Immortal hunters

Stumbling blindly now, staggering in the dark. I think Eon is still breathing but burning in my legs and lungs keep me from focusing on anything. It's been.. four maybe five sun strokes since the attack, but I can't stop moving. I have to get to the fort.

Wham!

Now the burning feeling is coming from my face.. I can see stars?

I feel liquid on my lips and taste a tang. Shaking my head I sit up, and scrabble slowly, my knees locking in protest as I try to haul Eon back up. I hit a tree. Thank god he is out cold or I would never live it down. I cant lift him, I can barely stand up right now, leaning over one arm wrapped half way around the tree I just kissed to keep me standing.

This is too much, my eyes are watering and I heave in a deep breathe. I don't want to die.. I look down at Eon. No one would know..

The thought barely crosses my mind before I feel ashamed. Taking a deep breath I step forward away from the tree. The pain in my shins and thighs feels better now. I should never have thought about leaving him. To repay his teaching and care like that. Spitting to the side I grab his harness straps tightly and heave back hard, jerking him up again before crouching and shrugging my shoulder under him and wobbling as I stand up again. Glancing around I freeze for a moment before seeing a small flicker out between the trees and brush. Fire! That means either the fort or the road patrols if I'm close enough to outskirts of the forest!

A stumbling jerky walk I set off keeping to as straight a path as I can while trying not to molest a tree again and keeping my feet under me with the uneven ground and brush in the way. I almost fall again as my foot catches a rock on right as I stepped out of the forest. I can see the outline of the fort ahead, the watch fires at the gate and in the towers like small beacons of safety. Almost there.

----

I don't remember much of the trip itself, the tree, the sight of the fort after the sun fell. The fear, and the pain of the journey. I remember voices and someone, lifting the weight off my shoulders, another person yelling.. I think questions.. but I'm not sure. I made it up the short hill from the woods, and to the gate and I think I fell against the gate trying to yell for help. but I don't remember being able to yell. Just a harsh croaking sound.

----

I wake up on a bed. its soft and the feeling of sheets on my body is one of the most amazing things I've ever felt. This is a real bed! Not a straw stuff bag and a coarse woven blanket. but an actual ma-matrease? The blankets and the thin sheet are softer that anything I've ever touched! I stretch to try and feel it move against my skin and my arms jerk to a halt not more than five inches from my sides, accompanied by a metal clink!

Wha.. Oh.. Shit.

I'm in cuffs. Metal rings loop my wrists and attach to a solid wood frame. I'm also in nothing but shorts. Suddenly the comfort of sheets is not so comforting.

"Ah! He's awake!" I look up, only just now taking in the room around me, a stone room, thin window, and a curtain for a door. The curtain has a red X on a white background. The medical wing of the fort then. And the balding head with a shrew like face staring at me must me the Physicans assistant.

I try to talk but the only think that comes out is a rasp. "Watteerrr" I whisper as loud as I can.

"A moment, a moment" Master Peter will need to look at you boy"

The pinched face attempts to smile which only serve to make me more concerned.

"Out of the way ya heathen!" A loud grumble comes from beyond the curtain and middle aged man, also surprisingly bald shoves his way into the room, a pitcher in one hand and a long thin cup in the other. "Ah! He IS awake!" He seems to shout. "Brilliant diagnosis sir" comes from the curtain. The large man pauses glancing back for a moment. "Well..yes." "Now then! Here my boy, I'm sure your drier than I am when that brute Issac takes my wine!" He smiles and pours water into the down cup, after placing it against my lips.

Struggling to not choke I drink almost as much water as I get on my face, and slightly less than what is poured into my nose from where I lay.

"Slow down there boy, take your time. You've had a bit of a rough patch the last day and there's plenty of water" "Master Peter, you might try not pouring the water as fast." A shrewish face says from the curtain again. "Might lessen my need to do extra work, and save the young man from drowning."

"Ah, right uh. Yes then!" The water finally stops as I sputter and try to breathe again. Where, Eon?"

"Oh, well you see.." The large man pauses and before he can say anything more the hunched form of his assistant moves into the room through the curtain. At first glance I forgive him the almost pained expression etched into his face. He is a forsaken. Missing his left arm, and permanently hunched over, he walks with a limp over to the bed side, taking the water pitcher from Peter. "Out with you then Master, I'm sure you have much to be about and many things to study" He says staring forwardly at Peter. "Yes Sir, right you are then!" Peter mumbles and bows slightly as he steps back and leaves the roof as if on fire.

I stare in bafflement at the forsaken.

A moment of silence as he stares at the curtain before turning to face me. "Be silent and listen close. I will say this once and never admit to again." The holy arm of the Church is here on reports of an Immortal in the area, and they currently suspect it might be you." "A young boy of 17, killing two demis in his first year of training while his teach fell, then carrying not only proof of his kills, but his unconscious instructors body from the far reaches of a dangerous forest back to a this fort on foot."

He pauses and stares at me, "For all I care you might be an Immortal, but you brought Eon back, and he's my friend." glancing again at the curtain furtively "He takes out a small packet of folded paper and pours a blue powder into the water. "This clears me of any obligation in the eyes of God." He says staring at me again before pushing the edge of the pitcher to my mouth. "If, IF you are an Immortal, drinking this will mean it so the tests on you will show nothing, and if your human this will make you piss like a horse, and it'll burn like a candle fire on the way out." Either way, it'll help you when the Hunters come to question you. Struggling to breathe again and with more questions than answers I drink. It's that or let this shrew down me in a bed.

"Mh" glancing at the curtain before turning back to me again, "The after effects of demi spider poison leave a body very dehydrated. It's good to drink but take it slowly" He speaks loudly and slowly, making direct eye contact with me the entire time before pulling the pitcher away after I've finally managed to drink a ocean.

With a loud rustle and the brief sound of ripping cloth two figures enter the room. "You assistant leave." The taller one states gruffly. Nodding and walking with an even more pronounced limp and hunched farther to one side the forsaken waddles out of the room past the curtain that's been half torn down. Turning slightly right before moving past the curtain he makes eye contact with me as I watch him leave behind the backs of the two folks in shining armor you now fill the small room, he mouths. "Good luck"