MIKA POV:
I woke up with a pounding headache and felt clammy. My vision was still black even though I was trying to open my eyes. I was laying on my back, on a fur hide from what I can tell. My low back and tail felt painful still.
The memory of what happened came back to me. Marshall and Ishi were injured by the snow monster!
I sat up quickly, on alert. A wet cloth fell from my forehead and landed on my lap. My coat was draped over me like a blanket and I was laying on a bed on the floor. I looked around at the unfamiliar place; the walls were made of polished stone, the floor was made of stone and covered in animal hides, and the furniture was fairly crude. Across the room from me was a stone fireplace with small red glowing balls inside of it that were producing a mild warmth.
The room is so ambiguous that I can't tell if I was rescued or imprisoned. I got up, groaning from the pain, and made my way to the door. Just as I reached the door, I heard someone coming towards me.
I stepped back, pressing myself against the wall behind the door.
The door opened and a young man walked in. I peeked around the door for a quick look while he stared at the bed I was just resting in.
From what I could see of his backview, he had messy white hair and slightly wrinkled clothes. He was taller than me, but shorter than any other beast I have met so far. He didn't give off a dangerous aura, but I wasn't about to reveal myself.
I stayed as quiet as I could behind the door, hoping he would just leave.
My prayers were answered. He mumbled something then rushed out the door.
I finally breathed again. Until I know where I am and who these people are, I am going to be careful. I need to find Marshall and Ishi.
My stomach churned as I remembered the last time I saw them. both of them were badly injured and fighting for our lives. I hope they are okay. What if they were freezing to death or bleeding to death out in the blizzard. I need to find them.
I crouched Low and made my way out the door. Every step I took sent sharp radiating pains though my spine. Outside the door was a stone hallway that was lit with small illuminating orb sconces. There were 2 doors on my right and one door on my left, all on the same side of the hallway. The hallway ended by the door on the left. I took another look and the hall looked as if it joined with another hall up ahead on my right.
I decided to go right. As I approached the junction I heard footsteps again.
"Check all the rooms, she couldn't have gone far." A voice said from the distance as few sets of footsteps set off in any given direction.
It sounded like someone was coming to check on this hall. I ducked into the first room to look for a hiding spot.
There wasn't much furniture in these rooms. This one looked the same as one I just left. I hid behind the door again.
The door opened, the person looked inside the room, then shut the door.
I heard them open the door for the room after this one, to the room I was in before, and again the same thing to last room. I remained perfectly still while they ran off down the hall and took a right at the junction.
I exited the room quietly and creeped in the opposite direction of the person searching for me.
'For a prison, they are very lax in security.' I thought to myself as I crept with ease down the abandoned halls.
This place was like a maze. All the hallways looked the same so it was hard to tell if I was going in circles or not.
I decided to try a door. I listened closely and didn't hear any voices or footsteps, so I crept in. This room was dark, I noticed a robe was hung on the sconce in the room so I removed it.
In the middle of the room was a wooden table, and placed on tables around the room were various instruments. It was unclear whether these were medical devices or torture devices, but it was unsettling nonetheless. The room was slightly colder than the others. I shivered, then exited the room quickly.
I decided to try the next room. I opened the door slowly and peeked inside. It appeared to be an office. It was well lit, the walls were lined with shelves, there was a small sitting area to the left and a large desk to the right that had papers and books stacked on it. I quietly crept in, taking note of the strange smells. There were glass bottles, distillers, measuring devices, and strange things in jars on a table to the side near the desk. The devices were similar to what I've seen at Isola's and at Dr.H's place.
I stayed low and quiet; I froze on the spot when I heard a snort. I listened closely, there was the sound of low, deep breathing. I stood up a little to look over the mountain of books on the desk and saw someone was sleeping there. They were massive in size with thick dark brown hair. They appear to have fallen asleep while reading a book at the desk.
I quietly backed away, exited the room, and closed the door.
I decided to just keep following the hallway until I found an exit. The pain was getting worse and I was breaking out in a sweat. I felt like I might be getting sick.
I rounded another corner and heard a door open and close. I stayed quiet, hugged the wall, and listened.
"She should be in here." And young girl's voice said. "Karlos?" She called out.
"THIS is your medical center?" I heard a familiar voice ask. It sounded like Ishi!
"Yes it is." The girl shot back.
I heard someone running towards the door, "Kori! Good, you are here." A male voice said.
"What's going on? You look worse than usual." She said, her tone sounding less worried than her statement.
I heard a snort of amusement.
That's definitely Ishi! I felt lightheaded as I stepped away from the wall and went towards the voices.
"The girl…" The male voice started.
"Don't mind her. Go on." The girl said back.
"She is missing." He told her.
"What?!" Ishi and the girl said at the same time.
I stumbled around the corner, finally. I saw Ishi talking to a small girl and the young man from before. The girl was slightly taller than me, but much shorter than Ishi. She had long white hair and sky blue eyes. The young man had similar features, but looked like he took less care of his appearance than her.
"Ishi.." I said, feeling nauseous as the room started to spin.
"Mika!" She yelled and ran towards me.
Ishi helped steady me.
"Found her." The young girl said smugly.
"You are freezing." I said as I felt her icy cold skin on mine.
"You are burning up." She answered before turning towards the people behind her. "What's wrong with her?"
"I'm not sure. She had a fever when we found her and we can't seem to get it down." The young man answered her.
"Ishi, you are bleeding." I said through my delirium as I reached for the wound on her forehead that was dripping into her eye.
She grabbed my hand to stop me, then picked me up princess style.
"I don't feel good." I said as the room started spinning.
"You don't look good either. If you vomit on me, I'll kill you." She said.
"Bring her this way." The male said
I felt Ishi carrying me down the hallway. I felt like I was suddenly very drunk.
"Ishi.. Do you love me?" I babbled.
"What?" She seemed taken aback by my question, "Your fever is making you delirious."
I nuzzled my face into her nice cold neck and I felt her shiver.
"Stop that." She said quietly.
"Why? I thought you liked me." I pouted. I tried to look at her but my vision seemed to be swaying with every step she took.
"You can't do this." She sighed, "Even if you were in your right mind."
"But I am…" I mumbled before blacking out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ISHI POV:
"What the hell happened to her?" I asked aloud, half of myself and half to this doctor.
"I'm not sure. It's symptoms are much like the Mana Fever, however I have not personally seen it, so I can't be sure."
"What's a mana fever?" I asked, as we turned down another hall.
"I've studied it under the tutelage of my master. It was a sickness caused by excess mana in the body. It hasn't been around since the time of the progenitors though…" He answered.
"The progenitors again…" I mumbled.
'Just what is her connection to them?' I wondered.
I was so focused on Mika that I didn't even notice how intently Kori was staring at the two of us.