define('WP_CACHE', true); {"id":323,"date":"2014-04-16T03:00:08","date_gmt":"2014-04-16T11:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/?p=323"},"modified":"2014-02-01T00:04:26","modified_gmt":"2014-02-01T08:04:26","slug":"chapter-54-on-the-mend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/archives\/323","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 54: On The Mend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 54: On The Mend<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

In Which Permanent Is Better Than Temporary.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah breathes a sigh of relief before turning to Joseph. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you think Alvisa will say?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I hope she listens to reason. She probably does if she’s at such a high place of command.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Alvisa is very, very even, er, handed when it comes to these things.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah sighs and sinks into Joseph’s chair. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I’m afraid I must apologize for my sister. She’s always been very strong willed.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It’s not your fault.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The vixen shrugs helplessly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Still…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She turns to Jozra. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153She shouldn’t have said those things about you. I don’t know what she was thinking.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jozra does, but she tries not to let it show. She smiles slightly at the vixen. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It’s alright…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She trails off into a short fit of coughing that leaves her winded.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan pats her back gently as she coughs and lays her back as she finishes. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rest up, I’ll be no more than an earshot away.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra nods weakly and shuts her eyes in exhaustion. Jinx saunters up to Fiarah and says quietly, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do you suppose we should help her re-dye her fur?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan hears their whispering and noting that Jozra is now asleep pipes up. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That sounds like a plan to me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jinx beams at Soquan. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do you know where she keeps her dyes?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He shakes his head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, in her pack I’m guessing, but she said she was pretty much out of them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth:\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The young ferret mulls this over but is interrupted by Fiarah. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No problem. I know where to get some more permanent dyes that should work just a well, if not better.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153She’d love that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah smiles. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How about you stay here and help Joseph put together some dinner for all of us. I’ll be back with the dye.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan grins and Jinx nods.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The vixen smiles back before exiting the house. Joseph, who’s been feeling like a mole in a tree for the past few minutes despite being the ‘host,’ finally has something to do. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Er, I suppose we could make a, ah, a stew. Is the bakery still open at this, this hour?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I dunno.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jinx shrugs as well. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If not I could probably swipe some bread from the safe house.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She grins before catching sight of Jozra who’s staring dully off into space. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What about you, Jozra. Would you like some more soup?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He turns to listen to his friend’s answer.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: It takes a second or two for the sleepy ferret to realize she’s being addressed. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Um…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She blinks sleepily, trying to figure out if she’s hungry or not. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Soup would be nice.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Think you can feed yourself this time?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret nods slightly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Probably.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It’s good to know you’re getting your strength back.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jinx trots into the kitchen to help Joseph heat up some more soup for Jozra, who smiles weakly at Soquan’s comment.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He sits on the edge of the bed again, thinking.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jinx soon returns with a bowl full of soup for Jozra. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here you go. I’m going to go run and see if I can get us some hot rolls.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jozra, who has since sat up, tentatively takes the bowl, sloshing only a little bit of the soup as she settles the bowl on her lap.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan waits to see if she needs his help.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret, with a little difficulty, is able to manage on her own, though she eats slowly, concentrating on not spilling the bowl or what’s in the spoon.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins at her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How is it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: She pauses between spoonfuls to answer. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pretty good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: A few moments later, as Jozra debates trying to get the last of the soup out of the bowl with the spoon or just drinking the rest right out of the bowl, Fiarah and Jinx return.\u00c2\u00a0 They walk into the house as Fiarah comments, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know, I could have picked up the bread. Nobody said anything about groceries though.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: His ears perk up and he listens as the two enter the house.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jinx hops into the kitchen to set down the still steaming loaf of bread before returning to take Jozra’s empty bowl. Fiarah unwraps a package and lines up a series of little jars on the counter. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ah good, you’re awake. We thought perhaps you’d want to dye your fur again.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He turns to catch Jozra’s reaction.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra’s rather surprised. She didn’t expect this. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But what about Kirrian? If we have to go to the temple tomorrow won’t she say something?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He turns back to the fox and younger ferret.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah shakes her head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don’t think it matters what Kirrian says. The only ones who noticed besides us were Dysa, Kirrian, Nolan and Deke. The other three probably won’t say anything if that’s what you’re worried about and Kirrian, well, it seems she has a vendetta against you in the first place so I don’t think that really matters.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan nods in agreement.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra thinks about this for a bit. In the end she decides that Fiarah’s probably right and anything Kirrian could say wouldn’t be as bad as risking other beasts finding out and possibly talking about ‘that unusual ferret with black feet.’\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay. Ah, how do these dyes work?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He listens.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah glances at the bottles. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well, they’re liquid dyes that you just rub into your fur and let dry. They’re rather permanent though. Either the color grows out or you scrub it out with a lot of soap root.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He looks back to Jozra. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I told them you needed more.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I do, though mine are powdered and, er, rather temporary. Permanent will be much better.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The vixen nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If you’re feeling well enough to stand up for a bit, we could do this now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He waits for an answer.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret nods hesitantly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I suppose so.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She swings her feet over the side of the bed and begins to stand before doubling over in a coughing fit.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He moves quickly over to her side to help support her.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra gasps her thanks once she can breathe again. She uses Soquan to help haul herself upright and props herself against him.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He supports the ferret’s weight and helps her towards the others.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Though Jinx has been in the kitchen the whole time, she’s had her ear on the other room. Now she tells Joseph to stay in the kitchen and walks into the main room drawing curtains over the windows as she goes. Joseph mutters something about having seen plenty of nude patients to himself but is content with cooking dinner.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He continues to support her after they have arrived.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jinx helps Jozra out of her robe as Fiarah asks how the dye should be applied.\u00c2\u00a0 After a moment of thought Jozra instructs the vixen. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lighter paws and tail tip… If you can, see if you can make them match the rest of my fur. If not we may need to darken my back and sides a little. The mask is tricky. It needs to be lighter, especially across my muzzle but the white patches need to go away.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He stands patiently, listening to the conversations between them.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah nods in understanding and un-stoppers one of the bottles. She pours a little bit of dye onto one of Jozra’s paw and rubs it in. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lets see if this gets your paws light enough.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: Now off in his own world, Soquan hums a song softly.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The dye dries quickly and soon it’s evident that the light-colored dye turns the ferret’s darker patches of fur a color closer to that of the rest of her body. Jinx laughs as she points out the light patches of fur on the vixen’s paws.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He continues to hum, still offhandedly supporting his friend.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Soon Jozra’s paws and tail tip are all a lighter color. Fiarah pauses for a moment, uncapping another bottle. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I knew it was a good idea to get a few of each color.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She begins the detail work on the ferret’s mask.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: After the task is done, Soquan’s attention is back at the group, he grins at Jozra. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Like the dye job?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret looks into a mirror that Jinx has produced from another room before nodding. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It looks good, probably even better than some of my hasty dye jobs. Is it dry enough for me to put the robe back on?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Feels like it to me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He looks to Fiarah and Jinx for confirmation.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Fiarah nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I believe so. It dries rather quickly.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jinx retrieves Jozra’s robe and helps her back into it.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins once she’s robed and scoops up, carrying her back to her bed.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra protests weakly, certain she can walk back to the bed but too weary to really insist on the matter.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He chuckles slightly at her protests and lays her down, pulling the blankets up around her.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra hunkers down in the blankets, yawning widely, as Jinx and Fiarah head into the kitchen to check on the status of dinner.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He tucks her in and whispers softly to her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Get a full night\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sleep, I’ll be right here to keep away you nightmares.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret nods sleepily. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He gives her an encouraging grin and slumps into the chair beside her bed with a yawn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 54: On The Mend In Which Permanent Is Better Than Temporary. \u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d Yazeth: Fiarah breathes a sigh of relief before turning to Joseph. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you think Alvisa will say?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Arrin Woodgreen: Soquan shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I hope she listens to reason. She probably does if she’s at such a high place of command.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Yazeth: The … <\/p>\n