Chapter Two:

A leaf of learning

A soft feeling was under his body. If it was a bed, Jerry wasn't sure. He hardly had the will to think about opening his eyes, scared that the sensation of a soft bed might just be a dream. Was he back home in Lamb's Crest? Back in the modern world? Had all that had happened been purely in his imagination?

No. There was no weight behind that idea, but then as he tried to feel around, to subtly explore, he couldn't move his fingers. Sudden fear gripped him and his eyes shot open as he sat up.

But instead of seeing one of his worst fears, he saw his hands wrapped in many layers of cloth bandages, making his fingers immobile. There was also a thin layer wrapped around his middle, but he didn't feel any pain there while examining himself.

After a short while his nerves started to settled down, he finally felt the pain of his bandaged digits. They did not feel broken, but they stung; Though it was more in frustration than anything else as he tapped one of his wrapped hands against his temple and groaned.

"Ugh. Kara wil so not let me hear the end of my stupidity from this."

Just then shock lanced through him as he remembered the night of the attack and his fears of not being able to see Kara's caravan throughout that chaotic situation.

Without waiting for anybody to enter the room, Jerry jumped up, bare chested and only in thin breeches. The room around him reminded him of a log cabin. It had a homey outdoors feel to it, but it had many items that looked like it was meant to deal with injured parties.

Not even thinking of his state of undress, he stormed to the door and struggled with the crude handle with his wrapped hands.

*Okay, it is a big assed log cabin, was his first thought after he finally got the door open.

It led into a hallway with several doors on either side, making him move forward with more care. The first door opened to an empty room and the second was a washroom that held more than a few odd utensils. But Jerry didn't linger as he ventured to the next door. It was already a bit open, so he softly pressed it inward. A big room came into view, almost ten metres long and four wide, with several beds and a table filled with bloody bandages and a couple of knives that had fresh blood on them. Jerry held his breath at the scene, his heart already beating faster.

But just as he was about to leave, he spotted a person wrapped heavily in bandages at the end of the room and another two other figures on the beds to his immediate left, their faces were hidden behind wooden screen boards.

Without hesitation he rushed toward them, and as the people came into view, he saw Mictoria, her small frame looked severely bruised. Panic bubbled up, and just as he rushed to her side to see if she was alright, a voice startled him from the side.

"She will be fine, she is sleeping. We Nasyri are tougher than we look."

Jerry glanced to see Christoff press his board to the side. The gypsy was sitting up, but had bandages all over his torso, but he looked alright as he stood up with little effort.

"Do you know what happened?"Jerry asked, though he pushed down his curiosity on Christoff calling himself and Mictoria Nasyri. That could wait.

"To me?" The gypsy asked and Jerry nodded. "I was trapped under heavy debri after that last attack."

Jerry huffed as he sat down on a crude wooden chair.

"What were those things?"

"I don't know, Nísir. I didn't get a chance to see. But even so, I'm as bewildered as you are. I haven't seen such powerful creatures in decades. For it to have destroyed so many Floating caravans makes it incredibly dangerous. I do however want to thank you, Nísir, you saved me and Mictoria’s lives. The caretakers told me of how they found you at the reigns.”

Jerry was happy he could do that. But still nervousness bubbeled out of him,

“Christoff… I’ve not seen Kara or Tyas since I woke up.”

The man’s face pulled taut and his fists clenched as he tried to get up, but immediately his hand flung to his ribs and he grunted in pain before sitting back down, coughing.

“Ugh uh uhg. I … ugh fear many had been slain last night. We need to find whoever survived.”

Jerry looked to his bandaged hands and asked in a low voice,

“But how…?”

A female voice from the side startled him.

“Any way we can.”

Jerry eyes settled on Mictoria who was holding the side of her bandaged head tenderly with one hand. She looked at him and Christoff with concern, but more so with determination before she spoke again.

“I take it we are in Dawn’s Approach, Christoff?”

The gypsy man nodded his head.

“Good, we might receive help from the Tza’Vengard stationed here. How many of the Nasyri made it back?”

Jerry stayed silent, totally out of his depth in the situation as Mictoria yet again took seemless command of a bad situation. Christoff appeared taken off guard by Mictoria being passed out moments before, but now asking questions. Even so, the male gypsy cleared his throat and said,

“I only know what the caretaker said earlier. Five caravans made it this far. But of the members, the number I do not know, though most are badly hurt. Koi-la is the worst off, he … used the caravan’s crystal directly. We were lucky being so far to the front.”

Mictoria made a Tsk! sound as she glanced at the totally wrapped up man in the room. After a few seconds of staring, she asked,

“Only five caravans? … It is worse than I feared. What could have caused this?”

The question was not asked as if expecting an answer. Mictoria stayed silent only a moment before continuing,

“Regardeless, it seems we have a difficult path ahead of us. Nísir Jerry,” She paused and took a deep breath. “Given the dire situation, I… I need to ask your help.”

Jerry froze. What could she possibly need his help for…? Ever since coming to Sambria, he had been tossed about all the crazy events that had transpired, from rescuing Kara to the Valley of Blades.

It was a joke. It couldn’t be anything else. He started laughing. But then he noticed Mictoria’s serious face and stopped laughing. Immediately he asked,

“How could I possibly be of help to you?!”

Mictoria’s features softened and she smiled at him.

“Oh, but you’ve already proven yourself greatly Nísir, do not devalue your worth. And in this matter I will ask of you, you may very well have something that none of the Floating Gypsies have.”

Jerry stared at her dumbfounded. What did he do? And what did he have that these extroadinary fighters didn’t have. As if sensing his doubts, Mictoria took his hand in hers and said,

“From what I heard, you saved my life Nísir, and my brother’s.”

Jerry looked to Christoff and gulped.

“Mictoria… I just—“

“You shone the light that are in you brightly and for that I am humbled and greatful. Thank you, Nísir. And it brings me to the favour I need to ask. Those creatures that attacked us are powerful … If we are going to go back and bring back survivors, we need to use whatever is available to us. What I’m going to ask of you will be dangerous. So, go and get dressed Nísir, and if you choose to help, keep that in mind. We will go from there.”

Jerry couldn’t get any words out and just nodded before hurrying out of the room.

His heart was beating rapidly. The whole of the night before hadn’t sunk in yet. The life threatening dangers of it and… for the first time ever he had saved someone’s life. Two in fact.

Tears slid over his cheeks. The emotions of the moment were more intense than any he had faced in his almost seventeen years. It sent shudders through him as he cried. His back pressed against the wall in an attempt to stay up right. His heart tightened all the more when he thought of his friends.

Yet, with it, a determination to help who can be helped clawed its way up in him. Even if what Mictoria was going to ask of him was dangerous. No matter how much, he was going to do it.

Jerry wiped off his tears and stared at the wetness glistening on his forearm, and the emotions that accompanied it. It couldn’t be dechiphered in the least. But it could wait.

What came next was more important. He strode into the room where he had woken up.

Upon entering, the sound of a girl chuckling at something became apparent.

“Huhuhu!”

Immediately Kara popped into his head. Though, as he stepped around the door, hoping to find his friend, there was a figure in the corner. Dark hair, streaked with what could be called butterfly purple, adorned her head, a medium length not touching her shoulders. It was definitely not Kara.

He wanted to sigh, but it was then that a smooth tail swishing energetically about on the girl stopped Jerry like a statue. His eyes popped open wide. It couldn’t be real. Yet the tail flicked around like it had its own will.

Another chuckle came from whoever was rummaging around in the corner of the room. It sounded more like she was very excited about something.

About then the floor creaked under Jerry’s foot and the person and her tail froze and straightened.

“Eh!” She squeeked and spun around looking startled.

As Jerry made eye contact with her, words escaped him. Instead of asking politely who she was, or saying hi for that matter, Jerry blurted.

“You got a tail…!!!”

Her ears perked up showing slight points as a bewildered expression came over her face.

“Huh? Of course I’ve got a tail,” She huffed cutely. “I’m a Leafling.”

As if stating the fact, it dawned on him that she was exceedingly different from any person he had ever seen. Her skin had a soft shade of darker pink to it and her eyes glimmered with an aquamarine color.

Dizziness swept over him.

Am I hallucinating? Did I hurt my head…

His bandaged hands went up to his head and felt around, but as he brought his hands back down, there was no blood. He looked to the girl, her tail was twirling back and forth, and an excited look filled her face.

She sniffed the air before she said,

“I thought I smelled something odd yesterday when my friend bandaged your hands…”

The strange girl bounced forward towards him and Jerry jerked backwards, until hitting the wall. He glanced about nervously as she neared him, but then she stopped and sniffed again.

“There is no doubt… But hmm, what is it. It smells so familiar…yet… No, but it can’t be.”

Just then she sniffed again and again. As she did her eyes settled on his, she stared intently into them. Long seconds passed and the stare only intesified, but then all of a sudden her eyes got big as saucers as she stumbled backwards towards the bed, her hand shook as she pointed to him.

“You’re— You’re— You’re h-human!!”

“What?” Jerry blurted. His mind just blanked. It was just too surreal. It was like everything was backwards.

“You’re not going to kill me? I’m just a healer. Please…” The girl said in a quivering voice.

Jerry was so confused. All he could get out again was,

“What?...”

As if his simple question flipped a switch, the strange girl with the tail stopped shaking. She tilted her head slightly and cautiously asked,

“The stories are true aren’t they? That all humans are murderers, and conquerors seeking to—“

A voice came from the side,

“That’s enough Ysa. Truly, it is just like you being inquisitive enough and figuring it out in such a short time. It is no wonder that your teachers have always been astonished at your intelec.”

Jerry glanced to the side as the girl squeeked at the intrusion. Mictoria stood looking quite perplexed.

The girl named Ysa blurted then,

“Mictoria, he is a human!”

Her tail was flicking back and forth in a more agitated manner. Even so, Mictoria slid into the room and regarded her with a slightly amused tug at her lips. Jerry could only spectate in this utterly bizarre situation as his mouth didn’t function as well at the moment.

“Indeed. But do you believe the rumors about humans so readily?”

“But!... but…”

“Hush,” Mictoria said, putting a hand on the girls head, and Ysa blowing up her cheeks as Mictoria continued, “Nísir Jerry, though human, showed nothing but compassion and bravery while he travelled with the Floating gypsies the last few days. Far from the vile creatures Moons’ Reach makes them out to be.”

Jerry watched as Ysa eyed him from under Mictoria’s hand, her tail was less rigid in its swaying. It was then that he found his voice as he blurted,

“Mictoria! She’s got a tail… and her skin!”

Mictoria’s demeanor changed immediately as she stared at him in complete confusion. A frown gripped her features.

“Surely you must have seen a Leafling before, even though they are a bit rare in these parts, Nísir?”

Jerry shook his head wildly.

“Never! In fact, I thought humans were the sole race of the world.”

Ysa and Mictoria both paled for a moment before the gypsy asked gravely,

“W-Where do you come from?”

Seeing her shaken like that gave pause to Jerry. It was like his statement had struck them to the core, which made no sense at all. Like the concept was completely alien to them. But humans were the only race… yet, the sight of Ysa made him shake his head. What was going on?

“I can’t begin to explain, given our lack of time. Regardless of that fact, I am just as confused as you two are… I don’t know how to react to all this.” Jerry dragged a bandaged hand over his forehead, wiping the sweat off.

Some part of him wanted to wake up from the dream, but, a chilling fact reminded him it was not a dream and Kara and Tyas was in danger. Before Mictoria or Ysa could say anything else, Jerry lifted his hand and continued,

“Mictoria, we really don’t have time for this, my friends, your people are in danger. We need to go as soon as possible.”

The gypsy woman breathed in and then nodded, but seemed no less shaken as she said,

“I can’t say I’m not affected by this notion that you are from a place where that is true… But, your words speak wisdom.” She breathed out and turned to Ysa. “Come now Ysa, I need Nísir Jerry’s help in saving the people that might still be alive. So if it is possible, could you finish the healing on his hands?”

The Leafling girl looked up at her, trepidation hinted in her aquamarine eyes, but at Mictoria’s plight, she nodded. In fact, she seemed to shake off whatever fear she had for the moment and firmed her shoulders as she said,

“I’ll try to heal him, but I’m coming with you!”

A flabbergasted look passed over Mictoria’s features and she just sighed.

“You are just like your brother. But fine…”

“Heeee! Thank you!” Ysa squealed in joy and her tail swished energetically behind her. And another sigh came from Mictoria.

Ysa, with a big smile on her face came towards him, zero fear in her eyes as she gave him a sly look as she chuckled and said,

“Huhuhu, I look forward to hear ALL about humans from you. So, now hold out your hands.”

Jerry just stared at the confusing girl, not only did she have a tail, but her personality was anything but simple. As he blankly stared at her, she got frustrated and snapped her fingers. He jerked out of his thoughts and lifted his bandaged hands.

The girl smiled and started unwrapping them. As they came into the open, Jerry gasped, his palms and fingers were full of places where his skin was completely gone.

Had the mad dash away from those monsters done that to his hands? He hadn’t felt half the pain of it! Upon seeing it though, the pain came in full force and he almost dropped to a knee. He took deep breaths as he tried to manage his hurting hands.

The Leafling girl looked to his hands biting her lip. Uncertainty passed over her features as she blurted,

“I tried it twice yesterday! But it hadn’t healed as much as normal. Mictoria… is it because he is human?”

The words went right over his head. Of course wounds like those wouldn’t heal in a night. It would take weeks, months even! Jerry gulped. How was he going to be of any help in searching for Kara and the rest? His hands were a mess.

But what came next was even more confusing.

“Indeed,” Mictoria said in thought, “Humans seem to have a higher resistance to raw affinity. But it doesn’t explain everything… Still try to do it again. It might work better this time.”

The girl looked completely focused as she said,

“This might hurt. But try to keep your hands against mine.”

She gripped her one wrist strap and then her other before she placed her hands palm down on his own palms. Jerry grunted in pain, but did his best to do as she asked, even though he didn’t know at all what she was doing.

The next moment though, she closed her eyes and her tail started to dance through the air behind her. It was almost enchanting, but the fact that her wrist guards started glowing, and her hands also, completely caught Jerry off guard. He was about to rip his hands away from her in fright when Mictoria barked from the side,

“Nísir, stay still!!”

Jerry’s eyes were wide as a feeling of warmth seeped into his hands and the skin started pulling tight.

If it wasn’t for Mictoria telling him to stay still, Jerry was certain he would have scrambled out of the room. But he stayed, and he silently freaked out at what he was seeing.

Yet, as the minutes passed, the pain in his hands started lessening drasticly. It was to the point where he marvelled at what was busy happening. The strange girl was doing something weird, but his hands were so much better.

Ysa opened her eyes. She stared into his before looking back down. I slight hint of doubt showed on her face. Like she was scared of what would be there under her hands. As she lifted her hands up, Jerry choked, and coughed as he looked at his hands.

The skin on his palms had almost completely grown back! Given, there were still small gaps, several blisters and new scar tissue, but it was a far cry better than the raw flesh that had been there before.

“No way!” Jerry gasped, he stared in wonder at the girl.

She smiled slightly. Which was odd, because the incredible thing that had just happened. She looked to Mictoria and shrugged, her cheeks were puffed up and her tail hung a little less proud behind her.

“It worked a little bit, I guess. But still… it’s not nearly as much as I would have liked after three times!”

Jerry gaped at her, “Are you kidding me?! Not as much! This is months of healing worth! How is this possible…”

Ysa’s tail quirked up swishing happily as surprise crossed her face at his praise.

Mictoria stepped closer and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Ysa’s primary affinity stones are of healing.”

Jerry stared at her and asked,

“Affinity what?”

Mictoria slapped her hand over her mouth.

“No… Nísir! You cannot tell me you don’t know about affinity stones?”

Jerry looked back and forth between the two before his shoulders dropped,

“No… I don’t know. Though, hear me out, I’ll happily let you touch me up on Sambria’s history as we go, but… we can’t waste any more time! Surely you know that. They could be dying out there…”

The others nodded soberly and in seconds, Mictoria turned to leave. As she did, she placed her hand on the door and said,

“Get dressed, Nísir. And then meet us at the central Morning trees in the courtyard.”

As if a bubble burst, Jerry looked at his thin breeches, his only piece of clothing, and then at Ysa who realized as well as she yelped, stared and then scurried out of the room at a brisk pace before Mictoria, her smooth tail fluttering up and down all the way.