Under The Full Moon

In A Daze

Gale walked with her father, Dillan having gone to the others to lead them toward the camp. As they walked into the clearing, Gale stepped off to the side to keep the horses of the soldiers from panicking, some of them already giving her wild-eyed looks. They had been through battles with the men that rode on their backs, however, seeing a dragon was something completely different. It took a little for the soldiers to keep the horses under control, though they knew that this was going to be something that they were going to encounter. The horses would be fine in due time. Gale sat down, her father getting down off of Valor's saddle as Broin approached. He looked between the older man and the soldiers that took the horses to a place a little ways away so they could calm down. "We didn't expect to see you again. It's a long way from where your village is settled and here..." Broin spoke, Gale's father turning to him with a smile. 

"I'm not going to sit by while my daughter is held captive. She has filled me in a little as to what has happened so far. I'm glad you got the bastard that did this... but how are you going to take care of what has happened to her?" The question caught Broin off guard, the man frowning a little. 

"I'm trying to figure that out. There's an old woman, a Crone, that helped Alerone do this. There is hope that she'll try to come and stop us from taking Gale, considering both Alerone and Grimora failed. If that happens, we are going to try to do what we can to get her to turn Gale back. Wysteria said that we may not be able to completely undo what has been done, but we should be able to make it so Gale can go home," Broin explained, looking over to Gale as she listened to the two of them. Her purple-blue eyes were focused, almost to a point that Broin began to feel a little tense. 

"I hope that there is more than just hoping that something happens. Is there any way that you can draw her out?" Gale's father spoke again, drawing Broin's gaze away from the dragon and to himself. Broin shifted a little where he stood. 

"Not that I'm aware of..." He started, though he stopped, looking over toward Wysteria. The girl had been attacked by the wolf-creatures because she was being "punished", but what if she did survive? If she survived, that might be what they needed to get the Crone to come out of hiding. If they kept Wysteria in the camp anyway. "Actually... I just thought of something. Gale, I'm sorry if this sounds wrong, but Wysteria might be our way of drawing her out," 

Gale flicked an ear back against her head, watching Broin. She didn't speak for a moment, allowing him to explain what he had in mind before she finally made any sound. "I don't like that idea... but it might be the only option we have," She mumbled, looking toward where her friend still lay on one of the sleeping mats. Toby had changed her bandages again and some of the color was beginning to return to her cheeks. Gale gave a small sigh, her father placing a hand against the side of her neck. She turned to him, his touch comforting her just as it did when she was in her human form. 

"I don't think Broin is going to allow anything to happen to her, Gale," He said softly. Gale smiled a little, the corners of her mouth just barely lifting to signal this. She leaned her head to nuzzle softly against her father's cheek, the stubble of his beard causing her fur to ruffle a little as she did so. It was silent for a few minutes before there was a shout, Gale lifting her head to turn toward the source. Wysteria had sat up, her eyes wide and her chest rapidly rising and falling as she looked around. Gale moved away from her father and approached the young woman.

"Wysteria? It's alright, you're safe," She spoke, trying to reassure her friend. Wysteria looked up sharply at Gale, though she hadn't yet seemed to relax. "It's alright," Gale repeated, stopping near the woman and lowering her head just enough to try to reach out and bump her hand with her muzzle. Before she did so, Wysteria seemed to realize where she was and who she was speaking to. She tried to get up, wanting to hug her friend, though her injuries stopped her. Whimpering, Wysteria grabbed the cut on her side. Gale went to her, resting beside her and tucking her head around her side. "I'm here... get some rest. I will not let anything happen," She whispered. Broin, noticing that Wysteria was awake, excused himself from the talk with Gale's father before he went to get some water for Wysteria. 

Gale watched as he helped the woman drink, going to get her something to eat afterward. Gently, he sat beside Wysteria and helped her eat. "This should help you get some of your strength back. The staff is right here beside you," He explained, his green eyes flicking between Gale and Wysteria before they returned to the food. Wysteria looked to her right, her hand resting on the staff where it had been tucked into the blanket of the sleeping roll she was on. She seemed to relax just a little after this, and Gale could understand perfectly. The staff, in the wrong hands, would be something that could cause more damage than what had already been done. Wysteria, after having felt for herself that the staff was there, focused on the food that Broin was helping her with. Once she was finished eating, Wysteria gently leaned back again, resting back against Gale's neck as it settled behind her. "Do you remember what happened to you? We were looking all over for you," Broin questioned. 

"I was out in the woods trying to practice with the staff... but something came out of the trees. I tried to lead them away from the campsite but that was just what they wanted me to think..." Wysteria started, looking up to Broin from where she rested. "Those things that were trying to attack you... those are not like anything my father had under his control. Those are the Crone's. She has eyes everywhere..." Wysteria closed her eyes, lifting a hand to run it through her hair. Gale's father had come closer, listening to what was being said.

"So then there is hope that she may yet come to the campsite?" He spoke up, Wysteria looking up to him from the ground. She regarded him for a moment before she responded to his question.

"There may be. She wants me dead, she has made that known. This wasn't just an attempt to get Gale under control again, it was an attempt to get rid of someone that might be able to help get rid of her. The Crone wants to continue where my father failed, and I get in the way of that plan," Wysteria explained, lowering her hand from her hair, placing it back in her lap. "I will explain more when I wake up," She whispered, already sounding as though she was beginning to drift off. It worried Gale, but after what her friend had been through, she understood. She would stay with her and make sure she was taken care of further. With food and water in her stomach, Wysteria stood a better chance. Closing her eyes, Wysteria was only awake for a few more minutes before she finally fell into a deep sleep. 

Staying as she was, Gale watched Broin and her father as they went to speak to the soldiers, Broin wanting to make sure they understood what they were up against. With a sigh, Gale closed her eyes, nestling her head a little closer to Wysteria.