The Sprite
Part
19
Neena
cradled
As
it stood, he was definitely not doing well, as evidenced by the dryad that had
been hovering over him when she flew up. She'd shaken her head sadly at her,
but had slipped back into the tree, allowing Neena to sit beside him and try to
help. I can't be too late, she thought to herself. I just can't.
This thought alone pushed her focus into the right frame of mind and helped her
to pinpoint his injuries.
"You
call yourself quick, Silver?" she whispered wryly to him, her magic
finally coming to his head injury. "The trees don't move, YOU'RE supposed
to!" The damage was substantial and definitely taking his life. On top of
that, his body was suffering from exposure, compounded by the wet clothes and
the alcohol. She could heal him, but she wasn't sure she'd be fast enough. If
she pumped all her magic into him, it would be quick, but she might now be able
to pull it all back and then she'd be lost. She swallowed hard, looking down at
him and cursed silently.
The
very fact that she'd considered that as an option, let only the only one, was more frightening then the enormous feelings she was
starting to become painfully aware of.
She
bit back a little sob, then made a decision. Quickly
using her amulet to shrink him, she scooped him up and flew to a spot where she
was certain no passerbys could harm them. She laid
him down, pulling his clothing off, then laid down on
top of him, removing her own clothing as she did. Then, leaning upward to
summon all the excess magic around and within her that she could, she slowly
leaned into him, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
"I
love you too, you idiot," she whispered, then
PUSHED herself magically from her own body into his. It was a delicate
balancing act, something that only sprite elders and desperate sprites did, but
only full magic would be quick enough and strong enough to entirely heal
His
eyes fluttered uncertainly, looking up at her.
neena? wha...what's going on? you're glowing!
you're dying and you have try to hold on. i'm going to try to heal you, she explained, taking his hand.
He
frowned, still confused. 'm tired...need to sleep...
you need to STAY awake, she replied urgently.
what for? you're not even
talking to me anymore. His eyes
opened a bit more and he turned to look accusingly at her. where
the hell have you been, anyway?
Neena huffed irritably...were all human
souls this argumentative? we don't have time for
this, she explained.
make time, he
demanded, grasping her hand tighter, the light around him increasing slightly.
i've been totally wasted for
a week over you!
whose fault is that,
yours! He
faltered for a moment, then just as definitely, added,
mine...both of us...neither one, I don't care! why'd
you leave me?
you told me to GO!, she exploded.
and you listened to me?
i listened to myself and got the hell away from
someone i hate who does a job that i can't stand! you're a fairyhunter, or did you forget that?
i quit that job!
when?
right now!
Neena threw up her hands. you're
a complete imbecile! face it, flyboy, you blew it. i don't even know why i'm here.
if i blew it, then why ARE
you here?
because i... Neena paused. He had a point, but one she wasn't
willing to acknowledge. shut up! it is NOT my fault you don't know what a good thing is,
quicksilver!
Neena caught her breath, emotions rising in
her all at once again. She decided to reply to the one thing that wouldn't make
her cry. almost everything?
For a moment,
shut up and lay down! She sighed shakily as he did, then hugged him
tight.
i'm sorry, he
whispered huskily. about everything...all of
it. i didn't know.
it's okay. just let me do this
now and we'll talk about it later. i
have to bring your light to the same level as mine, then pull my magic out.
is that hard?
let's find out. hold me and don't
let go. She concentrated again,
still hugging him and pushed once more. She felt her magic and his life force
melding together as one, even though his had strange impurities in it. She knew
these were his injuries and they could not stay if he were to survive. She
thought of the flame that they now shared and increased its intensity, burning
strong and bright for both of them and letting the injuries crumble like ash in
their wake.
The feeling was amazing...she could feel
go on, she
smiled. i'm
coming...just want to rest a minute.
neena, you're dimmer!, he said, a note of worry in his voice. come
now! neena, come on! neenaaaaaaaaaaa!
She looked up and could see it in his eyes
as he flew higher and higher, zooming upward toward an even brighter glow. She
really wanted to reassure him that she was alright, that she really didn't need
her magic right now, that there would be plenty of time to get back all the
magic she was made of before dying, but she was just so tired...perhaps after
she finished this little nap...
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