Changing Rain

Unwanted future

Telrin sat with his back against the wall of the cave, his expression worn and tiered. Linsum sat next to him in silence, his gaze flicking over to the still unconscious Eric, who now had a fever. Life and activity rolled about all around them as day woke the rest of their shifter army. The lad Greck was nowhere to be seen.  

Linsum flashed his friend a look before speaking.  

" You couldn't have known Telrin. " 

" I know." Linsum's rapid blink was the only sign of his surprise at Telrin's answer. Telrin sighed and ran a weathered hand down his face, leaning his head back against the smooth stone, eyes closed.  

" I know I couldn't have know, but by the black tree Linsum, it hurts! Every thought is 'what if? ' Thinking back to what I could have, SHOULD have done. " Linsum let his gaze wander over the rapidly emptying cave before giving Telrin a quite answer.  

" A wise man said You cannot dwell on what was or could or might have been. All you can do is to look at today and what is happening now, then work towards the future. " Telrin gave a thin smile without opening his eyes.  

" Quoteing my words right back at me before a day has even passed Linsum?" Linsum just looked on quietly, and Telrin sighed.  

" As well you should I suppose, a man who can't stomach his own advice is worse then a fool." His Silver-Green eyes slowly opened, the gleam of pain still present but pushed farther back.  

" Tell me something Telrin." Linsum said, eyeing Eric's still form.  

" What kind of Illness do you think keeps the lad abed?" 

" Its not an illness, it's withdrawal. " Linsum raised a brow, waiting for an explanation.  

" I smelled Gangthurrl on him a few weeks back, he came into the prison while I was still in my True Form. I thought it was for his wounds, but when he continued to smell of it..," Telrin shrugged.  

" Its highly addictive, and once your addicited to Gangthurrl it starts wearing down on your body, badly. " Linsum rolled his eyes as he scratched the stuble on his chin.  

" Lets remember that only you took healers lessons, I have no idea what your talking about." With a genuine smile this time, he explained further.  

" Gangthurrl, it's a blackish green plant, looks a bit like long stalked Basil. Healers use it in small amounts to relive pain, it numbs everything, even the mind. They only use it in extreme times, once your addicted, it take nearly a week to get out of the body, if your not already dying." Linsum flicked his eyebrows in concern and looked back at Eric.  

" Is he..." 

" No, the black fluid he coughed up last night was his body rejecting it, he'll be fine in about a week.  

" Why was he even taking it?" 

" I don't know everything Linsum." A quiet noise interrupted whatever Linsum's response was, and they both turned to the pale youth. His dark blue eyes slowly blinked open, unfocused and gazing up at the high ceiling. Telrin swept his gaze around the cavern, empty but for them and a few stragglers. The Lad Greck, seeing his look, started to walk towards them. Eric began to mumble.  

" Where...? Wha' happen?" His voice was stained and soft, and his eyes still roved, not really seeing. Greck knelt next to Telrin.  

" I let it slide last night," he whispered, " But why is HE here?" Hearing a voice, Eric stained to focus on them, his vision cleared and he saw the three of them crouched about him.  

" Ahh," he croaked. " I'm dead, I'm dead and this is Hell. Makes sense I guess. " He leaned back into the makeshift bed with a grimace. 

" Your not dead Eric," Telrin answered, with more then a little amusement in his voice.  

Telrin's voice seemed to push him into lucidity, his expression turned fearful, and he struggled to push himself farther away from them, though with little success. Linsum leaned foreword, and Eric recoiled as if he had been struck. He struggled to push himself into a standing position, using the wall behind his as a support. Greck glared, laying a ready hand on the sword hanging at his hip. Linsum angrily pushed the offending hand away.  

" Calm down lad, it's just me. " Telrin said, watching Eric's failing attempts at standing. His breath ragged from the effort, Eric stayed leaned against the Wall, eyeing them all in turn.  

" Why am I here, Telrin? " Eric's voice was flat and angry, and Telrin for the first time saw the Lads father in him. 

" Your weak lad, just lay down. " Eric gave him a steady glare, turning it to Linsum when he saw Telrin wouldn't yield any answers. He stared hard at his unknown uncle, a hint of surprise at their similarity flited across his face for a moment before he pushed it back.  

" Why am I here?" He demanded, his rage lending his voice strength. Dear, Typically blunt Linsum answered with a yawn.  

" Your a shifter, if you wern't, we would have left you to die. Or better yet, let Greck have at you. " Greck gave the older pair an incredulous look, then gave Eric a skeptical one. Eric gave a derisive snort, and tried to push himself to his feet again without much headway.  

" Right, if your not going to kill me, then let me go home." Linsum lowered his eyes, undoubtable thinking back to the fire that they had watched consume the little village.  

Telrin remembered when Soren had had broken down the door in his Panther form, startling the on duty guard into dropping the lantern that caused the whole thing. It had been a close call getting all the prisoners out.  

" You can't go home, human. " Greck spat, his voice poisonous.  

" Kill me then. " Eric snarled, crossing his arms defiantly, eyes glittering with poorly concealed hate. Greck froze, his eyes widening a bit as he caught something in Eric's voice. Telrin and Linsum had heard it too, the snarl had been the voice of his True Self, though Eric himself didn't catch it.  

" It can't be!" Greck breathed before looking to Telrin.  

" I fought Him! I saw his Father, I know he grew up there, he can't be!"  

" Its a long story." Linsum said simply. Telrin looked back at Eric, who was starting to edge away. 

" No you don't." Telrin reached towards him, his hand shimmering as he half phased before he clasped the Lads shoulder. The change much more quickly then it had the first time, only a few swift moments passed before there was a great golden wolf sprawled on the floor.  

Eric's blue eyed widened in pure horror, and he clumsily tried to get to his feet, a small fearful, helpless sound escaped his throat. He kept trying to stand, kept trying to tear the fur from in body till he gave himself bloody furrows, his desperation twisted Telrin's heart in pity. But the lad had to know, he would never be able to go back, not after his fellow villagers had seen him.  

It hadn't been Telrin's intention to change him, not in front of the villagers at least. But the lad was so sick from the Gangthurrl that the he had no choice but to bring him to the closest shelter. Which happened to be the camp of a twitchy shifter army, one who was not open to humans.  

Slowly Eric calmed, eyes becoming distant head drooping as he started to stare into nothing.  

" Are you...Is he alright?" Greck asked, still in shock. Linsum looked to Telrin, and shrugged.  

" Its the effect of a drug, he'll be fine in about a week." Telrin helped change him back, the phase was almost as instantaneous as any other Netsanii, soon he would be able to phase on his own. Almost as soon as Eric was back in his human form, Telrin regretted it. The boy was covered in the bloddy scratches he had given himself, and he looked dead, starring into nothing with his face wiped clean of any emotion, complete emptiness. It was more then a little disturbing. Linsum changed him back and scooped the gangly wolf up in his arms before looking at Telrin and Greck.  

" Come on then, army 's moving on. " He strode out of the cave, Greck followed, with a bemused expression. Telrin sat in the cave a moment more, thinking. Had he done the right thing? He didn't believe that Eric was giving himself the Gangthurrl, but then who would essentially be poisoning their own people? He hauled himself up to follow, unhappy at the thoughts beguiling him.