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@Lion ]
Dusk had been walking for days, and honestly she needed a break. With a soft exhale, she sank down next to a trickle of a stream and dropped her pack by her side.
It felt like she'd been wandering through the Draconi for weeks, but she knew it had only been a few days. Still, it was a relief to finally be at the edge of the forest, the light much clearer through the smaller, thinner trees.
It wasn't that she didn't like the forest- in fact it was usually where she preferred to be- but she really needed to get to a town, resupply a bit before she kept on her way.
With a sigh, she removed her traveling cloak and let herself sprawl over the grass on the bank of the stream, multicolored hair tossed every which way. Gods she was just so tired, she needed a little break...
Traveling to Adela wasn't something Ki'adan did on a regular basis. But when he did he usually had a good reason to. When contracts were scarce in Essyrn, as at times they could be, there was usually plenty of work to be found in Ketra. He never traveled any further north. There was no real reason to. Better to avoid unwanted attention, and more trouble than he asked for.
In this case, it would be a quiet journey, one he figured he could finish within the next few days of reaching the woodland city. His horse was happy to be out of the scorching sands, and he sympathized with his four-legged companion entirely. Kaadir did much better in the heat, and were acclimated to their environment. However, his horse was his prized possession, his friend, and wouldn't trade him for an animal better suited for that climate.
Despite everything he tried to do, he was still very much Duhjari in that regard.
Ki'adan shook unpleasant thoughts that drudged up from his mind, and walked his horse along the bank of the stream. It would be a good time for a dip. It didn't seem like anyone was around, and it would give his mount a chance to take a drink and rest. He knickered when Ki'adan removed his bridle and give him a treat, brushing the horse down and washed the dirt from his hair.
"Good boy. There's some grass here on the stream bank, don't wander too far."
And proceeded to undress and walked nude into the water.
Dusk jerked out of her doze as she heard the soft nicker of a horse and the splash of water. She shot up into a seated position, looking around for the source of the noise.
"Oh." She smiled when she saw the horse just a few yards away, past a small bend in the stream- which, she didn't realize, had been hiding her from view. She got to her feet, leaving her pack and cloak where they lay, and approached.
No bridle, but he certainly seemed to belong to someone. "Hello there," she murmured, holding a hand out to the animal. She glanced around again. "Where's your person? Oh."
Her eyes lit on Ki'adan. It took a moment, but once she realized he was naked her cheeks flushed and she squeaked, dropping her eyes. "Um, s-sorry! I didn't r-realize anyone else w-w-was around..."
Ki'adan whirled around half startled himself. "Gods!" he griped and moved deeper into the water. He was half-covered, but feeling exposed like this wasn't his idea of an ideal first meeting. Nevertheless, here she was, and here he was in absolutely noting but the twine necklace around his neck.
"Do you sneak up on all the men you meet like that?" he asked with a quizzical quirk of his brow.
Dusk fixed her eyes on her feet, shuffling around in an attempt to put the horse between herself and the stranger. "S-sorry," she murmured. "I r-really didn't mean t-t-to. I h-heard your horse and c-came over to say h-hello."
She patted the animal's neck lightly, cheeks scarlet as she did her best not to look at the man.
"It's all right," Ki'adan said, finding himself chuckling as she went about looking another way. He took the opportunity to step out of the rushing stream and move quickly behind a tree just opposite the horse where his clothes and other items had been stacked. He took a blanket and dried himself off.
"But you ought to be careful about doing that in the future, kit. Someone less friendly than I might take your head off for it," he called out, and wrapped himself in the blanket. His clothes were still grimy, and he wasn't sure he wanted to put them back on again. "You got a name, kit?"
"D-Dusk." She cautiously peered around the horse as he disappeared behind the tree. "My n-name is Dusk."
She patted the animal's neck as he twisted to nuzzle her hip and a small smile spread over her face. It had been a long time since she'd been around animals, she missed it.
"What are you called, then?" she asked gently, her stutter gone now that she wasn't talking to a two-legger. Of course, it might not be obvious who she was asking the question of.
The horse regarded her as if in understanding, but did not seem obliged to respond just yet. He simply nuzzled her hair and gave lip wiggles to her temple. She was friendly enough, he didn't see why he couldn't be friendly back.
"Ki'adan," the hunter called and emerged when he was fully dressed. "His name is Starhunter. Or that's what it translates to, roughly."
"Well aren't you princely?" Dusk chuckled quietly with another soft pat on Starhunter's neck. She looked to Ki'adan and gave a nod, offering a small smile.
"It's n-n-nice to meet you," she murmured. Another blush spread across her cheeks and she added quickly, "I r-really am s-sorry about before."
The horse was clearly enjoying all the attention and reached his head down to pluck up some grass and give it to her in order to feed to him. Might as well get treated like the prince he was. He wasn't about to claim the little lady was a liar.
Ki'adan watched his horse, brow furrowing at such strange behavior. "He likes you, that much is obvious," he commented, chuckling and crossing his arms over his chest. He looked over this odd girl, her hair in particular standing out. "But it's all right. Don't worry about it. Accidents happen. You...really like animals huh?"
Starhunter gave a haughty snort and gave Dusk more grass to feed him with.
Dusk laughed. "Alright, alright, I get the hint," she told Starhunter, bending to grab a few more handfuls of grass and offering it with a flat palm as her other hand continued to stroke over his neck.
She glanced up to Ki'adan and her blush returned, but she offered a small smile. "Yeah. They're easier than p-people, usually. Easier t-t-to understand."
Starhunter jutted his nose out toward Ki'adan, munching eagerly on the grass she offered him. He couldn't say it aloud but he could very well think, "Just keep feeding me. If he sees that I'm enjoying this too much he might put a stop to it."
Ki'adan approached his horse and pet the animal loosely with his hands, scraping nails lightly against his hair. "I can understand that. People like to be complicated. Starhunter here just wants to be fat."
And his horse knickered, not quite expecting that and giving his rider a look.
Dual laughed, continuing to feed the horse. "Oh, don't listen to him," she chuckled. "You're perfectly fit." She lowered her voice and added playfully, "I won't let him put a stop to it, don't you worry."
She glanced over Starhunter's back at Ki'adan and smiled a bit. "H-he's a beautiful animal. How long h-have you two b-b-been together?"
"All of his life. A good chunk of my life," he replied. "He's a smart boy. Although he can be more spirited when he really shouldn't"
Ki'adan looked over to Dusk. "What are you doing out here? All by yourself."
She shrugged and ducked her head again. "J-just traveling. Been trying to make my way to K-Ketra, but I got a b-b-bit turned around in the forest."
"Ketra, huh? Perhaps we could travel together," he murmured. "It's a long way from here. It would be dangerous to travel alone."
Instinctively wary, Dusk shot him a quick, rather scared look. He was much bigger than her, if it came down to it he's probably be able to force her.
But...well, Starhunter liked him, and the animal seemed well fed and content. How bad could he be?
She nodded slowly and offered a small smile. "Th-thank you for the offer. That s-s-sounds good."
The horse was clearly overjoyed at the presence of another person and gently chewed on her hair when he could between munches of grass.
Ki'adan however remained somewhat stoic. She took that invitation rather quickly. However, he supposed if she meant him harm she would have gone about it already.
"All right." He smiled at her. "Are you hungry? Have you had some water to drink? I'd be more than willing to share with you," he offered.
"R-really?" Dusk looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes. "Um, in that case...s-some food would be ap-ppreciated."
She held up the water skin at her hip with a small smile. "I have w-water, b-b-but I ran out of food this morning..."
Ki'adan chuckled. "I have a few dried biscuits that you can have," he said. After fishing around the saddle bags, he produced a sack with such biscuits in them and offered it to her. "Help yourself."
She smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you."
She didn't want to be rude, so she attempted to nibble at the offered biscuits instead of scarfing them down as her now growling stomach demanded she do.
Ki'adan went about resaddling Starhunter and proceeded to strap him in. "If you're ready to travel, we can get started."
"Oh. Um, yes sir." Dusk smiled and nodded quickly. "Sh-should I ride in front of you or behind?" She was a rather petite little thing, she didn't think she'd cause much trouble for him to work around her.
"Whichever works best for you," Ki'adan said. He climbed onto the horse, who wasn't too pleased to be on the move again, but didn't protest.
He held his hand out for her to climb on. "Don't be scared now. Starhunter is gentle when he must."
She smiled, but hesitated a moment to take his hand. "I'm n-not scared." Well. Not not the horse at any rate.
With a quick breath, she took his hand and swung up in front of him, doing her best to take up as little room on the saddle as possible.
Ki'adan would have preferred her in the back, however, he kept his cool, and scooted back enough to allow her some room. It was easier he supposed to have her in front. Ki'adan gripped the reins and moved the horse around the tree he'd changed behind, crossing the stream with little else to say.
"So, where are you from?" he asked casually.
Dusk tangled her fingers gently in the horses mane, scratching at the arch of his neck lightly, absently. "L-La'marri, sir," she murmured, "but I've been t-t-traveling for a few years now."
She twisted her head slightly to glance at him over her shoulder. "A-and you? If I may ask?"
He considered the question for a time.
"Adela," he answered finally. "I come and go. But truly, nowhere really is my home. Or you might say the road." He chuckled. "Normally I let Starhunter decide where we go. I guess today he felt like Adela."
The horse grunted with what seemed like laughter and tossed his head back to match.
Dusk giggled quietly and patted Starhunter's neck. "If I c-can ask, how do you get b-by then? I've been on the road since I was s-sixteen, but I still feel like I d-don't really know what I'm doing."
He nodded. "Having enough food is always a good idea. Or learning to acquire some while traveling is also key," he chuckled. "And having an idea where good trade posts are. You could barter for goods found or acquired from other trade for supplies. So...yeah it involves some communication."
She nodded and murmured, "I've l-learned to trade services for food. I'm n-not much of a hunter, and I d-d-don't eat meat anyway."
"Grains go a long way too," he murmured. "I suppose you're good at foraging for plants right?"
She chuckled and nodded. "Y-you could say that. That's most of my work. I'm a healer," she explained, her stutter beginning to fall away as she talked about topics she was more comfortable with and confident in.
"Oh? That's useful. Few places have healers. Are you very good?" he asked casually.
Yet another blush and she nodded. "I c-can be. I've never lost a patient yet, at any rate."
She almost wishes she could knock on wood after saying that, but satisfied herself with twining her fingers tighter in Stahunter's mane.
The horse ghaveaa snort and flaunted his head back a little, haughty and eager to impress. Ki'adan looked at him over Dusk's shoulder as they rode. This was unusual behavior even for him.
"He certainly seems to like you. He thinks you're nice. And this has turned to obnoxious behavior."
Dusk chuckled and stroked the horse's neck. "I like him too," she said with a quick grin, looking over her shoulder at Ki'adan. "And I d-don't mind, really. L-lots of stallions are like that, they...show off a bit."
"He's practically haughty," Ki'adan laughed, watching his horse prance as if it were in a march.
"All right Starhunter, that is enough."
The horse snorted, but eventually sobered, looking back at Dusk with a twinkle to his eye as if to say, "He ruins all the fun."
That was until the horse' thick neck hit a tree, bumping them off to the side. Starhunter knickered in embarrassment, righting himself and trying to pay more attention to the path in front.
She laughed outright, leaning forward over the horse's neck and patting his shoulder. "You fit well together," she noted, leaning back and glancing over her shoulder at Ki'adan. "I d-don't meet many people who treat their animal c-companions like this."
Ki'adan nodded. He supposed there were worse people for her to meet. Certainly he wasn't all bad now was he?
Her hair was rather unusual and he found himself glaring at it for a time, quiet. Only when Starhunter farted did he make a face and snap out of it. "That...is disgusting. Even for you boy," he growled, quite embarrassed. Starhunter on the other hand was more than happy to do it again.
Dusk put a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. Without thinking, she chuckled, "Don't you ever wish you could live the way they do though?"
A blush suddenly covered her cheeks and she added quickly, "N-not that necessarily, but- y'know, not c-c-caring what people th-think. Just...living."
Her words made Ki'adan fall silent. To think a stranger in a forest might utter something he'd been pondering his whole life. And why couldn't they - people - simply live without the need for petty politics to stir the pot between them, as if life wasn't already hard enough as it was.
"You've got a point," he found himself saying, trying to play casual and smile. "Life would be a lot simpler. Just survive. No need to live a world confined by invisible lines and invisible laws."
"Mhm." Dusk twisted to smile at him shyly, then sighed almost wistfully, "It'd be n-nice."
Then she sort of shook herself and cleared her throat. "So. Ahem. Wh-what are you doing out here in the w-w-w- forest anyway." Her stutter made her wince and glare at her hands.
"Other than bathing and being caught between a rock and a wet place?" he asked, grinning.
It was a stupid joke, and he shook his head from it. "I was just taking a respite. I know a short cut to Ketra, and I was hoping following the stream would remind me where it was."
She went scarlet at the reminder, ducking her head and murmuring apologies. Then she blinked and looked back at him. "You mean...you don't actually know where your shortcut is?"
Was he lost?
"I know where it is," Ki'adan said, perhaps a bit too defensively. He laughed it off however. "It's not quite so obvious. The path is probably really overgrown by now. But I can spot it. In fact, we're not far from it."
"O-oh." Dusk craned her neck to look back at him again. "You come this w-way often then?"
"Often enough to know where it is," Ki'adan explained. "But I wouldn't mind sharing the path with another." He smiled at Dusk. "See here." It was then that he dismounted from Starhunter's back and pulled the horse along, showing her a special stone that was quite different than the others.
"This is duskstone. A blacker rock that spawns from the heat in the Moraki desert. I placed it here. Few people know it doesn't belong, but it marks the beginning of a cut away that goes east all the way to Ketra."
"Oh." Dusk leaned a little over Starhunter's side to peer at the rock. "I see. Like a trail of breadcrumbs- only more p-permanent." She smiled and nodded, a little impressed with the forethought. "D-do you have lots of paths marked l-l-like this?"
"Only a few," he said with a small smile.
"I travel quite a lot, and it helps to mark the best routes doesn't it?"
"Yes, that m-makes sense." She smiled and settled back into the saddle. "You seem very well p-p-p-practiced in this, M-Mister Ki'adan."
"If my name is too long, Ki will do," he said.
"Is your...speech pattern common with speaking to people?" he asked.
Dusk went very red and ducked her head in an effort to hide the blush. "M-m-mostly it h-happens worse wh-when I get n-n-n-nervous," she muttered- but of course being asked about it only made her stutter more. Damnit.
"Oh, my apologies," Ki'adan murmured. He gave her a kind smile. Bowing his head he took Starhunter by the reins and walked along through the narrow overgrown path.
"So what do you do for fun, Lady Dusk?" he asked casually. "Do you have any interests?"
"I'm n-no lady," Dusk protested quietly. She thought about dismounting to walk with him, then decided if that was what he'd intended he would have told her to do so.
"I...like to garden," she murmured after a moment. "I know it's not t-terribly interesting, but I enjoy it." Her head tilted slightly at him. "And y-y-you?"
"Well, I...enjoy horses," he said, clearing his throat. "I mean I take care of them. Well, took. I take care of Starhunter now. But I did where I come from."
She smiled softly. "That sounds nice," she murmured, leaning forward along Starhunter's neck to stroke his coat gently. "I used to train animals, b-back in La'marri. Mostly dogs and hunting birds, I n-never got to work with horses as much as I'd like."
She tilted her head at him. "Why did you leave?"
He was quiet. There wasn't much he could saw, but she was a complete stranger, so what could it hurt. And yet, that part of him wanted to remain reserved. No one needed to know, it was better that they didn't.
"I...suppose the world just got too small," he muttered. "Don't you ever feel that way?"
Dusk nodded slowly. "Yeah," she murmured. "That's s-sort of why I'm out here too..."
Her voice trailed off into a contemplative sort of silence.
For now Ki'adan was content to travel the path in silence and trying not to seem more awkward than he felt. Well, the truth he was rather comfortable with this stranger, as odd as she was with her hair and demeanor. He didn't want to make himself seem overbearing however. So he just led Starhunter by the reins on the overgrown path.
The horse however looked back at Dusk when he had a chance, and whinnied a thought to her, "I Spy with little eye.... Something dark-skinned, and gimpy, and pulling my reins."
She couldn't help it- she laughed. Dusk raised a hand to muffle the sound and slapped at Starhunter's whithers lightly in a rather weak reprimand.
"Stop that," she giggled softly. "Be nice." Her eyes were glinting as she glanced up at Ki'adan.
He heard something behind him.and glanced backwards. "Is something funny?"
"Oh, um-" Once again she was blushing and dropping her eyes. "N-nothing, Starhunter was just joking around..."
He furrowed his brow. "My horse...told you a joke?"
"Um..." Too late she realized the slip. A sheepish sort of smile and she shrugged. "Y-yes. I can...hear them." She tapped the side of her head. "In h-here, sort of."
Only then did Ki'adan realize just how much of a risk he took with allowing a stranger to travel with him. Was this girl a kook? Was she going to slit his throat when he was asleep?
Internally his eye widened, however outwardly he kept his cool. "Oh, good to know? And...what was my horse's joke? Maybe I want to laugh too."
"Don't tell him," Starhunter grumbled.
"Ah- you wouldn't think it was f-funny," Dusk mumbled, throwing Starhunter a small wink. "Just...horse humor."
"My horse thinks himself a jester does he? And why won't he entertain me?" he asked after a time.
"Because you're a sourpuss," the horse snorted and his knickering sounded like laughter.
Dusk couldn't help but giggle again. "Stop it," she whispered, leaning over the horse's neck to his ear. "You're going to get us in trouble," she murmured playfully.
"D-don't worry about it," she said to Ki'adan, sitting back again. "He's j-just being silly."
"Hm, if you say so," Ki'adan murmured.
"I've never met anyone that could hear my mind before? Are you human?" Starhunter murmured.
"I'm not entirely sure," Dusk admitted, forgetting to keep her voice down. "I was abandoned in La'marri as a baby, I don't know who my people are."
Ki'adan swung around. "I might be less confused if you stop talking to yourself."
Dusk squeaked and clapped a hand to her mouth, eyes going wide. "S-s-s-sorry," she murmured into her palm. "I f-forget sometimes, I d-d-don't do it on purpose..."
The horse reached forward to nibble on Ki'adan's hair and knickered. The distraction was enough to make him look ahead and laugh. "Stop it, boy." But he laughed and continued on.
"You're welcome," Starhunter said back, walking along. He was starting to like this stranger, even if she was getting them both into trouble.
Dusk smiled slightly, eyes downcast and hand stroking over the horse's neck. "Sh-should I get down to walk with you?" she asked after a few moments. "I feel k-kinda bad. Maybe Starhunter would l-l-like the rest."
"If you wish, certainly." Ki'adan said and stopped. He helped Dusk from the saddle and Starhunter nudged her head with his nose. "Even sitting can be exhausting."
"Thanks," she murmured to both of them, reaching back with one hand to pat Starhunter's cheek. She gave Ki'adan a small smile and murmured, "You d-didn't have to help me though, I c-could've dismounted myself."
She certainly hadn't minded it though. It was a strangely gentile gesture out here in the middle of the woods.
"I don't mind. You see, a hard fall from a beast such as Starhunter wouldn't make the rest of the journey very pleasant," he said. He smiled. "Now will you tell me what my horse said that was so funny?"
Dusk blushed and ducked her eyes quickly. "He was just...t-teasing you," she murmured, casting Starhunter an apologetic look. She'd never been a very good liar, so she didn't even try.
"Hmmm," Ki'adan hummed. "It's nice to learn my horse has such a hidden sense of humor."
He sniffed. "You're... You're not a little weird in the head are you?"
Her blush deepened and she shook her head. "N-no. At least, I don't think so." Lips twitching up on one side, she added, "Though if I was, I s-suppose I wouldn't r-r-really know, would I?"
"Probably not," Ki'adan agreed. "I hope you don't think I'm going to hold it against you. I meant nothing by it. You're...interesting is all."
She shrugged sheepishly. "I know. I've always b-been odd." She gave a very small smile. "S'okay. I'm u-used to p-people asking things like that."
"To be honest," he said. "I think it's very charming. You must understand I meet a lot of people in my travels, some of them rather unsavory. Some of them just crazy. You're a refreshing change."
Her barely-died-down blush flared back to life and Dusk shifted, pleased but awkward. "Th-thanks," she said softly, smiling and peeking up at him through her lashes. "It's n-nice to have company- I'm glad I'm not too off-p-putting."
Ki'adan laughed. "Let us keep going shall we? I think Starhunter appreciates the rest..."
He must have because another fart emerged from behind the horse.
Dusk giggled and patted his neck. "Yeah, I think so." She shrugged her shoulders a bit to settle her cloak more comfortably around her shoulders, absently brushing her fingers through her hair as she picked her way down the path.
"I'm glad you're feeling a little more comfortable. I'm mostly normal I swear," Ki'adan laughed.
"Oh, I wasn't unc-comfortable," she protested, then winced at her stutter. "I'm just...shy. Sorry..."
"You're okay. Odd but okay," Ki'adan chuckled.
After a few hours of travel, Ki'adan diverted from the path, going about setting up camp. He unsaddled Starhunter and put the saddle aside,, rolling out a blanket and allowing the horse to graze on some grass nearby.
"Are you hungry?" he asked. "Shall I make some tea?"
Dusk slipped her pack from her back and set about setting up her own bedroll.
"T-tea would be lovely," she said with feeling, smiling at him brightly.
He had the gear set up, a contraption that allowed the kettle to hang from over the fire he'd made. He was rather handy with a camp, having made several of them in his life. He poured some water into the kettle, boiling some leaves.
"Some sugar?"
"You have some?" She perked up at the suggestion, head tilted to the side. "How do you manage to travel with that?"
She shuffled a little closer, trying not to be nosy but also curious about what else he might be carrying.
"This kettle and holder are of Essyrni fashion. The legs are tubes and slide into one another, collapsing it into a small enough contraption that it fits in my saddle bag. The kettle itself isn't very large as you can see," he said.
She huffed a quiet, impressed breath. "Clever. I've never been to Essyrn, but it seems fascinating. Well." Her nose crinkled. "Except they d-don't let women do anything, really."
"Yes, there quite a few restictions on women there. Even foreigners do not have access to everything," he said with a nod. "But it's very beautiful there. Just really, really hot!"
Dusk chuckled. "I've heard. I suppose s-seeing it would be worth the heat, but I really do prefer c-cooler climates. And green."
She looked at their surroundings with a small smile. "I really love green."
"Green, there's plenty of it if you know where to look," he said with a nod, "Oases with large sprouts of green, rivers that flow with abundant life. Fruit so ripe it's dripping with juices that run down your arm before you could take your second bite. But I agree, I love green too."
Her stomach growled suddenly and she went scarlet. "Oh! S-s-s-sorry, you m-made that sound r-r-really good," she mumbled, ducking her head and clearing her throat.
Ki'adan laughed, perhaps a little more at her than with her, but the spirit of it was genuine.
"Then I better get dinner started then," he replied, grinning. "Tend to Starhunter, he clearly loves the attention. I'll let you know when the food is ready. As meager as it is you're welcome to it. I think i have some fruit around here. Maybe....probably not."
"Th-thank you." Dusk summoned up an embarrassed smile and got to her feet, murmuring, "There might be some apples in my p-pack."
She moved toward Starhunter and set about untacking him and giving him a a quick rub down, murmuring and cooing quietly to him all the while.
Within a few minutes the tea was prepared and small meals of cooked vegetables and some jerky were made available. He remembered she didn't eat meat, but he wasn't going to force her to scarf it down.
When everything was ready, he sat and criss-crossed his legs, carefully eating a steaming green onion. Only then did he realize how hungry he was.
The smell of food made her stomach growl again and Dusk picked her way back to sit at the fire, eyeing the meal like a starving orphan in a cheap novel. Hesitantly, she reached for a cup of tea witha murmured, "Th-th-thanks."
He ate quietly, silently thanking above for the food before them, but trying not to make his prayer obvious. He wasn't religious anymore. That was a lifetime and a thousand miles ago.
"Is it good?" he asked. "Don't be shy. I can take the criticism."
"It's w-wonderful." Dusk beamed at him. "Truly. Thank you." She smiled playfully and added, "Though it may taste b-better because I'm so hungry."
Ki'adan looked across to her in silence. His smirk grew into a full out laugh.
"Don't spare my feelings why don't you," he chuckled. "At least you can keep it down. That's a good sign."
"Oh." Her face went red and she stammered hurriedly, "S-sorry, I d-d-didn't mean- it really is g-good! I swear, I was j-just teasing..."
Starhunter lingered behind her and nuzzled her hair as if to calm her a bit, and it was a gesture that Ki'adan appreciated.
"You've earned yourself a candied apple my friend," Ki'adan said and handed him a regular apple. But a horse with a sweet tooth wasn't exactly the best combination when traveling place to place.
Dusk relaxed a bit and smiled ass he watched them, reaching back to pat Starhunter's neck in thanks. She quite enjoyed the dynamic between man and horse, it was almost brotherly in a way.
She ate her food in silence, not wanting to put her foot in her mouth again but also quite content with simply observing them.
Ki'adan cared deeply for his horse, as did all Duhjari. Starhunter, despite his antics, was very much an extension of Ki'adan. And he was a part of his heritage that he couldn't ever, and likely would never, do away with.
"Have you had any animals of your own?" he asked Dusk, as he kissed the horse's nose.
Dusk shook her head with a small smile. "Not really. A f-few strays, but mostly just animals I found hurt, patched up, and sent on their way. B-back in La'marri, there were always dogs and cats and bird is helped hanging around the orphanage. One the road though..."
She shrugged a little wistfully. "Not so much."
"That's so sad," he murmured. "I grew up with horses all my life. I love them more than my family. They are my family. I helped raise Starhunter here since he was a young colt. Their companuonship is very different than anything else I've experienced. One of a kind."
Dusk sighed wistfully. "That sounds wonderful." She shrugged and glanced away. "I n-never really had a family. Strays were the best I c-could do."
"I'm sure you'll find someone to take you in," Ki'adan smiled. He chuckled. "I mean you're not a stray. I mean...you'll find a good companion soon enough. In the meantime you're stuck with me."
She smiled softly at him. "Actually...that's sort of why I'm out h-here. I'm looking for...where I came from."
She suddenly froze, then twisted and grabbed her pack, digging through it before she emerged with a rather worn but still obviously well made blanket, the same deep purple as the ends of her hair, with golden stitching along the top left corner.
"D-do you think you might know where this was made?" she asked hopefully. "You travel s-so much, I thought maybe..." She shrugged and gave him a small smile.
He tilted his head, curious. "Wow. This is beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it," he replied. "Turned it over in his hands, examining the gold edges and the fine purple silk.
"Where did you get this?"
"I was left on the doorstep of an orphanage wrapped in it," Dusk replied quietly. She hadn't really expected him to be able to tell her where it came from, but she couldn't help sighing a bit.
"My n-name's stitched into the side there, see?" She pointed to the looping letters. Serephinata. "I just...I can't help thinking, someone must have wanted me, if they gave me this..."
"That's your name. It's lovely. I'm sure I've never heard of a name like that before. But fabric like this, is very expensive, and could only come from a few places. Essyrn is a definite maybe. Dye like this, certainly. But another could be Serendipity, a kingdom north of here. And, it might be a long shot, but Connlaoth could be another possibility. The latter is very far away, however," he said.
"Yeah. A bit of a m-mouthful, it's why I usually go by Dusk," she murmured as she turned things over in her mind.
She sighed. "Essyrn, Serendipity, and Connloath. Gods." She rubbed at her temples, then suddenly laughed quietly, "I'm never going to get to all those places..."
"I suppose Ketra is a start," Ki'adan said. "So what does this mean for you? Are you secretly royalty or something?"
Dusk laughed, shaking her head quickly. "No no. I h-highly doubt it," she said with a crooked grin. "Besides, don't you think people would hear about some princess or wh-what-have-you going missing?"
"Not necessarily. Not if you're the cast off of some royal line where someone thought it'd be better to get rid of you. Which I hope is not the case," Ki'adan said pointedly.
She blinked. "Well. I...suppose that's true. If unlikely." A small shake of her head and she glanced away with a tiny smile. "I mean, I g-guess every lonely girl likes to imagine she's a princess. But I d-don't think that's me."
"Then what do you imagine yourself as?" Ki'adan asked her.
He ate quietly, finishing up his food and setting it aside. Starhunter was eager for another apple, nudging Ki'adan's hand to fish one out.
"I d-don't really know." She smiled and reached forward to fish out an apple for the horse, casting Ki'adan a sheepish glance because she knew she was spoiling him.
"I guess..." She blushed and looked away. "It s-sounds silly and h-h-horribly cliched, but I- I just want to f-find my family. I d-don't care who they are, I just...want to belong somewhere."
"I guess I can understand that," Ki'adan murmured and returned to the fire. He smiled and looked her over. "For what it's worth, I hope you find your family. I guess we all want to find our place in the world. We don't always know where we belong. Sometimes we don't belong anywhere, so we keep...traveling, lost. Some would say doomed. Some say following their own fate. I'm not sure which one to believe at times."
Knees drawn up to her chest, Dusk blinked at him in silence, then ventured carefully, "Is th-that how you f-f-feel?"
Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth she ducked her head with a furious blush. "S-sorry, you d-d-don't h-have to answer that. T-too personal."
"I suppose it is," he answered honestly. "I don't feel like I've ever belonged anywhere most of my life. The only one that I can speak with tends to be that horse right there. But I think he gets tired of hearing it."
"Damn straight I do," Starhunter thought aloud.
"I'm sure that's not true." Dusk threw Starhunter a pointed look and an arched eyebrow.
Starhunter snorted and Ki'adan cut him a look.
"I'm sure I'd get tired of hearing Starhunter's constant whining of not being able to be lazy all day, but then again I'm glad I can't hear what he's thinking. I'd run him ragged then," Ki'adan replied.
Dusk chuckled quietly and raised a hand to her mouth, rolling her eyes. "You two really are like brothers."
"Yes we are." Ki'adan laughed, keeping his gaze somewhat averted. He looked up to the horse and found himself laying back, watching Starhunter as he moved to lay closer. Except he plopped down beside Dusk instead of his own rider.
"And he seems to like you alot. That's good. Just don't be alarmed if he farts in his sleep. It means he's comfortable. Growing up with horses, you get used to it."
She blinked at the horse, a little startled, but reached out to scratch at his withers with a small smile. "Oh, I know. I don't mind, really." She twined her fingers through Starhunter's mane and leaned into his side gently.
"I like him too," she said with a smile for both man and horse.
Ki'adan had closed his eyes quietly, feeling sleep slowly fall upon him. The last thing he saw before he drifted off was when Starhunter gently chuffed his nose against Dusk's face. As unusual as it seemed, Ki'adan had never seen his horse get along with anyone so quickly before. He supposed there could be worse things in the world.
In fact he'd seen them. Had done some of them.
Dusk curled up next to the horse, closing her eyes with a smile as she felt the animal's warmth. Sleep claimed her quickly and deeply.
Someone was calling her, gently, reassuringly. Calling her real name, the one no one used. Cooing it almost, singing. But then...
It wasn't calling anymore, it wasn't singing. It was screaming. She couldn't see, couldn't breathe, and the screaming screaming screaming wouldn't stop, just stop, someone make it stop-
With a sobbing cry she jerked upright, gasping, "Stop, stop, please!"
Ki'adan was not pleasantly awakened, raising his head to glance at her. "Dusk. Dusk wake up, you're dreaming," Ki'adan said as he crawled over to her.
Until he heard the snap of movement in the brush. He paused a moment. "Dusk...wake up. Now."
Eyes wide, still half caught in the dream, she whipped her head around to look at him, shivering and gasping softly. "Ki-Ki'adan? What- where is-?"
"Get up. It is time to go. Act calmly," he said gently and went about normally as he coaxed Starhunter up and saddled him. He could hear the soft snapping of twigs and movement of brush. He packed away the tools from the night before and he leaned in toward Dusk. "We're not alone."
Dusk got to her feet and shakily began packing up her own supplies. She froze for a moment when he said they weren't alone, then nodded once and slung her pack over her shoulder.
Quite without permission, her magic reached out, feeling through the area around them with questing tendrils, searching for what life might be near.
What she would find would be several signs of life. Human figures, at least eight of them four on either side. Ki'adan saw one out in the brush, the lip of a bow in hand, and dark hooded garb over it. He had a feeling they might be bandits, but considering what he did for a living, it could be anybody.
Once everything was packed and the eight drew in closer, attempting to make a choke point, Ki'adan had slipped his own bow from out of the saddle, knocking it and quickly firing into the trees. There was a sound of choking on blood as it entered into the neck there was a sudden scramble from the trees, a yipping sound to swarm them.
Dusk cried out in shock and pain- her magic had reached their attackers by the time Ki'adan fired, she felt the death.
Quick as she could, she drew her magic back into herself and shakily readied her own bow, pressing close to Starhunter's side as she nocked an arrow.
Two emerged from the trees just enough to fire arrows at the pair. Starhunter wasn't going to stand around and let himself be stuck with arrows, and he turned and charged at one of them, stomping hooves into their skull.
A soft sob from Dusk but she fired an arrow, the bold slamming through one of the men's shoulders and at least partially immobilizing him.
"Dusk, leave! Starhunter!" Ki'adan called out and fired another arrow into the trees. Blood soon soaked into the ground from where two bodies had fallen. He was pushing the girl toward the horse when he run toward the trees and four of the two surrounding them gave chase, while the other two went after Starhunter.
The horse turned and ducked his head beneath Dusk's legs and threw her up onto the saddle before bolting through the other end of the trees.
"What- wait!" But there really wasn't much she could to. She adjusted as best she could to suddenly being on the horse's back and looked back over her shoulder, calling Ki'adan's name rather helplessly.
Starhunter was swift. He would not let either of them be caught. However, even the fact that he was quick, he wouldn't leave Ki'adan behind. He couldn't. But at the moment, the pressing matter was evading the two woodland pursuers that ran through the trees and over hills and stones with ease.
With a sob, Dusk sat back and twisted, firing two arrows at their pursuers. One clipped a man's arm, but the other lodged solidly in his hip.
She winced, feeling the pain, and had to take a breath, eyes clenched shut.
Within a blinding few minutes, it was over with. And Ki'adan did not emerge from the scuffle unscathed. Despite being overwhelmed, he was Duhjari and his arrows struck true, and blood coated the grass.
"Dusk!" he called out, running swiftly through the wood, running in the direction that Starhunter went.
Though the word was muffled, Dusk recognized the voice, and she was sure the horse did too.
"Oh, he's okay." She slumped over Stathunter's neck in relief, urging him to turn around with a few gentle nudges. "Thank gods, oh thank gods..."
Ki'adan ran onward, following where he saw the horse further up into the trees. "Dusk!" he called out again and soon Starhunter came running back toward him, carrying her on his back.
He breathed a deep sigh of relief. "That was fucking intense," he said. "Are you okay?"
Tears filled the girl's eyes and she lurched off of Starhunter's back. Before she entirely realized what she was doing she'd thrown her arms around Ki'adan in a tight hug, reaching out with her magic simultaneously to search of injury.
"I-I'm f-f-f-fine," she choked out. "Wh-what about- are y-y-you h-hurt?"
The hug was unexpected and Ki'adan stiffened at the contact. He cleared his throat and carefully peeled her off. "I am fine, it's okay," he said and looked her over. "You're still mostly intact, correct? Or will I have to scrape a piece of you off someone's boot?"
Dusk gave a watery chuckle and wrapped her arms around her middle. "N-no, I'm f-f-fine, really," she murmured. She had to take a few deep breaths to reel her magic back in, and even then there were still little flickers snapping out an away from her without her consent.
"Let me look you over," he said. Ki'adan made short work of inspecting her for wounds she may not even know were there. Unaware of her magic, he finished his inspection with her back and soon put a hand on her shoulder.
"Well, I believed you, but one can never be too sure. Well, we should probably see who these people were."
"Really, I'm fine," she tried to protest as he looked her over. When he pulled back, her face paled slightly and she nodded. "R-right. I suppose we sh-sh-should."
Ki'adan moved back through the trees toward the nearest corpse he could find. They were all unusually dressed, but not unlike vagabonds they might find in the forest. However the leather they had and studded braces, along with the hoods and weapons told him something more.
"Mercenaries?" he said. "What do you think? You have experience with people like these?"
She was going to be sick, she knew it. She could feel the death around them, an icy grip on her heart and a shiver up her spine.
Mute, she shook her head, eyes wide and face pale as she pressed a hand over her mouth. "N-no," she managed to squeak out. "I d-d-don't recognize-" She swallowed and had to look away, swaying on her feet as she tried to move away and felt herself dipping toward a swoon.
Ki'adan had turned back to inspect the body once more when he heard a thud on the ground, quickly turning to find Dusk had fallen like a rock on the undergrowth.
He crawled over to her. "Hey? Hey! You okay?"
The blackout only lasted a few moments, and Dusk was quickly coming around again, blinking as she heard Ki'adan's voice and tried to focus on his face.
"I- I'm alright," she murmured as she tried to sit up. "I...d-death, it's all o-o-over this p-place, I can f-f-feel it."
"What do you mean?" Ki'adan turned to sit beside her, looking her over in case she might have blood spilling out of her head from and unknown wound.
"My m-m-magic," Dusk whispered. She allowed him to check her over, even though she knew that physically she was fine, not a scratch on her. "Just...death. It f-feels cold, and gray, and l-l-like I c-can't breathe-"
She bit her lip to cut herself off and dropped her eyes.
"Strange magic," he murmured, but took it for what it was. There was no point in thinking she was crazy when she clearly gave him no other reason to think she was before. Other than talking to Starhunter. But his relationship with the horse bordered on family. He would take the extra leap to say they were.
"But you are not dead. You are very much alive. Is there no way to control what it is you sense?" he asked gently.
She nodded shakily and tried to focus on breathing. "Y-yes. I c-can usually shut it out, b-b-but I was startled. My m-magic just sort of...reacted."
She took a few more deep breaths and closed her eyes. Gradually, her pounding heart started to clam and she managed to uncurl herself slightly.
Ki'adan gave her time, letting Starhunter reach down and nuzzle her with his nose. The hunter stood and moved toward their fallen foes, removing an arrowhead and observing their make. These were mercenaries all right. And it seemed were trying desperately to find them, and take them down.
Maybe alive. But they wouldn't know that now.
Dusk leaned gratefully into the horse and stroked his cheek and neck as she gradually got to her feet. She took a few more breaths in an attempt to calm herself, then glanced at Ki'adan.
"F-find anything?"
Ki'adan gave a soft grunt as he pulled the facemask off one of the mercenaries, and he pulled out a dagger to ply the ear from his face.
"Da-grah," he said. "It looks to be so anyway. We need to get to Ketra. I need to talk to an old friend."
She really thought she might be sick. Dusk turned her face into Starhunter's neck as she waited for Ki'adan to finish his work. "R-really? Could they h-h-help?"
"They might have information that could be useful. But for that, we need to get out of this forest. You...hm," he looked at her for a long moment. Was she worth dragging along with him? He considered dumping her, but then again she was just as involved as he was now.
"Come let us ride. We've got a long way to go."
Dusk nodded. "A-after you," she murmured, standing at Starhunter's side and gesturing for Ki'adan to mount first.
He did ecpertly, and helped Dusk in the saddle after him. With a nudge they were off, riding swiftly through the trees.
Dusk wrapped her ants tight around his waist as they took off, hiding her face against his back. "H-how far?" she asked when she thought she'd gotten her breath back enough to speak.
"A day at the most, we are closer than I thought. The trail cut through most of the grunt work, now we just have to keep pace."
She nodded and mumbled, "Okay," tightening her grip on him a bit. She tried to focus on his breath, on the way Starhunter moved beneath them, distracting herself from what they were leaving behind.
Whatever it took, Ki'adan would no doubt do it to get to where he intended. As long as it would take. He could think of many people that might want to hunt him, perhaps someone that was sore over a deal that didn't quite work out in their favor. But whatever the case, he had questioned that needed answering.
[We can do a time skip to move things forward if you want]
[Works for me]
Dusk was quiet as they rode, unable to stop thinking about the attack. Why? Were they after Ki'Adan? After her? She couldn't think of a reason why someone would want her dead, but there as an almost instinctive guilt there all the same that she tried desperately to shove away.
The gates of the woodland city were up ahead and Ki'adan had stopped riding Starhunter to give the animal a chance to rest. As they did so, the horse clearly was looking forward to a long rest and grooming session.
They were let in with the right price and Ki'adan helped Dusk along with him. "Are you tired? Do you need something to drink? Food?"
"N-no, I'm f-fine." She offered a shaky little smile, though to be honest she probably could have used something to eat. She was just nervous, unable to focus on anything but the pit of worry in her stomach. Her hand passed absently over Starhunter's neck in a distracted pattern of reputitious strokes.
"Here, at least drink this," Ki'adan said, pulling out a small flask which he uncorked. He pulled out a small sack and poured in some powder, making it fizz up and offered the drink to her. "It will settle your nerves," he said gently.
"Um...o-okay." She took the drink and sniffed it a little warily before taking a sip. "What is it?"
"It is like a tea. I've...heard it called Auahada," he said. "It is good for you. Will make hair grow on your chest."
Dusk chuckled quietly and gave him a wry look as she took another sip. "Wh-why would I want hair on m-my chest?"
"To keep you warm of course," he said chuckling and watching her sip it from the corner of his eye.
She crinkled her nose at him and rolled her eyes, but she was chuckled softly as she finished the brew. "Th-thanks."
Ki'adan took the flask back and tucked it away as they entered into the city's heart. Ketra was always an interesting place to him. Far different than even the oasis of Essyrn. People here were less tight-knit when it came to foreigners. And at the same time there was a stigma of the people of the Plains that lingered in the atmosphere.
Ki'adan felt at home here, he truly did, despite his roots. He liked the city, even the people, to a degree. He didn't feel out of place though he supposed he should've if some people were to have their cookies and eat them too.
"First we get Starhunter some rest. The good ol' boy deserves it."
"R-right." Dusk smiled and patted the horse's neck. The noise of the city was a little overwhelming and she found herself unconsciously ducking in between Starhunter and Ki'adan, using their bodies almost as a shield from the outside world.
"Is something the matter? Do you need more hair on your chest?" he asked with a soft chuckle.
She rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "Sh-shut up. I'm just...not use to s-so many p-p-people."
"Then focus on Starhunter. He is a people. But a non-offending one. Most of the time," Ki'adan offered.
"O-okay." Dusk offered him a grateful smile and tucked herself even closer to the horse's side, patting his neck absently as they walked.
Finding a paddock was easy, and he paid to have Starhunter boxed and fed and brushed and washed. The horse was happy but gave a soft knicker at Dusk as if missing her company.
"Would you prefer to stay here with the horse? Or follow along with me? Maybe staying here with Starhunter would be better. It'll keep you out of trouble."
"I, um..." She glanced back and forth between them. "I w-wouldn't mind staying with h-him," she murmured after a moment.
"Very well. I will return shortly. Stay out of trouble. I mean it." Hist tone said he was serious before marching off, throwing his coat over his head.
"Y-yessir." Dusk nodded sharply and waved a bit as he walked away, then leaned against Starhunter's side with a sigh. "Guess it's just you and me for a while boy," she murmured with a pat to his neck.
Starhunter gave her a nudge with his nose, begging for a treat. Because heaven's knew he needed one after a trip they just had.
"Okay, okay." She laughed and looked around. "Let's see if we can find someone selling apples, huh?"
Sure Ki'adan had told them not to move, but it's not like they would go too far.
Ki'adan wandered further into the city until he was in an area much less well-kept. Finding his contact wouldn't be easy, but he knew where their dwellings were.
He wouldn't be gone long. It generally didn't take much time to find out if someone was trying to kill him.
Dusk managed to procure three apples and, feeling quite pleased, turned around to head back the way she and Starhunter had come.
And realized she must have taken one too many turns, because absolutely nothing looked familiar.
Oh dear.
[She should totally follow Ki'adan to his meeting place. And they be all "WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE!?]
Ki'adan had found the right door, a small nook in the alleyway where a door was easily hidden behind a stack of crates and a draped curtain over it. After performing the correct knock, the door was made ajar for him, and he stepped on through.
[Haha, I'm on it!]
Dusk started to panic. Not knowing what else to do, she fell back on her last resort: magic. One hand on Starhunter's neck, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to open up.
Gods, it was so much! The emotions of those around her nearly knocked her off her feet and she had to hold onto the horse to keep her balance. It took her a few moments to close herself off again just enough to find the familiar thread of Ki'adan's consciousness.
Almost dazed now, she stumbled after the feeling, doing her best to just not run into people on her way.
"Nailbiter," he said to the man that let him in. The small, stout bastard had a shiv pressed against Ki'adan's chest. But the Duhjari hunter had been expecting that. After a second the stout man grinned and stepped away.
"Boss is'n da back. Hrm, I see ya letting yer hair grow longer. Don't let her see that. She fancies you y'know."
"I know." Ki'adan turned back from Nailbiter and went along toward the back of the empty, dank warehouse. Stacks of crates were pressed against certain parts of the wall. A few grunts were smoking and playing cards in the back.
But they didn't pay Ki'adan any no mind when he passed them and met with Naoma in her office.
It wasn't until she 'd come to a stumbling stop in front of the small, tucked away door that Dusk came back to herself. She braced her hands on the wall of the alley, panting and looking around with wide eyes.
"St-Starhunter?" Had she lost the animal in her mad dash?
Wait- where the hell was she?!
[Starhunter is locked away in a stable so he can have some R&R]
Ki'adan met with Onjage, a slender woman with a half-shaved head and she was counting coins on her desk. He sat down in the chair before her and threw the rag he'd found off the dead body on the table.
"Can I help you Ki'?" she asked him. "You haven't written. I have half a mind of just killing you right now."
[Gooootcha]
Dusk whimpered quietly as she looked around again. She'd followed Ki'adan's thread, right? So where was he?
"Ex-excuse m-m-me?" Not knowing what else to do, she knocked hesitantly at the door.
The sound of noise at the door was disturbing. Nailbiter wasn't happy to hear that Ki'adan grew a tail. Who else could be at the door? And the sound of their tone was likely a trick. He decided to wait and play it by ear.
"Go away. Nobody's home," he growled from the other side of the door.
Duysk could have cried. She had absolutely no idea where she was, and now that she'd let her magic run wild, even just a moment, she could feel the city pressing down around her.
"P-please," she begged quietly. "I- I don't kn-know wh-wh-where I am, p-please..."
Nailbiter opened the slot to look at the poor thing that was making such a racket outside the door. While Ki'adan had been talking to Onjage, he heard the commotion and the growling barks that Nailbiter was hissing at. Soon Nailbiter slammed the slot shut and turned back to Ki'adan, marching through the warehouse.
"You've got a tail, snag!" he hissed and gripped the Duhjari by his shoulder, wrenching him round. The shiv was out and pressed against his neck.
"What the hell is going on!?" Onjage demanded. "Nailbiter, hold that blade!"
"Someone followed this rat! Now I'm gonna skin him!" he growled.
Ki'adan resisted the blade, holding onto the squat man's wrist. "Let me see who it is! I have a companion who is involved in this as well. I told her to wait! Fucking hell. Put that damn knife away!" Ki'adan shoved him away, holding his hands up warily. "Her name is Dusk. She's why I'm here."
Dusk could here the commotion on the other side of the door and she shrieked quietly, falling back a step.
But that was definitely Ki'adan's voice. And he didn't sound happy.
"K-Ki?" She swallowed and had to wrestle her anxious magic back under control. "P-please, can s-s-someone tell me wh-what's going on?!"
The door swung open and a hand reached out, snatching Dusk by the hair and yanking her inside. Nailbiter's grip was firm and he had no sympathy for the mewling brat that was making all that unnecessary noise.
"Listen to me! She's my friend!" Ki'adan growled. "Let you go, or you'll regret it!"
Nailbiter scoffed and traced his shiv across Dusk's cheek. "I might be inclined to make her smile. What d'ya say snag? Wanna smile?"
Fear drove any coherent thought from her mind and Dusk forgot how to breathe, frozen in her captor's grip. She whimpered slightly at the feel of sharp metal against her skin, and her writhing magic slipped away from her in seeking tendrils, brushing up against the lives of those around her in a way that was so intense it almost made her knees buckle.
Her eyes searched Ki'adan's desperately, a silent plea for help as she started to shiver.
But Ki'adan made no move. Not in the moment since Nailbiter was very close to giving her that grin he so easily promised.
Onjage however stepped forward and scowled at the stout man. "Let the damn child go! She's a babe, and looks like she's going to wet herself. If she makes a mess, by Kia you're cleaning it up!' she scowled. "Put the knife down."
Nailbiter gave a grunt and shoved Dusk toward Ki'adan. The Duhjari was not pleased with her performance, but really he hadn't known what he'd been expecting.
Dual whimpered and stumbled as she was shoved forward, almost slamming into Ki'adan's chest before she managed to catch herself. Shivers wracked her frame and she wrapped her arms around herself. "I-I-I'm s-s-s-sorry," she whispered. "I j-just wanted- I th-thought..."
She bit her lip and fell quiet head down but eyes searching the strangers warily.
"Don't say anything " Ki'adan instructed carefully. He put a hand gently on her shoulder, and kept her close. "Are you finished Nailbiter?"
The stout man growled softly, keeping his gaze on Dusk. "For now."
"No, for good," Onjaga said levelly. "You make a ruckus again, and you'll be looking for work elsewhere."
Dusk was more than happy to obey, keeping her mouth shut and shrinking closer to Ki'adan's side. She kept her eyes downcast, unable to look at the man who'd held a knife to her face.
Ki'adan kept himself in front of her, and led her to the back of the room. He took his seat, and pulled up the stool beside him. Onjage resumed her place, glaring at the both of them.
"So, Dusk, you have people trying to kill you, why is that?" she asked the girl.
"I-I d-d-d-d-don't-"
She was too nervous, she couldn't speak. She took a breath and tried again, slower. "I d-don't know."
"You better answer honestly, girly. Or might just sick my dog on you after all," Onjage said levelly.
"She doesn't know any more than I do," Ki'adan said sternly. "I'm not sure who is after us, but I found this on one of their bodies." He produced the object and plopped it on the table. "Look familiar to you?"
Dusk whimpered and shrank back, but before she could protest that she really didn't know Ki'adan spoke up. She leaned toward him almost unconsciously.
"What is this supposed to mean to me?" she asked with a blank stare, taking the piece of cloth in hand and turning it over again and again. "Unless you're trying to say something with hints, you better just come right out with it, Ki'adan," she said levelly.
"I'm not saying anything. I just want to know if you know anyone that's been looking for me recently. Or maybe someone like her."
Dusk's arms went around her torso and she dropped her eyes. She still didn't believe someone could be after her- what could she possibly have done?
"Girl," Onjage said. "Dusk, you would do well to keep your eyes on the situation at hand."
Ki'adan sighed. "Look, if you're not going to help us, then Im sorry I wasted your time."
She jumped at the sound of her name and glanced up, wide eyed. "I-I-I... I-I..."
She was too nervous. She couldn't get any words out.
"Stop it!" Ki'adan growled at the woman across from him. "She's a fucking orphan with nowhere to go, And nobody gonna miss this girl if she's gone. But someone tried to fucking kill us, so if you're going to be a fucking bent nail, I might just have to do something to straighten you out."
Onjage tilted her head at him. "Did you just threaten me?"
"If you have to question it, you're obviously unsure. Fucking hell," Ki'adan growled, irritated even more. He stood up and gestured for the girl beside him. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Onjage muttered. "This pendant...belongs to the Belasurian Clan. Not sure what the girl means to them, but you're not well-liked. I can attest to that. Maybe she's just collateral damage, fuck if I care."
"Where can I find 'em? They gotta have a base nearby."
"Do they? Who's to say. Folks like that don't tend to leave survivors. Except you two it seems. I'm not much for wanting to get involved in the affairs of other players. So let's leave this conversation at that. Go to the Red Room Inn, you'll find your usual set up there. Maybe something a little extra too."
Dusk had no idea what to do. She started to rise when Ki'adan gestured for her, then hesitated as the woman started speaking again.
Her eyes were still wide, flicking back and forth between the two of them. "S-so...what are we g-g-going to d-do?" she murmured, hoping only Ki'adan could hear her as she pressed a little closer to his side.
"Let's go, Dusk. We have to make a visit," Ki'adan said carefully. He avoided the door man, and walked back to the entrance.
She nodded slowly and hurried after him, sticking so close she was in constant danger of smacking into his back.
Once they were outside, Ki'adan cursed silently and walked off a few feet. "Sorry about that," he muttered, waving his hand. "Sometimes she's a real bitch. And maybe she's not going to be happy to see me again. If there is an 'again'."
"I-it's okay." Dusk shook her head. "It's n-not like that w-was you f-f-f-fault. D-don't apologize."
"I must because you nearly died back there. In fact careless actions like that could easily end your life, Dusk. You must know that," Ki'adan chided. He was irritated mostly with himself, but made due with the fact that least they had a lead. "Come on, let's go to the Red Room Inn, see what's there."
"I-okay." Dusk dropped her eyes, feeling guilty. "I'm s-sorry. I d-didn't mean to cause t-trouble..."
"Stop. That. What you're doing. Why do you feel the need to apologize for everything? Tell me exactly what is your fault."
"I-" She paused, cheeks red, and ducked her eyes. "I-I don't... I j-just feel bad," she mumbled.
No one has ever forced her to defend her apologetic nature before; she wasn't sure she could.
"Why?' he murmured. He wasn't trying to be accusatory, yet he couldn't deny that such behavior nearly got her killed. "Why do you feel sorrow with no need for it?"
Dusk shook her head. "I just...do. I'm so-"
She cut herself off, cheeks flushing scarlet.
"Them. Let us move on then," Ki'adan muttered and put an arm around her as he led them out of the alley.
Dusk started, then leaned into him a bit as he put his arm around her. "We sh-should go back to the stable," she murmured.
"In good time. For now I think we deserve a proper meal and something to drink. The horse will be fine," he said.
"Okay." She smiled up at him shyly. "I...am pretty hungry."
"You're a scamp you know that," he sighed and ruffled fingers through her hair. It wasn't like him to be this forgiving, but having her spilling out over herself in tears wasn't exactly going to solve any problems here.
So when they found their way to the Red Room Inn, Ki'adan entered in carefully, the crowd inside enjoying themselves with wine, food, and music. For the moment, they were right at home.
Dusk's blush only worsened wen he ran his fingers though her hair, but she was still smiling a bit as she trailed along with him to the inn.
The noise and crowds inside immediately made her flinch into his side a bit, eyes wide as she looked around curiously. "S-so...should we g-get a table?"
"Yes. Find one you like and sit at it," Ki'adan said and shoved her gently in the right direction. Getting food after their ordeal was the easy part. It wasn't much but stew with bread and cold drinks were just what even he needed to get him by.
He set the meals down before Dusk and he took his place in the empty chair. "I guess it could have been gruel. Smells a lot like broccoli. You like broccoli don't you?"
"S-sure." She offered a small smile and started picking at the food. "Anything that's not m-meat."
She glanced up at him through her lashes. "You, um...d-did you find anything out?"
"Nothing more than you," Ki'adan sighed.
"I'm not particularly hungry....but not eating would be worse if...things get out of hand," he said gently. But he took a spoonful of the stew and ate quietly, eyes looking up and around them. The woman said to wait here for something, but just what he didn't know yet...
"So...what are you going to do? I mean, you can't stay with me forever."
Dusk swallowed again. "W-well..." she hedged quietly. "I suppose- I-I'll keep traveling. I'm still looking for...s-someone, I c-can't just give up on that."
"Okay, then we look for your person," Ki'adan said, without so much as a hitch. "I will help you. Because going off alone just seems like a bad idea. We stick together, yes? Until the proper time to part."
She blinked up at him, eyes wide. "R-r-really? You'd- you w-want to come with m-m-me?" she forced out incredulously.
Ki'adan gave her a singular nod. "I will help you insofar as it affects my interests. That, and because you don't seem like the kind of person that would needlessly cause trouble. Frankly, that makes me curious."
A hesitant sort of smile curved at her lips and she ducked her eyes quickly, quistingba lock of hair between her fingers. "Thank you," she murmured, not quite looking at him but still smiling.
Ki'adan peered up at their surroundings, watching who was going in and out, looking for anyone that was unfamiliar. Onjage had paid for his room and board, as what usually came with when he did jobs for her. Now whether or not he might get anything in the future remained to be seen.
With his hunger sated, he could sleep for a week. Or so he felt. Ki'adan patted the table. "Okay, Dusk. We've got to get some sleep before we go out and asking more questions, yeah?" he said. "You wanna come up stairs? Kick off your boots? This is a pretty nice inn, they've got everything here."
She glanced up at him, then nodded slowly. "Yes. I-I'm pretty tired," she murmured with a small wince and an apologetic sort of smile.
Ki'adan gave her a curt nod. Standing, he threw some coin on the table for the serving girl and made his way upstairs to his usual room. A double bed, simple furnishings but by far much nicer than what he had grown up with on the plains.
That was just no way to live.
"Go and make yourself comfortable. After a day like today, I can sleep like a goddamn rock," he muttered and sat down on a far chair to yank his boots off.
"Um..." Dusk fidgeted, clutching at the strap of her pack. "Are you...s-sure?" She winced a bit at her own awkwardness- but there was only one bed! Large enough for two people, sure, but still...
When all was said and done, she and Ki'adan still didn't know all that much about each other. Wouldn't it be...awkward?
"Yes of course," Ki'adan sighed and nodded to her. He didn't care for wearing boots overlong. And as soon as his bare feet touched the floor, he was on them and flopped on the bed, looking at her strangely.
Oh right one bed. Well if she wanted she could always sleep on the floor. He preferred if she didn't, but that was entirely up to her.
"You don't have to be awkward. I'm about ready to pass out myself," he chuckled.
She tried for a smile, blushing deeply. "O-okay..."
Cautiously, she climbed onto the bed, kicking her shoes off before curling up on her side. "Ah...goodnight, then, Ki'adan."
"I mean unless you wanna fool around," he said, trying sound as serious as possible. But the snort that soon followed was loud and he covered his face. "I'm joking. Sorry I couldn't help it. It's really awkward I know."
Dusk squeaked and had practically thrown herself off the bed before his quick laugh registered. Face beet red, she perched awkwardly on the edge, mouth opening and closing but no sound coming out.
Finally, she managed to gasp, "M-m-m-maybe I sh-should just...s-s-sleep on th-the f-f-f-floor."
Ki'adan sighed and scooted off the edge of the bed. She really was just making a display of herself, truly. But he had sympathy for her and he walked over to her to help her up. "Now, now. Sleep on the bed. You're absolutely in no danger in this room, and not with me," he said mildly and then wandered back to his side.
Flopping down he turned to face her. "Relax. Just sleeping. If you really want to sleep on the floor, I'm not going to stop you. But jumping off is just silly."
She flinched back from him a bit, but allowed him to coax her back onto her side of the bed and laid down again. "...Alright. I'll st-stay."
She knew she'd overreacted, but she couldn't help being jumpy. With a small sigh, she tried to force herself to relax and closed her eyes. "Goodnight."
"Sleep well, Dusk," he whispered and turned onto his belly to nestle his head into the pillow. He didn't bother taking off his gear, or his propped the pillow underneath his head.
He closed his eyes and like that he was out like a candle.
Dusk was asleep quickly, but restlessly. She tossed and turned, waking herself up twice when she almost rolled off the bed, forced to scoot closer toward the middle in an attempt to mitigate the risk.
She crossed her arms over her eyes and sighed, drifting back into an uneasy rest. Years of taught caution combined with inborn wariness made for a rather restless night.
Frankly he'd had enough of the tossing and turning about an hour into the evening and Ki'adan could feel the movement on the mattress as if it were an earthquake. Ugh, was she going to do this all goddamned night?
"Okay," he sighed, turning to her and shifting out of his belt and shirt, just throwing it where he left his boots. "Dusk, stop moving. Okay. We gotta find a way to get you to sleep. Because if you keep turning like that, I'm not going to get any shut eye." His eyes already were heavy and tired and his eyeballs ached.
"Okay, just...hmm. just lay on your back, and look at the ceiling. Just do it. Look up at the ceiling and tell me what you see."
She froze when he started talking- she hadn't realized he was still awake. Blushing furiously, she muttered, "S-sorry."
With a soft huff she did as he said, forcing her arms to her side and staring up at the ceiling. "Um...boards? And sh-shadow, mostly."
"Okay, good. That's a start. Okay, so shadows up against the ceiling," Ki'adan murmured. "I see little shapes in the wood, warping where it would otherwise be flat and polished and waxed." He scooted closer to her, moving only enough to shift the blanket he'd been laying on so that he could cover her with it. He still stayed on top of the blanket and pointed up to a weird set of dots on the shadows.
"Now pretend the little shadows are stars, and we're under the night sky," he murmured, feeling himself growing tired from talking so much. "What stars do you see? It seems like a moonless night to me."
"Ah..." She glanced at him sidelong, then cautiously shuffled a little closer spmthe blanket covered her body better. "I see...the archer?"
She pointed and let her head tilt slightly to the side. "He's in the western sky, during winter. There's the bow, and that's his head, chest, feet..."
"That's good, yeah," he murmured. He tilted himself so that h could better hear her. "And what does the archers do? It's been a while since I've slept under the stars."
He only flicked his gaze toward her and he followed where she pointed. "I think I see the Tower over there, standing tall and proud."
"He's hunting the Great Stag." She pointed to where the constellation would be, were they actually looking at the sky. "But he has to fight the Wolf for him."
She glanced where he pointed. "Does the Tower have a story?"
"Oh yeah. I think I remember my father telling me that story," he murmured. His eyes could envision where the star sign would be and he pressed his head further into the pillow.
"The Tower or also known as the Lord's Tower, is a fortress. It stands as a beacon for people seeking the great treasure's inside. But it is also an impenetrable defense. Often representing something you cannot have. The only way you can get it is if you find the key. All allegory, I guess, but a nice story," he murmured. "I think I like the Hunter much better."
He chuckled and looked over to her. "Feeling tired yet?"
She smiled a bit and hummed quietly as she listened to him. "Keys..." She sighed and blinked. For some reason it was harder to open her eyes than to close them.
"Mhm. A little." She smiled slightly and let herself relax into the bed a bit more. "I really am sorry I woke you, before..."
"That's okay," Ki'adan murmured. He surprised himself. Being able to forgive wasn't an easy thing. Not for him. But a small thing like sleep was passable.
"You can close your eyes now if you're feeling tired," he said softly. "I am sorry if I made you nervous. It wasn't my intention."
A small, rather bitter chuckle bubbled out of her at that. "It's not you. I'm always nervous." Dusk blinked, rather surprised that the words had actually come out of her mouth.
She blushed and quickly curled onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut. "Anyway. Sorry. G-G'night..."
Ki'adan woke up with a groan, groggy and he rolled onto his side, nearly squashing Dusk. "OH. Sorry. Didn't see you there," he mumbled sleepily.
Dual jerked awake and squeaked, trying to scramble out from under him but not really left with anywhere to go. "U-um- its fine..." she mumbled, scooting to the side of the bed to try to give him more room.
Ki'adan rolled back and scooted so that she had more room. In fact when she tried to pull away, his arm shot out and pulled her back toward the middle. "Why are you giving ground? There's plenty of room for the both of us," he chuckled. He let her go and turned onto his belly, looking at her with tired eyes. "Dusk, I'm not here to hurt you. We've still got a long way of figuring out who the hell tried to have us killed yeah? So relax a little, we're in this together."
For the time being anyway.
"I-I know..." She blinked at him, multicolored eyes wide, but still tired. "I'm s-sorry. I'll try to...be better at th-this."
With a quiet sigh, she rolled onto her side and curled up, almost childlike. "You should g-g-get some more sleep, Ki."
"You're fine. In fact, I think you should get some sleep. I'll get us some grub okay," he sighed, and pushed himself up from the bed. Ki'adan readjusted his wrinkled clothing. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "I'll see you in a few. Don't go anywhere."
Dusk tried for a small smile. "I'll do my best," she murmured, quiet but playful. "N-never know, though...maybe I'll be spirited away while you're g-gone."
She sat up a bit to watch him go, feeling suddenly awkward with the whole bed to herself.