Butterflies are free

[Lovely]

February 15 2010
3:30 p.m.


A dark grey hand shielded his eyes as he scanned the horizon for the team. The wreck was a few days old now and the dive would take some time. Not much to see at the moment but miles of clean blue and the occasional distant plane lining the sky on the way to the main land, a speck against the far-off blue, just like they were here on the island. Chris lowered his furry knuckles and glanced down to the ground, back to camp and out past the lagoon. Not much to see here either. He pulled up the field glasses for kicks and seeing a whole lot of nothing up close, scanning the beach for maybe a chance to see one or two of the new girls... heh fat chance. Further down from camp and along past the beach head down toward the craggier rougher rocks, he kept scanning... then came back. He laughed and the sound came out in a happy screech as he stopped on something he hadn't expected. Survivors? Shit!

He swung down from his tree top in a three-point landing, unhooking the glasses from his neck and looking for the shorts he'd had before he'd gone on his swinging and climbing spree. The form of the ape changed back to the man as he walked and tripped his way into the shorts to cover himself as he headed down beach to intercept the pair coming up to the beachhead. They had no idea what they were walking into, did they? Chris laughed again, a lighter human chuckle, taking a diversion into the water to avoid the sand and get the rest of his fur to sit down right over his head and chest.

They'd hear him splashing up to them in about three minutes or as long as it would take him to send a note to 'dad' and redirect the cameras. "Hey! Hey!!!" He waved them down as he approached, kicking through the shallows.

"Nisari!" The man's voice rose in a happy cry as he did his best to help the woman beside him get steady on her feet after stepping off the make shift raft they'd been stuck on for days. He was sunburned but the girl was a nice deep tan color beneath the rags of clothes they wore. "Hey! Hey!" He cried back as the sound of a man's voice and the splashing came toward them.

Nisari as the man had called her, held tightly to his hand and lifted her other hand to shield her eyes as the stranger came toward them.

"You guys alright?" Chris looked them over with worry, seeing the level of the sunburn and the ratting of clothes they had left. "You wreck or something?"

"Yes.. wrecked." It was the girl who spoke up in a soft voice, she was very pretty but looking quite banged up and exhausted. She was actually shaking a little, her mouth dry, and her stomach empty for days as they baked on that raft. "A few.. a week ago almost.."

The man nodded in agreement with what the girl had said. "Five or six days now, I think.. we were stuck on that.. raft.. I'm Robert and this is my fiance Nisari.."

"Better find you some cover and some water. Huhn, that burn's gotta hurt pretty bad, too. Hey! I bet you're starving. We're camping just up the beach here. The sand's pretty hot though. We can cut through there," his thumbs pointed back to the camp like he was just on a summer hike with his buddies. The growth would give them some shade and avoid the sand. "I'm Chris. Let's see what we can do to fix you up just right, okay? You need some help?"

"Yeah.. that would be great, thank you so much." Rob was nodding and gladly accepting the help though his expression was full of concern for the woman beside him. "Ni.. sweety.. think you can make it, walk a little ways? I'd carry you but I think I'd drop you.." He looked up at Chris a moment with an apologetic smile. "She needs sugar.. do you have any fruit or koolaide or even a sugar packet will help."

"I'll do my best." She replied to the question of being able to walk to where this guy.. Chris had been camping. "Don't try to carry me.. you're all burnt and you have gone just as long without anything.." She fussed back at her fiance, gripping his hand and making the effort to stand straight up on her own.

"Um, hey, you know what? If it's alright, I can carry her. I'm sure we got something to help her, no problem. Diabetic or something?" Chris offered anything they'd need out here, but once they got to camp, they'd want answers instead. He waited a moment, then smiled. "I won't touch anything, dude, I promise. Just carry her to camp, okay?"

[Lovely]

Rob looked at her and reached to brush her cheek, he leaned down and whispered to her ear. "Just keep your mouth closed.. it'll be okay." He straightened up and nodded his head, though he wasn't too weak to glare a little with hurt pride that someone else had to carry his fiance because he was too weak.

"Something." Nisari said softly, looking to Chris with a gentle smile. "Thank you.. I'm really shaky.. I'm pretty light.." She bit at her lip and slowly let go of Rob's hand so Chris could pick her up.

He heard the whisper clear enough and his gaze switched from one to the other and back. Keep her mouth closed? Was she gonna bite him? There was something about her he could sense but not quite place a finger on yet. He'd already said he wouldn't lay a finger on her to try and find out either. "Um, piggyback if that's okay? The short cut's kinda thick and all." He leaned down to help her up and waited until she was ready to hold on. "So Rob.. whaddya do? Able to get out and see the sights and all. Takes a little dough, huh?"

Nisari spoke up when she saw how Rob glared and then turned away not answering. "Not that much.. we saved up for it.. a pre-honeymoon, since Rob's not able to take time off for one after the wedding, but we already have the date set for it and didn't want to change that so we decided to take the trip before." She explained as she got herself situated for the piggy back ride, she was very light and she wondered and worried if he'd question it.

"Hey that's cool. Kinda sucks with the wreck and all though. They know where you are? I mean, was it like one of those chartered things or something?" Good old Rob seemed a little tight lipped which did make Chris wonder how much they were going to tell him. Maybe keeping her mouth shut was about something he was hiding, too.

"No.. it was kind of spur of the moment." He seemed pissed and in truth he was mad at himself for being stupid and the wreck wasn't his fault but he could have gotten Nisari killed! "We were just going to.. not have a honeymoon at all.. then we just decided to take off for a few days.. "

"Rob it's not your..."

"Shut up!"

She trailed off and even flinched when he barked at her. Nisari kind of curled her head down on Chris's shoulder at the snap from her fiance and she went silent.

"Heeeeey now, kids. It's gonna be okay," Chris interjected, trying not to throw a hostile knee-jerk reaction at Rob while he was carrying the girl. "Shit happens, but you're alive, right? Look... paradise, and each other, and a tour guide to help you get through this. You a drinkin' man, Rob?"

"I am today." He growled out and then sighed and turned, reaching over to brush Nisari's cheek with his fingers. "I'm sorry hun.. I know you're just trying to make me feel better."

Her face lifted and she smiled at him, letting go of Chris with one hand to clasp Rob's fingers for a moment. "It's alright.. you're just tired and hungry and all.. we both know you get all cranky when your tired or hungry." She didn't want to fight with him, she was tired and all she wanted was something to drink and to sleep for a week.

"Tired and hungry we can fix pretty quick, but cranky... we got beer, if that'll fix that," he said with his frat boy charm and crooked smile, leading them deeper into the growth. He glanced at his wrist and reached to tap something on the dial.

"Fixing the tired and the hungry will mostly fix the cranky." Nisari chuckled, she was tired enough that her head was resting on Chris's shoulder as he carried her. Her arms were looped loosely around him and her sigh blew out softly over his arm.

The look Rob gave Nisari kind of made it blaringly clear what would fix his cranky once he was fed and rested... some time alone with his very attractive fiance. "Once I know you're alright.. fed, able to rest.. I'll feel a lot better. I promise when we get home I will get you the biggest fruit basket you've ever seen." He smiled as she giggled and then explained. "She pretty much lives off fruit..she loves it."

"Well that's really good to know. There's a lot of that here, right off the tree. Maybe you should stay a while, huh?" The breath on his arm made him bristle a little though it was hardly unpleasant. He adjusted his grip just a little so he wouldn't drop her if the chill tickled him too much. "I won't get your hopes up about too much else, though. Fish, and a lot of it, though. You like fish, Rob?"

"Only a very specific kind." He kind of grinned and glanced at Nisari again before shrugging and sighing. "I'll manage for a day or so till we can get home. Then I'm having a nice fat steak.. in the mean time if we can get her some fruit.. and water.. I think I could drink a lake."

[Lovely]

As Chris adjusted his grip, Nisari curled more comfortably, relaxing a little bit as Rob chilled out and Chris helped them. Her legs kind of wrapped around his waist more instead of just hanging down, since she'd assumed the adjusting was so she wouldn't slip down.

"Hopefully we got the right kind," Chris offered gently. The camp was coming up and he turned at the river. "Not exactly white water, but the falls are great," he mentioned. "You swim? How about climb?"

Nisari laughed softly, Rob didn't eat any fish.. he was kidding but being a macho ass about it and meant her. She knew this because he'd used the joke before of course then she'd playfully smacked him in the back of the head. "You're such a jerk." She muttered quietly.

Rob laughed himself once he knew Ni had picked up on his assinine teasing and he was happy she couldn't smack him right now. "Yeah but you're marrying this jerk.. so I guess that makes me the luckiest jerk in the world." He countered and glanced around a bit more at where they were heading now that Chris had asked his questions. "Swim.. some, usually in Ni's parent's pool.. not much of an outdoors person myself. Ni, though.. she loves nature. Always outside, biking, hiking, swiming, always fluttering somewhere.. "

"Fluttering huh? Interesting choice of words, but yeah, she is a lightweight. Um, though we better change that subject quick. Not nice to tease the girls about things like that. She could slug me pretty good from up there. You doing okay, hon?" It slipped out, natural, southern boy charm and every girl was 'hon'. He changed the subject quickly himself as he stopped suddenly. "Oh... yeah. Hey, watch your step, there Rob. Not outdoors much, that's a snake hole. Lift your feet up real careful and step over it. Never know if one's in there or not." It wasn't a hole at all but a trip wire that Rob probably wouldn't notice except the hard way.

"Yeah she's a sweetheart.. with a killer swing." Rob chuckled and looked down at the mention of a snake hole. It was clear that he wasn't thrilled at the thought as he shuddered and carefully stepped like Chris told him to. "Snakes.. snake holes.. just what I don't want to know is here... Ni.. promise if I see one and scream like a girl.. you'll cover and say it was you?"

"I'm alright, thank you.. I'll be better when I can eat something and.. lay down awhile.. I'm so hungry.. don't take it personally if I start licking your shoulder." She was kidding, her eyes were closed as she rested as comfortably as she was able right now. "Thank you... for this.. " She opened her eyes briefly to look at Rob and smiled. "Sure.. say it was me.. "

Chris laughed at it all. "No, I don't mind, just don't take any chunks out. You'll get way too much fur in your teeth," he warned in return. He wasn't a clean shaven choir boy, even if he wanted to be. He stepped up and over and led on. "Don't thank me, yet, okay? Let's get you guys set up first." He pointed out the next two 'snake holes' and laughed a little harder each time, watching Rob gauge the level of danger he felt he was in, compared to the real threat if his foot slipped. The humor faded as the camp came in sight and he walked a little more rigidly and formally. "Just about there, kids."

Nisari laughed at the comments from Chris and sighed again, her eyes closing to resume the bit of rest she was able to get during the trip to his camp. She could hear and feel him laugh as he pointed out snake holes to Rob who was grumbling and trying not to have a total freak out over them.

Rob stopped walking a moment as the camp came into view but only for a moment as he didn't want Chris to wander off with his fiance who looked far too comfortable curled around him for the piggy back ride. Thinking of how she was pressed against the other man and her current state of dress with torn clothes and lots of bare skin made him forget what he'd seen as his jealousy swelled up. "You know..she could probably walk the rest of the way.. You shouldn't have to carry her all the way there.. " Then he was reminded of 'there'. "So are you like one of those survivalist retreats where folks come for like a couple weeks of.. well I guess enjoyment for those who like that..?"

"Something like that," Chris grinned. He wasn't putting the girl down and he wasn't wasting any more time getting them inside the gate. "She's resting, Rob. Let her rest. Okay?" It wasn't a question and he wasn't asking any more for now. The smile had gone thin and his eyes darkened a bit as he dropped the surfer boy act to bark out at the man camoflauged against the gate waiting for them. "Medical. Move it!"

The covered man opened the entrance without further question though his eyes followed them, specifically the girl.

Nisari's head lifted at what was being said between the two men and she started to agree that she'd walk. She didn't want to be the cause of a problem or a fight but it didn't seem to matter as Chris barked out at another man.. they were at the camp it appeared. "Med.. medical.. you have doctors or something here?" She questioned, seeming to be afraid of that, if a doctor examined her.. they would know that she wasn't normal.

The only reason Rob went in so 'quietly' was because Chris still had Nisari and he wasn't about to leave her alone with.. well at this point he didn't know what. "No doctors!" Rob was the one who snapped now, reaching to grab Chris by the arm to stop him from taking Ni any farther.

[Lovely]

Chris grabbed back with a sharp warning. "Don't... She needs to be checked and so do you. A second degree sunburn's no joke and you're dehydrated and low sugar. That makes you my responsibility. Both of you." He pushed back to get the man off and away. "Now keep walking if you want to stay with her."

"She's not your responsibility. She's my fiance. Now put her down!" Rob snapped, coming back again as Chris tried to keep going with Nisari. It was probably stupid on his part but he wasn't about to let this guy bully him and take off with Ni.

Nisari was 'up' now as Rob and Chris clashed and she started to unwrap from the man carrying her, pushing away a bit. "Please.. I.. I don't need a doctor.. I can't.. I won't.." Her voice was soft, but firm in her desire not to see a doctor and the fear poured off her at the thought of it.

Chris put himself between the pair and let Rob come at him if he was stupid enough to try and fight him. He was a wall of muscle and Rob was sunburned and drained. "Suit yourself, but you need that sugar water. Let them get you to baseline. An IV, food, water, that's it. Lanocaine or something else for the burn. I'm not trying to pull something, alright?"

Rob clenched his fist, he was panting just from trying to start the fight, there was no way he'd win. He didn't totally back down though he was out matched. "No one touches her.. no one examines her.. no IVs, nothing like that for her.. Understand?"

When her fear flared up, he could smell it and he put it together along with the rest. She was feral, like him, and maybe it was time to explain just a little more. Nisari had let go and maybe she considered running, but she wouldn't get out of the gate. Rob wasn't running though he probably should have. Chris's hair bristled and thickened, covering his muscular frame quickly and the pads of his hands and feet thickened and turned back to a coal grey. His face contorted with the sneer that was more than ready to accept Rob's swing as he looked out through the same compassionate green eyes. "More than you think."

"Oh my god.. " Her voice was soft still but she wasn't scared of what he was or what he revealed, just awed and shocked. She had expected if the doctors saw her, found out what she was they'd try to hurt her or kill her or a number of things in between, but she wasn't expecting Chris to show himself to be different like she was.

Beneath the sunburn whatever color Rob did have drained out of his face, he'd just started a fight with a six foot.. gorilla? "f*ck." He whispered under his breath and looked to Nisari who was on the other side of Chris. "Ni.. " He didn't know what to do, he was not a mutant himself and he'd had enough trouble dealing with what Ni was. But she was so beautiful.. and so sweet.

"Still want to throw that punch, go ahead. Or are you going to keep walking? If I wanted them to hurt her, or you, you wouldn't have made it off the goddamn beach. So. Coming or you gonna let her drop far enough she goes into a coma?"

Nisari was holding her lower lip in her teeth as she moved slowly around to the side of Chris and gently reached to put her hand on his arm. "He doesn't... he was just trying to protect me. Doctors don't understand what I am and treating me like a normal person can do more damage.. that's all.."

Now Nisari was sticking up for him and he felt like a loser, which considering everything he'd screwed up lately... "Yeah.. what she said.. I'm not going to swing." Though he wanted to, big ape or not, he wanted to punch Chris right in his f*cking face and tell him to get the hell away from Nisari. "Ni.. don't touch him.. "

A flare of anger surged through the mossy green stare before he pulled his arm away. "Protecting her is not bullying her and shoving her around," he said quietly but directly enough that hopefully Rob might get a clue. "Stay here if you want to starve to death. The boys like a good show when they can get one. Once the hallucinations start and then the convulsions... ooo party, big time. Get dehydrated enough, your skin gets like paper. Writhe around on this sand, it'll peel you like a f*cking orange. I'm sure that's gonna feel just great on that sunburn, too, won't it Rob? Doc's this way. Trust me. They understand."

"Trust you, sure.. surfer boy.. you're a f*cking liar and an asshole." Rob stepped to grab Nisari's arm when Chris had finally moved away from her. "She's my fiance, it's none of your god damned business. I'll treat her how the f*ck I want to." It was probably the dehydration and hunger and exhaustion making him mouth off like that to a man who could probably crush him, but the words came flying out, spit in anger as he grabbed Nisari roughly by her arm and yanked her to walk with him as he turned toward the gate.

Nisari gave a small cry of surprise and pain as Rob grabbed her and pretty much started dragging her back toward the gate they'd come in through. She stumbled and tried to pull away from him, crying out again as she felt a stinging slap hit her cheek.

[Lovely]

Rob just wasn't getting the clue that if he wanted his precious fiancee to get well and not pass out, they had to get to where the supplies were. The fear wasn't easing up from her and the protest that ended in a slap was the snapping point for his compassionate side. The roar was not quiet and probably got the attention of several of the camp members as he lunged after Rob to rip his hand away from Nisari and not hurt her in the process. He put himself between the two again and he was the one throwing the first punch at Rob's burned chest.

If it hadn't about knocked the wind from him, he would have screamed at the blow to his burned skin, he fell back on the ground and scraped his back. "Shit!" It hurt so fricking bad, he curled and grunted when getting up or trying to get up. All he could think about was that the ape was in front of Ni and he was picturing a king kong like scene complete with Chris carrying her off. "Get the f*ck away from her!" What gave him the dumb idea or the energy to lunge at Chris, he didn't know but that is just what he did.

The roar was loud and it wasn't a happy sound, Ni was turning her head from the slap toward the sound when suddenly Chris was right there pulling Rob off and away from her. It surprised her how gently he handled her yet in the same instant was turning violently on Rob. She was too shocked to do much and she wasn't dumb enough to try to stop an angry primate.

The sound now was a laugh - an angry goading laugh, taunting the man to keep coming and keep coming until he got it out of his system on Chris instead of the girl. Chris let him plow into him, then pulled him off like a tick, delivering another punch, hopefully sending him backward.

Rob fell back with a thud, his skin was scraped enough to bleed and he was much slower at getting up, yet still glared at Chris. "You son of a b*tch." He spat again, staggering toward him and swinging.

"Rob, Stop it!" Nisari tried to call to him not to go back at Chris, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears as she watched him charge again. "Please don't.." Her head was shaking, she couldn't understand why he was doing this. A wave of dizziness came over her and she swayed, fighting it. "uh oh.." She said quietly, certain she was going to passout before these two got finished with each other.

"Larson! Stand down!" A shot went into the air and the rifle lowered, the dart gun poised in the other hand aimed at the next one to swing which wasn't Larson from the looks of it.

The shot and Venge's order pulled Larson's attention as the follow-through swing connected to his jaw. It was enough to turn his head but not enough to really hurt him. He turned back slowly, anger still flaring as he stepped back, growling a promise that this fight wasn't over, just delayed. "Sir, yes sir," he spat out, knowing the sergeant heard him well and clear with his own feral ears.

The shot scared the crap out of Rob as if he wasn't scared enough of the gorilla that was kicking his ass. "About time someone put the animal in it's place." He whispered at Larson, but backed up at the growl that had come from him. "Your man attacked us! I want this ape punished." His arms waved as he spoke and staggered.

Nisari jumped when the shot sounded and her hands came up over her mouth to try to muffle the startle cry that came out. It was enough of a jerk to make her alert again but she was really dizzy and she had a feeling the ground was going to hurt when she hit it. "I think I need to sit.." She was whispering, talking to herself, her hands sliding up to her temples.

Venge gave the man a looking over and slight grin. "Sir, are you aware you've assaulted a soldier of the army, not to mention denied medical care to a civilian in need? Do you have any idea what any of that means? You've damaged government property, assaulted a guest on private property and you're generally being ungracious to your rescuer. That in itself might deserve boiling in oil, but that's too damaging to the environment, so nevermind. I'm thinking rather, stringing by the toenails could be in order, or... you put it to rest and get your panties out of your ass. I'm not your friend and I'm not here to saaaaave you. I'm here to get that girl, who's about to be on the ground, some much needed care. Now if you'll excuse me."

Larson appreciated the support no matter how insanely ripped Venge seemed to be from time to time. He chalked it up to a little too much R&R in the past few days, even if it did save him a few bruises for the moment. "You really need a doctor now," he pointed out to Rob who was shredded and bleeding.

"You guys are crazy." Rob gasped in disbelief at how the two of them acted and spoke to each other as well as to him. "Stay away from.. her!" He said through clenched teeth, starting to stagger toward Nisari. "I'll take care of her. Ni come on.. we're getting out of this zoo."

[Lovely]

Nisari was trying to at least get down to kneeling or sitting on the ground before she fell over and hit the ground full force. She didn't weigh a lot but it would still hurt, sand and rocks and possibly hitting her head off something. She wobbled but did manage to lower down enough to drop to her knees, her hands over her face as she leaned forward and down. The back of her shirt was as torn as the rest of her clothes and exposed now, revealing the marks running down her back from both shoulders which looked almost like slices though they weren't scabbed or bleeding. They were several inches long and were the slits where her wings pushed out from when she transformed.

Venge was about to help the girl up when the man's pleas stopped him briefly. He looked around and looked at him. "You'll help her? How? With what?!" Let the man figure that out himself, he had things to tend to to clean up the place before the next round started, whenever that might be. He reached out to help Nisari up. "C'mon, sweetheart, we know what you need to fix this. It's alright."

Larson looked at Rob and shrugged. "Man's got a point even if he sounds crazy. You know where the supplies are? Go ahead. Help her. While you're trying, I will help her. Don't expect you'll get to see her until she's rested, either."

"You'll stay the hell away from her!" Rob spat out at Larson, feeling an unexplainable surge of jealousy and wanting to keep the ape away from Nisari. Maybe it was the image of her curled around his shoulders so comfortabley for the ride here, maybe it was because Chris was stronger than he was, or he was different like Ni.

"You do?" She murmured quietly, lifting her head up to look at Venge, a little dazed and confused. "I .. just need food.. fruit.. even if it's a little rotten.. actually it's better if it is.." She reached out as he tried to help her up, she stumbled a little but came to her feet.

"Oh, enough!" Venge threw back, having heard all he wanted of who would or wouldn't do what to whomever else they pleased. The dart gun sang out from his side, and Rob would hopefully succumb quicker to that than to the common sense they'd been drilling him with. "Yes, we do," he nodded. "Starting with a little peace and quiet for that headache. Can you walk? It's another forty meters or so."

Larson waited patiently now for the tranquilizers to run through the man. If he knew Venge half as well as he figured, the cc's were enough to drop him instead if he'd felt it was necessary. If so, Rob was going to sleep pretty well through the worst of the recovery from his sunburn, no problem.

"Did Rob just fall over?" She asked softly looking at Venge and then to her fiance on the ground, she moved her gaze slowly to Larson. "How far is forty meters? I have no idea.." She was talking to Venge but looking at the man who'd defended her when Rob felt the need to yank her around then slap her.

"I'm sure the heat's finally gotten to him. He'll be looked after, too, and patched up from the scrapes, not to worry. What's your name? I'm Venge. You need anything, ask for me or Jarrod, if you can remember. Hm... forty... it's about the walk by a big yard with a pretty white picket fence. I'll be happy to carry you, though."

"Can someone kick him for me.. he slapped me.." She kind of leaned toward Venge. "I'll try to walk.. I think Chris carrying me.. is what got Rob all upset.. that and his brain might have cooked too long.." She took in a breath and let it go. "Okay.. here goes.."

He leaned back, watching Larson seeming to consider leaving Rob's heap in the direct sun a little longer. "Oh, darling careful... ape ears... he hears as well as us birds," he whispered back, then took another look at her. "But you're not quite a bird, are you? S'alright. Pretty thing you are, just the same. Here we go."

Larson heard her and the temptation to do just that, if only because she asked, was almost overwhelming. No, not right now, he thought. Its meaning would be completely wasted and he was about to be healed up in a few minutes anyway. He put it on his to-do list, something to sweeten things later when they continued their chat and Rob was awake... very awake. For now, he was out and limp, not much different from him being awake and trying to fight. Larson picked him up like a potato sack, mindful not to rip his torn burns worse. "Let's go," he grumbled, waiting for Venge and Nisari to come with him to the infirmary.

"Are you a bird?" She asked Venge softly, realizing how he'd phrased things and looking at him curiously as she started to walk with him, she did hold on to his arm for balance and support. Her eyes followed Larson as he grabbed up Rob and carried him like a sack of potatoes. "Will you tell him thank you for me?" She kind of nodded toward Chris ahead of them, keeping her voice a whisper.

"Hm. Well, I think you just did, but I'll be glad to repeat it for you to him later. That's Chris for you.. he'd do anything to help any living soul, long as it doesn't bite him back for it. Rob's mistake, and it's been a costly one already. Nearly there, through those doors in the rock, see?"

Larson was ahead of them and the doors he mentioned, pushing them open like they were made of feathers. He disappeared inside and the door swung shut again.

[Lovely]

"He can really hear that well? That's pretty neat." She was talking because it was helping to keep her alert and moving toward the doors they needed to get to. "Are you sure the doctors can treat me? I'm not.. like him.. I'm different from normal people and from what he is too."

"I'm sure. There's many here like us who aren't exactly like us. Birds, reptiles, wolves, him, people who can talk to creatures like those, too. And if it's anything of the fermented variety you need most, then you might want to talk to our brewmeister. He cooks up a mean ale and some fancy wine for parties, often with the soured fruit we can't use. He's your guy for that."

"Fresh fruit is good too.. sugar water.. " She licked at her lips even though her tongue felt dry too. "Are there any... butterflies?" She asked about the creatures he mentioned being among them here.

"Butterflies?" He held up his hand with his fingers an inch or so apart, questioning if she meant the little pretty creatures. He looked her over again and glanced at her back and the scores down along her spine. "Thousands of little ones, all kinds and colors, but it appears one unique in all the world just arrived, hm?"

Nisari blushed and her head tipped down but she smiled a little and nodded her head. "Yeah.. " She lifted her gaze and sort of shook her head. "You talk as if we're staying... Rob won't stay here.. he's not.. he's normal and he isn't entirely comfortable with what I am. I don't think he'd do well with others, you know?"

"So, Rob doesn't have to stay. You're welcomed to. I'm sure Chris would look after you if you did. Seems you and Rob ... have a bit to work out though. I'm just saying..." Venge sensed it and wondered if she knew enough about herself to understand what kept drawing her attention to Chris and wanting to fight against Rob even if someone did it for her. Venge pushed at the door, not quite opening it yet. "Something to consider if you don't want to live in fear anymore."

"Why would he.. Chris doesn't even know me.." She licked at her lips again and looked down then away then to the door, knowing Chris had gone in there. "I'm supposed to marry Rob... " She fought with the thought that Venge planted in her mind and tried not to think about it or what it would be like to be with people who really accepted her for what she was. "He.. Chris.. he stuck up for me.. no one has ever done that before."

"Someone should have a long time ago so he didn't feel he had to. Not my business, but it is while you're here. We're going to keep you separated a little while so you can rest and he doesn't decide to pull any stunts. He can't get off the island unless he knows how, and trust me he doesn't. Sure he can run, but where to? It's an island, he won't get far. There's worse out there than us, that's certain, but don't fear for him and don't worry. He's out cold for several hours anyway. Time you need to heal. Ready?"

Nisari nodded chancing a more genuine smile at him though she was very tired. "It's that or falling down again." It wasn't a very good joke but being stuck on a raft at sea for days had kind of worn her out. She felt better having spoken with Venge and being told that Rob would be out and would be kept in check so to speak. "um.. I hate needles.. like really hate them.. " She kind of tugged his arm a little as she spoke, when she was younger she'd been poked with them so much, she seriously thought she was a pin cushion at times. "They won't.. I don't have to.. no needles?.."

"I think you're about to be pleasantly surprised," he smiled back, warm and friendly. She was beginning to trust him and it appeared she trusted Chris well enough already. He pushed through the doors into the strange cavern that was their hospital and led her into the hallway, first checking to see if Alice might be near learning her way around the place.

"You have needle free doctors?" She asked as if she didn't believe there wouldn't be needles and lots of them, though she did follow behind him into the cavern. Nisari reached to tuck her hair behind her ears, looking around as they went in and also looking for Rob ... and Chris.

Alice walked up toward the front, looking a little lost since she was new to the place and didn't actually know where the closet was -up front by the desk they said, so she was looking for that to get some more towels. She glanced at the two that were there and then went back to looking for.. hey! She turned back and smiled. "Hi." She gave Venge a little wave and asked. "Have you seen the closet?"

"Yes. It's very nice, and it's just over there, cleverly disguised as a Playboy calendar, go figure. In case any of our good doctors have a memory lapse on their anatomy, I suppose," he teased. The calendar on the door was really only the standard medical association variety sent to nearly every intern on earth, but it was his humor, all his own. "Alice, Nisari here needs your help. Needle-less help, not to be confused with needless help which makes no sense whatsoever. Blood sugar is very low. A few bumps a bruises too. Were you on the ship together?" He wondered if maybe they'd already met and he was wasting time.

"I think I saw her.. you once or twice. But we didn't get a chance to meet.... " Alice smiled at Nisari and nodded to Venge's words. "Okay.. um.. Sol needs towels.." She looked a little panicked and torn as to what she should do and if she should ask Venge to take the towels to Sol or take the girl to a bed.

"I'll bring Sol his towels for you. Help her before she starts inspecting the floor tiles with her ears. Did you see that rather large ape come in here, carrying a sack of man all torn up? Make sure she's as far from that sack as possible, thanks. You're a dear," he reached out to kiss Alice's cheek, giving him a moment to whisper. "And don't let the sack know where she is. I'll explain later."

"With Sol.. what about the ape, can he know where she is?" Alice whispered back to him, letting her lips nip his ear softly. She wouldn't mind taking him to a bed... no! She was working... maybe just a quickie... he smelled so good.

"All the better I take the towels, thank you. Mmm more of that later, too. Yes, please tell the ape," he whispered back and helped Nisari step further inside. "Alice will get you a soft place to rest your head. I'll take care of the rest."

"Alright.. thank you." Nisari was sincere in her quiet thanks for his help and she almost seemed to have a sad look in her eyes from watching him and Al, not because she was interested in Venge but because of that sweet close moment they shared and how Al just sparkled when she realized he was there.

Alice was happy for the few moments of closeness with Venge though she wanted more more more! There would definitely be more later. "Come on Nisari.. " She held her hand out to the girl and started to lead her to a room as far away from the man they'd brought in as possible.