Deus Ex Machina

I was lucky to have survived that fall.

First Shiine, now Chacha as well; just what is going on here? It's been the better part of a decade since I last saw them; I had resigned myself to never see them again. But like a cruel cosmic joke, there they were! Or at least, there was Shiine and Chacha, but not how I remembered them.

It's all happening way too fast...

"Are you awake?" I heard a voice ask.

"Yes, I think I am, unless I'm hearing strange voices in my dreams. What happened?"

"Most of your bones are broken, your skin has been fried and torn up, you lost half the blood in your body and still you manage to be cynical huh? Well, I saw you unconscious on the shore so I brought you here." The voice answered.

"Here? Where is here?" I said, trying to get up. The pain wouldn't let me.

"Don't try to get up yet, you're ribs got badly beaten up and broken. It should take you a month, maybe two to heal."

"And you plan on keeping me here until then? What do you want in return?"

"Depends, I could just probably rip you open and examine your organs, maybe sell them to scalpers. I heard shape shifters like you are a rare breed. You heart would fetch a handsome amount..."

"Why you..." was my pathetic attempt at a reply. I heard her chuckle in response.

"I'm just kidding! Give me a little credit here; I did save your life! By the way, I haven't formally introduced myself. I'm Aiushtha, a forest dryad. Or at least I once was. And to answer your previous question, you are now in Crying Eagle. I've been living here ever since those stonedwellers destroyed my former home."

"Crying Eagle huh..."

"Yup! Legend has it that they got the name from the weird noise the birds made when they tore their way through the woods where they built this city. It sort of sounded like eagles crying, or at least, that was what the legend said. Still, the thought of it kind of makes you sad huh?"

"Yeah..."

"I'm sorry to be bothering you with these useless sentiments. Those woods... Was actually where I used to live. I won't be able to forgive those greedy stonedwellers, but there really isn't much I could do then and now."

"I see..." was all I could muster. It's been forever since I last talked to someone, never mind having to comfort them at the same time.

"Well, anyway, don't worry about it. Make yourself at home until your injuries heal. That should be in about a week or so."

"I thought you said it'd take a month!"

"Nah, it would but you're gravely underestimating me. You see, I specialize in healing magic. It's been a while though since I last used them, so I might have grown a little rusty. If I were in my prime, you'd be up and running in no time!"

"I see, thank you- Aiushtha was it?"

"Yup! But it's unfair that you know my name and I don't know yours."

I couldn't help but grin.

"I'm Riiya, the White Wolf. Pleasure to meet you... If I wasn't hurting like hell right now."