Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 65: Panic

The soldiers walked up to camp, their commander between them on a stretcher. They'd thrown a cloak over him, though his feet dragged on the ground behind him. A few people watched and murmured as they passed, but they continued, soon walking to the medical tent.

The doctor inside finished tying a bandage about one man's arm, then sent him out, looking over at them as they walked in."...And just when I thought I might have a rest day. Fine, fine, set him on the table." He ordered.

They did so. One of the soldiers shuddered."He's in rough shape...Havn't checked, buthe might be dead already."

The doctor walked over and removed the cloak, nose scrunching up at the smell of burned flesh, watching as a few wisps of smoke rose into the air."...I sincerely hope so, and not just for my sake." He replied. He checked his eyes, waving a hand before his eyes."Hello? You hear me? Move something if you can, doesn't matter what."

Paricht remained still, and the doctor sighed."...Pupils unresponsive. Seems this gentleman's passed on." He moved to replace the cloak, when Paricht suddenly sprang to life.

He howled and grabbed one of the nearby soldiers' arms."Burned! I'm burned, it burns, I'm burned! Help me!" He exclaimed, skin crackling as he moved.

The doctor blinked."Sir? Sir, calm down, we can help, let the man go, alright? Just let go, an-" He blinked, eyes widening.

The soldier broke free and checked his arm. He saw a black handprint, though from there, it began to spread slowly over the rest of his arm and up his neck. He tried to wipe it away, but to no avail. The blackness spread over his face, and he fell to the side, his unaffected parts twitching erratically as he howled in agony.

Paricht continued his tantrum, falling from the bed and blackening the grass beneath them."Burned burned burned! Help!" He demanded.

The doctor stepped back."He's gone mad!" He looked at the surviving soldier."Set up a perimeter! No one in or out, and someone inform the grandmaster!" His duty done, he quickly rushed out of the tent.
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Gem sat near Shira, smiling a bit. She knew she would have to escape soon, but in the meantime, she was pleased to have someone to practice her signs with. There were plenty of people who could understand them, of course. Most of her signs were based upon military signals, after all, and she'd grown up among soldiers. However, there was something oddly satisfying about seeing the signs in response, a skill few soldiers had.

Shira smiled."Tell me more about the Nay-rav-shuns." She said, then quickly added, "Please?"

Gem smiled."Getting closer." She replied."And let's see...Ah! This might surprise you! How do you think they hunted?"

She frowned."...Didn't you say they had those big spears? Didn't they use those?" She asked, head tilted.

Gem nodded."Right, but not for hunting. Nrevac blood, if you didn't know, is poison. Not enough to kill, but enough to paralyze for a while. So, when they came across a predator, they'd let it attack and take a bite out of them. The spears were just to block any attacks to the neck or head that wouldn't heal, and usually a quick attack to the head to finish them off."

Her eyes widened."They...." She scrunched up her face."Why though!? They could have just attacked first, couldn't they?"

She nodded."Could have. But Nrevacians were peaceful, they didn't like to harm things unnecessarily. But, they needed to eat, and they couldn't grow anything in their caves. So, they tried to give the cave creatures the most peaceful death they could."