"Do something!" Darius yelled at Daniel, fear mounting in his heart.
"I don't know what to do!" Daniel yelled again, anxiety shining in his own eyes. He had never witnessed anyone choke in such a manner before and he was growing all the more terrified.
"Well I can't do anything, stuck as I am," he growled, growing angrier by the minute.
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As the wind whipped around her, Calista became lost in a world of white. She couldn't see two inches in front of her and her body began to grow numb as she struggled onward. Gasping for breath, she stumbled once more before falling forward, a cry of surprise escaping from her lips as she landed in the snow. "Everything is so beautiful..." she mumbled as she pushed herself to her feet and staggered onward, her face and lips now very pale. "White lights everywhere..." she muttered in her delirium as she took another step before losing her balance and falling once again. Raising herself from the snow-covered ground, she began to crawl on her hands and knees as her energy began to ebb away and her body grew more and more numb as the moments passed by.
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On his way back, Gareth became caught in the blizzard that raged around his home. Using his light magic to illuminate the path, he hastened his journey back to the family abode, praying that Calista made it back safely before the storm arose. Finally arriving back at the house, Gareth quickly changed his tunic before racing back into the guestroom.
"What the-" he exclaimed as he saw Rosalina choking on her phlegm and Daniel staring at her like a lost child. "Move!" he ordered the Old Man as he raced up to the woman. Gently lifting the woman off the bed, he wrapped his arms around her and began to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina choked and struggled until finally the phlem came up, and she vomited the phlem and other stuff. The bile was streaked with blood. Rosalina herself became limp, her breathing was shallow and a bit ragged from the strain.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Ro!" Darius shouted as Rosalina became limp in Gareth's arms. Not making a comment, the mage gently laid the woman back down on the bed and immediately began to look for Calista.
"Can you make the broth?" Darius asked quickly, breaking into Gareth's thoughts.
"Not without the Taitanium root," he remarked quietly. "Where is Calista?" he questioned, worry in his hazel-green eyes.
"She has not yet returned," Daniel replied.
"I'm going after her," Gareth muttered as he turned from the group. "My heart tells me that she is trouble," he added, his voice tight with worry.
"I'm going with you," Darius replied to Gareth. "In this form, I am useless to Rosalina, but I may be able to help you locate your woman faster."
"Then let's go. Every second lost brings both women closer to their doom," Gareth remarked as he hastily walked out of the room with Darius at his side.
------------------------------------------------------------
Crawling along the ground, Calista thought she could make out a black blob a few inches away. Her fingers were now numb and with each inch she moved, her eyelids grew heavier as a overpowering drowiness settled over her body. As the seconds passed her by, her movements became more and more sluggish until it seemed that she was barely moving at all. "Tired...soo tired....must..." she mumbled as her lashes began to flutter rapidly and the world blurred into one as her eyes glazed over. "Ooooh...." she moaned as everything soon faded into black. Glassy blue eyes rolling up as her lashes fluttered close, Calista crumpled forward and lay motionless on the snow-covered ground as the wind whirled around her and flakes continue to fall on her limp form.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina lay in the bed. She wasn't sleeping, just unconcious, she never dreamed. Her breathing never changed either.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Sitting on a chair near the room, Daniel just kept an eye on Rosalina, not really knowing what to do. "What have I done?" he murmured to himself. This woman was near death and he did not want to let his thoughts ponder on the fate of his daughter. What if Gareth and Darius could not find her in time and banishing Darius ended up costing him his only child's life?
------------------------------------------------------------
A low growling surrounded the lifeless Calista as numerous pairs of yellow eyes appeared in the darkness. As fate would have it, the young woman had passed out in an enclave inhabited by hungry wolves. Stepping forward, the alpha male walked over to the partially buried woman that lay in the snow and began to sniff at her. Snarling then, he sank his teeth into her left arm to taste her flesh, releasing the scent of blood into the air. Calista did not stir as the wolf bit her. She could not feel anything. Her face and hands had grown chalky pale and a blue tint colored her frozen lips.
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The winds had abated as Gareth and Darius stepped outside and both took to the sky to begin their search. "Rose!" Gareth called as they flew over to the woods, his deep voice echoing in the silent frigid air.
"Gareth...." Darius shouted, spotting footprints on the ground, off the main path.
"I see them," Gareth remarked through gritted teeth, realizing at once that in the blizzard Calista became disorientated and could now be in mortal danger.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina turned over in her sleep, coughing and moaning. She did not wake.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Rising from his seat, Daniel walked the short distance to the bed and made sure that Rosalina was properly covered. "Hold on," he whispered to her. "Darius, Gareth and Calista will be back soon to help you," he added. "At least I hope so."
------------------------------------------------------------
The pack of wolves began to surround Calista then, snarling as their dark shapes drew near her, saliva falling from their beastly jaws and onto her blonde hair.
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Picking up the scent of wolves and blood, Darius let out a roar as if to issue a warning to the wolves on the ground while he and Gareth were in the air still a short distance away.
"What is it?" Gareth asked him.
"Blood." Darius remarked. "Mostly human---slightly something else." he added.
"Calista..." Gareth murmured, Darius' words nearly causing his heart to stop beating. Hold on, dear maiden. I'm coming, he thought to himself.
------------------------------------------------------------
Hearing the roar, the pack of wolves raised their heads as they picked up on the sound before turning their attention once more back to the lifeless woman. Landing a few seconds later at the enclave, Darius let out another roar, challenging the alpha male and his pack as he crouched as if ready to pounce. "Get to your woman," Darius growled at Gareth as the alpha male stepped forward to challenge him and the rest of the pack stepped back.
"Calista!" Gareth exclaimed and he caught sight of the unconscious woman from the sky. Landing a second after Darius, he briefly nodded at the beast as he made his way toward the comatose maiden. Seeing the deep bite mark on her arm, the deathly pallor of her skin and the blue tint on her lips caused his heart and throat to constrict in sorrow and fear. Please let her still be alive, he prayed silently as he rushed to the side of his love, nearly falling a few times in the snow in his haste to aid her.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina shivered and coughed, coughing out a bit of blood as she did.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Seeing the blood only made Daniel wince, but in reality, he did not know how to help her. Gareth and his daughter were the healers, he knew nothing of herbal lore. Yet what was disturbing him all the more about the situation was how long it was taking Darius and Gareth to find his daughter, and all he could do was pray that both women would be all right.
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"Rose, wake up! Can you hear me, love?" Gareth whispered urgently to the lifeless woman as he gently scooped her up in his arms. Glancing down at her prone body, he could tell that she collected the necessary roots which were in her dress pocket, but had gotten lost on the return trip back. Shakily placing his fingers at her neck, he drew in a deep breath as he touched her skin. It was ice cold and her pulse was thready at best. Taking off his cloak, he gently wrapped her in it, trying to warm her as best as he could while shielding her body from the cold gust that would stir every so often. "Hold on, beloved. Hold on," he whispered to her, as he listened to her ragged, shallow breaths. Lifting his hand, he gently brushed some of the snow from her lashes and skin, before pulling her close to his body, trying to warm the comatose woman.
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Howling at Darius, the alpha male lunged at the mythical creature as Darius side-stepped the assault and snapped his mighty jaws at the hungry beast. Leaping back, the wolf then lunged forward before clamping his jaws around one of Darius' forepaws. Roaring in pain, Darius cuffed the hunter with his other paw before releasing a stream of fire at the alpha male, incinerating it instantly. Turning to growl at the pack, the dragon-lion made sure to keep himself between the wolves and the mage and his woman. As the remaining wolves then attacked him, biting and clawing as they leapt upon his back, Darius roared once more in pain before flying in the sky to knock some of the beasts off. When he landed again, he growled at the remaining members who whimpered as they raced off defeated. Turning to lick a few of his wounds, Darius finally gave his full attention to Gareth and Calista.
"How is she?" he asked the mage.
"Nearly dead," Gareth whispered, choking on his words.
"Get her on my back," Darius remarked. "I will carry you both back to the house. If heaven smiles on us, the heat from my body may be able to warm her."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina coughed until she couldn't catch breath, the blanket and sheet became speckled with blood.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Not saying another word, Gareth climbed to his feet and carried Calista over to Darius. He gently laid the woman forward on Darius with her face resting partially on his mane, her chest pressed near the front of his back and her arms hung limply at her side. Climbing behind her, Gareth made sure to keep her steady as Darius took off into the air, flying back to the house as quickly as possible.
Once he arrived, he allowed Gareth to dismount and waited until the mage had lifted Calista's lifeless body before walking into the house. Seeing blanket and sheet speckled with blood, Darius felt his throat constrict in anguish and it took everything in his power not to tear Daniel to shreds. "Daughter!" Daniel howled as Gareth walked in with an unconscious Calista wrapped in a cloak in his arms. "What happened? Is she alive? Will she be all right?" he asked as he glanced down at the woman's deathly pale face.
"She was needlessly caught in a blizzard," Gareth remarked to Daniel, his voice harsh. "And now barely clings to life. Why couldn't you have just done as she wished and let Darius remain in here?" he asked the old man, anger flickering across his hazel-green eyes. She had not stirred once since they had found her and with each passing moment, Gareth found himself growing more frantic for her life.
Walking up to Gareth, Darius looked at the mage in entreaty. "Please help my love and I will watch yours," he said softly as he laid on the ground. "Lay her on me," he told the mage quietly. Nodding, Gareth gently set Calista across the lion's body so that she would remain warm before he started a roaring fire. Once that was finished he brought in a pot and poured the remaining water into it before crushing the roots of both plants and mixing their essences together. Next, he set the pot over the fire and began to stir the broth with the ladle. When all was ready, he scooped some of the drink into a cup and walking over Rosalina, held the cup to her lips so she could drink.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina drank the liquid again. coughing when it was gone. Her breathing eased a bit, and she no longer coughed up blood. But still, she did not wake.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Seeing Rosalina's breathing ease a bit, Gareth breathed a soft sigh. "Her recovery will take some time," he told Darius softly. "I am going to take Calista to her room and tend to her there. If something happens, come for me immediately."
"Understood," Darius remarked softly as Gareth knelt beside him and gently scooped Calista in his arms. "Thank you for your aid," he told the mythical creature with a small smile. "I will tell Calista all that you have done for her. You have my word," the mage added. Seeing Darius' wounds a frown then crossed his face. "Your cuts need to be tended to.." he remarked. "There is still some paste left," he remarked seeing the dried paste still on the side. "Tend to Calista first. You can assist me if there is time," he added. "I have suffered far more severe injuries than these." Giving Darius a look of respect, the mage nodded before turning to Daniel. "Bring the paste into her room and sit with her while I go and gather supplies," he told him before walking out with Calista still in his arms. Carrying her into the room, Gareth gently laid Calista on the bed before gathering all the spare blankets that he could find and wrapping her in them. After starting a fire in the fireplace, he turned to glance at the motionless woman. He was a bit relieved to see that a little of her color had returned though her skin was still pale. As Daniel walked in the bowl containing the remaining dried paste, Gareth went to his room to get a bandage to wrap her wounded arm in, a cloth he would warm to place upon her skin and some other herbs for a medicinal drink before heading outside to gather more water to liquefy the herbal paste.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Rosalina stirred, and moaned a bit. she coughed, it was bad, but nothing came out.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Hearing her cough again, Darius got to his feet and walked over to the bed. "Ro," he said softly as he rested his great head on the edge of the bed.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting at his daughter's bedside, Daniel gently took her limp hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I am so sorry, my child," he whispered. "I should have listened to you. Then maybe you would not be fighting for your life."
------------------------------------------------------------
After getting the water and a cup, Gareth came back into the room with all of his supplies and quickly move to the lone table to work. Adding a little bit of water to the dried paste, he mixed it until it reached the proper consistency before he walked over to the bed and lifting her arm from the covers began to rub the paste into the deep bite wound.
"What happened?" Daniel asked as he stared at the wound in horror.
"She nearly became a meal for a pack of wolves. Be grateful Darius fought them while I tended to her," Gareth remarked as he gently rubbed the medicinal herb into the wound. Once finished he tenderly bound the injury before placing her limp arm under the covers again. Next he moved from the bed and started to boil some water while holding the cloth over the fire to warm it. Once it was sufficiently warm, he walked back over to her bed and gently placed the cloth along her neck and chest, knowing he had to raise her temperature. "Come back to me, my darling," he whispered in her ear as he continued to apply the warm cloth to her skin.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

After some time, Rosalina finally opened her eyes a bit. She was still drained, and they had a glazed look still. "D-a-r-y?" she asked slowy and weakly.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)