enough however, and the girl loosed the arrow.

The figure had turned their head at my cry just in time to see the arrow flying towards their back. The figure fell back and dug their fingers into the dirt.

I jumped down from the perch and ran over to them, pulling various medicines from my bag. The figure was a boy of about my age. When he saw me, he desperately tried to reach for his knife. The paralysis had sunk in so he was unable to do so. 

"Don't worry." I said soothingly. "I'm just going to apply some ointments to your wound."

The boy stiffened and I could tell he was trying his hardest to stand and run. He seemed to think I was the one that shot him.

I heard the girl hop down from the tree and saunter over. "Well, here's another catch. He probably has loads of rare items. Not to mention all the gold."

"Don't come any closer." I stepped in between the girl and the boy.

The girl laughed. "Seriously? You can't stop me with medicines." She gestured to my bag.

I took the boys knife and held it up. "You only have a bow. That won't work so well at close quarters. Not to mention that if you reach for an arrow I'll have time to throw this at you."

The girl paled. I had figured she was a coward to shoot injured travelers and make off with their belongings. 

"Drop the bow and I'll let you go." I commanded, successfully keeping my voice from trembling. 

The girl reluctantly dropped her bow and ran into the forest, while I turned back to the boy. His eyes would have been laughing if they didn't look so pained.

I grabbed a few salves and numbing ointments out of my bag. It was a bit awkward to apply them to the boy, since I've only ever treated animals before. I had to cut a slash into his shirt so I could get to the arrow wound without pulling it out. The arrow had to be left in his back since I had nothing to stop the bleeding.

One of my creams was helpful in this situation as it counteracts paralysis.

I started putting my things away just as the boy began to wiggle his fingers. He soon sat up and tested his ability to move his arms and legs. Then he looked me over. "Thanks." He smiled weakly.

"I'm so sorry! I should've been able to prevent this. You need to be taken to a medical center so they can stop the blood flow and remove the arrow."

He nodded and stood up unsteadily reaching for a tree to stabilize himself. 

I jumped up and allowed him to lean on me." Fieryn is just up ahead. I don't know my way around there exactly but I'll find something." I rambled on and on as I helped the boy walk to Fieryn. 

   As soon as we entered the town, the boy pointed to a small building that I assumed was the medical center.

We reached the building and went inside just as a man was coming out. Inside a girl was bustling about. Pulling things off shelves and into bowls. She turned to greet us and immediately lost her smile.

She looked from me to the boy several times before saying: "Again?"