The Healer Series

The group of Healers trekked across the barren wastes north of the Land of the Herders, coming across refugees suffering from the violent volcanic eruptions, their homes destroyed, lives shattered and all hope lost. Car'lin and Da'il had become adept at locating those lost, shattered souls and Tal and Bec soon became skilled at rescue. The group had become a travelling caravan of rescued folk, they constructed tents and portable kitchens to house and feed those that had been restored. Special facilities were erected to protect those who had been Turned Vampire, for they, also, were treasured. Little Ky'len, forever the jokester, could be depended upon to uplift the spirits of all those around him, while Grandpa Lan'l comforted those who had lost their loved ones. Whenever they encountered civilization, those who wished, were taken in by the folk living there.

The Legend of the Healer spread faster than they travelled, The Herders, a naturally generous folk, welcomed the refugees with open arms. Their travels brought them to a land of violent upheaval, the volcanoes ripping the land apart and forming new landscapes. They dropped down into a river valley, freshly formed by a river whose course was changed by the violent eruptions. Grass was just beginning to grow, covering the barren land with lush green. They sat on a bluff, eating their noonday rations when Lymal's eyes went red and his fangs went into full drop. He stood and said, "There is hate here. And fright and fear, also!" He shifted to his flyer form and sprang into the air, L'oki following on his tail feathers. Those still on the ground watched as the two Great Birds of War circled the valley.

After a short while, the four teens, Car'lin, Da'il, Tal and Bec heard the urgent mental call, "JOIN US!" Knowing their Fathers would not so urgently call without reason, they leaped into the air, changing to their flyer forms. They raced through the air, across the valley with all their might, where they found Lymal and L'oki circling over a small lake and some buildings on its shore.. They directed their minds downward and saw...... saw that which all Human Hybrid Warriors detested, SLAVERS!

Peaceful Healers they might be, but they remained WARRIORS! To them, slavers were so detested, so odious as to be destroyed whenever and wherever encountered. At Lymal's command, the six Great Birds of War dove to the Earth, changing to Land Beasts as they landed. A 12 foot giant ape, a 2,000 pound bear, a 500 pound wolf, and several beasts never before seen by men raced down the hillside towards the unfinished stockade. That they were angry could never be doubted, their red eyes lit up the shadows like full daylight! They crashed into the log walls, tossing timbers into the air, slavers and their parts went flying through the air, landing in the dirt! Within minutes, no slaver survived, only their parts remained piled in the dirt and rocks! They ripped doors from their hinges, searching for those captured by the slavers, children, mothers, fathers and old folks locked in reeking holes! They returned to their Human form and carried those who could not walk from their captivity, some so severely injured that immediate healing was necessary.

As they knelt beside those needing their help, a teen boy approached them, "Are you the Warrior Healers of our ancient legends?"

Tal said to the boy, "We are their descendents we are HEALER."

The boy, tears forming in his eyes replied, "Can you fix my twin brother, Dol?"

Tal read the boy, then gently replied, "Rel, take me to your brother, Dol"

Rel's eyes went wide, "Yu, yu You know me?"

Tal smiled and tapped his own head, "I am a Warrior, I read your mind."

The boy began to shake, "Then yu, yu know..."

Tal hugged the boy and said, "Yes, I know, but it matters not, let us go and heal your brother!"

They found the boy, Dol, in a shed, laying on a pile of rags. He had been beaten and sorely abused, blood was everywhere, his breath shallow and failing. Tal mind screamed for assistance and Lymal came running into the shed. Together, they healed the boy, restoring those parts the slavers had taken such delight in damaging.

As the boy came awake, he looked around, "Am I dead, is this the afterlife?"

Rel hugged his brother, "No, Dol, you have been saved by those of our legends, THE WARRIORS are here!"

Dol's eyes went wide in fright, "The, the, they now about us?" he stammered.

Rel hugged his twin and said, "Yes, love, they know and they don't care!"

Soon, 60 folk were healed and restored, they stood near their rescuers, not knowing what was to become of them. Lymal and L'oki walked among them, telling of new communities that would welcome them.

The two twin teens, Rel and Dol looked upon their saviors, pleading in their eyes that they not be "sent away". Rel gathered up his courage and stood before Lymal and L'oki, he dropped to his knees and placed his hands in theirs, "Lords Warrior, we know of the ancient legends of our people, that were once part of the People of The Lake. Our legends tell of such as you and your powers, I and my brother, Dol, beg you to change us. To make us like yourselves so that we might defend others against those that would do to them what was done to us."

The two Warriors read the boys' minds and saw truth and determination in both of them. Lymal replied, "Are you sure this is what you want, once done, it can never be changed!"

Dol knelt beside his brother, "Yes, Lord Warrior, as we are, it is not possible that we could combat those who enslave our folk, although we would try. At your side, we could make a difference, we could shield our people from such horrors!" The distraught boys collapsed at their benefactor's feet sobbing in fear they would be rejected because of their love for each other.

Lymal and L'oki reached down and brought the two to their feet. They agreed and, when they had returned to their camp, they took the twins into their tent and performed the blood transfer required to make their change. They sat with Rel and Dol cuddled in their arms for six days and on the 7th day, they presented the two new Warrior Healers to their brothers!

The twins became particularly adept at working with injured children, healing them, body and mind.

The group continued their wandering and collecting those displaced by the torment of the land. At the site of the former slaver compound, they razed the stockade and erected homes and barns. The soil was fertile and water abundant, it was an attractive community in which to settle, most of the former captives elected to remain and prosper in this new land. They named their village, HEALER, in honor of their saviors.

The eight warriors, Grandfather Lan'l and baby Ky'len headed further south, towards the destroyed lands south of Mariposa. The few refugees they came upon elected to travel with them. Always, there were two Great Birds of War circling over the travelers, ensuring against attack and making wider the search area for those displaced by the volcanoes.

Dol and Rel had discovered within themselves, huge African Lions, they would shift shape to their Lions and allow small children to ride on their backs. Frequently they were seen galloping across the landscape, delighted children upon their backs screaming, "Faster, Faster!"

At last, they came upon a great bay on the Southern Coast. Several small rivers drained into the bay and the surrounding land was covered in lush green grass and groves of trees. It was here that they paused in their travels, they had 150 folk they had gathered along their way. They built their village on a headland overlooking the bay and the farmers among them planted fields of grain and transplanted fruit bearing trees into orderly orchards. The Healers felled trees and built boats, planning on traveling around the islands of the sunken southern continent.

Rel and Dol came to them and, with great hesitation, said, "Lords Lymal and L'oki, we would stay here in this village. We will protect these folk as Warriors and keep them safe as Healers, just as you have taught us."

Lymal and L'oki smiled and replied, "That is a wonderful plan, know you that you may call on us for assistance at any time, you need only to send out your call and we will come."

Rel and Dol had been fearful that their benefactors would think them ungrateful, the ready acceptance of their plan overjoyed them. They said, "Those whom you find who would wish to become part of our new community, will always be welcome."

The travelers soon completed their boats and sailed off into the islands, leaving behind a grateful community, now secure and protected.

The islands nearest the mainland were uninhabited, but as they pushed further south, they spotted wisps of smoke from cooking fires and heard the minds of villagers going about their business. Tal and Bec would launch from the boats and survey each island in their flyer form, they came racing back, "There is a small village and several people have been hurt in a fall."

Car'lin and Da'il immediately launched in their flyer forms and raced back to the village with Tal and Bec. They landed in the center of the village, changing back to human shape.

The village headman was standing there, his eyes went wide and he screamed, "The Gods have returned!" Villagers came running from all directions and prostrated themselves before the visitors.

Car'lin went to the headman and raised him up, in mindspeak, he said, "We are not Gods, we are Healers and Warriors!"

The man thought back, "Our legends tell us of a folk who came long ago and destroyed those who ate other folk. Are you of them?"

Car'lin replied, "We are their descendents, we will heal your hurt and cure those of you who are ill. May I call our Fathers to be with us?"

The headman began to cry, "Can you cure my daughter, her legs are twisted beyond use from a fall?"

Car'lin had absorbed the language of the village, he spoke aloud, "My Father, Lymal is able to do that, he is coming now."

The headman announced to his folk, "Bring all who require healing, the Ancient Healers have returned!"

Just then, Lymal and L'oki landed and shifted to their human shape. The headman knelt before them, pleading that they heal his daughter. Lymal raised the man to his feet, saying, "Let us go to your daughter and restore her to you."

They entered the hut, the headman's wife was standing protectively over their daughter. The headman told her that the ancient healers had returned, she turned to Lymal, pleading in her eyes. Lymal smiled and looked at the crippled child, he mindsent to L'oki to assist him, the parents looked fearfully at the young Dracule as he entered the hut.

Lymal said, "He is Dracule and my mate, we shall do this together!" They knelt beside the girl, each placing their hands upon her crippled legs. Their hands and arms began to glow red as they transferred their own life energy to the injured child, her own body making the repairs. When they had finished, the child's legs were straight, Lymal took her hand and raised her to her feet.

As she took a few tentative steps, she squealed in delight and threw her arms around an embarrassed L'oki! The headman and his wife were in tears, they had accepted their child would never walk again, a cripple for life! The four other Warrior Healers, Car'lin and Da'il, Tal and Bec healed all those villagers in need. The grateful villagers insisted upon celebrating the Healers, feting them with food and delicacies of their island. They told the villagers of the new settlement on the mainland and the possibilities of trade. They also told them that there were two Warrior Healers living there. The headman went to his drummers and instructed them to message all within relay of their good fortune and that the Warrior Healers of ancient times had returned!

Within hours, boats from nearby islands began arriving, bringing those in need as well as the merely curious. A distraught father brought his two sons, the teen boys had been burned in a fire that had killed their mother. Their burns were not healing and they were near death. Lymal mindscreamed, "WARRIORS ATTEND ME!" The Warrior Healers came running at Lymal's call, they carried the boys to the headman's hut, where they laid them on the ground.

Lymal said, "'I cannot do this alone, it will take all of us to heal these boys!" Lymal started healing one of the boys, Car'lin and Da'il fed him energy from their own bodies.

L'oki took the other boy and Tal and Bec fed him their energy. All their hands turned bright red from the transferring energy, illuminating the shadowed interior of the hut. The air began to crackle and glow under the assault of the energies being wielded by the minds of these wondrous beings. Slowly, the flesh began to heal and the oozing burns dried and started to close.

Finally, the exhausted Healers dropped their hands, their task completed. The teen boys awoke and looked around, they spotted their father standing there, staring at them in wonder. They went to him, "Poppa, we tried to save Mamma, but we could not, we tried, we did, we did", they wailed.

The father looked at the tired Healers, gratitude and worship in his eyes. When the boys understood all that had occurred, they knelt before Lymal and L'oki, giving thanks to their benefactors. The oldest, Kor, said, "Lords Warrior, may we be taught to do as you have done. We would stay and serve our folk, that no other be forced to bear the pain as we have, or our Father."

Lymal and L'oki looked at each other and then L'oki said, "Kor, Din, yes we can do this, but you must accept that once it is done, it can never be changed. Do you accept that?" Both boys accepted, knowing their lives would never be the same again.

Car'lin and Da'il stepped forward, "Fathers, these boys are the same age as us, let us be their Makers!"

Kor and Din hugged Car'lin and Da'il, agreeing to their suggestion. They led the boys off to a vacant hut and proceeded making the blood exchange. They sat in vigil over Kor and Din for six days and on the 7th day, they delivered two new Warrior Healers to their people!

The villagers and their neighbors celebrated for several days, that they had two of the fabled Warriors Healers among them was almost beyond belief. The children of the villagers however, understood quicker than their parents, they had Warriors who loved them unconditionally, would allow any trespass without complaint!

The Warrior Healers gathered their few belongings and the gifts of food and fruits given them by the villagers, and began launching their boats. As they sailed the waters between the islands, their fame had gotten there first. Every island, the villagers were waiting for them. Their injured, their sick, their disabled were waiting under canopies, in hopes of a cure. Small children would wade out to their boats, asking for a lion back ride! That Dol and Rel were not with them made no difference, no lions, well a cuddle in a warrior's arms was just as good!

Everywhere they went, the drums reported their progress, at each village, the crowds eager for assistance, or even just a visit with these powerful and wonderful beings. Those who might have had evil designs on their own folk, rapidly changed their minds or left the area as fast as they could.

For the first time since the Great Cataclysm, the islands were at peace, folk were safe from assault, capture and enslavement. Trade flourished, learning and knowledge made its way from island to island. Trade was opened with the new mainland village, New Home. Within a year, traders arrived from Mariposa, schools were started and business ventures were begun. The drums' messages brought a closeness, a sense of unity among the islanders and they applied for statehood under Mariposa, they became Islandia!

Eventually, there were Warriors or Warrior Healers within reach of every islander, ships from Mariposa began regular trading trips, buying and selling as they went from island to island. By the time Lymal and L'oki reached the cold lands of the furthest reach of the islands, they were a group of Warrior Healers 24 strong!

Grandfather Lan'l had found himself a mate and asked acceptance as a Warrior Healer. Baby Ky'len became a teen and found his partner. They also, asked to be made Warrior Healers.

Lymal and L'oki's thoughts began to turn towards the ruined lands of ancient North America, as they turned northward, the drums began to speak. Islanders would sail out to greet them as they came near, boys begging to go "adventure" with them. By the time they returned to New Home, they were 50 Warrior Healers strong! That did not include those who elected to remain among their folk!

They were resting and replenishing themselves at New Home when they heard, "Our Beloved Childes, we are on our way!" Lymal and L'oki were delighted to know that the leaders of their race, Teddy and Tong-Fu were coming to see them. Their Warrior Healers, having never met the Princes Protector were agog with excitement!

The stately heavy cruiser AHS Roger steamed into the port of New Home. Flying from the courtesy lanyard was a flag they did not recognize. They were later to learn it was their own - The Flag of the Warrior Healers! Lymal and L'oki knelt before their leaders, reciting again, their oath. Behind them, row on row, their Warrior Healers repeated that oath of feality.

Teddy and Tong-Fu held their Childes in their arms, giving thanks of their health and safety. T'kli stood there, beaming in pride that his own son was part of such a group. Without major war, without bloodshed they had increased the civilized world by one-third! They had brought into the folds of civilization the folk of the Eastern Land of the Herders and all of the islands of South America! He wondered where they would go next, little did he know that his son and his mate had already targeted the land where the Dracule Folk originally arrived to this world, North America.

Lymal and his companions will continue their search for isolated communities of humans, bringing them back into the folds of humanity. Along their way, they will heal the differences, sooth the fears and repair the fellowship of Humans, Dracule, Vampires and Warriors wherever they go.

TBC