(sole)sweepingcurtain

[cinder]

She was walking down a well beaten path--one she'd gone down years, and years, and years. Dittany wasn't going anywhere, really, just trying to escape the glares and disapproving nods her sister (aka mother-figure) Ash had been giving her. It was a silent evening, not many people being out. The girl had always wondered why people didn't go outside more often, a cool evening with a gentle breeze and the company of a few friends--nothing seemed better to Dittany. Unfortunately she was missing the friends part of that dream, but she would make do with the other part of her mental-statement.

How far had she walked? Dittany wasn't exactly familiar with these parts of Distirct Eleven. She tended to keep to where she worked, and where she was forced to go. (home and school) Everything else seemed to just be a dull extension of fields and trees, there was no shortage of either near her small house. She debated going back or not, but curiosity took hold of her, she would walk till she was too tired to go on, see how vast her District was. (as she knew it was--there had to be plenty of space for them to grow so much food) The problem was, during the night, her vision wasn't too great--even worse than it had been becoming. So when she hit the rock, it was a complete surprise and, a complete bummer.

Dittany had just tripped over a rather large rock and was currently trying to keep herself from screaming out in pain. Oh no! What if my ankles broken? she thought frantically. Dittany usually was a pretty clever girl and could find herself a walking stick but how long would it take her to get back home? She suddenly regretted taking some of her small meal with her. Now I'm stuck out here... she thought miserably.

[solegamer117]

Trand Owen was walking through the outskirts of District 11, a habit he'd gotten into recently, for his health and so he could examine the outer trees of his orchards. He rarely met people out here though. It was too close to the orchards, where you could be accused of stealing, and too close to the woods, where you could be accused of trying to leave the district.

Trand liked it here though. It was calm. Quiet. Private, secluded. Tranquil. A better place could not be asked for...or so he was thinking before the tranquil silence was pierced by a...not a scream, more a faint, pained grunt, or a muffled scream. The person who'd uttered it couldnt be that far away, right? Trand glanced about for a possible location and spotted another rough path near the one he was on. He headed for it and glanced up and down it, but it seemed difficult to try and find the person, if it was not a hopeless cause.

Then he spotted the girl a, laying in the ditch. A large rock near her ankle, which looked...not right. He moved over towards her quickly, calling "Are yoy okay over there Miss?"

[cinder]

Dittany was unsure if she could have looked more savage. It wasn't directed at the other boy, or man, whichever it was, it was meant for the rock and her cursed luck! Why did Dittany have to be the one person to probably trip on the thing? Rotten, stinking luck. Then again, heres some help... she thought. The guy seemed polite, calling her 'miss' but even friendly people could be masking calculating, cruel ones as Dittany feared she was. Making an effort to sound semi-pleasant she gazed up at the dark silhouetted person, her grey eyes glistened with tears Dittany was trying to keep from spilling.

"No." She paused to catch her breath, Dittany was fairly sure her ankle was broken or at least sprained. She'd only broken a bone once before, and that had been her arm, many years ago. All Dittany had to remember the injury was a slight pain every now and then. "I think its broken," she gushed. A tear trickled down her cheek, she felt like such a baby... a cranky, helpless little child.

It was rather embarrising actually, as the teen struggled to calm herself, keep as silent as possible, she had to deal with the reddening of her cheeks too. Great. The second I can, Ill thank him for checking on me and get out of here she thought. Hiding under that stupid rock might be good...

[solegamer117]

Trand looked at the girl, she seemed to be in real pain, he'd never had a broken bone, but he knew from others that it wasn;t pleasant at all. Trand knelt by her side and pushed the stone away in case it's proximity to the wound was hurting it. He genty reached for her arm and hooked it around his neck "I'm going to help you stand up, okay? Just use your uninjured leg, let me do the work, okay?", he glanced at the ankle, it looked pretty bad. He waited for her confirmation before he tried to help her up, he didn;t like seeing people crying, or in pain, and the one tear that trickled down her face looked like it was going to be joined by other. He tried a reassuring smile "Don't worry, I have a little medical experience from helping workers at the orchard, I'll take you to my house, I might be able to help, if not I'll get you to a doctor"

[cinder]

Okay, Dittany thought, I take back the thing about my luck--I guess the heavens just like playing games with me, breaking bones then sending help she thought. Already in shock, and overwhelmed this seemed to just send her into a frozen state. She coudlnt really talk without saying something incredibly stupid like, 'Did I get dirt on me when I fell?' or soemthing else vain and random. Dittany nodded, her eyes wide, she was shaking. The pain had dulled, but now she was taking in the scene--things were moving very quickly and her mind was struggling to keep up.

I wonder how I would have acted If Id just bumped into him on the road, a casual hello maybe? she thought. Another one of those things she was feeling, loss of focus. She couldnt seem to keep her mind on one thing for too long and she was running out of things to think.

ooc- a little short...

[solegamer117]

Trand nodded to her "I'm going to help you up now, okay?" Without furthur ado he stood, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her as she found her bearings, "You okay?" he asked, silently cursing that he didn't having some medical stuff with him, it made sense to have some med gear if you were going out alone, where you could get injured....

Trand glanced around, but noone else was here, unsurprisingly, it was late, it was out of the way. He glanced across the fields towards his orchard "It shouldn't be too far to my orchard" he said, half to her, half to himself, then he redirected his words to focus on her "Then we can get you into my house, I have some some medical gear in one of the store rooms, I can take a look at it there, treat it, and you can stay if you want, otherwise I can help you home", then he realised he had yet to introduce himself, even though he was about to help her limp into his home "I'm Trand Owen by the way"

[cinder]

She sniffled, adjusting herself. Dittany was unsure what to do with the arm next to Trand, it was just uselessly next to her side as present company had an arm around her waist. She awkwardly put it around, gripping his further shoulder like it was the only thing keeping her from death. She coughed, and nodded once more, she was pretty calm, and feeling well enough to really talk now, "I'm Dittany," she said. Taking the energy to say even, 'I'm Dittany Briar Gray, nice to meet you Trand!' seemed to long for Dittany to say normally. At least with two words she could just say it as fast as possible and have it over with.

She then thought of the rest of what he'd said. Trand had been nice enough so far, but she was naturally suspicious of any guy walking around at night--offering help to strangers and taking them back to his house. Dittany knew some defense, and was pretty strong, but she knew she was in no condition to fight if she found Trand to be a very different person than he was right now. It was something Dittany just naturally thought of as she had a very strong sense of self-preservation.

[solegamer117]

Trand gently nudged her forward "Just come with me, I'll do most of the work". They began to move slowly, her arm clasping his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her waist to keep her steady, but then without warning he felt her stiffen in his grip. He was puzzled, he glanced at her and murmured "Anything the matter Dittany?", he paused and then continued, "I mean anything other than the ankle, you seem a little...tense", he glanced at her again, was she nervous about him? Probably sensible, he was a strange man taking an injured girl to his house, for all she knew he'd drug her and lock her in the basement. He shook his head and sighed.

Gradually they made their way along the path, until they reached the outermost trees of Trand's orchards. He smiled at the scent of apples oranges and pears in the air "We're almost there Dittany, just a little more and we can get your ankle seen to, either by me, or a doctor if you want"

[cinder]

"No need to bother a doctor," she said her voice rather small. She felt bad Trand had to deal with her, and then he had probably just figured out she was District Elevens #1 Suspicious Sixteen Year Old. The thing about doctors was, Dittany had never liked them, when her mother had died the doctor had assured Ash and her only days before that, 'Mrs. Gray, you'll live, don't even worry,' before the devastating death occurred. Ever after Dittany had tried to cure her own illnesses and such, relying on Ash to take care of her injuries. Trand was still a stranger, and this was her first experience she could remember with a broken bone, so she was a little wary of his medical skills. It was only the image of her cold, still mother that kept her from asking for a doctor. That and sometimes they required a payment, which Dittany did not need.

She inhaled the scent of fruits and felt herself relax a little bit. Working in trees most of her days, it had become a comfort to be around fruit trees. Dittany vaguely wondered what she'd do as far as working for the next days, but decided to think of it later instead of now. No need to stress herself out too much.

[solegamer117]

Trand smiled as they finally reached the door to his home, the store room where his medical supplies were had it's own door, which he opened wide before helping Dittany in. There were a couple of chairs and a low table, old furniture, but the table could do for examinations. A couple of crates and some stacked boxes held all the stuff she'd need to recover. He clicked on the light switch and then led Dittany over to the table, helping her sit on the edge.

He stood and stretched slightly before telling her, "Could you lay down there please? It'd be easier to see the injury that way, and probably more comfortable for you", as he waited for her to do as he asked he busied himself in the boxes, looking for bandages, splints, antiseptic, painkillers. Identifying then, gathering them up and seeing if they were usable. Satisfied he returned his gaze to her "Ready?" he asked

[cinder]

Don't do it Di! Don't do it! a part of her head screamed, while the other side told her to calm down and just relax. She was filled with indecision... then she looked at Trand in the light. He was a pale boy--somewhere around her age, but with a more responsible look in his light eyes. She looked at him once more and realized she was just a frightened girl, hr t an skinned covered in dirt and her grey eyes obviously wary and scared-looking. Thinking of the painful position she was in (one where help should not be refused) she layed down.

"Okay, just do whatever you need to," she said in a solemn voice only edged with pain. Dittany closed her eyes, and gripped the sides of the table in case she had the urge to say... hit Trand. As a youthful, stupid teen, Dittany wasn't sure exactly what Trand would have to do to her, but she had a feeling it'd be painful at first.

[solegamer117]

Trand first pulled a needle from the small refridgerator in the room "Local anasthetic" he said "It'll keep the wound from hurting too much while I attend to it", a quick jab in the leg and the painkiller began it's work, duller the pain sensors and doing it's utmost to make this a more tolerable experience. Then he felt around at the ankle and smiled "I have some good news though, it doesn't feel broken to me, I can't be sure but I think it's just a twisted ankled".

He smiled and next pulled out a splint and some bandages "Just keep it still", he said. He spent a few moments immobilising the leg, wrapping the bandages tightly, making sure the splint was secure, before finally pulling out an old stick, well, more a branch, one that he had taken from a fallen apple tree, he'd cut them up into walking sticks and lent them to workers who were injured falling from trees, he placed it on the table beside her "That should help you get around", he smiled "And now you're done, I think, hope"

[cinder]

Dittanys eyes were suspicious. It had to be broken, a simple sprain would not cause that much pain!!! Or would it? If it was just a sprain, it was her first. Suddenly Dittany felt herself laughing. "I feel like such a baby... a sprain," she smiled brightly, trying to cover up any remaining uncomfortable feelings lingering in the air--she didn't want to be rude, and she didn't want to be a baby who cries over a sprained ankle (which she was sure this could not be!)

She rolled her eyes and pushed herself up from the table, facing Trand. It was pretty late in the night, and who knew what rocks were lurking, waiting to break her other foot. Dittany debated asking for a stick and making her way home, or giving into her more realistic side and asking to stay for the night. It wasn't like she'd get in trouble with Ash, as Dittany knew the girl was probably fast asleep, unaware of Dittanys position. She furrowed her brow, then spoke carefully, her voice kind but slightly distant, "Thank you, thank you so much but, um... uh, and not to be a bother but its fairly late and my sister wouldn't mind my being away for a night..." Really Dittany knew it was better if she stayed. The Capitol was always looking for people trying to leave the Districts late at night, and she wasn't sure if she'd be suspicious of her or not--she knew the woods were close to here. A forbidden zone.

[solegamer117]

Trand tried to smile back in a reassuring manner "You aren't a baby, any injury like that is painful and it's probably a really stressful thing, having something like that happen to you when you're out alone like that"

He smiled when she announced her decision to spend the night there "It's no bother at all, there's plenty of room in the house, and it's been a while since anyone stayed here, most of the time I just have the place to myself", Trand grinned again and lifted up the walking stick with one hand, gently taking her hand in the other "If you want I could take you to the guest room, it's just beside my room". He glanced around the room again, checking over the boxes and refrigerators to see that they were all closed up, medical supplies weren't much use if they weren't sterile after all.

Satisfied that they would remain useable for next time he turned back to Dittany, "Don't try and do too much at once through, take the stick if your ankle begins to hurt, remember using it too much could just damage it more"

[b4 I leave Cinder]

Dittany stared at him curiously. She opened her mouth then closed, it opening it again, "You seem old--like really much older than me, but you look around my age," she commented. It shocked her, but Trand seemed very much like a wise old man or something. Dittany then sighed, she no longer even wished to think about her 'sprain.'

Biting her lip she nodded, turning toward the general direction of the guest room (since previously she'd been facing a wall) Unsure what exactly to do she decided to rest and wait for an answer to her question.

ooc- short but g2g till monday now ^^