Living Nightmares

Log Info

• Title: Living Nightmares
• Emitter: Vaera
• Characters: Skielstregar, Vaera
• Place: Mictlan
• Time: October 21st, 2021
• Summary:

Mictlan, early morning.

Vaera's camp had grown in size considerably from before. Where before it had been a simple lean-to, and the bare minimum of a firepit, now there a larger open tent for Skielstregar to rest under, and another lean-to where the swiftclaw she was training had a nest of furs to slumber in. She did not mind, and had grown accustomed to preparing meals for the two of them, and making sure the swiftclaw had plenty to eat.

Vaera was still asleep at this hour, and today was the same. Though interestingly, the subdued scents of the red makari were a conscious effort, which meant that during their slumber, there was no way to hide them.

They were tossing and turning on their bedroll, much more than usual. And from them, were several strong scents. Sadness, worry, anger, frustration, a strange colleciton of negative feelings, that perhaps were even stronger than most, with how the one legged makari kept them bottled up almost all of the time.

Skielstregar does his best with expanding the camp. Hauling logs and breaking them down for firewood, moving large rocks around where need be. Even help hunt by moving large game. And helping cook where he can. It was a simple time, and it was something he enjoyed as he could be himself.

He sleeps soundly in his tent, curled up like a cat with his tail wrapped around him. And he would have slept soundly, were it not for the acrid scent of mixed emotions cutting through to his nose to rouse him with a bleary gaze. "... uh..?" he sleepily mumbles, eyes focusing on what could even be making that. Rubbing the sleep out of them, he stretches and peeks his head out, looking over to where Vaera was.

Worry seeps from his necromantic scent, him quietly extracting himself from his tent.

The creeping death mingles with the mixed anxiety and fear, as a long taloned hand carefully reaches into Vaera's tent to touch her shoulder.

"... Vaera..." Skiel quietly rumbles, worried. The barely risen sun masking his finer features and outlining the less desirable ones.

Perhaps the claw on their shoulder was not a good idea. Nearly the moment it touched, Vaera jolts awake, yellow eyes looking wildly around, finding the half-dead forgotten in front of her. She claws for ground backwards away from him, while one hand reaches for something, anything nearby, finding nothing. A few feet away she stops, breathing heavily, eyes locked on the figure in front of her.

This goes on for a long minute, before she closes her eyes, and exhales. "Skielstregar, this one is, this one must apologize." She states, hanging her head. She was not hiding anything, and the shame was prevalent, mingling with everything else. "You are, alright."

Un'eth goes Through Woods <TW>.

Un'eth has left.

Skiel has just as brisk of a response, the fear mounting in Vaera stirs the worst parts of the half-Forgotten. Something that makes him briskly shuffle back as well. Long talons and claws scrabbling back as he puts his hands up. Half excepting Vaera to pull out the artifice contraption.

He did have an open invitation to be shot, after all.

A few tense moments of staring each other down, seeing what the other do pass before he gives a long sigh and relaxes. "Yes, this one is. But you are not..." he softly rumbles, looking on with concern, but not approaching the one legged redscaled.

Vaera kept her eyes closed, and the red makari continued to breathe deeply, pulling some of the furs to herself, despite being practically a furnace herself normally.

"This one will be, is fine." She states flatly, already wiping away the source of the scents, but doing nothing to clear those that lingered. "This one is sorry for worrying you. You should be welcome here."

Dead, silver eyes squint at the redscale. A chuff. "Vaera," Skielstregar repeats, a touch more firmly. "This one was awoken by your scents. /Your/ scents cut through /mine/."

He shifts some to sit cross legged, hands folded in his lap as he was in nothing more than a tunic and his Dragonfather symbol. "You are not fine now. What troubles your rest, Vaera?"

Vaera finally looks over, and blinks. She reaches for her things nearby, pulling a waterskin from her coat, which she pours out into her hands to rub at her face. The red makari had little save for the furs that had fallen to her lap. "This one, is a danger to be around." She states, scrubbing hard at her face, trying to clear the lingering scents. "Everything and every one this one has cared about, this one has failed to protect. It is all gone."

Skiel tilts his head to the side, tail sweeping once behind him to gain enough momentum to rest in his lap. Scaled brows pinch as he tries to comprehend. "... this one fails to understand, Vaera," he rumbles, looking worried. "You say you are a danger, yet this one is the walking death bomb."

Vaera chuffs, and hangs her head. "Skielstregar, this one lost everything." She states, allowing the sadness to escape them. "This one lost their home. Their young, their family, and so many other kin."

"This one lost everything. It is only a matter of time until this one does so again. Trying to be happy here, it is just a fleeting moment in this one's life."

It was now that Skiel slowly shuffles over to the redscale, him settling himself down next to her. "This one understands," he says after a moment, gaze going to his lap. "This one has lost as well. But... this one is sorry you went through such a thing."

He remembers the names etched on the leg, it making more sense now. His voice more a rumble in his chest than anything voiced. "Why would you think to lose again here? Mictlan is safe, the People have allies."

"This one, yes, is not the only one to have lost. This one hopes it can still be found for you however, Skielstregar." Vaera chuffs, looking up and over when Skielstregar sits down next to her. Then she hangs her head again. It was strange seeing the normally completely collected hunter broken down like this.

The question, she lingers on, and shakes her head. "This one thought their village was safe. That their family was. This one trusted in their ability, that of the others, to keep things safe."

The red makari sighs. "This one failed, and is even weaker now, their muscles ruined by starvation and other cruelties. This one never even had a chance to burn the bodies of their young."

The man sighs, him giving a small nod. He hazards raising an arm to loop around the redscale's shoulders. Warrior has to protect the People, right? "This one hopes, but tries to not dwell on it overlong. This one has to worry about themselves first..."

He looks to Vaera, his face easing. "... this one knows a warrior that failed. Yet they still try..."

A quietly mumble. "... this one hopes they managed to meet the Death-Singing dragon..."

Vaera tenses up, and looks to Skielstregar, before she chuffs, and leans somewhat against him. Despite pulling for the furs, she was just as warm as normal, in contrast to the frigid bronze scale.

"This one hopes you will Skielstregar. This one does not wish for you to come to harm as well, and wants nothing more than you to overcome what has happened, and recover."

"And, this one does not want to lose you, Skielstregar. It is a partly selfish reason for assistance."

At the suggestion, she just chuffs, and nods. "This one hopes as well. They were, on this one's mind, while resting. As was their mate."

Skiel almost pulls his arm off at the tension in Vaera's frame, but he ends up pulling her against him. Cold against warm. "And this one needs you to do that. As they cannot be by themselves any more. They will not be lost if you are there..." he murmurs, closing his eyes.

There is a raised brow, but he doesn't open his eyes. "Selfish or no, it still is selfless in of itself to wish for the best of another. But, ah, you've mentioned a mate before. You've never spoken more of them, and this one never wished to ask. But... could you tell this one about them? And your young?" he quietly requests.

"This one, yes, this one can not give up, Un'eth told this one the same thing, that they should not. It is just, difficult, at times." The red makari nods, letting herself be pulled against, and wrapping her own arm around him. At the request, she sits up a bit straighter, before she hangs her head again, the sadness lingering.

"You would, like to hear about them?" She asks, looking up slightly to face him. "They were, the best parts of this one's life. Eir was, They were always so kind to any in need. This one was a good hunter, and food was always abundant. He was always inviting others to share the fires, and what was cooked with my catch, for those less fortunate. And the tools and furniture they would carve, it was always made so beautifully, and given away without a second thought. This one admired their selflessness, and made many friends through them."

They were happy to speak about them, in spite of the sadness. It was a strange conflict to their scent. "And this one, had three children who survived. So much of our time was taken by care, yet Eir never stopped making time for others. At times, this one thought he was wearing himself thin, but this one learned in time, he was simply trying to set a good example for them. And they all looked up to him."

Skiel gives a nod. "Of course this one would." He listens quietly, an eye cracking open to watch Vaera recount. "... yes, this one remembers the woodcarving you spoke of learning from him," he comments once there was a moment for Vaera to collect her thoughts before continuing one.

He softly smiles. "They sound kind. And a good mate. Strong. And a good person. This one is glad their kindness graced your time." He makes a rumbling noise in his chest. "And your young ones? What were they like?"

"They were much better than this one." Vaera sighs. "This one learned much, they taught this one to live more of their life outside of just the necessities. The village was a better place for them, and a worse for their passing, though this one hopes they were remembered by the survivors, after they recovered, even if they moved to new tribes."

"This one, never returned to check, but the village is likely gone. This one's young ones were, they were several handfuls, but luckily, this one had others, and Eir to rely on, just like this one assisted others. Two sons and a daughter, with dark green scales like the forest canopy, taking after their father. He was the good one, so this one was happy they took after him."

Vaera chuffs at the thought, allowing her tail to swish a few times at the memory. "But this one did not regret all of the work. As this one said, Eir was an example to them, and they were all equally kind themselves. They were still too young to go out hunting, but they would always be around to assist with cleaning what was brought in."

Skiel chuffs and shakes his head. "Nonsense. This one is sure your mate would have said the same of you. Your resourcefulness allowed them to show you such a life."

His face softens, the pad of palm running up and down Vaera's arm. "They sound wonderful. And wonderful to have them be around for such a while, to have three receive names," he softly chuckles, giving her a little squeeze at the shoulder.

The man doesn't say anything for a few long moments, letting the redscale simmer in the nice memories. But of course, the hard topic must be broached, and he slightly dips his head. "... and yet their memories plague your dreams," he points out. Asking without asking: why?

"They all were. This one was lucky, for that time to have three survive." Vaera nods. Though, the comment, she sighs, and falls silent for several minutes.

"Most of the village was captured while this one was away hunting. So this one followed, for many days as they travelled, picking off the guards, but there was always too many to take head on, and there were no villages nearby to rally."

The sadness only grew, and she squeezed her arm around Skielstregar. "They were, when the guards grew fewer, they could not contain all captives. So, they started to lessen said burden. Even took to torturing some in the night, hoping to draw this one out, drive them mad."

The red makari shakes her head. "They nearly succeeded."

Skiel's face grows more somber as he listens. And frowns. A shudder leaving him, a visible breath rolling out of his maw. "... Vaera..." he mumbles sadly. "This one... cannot imagine how you feel..."

Like the rest of him, the warrior was stalwart, and his arm keeps the troubled woman close. "... this one is sorry. Did... you wait until their burden was... relieved..?"

The more she spoke of it, the more the sadness grew. It may have been the first time she had ever shared what had happened, that part, at least.

"This one, had to do what they did. If it meant saving the village, this one, had to put aside their own feelings and desires."

"This one had to wait, listening each night. because they would attempt to sneak up when they thought this one was distracted. And, despite everything, this one still failed. Captured, and taken with the others, after they made this one suffer for what was done. As if knowlingly doing what they did to this one's young was not enough."

There was anger creeping in now, and the red makari closes their eyes and sighs, attempting to settle down.

Skeil had to keep his own anger from broiling forth, it suffused out through another visible breath. He lets the shared words linger in the morning air, him keeping his eyes closed and his thoughts to himself.

Perhaps it was time for him to share.

"... this one," he starts out, voice croaking at the unseen knot in his throat. "... this one had a small village they grew up in. A fishing village, in Am'shere. This one does not remember much due to the... transformation. But they remember their sister..." he softly says, smiling at the thought. "She was so small... as if she never hit her growth spurt. This one had to help her set nets up. She could never see well."

Settling down, it was easier to do so by focusing on Skielstregar's words, and feeling it best to listen for the moment, Vaera falls silent, opening her eyes back open to focus on him.

"You have a sister? This is good, growing up with siblings, it is good, this one feels. This one had a sister, she moved to another village, which needed more hunters."

"Were they small, or were you simply large? Even by makari standards you are." She asks, allowing herself to chuckle for a moment. "Would you like to tell this one about them? It is only fair, since you listened for so long."

"That and, this one would like to hear more about them, and yourself. Your past is hard to remember, so this one would hear what you can share."

Skiel gives a small nod, him brining a knee up to rest his chin on it. "Certainly. This one does not mind speaking of them."

A steeled breath, and he closes his eyes. An amused chuckle runs through him. "No, she was small. Very small. Even then she barely reached my torso. This one... can barely remember their face. Or their name. But they were kind. Almost to a fault. And- heh- very clumsy. Silver scaled like this one."

He makes a rumbling noise. "This one was learning from the other Warriors. Mostly with spears and axes. This one is not old. This one is only thirty summers. Then he was... fifteen? They think. It is hard to remember specifics. There was..."

His tone grows neutral. "... a raid from the softskin. This one remembers... grabbing their sister and... telling her to run. It was all this one could... could do to keep her safe. And they tried to fight to the death but..."

The man shook his head, deflating. "... death would have been a mercy."

"This one thought the silvers were supposed to be known for their grace, like the empress is." Vaera chuckles, reaching to pat Skielstregar on one shoulder. "Well, you are certainly good enough speaking with people. Despite the affinity to ice, you are very warm. Just need to get your confidence back."

She listens to what he says, and, she reaches up to tap the bronzescale on the snout, more gently than Un'eth, but enough to get his attention. "This one hopes they are alright. But this one knows for certain you are still here. Perhaps it would have been, but this one hopes you will not see it as such in time."

"It is, this one believes you will be happier in time. Even this one, is managing to be better finally. The memories, they are not as frequent, or as strong as before, for this one."

The man gives an empty chuckle. "Yes, they are supposed to. This one thinks they took all the grace in body in the nest. Though, sister was far better an showing kindness. There's a grace in that. But, thank you."

A grumble leaves him, him looking off to the side. "This one hopes so as well. They did not see where she went, nor did they see her captured with us. It is a small blessing. They just hope she survived Am'shere."

A dead eye glances to Vaera, and he shakes his head, even though he relaxes some from the reassurement. "That is not what this one means. Being captured meant..." he gestures to himself. The fangs, the talons. "It would have spared this one the trouble of all of this. After this one awoke... they... had spent many years alone in the woods. Trying to piece themselves back together. There are years of this one's life where all they remember is trees and hunting game after they awoke. No... nothing greater."

Then, a quiet admittance. "... this one isn't even sure if Skielstregar is their name. It is now, of course. But not their given one. It might have been the name of a fellow warrior, or... a hunter's name. And this one remembered it after picking up the pieces."

"Even kinder than you? That must be something to see." Vaera chuffs, patting him on the shoulder again. "Something this one hopes will be seen. If they were not with you, then perhaps it is true."

"Yes, this one knows what you mean. In that what you went through, it does not shape you completely. To live today, is to give tomorrow the opportunity to be better. Fangs, talons, this one knows how they bother you, but this one does not mind, if they mean you are still hear to speak to and get to know. If you cannot piece the past together completely, then you can make a new future, let today become your past to look back on fondly."

The red makari chuckles. "It is probably rich coming from this one, but sometimes it is easier to give advice to others, than take it yourself."

There is a soft laugh within the man through all the wistful thoughts. "Then let this one be the one to return such advice to you, Vaera." He lightly nudges her shoulder with his own. "This one does not hold themselves in high regard, but they will do what they can do ensure they won't fail again."

There is a bit of an awkwardness in his frame. "... you say you do not mind, yet... this one smelled your fear when you awoke to the sight of me. It was raw. Base. The thing this one's ill side strives to induce..."

Vaera looks to Skielstregar, blinks, and chuckles, patting him on the shoulder again.

"That is what you thought, Skielstregar?" She asks, a hint of mirth still present. "Apologies, truly. This one was, not scared of you, but for you. As this one said. This one, does not wish to bring you to harm."

Then the mirth passes, and she sighs. The sadness creeps back. "This one, this one had to put their cihuaa to rest, when they became forgotten. It is not something they wish to ever have to do again."

The information proverbially slaps Skiel upside the head like one of Un'eth's bops.

He blinks, looks down at Vaera.

".... oh."

...

The bronzescale lets out a long sigh. "... that certainly explains quite a number of things relating to this one." The man turns slightly towards Vaera, and wraps her in a cold embrace. "This one prays you need not do such a thing once more. But it is strong of you do to so. No more needs to be said..." he rumbles softly, his scent of death having quite a hefty amount of sorrow to it.

Vaera sighs, and hugs them back. "This one, is sorry for any confusion or worry this one has caused." she states with a warm chuff. "It is, hoped, it is why this one wants to do what they can to help you."

"It is, a lot to have said, but this one, feels better to have. Though this one is also sorry to put so much on you at once."

Skiel shakes his head, the side of a fang brushing against Vaera's head. "You are forgiven. And it is kind of you to do so for this one. You already deal with this one's troubles often enough. It would be rude to deny the People after they've helped this one so much."

Strong, enveloping arms give a squeeze before he pulls away, him patting the redscale on the back with a warm, if still somewhat saddened, smile. "This one is glad you feel better. And that you trust this one with such... history. Doubly so considering this one condition."

Vaera chuffs, and squeezes back, no where near as strongly, but the intent was there. And she sits back, nodding.

"You are, a good soul, Skielstregar. In spite of what happened, this one would not think you untrustworthy." She admits, looking for where she left her leg, and cleaning out the inside. "With kin, memories are meant to be shared, and this one is glad you are able to open up, about what you can share."

The red makari looks to him, and cants her head just a touch. "This one is a good tracker. If your sister is alright, would you like this one to look for them? If you would wish to see them again."

Skielstregar makes a small little 'ah' sound and looks away bashfully, like a child praised for something well done. He rubs the back of his neck. "Thank you. This one... this one just tries to do what's right, is all. And this one is glad you opened up your memories to them."

The proposition, however, makes his dead eyes widen and return to Vaera.

His nostrils flare, two streams of visible, cold air puffing out. "T-This.... this one... you... you would...-"

The man suddenly shakes his head, putting a hand over his fangs. "N-no no, no, no. This one wouldn't... wouldn't want to trouble you. This one has made peace with the fact they may have not survive Am'shere..."

The warrior curls in on himself some, tail wrapping around a leg. "... besides, this one does not want his sister to found out this is what has turned into, if she is even still alive..." he quietly murmurs. "Would rather her remember this one for what they were.

Vaera looks over to the bronze makari, and she squints, before reaching out to gently tap them on the snout.

"For one thing, it is no trouble, you are not troubling this one. And there is no way to know whether or not until you look into it." She states, back to her normal, relatively neutral tone.

"And if they are any bit as kind as you say, do you not think they would rather get to know you still? If this one can look past what you are, could they not, and others, as well?"

The gentle bop makes Skiel flinch, ebonscales flashing in his mind briefly before he gives a heavy sigh and uncurls himself. "... you have a point, Vaera. Again, taking one's own advice and all that..."

He rubs at his face. "Very well. If... you could find her. This one would be grateful, even though you've already done so much for this one already. However, this one does... not remember much of them due to... you know. What sorts of things would you need to know?"

"They are silver, yes?" Vaera notes, and then chuffs. "That is already something to go on. They may or may not still be short, might be clumsy. That seems like more than enough to go on, if one was to go asking around. This one could check a few different villages back home, ask around Mictlan. But, if there are any more things you could tell of them, they may help."

"But there is no rush, either it is just something to think about."

Skiel gives a small nod, him folding his claws into his lap and closing his eyes. Straining to remember... anything. "Yes... silver. And clumsy. She was never the best at seeing, always tripping over her own tail..." a small chuckle, smiling some for quietly sighing. He is silent for a long moment. The smile going aaway to a small frown. "... but that is all. This one remembers the feelings. But nothing more. They know they were close with their sister. And the thought of her fills this one with warmth. Just... nothing more. This one- heh- this one probably wouldn't even recognize her if they saw her."

"It is possible, yes. Some young grow up in other villages due to circumstances, and do not recognize their kin when they are adults." Vaera nods, then chuckles. "They sound like someone who would benefit from your presence, yes, not something to be avoided."

Skiel gives a little shrug, him dragging his tail along the ground idly. "This one hopes so. If they are even still alive. Dragonfater willing. This one is unsure how they would react if they saw their sister again. It has been... a very long time."

"Hopefully well." Vaera offers to that, looking around for her things, and reaching for her coat that was hung up nearby. She pulls out a roll of bandage, pauses, and reaches to pull something else out. A small parcel of some sort.

"You always wear that symbol on you, even when you sleep." She notes. "Could this one see it for a moment?"

The man blinks, him canting his head to the side. "Y... yes. This one does. The Dragonfather is strong, and this one should be too. It is... comforting, to have it close."

The request was odd, and he hesitates for a moment. "C... certainly." He doffs the simple iron pendant held together by an old yet strong string and holds over over to Vaera. "This one made it when they were with the oruch tribes. It is... serviceable."

"The gods are good, and many strong. But it is your own strength which does matter in the end." Vaera nods, taking the iron pendant. A claw reaches to undo the knotted string, and it is swiftly replaced with a bright silver chain, before it is handed back. "You will need to worry less about losing it now then, if you like having it close." The redscale chuffs, slipping it back around their neck. "There is the other, the ring for your tail was finished as well."

Skielstregar's brows raise. A most unexpected gift. Even though he was there for it. He takes the amulet back, a bit of wonder and joy in his features and scent. "You... you are too kind..." he whispers, his dead eyes wetting some. The amulet must mean a lot to him. He slips it on, adjusting it so he could get used to how it settles on his chest. Skielstregar's attention returns to Vaera. "O-Oh? There is.. more? Oh, uh, okay! This is good news, this one hopes it turned out well."

"It is good news, it looks nice on you." Vaera notes, scooting a bit back due to still missing a leg at the moment to see. "This one saw it was well used, and string can fray over time."

The red makari looks to his tail, where it was wrapped around a leg. "You should put this on yourself, so you can see."

It was another silver bangle, but much larger than a normal ring, and while a solid piece, the outside looked like numerous leafy vines intertwined with each other.

Skiel blinks some, before his memory comes back quickly. "O-Oh! The... the ring! This one completely forgot about it!" he rumbles happily, reaching forward to take the bangle. Bringing it up to inspect better, he runs a careful finger over the engraved leaves, looking over every bit of this. The half-dead makari holds it gently against his chest, his voice warbling some in his throat. "V-Vaera..."

He reaches forward, bangle in hand, as he wraps the thin redscale in a heartfelt hug. The wreath of death abating some, as joy overshadowed it.

"This one did not forget about it, but they have not been back to the trade district in some time, Skielstregar." Vaera chuffs, before she is caught off guard by the hug, but returns it happily. "This one knows you are not used to such gifts, but you are welcome to them, just like any other kin."

Some tension is released in his frame as Skielstregar pulls Vaera in, him closing his eyes and softly sighing. Holding it for a few moments, he eventually pulls away. The bronzescale has a little bit of a hard time trying the bangle on, as his tail sweeps back and forth a few times out of joy. Were he a softskin, he'd be grinning stupidly right now.

He does manage to wrangle the thing, him sliding it on, up until it fits snugly halfway. "... this one thanks you," he rumbles warmly. "Truly. You make this one feel accepted."

Vaera chuffs softly after she sits back next to him, reaching to hold the tail in place so he can get the ring on.

"It looks nice on you, yes." She says, thumping her own tail once. "You are still silver, but it contrasts still."

When the bronzescaled makari speaks of acceptance, she nods. "It is true, you are accepted, and should feel as such. Un'eth stated you were. And this one feels so as well."

Skielsteregar can't help but chuckle loudly, him dipping his head. "Thank you, this one was hoping it would still match well despite their own scale's tarnish," he winks.

A soft sigh leaves him, hands resting in his lap as the bangled tail sways back and forth behind him, much to the dismay of the grass being flattened. He sniffles, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. "Being told as such and feeling as such are two different things..."

"It is best it does not match, that makes it stand out, like with charcoal or paints. But you have the added advantage of feeling and knowing it matches, despite it not looking so." Vaera chuckles herself, her own tail swishing behind her. "Speaking of which, this one acquired such paints, and you said you would like to see them used sometime. So just let this one know, when that might be the case."

Skielstregar snickers, but his posture straightens. Though his tail doesn't cease its movements. "Oh! This one would certainly like to see them used. Perhaps at a future time. The sun is risen, and firewood needs to be split."

Vaera looks over and out of the tent, and chuffs. "It seems it has, thankfully my sleep was not too interrupted so much by everything, which is good."

"Another time for certain, this one needs to fit their leg again, and begin breakfast. This one found some bird eggs the other day, which should be good fried over the fire. Is there anyhting particular you would like?"

"It is good. We wouldn't you with lack of sleep," Skiel hums, thumping his tail against the ground before pulling out of the tent to clamber over to his tent. "That sounds splendid. This one can fetch the bacon from the larders we picked up a bit ago."

"No, it would not be good. How is this one supposed to look out for you when they are exhausted?" Vaera chuckles, watching them leave as she begins bandaging up the end of her leg. Then, the redscale chuffs, and thumps her tail once against the ground.

"That being said, you were the one looking out for this one today. So thank you, Skielstregar, for being there, and listening. It is appreciated greatly."

And with that she leaves the half-dead makari to his devices, getting her leg sorted so she would not hold up breakfast. Hopefully it was a day which they would enjoy it."

Skielstregar laughs, him pulling out his patched cloak and throwing it over his shoulders. "You look for the signs of felled tree and spooked game."

He stops by Vaera as she finishes bandaging her leg. A long taloned hand rests on her shoulder. "This one is a Warrior. But more importantly, you are this one's friend. Perhaps... their only one," he mentions with a tinge of sadness, but it's more an acknowledgement of fact than any sort of pity. "So... anytime, this one will help you."

Once more, his happiness overtakes the decay. And with that, he walks off to gather materials to get their day started.