Welcome Home

[Axyl]

Axyl reached his fallen quarry heavy in his breathing from the chase but mainly from his boiling anger at the whole of the situation. A calloused hand reached from the darkness to roughly grab the collar of his shirt heaving him so their faces were inches away. He wanted to be sure his message was heard and understood. However before he could utter a word, that bastard of a man opened his mouth to weave another web around the soldier who was trying to do only what he thought right. This man had seemingly done nothing but abused his wife and deserved some sort of punishment to atone for it though Axyl believed atonement was far out of this man’s reach.

He looked back towards the house before her husband finished his string of words declaring his ultimate victory. What he found terrified him. Could he have really been that blind to her conditions? How much had his anger taken control? Had his lust for blood been so powerful as to drive him into a frenzied pursuit for vengeance?

Coming out of a brief daze, Axyl Griess turned back to the man in his grasp. “You selfish, slimy bastard son of a bitch,” he accused in a hiss. Suddenly, he threw his head back towards the ground followed immediately by a right jab to the face ordering, “Stay down, scumbag!”

The soldier turned in the mud and rushed back to Seline’s side. “What do ya think yer doing?” he chastised gently as he scooped her into his arms as tenderly as possible. He ignored the pain coming from some place in his body hidden by the clouded state of his mind. “C’mon,” he whispered. “Where’s the healer?” he pleaded.

Boots caked in mud, Axyl wandered the streets of the torn-up little town on the outskirts of Saverin with Seline cradled in his arms. The healers he knew were too far away; he had to find the one around here. “Help!” he called into the middle of the night. “Someone, please, you have to help me,” he pleaded after again. “I need a healer! Where’s a healer?” he begged.

“Seline, stay with me,” he spoke quietly into her ear. These were the same words he had begged of her earlier. It was the same request. Same request but far different circumstances. If only she had stayed… if only she hadn’t thought it necessary to protect him… if only she wasn’t matched up with some sicko of a man.

“Please! Someone, help!” he cried becoming more frantic in his search. Every second felt as if an eternity was slipping away. It may have been his imagination but he could almost feel her falling away from him even as he held her gently.

“Don’t you dare die like this,” he told her again softly.

Looking up back into the darkness, Axyl took in a deep breath. He let it loose in a final plea. “Please! Someone, help me! She’s dieing!” Tears began to form over the edges of his eyes mixing with the rain causing the rivulets running into his mouth to become salty. Mud caked his boots and pants legs. Water ran off his heavy cloak. It seemed as though the darkness was closing in around them, but he could not allow himself to just stop. So through a seemingly endless expanse of rain and night he continued.

[untamed]

A middle-aged ebony skinned woman run from her small hut. Her dark hair disheveled from sleep and being woken abruptly. Her temper wore upon her face. She had usually been woken up in the middle of the night, people howling and crying out. Most people that had been “dying” had just passed out from extreme alcohol consumption. A quick fix was to shove charcoal down their throat to absorb the toxic substance. This was different.

“What are you...” her tone angered, until she saw who was lying the soldier’s arms. Her breath caught in her throat, “Seline...” She ran to Axyl her hands finding Seline’s face. She looked up to find Damien lying on the ground, laughing. "You damnable bastard! I told you to stay away from her!” she hissed. Damien looked up and laughed, “She came to me Kyla!” he shouted over the rain.

Her large brown eyes met Seline’s placid face. She gazed at Seline’s chest, it was moving, but barely. “Seline...wake up...please...” she pleaded, looking at her friend. Her long hands cradled Seline’s face, tapping it softly afraid to harm her anymore. “Bring her inside,” Kyla told Axyl over the rain.

Kyla picked up her robe off the ground and ran to her hut. Mud splashed upon her boots as she bustled in the doorway. Upon entering through the doorway, there was a very small room. Boots and coats hung on hooks. Her boots were thrown off and so was her jacket. There was a narrow hallway that led to the living room. The fireplace was visible from the end of the hallway, but Kyla instead opened up a door along the narrow hallway. “Put her in here...”

She hurried inside, moving tables out of the way to allow Axyl a clear pass through the room to the bed. Bandages were placed in every opened space with other medical tools. Herbs and other medications sat in jars along a far wall, lining the shelves. She propped the pillows up, “Place her here and get out. Wait outside the room. I need all the room I can get.” Kyla pointed to the bed, her voice stern meaning business.

[Axyl]

His body turned towards a disembodied voice coming from the dark. She seemed to fade into his view as the woman neared her hands findings a friend’s face and her eyes acknowledging Seline’s condition. Axyl’s lips worked but found no words. The relief that washed through him prevented rational thought; he only wanted to find Seline help and this woman offered that. Brown eyes searched the middle-aged woman before him through a daze of flooded release even as she cursed out Damien, a name he had yet to hear.

The soldier followed obediently with Seline’s fragile body cradled gently in his toned arms. Taking her to the bed presented in the room before him, Axyl moved briskly but lowered her slowly himself lowering with her. His arms slid from underneath her relinquishing her broken form to the bed and to Kyla’s care. He stood slowly watching her paled face hesitating for only a moment. Justification was not required. Seline needed help. Kyla offered it. Kyla obviously recognized Seline. It was apparent Seline has trusted Kyla for years. There was no question. Kyla would help and try her best.

Axyl turned to leave Seline in the woman’s care only stalling to grab a thick bandage from a shelf without hearing any objection from the healer. He left the room, but he did not obey her final order to wait outside the room.

Toxic resentment reclaimed his elongated visage as the blacksmith stepped back into the rain. Eyes scanned the night with an intensity to find that man once again.

“We’re gonna finish this,” he promised under his breath. He was committed to finding this man. The abusive bastard was not going to get the mercy of an easy way out.

[untamed]

Kyla watched as Axyl left, not staying by the door. She sighed and turned to Seline. The best thing would to wake Seline first. She reached down to her swollen wrist. She felt the bones out of place and twisted it back.

The shock of pain was enough to rouse Seline. With a cry of pain, her olive eyes opened wide, doe-like with confusion to where she was. Her vision focused on Kyla. She opened her mouth to talk, but the sharp intake of breath made her ribs hurt so she winced instead.

Kyla glanced over Seline, her eyes glossy from forming tears. “You stupid girl...” she said, “The reason I never charged you for your injures was so you could save up and get away from him. Instead you leave and then come back, what was going through your head?! He could have killed you! You are the closest to death that I've ever seen!” Seline was startled by her raised voice, her hands however were tender as she wrapped Seline’s wrist.

“It’s a long story,” Seline said through gritted teeth, “and it was just like a suicide mission or something....” her olive eyes losing contact with Kyla’s. Kyla sighed and continued with her work. She washed the blood from Seline’s face and wrapped a bandage from the wound down to her jaw line. She helped Seline out of dirty, wet clothes and bandaged from her chest to her hip, allowing minimal movement to help her ribs heal correctly.

“You’re such a mess...” Kyla said as she cleaned Seline’s skin from the mud and blood that had caked on to her skin in spots. The water was warm and smelled citrus-y and floral as well. “The citrus scent will keep you awake. I don’t want you sleeping just yet, because of that head wound. The floral scent will calm you down though. Your pulse is still racing...”

She eased Seline into a clean white robe, careful to not jostle her too much. She laid her against the stack of pillows to keep her comfortable. Kyla then went to the hallway to see if Axyl had returned. She knew that was why Seline was still nervous, because he wasn’t there.

Seline turned her head to look out the window. The rain still poured. It was hard to see outside where things were or hear anything. What if Axyl needed help? She went to sit up, but even the smallest bit of movement caused crippling pain to radiate through her body. Her right hand was incapacitated as well. She would only be a hindrance if she went to help.

At Seline’s home, Damien had dragged himself to the house. His leg completely useless. He laughed the entire time as he went into the kitchen and picked up the knife that he stole from Seline. How unfortunate, he was going to spoil the soldier’s plans. The soldier ached to make him pay, but he wouldn’t have it. Without a second thought, he plunged the knife into his chest. He hit the ground, death overcoming him quickly. Even in death, he had a cruel smile on his face.

[Axyl]

Axyl stalked to where he had last made brutal contact with the man in the dirt. It was disappointing to find him absent. However he had left a slight water-filled trench leading back to the house. Perhaps he went to look for something to stop the bleeding. He would help him.

Rain fell around him tickling at his cloak. Mud splashed up from under his heavy boots. His left hand found the hilt of his short sword underneath the thick fabric his thumb checking to make sure the blade was loose in its sheath as he pushed the front door open with his forearm. Axyl was cautious in moving through the messy home such as to not spook the man into doing anything more stupid.

Quietly he worked his way through the house. He found himself in the doorways to the room he had originally crashed into, to the living room, but his breath caught when his feet brought him to the kitchen. Axyl was too late; the man had already taken his life escaping punishment. “You stupid son of a…” he cursed under his breath. The side of his fist lashed out at the door frame. Contact sent a jolt of pain up his arm. Immediately he kicked the door in retaliation turning back to the bloody mess on the floor before him only to catch the bouncing door with his forearm.

He could feel the anger boil up attempting to overtake him. It was rare but even without the liquor in his system he had been blinded by a blood lust. Axyl took in a deep breath holding it for a moment. Upon release his thoughts returned to Seline. At least she was no longer to be troubled or threatened by the man without a name.

The soldier turned leaving the body in its leaking fluids but also failing in retrieving both of his knives from the corpse.

Now, the rain water seemed to take on a colder sense. Slowly, he retraced his steps back to the healer’s hut but he did not go inside. Instead he went to the side of the hut. Unleashing a loud frustrated grunt he kicked the wall its thud resonating over the steady roar of the rain. His head rolled on his shoulders as his back fell against the side of the hut. The rough siding of the wall brushed against his back as the man slid down to land in the mud. Axyl propped himself against the wall with a heel in the mud. He draped his right arm over the raised knee keeping the stress from his hand to avoid any more sharp pain. His other armed fell over his lap and his head leaned back against the wall behind him.

Closing his eyes he only sat there allowing the water to fall over him. It was over. He had to let it go. Time would tell of the aftermath.

[untamed]

Kyla sighed when she didn't see Axyl outside the door and went back to the living room and began to clean up her kitchen. Since she would have visitors for a couple days it would be best to clean up. Her son made a mess everywhere and it was nearly impossible to walk through their home without breaking a neck.

Seline sighed, already getting stir-crazy. She heard the hard hit against the outside wall. She yelped from the loud noise. She glanced near the head of the bed where she heard it. Kyla came bustling in, “What happened?” she questioned.

“A branch must have fallen and hit the side of the house from the storm. It startled me,” Seline said. Kyla shook her head, “You’re jumpy as always...” and went back to her work in the kitchen.

Curious, Seline slid off the bed, wincing as she did it. She slipped on a pair of spare shoes that Kyla had left. She eased her way to the doorway and began to sneak out before Kyla hollered, “I will check the side of the house once the rain stops! Don’t you go out there! You shouldn’t be moving!”

Seline stepped back in the room and hollered back, “Wouldn’t dream about it!” She yelped, softer this time, the deep breath made her side ached. She sneaked out of the house, careful of the noise of the door closing.

Seline was almost instantly soaked once she went outside. Her long dark hair started to become wavy from the water. Luckily, the white robe was thick and didn’t compromise her privacy. She walked to the side of the house, cautious not to slip on the mud. She made it to the side of the house and saw Axyl’s compacted body against the house. “Axyl?” her voice breathless when she called to him.

She made the few feet between them in a few strides and squatted down beside him. “Axyl? He didn’t hurt you did he?” Her voice was raised to allow him to hear her over the rain. Her breath ragged from the pain and worry. She reached for his arm that sat on his knees. Her slender fingers touched his arm gently, but cautiously since she reached with the hand with the injured wrist.

[Axyl]

He did not respond to her first query. The soldier was not responding to anything including the water running into his eyes and tickling down the crevices of his body. Axyl was concentrating on the sound and feel of the rain and nothing else allowing his mind to wander to places he could not voluntarily direct it to. His thoughts seemed chaotic the most random links leading him to the next topic. Past, present, future. Consequence. Cause and effect.

The sensation of a gentle touch on his arm brought him back to thoughts of the present. He looked to her with brown eyes no longer glazed in thought. Her olive-green eyes were laced with pain but flooded with worry.

“No,” he stood up not exactly hearing her questions. His words came in response to his own thoughts. “You shouldn’ be out here. C’mon.” He crouched down deliberately positioning himself so his left arm could support her from under her knees and his right arm could support her back. Axyl lifted her gently and slowly for two reasons – to keep her comfortable and to avoid pain.

Axyl took her back inside opening the door with his left hand. He carried her as far as the door to the room he left her in putting her back on her feet. “Get back to bed,” he commanded softly.

After she was off back to bed, Axyl turned taking off his wet cloak with his left hand to hang it on an available hook. He was nurturing his right hand without consciously thinking about it. It was only natural he take care of his hands considering his chosen career. The soldier considered staying where he was since he was still muddy and wet even without the cloak. Nonetheless he wanted to thank Kyla and properly introduce himself. She was bustling in the back, but he saw no way to reach her without trailing dirt from his pants. Still, he removed his boots and went to find the healer.

“Excuse me,” he announced his arrival in her home, “but do you have anymore dry clothes? Seline’s soaked.” He couldn’t help it. It was truth even if it was a reason to reprimand Seline again.

Brown eyes looked to Kyla through a faint throbbing pain. He smiled gently planning on introducing himself finally and fully once Seline was settled completely.

[untamed]

“I know her better than you think, soldier...” Kyla said from doing dishes. “Despite telling her no, I knew she would go outside. I didn’t think she would find you, however...” She turned to face him, her back against the counter. “There’s dry clothes in the room next to her for you. It would be one less thing for her to worry about...”

Kyla turned to place the towel she had in her hands on the counter, briefly pausing in her words. “If you wouldn’t mind, try and keep her up until dawn at least. Her road to recovery this time isn’t as bad as some of the times and it could have been much worse....” Kyla smiled weakly. Though Seline had been closest to death this time, Kyla knew that there were times a full-body cast would be needed for her.

Kyla sighed and went back to her dishes, “You better get out of your clothes before you get a cold...” she paused not knowing his name to finish the sentence.

Seline stumbled into her room. Another warm, heavy white robe was waiting for her on her bed. She slipped out of her wet, soggy robe and laid it over a hook on the wall. She grabbed the new one, pausing before placing it on her body. A full length mirror laid against one of the walls. Her scars and bruises still laid scattered along her olive tinted skin. The biggest scars were along her shoulder blades and one by her hip where she was burned. She pulled the robe over her body and tied it.

She sat in bed drying her hair before laying down against the stacked pillows. She was beginning to get sleepy again, so she situated herself again. A sharp pain went through her body. Her breath came out between her teeth as she eased herself back to her original position on the bed. She had been moving to much, despite being told not to. She was feeling the effects since her body had begun to ache. She turned her head to the window to watch the restless rain outside the window despite the early morning darkness

[Axyl]

Axyl looked back over his shoulder towards the room she mentioned. He honestly had not thought of getting into dry clothes himself; his only thought had been of Seline’s well-being. “Um… thank you,” he returned warily. The soldier turned his brown eyes back to Kyla when she stated her request for him to keep her awake. With a nod of acknowledgment, he agreed, “I think I can do that.”

He turned when she moved to return to her dishes. Halfway through the turn, however, he finished her sentence by introducing himself with a simple name, “Axyl.” The man made his way to the specified room, but before he disappeared into his room a thought came to him. “When you have a free moment, I’d like to talk to ya, Kyla. There’re some things I think ya should know.” Axyl disappeared into the room as his statement ended.

Inside, he found a pair of plain pants and a simple tunic. The tunic was slightly larger than he needed but it worked to keep him warm. Once fully dressed again, the soldier took a seat on a chair in the corner. He flexed his arm muscles and stretched his left hand checking his wrist for unexpected damage. Everything seemed fine.

On the contrary, his right hand had received the short end of the stick. More power had gone into his punch to Damien’s face than he had thought. Unfortunately that power had lashed back at him breaking his dominate hand as a result. The blacksmith chastised himself for allowing it to go so far. His work would suffer and he had orders to fill for Earth’s military. He shook the thought from his head believing protecting Seline was worth it. Instead his mind went to actively nurturing his hand. With a thumb and a grimace upon his face, he massaged his right hand trying to determine the extent of the damages.

[untamed]

Kyla nodded in acknowledgment to Axyl’s name. She continued to bustle about the kitchen, placing clean, dry dishes into the cabinet. Picking up wooden and plush toys, she placed them in a wooden chest. She ran her fingers through her hair as she sat on the chest to keep it closed. She got up from the chest only for it to spring open and a few of the plush toys bounced out on to the floor. She grumbled lightly and picked up the toys and placed it into the overstuffed wooden chest.

She went down the hall to the extra room where Seline was. Axyl had not returned to Seline, so she made sure Seline hadn’t fallen asleep. She opened the door just a crack to peer inside. Seline’s large olive eyes were focused on the rain outside. Her eyelashes were fluttering more than usual as she tried to keep awake. Kyla left her be for a few moments and closed the door again.

She went to the next room, Axyl’s, and knocked on the door. “You wished to speak with me?” she asked softly. She waited outside the door for Axyl to answer not wanting to barge in.

Seline stared at the window, her mind wandering. If Axyl was here, then where was Damien? Had he run, or had he been killed? She couldn’t remember what exactly happened between him and her. She remembered going to her son’s room, and then it was black. Images blurred of sharp instances of pain, Damien’s chuckles and Axyl’s harsh words. She remembered Axyl telling her to stay where she was and the sound of his frantic footsteps away from her and out the door. At that point, she had gotten to her feet by some miracle and got close to the fighting men and then her memory faded again.

Seline closed her eyes trying to focus on what little memories she had. They were still jumbled and the blurry scenes didn’t make sense. She opened her eyes and turned to lay on her uninjured side, facing the door. This had become another experience she wanted to forget.

[Axyl]

Carefully and slowly, the blacksmith explored the damages pondering methods for healing; he was not sure whether or not Seline’s friend and healer would consent in tending to his own wounds as minute as they are compared to his friend’s severe injuries. His body overall had yet to be rested from their journey home; however, now it was entirely warmed up for work though healing would require a rest even after a vacation. It was an irony he had learned.

A knock at the door summoned his eyes to the room around him and the door. “It’s clear,” he called after to let her into the room with him. He stood as she entered and gathered his wet clothes onto a corner of the bed. “I’ve a few questions,” the man gestured to the now vacant seat with an unmoving right hand.

“What was his name?” Axyl jumped right into the topic. He wanted to know the pieces of the puzzle and needed to determine how deep into the mess they were. “And what kinda influence did ’e have?”

The solider listened intently to any answer Kyla would have given. Again he was quick to the point. “He’s dead,” Axyl stated almost immediately after he knew something of the man.

Deliberately, his eyes moved from places such as the floor, the wall, cabinets, and his surroundings including Kyla’s reactions – the normal places his attention would wander during unfamiliar situations – to the healer’s brown eyes. He wanted to be sure this woman understood his intentions to help.

“What do I do ta help her?”

[untamed]

Kyla opened the door to Axyl’s room. She watched as Axyl motioned with his hand to sit beside him. Her eyes picking up on his unmoving hand. She sat beside him, but her eyes watched his hand’s movement, or what little the hand moved.

“Damien,” she answered simply, “As for influence, over the town, he had plenty. The money helped. Anything he did wrong could be healed with money, needless to say Seline got the short end of the stick in that situation. Anyone that heard the abuse was simply paid off and they would never report it. However, everyone feared him, so most wouldn’t report him anyway. Over Seline, he had complete control over her. His influence over her made it hard for her to leave, but I think most of the reason she didn’t leave was Alexander.” Kyla sighed, thinking back on the past.

Kyla’s eyes narrowed when Axyl informed her that Damien was dead. “Good riddance,” she said, “Let the Gods handle his punishment now...”

She reached for a wrap of bandage and motioned towards his injured hand. She gently took his hand with or without permission, her fingers running over it, feeling for any breaks. She firmly wrapped it, keeping it sturdy. “Keep yourself well first of all...” she muttered as she finished bandaging his hand. “Keep her awake until the dawn. Her head wound was serious. I was lucky to get her awake the first time. The second time will be much more difficult. I will be able to judge her head wound better in a couple hours. Talk to her, anything, just keep her awake. It’s going to be harder as time passes to keep her awake. If you don’t want to smack her, let me know and I will when talking doesn't do the trick.”

Kyla got up off the bed. She left the room, leaving the door open since he would be leaving his room soon. She went to sit down and relax on her padded chair. She sighed and closed her eyes in thought. It would be a long night.

[Axyl]

Axyl turned away from her as Kyla informed him of Damien’s influence. He ran his fingers through his wet hair trying to comprehend what had actually happened. Thoughts still ran rampant through his mind even as he turned back to watch her tell her story. Had he ruined this town? How much of an economic or business influence did this Damien actually possess? What had he done?

Her reaction, however, caught him as nonchalant as it was. He half-expected something more. Axyl sighed trying to understand what it must have been like – what it was like to drive Seline to the drink admittedly every night.

Pain sudden shot through his arm again demanding his attention back to his injured hand. There he found Kyla’s delicate fingers exploring his palm and calloused fingers. Axyl sat again next to her so she had access to a full range of motion from his arm. He bit his lower lip to keep from yelping as she worked to wrap his hand to keep it secure for healing.
“I don’t matter,” he began to object before she continued quickly onto her orders. Her house, her expertise, her rules. His tongue kept its silence as she dictated what he could do to help while finishing her work on him.

“Thanks,” the man called after her as she left the room. He looked down inspecting his hand. Her work was superb. Too bad a broken hand can only heal so quickly.

Shoving those thoughts of how he would handle his work, Axyl pushed himself off the cushion towards the door. He turned the corner. Knocking softly, her companion introduced himself back into her presence.

“Seline? Can I comin?”

[untamed]

Seline’s eyes fluttered open. She turned her head to the door and answered weakly, “Yea...” She shifted her body to sit up. She exhaled sharply. The pain jolted her awake. She crumbled over, wanting to clutch her side, apply pressure, something, but that only made it hurt more.

She held her breath as she went to sit upright again. Any movement hurt, it would be awhile before she could functionally fully without the slightest bit of pain. She leaned against the pillows again. Her olive eyes looked at Axyl knowing that he was in the room by now.

“Sent to baby-sit me?” she asked. Her tone was gentle with a twinge of annoyance. She had to be watched, she knew that. However, it didn’t mean she was pleased with her position. She was restricted to little to no movement. Mostly no movement, the slightest twitch made her nerves go haywire with all the pain. Instinct made her curl up, which only made it hurt more. Her head was swimming, she was still a little dazed from the concussion. Her right hand was almost useless do to her twisted wrist, but that would heal up the fastest.

She turned her head to look out the window again. Her wide eyes taking in the wet, dark scene. A shiver ran down her spine. She winced, again with the side. “I can’t sit here.......” she muttered.

She glanced at Axyl seeing his bandaged hand. Her eyes widened and she bolted up in her bed, “He did hurt you!” she cried. She winced, but it didn’t affect the worry in her eyes. Her breathing was ragged from her pain and sudden aggravation.

[Axyl]

He entered opening the door slowly. Her friend cringed as he watched. It was unbearable to watch her move in pain unable to find a position where that pain couldn’t reach her. Axyl smiled weakly at her in an attempt to convey some sort of strength to her. The man wanted his friend to know she was safe and would be okay.

Picking a seat near to her, gentle eyes looked back to find her face. “If ya wanna call it that, sure, but no… not really,” he turned his gentlest familiar smile to her. “Can’t I just sit with you? Git to know ya?”

Brown eyes wandered around looking for something… anything. He didn’t know what to do. Hospitals and healer huts were not the place for him. Honestly, any place besides his shop possesses an underlying unfamiliarity making him usually uncomfortable on a subconscious level though others may not notice. Still this does not help him in the situation of sitting with a non-militant comrade.

“I can’t sit here…” “But you hafta,” he responded immediately to her muttered grumbling. “Yer safe here,” he reasoned almost under his breath as glanced back at the door absently looking for a way out of this mess.

However, her sudden movement and exclamation drew his attention quickly enough. “No! No.” He stood waving his good hand as if waving off the very thought of Damien hurting him. “He didn’t hurt me,” he began to assure her and tell his story – give her his excuses basically. “I hurt myself, but you don’t hafta worry ‘bout that,” he was quick to add. “Yer safe now.” His eyes fell to the floor as Axyl went to massaging the muscles of his right upper arm. “It’s over.” His tone had become cold. The statement had a finality to it.

Nonetheless, the tension was quickly thrown aside a smile slapped back across his scrawny face when he looked back to her. “Now,” he exclaimed, “Let’s you ‘n me chat. What’s Kyla like? You ‘n her are friends, right?” Axyl hoped the change in subject would be accepted and yet something told him it would be a reluctant receipt if it was agreed to at all.

[untamed]

Her eyes narrowed. There was something more to Axyl’s statement about her being safe. She let the comment pass. Her eyes releasing their scrutinizing glare. She leaned against the pillows, slowly. She pondered the questions Axyl asked, more or less wondering what was so intriguing about Kyla and her.

“Yes, I knew her when I was a teenager. Her father was originally the doctor in the town, but when he died, she took over. When I was arranged to marry Damien, we became a lot closer since I was here every week.” Seline paused and chuckled lightly, “Damien always came to get me and Kyla always chewed him out. Yelling and screaming at him, until I calmed her down. She saved the money that Damien gave her for my care and gave it to me the day I ran away. I came to her when I was in trouble and she would give me a room to stay in. Her son was Alexander’s playmate...”

Seline gasped and turned away embarrassed. She hadn’t mention Alexander to Axyl yet. She was unsure if she could talk about him with crying. She shivered. Her haunting past causing chills. She looked to the ceiling, her eyes glossy. She bit her lip before speaking again, “Alexander was my adoptive son. He died when he was four from a sickness that I brought home. That’s what Damien says I killed him. I was the one who brought the illness into the house for him to catch.”

She looked at the wall to her side. She couldn’t look at Axyl. Her chest
heaved to suppress any crying. It would only make her hurt more physically and emotionally.

[Axyl]

He was glad she could laugh about what had happened to her though he was having trouble laughing with her. For the mere four days, he had known Seline the pieces gathered pointed towards a nightmare for a life and unforgivable treatment towards her by a man whose duty it was to protect her. And yet the chewing out didn’t do a thing, he cursed silently contemplating the life she could have had had she been able to marry another. Who would be driven arrange their daughter’s marriage to a monster? Was he really that conniving to pull the wool over a father’s eyes?

However, the light chuckling turned quickly to a sorrowful gasp at the unexpected mention of a name, Alexander. He did not look to her keeping his eyes directed forward at the floor. The soldier did not believe her feeling his gaze upon her would help in the least. But his ears could tell him the story. Fabric rustling under her and the short gasping to catch her breath were enough to tell him she fought against crying. Axyl regretted inadvertently leading her to a sore topic, but they were there and he needed to help her through it. Kyla had taken his promise to stay and talk to her – to help her.

Axyl listened in silence. Her explanation ended and the tell-tale sign of choking back tears began again.

“Yer allowed ta cry,” he assured her. “I’m not the type o’man who would keep a woman from grieving.” Axyl took another deep breath sitting back down next to her massaging his throbbing arm. “It’s not yer fault. Diseases spread. We can’t help that fact. Damien was daft ‘n perverse to blame that on ya.”

Brown eyes looked back for her. “I’m here for ya. We’re gonna talk and we’re gonna help you through all this,” he promised. “I’m not here to judge ya.”

[untamed]

She chuckled weakly. “I would probably cry more if it didn’t hurt so much....” she said breathlessly. She went to grab at her side again thinking pressure would help, but retracted her hand quickly.

She had laid down completely on the bed. She laid on her left side allowing her right side to be free from any pressure. Her hands laid folded near her face. Her olive eyes dull with sleep, watched Axyl, taking in what she could. Her dark hair laid in waves from the rain around her head. Her robe gapped at her neck, revealing her collarbone. Scars and bruises stained the revealed skin.

“He loved that boy though.” Seline whispered lowly, thinking back on Axyl’s comment about the disease that took Alexander’s life and Damien’s blame. “He never loved me. He acted like it in front of parents so that he could deceive them that I would be safe for a while. A poor farmer’s daughter marrying into money. My father only wanted me to be cared for...”

Seline chuckled lightly again, delusional slightly from lack of sleep. “I’ve spilled my life’s story pretty much. There is a few gory details I’ve left out, but it would be for the best. I’ve known you for only a couple days, and you know practically everything...” Her lips curled in a small smile.

She sighed. Her eyelids when she blinked now lingered when they closed. “You better find something else to talk about....or do....” she muttered, her tone drowsy. Her olive eyes looked up at him, glossy with the need to sleep. “I still feel kind of light-headed...” she muttered. She had begun to ramble slightly, unable to think coherently.

[Axyl]

“Oh,” he regretted mentioning any sort of permission to cry having not thought of the pain it might cause her. Of course it would hurt her. He could only imagine the damage to her ribs Damien had done. Breathing would possibly and apparently has hurt her thus far. Why would laughing or crying not have the same effect?

He nodded in acknowledgment of how Damien would have kept their parental figures from discovering his malicious behavior. No matter that, the soldier could not blame a father for wishing the best for his daughter though he could not say from personal experience.

Axyl laughed lightly with her when she verbally recognized that she had practically told him her life’s story. Then he noticed fatigue was beginning to win the tug-o-war. His mind rushed for a safe topic that would not bored her to sleep.

“Um… ok… Well… Here’s the deal.” He tried to buy himself time while hoping to keep her intrigued. “I’ve two options for ya. I can either give ya my life story though I can’t promise it’ll be any more exciting than yers… Or!” he exclaimed to keep her awake. Axyl finally relinquished the first item that had occurred to him, “What do ya know about the weapons you use? Ya have any favorites?”

From what he had seen in the tavern, he knew she was a woman who knew how to fight. At least she possessed that air about her. Her outfit, armor included, and the sword and daggers had led him to understand she knew a thing or two. Not to mention how she had handled taking care of him when he was a drunken bastard himself. Seline had her street smarts and apparently a well-mixed personality with feminine and maternal instincts.

Her companion looked back to her with a wide grin. It was not only for her to know he was there with her trying to convey his energy to her through some means, but also for himself so he could check her status and her reactions.

[untamed]

Seline laughed lightly, wincing when she did so too hard. “Leave it to a man to bring up the subject of fighting...” she said. Her eyes did widen a bit when he exclaimed his statement, but they settled back to their half open position. She glanced over her shoulder briefly to look at the sky before glancing back towards Axyl. The sky had no intention of letting the sun come up, at least any that she could see.

“I told you my background, it’s only fair...” she muttered. She closed her eyes for a moment, like she had gone to sleep. She opened them a minute later, but closing her eyes only made her feel more tired. Keeping them open didn’t help either.

“Besides weapons don’t interest me that much...” Seline muttered, “Sorry to burst your bubble. If anything, I would rather fight with fists...” She closed her eyes for a moment. She envisioned something in her memory. She opened her eyes and looked at Axyl. She held out her hand with the wrapped wrist. Along the back of her hand was a bump that was misplaced from any joint. “I punched some guy in the face when he jumped me in an alley way when I was with Alexander one night a couple years ago. I broke the bone in my hand, but it was definitely worth the look on his face when a woman beat him.”

She pulled her hand back towards her face and rested on the pillow, “Now I believe you were going to speak for once instead of me...” She yawned and shook her head gently to shake off some of the drowsiness. Worse came to worse she could just twist at her hip. The pain of her ribs would keep her awake, but she had a feeling the outcome would be worse than the benefits of what she would get out of it.

[Axyl]

He let her do her thing while he sat in silence though he pouted when she knocked his hopes off to the side. Fighting was what he knew. As a soldier or a blacksmith, fighting was his job even if it wasn’t on the front lines and as much as he didn’t like to admit it but he was a merchant of death tending to the tools used in death. Then again, he was not even sure if she understood that about him. Had he told her or clarified on that matter of his work? No matter. They were apparently going to get to that.

Squinting to be sure of what he was actually looking at, Axyl noted the old battle wound as Seline walked him through yet another of her memories. Unfortunately, for the soldier the spotlight was now directed onto him and his stories.

“Well… I guess it is my turn then,” again he stalled. “You go ‘n shoot down my hopes,” he jested, “I mean, what could be more exciting then a good fight? You absolutely positive ya wanna get into this?” He looked back with a bright smile for her. Hanging his head in defeat, the man pushed himself up with a hand on his knee.

“So! Let’s get this thing started!” he jumped up and turned back to her a silly grin slapped across his face. Axyl would have clapped his hands as his habit drove him to but he stopped before causing himself more pain.

“Okay so I was born and raised in Saverin. Nothing special there,” he began the only way he knew how. Axyl told her about his mother who had sold flowers in the nearby markets and his annoying little sister who always seemed to be around the corner. He glanced over their home the little shack in the back it was and quickly arrived at his apprenticeship; the man wasn’t ready to relive memories from his first love as disastrous has it had ended for both involved.

“See now, I wasn’t exactly a perfect citizen ‘n my mother wasn’t gonna deal with me ‘n my sister plus I was always at the smith’s place anyway. It’s just the fire and the tools that intrigued me.” The blacksmith, now fully consumed in his younger years, began pacing about the small room looking around for what he wanted. Finding what he wanted in the thin air, he turned back to her with arms stretched towards her fingers opened wide on the healthy hand. “So I was accepted into an apprenticeship with this big burly man.” His hands waved around as if drawing a picture in the air. He traced out his master’s height and gave him a generous gut while tracing out the familiar plain flame-resistant apron. “Master Jerrard’s his name. He was an intimating man but kind all the same. I learned everything from him and that’s basically all there is ta me.” Axyl shrugged off the comment not knowing what else to tell her; he had never had to give his life story to another before. “I learned the craft. I expanded on it. I joined Earth’s military moving up to rank of Warrant Officer and I trained other soldiers though I can’t really give you their names since some of them moved into other more quiet jobs.”

Letting his feet take him in another circle around, he brought his rambling to a close. “That practically brings us to four nights ago on my last day of vacation when I met you. I left out the boring details of everyday military life but I can fill you in whenever, but for now, what else can I tell ya? Where should I fill in the details?”

Axyl turned back to her again with arms extended and shoulders shrugged. His wide ear-to-ear grin was still there. Perhaps some of his energy had translated to her by now.

[untamed]

Seline’s eyes scanned Axyl’s appearance as he talked overzealously with large arm movements. She listened intently, or at least tried to. Her olive eyes lingered on movements, unable to follow them at a regular pace. Her eyes lingered closed when she blinked. Subtle movements only woke her up for a few seconds, before she sank back into her stupor. Watching Axyl move about only made her more tired, wishing she had that kind of energy.

Kyla peeked in, “Hey, let me check you out.” She walked briskly over to Seline and sat on the edge of her bed. She looked into Seline’s eyes and ran a few simple tests to make sure she was functioning correctly. “You seem alright...” Kyla said, patting Seline lightly on the head, avoiding her head injury. “Do you want me to get you something for the pain?” Kyla asked gently.

Seline shook her head, “No, I should be fine...” “Just rest then,” Kyla said. Seline wasted no time, closing her eyes. Kyla turned to Axyl and retracted her hand from Seline. “I can bring a cot in here if you wish to sleep by her, or do you wish to be closer to her?” Kyla got up and motioned to the space on Seline bed. It was large enough for another person to sleep by her. “I’m not entirely sure of you relationship with her..” Kyla’s voice became uneasy and her hands moved about each other nervously. She was unsure if she was assuming something beyond the limits.

She stood nervously by the door, awaiting some sort of cue. The sun beginning to slowly filter through the shaded window above Seline’s bed. Seline’s heavy breathing was the only silence breaker, but she moaned every time she breathed. Her ribs plagued her even in her sleep

ooc: sorry it took so long. midterms have been beasts!

[Axyl]

Guess not. Slowly his muscular arms lowered Axyl having noticed her lack of energy and even the decreasing level of energy. He almost felt her slipping away from him in the heavy fatigue from lack of sleep in addition with her loss of blood. Her companion had hoped his enthusiasm would translate into some sort of strength or at least into some sort of handle to clasp onto. She needed to stay awake, he knew that, but short of shaking her to attention he knew of no other way besides keeping her interest. In short, his life was boring especially to one who would rather be catching up on her sleep. Axyl felt as though he failed knowing he had nothing else to keep her up. Needless to say he had not noticed the first rays of the sun.

His wide smile wilted away in confusion when Kyla announced herself behind him and hurriedly weaved around him to find herself at Seline’s side. He turned away from his past hanging in the air to watch as Kyla evaluated her friend’s condition. Not know what to do with himself as he watched in silence, his usually busy hands hung limply at his side.

“So she’ll be alrigh,” he murmured with a wary edge. He fell back to silence though he was not waiting for a reply. The man was waiting for her smile and at the least her release from pain. Axyl could not admit any more than that to himself. It was when the healer had acknowledged Axyl did he realize that they had made it to the morning. Lost in a world of relief, he forgot to answer her.

“Oh… uh… yea… no. Sorry,” he stammered softly. With another moment gone in silence, he accepted her offer of a cot. “… though I doubt I’ll be getting much,” he whispered under his breath.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

He had pulled himself onto the cot with his good hand and stayed with Seline for a good hour at least – he wasn’t sure of the time not watching the sun. Axyl knew how much Seline needed rest and was glad she could have it. However, he only prayed to his god Borran that the pain would lift so she could have a truly resting sleep after her ordeal. Beyond that, the man hoped he would see her smile again now that her nightmare was ended. But how was he to break that news to her? She had to have been close to that man to go back to him despite his cruelty.

Axyl caught his falling head in his hand. The jolt started him to attention. He could not keep this up, but rather than give into his fatigue and lie down in the provided cot he stood and made his way into the hall.

The blacksmith did not know if his host would still be awake and he understood if she had found her own way under her covers, but he half-hoped she would be. He needed a drink to keep him awake. Even a glass of water would be satisfactory. Axyl did not feel right about helping himself even if he could find it and have both hands to be sure nothing breaks.

In his weary condition, the soldier relished a morning of quiet. By now, the streets of Saverin would be bustling with activity with everything from hawkers to barking dogs. His eyes wandered the peaceful abode surrounding him. Suddenly, a thought gripped him.

I don’t belong here.

[untamed]

Seline’s home was empty. The hardwood floors echoing underneath her feet as she stepped out into the room. She turned around, almost frantic. The furniture was missing, leaving nothing but a shell. She went over to a cabinet and opened it. It was cleared out. She began to panic as the door and windows faded. She ran to them, desperately banging on the wood, hoping someone would hear her. No one came.

She leaned against the solid, thick wall. Her olive eyes looking around for some kind of exit. She ran down the hallway. Her bedroom, like the other rooms, was empty, except for the person standing in the middle. Her breath caught in her throat, as she turned to run.

The strong hands grabbed her and threw roughly against the wall. A sharp pain radiated from her side, and she looked down. The blood began to quickly seep through her clothes and run down her hips and leg. She fell to the floor and the blood began to pool around her body. The dark figure had gone, but she knew who it was.

Her body laid so that she could see in Alexander’s room. Despite the rest of the house being empty, Alexander’s room was furnished and still had toys scattered about the floor. She understood the dream at that moment.

She tried to sit up, but the wound ached and slowly she began to fade. The only thing she could think of at that moment was the one conversation she had with Damien. She had been acting “terrible” he told her and had tied her to the kitchen chair. She remembered she couldn’t see him out of one eye since had hit her and her face swelled. It had been a year after they were married, and still no sign of children. Damien told her that he would never stab her to death for a punishment, because it was too messy, but drowning or straggling were options. He told her this as if he was talking about the sunny day they had, calm and nonchalantly.

The pain was not subsiding. Was this not a dream? Why was the pain so real? She thrashed about, the pain crippling. She couldn’t wake up. She heard Kyla’s cries through the depths of the dream, but her eyes wouldn’t open.

Kyla shook Seline who had turned onto her broken ribs in her sleep. Kyla had never witnessed one of Seline’s night terrors and it scared her. Seline was screaming in her sleep and wouldn’t come out of it. Kyla finally left Seline’s side and ran to Axyl, “Wake her up...” she pleaded, “You must have dealt with this before. I can’t get her to wake up...”

[Axyl]

The slowing rain set the rhythm upon the roof above their heads even as a few morning birds sang from their roosts and the weak rays of the sun found its way into the room. Morning’s harmony worked its way through the cracks in this stubborn blacksmith’s shields. He was fighting a losing battle to stay awake with the steady beat pounding on his conscious. Faintly he felt the thud of his head against the wall behind him. Its rough surface scrapped against his back as Axyl slid to the floor. His head lulled from side to side as he fought to stay awake. After only moments of indecision, the movement stopped with his chin resting on his shoulder. Brown eyes found their shelter behind heavy lids as the soldiers mind found long awaited respite.

Suddenly, Kyla’s pleas started Axyl to attention once again.

“What?” His confusion demanded an explanation. “Wait,” realization took him. “You just let her fall asleep a little while ago, didn’t ya? Ya hafta be kiddin’ me.” He knew it would be a while before they actually would clear the storm; however, that didn’t keep him from hoping their rest would come sooner. No matter.

Instinct took control. Axyl rushed off his butt and ran back to Seline’s room whether Kyla was on his heels or not. His pushed his way around the cot that was set aside for him.

“What am I to do?” he whispered in disbelief. He looked back to Kyla with a trembling hand hovering over her broken body with disparity flooding over into his eyes. “I’ve never had to do anything like this! She took cara me!” His frustration was growing beyond his control. He loathed being helpless and today seemed a day to rub that humility into his sweat covered face. “What am I supposed ta do?” he repeated before turning back to Seline.

He stepped closer. Gently he tugged at her shoulder urging her to her back. “Seline. Come on. Wake up. Come back. Stay with me?” he pleaded. Axyl lifted her head slightly from the pillow only to give his palm the room to cradle her. Tenderly he cradled her head with both calloused but caring hands. He stoked her cheek with a thumb. “Come back to us. Stay with me,” he begged as he swallowed back his pride.

The soldier was ignorant of many things. However, the ultimate mistake was in thinking you weren’t.

[untamed]

Flashes came before her eyes. The images erratic in her mind. She stumbled through the house, following a blood trail. A fear gripped her chest. She knew the blood wasn’t hers. She knew the body that laid there was someone she cared for. Her knees hit the ground and his voice slowly began to surround her. She looked ahead. “That’s not possible...he clearly cannot speak....he’s...” the words gripped her throat and she couldn’t make any noise.

Her eyes fluttered open. Eyes that were scared and startled. She took in Axyl’s face and the tears began to run down her bandaged face. “Don’t leave me...” she pleaded, “I don’t want to be alone...” She reached up to his face and caressed it gently, making sure he was really there. “Please don’t leave me....” she pleaded weakly.

Her fingers froze and suddenly she realized she was no longer dreaming. She retracted her hand and turned her head. Her olive shaded cheeks flushed, “Forgive me...I thought I was still dreaming...” She went to turn out of his grasp, only to land on her wounded side. She winced and turned back reluctantly.

“I should be more aware of my surroundings...” Seline whispered, “I realize you don’t feel like that towards me. I should try my best to suppress these stupid feelings. I’ve been toying with your emotions as well as my own. I can’t tell which are true and which ones are not.” She flushed again at her inability to calmly relay her reactions. Instead they ran out of her mouth at a surprising speed.

Her olive eyes, now dried of tears, shyly looked him in the eyes. They held a slight regret for now revealing her underlying emotions. “Maybe you should have just let me waste away at the bar that night, Soldier Man...” she whispered to Axyl.

Kyla had followed Axyl back into the room, but when things got a little personal, she left. She peeked into her child’s room, where he lay awake, but looking through a picture book. She let him be and went to the kitchen to fix breakfast for everyone

[Axyl]

Relief flooded through him when her olive eyes came open. He could feel that relief finding its way to his eyes in the form of tears at the brim of his lower eyelids. Turning his neck, Axyl leaned into her soft caress absently closing his eyes. “I won’t. I promise,” he breathed. “As long as you need me, I will be here.” Brown eyes opened looking for her olive reflective pools. “I’ll stay with you as long as you stay here with me,” he turned her words back around to repeat what he had said for what seemed an eternity ago.

One hand fell away allowing for her head to turn. There were things she needed to sort out and he could not blame her for that one; it would be hypocritical for him to do so. With the palm still under her head, he rubbed the back of her scalp lightly. He smiled sincerely when she turned back to him. “At least I am part of yer dreams… and not yer nightmares,” he gladly observed.

Waiting in silence, he let her babble cheerful for her to have the strength. He had known she had been playing with him. It had all been a game for her it seemed from when they met in the pub that night, but last night, everything had become clear. This was her defense against life. Her philosophy, he figured, was ‘don’t get close and don’t get hurt.’ Life was full of pain for one who was abused and more so for one who lost a loved one. He understood that philosophy. However, it was her comment that he didn’t feel ‘that’ way towards her that caught him off-guard. She didn’t know how he felt; he wasn’t even sure how he felt. Axyl knew not of how to respond. It would be rude and cruel of him to pull her along one way or the other. Seline would first need time to heal before she knew what she wanted again. At least that is what the blacksmith tried to make himself believe.

A silence flooded the room again as their eyes connected. He heard soft footsteps as Kyla left the room. The floor creaked under her with its noise falling into the background of the breathing of the household. Then Seline whispered again in a sort of regret for what he had done.

“I would have done it agin in a heartbeat… just to tick you off,” he replied immediately when her uncertainty of the past, of the beginning, surfaced. Axyl watched her with a soft smile spread across his lips. “Besides, a beautiful woman such at you shouldn’t be drinking herself numb.”

A moment passed before he straightened allowing her room to breath. He reached behind himself with his foot and pulled his cot closer hooking his ankle around a thin wooden leg. Using his elbow as a support rather than his hand as was his instinct, Axyl heaved himself onto the mattress. Soldier Man turned back to the broken woman before him. Some part of him was happy to hear her pet name for the blacksmith who had paid attention to her. His good hand was still entangled in her ebony hair.

He leaned in closer for her to hear his soft voice. “Now I’m not sure whether Kyla wants you sleepin’ anymore, but you think ya can stay awake? Mind keepin’ an old soldier company?”

[untamed]

A soft chuckle left her lips when Axyl replied to her regretful comment. Not only did he tease her, but complimented her after it. Her lips curved around her smile as she spoke, “Does this mean you wouldn’t be upset if I told you that I would still follow you here, despite knowing everything that would happen to me, to us?” Her words were light on her lips, careful the words didn’t get heard out of the room.

She stared at his face for a moment until he moved the cot closer to her own bed. He increased the distance from her and went to lay on the cot. His hand still laid within her dark, wavy hair. She wrapped both of her hands around his. She gently encased his unwounded hand in her soft, slender fingers.

She flushed again, as he moved closer to her. She smiled at his comment, “I guess I startled her a little....” she muttered. She scrunched her nose at his comment about her keeping ‘an old soldier company.’ “You’re not old,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re...” she paused thinking of the right words, “emotionally mature...” and then chuckled at her statement. “I will try not to sleep, but if I do, I’m sure you will keep the nightmares away...” she added.

Seline broke eye contact to glance at the close wooden door. Rushed, small steps had ran down the hall and paused at the door. She heard Kyla softly talking and then the footsteps rushed outside. The door slammed behind the child as he went to discover the world. When he came back in, Seline would have to prepare herself, because there was no way she would escape a bear hug from Kyla’s young boy. Her eyes went back to Axyl and she chuckled softly. The innocence of a child nearby had lightened her heart’s heavy burden.

[Axyl]

“‘Us’ is it?” he poked at her choice of words. “Besides,” he continued a level above her volume, “I’m the one who followed you here.” Axyl meant nothing by the reminder besides his confusion towards why she would come if she knew what was to happened. He had followed her to this ramshackle little town having become suspicious of her behavior from cutting her finger to jumping between yes and no between them. All he wanted was to know was that his guest would be safe. Above his own safety, as Seline had constantly reminded him, the soldier had wanted to protect her.

Now they were here at seemingly another emotional crossroads. As far as the usually loud man could tell, neither companion could tell what they wanted. However, her hints were beginning to become thick in the air. Her ‘hero syndrome’ perhaps.

Sitting on the cot he had moved closer, he chuckled when she denied him his rank of ‘old.’ “Then what would you call it?” Her momentarily silence was enough of an answer, but still she added more. “emotionally mature…”

He lifted his head away in a guise of disbelief. “Ha!” he failed to contain the sudden burst and then he moved closer again with mischief in his eyes. “You know that still means ‘old,’ right?” A thick brown eyebrow rose to push his point.

The impishness softened again from his visage with her next observation. He would be her so called dream catcher if she fell asleep again keeping the terrors at bay.

“I’ll do my best,” he promised her as his thumb stroked her temple softly. “Just don’t scare me like that again.”

Axyl was at a loss for what to do next. He was content to sit there holding her, listening to her breathing, and taking in her presence. Seline only needed to ask and he would oblige her to retrieve the things she needed. She had been badly wounded and she needed him; he could tell from her eyes alone. She needed a rock to hold onto. Axyl could not bear to deny her that.

[untamed]

She watched as he moved closer to her, her words teasing him as he found fault in her statement. “Fine, I guess I should have said emotionally immature...” she stuck her tongue out. She wiggled back, creating some distance between them to tease slightly.

She became a little more serious when he told her not to scare him. “It was nothing, but a dream. Besides you scared me going after Damien. My memory is still muddy from what happened, but I remember you talking to him. It scared me, because he was capable of anything. So I guess we had our share of scaring each other...”

She leaned into his gentle touch. Her eyes met his and she smiled gently, “You should get some sleep. You haven’t slept yet. You’ve been outside. I can smell the rain on your skin...” She turned her head so that her nose was closer to the skin of his hand, amplifying her comment.

Her olive eyes were not as unemotional with the couple hours of sleep she had. However, she still need to sleep, but she would have to manage with what she had. The sunlight was beginning to filter through the rain clouds and shining dimly through her window. It felt warm and relaxing on her back. The rays giving her an almost heavenly glow, outlining her curves beneath the covers. Her dark hair had a healthy gloss to it in the sun.

Unfortantly, the comfort of sleep was wearing off. Her injuries were beginning to ache. She didn’t let the pain cross her face, only when she would shift her body would she wince. She was careful not to move too much in Axyl’s presence or he would probably worry. “You should sleep now...” she said gently. Her soft voice having a lullaby-like tone to it.