Only Time

The world pops into existence again almost in the same way that it winked out, unfurling like a spiraling vortex. Though where they end up is really quite a bit different than where they left.

First, and possibly most noticeable, where they end up is -- outdoors. Near a lake. The smell of the water hangs in the air, along with trees and the strong scent of flowers.

Second, it's warmer, and the sun has managed to move a bit in the sky. They've covered some fair bit of distance, it seems.

Malik releases the pair, looking around at the place. Grasses line the shore of the lake, reaching up almost to the knees, while closer to the water there appears to be mostly a muddy sort of sand. The water is a clear blue-green just just a bit of cloudiness to it, enough to see the fish moving throughout without being able to see all the way to the bottom.

The wizard looks around, a small smile growing on his face, stepping over to one of the patches of wildflowers -- a small explosion of various bright colors and heady scents -- kneeling down to sniff at them curiously as he turns back to watch Zeke and Seldan.

But mostly? It's quiet. Blissfully quiet, and calm. Peaceful, save for the slight cool breeze that blows through.

Seldan, who has let Malik handle the magic while he supports the weight of the weakened sith-makar, blinks, looking around him with a growing smile, and a growing look of curiosity. He turns to Malik, without moving, letting Zeke hold his hand or not as the sith chooses. "Where are we?"

There's a moment of pure startlement at the fact that everything has /changed/. The world resolves from a square stone box to... complex scents of a thousand variations that instantly scream /outside/. Zeke is still holding Seldan's hand. Partially because standing is far more difficult than he would have ever admitted out loud, and partially because this is his link to reality. However much he fears being touched, not being sure of what is real is perhaps more terrifying. Green eyes roam the sight of this new place. Totally unfamiliar to him, but... it's quiet.

He takes a careful step after Malik, nose lifted in the air to catch the scent of the flowers, the fresh water. Just a few steps toward Malik and he's already trembling with exhaustion. Zeke would never have been able to walk here that much is clear. Still, he stubbornly holds himself up, eyeing the water. A few more steps and he might be able to reach it.

Malik picks one of the flowers, a white thing with vibrant, deep pink streaks running through it. He presses it to his nose, closing his eyes -- some memory coming back to him as he just holds a moment, taking the place in, not answering Seldan immediately. Slowly, though, he stands, turning back to look at them, eyes scanning the surroundings. "A place a bit closer to my heart," he tells Seldan, taking a few slow, cautious steps with Zeke as well -- not reaching out to help, but close enough that he can help if Zeke wants it.

"My father brought me after. After Andrej -- after I had to --" The words are still difficult for the wizard, and he swallows hard. "After he died. I wasn't much better than our friend here, at the time." Another careful step toward the water, Malik just holding the flower in his fingers, close enough that Zeke can catch the scent and colors easily enough.

Instantly, Seldan sobers, seeming to understand exactly what Malik is talking about. He follows along as well, similarly letting Zeke go where he will, and offering any support needed. If that is down to the water's edge, he seems to take no issue with it. "Well can I imagine," he answers, quietly. "Acedia says that he fears to eat because he knows not for certain what it is that he eats. I cannot blame you, Zeke," he adds, shifting his conversation towards Zeke. "Would you see it hunted, that you know what is real and what it is?"

It takes a great deal of Zeke's concentration to make it to the water's edge, but not so much that he misses the pain in Malik's tone or his words. Zeke thrums low in his throat for the man, a comforting sound to the sith-makar, and he takes the last step to the edge of the water. Then, he sinks slowly down to his haunches, carefully working his way down to the ground. The sensation of grass against his scales is something he hasn't had in a lifetime. He - finally - releases Seldan's hand so that he can touch the water. It's cool and comforting. Real. "Thisss one issss ssssorry for your losss." He says to Malik, looking at the mage. This is followed by silence before he shudders gently, rubbing his flesh-and-blood claw over his white Daeus robes. There's sure to be grass stains, but he doesn't seem to care. "Thisss one doesss not know."

Malik offers the sith a smile. "It was a lifetime ago, it seems," he tells the man. "The wounds have had their time to scar." Words carefully chosen. Not 'heal'. Scar. Something that leaves a lasting impression. Permanent. He reaches out to the water as well, trailing his fingers curiously. "Apologies for the abrupt change of scenery," he tells the sith. Talking to him as he would on any normal day. Or maybe to him and Seldan both. "But they were treating you the same way that my mother treated me, after. As if I were merely being stubborn. As if I were some problem that needed to be solved. An item marked off their list, so that they could get on with their business." He looks out over the water, gaze distant. "It did not help me. I doubt that it was much helping you, either."

"It is in my mind that many things of that place were unhelpful." Seldan speaks carefully, choosing his words and his topic. "A good choice, I think." He lets Zeke do as he will, seating himself nearby and allowing Zeke to simply -be-. "And of those that were of aid ... they ignored most of them." He looks up, suddenly, with a half-smile for Malik that belies laughter and affection in his eyes. "You are forgiven the plushie."

"Thisss one isss not being ssstubborn." Zeke tilts his head at Malik. "The thought that thissss one might be being ssso would esxplain sssome thingssss how-ever. Thisss one... doesss not know what to ssssay to them. Thissss one isss... tired."

There is a soft exhale from Zeke, and the blue-scaled sith-makar stares somewhat morosely off across the water, watching the fish that it holds within it. Seldan's words remind Zeke of the small doll he is holding and he offers it between the two men, not entirely sure which one of them it actually belongs to. "Thissss one isss confusssed by itssss purposssse. It isss a very good likenessss of Sseldan."

"I know you're not," Malik tells Zeke softly. "But they do not understand that, I think. They simply want the man that they know back. Through some act of defiant, -impatient- will, they believe that they can force the matter." He still doesn't look at the sith, eyes out on the water. "They do not understand that what they want simply is not possible. That it cannot happen, through any of of will, or force, or magical skill." This time, he does look at Zeke, that slight smile still there. "It is a secret shared only by those of us who have been broken to pieces."

At the doll, though, he reaches out -- though rather than taking it, he simply pushes it back to Zeke a bit. "It is -- a charm. Of sorts," Malik tells him. "Carried by human children. Effigies of ancestors, heroes of high honor. Those that they look up to and admire. Carrying the likeness is a reminder that they are protected. Kept safe. It comforts them when the lights go out, and they fear the things they imagine live in the darkness. It is an old, powerful magic, capable of banishing many of the night's terrors. All you have to do is hold it tight, and remember the one it represents, and know that you are protected, and loved."

"Of course you are not," Seldan echoes quietly, but he colors at something in Malik's words. For a breath, it looks like he might open his mouth to say something, but he doesn't. Instead, he lets Malik do the talking this time, and only when Malik is finished does he say anything at all. "Should you have need of me, you need but send for me, and I shall come." He does not, however, look up as he speaks.

The sith-makar takes the toy back, curling it into himself. It smells, to his keen sense of smell, still faintly of the pair of men, and that's a comforting thing. "Thisss one isss grateful to you both." His words are quiet and he tilts his head back down to watch the water once more. For the first time since his capture, he relaxes. It happens in pieces. First his shoulders, then his spine slowly working its way down. The scent of flowers and peace is something that he's /needed/. No confusing stone smell. Just the fish moving around in the water. "For everything."

Malik sits on the beach quietly, giving Zeke a small nod. "You are kin," Malik responds easily enough, nodding in Seldan's direction. "There is nothing to be grateful for. That is what the word means, is it not?" The wizard's words are questing, his accent getting better, but still there.

"Even so," Seldan agrees, his own eyes drifting out to the water. "Most do not wish to see those they care for hurting. They wish to solve it. To make it better. To make it no more, as Mal has said. And so do they talk, and advise, and admonish. At times may some even lecture, chide, or lash out in anger. At times does it seem as though the only way one might end it, without offering insult, is to conceal the truth, and let it appear to help, when in truth it does not."

Zeke lets out a huff of near-laughter. More an amused exhalation of breath as he luxuriates in the simple fact that nothing is expected of him in this moment. There's no press for answers. No need to /do/ anything. His tail shifts behind him, rustling softly in the grass. A small sign of happiness. "They... they do their bessst." His tail stills behind him.

Malik listens, that smile still there. "I think that many of them think that what they're doing is the right thing," he agrees. "That their duty is to help you -choose- to be whatever it is they wish you to be, once more." He looks over to Zeke, eyes bright. "It is as difficult for them to understand as it is for you to tell them. A secret that you cannot share with them. Not in the sort of words that truly matter. It is -- a difficult thing." He brushes off the rest of the sand, stretching his legs out in front of him. "The only answer is time. You, and you alone, know what you need. And how quickly you need it. All the rest of us can do is be there for you when you would ask something of us."

Seldan's eyes are drawn off of the lake, and over to Malik, his gaze thoughtful, but soon enough it goes to Zeke. Curiously, the sand does not seem to be clinging to most of his clothing. "It is as Mal says. If you have need of something, or of me, you need but ask." Back out to the lake, and his gaze grows distant as he draws several deep breaths, simply inhaling the sights and scents around him, almost as if settling himself.

It's impossible to know what's going on inside Zeke's mind, but the words ease every last bit of tension out of him. It's good, to just... exist for a little while. He blinks across the empty spaces and watches the fish. Sits in silence. The warmth of the sun sinks into him, bringing a sort of soft lethargy with it. Eventually he blinks and looks at the men, breaking his long silence. "Thissss one wissshesss we brought the tea with ussss. It would be nisce to have tea in the sssun..." He breaks off and then eventually continues once again. "Do you think... it would be sssafe to eat the fisssh?" It seems like they're hard words for him to say.

Malik unslings the bag from his shoulder, reaching in it once more and fumbling around for some things. A small pouch comes out. Followed by several cups. And finally, what appears to be a small teapot. Just what does he -keep- in that thing? "Tea is an essential ingredient in some spells," Malik offers. "I rarely go anywhere without it." It might not be quite the same kind that the sith is used to, but given that wizards aren't known to skimp on spell ingredients (unless they have a death wish), it's probably not terrible.

He puts a bit in each cup, using a small spell to heat the water as the tea seeps, giving Seldan a nod at the question of the fish. He will let the paladin explain that part. He's focusing on other things.

Seldan smiles openly at the question, and nods. "Catfish, I have heard them named. They can indeed be eaten. Would you fish for yourself, or shall I do it? I fear that I have not brought such gear, and yet," he seems to listen to something that only he can hear for a moment, "may there be another way. I believe that I have camp supplies among my things, but we shall need to make a campfire from the grass, for I for one prefer my fish cooked." He flashes a broad, easy grin.

Zeke clearly did not expect for his words to illicit an immediate action, but blinking away his surprise is the fact that Malik seems to carry a tea set around with him. Amusement tugs at the sith-makar, making his tail swish behind him. "Thissss one can help fisssh. Perhapssss." He is wary and aware of his own physical weakness. However much good sitting has done for him, the fact is that he hasn't eaten in long enough that his body is paying the price of it. "If we fisssh together, we double the chanssscess of catching sssomething yesss?"

Malik lets the tea steep. They can pick it up when it's to their individual desired strength. Instead, he simply stands, pulling off the cloak and letting it drop to the beach, and then the boots. Shortly, everything but the pants are gone, revealing the wizard's frame -- more that of a warrior, really. Not what one might expect of an academic. It also reveals that beautiful, scrolling ink that runs along his shoulders, chest, and back. The ones that the plain clothes hide so very well.

But it also reveals how young the man truly is. Barely halfway through his third decade, he's almost unmarred by the ravages of time and battle -- save for that nasty looking scar on his neck.

Reaching into a pocket this time, he pulls out a shining bead, tossing it onto the beach. With a whispered word, a campfire springs forth. And then, to Zeke and Seldan, "Of course we will help you fish," he laughs. And then, to Seldan specifically, "I even know of something that will help him move under the water as you do. We'll have dinner in no time."

Seldan's smile brightens until it becomes a boyish thing. "Mal is a transmuter," he explains to Zeke, watching him strip - and not without appreciation, although the sight of the scar on his neck takes some of the shine off of that smile. "At times have we swum as the fish in the sea, for a brief time. You need not, if you do not wish to," he adds quickly, the smile fading. "It was in my mind to try a thing more mundane, but ... what say you?"

Zeke though, is already half-risen to his feet. The thought of the cool water around him is not an unwelcome one. Particularly not with the warmth of the day around them. His tail gives another swish and he gently moves to remove the Daeus robes that he is wearing. The garment comes off slowly, mostly thanks to the weakness of his own limbs. He is left standing in pale trousers that stop short of his bent-back knees. Fashioned for a sith-makar to accommodate his tail which gives another swish behind him. His lack of clothing makes it even more apparent than before how malnourished he is. His body is gaunt beneath his robes. Only the strenth of the muscles he once had gives him definition. And then there are the scars... Though neither Malik nor Seldan had reason to know that that he had not borne them before, he bears them now. Long-healed injuries have left their mark on his dark scales. He himself doesn't seem aware of them, but he has had eighty years of gathering them, being used to them on his body.

Zeke steps into the water carefully, nodding once. The thought has energized him in a way nothing else has. "Thisss one will try." It's really all he can offer.

Malik moves behind Seldan, wrapping his arms around the shorter man's waist as he leans in to kiss at his shoulder. "He starts to pick up his pieces already," he whispers. "That one is strong. Stronger than I was." Still, there's a magic that flows from the gesture, flowing through Seldan. "You will be able to breath under the water until the sun rises again," he explains. "And move through it easily." Moving back around to the front, he steps out into the water carefully, closing his eyes once more, memories coming back to him. Pleasant ones, it seems, from that small smile. "The catfish do not have claws like their namesake. But their whiskers are sharp. Take caution."

"I shall remember," Seldan nods, listening closely to Malik's quiet words. "Perhaps you would so enchant Zeke as well? He should experience this, and I must remove my armor." Of them all, Seldan is far and away the slowest to strip to trousers, for it proves as he says - the clothing he appeared to wear is in fact his armor, a thing that becomes evident the moment he removes the first piece. It takes him some minutes to do, and then there is the rest of the clothing to contend with. He, too, strips only to trousers, and even removes the holy symbol around his neck, securing it carefully among the clothing. He is tightly muscled, with almost no extra flesh, and many would call him too thin despite the muscle. Much of his skin across chest, shoulders, and back is covered by those strangely-detailed images of people, places, and things, all in life-like detail, but the images are disrupted in a few places by a few scars that will be new to Zeke. Bite marks on both sides of his neck, recent enough to still be reddened, although fully closed.

Zeke wags his tail again, shaking his head at Seldan with amusement. "Thisss one isss one of the People Sseldan. Thisss one can go many long minutes with-out breathing. We are at eassse in the water." Point in fact, he slips further into the water here, seeming quite happy with the sensation of the cool water enveloping his scales. Zeke watches the fish moving about, moving carefully so as to not disturb them. "When thissss one wasss young, thisss one would... pull the fissh out of the water with thisss oness bare handsss."

Malik shakes his head, keeping his voice quiet. "If I were to gift him something with magic that he would later be robbed of, it would only do more harm than good. Best to let him move by degrees," he tells Seldan, voice barely a whisper. Though he does smile as Zeke begins to move through the water. That seems easier for him, at least. "Those fish are clever," he tells Zeke. "And they put up something of a fight. Though they can be brought out of the water with bare hands, if you're careful. Even the large ones." The wizard moves out into the water, turning on his back to face up into the sun, offering Seldan an easy grin as he lazily paddles through. "Be warned," he tells the paladin. "You'll move as fast through the water as you do on the land. Do try not to run into anything," he teases.

Seldan nods quietly at Malik's words, then watches from the bank as Zeke dives and swims with the fish, the beginnings of a smile on his face. The smile entirely vanishes, though, at the teasing. Pay no attention to the glint in his ice-blue eyes.

Before he dives, though, he rummages in his own pack and sets out a few simple camping supplies - a pan, fire-blackened, and a small bucket. This latter he brings to the edge of the water and sets it down on the beach, then with a running start dives into the water, swimming in a slightly different direction from Zeke.

Zeke is careful. Wary and wisely of the weakness of his body, but it's easy enough to let the water carry him. He makes his slow, methodical way toward the fish. In fact Malik's words about the fish only cause his tail to wag again one last time before it becomes a rudder to keep him steady and at ease in the water. Even when he was free this was a luxury that he hadn't enjoyed in years. He ducks his head under the water just because he can, inner eyelids closing to protect his eyes from whats in the water but still allowing him to see what he's hunting. He's just one more fish now. Though a very large one. Easing closer and closer to the catfish.

Malik, though, is just taking his time, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the water. Even the fact that Zeke seems to be coming out of whatever confusion previously held him causes the wizard to smile a bit. When Seldan takes his running dive, the wizard laughs brightly. "Or you could just dive in at full speed and hope for the best," he says to nobody in particular, since both of his companions are now under the water, leaving him floating on top of it.

The fish are clearly not used to visitors. They keep a curious distance, but don't scurry away like those that are used to being preyed upon. Whatever place Malik has taken them to, it clearly sees few enough visitors for the creatures to have learned to fear them, aside from the natural wary aversion to large creatures.

Seldan slows down abruptly once actually in the water, his stomach scraping the muddy bottom as Malik's words prove prophetic. He lets a few minutes go by, occasionally twitching here or there to keep moving, getting used to this new and faster form of water movement, then when he is sure that none watch him, he swims slowly up underneath the floating Malik, waiting -

Until, without warning, a pair of muscular arms surface on either side of the wizard's waist, seeking to grab him around the waist like impossibly pale tentacles with callused hands, and drag the floater under the water!

The sudden disturbance in the water catches Zeke's attention instantly. His first thought - that there's a preditor in the water - comes from instinct. He banks and turns, blinking at the spray of water going up only to realize it's not an alligator or some other animal that's going to try and eat him. It's just Seldan playing with his mate. A low amused noise rolls out of Zeke's chest and he shakes his head fondly at the pair. The fish, lazily swim away from the disturbance in the water and Zeke rumbles more loudly. "You are ssscaring off the fisssh." His tone isn't even remotely chiding, full of warm amusement instead.

Malik is just floating, lazily, watching the clouds. And suddenly, there are arms around him. "Oh shibbbbbbbt," he starts to exclaim, the last part largely just being a stream of bubbles as it turns into a bright laugh, the wizard's eyes going to Seldan mock-accusingly as that dark hair floats around his face in lazy streams. He wraps his own arms around Seldan's, leaning back against the paladin's chest, looking at the world under the water as he flashes Zeke a bright, playful grin. Nothing wrong here, clearly. Not with any of them.

Seldan's bubbles of laughter echo Malik's as he pulls the wizard under, shaggy ginger-blonde hair floating in the water around and before him. He doesn't seem to have heard Zeke, as underwater as he still is, but seeing the fish lazily swim away from the disturbance serves as reminder enough. His swimming stills to a lazy kick to keep them in place, and he seems content to simply hold Malik close under the water and watch Zeke hunt. No words are needed here.

Zeke shakes his head again, making a low amused noise in his throat and returns his attention to the fish. They have found another warm place to relax in, and so Zeke makes his careful way toward them. Instinct is slowly rising in the sith. An ancient urge to track and hunt his prey that makes his heart pound harder in his chest. He slips easily through the water, the movement easing his weary muscles. He looks not for the biggest fish, or the most plump one which he might have in normal circumstances, but instead focuses on the smaller ones that he has slightly more confidence that he can wrangle. Once he's gotten closer - but not to close to disturb them - he waits.

Malik, for his part, can seemingly hold his breath for a good long while too. Especially if they aren't doing anything overly strenuous. He just relaxes a moment, allowing himself to be held, watching as Zeke starts to loosen up a bit. After a moment, he turns his head to Seldan, presses a gentle kiss to the man's cheek -- or as close an approximation as he can manage underwater -- and goes to the surface, very gently, making sure not to scare the fish. One quick breath, and he's back under the water, swimming in that slow, awkward human way toward where Zeke is waiting -- inching, really, is probably a better term, given that he is certainly not equipped for underwater travel at all.

The fish just remain fishlike. Content in their little aqueous universe. Occasionally moving for some tasty morsel here and there.

Smiling up after Malik as he goes to the surface, Seldan then slowly, with a small kick, propels himself in the general direction of the fish as well. He seems content now to drift with the water, watching Zeke hunt, watching as the sith-makar's primal instincts take over. Not interfering, only watching. He, too, seems to have forgotten his own troubles, at least for the moment.

Time passes. Zeke is unaware of how much. All he is aware of for the moment is the fish and his kin at his side. They are hunting. The fish move. Gently swaying in the water. The sun glints off their scales and off the water. He feels it on his scales too, encouraging him to be patient. Waiting for the fish. Finally, eventually, one swims close enough and instinct kicks in again. He's a blur of movement, jaws snapping, teeth biting. Fish. He rears back in the water, catching the wiggling creature in his claws. He can still taste it in his mouth. Fish. He caught it. Instinct sends a surge of victory through him and he lets out a satisfied growl even as he curls the fish against his chest, sinks his claws into its body to keep it from slipping away. It takes a surprising amount of effort to not eat the fish right then and there. His stomach growls.

Malik simply watches. He certainly is not fast enough to catch a fish that doesn't come within arm's reach. Zeke, on the other hand, seems plenty fast enough to do just that. One moment, the fish is there, and the next the sith is a blur of motion, causing Malik a moment of surprise as those scales move past. Though the smile on his face is genuine, rather proud of the sith for having caught his prey, reveling in the successful hunt as much as Zeke does. While any words he would offer would simply come out a stream of bubbles, he holds his arms up triumphantly for Zeke, giving the blue lizardman a toothy smile as he looks to Seldan, nudging the man with his elbow and nodding in the direction of the -other- fish.

Malik may not be able to speak underwater, just now, but the magic the wizard cast on him lets him do just that. "The fish is yours, Zeke, and it is right that you should eat it! I shall find another." Although the fish that Malik nods to are now rapidly swimming away, Seldan goes further and below the fish as they swim, swimming with as little movement as he can manage. He selects for himself a place to stand on the bottom, then drops his hands to his side and imitates Zeke, except that he stands as a statue on the lake floor, waiting for the fish to come to him, silent and motionless.

Zeke nods, resisting yet another urge to eat the fish raw and slowly - carefully so as to not disturb the other fish further - makes his way toward the shore. The fish is quiet in his arms by the time he reaches it, and he stumbles a little at getting his own weight back under him. He feels heavy without the water to keep him up. Rather than try to force himself to remain upright, the sith takes a seat on the bank of the water, holding the fish securely in his lap as Seldan hunts his own prey.

Malik follows Zeke to the shore, though he doesn't come out of the water. Instead, he positions himself so that he can watch the pair of them, Zeke to make sure that he makes it up on land ok (and that his fish doesn't get away), and Seldan, watching the man's own instincts take over as he moves to try and track his own dinner. It's a thing to watch, really.

It is a strange thing, really, to watch a paladin be as skilled a hunter of wildlife as he is of evil. Seldan doesn't do this often, but he stills himself, barely moving, barely even breathing, pretending to be nothing more than a statue on the lake floor.

It doesn't take long. In a matter of minutes, the fish are all but ignoring this new addition to the underwaterscape, and in a matter of a few more minutes, begin to swim past and around it, some feet away at first.

Some untapped knowledge, some instinct, bids him hold, hold and wait, and with increasing difficulty, he does. Finally, though, it pays off. One of the bigger ones swims just about within arm's reach, and he lashes out with both arms, grabbing it and holding it firmly against him. As promised, scales are better defenses against sharp whiskers than skin is, and the thing struggles, catching him a couple of times in thin crimson lines along neck and chest, but he ignores it, instead holding the thing firmly in both arms and using the motion of his lower body to propel him back towards shore, pleased triumph fueling the full-speed swim halfway across the lake. He laughs as he surfaces, dripping, blue eyes sparkling with a challenge met.

Zeke's tail gives a firm pleased swish as his kin rejoins them with his own - notably much larger - fish. Zeke nods his head to the paladin, swishing his tail again. "That wassss excellently done kin." He strokes his claws over the fish in his lap. "We sssshould cook them while they are ssstill fresssh yesss? Thissss one isss not a very good cook, but thisss one knowsss herbsss well enough. Thisss one can help."

Malik looks to Zeke, the smile bright. "Do you wish yours to be cooked?" he asks. "You are perfectly welcome to eat yours however, and whenever, you wish. But if you wish it to be cooked, Seldan and I are both fair hands. Depending on how you like it done." He glances to Seldan, looking at the size of the fish, and frowning at the little lines of blood coming down from the wounds that the spines make. "Though I'm fairly sure that the rules say I'm supposed to cook. Since he went out and gathered the prey."

Seldan grimaces, but holds his firmly until it finally goes limp in his arms. "I would have Zeke's herbal knowledge," he says, bringing the fish over and laying it in front of the both of them, in the grass. He looks down at himself, at the thin trails of blood, and swiftly crosses his hands across his chest. The silver light forms beneath his hands, and in moments, they are only memories. "You spoke truly of them being sharp, Mal. If you will cook, I shall see to gutting them." A questioning look for Zeke, to make sure that is acceptable. "Have you a fairly long dagger, Mal?"

Guilt lashes across Zeke's expression briefly. Eating the fish raw has crossed his mind more than once, but he has not gone without for so long because he is lacking /will/. He shakes his head at Malik. "Thisss one will wait. Thisss one will help." The sith-makar is as good as that, finding herbs that will go with the fish. He's not really a cook, but he knows enough about what tastes good. The sith-makar leaves tending the fish to Seldan, but he never really lets it leave his sight.

Malik nods. "I've had a few of those in me as well," he tells Seldan. "They aren't poisonous, no matter what tales you here, but I'm glad that you have your gifts. They ache like all of hell's devils." He watches as Zeke moves to gather the herbs, and Seldan cleans the fish. As the sith is probably out of earshot, he notes, "He moves better, now." Nodding to where the man is searching. "Perhaps not perfect, yet. But he'll recover quickly, I think. If allowed to do so on his own."

Seldan nods. Not having received an answer from Malik about the long dagger, he proceeds to use the tip of a longsword pulled from his pack a pretty thing of some dulled gray metal that is not steel, to gut the fish, and is quite cheerful about letting Zeke watch as he does so. If he returns in time, he even shows the sith-makar how he does it. It's not the most elegant of jobs, given the tool at hand, but he tosses the entrails into the bucket he'd left by the water, and when he is done, empties the bucket into the water of the lake a bit away from the beach. He removes the scales from them as well, but once they are filleted does not bother to remove the skin, the better to protect it from the sear of the campfire.

"I have things I would say, upon our return."

Zeke is quite at home picking the plants that will season the fish, keeping his eyes largely on the fish, and thus he doesn't wander terribly far away. Which is just as well, because he's clearly exhausted by the time he's done. He's honesty, pushed his body far further than it should have any right to go today. He pants a little, sitting down. His body is shaking with how tired he is, and he leans forward to try and relax his aching muscles. "Thisss one... isss very tired now." Still he wags his tail softly behind him.

Malik just nods, leaving Seldan to decide the specifics of what might be said. At least, how to put them into prettier words. He knows full well what the content of what Malik might say would include, and none of it is overly diplomatic, outside of the natural charm all tsurans seem to possess. As Zeke comes back, though, Malik seems to snap out of it, looking at the sword that Seldan is using -- and raising an eyebrow. "There is always a dagger in my bag," he tells the man. "The one you gave me." Which would have been maybe helpful a bit ago. And then, back over to Zeke, "Being tired is a sign of a successful day. You proved yourself a skilled hunter, today. You've earned a rest."

"Indeed so, and yet would it be untoward to be too weary to enjoy the fruits of one's labors, would it not?" Seldan asks, speaking a spell that he then uses to clean all remaining debris and blood and anything else from both the fish and his hands. With that, the fish are cleaned, filleted, and ready for seasoning. "And we will all rest the better for full bellies, will we not?" Leaving Malik to see to that part, he stands and goes over to Zeke. "Eluna's grace can see you through dinner, if you can bear my touch." By now, he knows better than to touch the sith-makar without asking first.

Zeke is in fact, too tired to be much afraid of the thought of being touched by his kin, and so he acceeds to the request with a gentle bob of his head. "Thissss one would very much like to eat the fissssh. Falling asssleep while waiting for it to cook would be..." He searches for the word he's looking for in tradespeak, his tired mind supplying nothing but his native draconic for a few long seconds. "Disssappointing." In return he offers up the herbs that he has gathered.

"Well," Malik says. "We simply can't have that, can we?" He flashes the sith a wink, already working on seasoning the fish with the offered herbs. Not quite the ones that he would normally use, but it seems that he's a fair hand with them nonetheless. He manages to get all of the fillets on the fire, watching Seldan work his various ministrations on the exhausted sith. The smell of the cooking fish already starts to waft through the air, promising relief from their general hunger in short order.

Seldan blinks at the ready acceptance of the touch, but places both hands, palm-down, on the aching sith's shoulders, murmuring a series of focusing, rote prayers as he does. It takes several seconds, but a silver light forms beneath his hands, enough to wash away the worst of the aches and pains and some of the tearing fatigue. He sits back on his heels when done, then stands and wanders over to the campfire, parking himself on the sand and watching the lengthening shadows and the day giving way to the night, as it always does.

By the time the fish is done, his stomach is growling as well.

There's a slight, but almost imperceptible shudder under Seldan's fingers, but it's weak and far less fear-tinged than it usually would be. Zeke rolls his shoulders under the relief that follows in the wake of Seldan's touch. It makes his tail wag softly behind him once again. By the time that Seldan steps away he feels much better, but better is a feeling that does not last long. Not as the fish begins to cook. The scent of it wafts into the air quite quickly, and with every passing second it is a more tempting thing. Zeke is gripping his knees harshly by the time the food is ready to be eaten, a dangerous glow held in his green eyes. He looks ready to attack at the least provocation, his body wound tight around the endless pit of sick-emptiness inside.

Malik watches the sith, first seeing him untense, and then tense a bit more as the fish cooks. That glint in his eyes is one that he knows well enough. Moving gingerly, he picks up Zeke's fish by the tail, placing it in a large leaf of some kind as he carries it over, setting it down in front of the sith -- a comfortable distance away, but quickly enough that Zeke might not worry that Malik is absconding with his prize. "There you are, friend," he tells the sith. "Well-earned."

Seldan has enough claw marks, after all. The wizard can risk it this time.

GAME: Zeke rolls will: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)

For his part, Seldan makes every motion of calmly ignoring the sith-makar's increasing tension. He knows that Zeke would never hurt him or attack him, and he's hungry, and the paladin cannot fault him for that! Still, when the food is done, he, too, is more than ready to eat, but looks around for the tea set they'd abandoned earlier in favor of a swim. "Shall I remake the tea?"

The only warning really, is the fact that Zeke grows deathly still. As he had in the water, ancient instincts kick in and the rest of what's in his mind just... vanishes. Waits until the moment that the food is within range and then pounces. Like a raptor he's on the defenseless piece of fish, tail lashing behind him as he eats it right off the ground. No hands between him and the sweet meat. A threatening growl rises out of his throat. A warning to others that this is /his/ food. Every muscle tense with the willingness to /fight/ for it if he has to. Powerful jaws biting and chomping at the delicate fish until nothing remains.

Malik was expecting the lunge. The wizard moves back, safely out of the way, letting Zeke claim his price. So long as those instincts are kicking in, he's in the here and now. And that's what matters. While Zeke eats the first fish, Malik simply nods to Seldan, offering the paladin a smile as he leafs up another piece of fish -- his half of the bigger one that Seldan caught. "Tea would be nice, yes." Though it looks for all the world that he's not planning on -eating- said fish, instead taking a careful step closer to the sith and setting the other fish down as well, still -mostly- safe from grabbing distance, though cautiously aware of the present danger.

Seldan returns that smile, nodding tacit agreement and acceptance. Although he casts a few looks at the starving sith, he seems less worried or frightened than mildly impressed. "Mal, mine is more than enough for the both of us. I shall see to that tea." Setting the leaf down, he finds the tea and mugs, empties everything out, and with a prayer, conjures fresh water into the teapot. A second spell, this one arcane, warms it, and the addition of more tea to the pot sets it to steeping. He brings first the pot, and then the mugs, over to the campfire, burying the pot in the sand as close as he dares get, and then setting the cups out.

Only then does he dig into his own meal, holding it out for Malik to share.

Zeke lets out a little snuffle as the second piece of fish appears, but doesn't hesitate to set into the larger piece with vigor. It takes slightly longer for this piece to vanish, the edge of Zeke's hunger somewhat saited by the first. Seldan only gets a brief flicker of eyes gone black, and then Zeke is slowly licking his chops, his eyes slowly returning to their natural state as he settles his body back down onto the grass. It's only then that embarrassment settles over him, but he can't help the slightly pleased lash of his tail behind him. Finally he clears his throat and blinks at the pair of men who brought him here. "Thisss one isss sssorry... That wasss... very rude."

Malik watches the first piece of fish disappear, and then, by pieces, the second. He takes a bit of Seldan's half for himself, though that still leaves plenty. It was a very large fish. As Zeke comes back to himself, though, Malik offers a small smile -- and then, at the apology, a laugh. Bright and clear, quiet and first, and then louder, a good natured thing. "I don't think either of us thought it rude," he tells Zeke. "I can't speak for Seldan, of course. But I'm just happy to see that you had enough appetite and energy to accomplish such a feat. I think that piece of fish might have defeated me." He nods to the remainder. "If you are still hungry, there is more to go around. And the lake is still plenty full." A small grin to Seldan. "I believe it's my turn, after all."

Seldan similarly chuckles, although more restrainedly. "I cannot fault you for it, Zeke. You must have been very hungry indeed, and it is as Malik has said. I am but pleased that you enjoyed it." He's still eating, and is not shy of appetite, but in the end, he, too, finds himself slowing, with plenty of fish still left, and wraps the remainder in its leaf. "You may have the rest, does that please you, or we shall again hunt." He lifts his eyes to the darkening sky. "I shall remain here, if you will forgive me, for evensong approaches, and I would greet Her face. There is fresh tea, near the fire, and cups are here, if you wish to pour for us."

The blue-scaled sith shakes his head slowly, but not without some regret. "It would be unwissse of thissss one to eat too much. It will only ssserve to make thisss one sssick. Thissss one will asscept the fisssh however... for later." It would not do to let it go to waste after all, and Zeke is aware that he will be hungry again sooner rather than later. "If you wisssh privascy for greeting Her, thisss one can accompany your mate."

Malik looks between the two of them, something sad coming over him. "I think ... that we should soon return," he tells them both. "This place is tranquil, and beautiful -- but also could present a danger. We have not had the time or the resources to ensure that it is -- sufficiently defended, should we let our guard down." Words chosen very carefully as he watches the Elunite paladin rise. "Though we can stay for a while longer. And return whenever you wish," Malik assures Zeke. He reaches in the bag one last time, pulling out a small vial of pure-looking, pale green liquid. "You need but think of one of us and drink this, and we will be at your side. And you can be away from whatever troubles you."

Something in Seldan's bearing tenses, and droops, just a little at the sober reminder, but he nods agreement. He pushes a lank, drying lock of hair from his face and offers the leaf-wrapped fish remains to Zeke. "I can conjure a safe place to sleep for night, but Mal has the right of it. I at the least should return." He lets out a breath, a small sigh really, and sets about pouring all three of them tea. "A cup of tea, I think, and hide our traces as much as we may. I know not if Zeke would return to the Temple, or if he would choose to go elsewhere. I shall not force him to return to the Temple, if that is not his wish." Left unspoken is the additional thought, _And it might not be a good idea._

Zeke's eyes flicker around the currently peaceful surroundings, as if danger of some kind might come upon them merely by it being said. He accepts the fish from Seldan, and then a few moments later the tea, and then Malik's potion with a more curious expression. "Thisss one would be grateful to ssshare tea with you and then..." He shifts his weight subtly, confusion tracing over his brow. "Thisss one hass no desssire to keep you from your nesst."

The blue-scaled sith looks at the pair of men fondly, his tail curling up around him as he brings the tea to his nose so that he might breathe it in. It is a comforting scent. "We do not alwayssss get what we wisssh Sseldan, and thiss one... Hasss obligationsss. Thisss one will return to the Temple of the Dragonfather, at your convienessce." Zeke takes a small drink of his tea.

Malik gives a nod. "We have time for tea, I think?" A look to Seldan then, eyebrow raised. If they return to the Temple of Daeus, after all, Eluna's Temple is but a short distance away. Though he's still not sure what all is involved with proper protocol. The magic is known to him, but its source is strange. And then, back to Zeke, a warmer smile. "I'm happy that you came out with us today. I hope that you would be willing to consider doing so again soon. If your obligations allow."

"Time enough for tea, yes." Seldan takes his own cup, and passes the last one to Malik, setting the pot back into the sand near the fire. "You do not trouble us, Zeke. We are kin, and I stand with you. I, too, would have you join us for hunting again soon, and the next time, we will be better prepared, and more comfortable." His gaze goes to Malik. "I would not have us go to the same place each time, if that is possible, but I would make similar such journeys to different places, as our duties permit."

A long blue tail swishes back and forth on the grass, creating a soft swishing noise. Zeke is more at peace now than he has been since he left those long (for him) years ago. He is full and in good company, with the warmth of spring all around him. There is naught more that he could ask for. "Thissss one would be glad to do ssso." His green eyes twinkle and land on Malik. "Thisss one would alssso be mossst interessted to learn more about your... art?" He motions with his free claw to Malik's tattoos. The expression in his eyes says clearly that he knows what they are of.

Malik considers a moment. He could, of course, feign ignorance. But that would be ill-suited to their current rapport. "It is holy verse," he tells Zeke. For certain definitions of 'holy', anyway, depending on what orthodoxy you belong to. "A tale of the Clever One, and how they brought balance to the world. But," he says, a soft smile there. "Perhaps a tale for another time?" Seldan has almost certainly heard this version of the tale before. Various legends of Eluna and Tarien, bound into a single deity, as fluid and shifting as the moon and mana sea over which they rule.

The -look- Seldan directs at Malik is very telling indeed, a level stare that is still affectionate. "It is a tale of his heresies." A smile that reaches his eyes accompanies the words, shifts the meaning from disapproval to affectionate amusement. He drinks from his teacup, watching the stars come out one by one, and letting the other two talk.

Zeke humms thoughtfully, and not without amusement. "Thisss one would like to hear the tale another time then." The tea and easy drop into the beginning of the evening is fine, and soon enough they are packing up their little camp though truth to tell Zeke is of little aid in that beyond returning his clothing to his body. After that, the sith is blinking languidly in a way that suggests that he is not far off from sleep that his body in all likelihood is also in need of. All it takes then, is a bit of magic to speed their way.

-End