New Beginnings.

[Aldrid]

Saedran was many things, but understanding was not one of them – so when Malus suggested he bring Old Man with him, he was a bit skeptical, but with the way he was insisting so urgently, he somehow knew that this was one of those things beyond him. Standing in the door, he looked at the decrepit old dog that lay in the corner of the room, his dark brown fur torn out in patches, and when he lifted his ugly head to fix the man with that single, muddy brown eye, he couldn't help but kneel down and hold his hand out for the maimed beast. At first it seemed as if the dog wasn't interested, but instead, he ever so slowly pushed himself up on to three shaking legs and hobbled over to him. One of his ears was missing, and scars riddled his snout; his tail was a little more than a stub, and according to his first-mate, the way it wagged so enthusiastically was a sign of happiness. How the damnable thing could actually be happy was, once more, lost to him.

He put a hand on the dog's head and was met by its wet tongue lapping against his skin, “Come on Old Man,” he muttered softly, and lead the dog out the door. It was slow going to the infirmary, and there was a somberness to the crew as he walked by. No one knelt to pet the thing, no one smiled, but they treated the animal with the same respect as their captain. The creature, after all, was the closest thing to evoke the sense of comfort that a companion often brought. As they slowly meandered through the halls, his mind wandered to the moment they met. Old Man was younger then, but looked much the same now. Torn up and bloodied, and yet some part of Saedran made him stop and take the pitiful thing in.

The captain stopped at the door to the infirmary and didn't bother to knock before entering, and was quickly met by the disgruntled look of the on-board doctor; he didn't have time for her complaints though, and the sight of Old Man at his sight left her quiet.... for now. Saedran stood patiently over the woman he had found locked away in the tomb buried in ice. His eyes searched over her, looking over every detail of the thin sheet that covered her naked body, until finally his stare found her face. Something about the serenity about her sleeping form felt surreal, and for a brief moment there was a sense of regret, but this disappeared as quickly as it had come. Leaning over her, he put a hand on her shoulder and gave a slight shake, the action gentle by his standards, and his brusque voice cut through the quiet of the infirmary, “Wake up.”

[Admin]

Lost in a translucent dreamscape; neither blissful nor filled with hells demons. Stuck between a state of forgetfulness and clarity. She knew that certain aspects; the steady drum of her strongest muscle pumping blood and oxygen through her system, lugs expelling and inhaling air, along with many neurological functions. She was aware of it all. Her body however felt like it was folding in space, captive and free. Two concepts that did not quiet synergize.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

There was that sound again. Constantly fading in and out of distance. She could almost reach it, but never could quiet get there. At first she thought she could ignore the vibrating noise. Yet, that was improving impossible. As the sound only grew more pungent that it was making her body feel very off. She was not sure why, but it didn’t feel right, her atmosphere and aura was disrupted.

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP

Air suddenly filled her lugs, her lips broke slightly, and her eyes fluttered ever so slightly open, then closed once more. The light was blinding and her head spinning out of control. All she knew is her shoulder hurt like hell and her instincts were to raise up her hand and sloppy touch her shoulder. If she happened to touch Saedran in the process she would not be aware. Opening her eyes for one second, was enough exercise for a whole month. The machine she was hooked up too to monitor her heart went wild as soon as she began to function. Then suddenly, it went stable and there was no signs of movement.

[Aldrid]

Saedran frowned as the machine reflected her response, and her heart beat grew erratic; then finally her eyes opened, and in that brief moment when his gaze met hers, he knew he had finally found what he had been looking for. The man brusquely turned and made his way for the door, but when Old Man didn't follow after his master, it was his only indication to be patient, and to wait - instead, at the dog's silent insistence, he returned to her bed side once more. He found herself watching her, as he had made a habit of doing every time he passed through here, searching her gaunt features in hopes of finding... something.

Eventually a sigh of resignation escaped him, and he took a seat in a nearby chair and his lap was quickly occupied by the dog's head. Patience was key. He had waited this long, and a few more minutes wouldn't make much of a difference. Time wore on, and soon enough the steady rhythm of the machines monitoring her heart beat threatened to lull him in to a sense of comfort - and as he found himself slowly being pulled in to its hypnotic sound, his irritation quickly flared up. It was unlike him to display anything other than displeasure, but his hand curled in to a tight fist, and the reaction was met with the familiar bump of the dog's head once more, cautioning him and his anger.

"Dammit all," he hissed under his breath, and exhaled loudly through his nose. Once more he leaned over her, and his hand was on the girl's shoulder once more, "I said, wake up!"

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