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bakerstreet2018-08-28 10:15 am
estivates) wrote in bakerstreet2018-08-28 10:15 am
listen the re2 hype is real
THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE MEME
inspired by the Left 4 Dead games, The Walking Dead, and various other zombie-related media.
It's a scenario that needs little introduction: the dead have risen to feast upon the living.
In the beginning there were evacuations, emergency broadcasts, reassurances from the government and the media.
It was hoped that things would return to normal sooner rather than later. But eventually, all that's left are the shambling hordes.
So take up that baseball bat, or your father's shotgun. Cling tight to your memories of the better times, or your faith, or whatever keeps you going.
The odds aren't stacked in your favor....but maybe you'll survive.
WHAT.
a productive survivor is a happy survivor.
1) Scavenge/Search: The end of civilization as we know it also means the end of all things convenient, up to and including hot water, electricity and McDonald's. Whether it's ammo or edibles, you're looking for any salvageable supplies. This option is also for if you're trying to find a familiar face somewhere among all the destruction and danger.
2) Fight: Not for your right to party, but for survival. Whether against a lone zombie, an entire horde or a fellow human being, there's nothing else to do but try and come out of the encounter alive.
3) Barricade: There's nowhere to run, but you can at least hide out and hunker down for awhile. Hopefully being cooped up won't drive you stir-crazy.
4) Escape: There comes a time when the only thing to do is run. Is there a horde on your tail? A final evacuation helicopter waiting just ahead? Whatever the reason, better hope you don't stumble.
5) Scout: Charging ahead blindly is an easy way to get killed. A little reconnaissance can prove to be the wisest decision.
6) Relax: Seems like an out of place choice, doesn't it? But sometimes, peace is just as important as safety. You've managed to secure a little while to breathe, to forget the horror you've just gone through.
WHERE.
location, location, location.
1) City/Neighborhood: These places used to be bustling with life. Now they're silent, littered with wreckage and likely crawling with foes.
2) Farmstead/Mill/Lighthouse: Isolated, secluded buildings out in the sticks.
3) Sewers/Subway/Rooftops: If you're heading through these areas, you're likely just trying to get to someplace better. Here's hoping nothing gets the jump on you.
4) Hospital/Army Base/Evacuation Center: These places once offered hope and protection. There might still be firepower and supplies stocked somewhere within.
5) Woods/Swamp/Coast/General Outdoors: Nature hasn't gotten any kinder, but it might just provide needed cover or a place to gather food the old-fashioned way.
WHEN.
at what stage of the world's end do you find yourself?
1) Initial Outbreak: This awful reality is new and frightening. There's chaos and panic everywhere you turn.
2) Two Weeks Later: The horror isn't quite so fresh, or maybe you're just starting to get a little numb to it.
3) Two Months Later: Some of the dust has settled on what remains of society. How have you been holding up?
4) ???: Specific time of your choosing.
WHO.
humanity's numbers have thinned dramatically, but you aren't alone.
1) Family: In this world, kin may be all you have left, or those who are as good as.
2) Friends: Better to be in the company of those you know and trust than those you don't, right?
3) Lovers: This isn't exactly the time or place for a honeymoon, but you're lucky enough to have found your spouse/romantic partner/fuckbuddy/whatever.
4) Strangers: You don't know this person and they don't know you. In any other situation, your paths might never have crossed. But here the two of you are anyway, like it or not.
5) Enemies: Perhaps you were at each other's throats long before this world went to hell. Maybe you just ended up that way over time, or due to the stressful circumstances at work.
6) Guardian: It could be that you don't even like this other person, but you feel responsible for them anyway.
EXTRA.
feel free to add these at your own discretion.
A) Power Loss: Immortality? Gone. Magic? Nixed. You're just an ordinary person now, for better or worse.
B) Infection: You've been bitten, or scratched, or maybe you're grappling with a sickness that has the same eventual end. You can resist the symptoms for awhile, but the only "cure" to be found is a bullet to the head.
C) Injury: Unlike the option above, you aren't hurt because of a zombie. How badly have you been knocked around?
AS ALWAYS, if there isn't a prompt that suits your needs, you're free to make up your own scene.
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[ And the energy too. Caleb was hyper aware of Molly right now. His behavior was all wrong and clearly he wasn't focused on the present. In the quiet walk from the entrance to the tunnels Caleb tried to think of something to say but... there was nothing. Words wouldn't be useful right now. Maybe when they stopped for the night. Caleb's sense of time was still flawless even if he couldn't see the sun.
It was a little tricky navigating. Caleb grabbed a torch off the wall and brought it with as he remembered the path from Frumpkin's point of view and then translated it to what he saw from his perspective. It took longer than with a trained guide but they eventually found the dock where they set off from.
The Gods might just pity them because there was a boat still tied. It didn't look to be the best boat ever but it should hold the two of them and seemed reliable. ]
We'll follow the current. It'll be easier for us. We've got a lot of time. [ Caleb climbed in and set his pack in the center for balance. Frumpkin jumped in after that and he waited for Molly to join him. There was more tension, more silence as they untied and push off into the water.
It was eerily quiet after the general noise of the city. There was only the sound of rushing water, the torch that Caleb brought with, and the sound of their boat. Caleb wished he had the courage to talk to Molly, to say something about what happened and offer the only help he could give of a quick and painless death if it got to that. He stayed silent instead. ]
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He started to come back to himself after a while, as the lights of the Gentleman's green lanterns faded and they were left with only the torch to see by, an island of light in the pitch blackness. Slowly, quietly, moving with purpose and favoring his wounded arm, Molly shrugged out of his coat, wincing as he had to work free the patch of cloth stuck to his skin by blood. A few stray threads remained stuck in the teeth marks. Then he drew a sword and set to work slicing off the patch of sleeve that had been already torn by teeth. From there, he cut it into long strips for bandages, and then he rolled up his sleeve and plunged his wounded arm into the water up to the elbow.
The water was bitterly, bitingly cold, so much so that Molly had to muffle a cry of shock and pain. Only for a moment, though - then he felt his skin going numb and, hopefully, clean. He soaked the makeshift bandages in the water as well. He was about to start wrapping the wound when his eye was caught by the torch. Molly snatched it from Caleb and pressed it against his wound, only to frown when he felt nothing at all - whatever magic had enchanted the torch let it burn forever but offer no heat.
Well, that was disappointing. He simply set it down next to Caleb's pack with that in mind and set to work wrapping his arm.]
After all. [Molly spoke at last as if he were simply picking up a thread of conversation they'd been having all this time. There was a brittle sort of brightness in his voice, like glass.] It would be terrible if the infection killed me before the evil curse did.
[The flash of bravado lasted only a moment. Molly sighed, shaky and scared, as he struggled to tie off the bandages.] I tried to pull whatever it was out of my system. [He held up his bloodstained hand for inspection as evidence.] I think I got some of it. I don't know if I got all of it. I don't...I don't know if it matters.
[Giving up on the knot for a moment, he reached down to pick up Summer's Dance. He held the sword out to Caleb, hilt first, still not meeting his gaze.]
I'm going to keep trying, at least see if I can stay ahead of it. Buy some time to...figure something out, I don't know. You should still hold on to this, just in case. [He knew Caleb had a knife, but a sword would offer more safety, more distance, especially if Molly turned unexpectedly, especially if Caleb took some time to attune to the sword's magic.]
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When he released the torch Caleb took it back and found a better place to have it propped up. It wouldn't consume the boat either. There was just enough light between them for Caleb to see Molly's expression and the rather... fragile nature of the moment. He was keenly aware that the wrong word, the wrong comment, and Molly would break. Caleb swallowed nervously as he listened to Molly talk. ]
While you live... you should continue to use it. [ Very gently Caleb took the sword and then set it down at Molly's feet again. ] If we encounter trouble you'll make better use of it. The infection and magic take time in a living person. You can't instantly make someone undead.
[ The question of the hour was how much time? Caleb didn't know. He hadn't done a study of the creatures slowly populating Zadash. What he did know was they if Molly died the turn would be instant. It was perhaps possible he could live with the infection and magic just waiting for the right trigger. His knowledge of necromantic magics was fairly good as he looked into it when he first decided to bring his parents back.
It turned out though that necromancy could raise the dead but could not restore them to life. Caleb found it useless for his needs after that. He still understood the basic applications and methodologies. It made sense to him that it only changed the dead. If it was a necromancer who did this. He had no idea what a evil cleric might be able to do. ]
I think... you should continue to purge your blood like you every day at least once. Whatever it is you do might also remove any harmful magics. When we get further from the city I'll signal the others and Jester will cure you. We're making good time. [ It was a little hope and hopefully realistic. Caleb didn't want to promise Molly he'd survive and live happily ever after but there was a chance at the very least. ]
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I'm worried about what happens when we stop for the night. If...if I take a turn for the worse in my sleep, I won't be able to warn you. Will Frumpkin be able to wake you up in time? Maybe you could sleep under the boat. I'd, ah, I'd probably make a racket, trying to get it off of you.
[Molly wasn't even in any fit state right then to tease Caleb for being the one trying to be optimistic, for a change. But he did seem a little less fragile. Caleb might not appreciate it, but he had said something right. "While you live." That was something to hold on to. He wasn't dead yet.]
But I suppose if I make it through the night, we'll know I'm doing something to fend this off. I can do it twice a day before I hit my limit. [Beyond that, his system would reject such a violent process and he'd just throw up.] And I will. I doubt anything that lives down here will care about being blinded that much.
You know time better than anyone has a right to. How long do you think we have down here, if we keep up this pace?
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If it will help you... I will sleep under the boat tonight. [ He wasn't particularly fond of the idea. Caleb occasionally had issues with being confined in small places but he imagined one night wouldn't be horrible. If it helped Molly... well, he could try it for a little while. It would also give him time to grab a weapon and plan an attack if Molly turned in the night. It was a grim but good plan.
He considered the time question as they approached the fork in the river. They could travel a fairly good distance by boat with the rapid current but he had no idea when these waterways ended and where they emerged. He laid his mental map of the world over and compared the rivers, trying to work out a decent estimation based on that. ] I would guess... if these waterways don't go on for miles and miles, we'll emerge, uh, four days at most? I don't know how extensive these are.
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Well, since we've established I'm not about to drop dead on the spot, would you mind helping me tie these off? [He gestured at the tangle of wet cloth he'd lost track of in the midst of his own...distraction.]
...four days in a boat together. [His lips quirked up in a wry smile.] Jester is going to be impossible if she finds out.
Whooo! Phone tagging!
Jester will be so relieved to see us she won’t realize how long we’ve been alone together until a few days have passed. [ Perhaps it was a generous estimation but Caleb distinctly remembered the worry in Jester’s last message. She was afraid for them and wouldn’t be dreaming up fairy tales and smut novels for awhile once they were reunited. Caleb hoped. ] Beau may even be nice to you.
[ Now there was some optimism from Caleb. ]
Whoo! I hope you regain an actual keyboard soon!
Then again, maybe it wasn't so surprising. He was long out of practice dealing with wounds that stayed open for any prolonged period of time - he either healed on his own, or Jester was always standing by, much as she might grumble about the need in most cases. This was yet another area where Molly had simply never had to learn how to take care of himself in this way.
Either way, he could still tell the difference between Caleb's work and his - the wrappings felt more like a support and less like a tangle of wet cloth, a solid mass instead of individual pieces. He cautiously moved his arm this way and that, testing the work, making a faintly impressed noise.] Much better, thank you.
The world is perhaps coming to an end. [Or at least their chosen piece of it.] I always thought that's about what it would take for Beau to be nice to me.
[Rationally, he knew that Jester would be more consumed with worry than fantasies. She'd sent him a couple of messages as well, perhaps in the hope that he would, somehow, be able to reply when Caleb couldn't. Molly hadn't had any more luck than Caleb, but it had given him a chance to hear how worried she was.
Still, it was more fun to think of a future where they were all back together, and Jester didn't have any reason to worry anymore, and instead could go back to making up wonderfully embarrassing stories about the two of them.]
The four days part still stands. If you ever get bored, I think I remember some word games from the circus. [As well as several dozen different ridiculous stories.
This was, perhaps, as much fair warning to Caleb as it was an offer. Molly did not like being quiet for long periods of time if he couldn't also be moving, especially in a situation like this, where all he really had to think about was whether he'd live through the night.]
Keyboard obtained!
I have hundreds of books stored in my head, Molly. If you want to story to pass the time just tell me what you’d like to hear. [ Perhaps hundreds was an exaggeration but Caleb essentially retained a lot of what he read. In many cases he could remember whole books months after reading them. His memory wasn’t perfect but it was much better than everyone else’s. ] Or you can talk as much as you need. I’ll respond occasionally but you’re familiar with my conversational skills.
[ Out of the whole group Caleb frequently kept quiet and let the others talk around him. He interjected when he felt it necessary but he could sit silently for long stretches without problems. All the activity was in his mind and thought instead of spoken out loud. He would entertain Molly as much as possible but talking would never be his strongest talent. Listening was good though if Molly wanted to ramble through some thoughts. ] We have hours before sunset. Down here we could keep going through the night but it’ll exhaust us.
\o/ !
[Even so, his skepticism lasted only a moment before curiosity won out.] Can you tell me more about...well, Xhorhas in general, I suppose? [That seemed a broad enough topic of conversation to keep the silence at bay for a while.] Yasha's told me a little, but she's never liked talking about home. And it seems like the sort of place I should know about, all of a sudden.
[With a grin that showed just a bit of teeth, Molly added.] You can even skip the smutty bits if you really want to.
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Xhorhas is either wasteland, marshes, or the Krynn Empire. Since the Calamity it's pretty much been a land of few resources and wild beasts. You remember the negaliid? Native to Xhorhas. Sort of a fairly good example of life there. The Empire, the one we're in, limits information on it. There's a real fear that knowing more about the Krynn and Xhorhas in general will lead to some sort of... panic. [ Some of the people he had executed in his time with Trent had probably been Xhorhasian. They were supposed to be traitors and enemies of the Empire. He still really had no idea who those people had been. ] There are wandering barbarian tribes and other loose organizations of people but mostly it's monsters and the Krynn who we're with war at. They have a powerful, some say immortal Queen. She has enough people and enough magic to blacken the sky around her lands so I doubt she's someone to trifle with.
[ There wasn't much flavor when Caleb recited what he knew. It was factual and straight forward, no embellishments or fun. He was not much of a storyteller that much was clear. Molly would be much better at making this sort of stuff interesting. ]
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But he also wasn't about to pass up the chance to learn anything new, especially when Caleb might be a way to bypass the fact that Molly wasn't especially good at reading. He quite liked the idea of books. The fact of them often gave him trouble.
About the only sign of disturbance he showed was when Caleb referred to Klyre, because if Caleb's memory was so perfect, he should absolutely remember that "the nergaliid" had a name and Molly had known him for most of his life. But the brief moment of irritation was just that, brief. He didn't want to fight right now.]
Why would knowing things cause a panic? I'd have thought not knowing things would do that well enough. An imagination can beat out reality every time.
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[ If Molly was paying attention he would hear the way Caleb seemed to be reciting a mantra, something he had heard over and over and over again. It was, slightly modified, something Trent used to say. We are keeping the Empire safe and the people calm by putting down these traitors. He could even hear Trent's voice in his head saying it.
Caleb shook his to dislodge the memory before it could truly take hold. Now was not the time to wander down that part of his past. It was dangerous there. ] Knowing how powerful our enemies are makes people worry so keep the information quiet and people don't worry.
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[Molly was absolutely paying attention, and he understood people a lot better than he understood Empires. He didn't know why Caleb sounded the way he did, but he could absolutely detect when words had been learned by rote, and when that learning had been not entirely by choice. It wasn't the same sort of recitation as Caleb reciting history. There was something tense in it - like the sound of marching feet, when before Caleb had been speaking as easily as wind blew or water flowed.
But, all skepticism and concern aside, this was genuinely where Caleb lost Molly. He could rationally understand why that was how things worked, he'd had plenty of run-ins with human greed and pettiness as well as kindness. But this still didn't seem like an especially productive line of conversation to continue, even if Caleb didn't seem to entirely appreciate how stressed out it was making him.
So Molly changed the subject.] Tell me about the Calamity, then. [Hopefully that would be far enough away to be safe.
In general, he would try to keep Caleb talking for a while - ideally until they had to stop for the night, but Caleb's voice might not hold out that long. Even if the subject turned to more arcane magical theory that was well beyond Molly's grasp of understanding, Caleb would still find him a good listener.
He would take over breaking the silence if he had to, but Molly didn't entirely trust himself not to get too morbid. Maybe dry history was what they both needed.]
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He told himself it was to keep Molly entertained, to keep Molly's thoughts from focusing on the bite, and what might happen to him. It also kept him focused on something while they floated down in the dark. He couldn't see passed the light of the torch and he didn't want to think of what might be out there though he still watched. The ceiling was especially dangerous, he remembered that well. It had almost taken Nott the last time they were down here.
Eventually though, Caleb felt the strain in his throat and he had to stop. He might be a bit hoarse tomorrow. ]
Perhaps we should find a good place to land. Do you see anything out there? [ He held the torch a bit higher trying to spread the light farther. There had to be something out there that would make for a decent campsite. ]
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Besides, Caleb had a nice voice.
Unfortunately, Molly didn't know if they had anything in their possession that would let him turn the tea leaves into anything drinkable. But he remembered the honey, and made a mental note to badger Caleb into taking some for his throat. Tomorrow, Molly would feel better. Tomorrow, he would amuse himself and leave Caleb alone.
For now, Caleb was right, they should find a place to set up for the night. Molly stood up carefully in the boat to get a better view. With the light of the torch to help his eyes adjust, he was able to make out the rocky shore off to their left.]
Up there. [He pointed to a small but clear stretch of makeshift beach up ahead, where the jagged rocks petered out into flat stone and glittering, silvery sand. It was a space that would offer them some protection on either side from anything that might come for them on land. If anything were to come for them from the air, well...he had to assume it would have done so by now, if there were still deepstalkers in the area.
Molly grabbed up an oar and started to steer them towards land. Eventually, sand started to scrape the bottom of the boat. Molly hopped out, wincing as the icy water splashed around his ankles and soaked his boots. Once Caleb hopped out, Molly took hold of the boat and started to drag it properly onto land. He immediately realized that doing so was a mistake - his wounded arm screamed at the effort, where he'd been able to somewhat favor it before when working the oar. But he tried to hide the pain as much as he could in favor of getting the boat secured.]
I realize I should have asked this several hours ago, but do we have anything that could get a fire going?
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Caleb was breathing hard as he trudged up onto the shore and set his hands on his knees while he caught his breath. He missed Jester like an ache right there. She wouldn't have any trouble with the boat and would make fun of the both of them for being so bad at it. ]
We can walk along the riverbank here and see if anything has washed up. I'll... well, I'll see if my magic has come back. We're farther from the city now. [ Yet, a small voice in the back of Caleb's mind said they weren't far enough. He wasn't strong enough to actually cast anything. There was no magic left in him. He didn't reach for his spell components at that moment instead he took the ever burning torch. The magic there was already set.
He reached his fingers into the flames and coaxed it. A green spark leapt to his finger tip and for a moment held, burning like the torch. Caleb's eyes went wide. Oh. Oh. He had magic. It was coming back. He tried again and this time managed a ball in the palm of his hand but it was just like when he first learned how to do a spell, he felt a bit drained afterwards. ]
Molly... if you can find something... I think... I think I can light it. [ It was the first genuine hope he felt since Molly got bit. ]
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He was just shifting himself to start unloading their supplies from the boat when he heard Caleb gasp, and happily so. Molly looked up wildly and at first he panicked to see that little ball of flame hovering in Caleb's hand, which really was a sign of how you could get used to anything in the wrong circumstances.
Then he realized what he was seeing, and his face lit up. Perhaps the gods really were showing mercy at last.]
Oh now that is a sight. [He laughed aloud in relief, before starting to back away.] Wait right there, I'll...I'll see what I can see. [He turned and started off at a jog across the sands, though a twinge from his arm brought him back to reality in a hurry. Molly slowed down, drew a sword and lit it, and proceeded more cautiously. His careful search was rewarded after not long at all. At the very faintest edges of the halo of light cast by the torch, Molly saw a dark mass that didn't look quite like the rest of the rocks. Upon closer inspection, using his hands as much as his eyes, he realized that he had discovered the wreck of another boat.
He also discovered something slick and slimy tangled in that wreckage and Caleb would hear Molly make a disgusted sort of sound, backing away and waving his sword to try and get a better look at it. He realized after a second that he should call back to Caleb, in the loudest whisper he could manage:] I'm all right!
[Fortunately, he eventually realized it was nothing more than two deepstalker corpses, their leathery forms laying torn against the hull.
One of the Gentleman's convoy, Molly thought to himself. One of them had had some bad luck. But maybe that explained why they themselves hadn't run into any of the lurking predators - maybe the Gentleman and his team had performed a culling on their way through.
Whoever had been piloting this boat wasn't there anymore, perhaps their corpse had been consigned to the water. Unfortunately, any supplies that had been on the boat were similarly picked clean. Some of the wood of the boat itself was still good, however - only slightly damp and spongy from the wet air of the cave. Maybe a magic fire would let it catch.
Using the hilt of Summer's Dance for leverage, he was able to pry a few boards off and drag them back to their little camp. The scraping sound they made against the sand would probably announce Molly's success sooner than he could.]
Will these work? [He dumped the wood higher up on the beach, near the boat while hopefully not presenting a risk.]
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Yes, yes, I can do something with that. [ Caleb took a board, brought out his dagger and began to painstakingly split the boards down into smaller pieces. It was hard physical work and his arms ached after a few minutes but he managed to make decent fire wood from it. Hopefully, it was enough to last them through the night.
He built the smallest pieces into a triangle as kindling then he drew a component from his pockets and concentrated. Caleb whispered the words, crushed the components in his hands and cast. Flames licked from his fingers and caressed the wood. It took a moment and bit of a push from Caleb's magic but the wood caught and the flame held.
Caleb let out a deeply relieved breath. He was cold from his wet clothes clinging to his skin and a fire was more than welcome. ]
Come on. You need to dry off as well. [ Caleb built up the fire slowly but soon it was roaring and warm right around the fire. It would hold them for the night and the boat was not in danger of catching in the middle of the night while they slept. ]
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In the end, his hopes were well-placed. Molly let out a weak but delighted laugh, visibly relieved.] Mister Caleb, you are a wonder.
[But rather than sitting down and drying off, however, Molly got back to his feet.]
I'll dry off in a minute. [The space around the fire already felt lovely and warm as he brushed past Caleb, but now that the flame had caught, Molly remembered why he'd asked in the first place. He'd caught sigh of fat, pale fish in the water as they'd drifted along. Now wasn't really the time to try and rig up a fishing pole, but he had other ideas for what to do with the last of his energy.] I want to see if I can manage anything for supper. [Even though he had to wade into the water up to his waist before he starting seeing the bright, silvery flashes of fish once more.]
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A wonder indeed. ]
Don't freeze to death. [ The water was a chilly temperature and there would only be the fire to warm them up. Molly might have fire in his very blood but that didn't mean he couldn't catch a cold. In fact, Molly should be the last person risking disease and illness because... well... if he died...
Caleb pushed the unhappy thoughts away and focused on making sure that when Molly was done he could get warm right away. He got the food from their packs and a bedroll that he laid out right next to the fire. When Molly came back Caleb would insist he sit there. That would give him the best chance of warming up and drying out very quickly. ]
Frumpkin, can you help? [ Cats hunted fish. Frumpkin was a bit more than a cat but the familiar took one look at the water and then gave Caleb a look that clearly said he was an idiot. ] I wanted to check.
[ He scratched Frumpkin under the chin as an apology. ]
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Molly waited until he saw a fish flashing past and felt the mark on his hand start to weep blood again, though the blood was immediately swept away by the water. The fish convulsed in the water and then floated to the top, dead, drifting away. He swam out a little further to get it and tossed it onto the sands next to Caleb. Fortunately, close to the shore, the current wasn't so treacherous.
He repeated the process twice more, each time tossing a fat white fish over to Caleb, before Molly felt sure that trying to push his powers any further would only make him sick. So he made his way back onto dry land. He was thoroughly drenched, now, but pleased with himself, even humming softly. But he also wouldn't protest being guided to the bedroll, where he collapsed with a grateful sigh, absolutely not intending to move from it tonight.] Can you get those cleaned? [And he would wait for feeling to come back into his fingers.
Molly stripped out of his coat and laid it on one side of the bedroll, along with his boots. Then he just sat and basked in the heat, the flames dancing on the inside of his eyelids when they fell closed. The patterns they painted were soothing, lulling his mind alongside his exhausted body.
His muscles ached and he felt so cold and the fire was so nice. Molly just felt more and more tired as he drank in the warmth, to the point that even sitting up felt like too much. Had he been this tired all along, and just hadn't let himself realize it?
Maybe he'd just lay down...for a minute...
By the time the fish were cleaned, Molly would already have dozed off on the bedroll, still shivering a little in his sleep as the heat dried his clothes.]
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When he noticed Molly was asleep Caleb set the fish down, shrugged out of his coat, and laid it gently on top of him. The air was chilly but when he sat close to the fire he didn't notice it too much at all. It was almost pleasant. He laid the fish carefully out to cook, adding just a bit of salt so they wouldn't be completely tasteless then watched them.
It struck him as he sat there that it felt strangely empty without the rest of the Nein around to talk. They would have lowered their voice for Molly but they would have talked about the day's adventure, what to do next, maybe Jester and Nott would have braided hair or made up stories. There would be something more than Molly's soft breaths and the crackle of the flames. ]
Time to eat. [ He reached over and shook Molly by his ankle. ] Come on.
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Molly was starting to look faintly feverish - eyes clouded, skin a little pale. It might look like the symptoms of a cold or a fever, but even an ordinary cold didn't creep up this quickly. It probably wouldn't be hard for Caleb to put the pieces together - the time Molly had bought by purging his system was starting to tick down, and now he was finally starting to feel the effects of the curse laying on his body.
Molly wasn't really capable of appreciating that in the moment, though. All he knew was that he didn't feel good, aching and cold and raw - not enough to be debilitating, but enough to notice. His first thought was that he had overestimated himself, had subjected himself too much to the cold and was indeed getting sick for it. He thought to himself that Caleb was going to give him such a lecture for that. But that would be fine, maybe, because the fish smelled so good, and he could be lectured as long as he ate. Molly sniffed the air appreciatively as his stomach growled.] Oh, that smells very nice.
[At least the fish tasted as good as it smelled, the flesh faintly sweet even without the salt added to make it more flavorful. Molly devoured his share with a singleminded hunger. When nothing but the bones and head remained, he even sucked out the fish's eyes. The water in them helped ease some of the dryness in his throat, and in the end he felt at least a little more human - metaphorically speaking. When he spoke again, he was actually able to focus on Caleb from the other side of the fire.]
You should have some of that honey. For your voice.
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You should purge your blood again. [ He wasn't going to lie to Molly about the curse. If he could cleanse himself and hold it back again he needed to do it now. Caleb reached into his pocket for his copper wire and concentrated on Nott. The range was only one hundred and twenty feet but he had to try. The sooner they got to the group and Jester the sooner they could hopefully cure Molly.
My magic has come back. We can speak again. Molly and I are escaping through the Gentleman's waterway. If you can meet up with us Moly needs healing. Badly.. Caleb let the message go into the air and waited for a response while he ate his fish more slowly. His appetite was a little sour now that he could see the change. He would have to have a shield spell ready tonight when he slept. ]
My voice will be fine. It's worth saving the honey. You'll just do all the talking tomorrow. [ His throat didn't feel too poorly and while he sounded a bit deeper he wasn't terribly off. Caleb was more concerned with Molly. ]
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