Once they have secured the location discovered by the ranger, Setsuko will begin seriously treating Zokiro's wounds using the healing arts she was trained in at the temple.

After doing what she can for her clan sister, she will go to Qing and look to care for his wounds too.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:19, Tue 07 Jan 2020.

Zokiro tries not to wince as Setsuko cleans and bandages her and Qing's wounds.  She bows her head in thanks to her clan sister.  "My appreciation, sister.  I have some scrolls that will be of use, now that we have the light and time to use them.  They can speed our healing, though I don't know if they will completely cure us."

She will pull out two scrolls bout off with green ribbons, unravel them, and touch Qing's wound above Setsuko's bandage.  Then she repeats the same on herself, feeling far, far better once the magic of the earth flowed up through them to knit their flesh.

OOC: 22:07, Today: Zokiro Mirumoto rolled 6 using 1d8+1.  Scroll of cure light wounds.
22:07, Today: Zokiro Mirumoto rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  Scroll of cure light wounds.

"Stop. I don't need your help. I'm fine." The ranger stares at the monk and sits down watching the area in the direction they need to go. He steps back, not letting anyone touch him despite any arguments. When anyone tries to get close, he moves off.

Zokiro drops her hands from trying to touch Qing, having thought it was only fair that he be healed after finding the spiders in the first place before they found them in the other cave unwares.  But it was his own decision to accept her magic or no.  "Sister, have you need of healing?" she asks of Setsuko.

In reply to Zokiro Mirumoto (msg # 179):

She too was disappointed but not surprised by Qing's unwillingness to accept help with healing from either herself or Zokiro. 'I guess he would die rather than accept care from us. For his own sake and ours I will take the decision from him should his injuries cause him to lose consciousness.' the young monk thought.

"Yes, sister any healing you can share would be welcome. Thank you." replied Setsuko with a smile.

Zokiro uses her other scroll on Setsuko to ease her wounds.  "There, sister.  This should ease your pain.  Qing, do we carry on, or do we rest?  While I do wish to find the flower, I do not want any of us to be so tired we miss a warning sign.  But if it is needful, we will go."

"Then rest. Outcropping here." Qing drops down and turns towards the north passages where they didn't come from. He moves towards it and sits down on a small rock, pulling out some sort of odd mixture and starts to eat it.

After receiving the benefit of Zokiro's healing scroll, the young monk rummages through her own backpack. A quick search produces a small ceramic vial which she immediately hands over to  her clan sister. "This is for you, sister. It can heal your remaining wounds once you drink the potion within."

Setsuko settles down and prepares to spend time resting. "Zokiro, shall we share a meal if you are as hungry as I?"

"I thank you for the potion.  I am well enough for now, but I shall certainly use it when there is need.  And yes, a meal would be most welcome."  She casts a look over at Qing.  "If you so wish, there is enough for you, Qing."  Zokiro brings out some of her own rations so that there is a variety to pick from.

She doesn't expect the prickly ranger to join them, as he has been determined to enjoy his own company, but it would be the height of rudeness to refuse him hospitality.  She nods in gratitude to Setsuko and breaks a rice ball to share.

Setsuko shares some leaf wrapped balls of spiced cooked meat and vegetables with Zokiro to add to their meal. "It would be nice to have a warm fire tonight. I have some makings for a good miso soup if we can heat the water." she suggests to her clan sister.

The ranger stands up, watching them. He finishes his meal and finds a good spot to see the area and watches. He grabs his bow, nocking a arrow just in case as they eat. He doesn't say a word if they want to start a fire but being in a cave without anything to fuel it may be hard if at all. Silence comes from the man. He looks like a cat ready to strike. Nothing comes out from the north and nothing from where they came to the south. He glances up at the ceiling, as the sun sends some light down to the ground.

"A cold dinner then, as there is nothing to burn.  But yes, soup another night soon," Zokiro says with a small smile at Setsuko.  As Qing watches, Zokiro finishes half a rice ball and walks over to him.  Very quietly she asks, "Is there time to rest, or do we need to move on to stay out of danger?"

Setsuko nods her reply to Zokiro and pays close attention to the Shugenja's attempted conversation with the silent, brooding ranger.

"Do what you need to do." Right to the point. He doesn't look at her, watching the area quietly "Speak softly as well."

Zokiro returns to Setsuko, looking perturbed.  She keeps her voice quiet as she talks. "He didn't actually object to our need to rest.  I know the situation is urgent, but I also know we haven't rested for over a day, and a good portion of my magic was drained by the fight with the spiders.  Let us rest a while.  I can watch first, then I'll wake you when can't keep my eyes open anymore."

In reply to Zokiro Mirumoto (msg # 190):

Setsuko nods while whispering, "Thank you clan sister. Please feel free to wake me anytime you need but especially before dawn. I have exercises and other rituals that need to be done then."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:19, Sat 18 Jan 2020.

If nothing happens for the first four hours, Zokiro will then wake Setsuko (and periodically check to see if Qing is doing all right), and take her own rest.

Time passes by. The day becomes night as the two ventures out in the early morning here. The ranger again is nowhere to be found. It seems like he always never is around. Yet after a few moments, he comes from the north and kneels down, waiting.

Zokiro nods to Setsuko and studies her own magical texts as Setsuko does her own stretches and exercises.  "Good morrow, clan sister.  I hope your watch was quiet.  If you're ready to go, then I am as well."  If Setsuko says she is, then Zokiro goes over to Qing.

"I hope your night passed well, Qing.  We are ready for the next leg of our journey."

Setsuko finishes the last of her morning forms exercises. "Yes, I have gathered my equipment and I am ready to continue, clan sister." she says with a bow before putting on her backpack.

The three travel along the cave and it finally ends. The ranger stops and the mountain has a steep drop going down and he looks up there's a small walkway along the side of the mountain-seems to have been made from wear and tear.

Zokiro looks up and down, not terribly liking the look of either, but knowing they must go on.  She quietly points to the path and raises an eyebrow of inquiry at Qing.  The flower was on the mountain, and presumably they would need to go up to find it, but she did not know for certain.

The young monk halted alongside Qing and Zokiro, briefly glancing down the side of the mountain before turning part of her attention to the ranger. With her hands, she felt along the area of mountainside they currently occupied, being quite careful not to reach too far in any direction.

The ranger stops after a few minutes to get his bearings and keeps moving. He glances back at the others for some reason and the three of them finally get to a flatter area. And another cave. The ranger looks inside and decides to head within.

Zokiro moves forward to draw level with Qing and lightly touches his arm to get his attention.  "Qing, please tell us what route we are taking and what we can expect in terms of how long it will take and the dangers we could expect?  We both wish to be well-prepared, but it is difficult to be so in ignorance," she asks in a low voice.