Chapter 16: The Qarm before the Storm
Jemman had never left the compound before. She was now truly alone in a new world. She could go and see her 'family' but had no idea where they lived. She had a sect to find, but had no information concerning its whereabouts and to everyone else she was an eight year old, even if one training to be a Kenstar. She was confident being a Kenstar put her in more danger rather than less. It was like being a powerless pawn.
Without any knowledge of her new world she needed to go find somewhere safe to plan and prepare. She pulled out a coin. Tails I go right, snouts left.
Tossing the coin had her walking left down a two metre wide path with trees that bore in on either side. They weren't that tall, maybe five metres high, but their trunks were at least three metres diameter. Interspersed among them were weeds with thick long spikes. After about a kilometre Jemman noticed that one of the taller trees far off the track was dead, struck by lightning. Turning towards it she wove her way carefully through the spiky undergrowth using the flat of her blade of her colmar to stop them from shredding her.
At this moment Jemman remembered how Jardin had taught her to move with her environment. She slowed down and started to pay attention to her surroundings. Immediately, Jemman realised that something was stalking her. Dropping her pack at the base of the nearest tree she pulled out her dagger and waited on the balls of her feet.
After about a minute she heard the fairest sniffing sound. Then, through the brambles she noticed a metre tall, Doberman-like skeletal figure. It was covered with scraps of hide but she could still see internal organs moving. It stiffened. The 'dog' lifted its head and stared at her with a flat affect. It started to run at her, oblivious of the thorns shredding it's side as it moved. "Qarm, I'm betting" she muttered before adding, "so stay qarm."
She chuckled at her own very bad pun, feeling a little disconcerted that she sounded a bit hysterical.
Jemman had expected the dog to launch itself at her. Instead, it feinted and then whipped its bony tail at her. The tip was mace-like. It hit hard, ripping a small chunk out of her right forearm. Pain almost crippled her but she forced herself to retaliate. Almost unconsciously she stabbed into its rib cage with her colmar. It turned toward her indifferently. The dog ignored pain. Jemman had stopped her attack and I'm her surprise she allowed it to bite her hand. Great tears were left in her knuckles though she didn't lose any fingers. With her wounded left hand she used the dagger to stab into the beast's eye.
The dog died instantly.
Almost in a panic…okay, let's be honest, in a complete panic, Jemman got out her water bottle and some lye soap and began to scrub her wounds. She was unsure if she was infected with qarmness, if that was a thing. Wounded on both arms she placed a ball of cloth in her gouged arm before using her dagger to make a bandage from her trousers. Turning her other trouser leg into strips she bound her hand. The pain was excruciating. With, the last of her energy she picked up her bag, and the rest of her stuff, and dragged it all to the tree. It took another five minutes to circle its base. Eventually she found a wide branch she would be able to reach. Knowing she was unable to carry the pack up she burrowed into it and found a thick blanket.
She made it up the tree as it began to rain heavily. Jemman managed to cover herself with the blanket and circulate qi in her hands for almost two minutes before she slumped unconscious.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone