[with Thomas]

[no_thief]

[A day or two after this.]

There are five of the liveried guardsmen in the inn now, and two in the stables.

Kaya hid the night in a storeroom bin that used to hold apples, and is now peering through a crack in the wall into the common room and trying to find a way past them.

Comments

[no_thief]

And it seems that's as far as the guard cares to follow them, with his injured companion behind; he shouts a few vicious oaths at them before turning back.

Kaya buries her face in Thomas's shoulder and clings tight.

[vagrant_malkin]

Thomas isn't letting her go anytime soon, and as soon as the guard is out of visual range, he does his best to move a bit more stealthily. It wouldn't do for them to get away, only for them to be followed easily.

[no_thief]

That same dull edge is digging into Thomas's side; something under Kaya's shirt. She doesn't seem to notice this time, holding tightly to him as he moves -- although when she can't hear the guard anymore, she lifts her head from his shoulder to look at their backtrail.

In a whisper: "I think he's gone back."

[vagrant_malkin]

"Doesn't matter," he pants in a low tone, suddenly feeling winded and a little light headed. "We have to put as much distance between us and them as humanly possible."

[no_thief]

Kaya nods. That panting; he sounds tired.

"I can walk," she offers tentatively.

[vagrant_malkin]

"C'n manage."

He's aware of a stinging in his side, now, and he shifts Kaya over to one arm while the other inspects. When his hand comes away slick with blood, he can only blink at it confusedly as he stumbles.

"...Oh."

[no_thief]

She's seen it, and sucks in breath in a near-silent gasp.

[vagrant_malkin]

"Well...this just fucks everything up."

Carefully, he places her on the ground, and presses his hand to his side to staunch the flow.

"We should keep going."

[no_thief]

"You need --" Shaky, but definite. "You need to bandage it. You need to clean it, and bandage it -- stop it bleeding --"

[vagrant_malkin]

Thomas frowns.

"Let's at least get a little more hidden, okay?"

[no_thief]

She gulps, and nods, but her eyes don't leave the wound, or the blood seeping out around Thomas's hand.

[vagrant_malkin]

Not too much father away, they manage to find an overhang of rock, mostly covered by dense foliage. Nearby, there is the telltale sound of nearby water.

Thomas ducks into the alcove, grunting and using the wall as guidance as he sinks to the ground.

[no_thief]

"Lie down," she says, "you need to lie down, I -- I'll get you water, and we need some, something to tie it off with --"

Her voice is shaking, and she sounds on the verge of tears.

[vagrant_malkin]

He reaches with his free hand to squeeze her fingers gently.

"Easy, take a breath. Be calm, then act."

[no_thief]

Her fingers tighten on his in a quick spasm, and then she's off and away, hurrying toward the sound of running water.

She's back within moments, clutching a soaked kerchief, ragged but clean.

[vagrant_malkin]

He's vertical...ish. Looking sort of pale as he clutches his side.

"Quick one, aren't you?"

[no_thief]

She holds out the soaked rag, her hand trembling. "You need to clean it," she whispers. "You need to clean it or you could die."

[vagrant_malkin]

"Okay, okay. Just...hold on."

His hands are shaking some, as he tries to get out of his shirt.

[no_thief]

Kaya moves to help him, reaching to hold the fabric so he can shrug out of it.

[vagrant_malkin]

Except there's more fabric still, tight and binding, where Kaya would likely expect to see bare chest.

Thomas is trying very hard not to think about that, and focus more on staying alive.

[no_thief]

Her first thought (another bandage?) doesn't quite fit; there doesn't seem to be any injury under it.

Whatever. It isn't important. Her attention is all on the gash across Thomas's side, and the blood running freely from it; she draws another choked gasp and moves to sponge some of the blood away.

[vagrant_malkin]

Thomas does his best to help, but things are a little fuzzy around the edges and his own hands are shaking.

"It'll be alright," he says finally, trying to soothe. "I'll be okay."

[no_thief]

"Press on it," she says, shoving the rag between the wound and Thomas's hand. "We need, we need something to tie it down ..."

[vagrant_malkin]

He grimaces, but does just that, pressing the rag against the bleeding wound.

"Bindings," he finally gasps out.

[no_thief]

Yes, that's what they need! -- oh.

She runs her fingers carefully around the edges of the cloth binding his chest, trying to find where it's tucked under or fastened down.

One end slips free, and she tugs it down to tie around the injury.