In the “morning,” she felt better. Her injured legs and shoulder still throbbed with pain. She looked up at the milky eyes, feeling her mind think clearly for the first time since she fell in the pit.
“Who… who are you?”
(They call me Ab'asaruth, the cursed one.)
“Ab'asaruth? This is your tomb?”
(My prison, but yes.)
“Prison?”
(Yes. Prison. I have been sealed in this place for many centuries.)
“If… you don't mind, why?”
A faint wave of amusement washed through her thoughts, (I was something of a hedonist. My pleasures ended up toward the…)
The thought ended with a twinge of embarrassment. The eyes blinked and turned away. Sarisin blushed and looked away herself.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry.”
(I understand. You are curious and have nothing else at the moment.)
Silence filled the room and the creature padded away, returning with breakfast of the unidentified meat. Sarisin stared at it a moment, seeing where the creature clawed it free from the source. It was dark, like beef, but it had a strange texture.
“What is this?”
Strong emotions flooded through her, embarrassment and fear being the two strongest. For a long moment, no words came, but when they did it was a soft noise, rumbling with the rich tones of the creature's voice.
(It… I… a secret.)
Sarisin frowned, a puzzle distracting her from the pain, “Is it beef? Pig?”
(No, none of those.)
Her own thoughts flashed through her mind as she turned the meat in her hand. After a few rotations, she noticed a small sear along one side. It was crusty and tasted like charred flesh. Frowning, she remembered flashes of memories. One memory locked in her mind and she gasped, dropping the boiled meat into the water.
“This is Narrar!”
Sarisin's emotions spiked as the creature stepped away from her. It hesitated, a feeling of it about to speak but never coming.
(Yes, this is the human male.)
Bile rose in her throat as she stared at the meat bobbing in the water. She forced the feelings down as her stomach rumbled, unwilling to let any food escape. Gingerly, she picked it up with her free hand and set it on the edge of the pool. Closing her eyes tightly, she fought the urge to vomit. The creature said nothing for a long moment.
(Should I take it away?)
She spoke without opening her mouth, “Is there anything else?”
(No. I've eaten everything in my prison except him and you.)
Eyes snapped open. “Me?”
Blinking, the creature stared at her and shook his head, (I cannot eat the unwilling. Even if it means I starve.)
Without waiting for an answer, it stood up and padded away into the darkness. Sarisin watched it disappear then peered back at the meat. Her hand reached out for it, then stopped. Shaking, she stared at it for a long time before picking it up again.
“Bastard deserves it.”
She ate it without relish. It didn't taste any different than before, but realization was enough to change the flavor into something different. When she finished, she leaned her head against the edge of the pool and sighed heavily. Sarisin dozed for a few hours before she became hungry again.
“Uh… creature… Ab'asaruth?”
A faint, distant thought, (Yes?)
“I'm… hungry, could I have more?”
Confusion drifted through her thoughts, (Even if it's Narrar?)
“Please, I'm hungry.”
Ab'asaruth returned after a long moment, with a hunk of Narrar. She took it and made herself eat it. Choking it down, she let him bring water up to her mouth. Lapping it, she smiled at him.
“Thank you, Ab.”
The creature smiled back, baring teeth. (Your welcome.)
Sarisin drew her thoughts to her injuries. “Uh… could you help?”
(With?)
“I… need to see these wounds. And all this water is going to ruin my leather.”
A faint flash of concern and amusement filled her mind as the silent prisoner crawled into the water. Tiny waves sent warning pangs of pain through her body, but he was very gentle as he worked at the swollen straps of her leather armor. Soon she was whimpering from the pain radiating from her leg, but he continued to move carefully. When a strap refused to move, he used one claw to snap it. Sarisin sighed in relief as the pressure evaporated and the leather came off. Some healing skin stuck to the edges of the gash in the leather, but the soaking let it tear off with only a little pain.
Panting from the effort, she twisted slightly, trying to see the wound. Ab was removing her leggings also, exposing pink flesh to her sight, Soon, the wound was visible. Bright red and covered in caked blood, she was amazed she hadn't gone into shock faster. His paws, surprisingly delicate, removed her boots and leggings right up to her hip.
(Both legs?)
“Yes, please.”
To Sarisin, it felt strange having a creature removing her clothes, but he was very gentle with his movements. His thoughts were shielded, no emotions leaking into her mind as he smoothly freed her other leg from the leather. He moved up, massive paws working on the straps of her breastplate. It came off after some struggle, but Ab was gentle as he could be as worked it off her shattered shoulder. Seeing the wound, with shards of bone sticking out the skin, sent a wave of dizziness through her, but he continued to gingerly remove the cloth from her shoulder.
(Uh… I have to remove your shirt…) Along with his thoughts came embarrassment and… something else. Sarisin looked away from the jagged wound and nodded. She felt his hands working on her shirt, undoing the buttons, and spreading it open. Warm water washed hotly against her breasts as it flooded in. The ridges on his hand brushed against one hardening nipple as he sliced away the fabric from her shoulder.
In a short time, she was naked in the water except for her underwear. The rest was sitting in a limp pile on the edge of the spring. Sarisin looked at the creature, who was staring back at her with milky eyes. A faint flush of embarrassment filled her and she used her free arm to cover her breasts.
“Thank… thank you.”
Ab nodded and lifted himself. For a brief moment, Sarisin thought she saw his pouch larger than normal, but he stepped out of the spring and sat on the edge. His legs were out of sight as he stared into the darkness. Biting her lip, she peered down at shattered remains of her shoulder. It was almost flame red, with large bruises spreading out like vines down her arm and chest.
“Do you have any healing magic?”
Regret and sorrow filled her, (No. My healing only works on me, to keep me alive and nothing else.)
“Any potions?”
(Sorry.)
“Anything?”
There was a more frantic tone to her voice, but the creature shook his head. Shoulders slumped, he glanced at her, then back into the darkness. She growled to herself, swearing at Raban and his brother silently for a moment. Then…
“Is there a fire? I don't want to get this infected.”
He said nothing and made no effort to move. Sarisin looked up at him, the urge to crawl out of the water suddenly stronger.
“Ab? Ab'asaruth? Is there something wrong?”
Sadness filled her as he thought at her, (Both wounds are already infected.)
Ice-water sensations dribbled down her spine, despite the hot water she was floating in. “Both? Are you sure?”
(Yes, I can smell it.)
She shook her head, ignoring the flares of pain, “No. No! This isn't fair!”
Ab said nothing. Sarisin sobbed for a long time, staring at the angry wounds on her leg and shoulder. Even the water felt wrong, a tomb, as her cries violently shook her body.
“This isn't fair!”
(I'm sorry.)
“No! I have to do something.”
(It may not be fatal, not all infections are.)
His thought paused her for a moment. Frowning, she tried to think of what stopped an infection.
“I… I have to get out of here. I remember that keeping cuts wet is bad.”
He sent a tendril of agreement and stood up. Stepping into the heated pool, he cradled his powerful arms underneath her and lifted her out. Sarisin whimpered as her wounds screamed anew from the pain, but fought against it as the bitter cold air slammed into her. In a matter of seconds, she was shivering violently. Ab paused, looking down with an expression of almost concern, and she clutched herself tightly.
“So… cold.”
Powerful arms held her closely, but even his body heat wasn't enough to still the shivering that violently shook her body. Sarisin whimpered as more cold air swirled around her naked form, perking her nipples and feeling like a slash against her wounds. Finally, she could take more and whimpered to the creature in a pitiful voice.
“Please… in the water?”
He lowered her back into the water, once again hot after the ice-cold air. For a long moment, she floated in it, sighing as the shivers stopped and faded. When she opened her eyes, Ab was staring back at her, concern radiating through her mind.
(Have they stopped?)
“Yes… but…”
He released her, his hands pulling back so he could sit on the edge of the water. The glow of his stomach reflected off tiny waves in the spring, creating a flickering glow on the ceiling. Sarisin watched them, trying to figure out another option.
“What about the meat? You cooked that.”
(Boiling spring. It would probably kill you if I had to boil you.)
Shuddering, Sarisin looked away, “No, no boiling.”
Silence spread as she thought some more, but no more instant cures came to her. Then, a few ideas perked up and she spoke softly.
“Can… you leave and find me help?”
(No, the wards that keep me alive also keep me in the prison.)
Frustration and helpless anger surged through her and she slapped the water with her good hand. “Damn it! I don't want to die here.”
She looked at him with pleading eyes, “Is there anything,” she empathized the word, “you can do?”
(Only one thing. I could bite it off.)
Sarisin shuddered with the thought, her eyes moving up to the sharp teeth that filled his mouth. Seeing her, he closed his lips tightly and looked away.
“Won't I bleed?”
(No… my bites don't bleed. Part of the curse.)
“Why?”
Emotions radiating from him stopped instantly, (I… can't say.)
Without waiting for an answer, he stood up and disappeared. The light from his chest faded, leaving her to float in the hot water and stare up at the darkness.
“Ab? Ab? Please don't go.”
He didn't return and Sarisin whimpered to herself. Clutching her body tightly, she floated in the water and waited for his return. Heartbeats stretched into minutes, then into hours, but he still didn't return. Tears came in her eyes and she let them. Eventually, she fell asleep, crying.