The First Injured

Writers: Cali, Patrick
Date Posted: 23rd April 2007

Characters: Mosler, Kouna
Description: Mosler gets ready to close the main Hall door as the storm hits, and Kouna has a flashback.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4

Kouna had sent everyone inside and was giving last minute instructions to the dolphins before heading in herself. The dolphins swam off to their jobs; most to wait out the storm in deeper waters. Though a few were posted with the larger ships at sea.

Kouna turned to head inside when she heard the crack of lightning hit something behind her. She turned on the dock to see a ship floundering in the water. A smoking wreck of its topmast sat in the middle of the ship as it rode weakly at anchor. Kouna gasped.

She was suddenly back in another storm Turns ago. A ship rang out the distress sequence and she had answered it. Her partner Kib had swum out with her. She still remembered getting the three people they had saved to shore. Kouna had wanted to stop, there were plenty of teams on the ship now. But Kib insisted one more run. And in that run the mast had snapped from a thunderclap, looking much as that ship did now, and it had fallen on them.

Kouna couldn't move. She just stared at the ship as the raging surf pounded on the dock. Via squawked at her and when that had no effect on the paralyzed woman, the tiny gold when /between/ to Mosler.

"We need more sandbags," Mosler said to the men as he looked at the pile building up near the main door. As soon as everyone was inside the Hall, the door was to be closed and sandbags piled up to it to stave off the sea. "And you two, go check with the Headwoman and see if she needs help boarding up those upper windows." A gold firelizard popped from /between/ right in front of him and he recognized it as Via. "What's wrong?" She chittered, agitated, and headed out the open door towards the docks. He followed her into the blustering wind and needling rain, and upon seeing the smoking ship, started to run.

He slowed when he saw her, she looked okay if a bit waterlogged. "Kouna, you okay? Everyone got off the ship right?" Kouna barely heard him. Her mind was two Turns away. She could still remember how that mast had snapped like a twig. How Kib had pushed Kouna under with her body and taken the brunt of the blow. How Kouna had known she was dead, how it was all over. Then how Kib had used some hidden strength to push her partner to shore, before collapsing onto the beach beside her partner.

Tears fell along with the rain on Kouna's cheeks as she watched the unmanned floundering ship. She couldn't move, couldn't see anything but that ship.

"Kouna?" He tried again, but got no response as he shook her shoulder. He looked back at the ship again, shielding his eyes as best he could from the painful sheets of rain, and remembered her telling him about Kib. He turned back to his Hallsecond, his _friend_, and tried to shake her again, "Kouna, Kouna, look at me!" They didn't have time for this... he slapped her across the face, "Kouna, come on!" Through the haze of the past Kouna felt a slap to her face and saw Mosler's wet and worried features. She knew she should be mad that he slapped her, but all Kouna felt was sorrow, and fear. She clutched to Mosler's wet body and began to cry.

A strong gust of wind almost knocked them over and Mosler knew they didn't have much time before being at risk of the larger waves crashing onto the beach. "Come on," he repeated, not even waiting for her to reply before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her towards the main door. Kouna shook her head as she clutched at Mosler's neck, burrying her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I really am. I left to get _away_ from this!" She yelled into the winds. "I thought I'd be safe, a change of scenery, but it won't leave. I can't sharding forget it!" Her voice didn't sound as if she was telling Mosler directly, but rather hearing it for her own resolve.

Through the rain and wind he saw a small waterfall start to form over the Hall cliff next to the main entrance. As he took the stairs to the door he gave the dock and beach one more look for stragglers. The place was deserted, the lower float dock already covered by every wave. He stepped inside, still holding his Hallsecond, and barked the command. "Shut the door and start sandbagging!" He knew he didn't have to stick around, they would do as told, so he headed for Kouna's quarters. Anyone who saw them would think her injured securing the docks... and they'd be right.

Last updated on the April 26th 2007

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The First Injured