Gone (Previously the Fan-Fiction There and Gone Again)

Chapter 12: Unveiled

The sound of metal sliding smoothly into a sheath brought Kyna's attention upward, her gaze meeting that of none other than Einar. He was a sight to behold in full leather, which was augmented with thin armoured plates in the torso and legs. The plates shone a dark silver in the sunlight, and leaf designs embossed in the metal's surface shone. The armour was thin and allowed him a full range of motion while clinging to his body.

"Those were quite the skills of evasion, Kyna. Yet, I am glad I could get to you in time," he spoke softly, concern flickering in his eyes for a moment. "The entire forest is under attack. Where is the rest of the contingent? Where is Lorayon?"

"Uilwen," Kyna murmured, her thoughts immediately returning to Uilwen and the terrible injury she had sustained. Terror filled her heart, and she moved quickly, pushing herself up from the ground.

Severe pain shot though her body, reminding her of the wound that cut deep into her calf. Waves of nausea rolled through her as her leg buckled, and she began to collapse. A strong arm encircled her waist, preventing her from hitting the ground again hard.

"You are injured," Einar whispered, supporting her weight easily with one arm.

"Uilwen is much worse," Kyna replied, her voice shaking with a combination of pain and apprehension. "I have to get to her."

Einar's eyes moved over the clearing until he saw Uilwen's motionless form laying limp on the ground, the grass beneath her turning red with the dark crimson of her blood. Worry crossed his features, and he quickly helped Kyna across the clearing.

As they moved closer to the injured elf, the portal revealing Kyna's crashed vehicle shimmered vibrantly in full view. Einar blinked, his lips coming apart in surprise as he glanced toward the portal. It didn't take Kyna long to notice his astonished expression.

"I can explain all of this," she murmured, her gaze fixed on Uilwen's lifeless form. She released herself from Einar's grip and lowered herself to the ground. Her face went white as the pain the movement caused coursed through her body.

"You had better," he spoke, his voice heavy with worry and confusion. He stood close to the two of them, watching Uilwen pensively. "She is our best healer."

The wound had continued to bleed, and Uilwen had lost a lot of colour, her skin resembling ash. Her eyes were still open, and they fluttered softly in response to Kyna. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

"Dammit," Kyna cursed, placing her palms tightly against Uilwen's abdomen, trying to staunch the flow of blood. She did not have the supplies needed to stop the bleeding, and she felt hot tears sting her cheeks. There was no chance of saving her. "Uilwen, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I was so concerned with going home, I didn't think."

Uilwen's lips trembled, a husky whisper coming from in between them. "Celestflower." She managed the slightest nod her head.

It took Kyna a moment to realize what the healer was saying, but when she did, her eyes widened in realization. "Celestflower!" She reached into her pack, which was lying beside Uilwen, and pulled out the sprig of celestflower the healer had given her earlier in the morning. "But, I can't use this. I can't do anything with it!"

Uilwen nodded at her before her eyes rolled back into her head and closed. Kyna could feel the panic rising as she looked between the wound and the celestflower in her hand. She tried her best to remember what Uilwen had taught her and tore off a portion of the plant off, shoving it in her mouth and chewing it until it was a moist mass. She pulled it from her lips and pushed it into Uilwen's wound, covering it with her hands.

"That is useless. There is no way that will work for you," Einar said from behind her. "We have to transport her. The forest is still filled with orcs."