RP:Uncomfortably Numb

Part of the Through A Glass, Darkly Arc

Summary: Returning home from the witch meeting in Rynvale, Callum expresses his worries finally to Meri once they were closer to the house. The conversation doesn't go on for long until the witch-hunters make themselves known, intent on taking out the witch that they viewed as the weakest link in the chain. With Cal shot multiple times and bleeding out, Meri goes wolf to kill the hunters (and almost nommed on Cal) and takes him to the Paladin's Guild to save him from his second near death experience.

Odd Watering Hole, Sage Forest

Callum || Staying in Rynvale after that witch meeting hadn’t been the plan. But as things with it progressed, and his mood shifted from an anxious one to a dour one (and then there was that rain cloud that follow them), Cal was pretty wore out by time they got to the Kraken. They’d room there for the night, and Cal seemed to maybe feel a little better the next morning, but he still didn’t speak of the meeting. There’d be conversations, of course, and maybe even a bit of laughing and smiling on his part depending on where the conversations went, but no. No meeting-talk. It wasn’t until they’d almost made it home that Cal would finally say something. He’d stray their path somewhat to the fishing hole nearby to their house and stared down at his reflection in it, his words directed at his woman, now that they were hopefully far enough away from prying ears and eyes (physically or magically), “Meri, I don’t deserve to be with those people.” A hand lifted and motioned in the direction of Rynvale, where the meeting had been. “I’ve not been through any of the things that’s happened to them because of what they are. How am I supposed to form a coven with them when I feel like a fraud? I still don’t entirely know what’s what with witchcraft--I don’t even know what the hell I was supposed to do last night. I just stood there with a lit candle and tried not to frak things the hell up.”

Meri could tell something was off with Cal from the moment the rain started pouring at the meeting. Since Callum did not talk about it during their walk from the meeting place to the Kraken, she had assumed that he was not ready. The next morning, he was clearly in better spirits but that particular subject was notably still avoided -- that would not stop Meri from gently prodding. She was obviously concerned. It was never hard for Cal to get her attention back to other subjects. She wouldn't force him to speak his mind when he was not ready to, that was not how she usually tried to work with Cal. Cal is given a curious expression when their path strays from their home and they take a detour to the nearby watering hole. Confusion gives away to a heavy frown when the Catalian speaks his mind, "You don't deserve to be with those people?" Meri continues to frown. "Babe, please do not talk like that...You deserve to be with those people if you would like to be with them. Just because you have not been through some of the things that they have? Does not mean that you have not had your own plights in life that perhaps they have not experienced. I think trying to build knowledge and understanding between you and them is a two way thing....And you are open to it? But are they...?"

Callum was feeling a bit fidgety as they spoke about witch stuff. To counteract this, he drew a bit of water up out of watering hole, forming it into an orb as he often did, letting it spin carefully just above the palm of his hand. “I would like to be a part of them, yes, but it’d make things far easier in my mind if I knew what they were all thinking. Valrae seems fine with it, and Lanara too, but… the rest of them? Especially the older ones? It all feels something akin to the drow, except… you know… less stabby.” He made a face at the thought that popped into his head: the older witches weren’t using magic on him. Instead, they were just whacking at him with their wands because they didn’t view him as worthy of their magicks. “I don’t know if all of them are open to it and it’s kind of embarrassing to ask. ‘Yes, I would like to know if you’re okay with a guy being amongst all you womenfolk when you’ve likely never had one around you at all in quite a long time if ever?’ “ His eye twitched a little at the thought.

Meri || As a whole, Cal seemed more fidgety than the norm, and this was not an observation that Meri was applying to just today. It began ever since he acquired that skull but it has been getting worse as of late, no thanks given to those witch hunters. Meri nods to Cal. What he was saying were sentiments she herself felt as the only non-witch present that night, she imagined for him that these feelings were probably made more complicated because he was actually a witch. Where else was he going to get support in gaining understanding in what that meant for him if not from them? "I feel like...even to those witches who are more stubbornly set in tradition, with everything that has happened...you would think they would be able to find it reasonable to offer us acceptance. We have both wanted nothing more to help their cause for a long time and I would have thought by now we would have proven that to them over and over again. If they want to be skeptical about my presence at any future coven meetings, I do understand and will sit back...but I want you to feel comfortable with them. I don't think you should have to ask them if they are comfortable with you because you are a male...I think we should be past that by now..." As Meri speaks her own thoughts, she stares at the orb of water spinning above the little pond. Meri sighs.

Callum just kinda shrugged a little, “I would hope so. But now with these witch hunters, I’m sure they’re just going to be wary of everyone, even other witches. You heard what Val said, about some of them turning tail and hiding instead of helping to fight. I wouldn’t put it past some people to help Cramer in order to save their own skins. I’m sure they wouldn’t make it through this whole thing, but you know how desperate people get.” He sighed too. “Once again, it’s just starting to feel like you’re the only one I can trust anymore. Well, you and that family of yours, I s’pose.” He meant the other Catalians and Khitti, of course. It was already made well known that none of them cared what sort of abilities the other had so long as they didn’t hurt the wrong people with it. “Our family,” he said not long after, making sure to correct himself. The herb witch was about to go and let that orb of water plop back into the watering hole until… it was shot with an arrow. The projectile whizzed past the both of them, hit the orb, and continued into the pond. More arrows followed the first. One caught Cal in the back, just near his shoulder, while more flew past his head, multiple ones aimed at Meri as well. Then came the smell of burning as witch hunters came at them from three sides, leaving them trapped in front of the watering hole, wielding flames as angry as any fiery Catalian’s.

Meri didn't have a chance to really get a word in before Cal and Meri find themselves under fire of arrows. She would at first nod with Cal's reminder that Val had said some witches were turning and hiding instead of helping to fight. If they did join Cramer, they would probably find that they would be met with betrayal in the end, or so Meri internally speculated. Meri probably would have let the 'you and your family' comment slide, given the tone of their conversation, but the fact that Cal corrected himself without prompting from Meri definitely earned the Catalian a smile. The next moment though, arrows are raining down on them and before the psion can process and react accordingly, Cal has already been hit. If there is one sure fire way to enrage Meri and send her from zero to fifteen on a scale of ten, it's by hurting Cal. She can smell the blood before she can see it, but it still takes a visual confirmation to confirm what the scent actually is. Meri still had a long way to go in mastering this new heightened sense. Meri's reaction in these situations tend to be far more sensible than what she is displaying right now. In this exact moment, Meri is letting her blind rage lead her more than she should, and this rage is telling her that barreling forward in an angry charge straight for the flames that are building up is a good idea. It's not. It's a very bad idea. She's probably going to get shot, Cal. What the heck is this woman even thinking right now? Meri is able to make it to about the halfway to her destination before another barrage of arrows is sent down upon the couple. Suspicion confirmed. Meri's shot. A couple times maybe? It's hard to tell, probably.

Callum had swayed a little after he was hit, nearly falling into the watering hole. But, somehow he didn’t, and he was coherent enough through the pain in his back to notice Meri head off towards those Hammer mages. “Mer--” He couldn’t stop the arrows, but the least he could do in such a short amount of time is summon up a wall of water in front of her to block the fire. This… did not entirely goes as planned either. He tried using his right hand as per usual out of habit, but… that just so happened to be the side with the arrow in it. He cried out in pain, but quickly shifted to his left hand, conjuring up that wall, several inches thick. The poor guy tried to make it to his woman after the wall had formed but didn’t get far before that second barrage of arrows fell on the two of them. A few grazed his arms as they flew past, but just like before he was hit in his other shoulder, interrupting the casting of the electricity that’d started to crackle in his hand and this time in the front, and took another arrow to his thigh. Was this it? Were they really going to die here to this? Figures it’d be against a bunch of people with fire. That was always to be his end, wasn’t it? Unable to keep standing, Cal fell over onto the ground and called out to the blonde, “Meri! Y-you have to leave! Please!” He couldn’t tell how badly she’d been hit. He couldn’t tell and that worried him all the more.

Meri wouldn't leave though. Shortly after Cal fell to the ground and started calling out to Meri, he would witness the blonde crumple to the earth herself. It's not because she has been severely injured, but because her emotions were getting the better of her and she was about to make the shift from human to werewolf. Cal would be able to see every jerky and jarring movement and hear every bone cracking sound, but the witch hunters may not really give him the opportunity to stop and stare at what is happening. It would not take long before Meri is not laying in the earth before Cal, instead he would see a snarling and snapping black werewolf, who was young enough that she could easily turn on Callum rather than take her anger out on the targets that caused this shift to begin with. And for a second? It seems like she just might, black eyes are definitely locked on the Catalian....until one of the witch hunters claims her attention by hitting her with another arrow. With a savage growl, Meri has the distanced between herself and the hunter that shot her closed faster than anticipated. He stood no chance (and deserved no chance), as wolf-Meri tackles, grounds, and sinks her teeth into the hunter's neck. This hunter would not survive to be turned into a werewolf, Meri would see to that much. She'd violently tear him limb from limb if she was able, if the rest of the witch hunter's gave her half the chance. And if they did not? She would turn her sights on them next. And then maybe Callum if the Catalian was not careful. Oh my.

Callum just stared at Meri throughout the whole process of her turning, somewhat in awe, but mostly in surprise and fear. Those blue eyes would widen at the realization that she was probably going to try to eat him now (he -was- the weakest one around here after all), but was soon saved by the witch hunters as they continued their onslaught against Meri. Even the two archers hopped out of the trees they were perched in and went after the wolf-woman, in an attempt to aid their brethren. But… unfortunately for them, they’d get their arses ripped to pieces by that young werewolf. While Cal was all sorts of thankful and happy about this, that sentiment didn’t last long as he realized he was the only one left. And he was very quickly bleeding out. “Meri… You can turn back now. Things are fine.” No, they weren’t fine, but he was trying to use that silver tongue he used to be so good at wielding, even though it’d never been something he’d used on animals before--even if it was an animal that was also his soon-to-be wife. He did his best to drag himself backwards, but the searing pain in his shoulders made this rather difficult. “Meri…? Please.” Cal actually sounded like he was going to cry. It was bad enough that this was the worse he’s ever been injured, but now he might get eaten by his woman as well. This was, uh… not a good day.

Meri had almost forgotten about Cal. At least the wolf that was before him had almost forgotten about him, until she heard his voice calling out through the clearing and bidding her to turn back. Was Cal actually going to be able to reach Meri? She was in there, no doubt of that....but would she turn back into a human and realize that she has made the worst mistake of her life? Well. That remains to be seen. She is not charging forward in an angry rage like she did with the witch hunters, perhaps because she could sense that Cal was already an wounded and therefore easy target, making it so that he was not worth expending the extra effort in the simple mind of a predator. How close Meri is actually able to get is entirely up to Cal. It might be a smart idea to try and zap her with some electricity. That might just serve to piss her off more. But if he lets her get close enough, he is going to find that he is being sniffed by a werewolf who is drooling a wee bit and dripping blood from her jaw. She also has a case of doggie breath, which she will not by shy about breathing right onto Cal's face. Hot, stinky, doggie breath. That poor Catalian, this was not a pleasant moment to have right before your future-wife might just end up eating you instead of marrying you…

Callum had thought about zapping her. He’d also thought about pelting her with water balls. But, in this state, he really couldn’t do much. All the strength he had left was used to keep him from passing out from all that blood loss. He’d let her get close enough to sniff and breathe all over him, resigning himself to being allowed to be eaten by Meri--it was better than that fiery death that’d been threatening him a few minutes ago. Ever so gingerly, he’d attempt to put a hand out to pet her, but thought better of it at the last minute and reached into the satchel he’d had on his person this entire time. Inside was that crystal skull, locked away inside its safe. He could’ve used that against the witch hunters, but there really hadn’t been time. Instead of getting at that skull though, he’d grab at a tiny pouch of herbs. It was something he’d always kept in that satchel of his, and if anything was going to get Meri to realize who he was, while in her wolf form, it was this. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully.

Meri :: As unstudied of a psion as Meri was, she was still a psion. Which meant that the woman that is trapped within the beast might just have an edge in gaining control of her actions, at least when compared to other individuals. It was a struggle. How the wolf would have reacted to Cal reaching out to pet her will remain a mystery, it may very well not have been favorable in the moment for when he reaches for his satchel of herbs she seems to bare her teeth at him. She does not bite though, soon Meri manages to gain control and suppress her the wolf-side of her. Cal would have to once more see and hear the shift, this time in reverse with Meri going from wolf to human. This time she was much closer, Cal would get to see every detail with far more clarity than it did before. It looked and sounded like it was a rather painful transition, which might explain why Meri seemed more than just a little confused once she was human again. There were a lot of questions going through her mind right now but she soon came to the realization that now was not that time. Cal was literally bleeding out and something needed to be done about it. She was not entirely sure if she had done something to hurt him, that was a top concern in her mind right now, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying to slowly reach out to him and help him to his feet. "We need to get you home."

Callum || Were this a semi-normal day, Cal probably would’ve been a hell of a lot more concern about Meri’s werewolf change. Those bone-cracking sounds and the thought of rearranging organs weren’t entirely lost on him though and he cringed every time a new sound from his girlfriend’s body was made. When she tried to help him, he did his best to try to stand up with that arrow in his leg, but the attempt didn’t last long. He let loose a slew of unsavory words, enough to rival anything Brand might say, and collapsed back onto the ground. “You need to go. Go and get Storm or Kadence or both. There’s no way I can walk like this--even just standing long enough to get on the horse is gonna be hell. Just--” He motioned towards a nearby tree, intending to use it’s low-hanging branches as a bit of cover. “--help me over there. Please.” There were tears in his eyes, the Catalian doing his damnedest to bite them back, but the pain was too overwhelming. Despite everything, however, he didn’t seem to be afraid of her now, not in the way one would be if Meri had chomped on him a bit. “You might have to go to your sister’s guild hall… I don’t think my herbs are going to help with this. It’s… a little different from all the scrapes and cuts you’ve come home with.” If she actually did go and get one or both of the horses, she’d come back and find him passed out from the blood loss, but still somehow alive.

Meri was of course reluctant to leave Cal, but if he was saying that he did not think he had the herbs to tend to this and that they should seek help out elsewhere? Meri knew the situation was serious. As tempted as she was to haul Cal back to their house, she would get the horses. Both of them. Meri's injuries were no where near as severe as Callum's, and the pain is ignored because who else was there to get this job done if not her? It's not likely that anyone else would come waltzing through the forest. Meri would not dally, a change of clothes for her was absolutely needed, that would not take her long. She'd put the reins on both of the horses and then she was off, back to collect Cal, get him on the back of that horse so that they could find help. There starting point would indeed to the Paladin's guild hall, smart suggestion Cal.

Sanctum of the Divine, Kelay

Cal was definitely passed out by the time Meri got back. Blood had started to pool beneath him, stemming from the arrow in his leg, while splotchy patches of the same sticky red stuff dotted the tree he’d been propped up against. Meri’d have to do a bit of smacking him in the face and shaking him to wake him up, but he’d definitely do so. Getting him on that horse of his would prove to be even more of a pain, but he’d make it to the guild hall (mostly) in one piece, with the blonde’s help. They’d get to the hall without issues, and the guards at the door would usher them inside with haste once they caught sight of Cal’s wounds, pushing two backless pews together to form a makeshift place for him to lay down when the arrows were out of him--well, as quickly as Cal could hobble along into the building with assistance, that is. Ulah, the elf paladin of Arkhen that served as Khitti’s second-in-command for the time being was sent for, and when she got there, she could only blink for a few moments at the fact that it was the psion she’d gone on a couple missions with, with Khitti. “Meri? What happened?” Cal didn’t say much; that pain that he felt now was unlike anything else he’d felt before. Ulah didn’t want too long for a reply, letting Meri explain if she wished while the elf assessed the damage. “Okay. I need to pull these out and you’re not going to be happy when I do it.” The Catalian nodded and seemed fine with it… until Ulah pulled out the arrows from both shoulders. Cal’s screams echoed throughout the building, the poor guy looking close to fainting again.

Meri :: Poor Cal. In most cases Meri was not keen on smacking and slapping, but with all the blood he has lost it was not good for him to stay passed out. He needed to keep with her, until they got to the guild hall. For the entire trip, Meri is fretting. She wants to travel faster to get Cal there sooner, but she does not want the ride to be too bumpy for him. Maybe she should stop and remove the arrows herself? Try and bandage him up? Meri was not a doctor, but maybe it would slow the bleeding? She doesn't though, not for lack of wanting to do something to help the Catalian, but he expressed an urgency and so Meri would try and hurry. They are met with the guards, spaced is cleared. Meri would be of whatever use she could be to Ulah while the arrows are pulled out. If she needed to help keep Cal pinned? She would, while holding his hand of course. If Ulah just wanted Meri to stand out of the way? Meri would. What Meri ended up doing once Cal was in Ulah's care did not affect the answer that is given. "We were attacked. Close to home. They ambushed us, we almost did not make it out at all." And at the moment, it was not entirely clear to Meri if Cal would live yet. The situation was still precarious. Meri's injuries were of less concern to her right now, just call her wolverine.

Callum || Poor Meri. Poor Cal. Ulah does her best to soothe Meri’s worries as she laid down whatever blankets and towels one of the guards could procure for her and put them beneath Cal’s head and shoulders. “So, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.” Okay, well Ulah “tried” to be soothing. “The bad news is that there’s a lot of damage in this leg and it’s going to take a lot of magic to heal it and, unfortunately, my magic is not unlimited. I’ve got to take this out carefully and I’m going to need your help.” As she said this, she pulled out a dagger and used it to cut the head of the arrow off, so that she could pull the rest of it out as cleanly as she can. “The good news is that I can heal it enough for you to get him home to deal with what’s left of the wounds there after we’ve stitched and bandaged him up. His shoulders are not quite as bad as they seem either.” The elf motioned for Meri to move to where Cal’s head was, “Hold down his shoulders, please. Keep his attention on you. Talk to him and keep it going, to get his mind off of this as much as possible.” When Meri was ready, Ulah would pull out the other half of the arrow, much to Cal’s dismay, ready to stem the flow of blood that was sure to come with the magic gifted to her by Arkhen. Just before that, however, the Catalian managed to squeak out a “Meri… don’t leave me.” He certainly had that look of “Oh my god, I’m going to die.” in his eyes.

Meri sorely wanted to tune out any bad news that Ulah might have for them, but that was not a smart move in this situation. Especially since with the delivery of the bad news comes the request that Meri help Ulah. Of course Meri would. The blonde moved to Cal's head, and held him down at the shoulders as instructed. She'd lead learn forward just a bit so that Cal was forced to have more of a view of Meri's face. The idea of this was to keep his focus on her. Words are thrown into the mix, she tries to distract the guy by chatting about all the booby traps she is going to set up at their home once they get through this. They did not have to go with anything too extreme or over the top, but since they did not want too many people coming to their home anyway? Why not? They could warn the few people they did they want showing up about them to keep them from being triggered, but at the rate these attacks were going they should keep who knows where they live to a minimum. Meri brings up there need for a panic room, just in case any one manages to get past the booby traps. Were there any defensive spells Cal would learn to protect their home while they slept or were away? The point is, Meri is talking an unusual amount for even her, just rattling on until it seemed like Ulah was finally done working her magic to heal the Catalian up. Meri would look down at Cal, then transfer her gaze back to Ulah. She assumed that she did not actually have to asked, but it did feel more polite -- even if the guild leader was her sister. "We can stay here tonight, yes?" Cal in most need of rest, not hitting the road again straight away. They could leave for home tomorrow.

Callum || Ulah worked as quickly as possible without harming Callum much more than necessary to get the arrow free from his leg, while Cal nodded along to what Meri was saying, occasionally dipping in and out of consciousness briefly thanks to all that blood loss. A rather potent healing salve--which was, funny enough, bought from the nearby herbal shop and was very likely something that Cal himself had made and sold to them--was used on the what was left of Catalian’s wounds before they were bandaged up. “Of course you can. There’s a few rooms we’ve got that are for those that come here for healing, instead of just passing through and needing a place to sleep for the night, so you’ll have one to yourself and won’t be disturbed ‘til the morning when his injuries need to be checked on.” Ulah had been made aware by Khitti some time ago about Cal’s witchiness, but only because of the dire situation that surrounded all witches now, but she made no mention of it--she would, however, let Meri’s sister in on the fact that they were both attack… and that conversation likely won’t go well considering how Khitti’s been lately. “The kitchen’s just near it, down the hall, in case you’d like something to eat and when you do take him home, I’ll be sure to send your sister and -only- your sister.” Hopefully Meri was picking up what Ulah was putting down there: Khitti was the only one in the guild (besides Lanara now) who knew where the blonde and her poor injured fiance lived and it was going to stay that way. Two nearby priests were selected and told to go fetch a stretcher while Ulah finally set her attention on the possibility of Meri having her own wounds, “How are you? Are you hurt? I would’ve asked sooner but you seemed to be a lot more well off than him.”

Meri did not pay attention to most of what Ulah was doing, she just tried to keep Cal distracted and his attention on her. Every time he fell out of consciousness was an alarming moment for Meri, but soon Ulah seems to have finished her work. Meri stops yammering on at Callum at this point and loosens her hold on his shoulders but she still stays right next to him, not moving until the priests return with a stretcher so that they can help escort them to their room. "Thank you," Meri says to the explanation about the rooms. Meri trusted Khitti's judgement, so if her sister felt that it was wise to disclose certain information to Ulah, then Meri would accept it were she in the know. The same respect is given to Ulah when it comes to what information should be passed on to Khitti -- even Meri would not hide these details from her. Mental note is made to raid the kitchen before they leave, she had been working on improving her cooking skills but that was still Cal's department. She would pack plenty to go for the two of them, to last them a couple days. It would be one less thing for her to worry about for the first few days of Cal healing up. "My injuries...." Were probably already on the mend, not completely healed but she was not the one in need of dire attention. "I don't think there is any need to fuss over me. I can get myself cleaned up once we get down to the room..." Meri definitely picked up on and appreciated the detail that Ulah was putting down, but Meri was not going to draw further attention to that detail. Besides, it's just at this moment that those two nearby priests return with a stretcher, and they are more than ready to gently help Cal on to said stretcher then carry him off to a free room. Meri is of course eager to follow and won't be letting Cal out of her sights any time soon.

Callum || Ulah nodded at Meri when the blonde made it known that she was more or less fine, “Alright.” And then the stretcher came and the priests put Cal on it, waiting for Meri and Ulah to give the go ahead before taking him to the room. “Go on,” the elf woman said with a smile, “If you need anything, I’ll be up here.” Once they were gone, she turned around eyed the mess of blood that trailed in from the outside, as well as the towels and blankets that’d been stained with the same red liquid. Just how in the hell did he bleed that much? And was there enough bleach in all of Lithrydel to get the blood out of the towels and blankets… and off of the floor?