Wild war 1,2
The pain.
It hurt so unbearably much, my side felt as though it were being licked by searing flames made of pins and needles. My eyes had opened slowly, their vision was blurred and moving only made the pain more intense. I must have fallen on my back, I could feel my tail underneath and the weight of something on my side, something that shouldn't be there. I sat up through sheer force of will alone, biting my lip hard to distract my mind away from my side. My paws worked their way down to the spear shaft protruding from my wounded body. Not terribly deep but removing it would open the wound worse than ever. I turned my head side to side seeing the ravages of the battle. Hundreds, dead around me. Whoever survived this mess was dragged away a while ago; I could only ponder as to how long I was left out here...thought to be lost. My heart fluttered when my eyes caught sight of my pack, it lay not too far away, sitting close by was a white banner with the picture of a dove emblazoned on the front. I was glad to see that it had survived too. I was told a medic's job was a dangerous one, apparently they weren't kidding. I reached slowly for my bag, after grabbing it I quickly removed what I needed: Bandages, some alcohol, needle, thread, and some pins. Next came the worst part; I gripped the shaft of the spear and gritted my teeth, fortunately for me; the enemy's weapons were crude at best, no barbs on this one. I yanked as hard as I possibly could; yelping in pain as the spear extracted and flew out of my hands into the grass nearby. Blood began oozing out but this was something I was trained to handle. Cloth wiped the blood away, in went the alcohol; I swooned as the pain turned from burning needles to a spray of biting acid and back again. With it somewhat sterilized in went the needle and thread,
sewing up the gash. Sewing another wounded soldier is painful to watch, it's difficult to describe what it felt like to sew yourself up, each time the needle went through and out there was the sting, every inch of thread rubbing against flesh as it worked it's way in and out, in and out. I finished and nipped off the end wrapping it quickly in my bandages.
With the worst behind me, I looked over the battlefield a little harder, surely if they'd miss me, there might be more survivors, and wounded or not...it was my job to make sure the injured were treated. As I stared out my mind reached backwards into what it was we were really fighting for. I
was trained in the Skycloud academy of medicine, to assist the wounded as a field medic for a war against what my nation called the 'savages'. In truth, 'savage' was just propaganda spread by the nation to rouse the populace to support the effort, these people were tribal folk outside of our city's border. Enough people decided that our boundaries needed expansion for the growing population and as such, savage became the name for a bunch of people who didn't want to give up their land peacefully. I for one never really found war to be a reasonable answer for our expansion, the only reason I was here was because of the many friends I had and the many lives I might be able to save. I didn't fight for my country, I fought against the damage my country recklessly inflicted on its loyal subjects. Regardless of my motives, here I was laying on my back with a wounded side my kit, flag and hundreds of dead bodies. I was left behind and presumed dead. I didn't have a family so at least I would be content in knowing that not many would really grieve at my 'untimely demise'.
I shook my head after a moment clearing away the memories, I often drift into thought like that; it was always something I was scolded for in school. I slowly reached out and grabbed my banner...it wasn't really the time or place to advertise a medic, but a sturdy pole to stand on would help; I was left amongst the dead and if I didn't get out soon I might join their ranks in eternal rest.
I hobbled along slowly at first; I wasn't really used to the pole, I had never really experienced a wound this bad before and I knew that too much strenuous activity might cause it to open and ruin my efforts, I just consider myself lucky it didn't land itself too deep...or lodge into an organ. My pace improved slightly as I got used to the banner for a crutch.
"Ungh"
That's all I heard before my eyes shot downward. He was a 'savage', a canine like me, he lay on his back with his white stomach fur to the sky, tan fur with a rusty hue lined his back and the upper part of his face. He looked to be around my age, blue eyes, donning nothing much but some colorful feathers beaded into his matted hair and a pair of brown shorts made of some material I could only guess to be leather. His tongue lolled out of his mouth as his chest rose and fell in a labored fashion. He was delirious with pain and rightly so; he sported a nasty gash over his shoulder, the weapon was still lodged inside. It was an axe and not one from my country; I could only guess that he'd been disarmed and chopped down with his own weapon...brutality truly knows no bounds in battles like this.
The moment his eyes met with mine he snapped out of his stupor, with renewed vigor; he gave his best attempts to flail out with his paws, balled up into fists. After a moment of wrestling I managed to pin his arms with my knees, I made sure to look him directly in the eyes before saying
"Knock it off, you're going to make the wound worse, just hold still"
Despite being labeled as savages by my country, most were fairly well educated, knowing their own language as well as the many other local dialects. He nodded and I let his arms go. I then motioned to his shoulder and the axe embedded inside:
"I'm going to have to pull this out, it's really going to hurt so maybe...I umm" I tried to find something for him to bite down on, I didn't want him passing out, I was in no position to carry anybody, and with his legs undamaged, he might be able to help me as well, unfortunately I could only find one thing: "here, bite my tail" I curled it off to the side in front of his muzzle and let him take hold, probably not one of my smarter ideas but the pain would be worth it if I could keep him alive and awake. I yanked the axe with all my strength; he bit down with all of his. I yelped in pain, dragging out my tail from his maw, it was mostly fluff but it still smarted none the less. Immediately, blood began oozing it's way from the unscabbed cut. I quickly dressed the wound and just as I had sewn myself, he too was stitched and bandaged.
I held out an outstretched paw which he took hesitantly; I hoisted him to his feet, wincing from the splitting pain in my side. I gave him an awkward smile, he raised an eyebrow and cocked his head in suspicion
"why would you save an enemy? What do you have to gain from this? I still have a good arm and a sheathed dagger, I could cut you down where you stand"
I didn't hesitate to give him my answer:
"Mercy and kindness, that is why I saved you and why I would save a hundred enemies if they so needed the aid; pain won't discriminate between friend and foe, I counter that by doing the same"
He stood there for a moment, I honestly thought he was really going to stab me, I didn't blame him of course, considering the circumstances. he turned away and used the dagger to scrape away some of the matted blood from his shoulder instead.
"C'mon, we need to get to a source of water, I have some trail rations but my canteen spilled when I got hit, we can rest and eat there...we'll work on what comes next when we get to it."
I can't recall exactly how long we hobbled along in search of fresh water. It shouldn't have been too difficult, the battlefield was simply a grassy outcropping surrounded by trees. There had to be one around, apparently we just weren't looking hard enough, despite dire injuries and driving thirst. It had to be hours since we had gotten away from the bodies. The soldier I found really didn't attempt any conversation, I suppose I didn't really blame him for not wanting to talk to me...let alone carry me on his good shoulder like he was. The silence continued until we reached a bit of a rocky area, the familiar sound of water splashed in our ears, the warrior's eyes sparkled as I barely made out the word "Water!" come out of his mouth in a relieved and exhausted sigh. He stepped forward with a renewed vigor, we ran/hobbled as fast as our wounds would let us until we reached the edge of a little brook that had carved it's way off from what I would assume; another river further upstream.
We both crumpled to the ground as soon as we got to water's edge, both of us momentarily consumed by the instinct's greed to survive. We lapped the water as if we had never before tasted it. Only till both of us had gotten our fill did I remember to fill my canteen to the brim. As I focused my attention on water the warrior focused his on something off in the distance, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that he was smiling. It was only until I stood up that I knew why he wore the grin. Off in the distance was a long trail of wispy white smoke trailing languidly in the spring breeze.
"It's them" he slowly muttered
I nodded in agreement and rose to my feet. I didn't like the idea of wandering into an enemy encampment, especially when still wearing the medic's uniform of my nation...but if these were the survivors of that battle then surely some had been wounded, and with less manufactured supplies and technology there would be definite need of aid. So against my better judgment I propped myself against the warrior and we both set off toward the smoke. I made a decision there to test how warm of a welcome I would receive at the hands of the people my country was attempting to eradicate.
"So...umm-" I began
"It's Benke...Ben-Kee" he interrupted; "it means 'fiery one' in tribal"
"Oh" I paused for a moment to chew through my thoughts, "Nice to meet you, I'm Nathaniel it means...well I'm honestly not sure what it means, but I go by Nate, Nathan or Medic, depending on the circumstances. So... I'm curious, what's going to happen if I step paw in the presence of your tribe?"
He only chuckled, which did nothing for my self esteem, "under normal circumstances, you would have likely been welcomed, given a seat at our table and the honor to tell the tribe stories about yourself. Since we're not at peace anymore I'd say the most likely reception will end with your head skewered on a pike."
It wasn't the greatest of news to be sure, but I kept pressing the issue, obviously not wanting to end up in the situation he'd described
"So do you think I'll be okay then? I really don't want to be separated from my head, we're quite attached you see, is there any way to have them accept me then?"
He pondered a moment, it surprised me at the amount of time he was putting into this, not to say I wanted a medal for saving his life but I would have imagined that deed alone would have been enough to warrant me at least a temporary reprieve from execution as a war criminal.
"I suppose since you are a medicine man and you have supplies that they would welcome you to fix the wounded...you fixed me after all, I still don't trust you that much but I could vouch for you provided the circumstances."
This was enough of a response for me, I probably could have avoided the village altogether but in my state it wouldn't have been that difficult for a few scouts to come by and pick me off. I was a bit apprehensive to enter, that was obvious, but... I couldn't stand to imagine how many were still hurt, sick, or in immediate peril. The number could be so staggering. I didn't want that on my hands if I could do something to prevent it. So we marched on slowly toward the smoke, our conversation had passed the time and I could already see crude huts set up in the distance. I had studied their culture as part of my own free time whilst I studied at the academy. They were a highly mobile people, they kept permanent settlements but many still performed hunting and gathering outside of subsistence farming. The individuals who went on hunting escapades could very quickly set up and tear down camp, in order to follow the larger animals they tracked. The had adapted this tactic for military use as well; enabling them to quickly set up a headquarters or prepare for an ambush or for whatever other strategy that would be available at the given time.
we made it to the gates and, as I had expected, Benke was greeted with open arms...I too found greeting with open arms, carrying clubs spears and swords. Benke hushed the crowd down, I was thankful; because if any more time might have passed I wouldn't have been surprised if I would have been thoughrally aerated. The mob might have been calmed enough to not kill me on the spot but that still didn't prevent them from taking my belongings and binding my hands and legs so I looked like a boar ready for the spit and fire. I went silently, knowing that mob mentality rarely stopped to think about the 'ifs' and 'whys' I was being dragged off into a hut but I saw Benke arguing with an older tribesman, one of which I would assume to be a leader or an elder at the very least.
My experience in the hut was exactly what I had expected, punches and kicks hit me from every direction, saliva hit my face as angry tongues spat curses and insults "where are your hate monger leaders now?!?" "Pathetic welp!" "your head will adorn my mantle" it went on and on, I sat through it all as quietly as I could. I wasn't making some heroic stand, I just had nothing to really say at the time, for the most part...their accusations about my nation were on the ball, I didn't instigate the war but in their eyes I was as worse as everyone else. I suppose my silence only egged them on further, they wanted to see me break and beg for my life. I don't try to assert my 'superiority' over other people, seldom will I ever talk myself higher than another. This is one of the very few things that I hate in this world, nobody has the right to push over those who are weak, this thought burned me up inside as I listened to their demands for me to cry out. I waited till there was a lull in their shouting and beating, probably letting some of the other ones get a chance to punch up a helpless medic, whatever the reason I took the opportunity smiling through a bleeding mouth to say it
"it's so interesting to hear you people, you call me evil, my kingdom too is evil, all because they'd like to wipe you all out for the sake of expansion. They fight you because they perceive you as being weak. You see this as merely hatred and are likely outraged by their attempts to make you stand aside by sheer force of arms. I respect your reasoning if that's what it is but consider what you're doing to me, someone who is completely defenseless, weak...pathetic. You trod me because you are able to, you push your superiority on me because I cannot push back. It's ironic that you do this because it's the very reason you despise us so much."
I'm amazed I got that all out before the beating continued, it could have been the minor concussion I likely had already received, but I swear that I saw someone leave the hut soon after I stopped talking. Whatever Benke was doing right now I wished he would have hurried it along,
To be continued (again)