[SRP] It's All in the Skies

[Rennekae]

1. Small rocks fall from the sky! Each character must roll a 1d4.
1.1. You get hit right on the head and are knocked unconscious! You'll be left with a gash at the very least, if not a cracked skull.
1.2. You take a direct hit, but at least it's not to the head! The rock leaves a good gash, and could crack bone depending on where it hit.
1.3. Just a glancing blow, you get by with barely a scratch.
1.4. Today's your lucky day, and you're not hit at all.
 

[Rennekae]

1. Small rocks fall from the sky! Each character must roll a 1d4.
1.1. You get hit right on the head and are knocked unconscious! You'll be left with a gash at the very least, if not a cracked skull. - Dhoruba
1.2. You take a direct hit, but at least it's not to the head! The rock leaves a good gash, and could crack bone depending on where it hit.
1.3. Just a glancing blow, you get by with barely a scratch.
1.4. Today's your lucky day, and you're not hit at all. - Nema

The day was winding down to an end, the sun slowly pulling the blanket of the sea up over its head in preparation for its nightly slumber. The light cast across the cove illuminated everything with a deep orange glow, almost as if the world was catching fire, and a couple sat caught in the blaze. Cuddled up on the beach with the tide's rolling waves barely licking at their toes, their tails wrapped around each other's backs, two lions watched the sun go down. In the sunset's fiery glare, both lions appeared orange. Though, in reality, the female was mostly white. She leaned closer to her mate and rested her head on his shoulder, releasing a small, contented sigh as the pair watched the daylight fall.

Dhoruba nuzzled Nema in return, the three gold rings in his left ear clinking together softly. A lot had changed in recent moons, but to be honest, Dhoru was glad for it - not counting the rumors of "odd happenings" that they had all heard, and the feelings of unease that resulted. The pride had essentially reverted to the way it had been when Dhoru was a cub, Insanity, muses and all. After a period of uncertain adjustment, Dhoru and Nema were both ecstatic to have their muses back and settled into their new roles nicely. Dhoru had taken up the rank of nanny, and loved every minute of it. There wasn't a much more suitable job for the big goofball than spending his days with the pride's cubs. Nema was now occupied in the rank at the complete other end of the spectrum - while her mate nurtured new life, Nema helped ease others into death as comfortable as possible. Definitely a much more difficult job, but just as rewarding. She helped ensure that her pridemates' last moments were never spent alone.

With no charges for Nema to look over, and Dhoru's wards back with their parents for the night, the two were free to spend some quality time together. They often spent time with each other's muses - though only one of them could understand, they still enjoyed being a part of the other's life. Tonight, it was Nema's turn, and the two were happily watching the sun go down as they waited for the stars to come out.

As the last of the light faded, Dhoru thought he caught sight of the first star. He was about to point it out when suddenly it fell. Not like a normal shooting star - it simply dropped out of the sky, no tail, and was gone. No sooner had he frowned, his ears folded back and his eyebrows furrowing in concern, then another, and another "star" appeared and then fell. He turned to Nema and saw his confusion mirrored in her face, but none of the terror he would have expected if the stars - her muse - were actually falling.

"Dhoru?" Nema's voice was high and tight with fear.

All at once, the "stars" were close enough that they could see them landing in the ocean with great splashes, and then even closer, close enough to be able to see them for what they truly were.

Stones.

Small stones, no larger than a lion's eye, were dropping out of the sky like rain. Just like rain, they seemed to just appear into one's field of vision and there was no telling where they came from. As they continued to inch closer, Dhoru rose to his paws, using his body to force Nema to stand also.

"We need to get to shelter." Dhoru ushered Nema ahead of him, but before he could follow, a stone dropped and hit him squarely between the eyes, rendering him immediately unconscious. He slumped into the sand, and at the sound, Nema turned.

"Dhoru!" Nema raced back to her mate, concern flooding her mind at the sight of the blood flowing down her beloved's face from a deep wound that reached from the top of his khaki-colored mask down his muzzle to his nose. His burnt-orange fur was already stained crimson, wet and stuck down to his skull. Nema's first instinct was to try and haul Dhoru into one of the caves, but it proved fruitless. Try as she might, she was neither large nor strong enough to move her massive mate. So instead, she lie on top of him, covering as much of his body with her own as she could in the hopes that she would take any more of the stones aiming for his body. She found comfort in the fact that she could feel the rise and fall of Dhoru's steady breathing underneath her.

Somehow, miraculously, no more stones hit the couple - though several landed on the beach nearby, with enough force to send sand spraying about to tangle itself in their coats. The storm, if one could call it that, was over quickly. After thanking her lucky stars, Nema peeled herself off of Dhoru, who was still out cold in the white sand.

She took to cleaning his wound, using his unconsciousness to her advantage as her cleaning would most likely cause him some discomfort. She managed to clean most of the blood and sand away from his wound, but it was still gushing steadily, and she shuddered to think how bad it could have been had Dhoru's mane not been so thick and bushy. Nema rushed to a nearby copse of plants to grab a large wad of the spiderweb she saw stretched between a tree and a large bush. Hobbling awkwardly back, one foreleg held high to keep the spider webs intact and clean, she recleaned the area around Dhoru's laceration and then carefully layered it with webbing to create a bandage. She would need to bring him to a healer for any sort of disinfectant or healing aid, but it should at least stem the stream of blood.

After several moments of nudging and grooming, trying to wake the large male, Nema grabbed a nearby shell carefully in between her teeth and took it to the ocean's edge, filling it with water as best she could. She gingerly carried it back and trickled it gently over Dhoru's face, cautious to avoid her web compress. It seemed to do the trick, and Dhoru groaned loudly as he woke.

He squeezed his eyes shut against the pounding in his head, but that only brought more pain as it stretched the fresh gash on his forehead and muzzle. Pained groan slowly turned to an angry, low snarling. Opening one eye experimentally, showing it glazed over in agony, he muttered something indistinctly.

"What was that, Dhoru?" Nema leaned forward and put her orange-striped ear close to her mate's muzzle so he could he re-ask the question, smiling from relief even as she fretted.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice barely louder than a raspy breath.

Nema smiled, tears starting to sting her eyes at Dhoru's concern for her even in his obvious distress. She nodded, unable to choke words past a newly formed lump in her throat, and urged Dhoru to stand. It took several minutes, and he tottered unsteadily on his paws even as he towered over Nema. She tried to provide as much support as she could as she helped him toward Zuni - their friend had made the easy switch from Alchemist to Healer when the pride changes had taken effect and Nema knew she had her den close to the beach.

It was tormentingly slow going, but as they neared the den, Nema was glad to find that Zuni and her brother, Marzel, were outside her little cave in the cliff wall. They caught sight of the couple struggling toward them and Marzel rushed to help. Nema gladly allowed the dark male to shoulder most of Dhoru's weight and take him inside the den, Zuni following swiftly behind and looking all business. Nema paused briefly at the entrance to the den, looking up as she felt more than heard a faint but friendly greeting. The first star had appeared in the sky. She smiled and ducked into her friend's burrow after the one she loved most.

The stars would have to wait until another night.