Prepared by Fate 3

Redfeather's Resolve

It wasn't too long before they arrived at a hospital on the outskirts of a small town roughly thirty miles North of where Maria had found Tenchi. It looked like most other small towns at a glance but, for one significant detail on the distant horizon. Far to the North-East the huge black mass of a vast hill could be seen and, atop it a vast black structure that could only be a castle. Though to be seen from where Maria now stood, with the young dragoness in her arms it must be as big if not bigger than the town they found themselves in. 

Turning away from that ominous visage on the horizon she enters the hospital hoping to find help to treat the girls injuries. The interior of this hospital didn't exactly inspire confidence but, with the severity of the girls injuries there was no time to make alternative arrangements. No this decrepit  looking hospital staffed by a skeleton crew of nurses and just a few doctors would have to do. Decrepit? Maria thought to herself Decrepit is an understatement if ever there was one. This place is purely Antiquated and archaic compared to what we have where I come from. 

Shaking her head to clear such pointless thoughts from her mind she approaches the reception desk. The thin canine nurse sat there too busy reading a trashy romance to even notice Maria and the girl in her arms.''Got a medical emergency can we get some help here please?'' The nurse didn't even raise her head from her book at Maria's question. Something that the bat not only found frustrating but, extremely discourteous and unprofessional especially coming from somebody who is supposed to help those in need. Clearing her throat loudly she raised her voice to the nurse ''If it's not too much trouble... Stop reading that trash that will never get you a man; pull your bony ass out of that chair and, get some gods damned help I have a medical emergency here.'' That got the nurses attention and she soon scurried off to find a doctor leaving Maria shaking her head and, trying to keep Tenchi calm. Talk about a literal useless bitch. I sure hope the doctors are more professional. 

As if on cue the nurse from before returned with a vulpine doctor. Though it certainly took them long enough as a quarter of an hour had passed and, the nurse vehemently complaining to him about having to deal with foreign trash and injured brats. Waving the nurse away dismissively the Doctor led Maria who was still holding Tenchi to an examination room for a preliminary check. It seemed to take forever for him to finish taking notes on the girls condition although in truth only a half hour had passed ''Quite the tale miss... Redfeather wasn't it? Are you absolutely sure you have told me everything?'' Maria nodded in answer. ''Of course I have now are you going to help or not? Time is of the essence you know.'' 

The doctor walked across the examination room then sat down at a desk before answering her question ''Now miss Redfeather as the child has no family and, given hir condition we'll have to send her to a Dr Läkare after treating hir. He runs a small orphanage specialized in caring for draconian children.'' Maria glared at the doctor angrily. ''A Dr Läkare? Are you serious? He is with the people that hurt hir. I won't let hir return to him, law be damned and everything! If you want to take hir back to him, then you will have to go through me!'' He raises his hands as if to ward her off ''It's procedure what do you expect me to do you aren't even hir family as far as we know she has none.'' Looking over at the young girl she saved she turns back to the doctor. ''How about a deal you treat hir provide supplies to keep the wounds clean and dressed and, she leaves with me like we were never here. Or?'' The vulpine gulped nervously not liking the tone in the bats voice. ''Or what miss Redfeather?'' Maria grinned almost maliciously baring her fangs. ''Or dear doctor you spend the rest of your short life and it will indeed be short if you tell Läkare you lost his bosses prize. Singing castrato. Do I make myself perfectly clear?''
The Doctor nods nervously. ''I'll get hir fixed up right away and pack you some supplies.... We'll just say one of the interns accidentality shredded the paperwork for a previous patient and you were never here. Ever.'' Maria watched the male working to patch up Tenchi's wounds for a solid two hours before he finished and, packed a bag with enough supplies to make sure Maria could ensure the young girls recovery. ''Now please leave.... And avoid the North-East if you know what's good for you.''

After leaving the Hospital Maria resolved to stay with the young dragoness until hir injuries healed and, this would also involve finding a new home for hir. So they started travelling to the South-West as fast as Tenchi's injuries would allow with to Maria's never-ending surprise was pretty fast as they covered almost fifty miles in a single day this shouldn't be possible with those wounds. Those injuries should be slowing hir down a hell of a lot. Smiling to herself Maria looked at her new friend. ''Okay time to stop and rest Tenchi you shouldn't over exert yourself after what you've been through'' Tenchi stopped right next to Maria and swayed on the spot shi would have fallen if not for the outstretched arm catching her ''I think I may have overdid it MarMar'' Shaking her head and trying not to chuckle Maria pick the dragoness up. ''That does it we are stopping for today. No arguing you need food, rest, and most importantly sleep.'' 

In short order they had a small camp set up in the midst of a copse of birch trees close to a river. Nothing fancy just a basic shelter made from some fallen birch boughs and a small fire to keep Tenchi warm on what was turning out to be a cold night. Soon after the sun had set frost began to creep across the ground, Something that was rather unusual for this time of year. “It really shouldn't be this cold it isn't even winter yet. What do you make of it Tenchi?'' Maria looked thoughtfully at the young dragoness sat by the fire. ''It's not that cold MarMar it's just a little frost'' Tenchi cocked hir head in an almost puppy-like manner. ''But it is kinda weird.''

Looking at Maria and leaning back without thinking Tenchi Fell backwards hitting hir head on an exposed birch root. Adding insult to injury as shi quickly sat back up a crack could be heard and a branch fell hitting hir directly on the snout making hir yell out. ''Jal'jun'gaja'macjha. (Honorless elderly fucking tree.)'' Maria got pale from hearing such vulgar language and grabbed Tenchi by the horn. "Hey! Where did you learn that vulgar language, young lady? I do not approve of that potty mouth of yours." A shocked expression appeared on Tenchi's face at being grabbed so suddenly. "W-W-What language are you talking about? I-I-It just popped into my head out of nowhere, and it sounded appropriate enough to shout out." Maria was about to speak, but then thought it was probably better to not say too much. "Just ask me before you say anything random popping up in your head again, please."

Tenchi nodded briefly as Maria released hir horn ''in that case what does Jal'jun'gaja'zart (Honorless, elderly, fucking mortal.) mean?'' shi asked curiously an innocent expression on hir face. Looking shocked Maria just took a deep breath before explaining "Look I don't think you should say anything popping into your mind like that. I'll just say what you said isn't good and, could cause you to come to harm if the wrong people heard it. So just don't say it to others Okay." Nodding in agreement the young dragoness went and curled up by the fire ''I guess that makes sense...'' was the last thing shi said before falling asleep. All the while Maria remained awake keeping a vigil ''Sleep well kiddo tomorrow our journey begins anew.''

End???