Moon Chasers: Into the storm [Finished]

Chapter Thirteen: Qa tells a story

Jory had held his hand on his friends injuries, especially on Qa's face, trying to get the wound to close or at least recede a bit. It seemed to be of no help to the human who had lost consciousness quite fast. There is a lot of blood and their situation is not ideal. Eleon stays resolutely silent about his own injuries not wanting to deny Qa the treatment he needs. Jory has switched technique and decided to create an area that dispense healing rather than just concentrating on one spot while neglecting the other.

He sits there in complete stillness as small particles of light floats from the various injuries on their bodies. Eleon doubt that Jory is still awake, with his eyes closed and all his body relaxed he seems like he had fallen asleep on the floor with his legs crossed and hands resting on his knees. Eleon realize that he had never seen his friend that peaceful. Qa's brows were furrowed, only proof that he was still alive.

Night rose once more and then the sun came back, never did Jory stop the energy from flowing around. Toward the evening Eleon got back on his feet, all of his muscle were stiff but at least he was alright. He went to Jory and put his hand on his shoulder, the contact startled the halfling whose eyes shot open in fright before he recognized the elf.

"You need to eat, there is no point in exhausting yourself, you'd be of no help to Qa"

"You're right, I should" the halfling stopped the spell, immediately his shoulders relaxed, though he was sitting he almost fell, the elf helped him steady his body

"I going to get the food, I'll be right back"

The elf left to get to their bags, and searched for the food. While he was doing that Jory tried to find a better sitting position, the blood going back in his legs gave him the worst feeling he ever experienced, but he managed to handle it by staying incredibly still again.

Qa, moved slightly and groaned, a minute later he was awake. The man felt as if death would have been a more merciful situation, he wondered how he could handle that amount of pain. Every move was a torture, his arms were burning, his shoulders too. His face...by the moon! His face felt bad beyond his comprehension. He lacked words to describe the feeling. Someone grabbed his chest to stop him from moving but Qa groaned again and struggled against this weak yet stronger than him being.

"Qa, stop moving, you are not yet healed" said the person, the swordmaster did not recognize it, the sound was somewhat distorted

"Leave me alone, I can handle myself" he pestered someone else came

" You surely cannot, not in that state, lay back down!"

"I refuse!" He managed to sit "Why can't I see anything?"

"Your eyes were injured, I'm sorry I...I couldn't..."

"I don't care, take of the bandages" his tone was of anger

Jory extended his hands to the man's face and slowly undid the bandages, the wounds had been cleaned but the face was a battle field. The face that looked back at the halfling was disapproving but only one eye stared at him. Where the other should have been there was only empty socket and wounded flesh.
Eleon moved away with surprise and disgust, Jory only turned more apologetic as the golden eye looked at him with growing confusion.

"What is wrong?" Qa could almost see all the details on the other's face and recognized Jory

"The spider took one of your eyes, I couldn't save it"

"Jory, you barely deal in magic, I don't expect you to do miracles" the man sighed trying not to ponder on his sorry condition but it was extremely difficult the pain kept him aware.

"You should keep bandages on the lost eye for the moment, it hasn't been healed fully yet" Eleon handed the mage some clean bandages

"Alright, good idea" they put the bandages back up and Qa tried to smile but the face was distorted in a grimace, the two other smiled back, sadly

They ate in complete silence right where they had scared the spiders. They never left the blighted grounds, to scared to hurt Qa beyond the healing capabilities the halfling. Who admitted some times after that he had never been good at healing people. Eleon believed he had done an incredible job already.

"It's in moments like these that I think of simpler times and then realize that no matter how hard I try I could never remember a time where things were really simple and carefree" Qa's intervention had taken everyone by surprise "I feel terrible for what I think sometimes but I believe that events like the one we just lived and those before that are the proof I was looking for. And against all I was taught I recognize you as friends, and I am convinced that I can trust you"

Jory look at the usually quiet man turn to him with a determined look, he had said more about himself in this simple exposition than ever before.

"I grew up in a city on the coast, they called it affectionately as the "The Jewel of Suhmar", it was not as great as they let you think, I was too young to remember my parents when they died and I was "lucky" enough to be taken in by the church.
"I grew in a religious environment, taught the way of the moon, the prayers at every hours of the night and to every major phase, I was rarely left alone to be a kid. Even when I was, I'd never play, I'd read and pray. I guess that it counts as simpler times, I didn't have to think for myself, everything was planned and I just had to follow the instructions.
"You know free will is one heck of a curse when you finally get it, what am I supposed to do now? I never had to choose, from what I eat to what I do and now to whom I trust. I still can't be myself as I never actually built myself as a person, what is the most tragic is that I never realized and now that I know I yearn to go back."

"Familiar doesn't mean that it's good, but familiarity hold a sense of safety" Eleon spoke slowly while looking at his feet unsure on where he was going with this speech "It's normal for you to want be somewhere you know. We are on an island in the middle of the ocean, an island not even marked on map. I mean, we can difficulty make it more alien to any of us. You are just tired of being a stranger in a stranger land!"

"That make sense actually. Because I doubt that you really miss the time when you were a mindless tool"

"I !...Sure"

"We should go now, we can't rest here any longer,  this place give me the creeps!" Said Eleon while getting up

The elf dusted his robes with attention as the other did the same. They quickly packed their things. They left quickly scared that seeing them move the spiders would come back to end them.
The jungle did not believe in silence, but the spiders nest used to be so silent. Something was moving in the leaves and branches and none of the three adventurers liked the idea of being followed. They tried to advance as much as they could but the chaser was persistent. Unable to hold on longer, Eleon turned around ready to shoot one of his arrow. One of the giant spider appeared at this moment but the elf did not have time to shoot before the cloaked fighter, from the top of the spider, plunged their blade in the weak point of their "neck" severing the spider's head and killing it. The cloaked fighter then vanished in the leaves after a a somersault. 

Eleon lowered his weapon in disbelief, why id they kill this spider and not attack them if they are the one who brought them to this trap? He shook his head. "Better not stay here, we are not clear of the spiders nest!"