Thirsty?

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

*Cuoha carefully examines the mouse, cleaning mud off him at the same time.* There's a small wound on his ear, but nothing else that I can see. I'll try and turn him over...*Cuoha gently turns the mouse so that his back is facing upwards.* Oh! His back has a huge cut running the length of it! It looks like he scraped against a really sharp object, maybe a snapped piece of wood. *Cuoha looks closely at the wound, desperately trying not to show any sign of squeamishness.*

[Silas]

*Silas has seen many injuries in his life, from war. He saw beasts being ripped apart, impaled, and other, far more deadly endings. Yet the sight of another wound still managed to make his stomach the slightest bit queasy. He ignores the feeling, and says*Alright... So he has an injury on his back... Don't think we can move him much... How deep is the cut? *He asks, tearing up another piece of cloth, wondering if the cut is a spinal injury or not. If it is, that would greatly complicate matters.*

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

It isn't that deep. *Cuoha informs Silas.* It's more a nasty scratch than a serious wound. It could easily get infected, though, with all this dirt around. I don't think it was the cut that made him unconscious. That was probably from banging his head on a plank of driftwood.

[Silas]

Well, let's bandage it up... *Silas sets about placing a strip of cloth along the length of the wound, and looks again at his arm, the infernal splinter still imbedded in it. He forgot all about the injury when he set about gathering materials. Taking no notice of it, he continued to genly place the makeshift bandage upon the poor mouse.* How many other beasts are like this one? *He asks himself, knowing the answer never was really all that good to hear.*

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

*Cuoha supports the injured mouse so that Silas can bandage the cut easily.* D'you think we should carry them up to higher ground when we've finished? *She inquires.* We could rest up there, and it would be cleaner for them. That hill looks to be above the water level. *The squirrelmaid gestures towards a fairly small hillock, not too far away from their current location.*

[Silas]

That might be a good idea. *Silas knew how important a safer area was when treating a victim. He once tried to administer medical treatment to a soldier in the thick of battle, arrows flying mere feet overhead. That, he remembers painfully, didn't go over so well.* We might need to make a stretcher... unless you think we can haul this poor beast that far without furthur injury.

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

I think we'll need a stretcher. *After the day's adventures, Cuoha didn't feel much like hauling injured mice up hills.* I'll get two sturdy branches to use as supports for the stretcher.

[Silas]

Try and find straight ones, please. *Silas says, getting out another piece of cloth to use in the stretcher. He hoped that most beasts didn't need extreme medical care... that is, if they were even alive to warrant it.*

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

*Cuoha sorts busily through the many branches that litter the area around her, glad she has something to do to take her mind off the disastrous day.* It's always better to be doing.... *She murmurs to herself. Eventually, she finds two satisfactory branches. She takes a small knife out of her habit pocket, surprised it hadn't been washed away. The squirrelmaid starts to whittle the sharp end off one branch, as it looks liable to cause even more injury. Careful not to cut herself with the knife, she puts it back in her pocket and lays the branches on the floor, near Silas.*

[Silas]

*Silas first examines the branches, nodding approvingly as he gets out the sheet for the stretcher. He spreads it out as if they were having a picnic, then puts the branches parallel to each other upon the cloth. From there, it was straightforward, folding one end over, then the other one to make a stretcher.* Alright *He says, getting up from his crouched position.* Let's try and get him on this thing.

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

*Cuoha carefully shifts the mouse onto the sheet, careful not to aggravate his injury. When he is safely on the sheet, she positions herself at the end of one of the poles.* I'll take this one, you take that one? *She says questioningly.*

[Silas]

8Silas thinks a moment before saying* I'll take this side. It'll be much easier. *He moves to the end farthest away from the hill, reasoning that he'll have to exert more force than Cuoha to get the mouse up the hill. He bends down into position, and waits for Cuoha to do the same.*

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

Oh, alright. *Cuoha moves to the other end and bends down, gripping the poles. She calls to Silas.* I'm ready! One, two, three, hup! *She pulls sharply upwards in order to pick the mouse off the ground.*

[Silas]

*Silas grabs the poles and heaves upward, gripping them tightly so that they wouldn't slip out of his paws.* Okay, now let's get to the top of that hill.

[Cuoha, Matt & Terry]

*Cuoha begins to stumble slightly as the weight of the mouse tugs at her paws. She pants to Silas.* Please can we go quicker? Before I drop it. *The squirrelmaid reasons that the faster they go, the quicker they will get there, although she doesn't want to injure the mouse further by going too fast.*