+++Med Center+++
+++Noni+++

Everything was a haze. Nothing was clear. Nothing 
was familiar. 

Everything was quiet.

Soon, however, Noni's senses began to function again. 
First she felt herself become warm... then cold. Then 
she felt someone or something touching her forehead. 
She couldn't exactly tell either way.

Sensation began to return to the rest of her body. Her 
muscles tensed, and with one spasm, Noni's voice 
recovered. "Ammie..." 

Gradually sounds began to filter into her weakened  
consciousness. First she heard a sound like a murmur... 
then the murmur surrounded her and began to sound 
faintly human. Soon she heard a voice she could understand. 
It sounded familiar, after a fashion...

"Noni, Noni, stay with us." 

Who was 'us'? "Stay... Us... Who...?"

"Noni, listen to me. Listen. You're a healer, Noni. You're 
in shock right now. You know what someone in shock must 
try to do."

"Shock... Healer... Shock..." Finally she made the critical 
connection. Thinking was becoming easier. "Shock... 
Must try... Stay awake..."

"Good, Noni. You're doing quite well." 

Noni summoned forth the effort to test her eyesight as 
she tentatively opened her eyelids. She wished she hadn't.
"Lights... Bright... Can't see..."

She heard the voice chuckle. "Somehow I didn't think you'd 
be able to see just yet. Now, don't you worry, my dear. 
You'll get your eyesight back soon enough. We'll get to that. 
One crisis at a time!"

"Crisis..." More sensation flooded into her brain. She suddenly 
became aware of a shooting pain in her upper arm. She writhed. 
"Aaagh... Arm..."

"I know, girl, I know. We have to get you patched up here. I'm 
afraid it will hurt a bit. Your return to the world of the living 
somewhat ruined the hope that this would be a painless 
procedure."

"Sorry..."

"Oh, no... Not a problem. Don't worry." 

Worry. Worry. "Worry... Ammie..." 

There was silence for Noni once again.

--------------------------------------------------
+++Outside+++
+++Ammie+++

Nothingness. Void. Silence.

Ammie felt absolutely nothing. She couldn't hear her 
rider, she couldn't move, and she couldn't think. 

Eventually her mind returned to her. So did distress. 
<Noni!>

There was no response. 

Her senses became stronger. She saw a light being 
shined into her eyes. She felt someone's hands on her 
shoulder. Somebody was putting something on it. It 
hurt. 

<Noni!> 

Again, no response. Ammie slowly began to move. 
She writhed with fear and pain as she keenly felt the 
absence of her rider's mind and the pain in her shoulder. 

"Easy, easy, big girl. You're going to be all right. We just 
have to seal you up. You're going to be fine." Ammie could 
feel someone caressing her head in time with this litany. 

<Noni!> Silence.

Ammie's senses sharpened as her dispair heightened. Her 
first sound to the outside world was a frightened whimper. 
<Where is my rider?>

A few moments later, she felt more caresses and heard the 
same voice. "I know, sweetie. Your rider is hanging on as 
best as she can. The healers are trying their best to keep 
her. You've got to hang on and be strong, too."

Strength was not foremost on Ammie's mind. <My rider, 
please don't die! Noni!>
-------------------------------------------------
+++Med Center+++
+++Noni+++
+++3 hours later+++

Noni groaned but did not dare open her eyes. The 
only activity she believed she could safely attempt 
was speaking. She attempted it.

"Wha... Where am I? What happened to me? Where 
is Ammie?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NRPG: 

All right, she's in the Med Center and she's probably 
going to stay awake this time. Who is to be there to 
answer her? Tag!

Just as a reminder, I'm going to be AFK until the 27th. 
Call it 'field research.' (Sea World, you are *mine!* ;) 
I shall return with vast amounts of piccies. Hopefully.

As always, my gripe policy is in place: "OH, WELL!" :>

Clear Skies and Seas,
Paula