Ambushed [Dylan]

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah wasn't sure she'd ever been so thankful in her life for help as she was for Caitlin's help right now. She felt Caitlin jump as she began speaking into her mind, but resisted the urge to wince. No doubt she'd only cause guilt in the girl trying to help her with such a facial expression. Thinking quickly, she set her swords aside in the Room of Requirement before they exited the door. It certainly wouldn't do to turn up in the infirmary with them. Though, she'd probably wish she'd kept them if Dylan turned up to visit during her recuperation.

She held as much of her own weight as she could as Caitlin helped her down to the infirmary. She ignored the stares as they passed through the corridors... or rather, she was completely oblivious to them. Her entire attention was focused on simply moving forward and making it to the infirmary... that mixed with the task that breathing had become and the task that her injured knee made of walking were more than enough to fully occupy her at the moment. She did, however, glance up as she felt a particularly intense stare upon her. She lifted her eyes briefly to see Kerridon. She did not pause her eyes to look at him, but merely lifted them as though she were looking down the hallway... as though he wasn't there at all. She knew that, as much as she'd prefer to have him near right now, there was no way that was possible... and so there was no point in allowing her gaze to linger. One never knew who might see and take note of such things.

When they finally reached the infirmary, D'rorah gratefully sank against the bed Caitlin led her to. It was a relief to take the weight off of her knee and to stop moving so that she wouldn't have to breathe as much. Hopefully the nurse would work quickly... the injuries were only physical (something for which she was ironically grateful), so they should heal nicely as long as no lasting damage had been done. She nodded as Caitlin headed off and laid herself back against the pillow as her world began to swim before her. She remembered the woman leaning over and asking anxious questions, but she couldn't quite process the words to understand them and respond. She felt weak and tired... and all she really wanted was to sleep at that point. Even through the pain, she felt herself descending into an abyss of sleep... she didn't fight it too hard.

The next thing she remembered was waking up. She could breathe again, and it seemed her pain was mostly gone except for a blinding headache. She blinked slowly and inhaled deeply, lifting herself up on her elbows slightly. The tested her jaw, moving it a bit to guage whether or not it had been fixed. It was certainly sore, but it seemed in order other than that. As she finished sitting up, she noticed Caitlin in a chair by the bed. [blue]"Thank you, Miss Collins, for your help today. I must say, your timing was nearly impeccable."[/blue] She was surprised by the fact that her voice sounded slightly hoarser than usual, but figured that was nothing to worry about given the problems she could have had after those sorts of injuries. Feeling stiffness around her knee and midsection, she tried to crane her neck to see, but found the muscles around her jaw protested the movement. It felt like the knee was splinted and she had a bandage of some sort around her torso.

She noticed that her usual school robes were gone, replaced by the trademark white gown of infirmary attire. Her lips pursed slightly at the short sleeves that bared her arms for all the world to see. She knew that, if she pushed the blanket back, she would find bare legs as well. But, as they were covered up for the moment, it was not worth spending attention on. [blue]"How long have we been here? And how long must I stay?"[/blue]

[Caitlin Collins]

Having conveyed what she had been instructed to say – both in regard to the injuries sustained and the reason behind them – Caitlin watched with a feeling of relief as the nurse swooped down on D'rorah and being asking frantic questioned while beginning the healing process. Dee didn't actually get to answer any of those questions though, because she had either fallen asleep or unconscious. Cait sat herself down on the next bed across, watching the nurse work with both anxiety and curiosity. She didn't get long to just sit and do nothing, though – she was suddenly being sent off to go and fetch one of the infirmary gowns from the room on the right. She hurried off, finding one quickly enough and returning. However following that she did not get to see any more of the healing, because the curtains were drawn briskly around the bed, blocking her view.

Intending to stay to make sure that Dee was alright, Cait leaned her head against the wall as she waited, and eventually the curtains were drawn and the nurse exited. After instructing Caitlin for a few moments, she bustled off and out of the infirmary. Standing, she moved closer to the bed, and noticing a seat on the other side of the bed, went to sit in it. She noticed the scars visible on D'rorah's arms and realised that the rumours actually had been true for once – whether they were true about what Dylan had said was another matter entirely, but judging from his actions today it did not seem quite as implausible as it had before.

Caity's mind wandered as she waited for Dee to wake up, and she brought one foot up to rest on the chair seat so that she could rest her chin on her knee, looking about the infirmary for anything of interest to occupy her. Seeing a jug of water on a tray nearby, Caitlin checked the door for anyone else passing by but found that it had been closed by the nurse on her way out. Focussing, she made it begin to turn so that the swirls were visible through the clear glass of the jug. With a concerted effort, she pulled a strand of the water so that it rose above the swirls, calming them now as she concentrated. She made certain parts bigger than others, pulling out new strands so that eventually she had formed a small figure made out of water.

Focussing so much, she had not heard D'rorah move and was not aware of her newly awakened presence until she spoke. Jumping violently, her head spun to look for the source of the voice and she lost her concentration, causing her to quickly swivel her eyes back again to the jug as she heard the water splash over the side and onto the tray. Her cheeks reddening, Caitlin hastily gathered up most of the spilt water and dropped it lightly back into the mass of liquid – although there were still a few droplets on the tray due to her hurry, it was hardly noticeable. Still blushing a little, she turned her attention back to the girl in the bed.

[yellow]"I'm not sure exactly... about forty-five minutes, I think,"[/yellow] Cait replied hurriedly. [yellow]"The nurse said to stay until she gets back and then she'll say. She's... um... gone to complain to the headmistress about the moving staircases,"[/yellow] she admitted, not sure whether to be amused by that or worried that she might be called on as witness to their danger.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah had watched Caitlin controlling the water in the pitcher for a while before speaking. She felt a bit of regret at the girl's startled reaction and fierce blushing as she spoke up. She listened quietly to her hurried reply and smirked as she mentioned the nurse having gone to talk to the headmistress about the staircases. [blue]"I daresay that if she informs the Headmistress of who was injured by the staircases, her only regret would be that they did not succeed in crushing me."[/blue] She laughed ironically and shifted to sit up more, finding her movement hindered by whatever had been bound around her torso. Apparently her options were sitting up completely straight or lying down at present. She elected to remain lying down, figuring there was a reason for the wrapping and that it would be best to leave it alone.

[blue]"That is quite something,"[/blue] she mused aloud, her gaze switching between Caitlin and the water pitcher. [blue]"Do you realize how incredibly rare it is for one of us to have such intricate control over her element?"[/blue] Of course, by 'one of us' she meant Shadow Warriors, but she wasn't going to use the title aloud out here. [blue]"It has been generations since that sort of ability has been displayed."[/blue] Certainly, D'rorah didn't have that sort of control over wind. She'd been able to conjure a few gentle breezes, but mostly she only found that breezes came of her own accord to comfort her.

She hoped the nurse would return soon. She'd prefer not to have to stay here any longer than was absolutely necessary. It wouldn't do to miss classes and the like for these injuries. Although she was ahead, she wanted to stay ahead in all of them... that way she would be prepared in case something important came up to take her away from them. Of course, she didn't note the irony at all in the fact that she didn't consider her own near death as something important enough to take her away from class.

[Caitlin Collins]

D'rorah obviously did find the story of the nurse going to complain at least somewhat humorous – Caity wasn't sure if she'd ever seen the older girl smile before and gave a hesitant smile back, the last tinges of redness fading from her cheeks. She looked on warily as Dee tried to rise then gave up, not wanting her to hurt herself more by dislodging any bandages.

She blinked in confusion and surprise as D'rorah commented on her antics with the water. [yellow]"I... really?"[/yellow] Once she had first worked out how to control her element, it had come quite naturally to her to keep practicing till she had a better degree of control. She had assumed that the others all had that amount of ability as well – and it wasn't as if what she was doing was that amazing. It was just moving the water about in the direction she wanted it. It was so pliable under her control that it was hard to resist constantly playing with it absentmindedly and just forgetting who else might see.

[yellow]"Are you sure?"[/yellow] she asked doubtfully, not convinced that the power she had was that much more than anyone else's. [yellow]"I'm just moving it... I haven't tried doing anything else, just reshaping it. So long as I concentrate it's not that hard. It... it helps me to relax,"[/yellow] she explained. Odd, really, that concentrating on something helped her to relax.

Thinking back to Dylan's actions earlier, a frown appeared on her face as she stared down at the ground. She wanted to know both sides of what had happened, but was almost frightened to ask... All she had seen so far was a very angry Dylan and a very injured D'rorah, with no explanation. [yellow]"Dee, what... what exactly did you do? Why is Dylan so angry with you?"[/yellow] she asked hesitantly, glancing up to see the Ravenclaw's expression in response to the question. It wasn't exactly subtle at all, but Dylan hadn't wanted to talk about it and she wanted to understand why he was acting like this.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

[blue]"Yes, really,"[/blue] she responded to Cait's confused question. She listened to the confused way Caitlin questioned the accuracy of her statement and nodded. [blue]"I am quite certain,"[/blue] she stated authoritatively. [blue]"I have trudged through more information in this regard than probably anyone else living today."[/blue] She shifted slightly, an eyebrow arching as she continued to speak. [blue]"You have simply become so enamored of the idea of your own inferiority that you refuse to see any of your talents as being particularly remarkable."[/blue] She shook her head slightly as she continued, [blue]"Personally, all I have ever been able to summon are the most gentle of breezes... and they are not particularly well-directed. In fact, it is nearly impossible to distinguish between them and natural breezes."[/blue] She smiled a bit. [blue]"You should not doubt yourself so much, Caitlin. It is very difficult to compliment a person who refuses to acknowledge that she is capable of having talent."[/blue] She felt a little odd addressing her by here a first name, but she felt this was how she would be speaking... this was how two people would normally address one another.

D'rorah watched as Caitlin's expression was replaced by a frown. The question that followed next inspired a sad look of concern on her own face. [blue]"I honestly do not know... He was, understandably angry that I took so long to find him. That, and he seems to have found a new..."[/blue] she resisted the urge to use the word "tramp", [blue]"girlfriend."[/blue] She breathed slowly. [blue]"It is for the best, really. He is much safer without me and we never really were very similar. Though, I cannot offer any explanation for the rage I experienced today."[/blue] She didn't even want to think about the humiliation she had endured in the common room. [blue]"I suppose it was all deserved after everything he has endured on my behalf in the past year. Any one relationship can only endure so much strife and tragedy before one member begins to resent the other."[/blue] She pushed a strand of hair from her face and exhaled dismissively. [blue]"In any matter, we have both moved on, so it is of no consequence now."[/blue] Of course, that statement lay in complete contrast to the fact that she now lay in the infirmary, healing after having been nearly beaten to death. She wondered whether he would have succeeded if Caitlin had not intervened... he very well might have, given her own reluctance to harm him, and his single-minded determination to bring about her untimely demise.

[Caitlin Collins]

Caity nodded uncertainly, unable to doubt that D’rorah had researched a lot on the matter. She always seemed to be carrying around books and documents that looked very old and foreign, which undoubtedly contained a lot of knowledge on the subject. She blushed again a little at D’rorah’s statement regarding her feeling that she was inferior, knowing that it was also not exactly untrue… She knew she wasn’t as well trained as the other Shadow Warriors, with the possible exception of Susan, and had just assumed that prowess with elemental powers was all the same and just depended on how much training you had.

Apparently that was not the case – certainly, what D’rorah could do with wind was nothing close to what she had just done with water. [yellow]”I just thought it was all the same level, or potential, and it depended on the training,”[/yellow] she explained. Most of what she knew on the Shadow Wars she had been directly told or deduced for herself – she had never really done any particular reading or study on the subject. She wouldn’t even know where to go for books on that. The ones D’rorah had all looked horribly long and in a foreign language she wouldn’t be able to understand, and she doubted there was a ‘Beginners’ Guide to the Shadow Wars’ lying around.

Caitlin blinked in surprise again when D’rorah said she did not know… was she lying because she did not want to talk about it? But that didn’t seem at all like her… She was usually so direct. Apparently it was true that Dylan now had a new girlfriend – another rumour she hadn’t really believed – but the argument that it was because of all Dee had put him through over the last year seemed a little harsh and, frankly, unrealistic. [yellow]”But… what was it that changed his mind? He seemed fine before he disappeared, and now suddenly he seems to hate you… And it’s totally illogical anyway, to attack you because he resents you. It’s just… not like him, at all. And even if you have, he obviously hasn’t moved on.”[/yellow]

[D'rorah Philosophy]

[blue]"No, it is apparently not all the same level of potential. At least, I know that I have very little capability with Elemental Magic. It is not a common talent... typically unique to only five people."[/blue] If she was honest with herself, she was slightly envious of Caitlin's ability. D'rorah was accustomed to exceling in the things she attempted. Of course, it was unrealistic to expect oneself to be talented in all things... though that never stopped her from striving for betterment.

She didn't really want to delve into the subject of Dylan at the moment. He was a subject that had occupied too much of her mind over the past months, though Caitlin made valid points. [blue]"Dylan has always been an emotional creature,"[/blue] she remarked thoughtfully. [blue]"He spent tedious weeks in depression and feeling useless, he has swung before between elation and anger. While I have never before witnessed violent rage, given the variations within his disposition, I can see him allowing his emotions to fester until they became destructive."[/blue] She thought for a moment and took a deep breath. [blue]"I have used up all of my tears on concern for Dylan Cooper. No matter why he hates me now, he is certainly entitled to his feelings and I shall waste no more of my effort attempting to beg for something to feed my own understanding. His bitter emotional state and his rejection very nearly killed me almost once. I will not give him that opportunity again."[/blue]

She smoothed the blanket that lay over her before she continued. [blue]"He caught me unaware on this occasion, but I shall not make the mistake of underestimating his intentions or abilities again."[/blue] The way she spoke this last comment clearly indicated that she considered the matter closed. [blue]"I have moved on. Whether or not he chooses to do so as well is his own business."[/blue] Her jaw clenched at the memory of the night in the common room. There was no acceptable excuse he could conjure for his behavior that night... and that had been what had finally and irrevocably shifted her feelings toward him from a depressed resignation at loss of his affections to her own indifferent disdain of whatever his thoughts might be about her.

She looked up as the nurse returned, happy to have salvation from having to pursue the matter of Dylan any further. [blue]"How much longer must I remain here?"[/blue] she asked calmly, cutting to the matter right away of wanting to be out of the infirmary and about her business. Though she hoped she would be able to leave immediately, it appeared that that desire would not come to fruition. An overnight stay would be required for monitoring and another course of treatments to take care of any lingering affects now that the major injuries had been healed.

[Caitlin Collins]

Caity stayed quiet as D'rorah spoke about Dylan and his apparent emotional instability. She couldn't judge him at all for that – she hardly had stable emotions herself. But attacking Dee for apparently no valid reason? That, she could most definitely blame him for. She certainly didn't think he was entitled to hate D'rorah for no reason, but didn't argue due to the tone of finality she ended her little speech on. The Ravenclaw obviously didn't want to discuss the topic any further, and Cait could fully understand that.

She turned her head quickly towards the door as it swung upon, revealing the return of the nurse. D'rorah did not look too pleased that she would have to stay for the night, but the nurse didn't seem too bothered about that and bustled off to her office at the end of the room. After a short pause, Caity also stood. [yellow]"Um, I'm going to go now if that's okay... do you need anything?"[/yellow] she asked, glancing up to make sure the nurse wasn't watching before putting those last droplets of water left on the tray into the jug.

((Yeah... wow... very short. This post wasn't working very well with me.))

[D'rorah Philosophy]

((Don't worry, my muse has been a bit broken today too. Besides, the thread seems over to me.))

D'rorah's eyes followed the nurse as she bustled off to her office. She watched Caitlin place the water droplets in the pitcher and offered a tired smile in return for the offer she made.

[blue]"No, thank you. You have already done quite a lot for me today. I am very appreciative."[/blue] She smoothed the sheet over herself one more time, wishing she had something to do. She would ask for a book, something to pass the time, but it seemed too much hassle to have Caitlin find a way into her dormitory when she was only staying for one night. [blue]"I suppose this is as good an opportunity as any to catch up on my rest. I understand I look as though I could use a good deal more sleep than I have been allowing myself of late."[/blue]

[blue]"Have a pleasant evening. Be safe."[/blue] With that, she settled down against her pillow and closer her eyes to see what an attempt at sleep might bring. With any luck, it would be a quiet night for a change. She would rather not wake to the sound of her own screams in the middle of the night here where others would hear them.