Helping Gonyaul (Part 1)

JP with Lorem and Cindy

Islana felt really bad for Gonyaul. The stings the man had endured, were quite a lot. She had taken to helping the man when she could. Really, whatever made things easier for him.

Right now, she was sitting at the campfire, making a concoction that would help his stings. Bee stings seemed to have a variety of home remedies and it wasn't uncommon to know at least one.

Gonyaul could be considered the perfect patient. It seemed as if you could just forget about him. He had been spending the time since the bee heist in his small tent fasting, sleeping and meditating. Not once had he complained about the inflammation from the numerous stings, though it was discernible that it had to hurt and be uncomfortable.

His eyes were not really of much use right now, one being swollen shut and the other hurt to keep open, so he had his Osiem Uppar (meditation wrap) around his head resembling a handmade bandage over his eyes. He had a calm expression on his face. If one looked closely he sported a very subtle grin. His breathing was long, deep and relaxed. His posture unchanging for long stretches of time.

Gonyaul only moved to drink or sleep. He had to grab the cup with his palms, because his hands to wrap and grab objects were still unusable due to the swelling. He had only spoke to say thank you for his friends refilling his water, expressing gratitude for them checking on him, or to slip in his appreciation for taking care of his chores.

He may have been still and quiet; however, he was traveling to worlds and times in his head. His imagination and long term memory were like adventure guides and he a willing traveler.

After Islana, waited long enough for the solution to cool enough to be put on without burning. She carried the pot and a clean cloth with her.

"Gonyaul," Islana called softly to let him know it was her. "I brought something to put on your stings."

The young woman waited a moment, she knew he didn't speak much but enough to object her coming in. Figuring if Gonyaul said nothing it was good for her to go in.

No objection, and she entered with the pot and cloth. Putting it next to him. He really looked awful, and part of her was wondering if Nicholaus should be called.

Gonyaul was like a statue. His breathing was so slow you would have to wait long enough to assess the rise and fall of his chest after the lowering of his abdomen. After Islana had fully entered he finally tilted his head and directed his blinded gaze in her direction. He smiled brightly, but there was a slight hitch in its formation from the soreness in his upper cheeks.

“Aiaf no Urag.” He whispered in welcome. It was his custom nickname for her that she had now heard several times since their first meeting. He would have bowed and signed, but in his current state he refrained.

“You make bright my day.” After his next breath he caught the scent of her concoction. “Thank you for kindness.” They had all been very understanding and helpful while he was out of commission.

The redhead was amazed at the fact the man could smile though all of what she could only guess was a large amount of pain. He seemed to be able to deal with it in a way the young woman had never witnessed before.

A smile formed on her own lips upon hearing the name Gonyaul had given her. One day, she might have to ask him what it meant.

"Oh, I remembered how to make this remedy for bee stings. I honestly don't know what one of the plants in it is called but I recognized it growing in the woods. I had a little lavender oil, which I remembered was also good for stings. Plus it makes the remedy smell much better."

It had been something stored in the back of her mind for many years. So, it had taken a little while to recall exactly.

"It should help.". She knelt down and put the cloth in the solution. "And you're very welcome but you don't need to thank me."

She picked the cloth out of the pot and asked, "Where would you like me to start putting it on?"

Gonyaul was intrigued by her description. He couldn’t see it, but he tried to satisfy his curiosity by inhaling again when the sting remedy was closer. He now could easily distinguish between her and the balm.

“Start at top?” He suggested. “Need help removing Osiem Uppar, please.” They had helped him put the ceremonial wrap on and he wasn’t able to use his hands yet to take it off.

She would also need to move his long silky black hair out of the way since it was just hanging freely, some of which was in front of his face.

Once the wrap is removed, she would see the overwhelming majority of stings are in a band ranging across his face and from his upper cheeks and lower forehead, which wasn’t covered by anything. Both his eyes were closed, one against his will. A few were also on his neck.

"The top it is then." The young woman began removing his wrap. Slowly and gently.

While it was probably not surprising, to those that knew her, that Islana had a gentle touch, naturally. She was being extra cautious which made her touch even more so.

With the wrap successfully removed, it was easier to tell where the stings were. The redhead gently pushed back the man's hair, as she started with the top stings on his forehead. Then moved to his cheek.

"Let me know if it gets too painful.". Islana said, not knowing how much of the touching the stings, with the cloth, he could handle at a time.

He tried his best not to wince or make noises of discomfort. Islana was being so gracious with her time and efforts, and he didn’t want to discourage her. He didn’t flinch but it was obvious the stung areas were tender. She could even feel some of the heat from the inflammation if her skin got close enough.

Islana knew near his eyes was tricky and too be honest, she doubted most things should be used there other than cold water.

The woman continued, it was meant to be dabbed on a little at a time. Once then on to the next until all the stings, that she could take care of, had some. Then it would be left to dry on him.

She finished his face and then asked, "Where next?"

She couldn't see if his back needed it and wanted to make sure the man was good with her continuing.

“Back and Chest ok?” He tried to start taking it off, but he was going to need help removing the work tunic he had been wearing during his recovery.

He had thought long and hard with all the down time he had regarding a concept called vulnerability. It was the Vauxian way to dare to try even when uncomfortable, emotionally exposed and facing an uncertain outcome. He realized he had been avoiding being vulnerable, being seen as his authentic self, and needed to remedy the issue. When he recovered he would let them know he would be comfortable with teaching them the language and signing if they still wanted to learn. He had never taught a language so perhaps Boyce knew of a good approach for something like that. In addition, he wasn’t going to hide in fear, around his friends, his marks anymore either.