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Chapter Eight

She was devoid of hope. He felt all of her pain as if it were his own. It burned through them both and swarmed at their consciousness in this plane. It was a different aching there; it was not caused by nerve endings, it burned in an inescapable void.

Clyde could feel the warm light close by.

Maris found her chest again, looking down. The light flared teal and swirled around inside of her. "O' dear." There was a long sigh.

Like being born again, Maris awoke with a deep gasp for air. Clyde, Wilhelm and Loric surrounded her, she was laying on the bigger of the workbenches in the cellar. The familiarity of the room steadied her mind in her body.

No one spoke, but all three of them stared at her with wide smiles and restless eyes. They exhaled collectively, waves of tension rushing away, and stepped back from the bench.

They sat solemnly in the cellar, glad to be all back home with one another, plus the additional company of Loric. Maris examined herself. The crimson had returned to her curls; she had newfound tearing on her elbows and knees, and her skin felt uncomfortably stretched.Clyde also being heavily injured, the healthier of the four quickly jumped into a messy, scrambled attempt at first aid. Maris and Clyde took rest in makeshift beds in the cellar, using boxes and mattresses, easily carried down and set up by Wilhelm. It's true the giant could've carried them both upstairs, but didn't want to threaten the pain, and a grand gesture of such kinds was exactly what they needed. Maris was certain she never wanted to experience transformation again.

Wilhelm rushed around the room, grabbing bottles and herbs, and it seemed they were right back where they started that morning. Only it had been mostly a success, and now Clyde was home where he was supposed to be. But incredibly unwell, Maris too. Wilhelm emptied a brown liquid onto a bandage and brought it to Maris, the potent medicinal aroma wafting over from across the room.

"Don't worry, pop, it'll sting just a bit. Sit still." He placed it on her knee, and she writhed in agony. It burnt like hell, she whacked his arm to make it stop, but he wrapped it firmly around, and it wasn't going anywhere.

He was much less gentle with Clyde. Many 'O' you bastard!!'s were let out, as well as a myriad of other obscenities Clyde had in his cabinet. Bramble had tried to bandage him up as best she could in the mines, which was a pretty fine job. She wouldn't let her reputation of being Ottswald's most trusted medicine dwarf fail her.

After being taken care of, the two patients enjoyed a warm spoonfed tomato soup from Wilhelm, Loric accompanying them for supper, savouring the steaming meal in the cold cellar. All sharing their recounts of what had happened in the mines, Clyde not willing to open up any further about the cause of his wounded state.

Loric left after supper, picking up on the sense for privacy and rest. It had been a long day, and felt much longer then it had actually been, due to all the warping and such. Maris could hardly keep her eyes open, and said a sleepy goodnight to Clyde and Wilhelm. They tucked her into her many covers, (that were making up for the rather boxy mattress), Clyde reaching a hand over to hold hers from his bed.

She closed her eyes and was too tired to worry about the clogged subconscious she was entering. But her mind went easy on her, and chose to spare her of nightmares that slumber. Perhaps because it was an interrupted slumber, broken by faint whispering in the dark cellar. She didn't move her head to look, but could hear the soft voices of her guardians. They seemed to be having a serious conversation, and Maris tried to tune out what they were saying, desperately wanting to keep the barrier of secrecy intact, as much as it had crumbled away already. She never wanted them to stop hiding things from her, it reassured Maris that pieces of her childhood were still lingering. She realised they were whispering remarks of appreciation to eachother, of gratitude that they were okay, that Maris was okay. The muffling of the whispers proved they were close together, holding one another.