The following day she headed out to the training yard. She picked up a staff and examined it.
"What are you doing out here, love?" Grogek called.
The entire training yard turned in her direction. Inwardly she preened. Giving the staff a testing twirl she pouted at Grogek. "I'm bored. No one comes to play with me." She gave the staff a little shake. "How am I supposed to hone my skills, if no one will let me practice?"
Grogek laughed. "I'm sorry, heart of mine. I'd drag down a hundred tasty morsels for you, but you told me the rules are different here."
"That they are." She twirled the staff and sighed. She slammed the staff into the ground. "So let's play."
He grinned. "Now, in front of all of them?" He teased.
Once again she twirled the staff, twisting it up and down and around her before slamming the end into Grogek's stomach.
"Play." She purred.
"What my she-wolf wants, my she-wolf gets!" He roared.
The ring was cleared and they faced each other. He with his axe, her with the staff. He lunged at her and she dodged. So the battle began. He swung his axe down, she blocked with the staff. He took many swings and she dodged them. He came perilously close to cutting her, but she was faster. She hit him several times with the staff. He jumped and she ducked. She jumped, he swung. She ran up the blade of his axe and jammed her heel into his hand. He dropped the axe. She darted around, skimming up under him and whacking his thigh with her staff. He growled and grabbed for her. She darted left and right. After whacking his back again with the staff, she discarded it. They grappled. He lifted her up and flung her, but she was quick and merely bounced her feet off a nearby cart. She jumped and he caught her arm, yanking her down. She twirled and kicked, her foot jamming into his sore thigh.
They grappled with each other, her unseating him several times, him tossing her around like a ragdoll. All at once, his armor pieces fell to the ground. He roared in laughter as he swung out. They landed glancing blows, and performed amazing acrobatic feats as they fought with each other. Elunara went in for a running charge, but stumbled and fell. Grogek scooped her up before she hit the ground.
"Are you alright? We've been at this quite a while."
Elunara shook her head. "Bah."
He sat her back on her feet.
"I need to go get something to drink."
"Are you certain?"
She waved him away. "Just fine."
"Alright." He watched her walk away. When he saw her head for the healer's hut, he frowned.
"Ina!" Elunara didn't bother to knock.
The stout little dwarf glared up at Elunara. "You're late."
"Shit, yeah." Elunara flopped down in a chair.
"No need to swear."
"Sorry."
Ina dug around and came up with a cup. She filled it before handing the thing to Elunara. "Drink it. It's a bigger dose because of how late you are. Next time, I go knocking on your door."
"I said I was sorry." She muttered, before chugging the cup of tonic.
"I swear." Ina huffed and puffed. "A girl like you should be more vigilant about this kind of thing."
"Yeah, well. You took me from a daily to a monthly, it's kind of hard to re-" Elunara doubled over, grabbing her stomach. Her eye sight had gone fuzzy.
"Oh, oh dear." Ina tugged her around and pushed her on the cot. "Lie down now." She put a hand to Elunara's head and tisk'd. "That's quite the reaction. Let me look at you."
Elunara stopped listening and tried to focus on something, anything. She was vaguely aware of the door opening. Words were said, but they didn't intrude on her consciousness. Grogek face filled her vision and she tried to focus on him, but found herself staring a fang instead.
"Hmm." Ina pushed at a cut on Elunara's shoulder.
Elunara hissed and writhed.
"Look here." Ina pointed. "She's got some kind of poison in this."
"That cut is from our spar." He sniffed at it. "I recognize this. It's from the Laughing Skulls. But how would they..." He frowned and laid a hand on Elunara's hair. "Why would they poison my axe?"
"Not the skulls." Elunara moaned.
Grogek stooped down. "I will write you a list of what we need." He looked at Ina. "Your fastest runner, no... your fastest fleet of runners. It will be dangerous and I dare not risk her."
"I'll see to it." Ina nodded.
He began to murmur to her in orcish. It was the last thing she remembered.
When she next awoke, the General came in. "How is she doing?"
"Hiiiii!" She called as she reached out to pat his crotch. "It's nice to see you again!" She called brightly.
General Renwa frowned and pushed her hand away.
Grogek tucked her wrist back into the bed. "Don't be angry with her, she is hallucinating."
Renwa stooped down and frowned. He laid a gentle hand on her head. "She is on fire."
"The Laughing Skulls are a strange lot. Their poisons are designed to incapacitate the largest of prey, and force enemies to spill secrets. I hope we can get all of the reagents in time."
For the longest time, Renwa knelt beside her cot, his hand in her head, his thumb brushing her temple. "I will ask this only once. Did you know?"
"And risk her?" Grogek growled.
General Renwa stood up and nodded. He turned and left.
Later, Elunara groaned and rolled her face into her pillow. She tried to push herself up, but rolled to the side instead. Grogek's hand came to her face. She blinked up at him. Off to the side, Renwa leaned against the wall.
"Not the Skulls." She whimpered.
"That much we gathered." Renwa frowned as he walked to her.
"If Grogek cut himself, then he is gone." She breathed. "If Grogek cut me, then I am gone." She shook her head and wiped the drool off her face. "If Grogek cut a trainee, then Grogek pays." She rolled on her back. "My books." She writhed and panted. "Look at the training... pictures."
