Infirmary.

A beat passes, and Shard gingerly lifts himself up from the counter and limps towards her, using his sword to pry the severed tongue from around his leg, then using the blade to pierce the tongue and toss it atop the counter.

"Perhaps I can be of an assistance Mrs Barton, I'm an herbalist, and trained in first aid."

Lifting her head back up, she leans it against the cabinet behind her no longer looking quite so pale. “You and me both. No need, the antidote is kicking in. I’ll be right as rain in a moment. Damn thing managed to nick me with my own knife. Guess there was still a bit of poison on it left after it yanked it out of its neck.”

Anna eyes the tongue on her clean floor with disgust. “To answer your question from earlier, no. I don’t think that was particularly easy. However if that thing is what I think it is… let’s just hope it’s not.” With that she pushes herself back into a standing position using the counter for support and pauses a moment to make sure her balance is indeed back to normal. Wetting a clean rag by the sink, she wipes her face and tosses it to the side for later cleaning. Pulling out another rag, she runs it under the cold water and hands it to Shard for the swelling on his face.

“Unless you’re capable of closing that wound by other methods, that’s going to need stitches. Not sure about your arm yet.” Taking a pot from the counter Anna fills it with water from the sink before setting it on the stove to warm for rinsing wounds. The mundane tasks allow her to be productive while the antidote finishes counteracting the final effects of the poison. Flicking the switch by the door, the lights gradually turn on, slowly growing brighter. “Are the obvious wounds it or is there any other injury I should know about?”

Watching he with keen eyes, he nods, "I'm not super solider, or demon...or werewolf and you are willing and able, you'd be better suited for helping me treat these wounds." He says, taking a seat on the counter and begins unfastening his vest.

"That damn tongue about took all the flesh from my hand, wrist and forearm," "He says raising his bloodied right hand. "My left ankle got a little bit of it as well, but not as bad." He explains pulling off his vest and begins to peel off his shirt, wincing in pain and from the sight of his shoulder and stomach wound.

"Oh my face hurts a bit, that thing punches like a damn tank, would have crushed my skull entirely if I were human."

Leaning his head back he stares at the ceiling, "I never saw anything like that, it looked....almost human...in the dark..."

“It may have passed for human in build but it sure as hell didn’t act like it. Three shots to the face didn’t even slow that thing down.”

Pulling out a few bottles from the drawer she was in earlier, Anna double-checks the labels written in her own neat handwriting before she dips into another cabinet removing various first-aid supplies, neatly piling what will be useful near Shard, but far enough where he can’t get blood on anything. Eyeing his injuries more closely she winces and wonders how the man is still conscious.

“This is all probably going to sting a bit. I can give you something to dull the pain significantly but you will probably be a bit groggy for a day or so after; or I can knock you out completely and you will wake up about mid-morning hurting but rested. Which is your preference?”

"No," Shard agrees, "But you still injured the thing, It barely registered me cutting off the thing's tongue, or knocking it's teeth out. But it was bleeding and got it's attention."

Hearing her suggestions he waves off the concept, "No pain killers, although I may pass out, but the pain is all relative, it reminds me to be more careful and that I've survived." He says wincing in pain as he examines the hole in his abdomen.

Pausing to look at him Anna raises an eyebrow. “Didn’t peg you for being masochistic. Suit yourself.” Pulling a piece of wood out she hands it to him to bite on if needed. She would rather the other occupants of the inn not be awoken by screaming coming from the kitchen… people would begin to wonder about her cooking.

Anna uses the warm water to flush the wounds on Shard’s torso. Her demeanor comes across as efficient but not especially warm and fuzzy as she follows up the water with some alcohol to prevent any infection. If the man was going to pass out at any point this would be the time. Pulling a slightly curved needle from a bag she deftly threads it from a spool made specifically for this purpose and begins the task of sewing layers of muscle and flesh together. The stitches are small and tidy, ensuring that any scarring be minimal.

With the most vital task done her attention moves to cleaning the other wounds before spreading a thick white poultice over the abrasions. Her own special recipe, it smells softly of lavender and honey. Anna covers everything with soft linen bandages making Shard look a bit on the mummified side of things. His left ankle looks worse than it really is- the cuts are shallow and require no stitching. After about an hour or so Anna Maria turns towards the sink, washing the blood and paste off of her hands and arms.

Looking down at her own arm, she smears a small amount of the poultice on the cut from earlier for good measure before taking a couple of minutes rest. The evening has started to catch up to her and bed is starting to sound exquisite.

Graciously accepting the piece of wood, but manipulating it to better fit his teeth, "I assure you, that isn't the case, and I rather dislike pain, but i dislike having my senses and mind dull more so." He explains fitting the newly formed mouth piece into his mouth and nodding to her in signaling he's ready.

Managing to refrain from screaming, only giving the occasional grunt and long groan throughout her care. Seeing she's finished he carefully removes the wood, granted now with bore bite marks than it had before, while he himself looks several shades paler than he had when she begun.

"Thank you Mrs. Barton, how are you doing and where did you learn to shoot like that? A novice shooter would have gotten me in that struggle and not so much the creature."

Filling two glasses with water she hands one to Shard and takes a sip from the other, letting the cool liquid ease her dry throat. “I’m fine. Nothing sleep won’t cure at this point. I’m just glad I didn’t get hit with a full dose otherwise you’d still be bleeding out by the pond. Even still… that was a bit too close for comfort.” She mentally reminds herself to scour the garden for that knife once the sun is up. Considering how much of the poison must still be on the blade, a stranger finding it would more than likely not end well.

Brushing of his question she shrugs. “Bars have alcohol. People get stupid when they drink too much. Protection is a handy thing to have, and being able to use it correctly is even better.” Taking another sip of water she quickly changes the subject. “That vine trick is handy. I’d imagine it would be very effective in disabling most opponents.

Nodding his thanks, he takes a long sip form the glass.

"I think you for your for help, you're bullets may not have slowed it down much, but it hurt it, and pissed it off rightly so."

"Ah," he says with a pale smile. "You like the vine trick, it comes in handy for just that purpose. It was also the least destructive measure I could think of. I could have just created an earthquake and split the ground from under him and close the earth back on him. But as strong as my connection and control may be, I'm unsure of the radius it could affect. Plus there's always risks of aftershocks and to control it all at once would take a level of focus and concentration that would lead me too vulnerable for attack."

Then looking to her, "Though I must admit, I abhor guns. Though I admit, you're aim is notable, but my favorite was your knife play, and I didn't even see how it's neck was softer than the rest of it's body. Good eye, I could make you an incredible archer."

“I appreciate that you thought of the inn when choosing your method of defense. Though, and I hope this does not come to pass, if there is ever a time where there is a choice between protecting others or damaging the inn, lives matter more than a building.” The protection spells would also be able to fend off some of the damage she thinks. Though no events of note have happened around the inn for a generation or two- worse things than a tremor have happened on these grounds in the past and the building seems no worse for wear.

Anna Maria is not one to admit it, but her love of firearms is limited. Too many things have the potential for going wrong if one is careless. In untrained hands disastrous situations occur. They are, however, an effective tool and one that over the years has become second nature to use.

“You assume I am not proficient with sticks and string.” She gives Shard a slightly wicked smile. Archery is not a skill she has ever learned, sticking with the philosophy that it is better to be an expert in a few things then passable in many. He doesn’t need to know that though.

”To be honest, aiming for the neck was more of an educated guess rather than an observation. Hominoids tend to be a bit more… tender there. Best case scenario would have been if my knife wedged into that thing’s spine and paralyzed it. Worst case was I’d break the skin and let the poison do the work. Assuming poison does work on it. You finished disabling the little shit before I could tell-though I am not complaining.”

"Oh no worries there Mrs. If lives were at stake I wouldn't hesitate to use my full power to slay and kill the beast, although I had been told that the Inn is very important to my...employers. Who did kinda of charge me of protecting this place."

"Sticks and strings eh?" He says raising his brows in mock surprised, "But concerning the monster I can say we shouldn't assume anything, I got the sense it could see me, but the shit, didn't have eyes, and seemed to enjoy hunting me. It could have attacked me while my back was turned, but it didn't."

"A predator playing with it's prey," she muses. "It can see in some way otherwise it wouldn't have tagged me. Or it has extremely lucky aim. Perhaps the eyes blend into the rest of it really well..."

The mention of unknown employers having an interest in her establishment puts Anna mentally on edge. Regardless of what Shard believes their interest to be, the fact that she was never approached by any such person or group rubs her the wrong way. She has no doubt that protecting the Inn is what he has been tasked with doing... he doesn't strike her as the manipulative type. But Anna does wonder if that is this unknown employer's real intent.

"And who is interested enough in the While Wolf Inn that they choose to graciously provide me with a protector?" Her tone of voice and expression remain in the same conversational tone they have been in all evening- slightly amused and dry, not relaying her displeasure at this news.

Shrugging, "Well that's slightly terrifying."

Noting her curiosity he looks to her for a moment before answering, "If anyone asks, it was the pain and loss of blood talking. But there's a group that has been watching over the world, manipulating most of the world's events in the favor of the survival of the people of this world and they view the inn as a source of magic. None of them knows why, but even with the creation of the veil, supernatural and creatures of lore seem to survive and thrive the closer they are to the inn. Plus most of those beings are drawn to this place. I believe it's a crossroads."

She chuckles at the thought that someone thinks the inn is a source of magic. A crossroads or place where it is amplified is a possibility she wouldn’t dismiss. Over the centuries enough has happened on the grounds where only an idiot would think it’s no different than any other place.

Her own personal theory is that the residual magic that has seeped into the ground while the rest of the world has progressed from the world of magic to the stability and growth of science is now a beacon where it once was just a slightly brighter spot. How poetic.

Anna takes his slight pause before answering her as a sign that he is actually considering his words carefully and not disclosing everything he knows. It’s not a comforting thought but she understands his reluctance to potentially say something he really shouldn’t.

“So these people aren’t interested in attempting to buy me out?” She figures that would be a reasonable assumption an innkeeper would make when learning about unknown parties being interested in her livelihood. “The title stays in the family.”

"By no means, Mrs. Barton, I assure you they believe only your bloodline is capable of harnessing and purifying the power of and around the Inn itself. They even donated money anonymously to see the Inn through hard economic times. Plus I'm they're well aware that Kodo, has on several occasions sent both gold and fine goods to assist the inn." Shaking his head he adds, "Which I suppose doesn't make dear fallen prince so bad..." More to himself than her.

"But no need to worry, my employers are happy to stay out of your business as long as you stay in business." He says, looking back to her, looking slightly tired.

"Interesting." Anna figures that is a good enough explanation for now, feeling a bit on the tired side herself.

"Let me help you to your room. And don't say no. I have no interest in fixing any of the stitches or bandaging I just did." She allows him to make the final decision on if he'd like her assistance but her tone doesn't give much room for compromise. It's at times like this that she's glad for the extra stairs in the kitchen that help shorten the distance to the rooms above.

Looking remorsly down at his legs, more so to avoid Anna's gaze then anything else.

"Well I do have that lovely pins and needles feeling in one of my legs," he l nods and looks up to her lifting his arm to accept her aid,
"So I humbly accept," then under his breath adds, "Just tell everyone I saved you from a horrific monster for pride's sake."

Wrapping her arm around his waist, being mindful of his injuries she laughs softly. "Oh yes, you were very heroic. Without you're strong presence I would surely have been a wilting flower crushed within the monster's gaping jaw."

Reaching the base of the stairs she looks up. "This is not going to be fun for you my friend. I apologize in advance." With that said, Anna Maria slowly aids Shard up the steps."

Shard stifles a laugh, "Ahaha clever..." Then moans "aww it hurts to laugh," then looking up the stairs and down at his bandaged leg, "I really hate steps," and proceeds to climb them with Anna's aid, "how much would it cost me to pursuade you in installing an elevator of some sort? They were all the rage in Atlantis....before t was destroyed." He mutters matter of factly."

"Darling if you pay for it I will be happy to have one of those contraptions installed."

Finally reaching to 2nd floor landing (much to both of their relief an joy) they head along the 'L' shaped hallway. The plush runner muffles any sound as Anna and Shard slowly navigate the dimly lit corridor to Shard's room.

Coming down the stairs the following morning Anna Maria surveys the mess from the previous evening. Putting this task to the side for a moment, she instead walks out to the garden in search of her missing knife, finding it after about ten minutes at the base of a tomato plant.

As she returns to the kitchen her eyes spot a bit of silver in the grass. Going to investigate, Anna realizes it's Shard's sword and gingerly picks it up recalling the flames it emitted the previous evening. With all of the sharp pointy objects that one wouldn't others to stumble on collected, she returns to the kitchen to complete what she has been putting off.

Normally she would not wish for it, but at the moment being able to wave her hand and make everything magically clean itself and return to order would be an exquisite ability. Instead she settles on filling a bucket with soapy water and begins scrubbing.

After about an hour or so Anna finishes up, washing her hands in the sink and drying them on a fresh towel. Pulling out a big pot from the refrigerator she slides it in the preheated oven silently thinking the glorious Helen for pre-making today's lunch of stew. Cooking from scratch is not something she is feeling particularly up to at the moment.

This all done Anna figures she should probably make her grand entrance into the main room of the inn, if for no other reason than to show her daytime staff that she does indeed still exist.