Blackbeard; The Legend

Nursing Wounds

Akahana huffed as she huddled next to the fire, rubbing her hands. The nighttime breeze chilled her to the core as it blew through the trees, and she wrapped her cloak tighter. 

"Quite the breeze, isn't it?" Maiken remarked as she rustled beside Akahana. 

"S-sure is." Akahana replied shakily. "Does it usually get like this or..?"

"Yep." Maiken said. "We're in the wilderness. Of course things are gonna be freezing." She shifted her legs. "But I've been through worse." She gave a hearty grin, and Akahana smiled. That brief flicker of mirth faded quickly as she turned to look at the villagers, or more accurately the survivors of the battle. They herded around other small fires, some eating in somber silence, others leaning on the trunks of trees, trying to get sleep. There was little talking among them, and rightfully so. Many had lost friends and family during the attack, and the grief was still fresh. Akahana gripped the folds of her cloak tightly as she spotted a woman crying into the shoulders of her husband, and the tears threatened to rush back.

Maiken's smile faltered when she noticed. "Hey." She rested a hand on Akahana's shoulders. "We saved as many as we could. It's not your fault."

Akahana sniffled and dabbed her eyes. "I-I know..." She murmured. "But I can't stop thinking that it is."

"Trust me, you're not the only one." Maiken sighed. "It's just such a damn shame. Those scumbags knew exactly what they were doing, targeting our civilians." She balled her fist, before letting it rest. "But again, we tried our best." The snap of a twig made Akahana look up to see Eira walking towards them. The lynx had volunteered to keep watch, and the bags under her eyes showed that she had done so diligently, and for longer than she had said she would.

"I hope you don't mind me sitting down next to you guys." She yawned as she settled down next to Maiken.

"It's no problem. Besides, you must be freezing." Maiken wrapped an arm around Eira and pulled her close, and a small blush formed on Eira's face. 

"T-thanks." Eira stammered, trying hard not to appear ecstatic as she culdded next to Maiken. 

"Again, no worries." Maiken smiled. "Also, you really gotta stop biting off more than you can chew. You say you'll get some rest after your shift ends, but then you stay up for two more!"

Eira giggled. "Sorry. I work a lot better in the dark, and hey, it's not that cold."

Maiken raised an eyebrow. "You shivering says otherwise," She said.

"I'll be fine." Eira reassured. "I'm more worried about Asmund. How is he doing?"

Akahana shrugged. "I haven't heard that much from the medics or from Darby about him." She looked towards the tent. It had been set up by the medical officers when they had stopped to make camp here, and as far as she knew, they along with Darby and Kanin were inside there with him. It had been the same during the trek, with soldiers carrying Asmund on a stretcher, Kanin right by his side. Seeing Asmund lying on cot with that horrendous gash across his chest was agony for Akahana, and she was anxious on whether or not he would recover.

"They've been in that tent for hours now." Maiken said. "They need a break or otherwise they won't make it through tomorrow."

"Asmund might not make it through tomorrow without them, though." Eira murmured, and Maiken sighed.

"Yeah." The leopard frowned. Akahana stared at the tent, nervousness gnawing at her as she wondered how Asmund was faring. Then, the flaps of the tent parted open, and out stepped Darby. Her proud and tall posture was slumped, and her ears drooped as she conversed with Kanin, who looked completely bone-weary, her fur unkempt and her eyes haggard. Akahana's heart began to beat rapidly as she saw them, and began to fear the worst as they walked over to her.