(Sure)
John slid his sword through the women, then the man, then the next, and the next, and the next. Blood covered his entire torso. But they were making it out. John’s breath was labored when he ran forward, blocking, twisting, turning away from blades. So much death. A man charged him, and John blocked, but the man was fast. He started slowly forcing John towards the tree line. John grunt, shoving his blade at the man. It cut the man’s arm, but not by a lot. John was just so tired from the fight, he felt sluggish as he blocked and parried.
Halo was aware of the war by the forest line, after all, he lived not far from it. His eyes widen at the blood an carnage. He shakes his head sadly, grabbing his medical pouch. He could try and heal a few people, but… he wasn't sure if he could. He sighs softly and opens his door, glancing around. His wings were drawn into his back at the moment so he didn't have to worry.
The man forced John back more, until it slowly escalated to John just walking backwards. He couldn’t hold his ground, gosh d-mn he was so slow. The man dealt a swift punch to John gut, on the left side. He tumbled back, foot hooking on a tree root and falling to the ground. The man held the sword up, about to make the killing blow. This is it.
"Stop!" Halo wouldn't allow someone to be killed in front of his eyes. He attacks the man who had a sword raised against the other man. He was scared, yes. But he wasn't willing to watch someone die. "Leave." He says slowly. "I'll take care of him myself." He growls. His eyes flash. It took a lot of strength that Halo barely had to have the man leave. He pants and falls to his knees, gasping for air once the man was gone. "Are you okay?" he asks, walking towards the other slowly, his hand out reassuringly. He was a healer, not a fighter.
(Sorry it took long, I got a bit distracted lol)
John looked at the stranger, keeping a tight grip on his blade, but said, “I’m- I’m okay, soldier. Who are you? What’s your station? Under what flag do you hail?” The male must be fighting on their side, or else he wouldn’t have defended John. But that didn’t explain why the man had just left, by command. It didn’t add up. John tried to steady his breathing and prepare for a second attack, just in case.
Halo bites his lip. "I'm not a soldier… I don't have a rank, a number or a flag I hail under." He says softly, grabbing a few herbs from his bag and kneeling in front of the other. "Can you walk?" He asks softly, "My cabin isn't far from here." He looks at the man. "My name is Halo Starr. I'm just a healer." He assures gently.
John tensed at the other kneeling so close to him, but said after a breath, “Yes, they just knocked me off balance.” So the male is a healer… With a cabin nearby? It still didn’t make sense, but it was all John had for right now. If he went out on that battlefield again he’d be going in a suicide mission. His best bet was to take a break then regroup and fight on. John stood shakily, and began to take a step but his left ribs screamed in pain. He only got a quick glance, seeing blood coming out of his side, before he collapsed forward.
Halo nods slowly and watches the other, his eyes filled with concern. He stands as well and sighs softly. His cabin was maybe a 3/4th mile from his home. He takes a breath then starts when he sees the other bleeding. He catches the other before he can fall, "Easy does it." he says gently. He supports the other and looks at him. "Can you walk?" He asks gently. "It's not far from here." he looks towards the male. "What's your name?" He asks gently, starting to lug him towards the cabin.
“I-“ But John realized how he leaned on the other, how he wasn’t able to put weight on his left side, “I can’t walk. The weapon might have been laced with something…” John realized he hadn’t told Halo his name yet once the other asked, “I’m Captain Ford. But-“ The male wasn’t in the army, so… “Call me John.” He tested his left side slightly, then immediately shifted his weight back to the right. He grumbled out, “Probably some poison…”
Halo nods, clenching his teeth.Most likely poison from the way it makes the wound purple and bleed much faster. He smiles a little. "Pleasure to meet you John. Now, let's get going. I can support you. It's not far from here." He says gently. He hands John a leaf, long and soft feeling. "Place that on the wound. It'll help with bleeding."
John hesitantly looked at the leaf. He’d studied the native poison plants near the area before the battle started, but this leaf didn’t look bad. He reluctantly took and held it to the room, leaning his weight against the other. Could he… trust the male? For now, he’d have to. So he let the male help him through the woods, clutching his wound tightly. John glanced at Halo, “So why do you live out here?”
Halo shrugs. "I never liked being around people. They caused me too much pain." He says softly. He sighs softly and shakes his head. "Anyways. We're not to far… I'm just hoping I have all the herbs I need…" He says softly.
John furrowed his brow, “You neighbors with a battle, you’re in the middle of a war. There’s quite a bit of pain right here,” John almost chuckled. The male was strange, even making medicines with herbs. John actually found that he started to like Halo, as he limped along.
Halo smiles a little. "Yeah, I guess it is a pain. But… The forest is safe if you know where to hide." He chuckles softly. He looks at the other. "Just a bit further." He says gently.
(Gtg, see you later)
“Alright,” John smiled as he leaned against the male’s shoulder, happy about the warmth coming from Halo, “You know I-“ Suddenly everything else went numb, pain jolting through John’s whole body, “Poison,” He wheezed out, eyes bulging slightly.
Halo grunts when the other starts to collapse. Crap. "Easy! Just a little further! We're almost there!" He clenches his teeth as he drags him to the cabin. He enters the door with a flourish and helps him to a bed. "Nhg… Here we go…" He begins grabbing herbs, along with modern medicine so he can start helping John.
John squeezed his eyes shut. That weapon was definitely laced with something. John released a groan, pressing the herb Halo had given him to his side, “Ack-“ John cursed repeatedly to himself as the pain seemed to spike higher. It felt worse than a bullet wound.
He gave John some pain killers. "E-easy… You're gonna be alright." He says softly, getting to work. Slowly he moved John's hand away and the leaf away. He takes a sample of poison from John's side, and slowly sniffs it. "Nightshade…" He mutters softly. He begins to work, biting his lips as he grabs the needed herbs and medicine.
The pain started to dull not too long after Halo gave him the painkillers. Just need to get my mind off it… “I always wanted to be a soldier. I was so excited when I got enlisted. Boot camp was rough, but so is war. I got promoted after I did well in one mission -hrgh-“ John winced, closing his eyes tightly before opening them again and continuing with his ramble, “My parents were proud of me, but I could tell they were still worried about my safety. But I’m here anyways. I’m happy to defend and fight for my country.”
Halo nods. Having him talk was good. He mixes a few herbs then takes a breath. "Oh? What were your parents like?" He asks softly, looking up at the male. He slowly walks towards him, biting his lip. "Can you help me remove your shirt? I need more access the wound." He says softy.
John removed his shirt in one quick motion, trying not to prolong the pain from movement, “My mother is sweet. Lovely woman, she sung me to sleep when I was younger. She could’ve been a music writing, if she wanted. My father was a tough man with a good heart. He taught me how to hunt and fish, always made sure I did my chores,” John released a strained chuckle, “We lived on a farm, had horses and all that.” After a moment passed, John asked, “What’s your family like?”
Halo nods, smiling a little as he explains his family. He always wanted a family like that. He carefully begins to clean the wound, but tenses when John asked about his family. "I don't… I don't remember them." He finally said. He bites his lip in concentration as the poison starts to drain into the herbs. He takes a breath, gently pushing the herb mixture on the wound. It was soothing, and less painful.
“You don’t?” John searched Halo’s eyes, “Were you abandoned? As a child?” The herbs were starting to work, a cool, soothing feeling washed over him. He let his eyes droop slightly, mostly because this place just felt safe enough to relax.
Halo gulps a little, "I dunno. I remember a searing pain in my head before I woke up alone in the woods." He says softly. "I found this cabin, and fixed it up. I've lived here ever since." He says quietly.
Wow. A civilian living alone in the woods… The male got lucky. John grabbed Halo’s hand without realizing, “Thank you, Halo. For healing -saving- me. I probably wouldn’t have been able to make it back to a nurse,” John sighed, “I need to get back before they think I abandoned my post.” But gosh, John was exhausted…
Halo starts when the other takes his hand. "It's alright." He says softly. "I wasn't going to let someone die right in front of me." He says gently. He looks at the other. "There is no way I can let you do that. You need rest and that wound is going to make you extremely weak. You wouldn't be able to fight if you had to." He says gently.
“But I-“ The protest died on his lips when he found he was too tired to even lift his head. His eyes drooped too easily, he was slipping in unconsciousness too easily when there was war happening not to far away. He never fell asleep easily after his first mission, but… he was just so… tired… and it was… safe… John’s grip tightened on the other’s hand before his whole body shut down from an exhaustion induced sleep.
Halo smiles a little when he sees the other resting. He gently squeezes his hand back before walking to the cupboard and grabbing a blanket to keep him warm and a pillow to prop his head up. He sighs softly, brushing some hair from his face.
