Refuge - Chapter 6: Journey's End
Imported from SF2 with no description.
Casey reaches the anthro village, but tensions flare at his arrival.
Refuge
by TypicalFloof
Chapter 6: Journey's End
Chapter Theme: Tangerine Dream - Love On A Real Train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOa\_wqUdm-U
Long shadows stretched across their path as the two companions rounded another bend. Still overcast, the sky was rapidly darkening. Casey felt woozy on the back of the horse. He couldn't tell if it was from the altitude, fatigue, or both.
Casey heard Nora inhale and felt the horse's speed increase as she kicked the mare's side. He gazed ahead and his spirits rose. He could see lights in the distance!
The trail became less steep and straightened as they approached a wooden palisade running across the path in front of them. They neared it, and Casey could see that the barrier was constructed of thick, vertical logs arranged side-by-side. A narrow opening was cut into the center, wide enough for three men on horseback to ride abreast. The horse drew level with a small shack to their left.
Casey's heart pounded as the door creaked open and a thin, slinky form stepped through. It had a glowing lantern clutched in one paw, but Casey was more focused on the revolver grasped in the other. It was pointed in their direction. Casey's right hand twitched, seeking his holstered pistol. He forced himself to remain still.
“Identify yourselves!" Casey decided the anthro was some kind of ferret as it raised the lantern closer to them. He inhaled, preparing to answer, but the ferret spoke again.
“Wait… Nora? Nora Weiss? Is that you?" The ferret took a step closer, lowering the revolver.
“Yes. It's me, Nora," she replied.
The ferret leveled the gun straight at Casey. “A human!" His tail bushed up behind him and his thumb rested easily on the hammer. Cold sweat trickled down Casey's spine.
“Easy, Walter!" Nora held out her paws. “He's with me!"
The revolver's barrel dropped a few degrees, but Walter's thumb was still poised on the hammer. He shook his head.
“Walter! What's going on out here?" A wide badger stepped into view, lantern bobbing in front of him.
“It's Nora Weiss! She's here with a human!" the ferret announced.
Nora broke in. “Please, we need to get to the infirmary! He's injured!"
The badger looked at the horse and then back at Walter. He stepped to the horse, seeming to have reached a decision. The badger keyed the radio on his shoulder.
“Matthew?" The radio squawked. “This is Grismore. I need you to relieve Walter of his post."
After a brief back-and-forth, Grismore received an affirmative and took the horse's reins in his paw.
Motioning to Walter, he said, “I'll lead you there. Walter, follow behind. If the human tries anything, plug 'im."
With those comforting words, the badger turned and the awkward train entered the village. Casey gripped Nora as another bout of dizziness swept over him. He closed his eyes and did his best to ignore the swaying gait of the horse. He tried not to think about the gun at his back as he focused on not making any sudden moves.
“Not much farther. Hang on," Nora whispered.
Feeling the vertigo pass, Casey took in his surroundings. The badger was leading them down the center of a wide thoroughfare. The dirt road seemed to be the village's main drag. Anthros of all shapes and sizes gawked at the odd procession, whispering and pointing. Casey glimpsed low buildings on either side as they made their way deeper into the village. Shadows crisscrossed their path as they stepped through pools of intermittent lantern light. The badger's own lantern bobbed steadily ahead as the group drew near to a wooden structure at the end of the left side of the road.
After tying the reins to a hitching post, Grismore trooped up the front steps and banged on the building's door. He conversed in low tones with the rabbit who had poked its head out.
Meanwhile, Walter moved to the horse's right side and gestured. Nora slipped off the horse and turned. The ferret aimed his revolver at Casey.
“Your gun, human."
Casey licked his lips. “How do you want me to do this," he asked, hands raised.
“Stay still," the ferret said, stepping close. He set his lantern down, then reached toward Casey's hip. He didn't move a muscle as the ferret slid the pistol out of the holster and shoved it into his belt.
Walter nodded. “You can get off the horse now."
Grasping the horn, Casey carefully slid his leg over the horse's back. Nora held her arms out to steady him as Casey jumped down. He swayed, horn clutched in his grip. Nora ducked under his arm, and he gladly accepted her support.
As Nora helped Casey ascend the few creaking steps, Grismore blocked their path. He fixed Casey in a beady stare.
“I don't trust you, human," came his rumbling voice. He held up a paw as Nora's jaw opened. “But you arrived here with one of our own. No harm will come to you, unless you give us reason to. Patty will care for you for the time being." Grismore hooked a thumb at the rabbit standing in the doorway and stepped aside. Nora shouldered past, bringing Casey along with her.
Casey's feet dragged as he struggled to stay upright. The ground seemed to heave beneath him. He stumbled and collapsed on the floor just inside the door. He heard Nora's exclamation, but Casey couldn't make out the words. Sound reached him as if from a great distance, muted and dull like he was immersed in water. The last thing he saw before his eyes closed was the concerned faces of Nora and the rabbit bending over him.
***
Downy softness cradled Casey's back and head. If this was heaven, he never wanted to leave. He chased an errant thought. Wasn't he supposed to be doing something?
Casey stirred as low murmurs became audible. He inhaled, feeling the weight of a blanket on his bare legs. Lazily, he tried to lift his hand from beside him, but only succeeded in barely raising it from the bed. His entire arm was leaden and unresponsive. Why was everything so fuzzy?
Casey opened one eye, then the other. Each was a gigantic effort. He blinked, confused at the solid white mass that stretched all around him. Gradually, his eyes focused.
He was staring at a white curtain that draped around the foot and sides of his bed. Gazing upward, Casey took in the polished wooden beams that ran across the vaulted ceiling. He guessed he was in some kind of lodge.
He frowned. No, that wasn't quite right. Why couldn't he connect the dots?
Casey's head lolled to his right and it finally clicked when he saw the thin tube of an I.V. sticking out of his arm. A hospital. And a lodge. A lodge-pital. Or would that be a hospi-dodge? Casey giggled and it took great effort for him to stop.
Casey watched his left arm move across his body as though he was a disinterested observer. His arm was held in a sling, elbow bent, but his fingers were free. They scraped at the tape holding the needle in place. Casey stuck out his tongue in concentration. Finally, he got a nail under the tape and peeled it away. He winced as it pulled his skin.
Delicately, Casey grasped the end of the I.V. between his thumb and forefinger. He gasped as he began to draw the needle out of his skin. His stomach flipped, but he continued. At last, it was all the way out.
Casey tossed it aside and slumped back. He closed his eyes and tried to make sense of the whispers he was hearing.
“...get here … how?"
“Human…"
“...Liao?"
Casey blinked. “He—" he coughed. “Hello?" he managed to croak.
Like an apparition, a white-furred rabbit swished through the curtain. She was dressed in a pale green smock. Casey gawked at the fabric that curved over the rabbit's buxom chest.
He tore his eyes away and snapped his mouth shut. What is wrong with me? He was angry with himself. Had he offended the rabbit? He hoped not.
The rabbit leaned close to him, checking something over his shoulder. One ear twitched when she saw he had removed his I.V., but she didn't move to replace it. Casey looked up at her.
“W—" he coughed again. “Water," he whispered. The rabbit nodded and left without saying a word.
An indeterminate amount of time passed. Maybe she forgot about him? Casey was just about to attempt to move his legs over the side of the bed when the rabbit appeared again. She lowered a cup with a straw to his lips.
“Sip," she said. He sipped.
Casey drank most of the cup and sighed as the rabbit pulled away. He noticed her nametag. It read “Patty."
Feeling a little more normal, Casey looked up at her. “Sorry," he said. “Didn't mean to … stare earlier."
The rabbit giggled. “Hun, you don't have to apologize. How do you feel?"
Casey considered. “My head. It feels … spacey. Like I'm floating. I want to be … grounded again."
“Hm," Patty said, jotting down a note on her clipboard. “Well, I did give you a mild sedative last night. Didn't want you to freak out in new surroundings. I might've overdone it a little. Never treated a human before." Patty looked apologetic.
“It's okay," Casey said. He was distracted by something else at the moment. “Um, Patty? I need to … take a leak."
“There's a bedpan under your bed," she said nonchalantly, leaning down.
“No wait," Casey said. He succeeded in sliding his legs toward the side of the bed. “Don't you have an outhouse or something?"
Patty's forehead crinkled and her nose scrunched to one side.
“If you feel up to it…"
Casey nodded and got his left foot off the mattress. He couldn't stop his heel from banging on the floor. The pain actually felt good.
Patty helped him sit up and he swung his other leg over. Casey scooched to the edge of the bed. He paused, a little unsteady.
“You sure?"
He nodded again.
“Ready," he said.
Casey stood with Patty's assistance. He tottered, but she caught him. He felt a breeze at his rear. That was when he noticed he was wearing a hospital gown. Well, when in Rome… Casey forced himself not to giggle as he wrapped his arm around her neck. She was surprisingly strong.
With halting steps, the pair reached the curtain. Parting it, Patty guided Casey through. He blinked.
He was standing at the end of a long line of beds. Some were hidden behind curtains like his, but most were open. Of these, Casey saw only a few that were occupied. All eyes turned toward him. He froze.
“C'mon, honey," Patty said, prodding him to turn to his left. He was surprised when Patty marched him into a little restroom, closing the door behind her.
“Um, are you going to—"
“Nope. Just let me help you onto the seat," Patty said.
Fortunately, a railing extended along the wall to the toilet and it was on the right-hand side. Shakily, Casey eased himself down with the rabbit's aid.
“Just holler when you're done," Patty said, exiting and shutting the door behind her.
Casey did his business and felt more clearheaded once he was finished. He called the rabbit and she helped him stand and wash up. Casey was able to walk more easily back to his bed. Patty fluffed the pillow and propped him into a more seated position.
She left again leaving Casey with his thoughts. Something niggled at the back of his mind but Casey's rumbling stomach didn't let him focus. The curtain swished as Patty parted it widely, keeping it away from a bowl balanced in one paw. Casey spied a flash of orange and his heart jumped. He shot a frantic glance toward the rabbit.
“Patty!" he blurted. She flinched, almost spilling the bowl. “Sorry," he said as she set the bowl on a tray table next to him. “The fox that was with me; Nora. Where is she? Is she okay?"
Patty held out a paw to slow him down. She rotated the tray so that the steaming bowl was in front of Casey. His mouth watered at its aroma.
“Eat this first, hun. You need to get your strength back." Casey glanced at the thick, porridge-like fare. It smelled delicious and he had to fight the urge to dig in.
“Patty, please," he pleaded. “Just tell me if she's alright!"
The rabbit patted his shoulder gently. Her warm brown eyes held Casey in their kind gaze. “Nora's perfectly fine, hun. I checked her out last night and she went to see her parents. Now eat," she said, nudging the bowl closer. “You can ask questions after you finish all this." The rabbit left him to his breakfast.
Mollified, Casey brought a spoonful to his lips. Blowing on it, he took a bite. He tasted a slightly sweet flavor, almost like honey, that was quickly replaced with a bland starchiness. It sure beat the hell out of field rations! The famished MechWarrior devoured the entire bowl. He could probably eat another.
Casey called out and Patty returned.
“Can I have more?"
The rabbit blinked in surprise. “Alright," she said, taking the bowl. “But the elders…" Patty clamped a paw over her mouth looking guilty.
“Wait," Casey said. “What elders?"
The rabbit set the bowl aside and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I shouldn't have said that," she remarked. She cleared her throat and her whiskers twitched. “The elders were informed of your arrival last night. As you can imagine, it caused a bit of a stir."
Casey fiddled with the edge of his blanket, remembering the ferret's revolver that had been trained on him. This was what he'd been dreading ever since he had settled on this course of action. He looked at Patty.
“Nora told me no human has ever been here before." The rabbit slowly shook her head. “Believe me, I don't want to cause trouble!" Casey pursed his lips. “Is Nora going to be in trouble because of me? Look, I'll talk to whoever I need to. But it was my idea to come here. She shouldn't have to face any consequences because of me!"
Patty held out a paw.
“Easy. I think Nora should be able to explain. She's on her way now. She should get here by the time I get you another bowl." Patty moved to get up.
“No, that's okay," Casey said. He wasn't hungry anymore. The elders… His stomach flipped at the thought. He suddenly felt claustrophobic.
Pulling at the neck of his gown, Casey asked, “Can I get some fresh air?"
“Hmmm," Patty replied. “Let me check your arm." Casey winced as she unwrapped his bandage. He saw a gauze pad underneath whose edges were stained a slight green. He sucked in a breath as Patty peeled the gauze back. Some kind of greenish salve was smeared over the wound. Patty replaced the gauze, seemingly satisfied.
“Your bicep was pretty torn up," she said, rewrapping the bandage. “It looked like something bit you."
“Yeah," Casey said, not caring to elaborate.
“You were in surgery for a bit," Patty continued. “And you had a slight infection, but Doctor Norris thinks you should make a full recovery."
Casey winced as he felt dull pain emanating from his arm. “Will I still be able to curl eighty?" he asked.
Patty rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. “I see males are the same across the board."
Casey chuckled as Patty helped him sit at the edge of the bed. The tight feeling in his chest had receded somewhat, but he still wanted to be out of the stuffy room. He looked down at his hospital gown. “My clothes?" he asked.
“We had to slice them off for surgery," Patty informed. “But they're around here somewhere. Maybe you can see our tailor about getting them mended. In the meantime…" The rabbit produced a brown robe and laid it next to Casey. She untied the knot at Casey's back to remove his gown and he was a little embarrassed to be sitting in nothing but his underwear. Patty brought the robe around his shoulders and helped Casey thread his uninjured arm through the sleeve. Finally, she tied the sash at his waist.
“Be careful with that arm!" she chided as he stood at the edge of the bed. She parted the curtains and Casey was glad that his legs felt strong enough to step through without needing Patty's help.
“Hey, Patty!" a voice called from one of the other beds. “Forget the human. I'm sick!"
“Quiet, you mangy old cur," Patty chided good-naturedly at a basset hound squinting in their direction. “Jeremiah just wants attention," the rabbit explained as they moved down the row of beds. Casey focused on the doors straight ahead, trying to ignore the anthros' stares as he walked past.
“Make sure you don't lift anything," the rabbit instructed as they reached the doors. “Don't get the wound wet, make sure to keep it clean, and change out the gauze often!"
Casey turned to the rabbit with a grin. “Nice to know nurses are the same everywhere." His smile fell as he looked at her face. “Thank you for all your help," he said seriously. “If there's anything I can do for you, let me know."
“Hmmm, well Jeremiah's bedpan could probably be emptied…" Patty trailed off. She snickered at Casey's wide-eyed stare. “Just kidding, just kidding! Just come back and see me this afternoon, okay hun?"
Casey nodded and watched the rabbit bounce away. Turning, Casey stepped through the door and onto the front porch. He immediately felt better as he inhaled the crisp late-morning air. Finding a chair, Casey plopped into it with a sigh. The infirmary was at the end of the street, so not many anthros were milling about. His vision alighted on a familiar muted-orange figure that was striding closer.
“Casey!" Nora cried, increasing her pace. Casey hauled himself to his feet as the fox jumped the stairs. She wrapped her arms around his waist, carefully avoiding his injured arm. He squeezed her close and rested his chin on her head.
“Good to see you too," he murmured into her hair. Her lively tail swished behind her as he pulled back. He was happy that she looked well-rested.
“I'm surprised to see you up," Nora said frankly.
She was interrupted by a keening wail. Casey jerked, and Nora whipped around. They had attracted the attention of two wolves in the middle of the street. The female wolf rushed toward the pair with halting steps while the male jolted after her. The female was shaking an outstretched claw toward Casey.
“You!" she shrieked. “You killed them! You let them die!" Taken aback, Casey stared at the hysterical wolf. Nora moved in front of him and held her paws out to her sides. “Don't you protect him!" the wolf screeched. “He killed my sons! My Johannes and Karl!"
Nora's hackles raised as the wolf brought her paws to her face and bawled. Her frame heaved. The male finally caught up and wrapped an arm around her.
“Helga, please!" he beseeched. Ears drooping, the wolf stared at Casey with a sorrowful expression. His haunted gaze cut through Casey like a knife. Helga sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder.
“I'm sorry," he said at last. “Please forgive her." His tail sagged as he maneuvered Helga away.
His heart pounded as Nora put a gentle paw on his back. They stepped to their left and Casey saw they were headed toward a wide building set back from the end of the road. He could still hear the wolf's agonized sobs.
“Who was that?" he asked shakily.
“The Ottos," Nora muttered. “They are— were the parents of Johannes and Karl," she corrected. “They were in the back of my transport skimmer."
Casey felt like he'd been punched in the gut. No wonder! He forced images of the wolves' mangled bodies out of his mind. “There wasn't anything I could do for them," he whispered.
“I know," Nora reassured.
He hadn't even known that there were any anthros in the Vellan militia. It did little to assuage his mounting guilt. They were just kids. He shook his head sadly.
The pair approached the rustic building at the end of the road in somber silence. Its A-frame roof towered above them. Large windows were set high above, through which Casey glimpsed ornate chandeliers hanging from beams in the ceiling.
“This is the great hall. We use it for feasts and celebrations," Nora said. “And the elders preside here."
Casey turned toward her. “I'm guessing they want to grill me," he said, playing with his sleeve. “Listen, it's my fault that I'm here. I don't want any of this falling back on you."
Nora's brow wrinkled. “Don't worry about it. I'm going in with you. I'll vouch for you," she reassured.
“But—"
“No 'buts,'" she said, nudging Casey onward. He trudged up the stone stairs with resignation. Time to face the music.