Still Afraid

Log Info

• Title: Still Afraid
• Emitter: Skielstregar
• Characters: Skielstregar, Vaera
• Place: Outside Mictlan
• Time: January 4th, 2022
• Summary: Skielstregar and Vaera return to camp after a less than fun trip to the city dealing with ghosts. They get a fire started, conversing about their fears from that night, and their mutual worry for one another. They surmise that their fears may not change for their various circumstances, but find that things between them being different a welcome change.

Outside Mictlan, Camp, Dusk

Darkness is starting to close in across the forests to the north of Alexandria. A light snow wafts down from above, blanketing the ground, as well as the guiding night sky.

Clanking of metal echoes lightly through an empty camp, one that becomes occupied as a bronze/silverscaled makari breaks the perimeter. He sighs heavily, unslinging his pack and weapons to deposit them near a large tent that's become his staying place. The bruise that loops around his neck is healing, and had the effect of cracking and shambling all the tarnished scales there. "This one never wishes to deal with ghosts like that again," he grumble rumbles, picking up a piece of firewood and tossing it into firepit, getting it ready for a future flame.

There was more clanking than usual. Or at least, a somewhat unpleasant grinding noise every few steps from the red makari that was traveling with Skielstregar. The hunter sighed when they breached the protective wards of Am'shere, where the winter chill gave way mostly.

"You may not have the choice not to deal with them, if you go on more work for the guilds." Vaera notes, collapsing into a seat by the fire. While she had not been injured, walking had been more painful than expected. "But I understand. I do not wish for them to have to be dealt with again either."

"At least this one knows they can hit them if need be," Skiel sighs once more. Seeing Vaera get settled in, he reaches into his tent for his tinderbox and gets the campfire started. Dead silver eyes wander over to the metal leg, wondering how it was messed up this go around before a spark catches. He fans it with a large hand. Blowing on it would extinguish it, with his silver blood and all.

He takes a breath, watching the growing ember. "How fares your legs? That was not a... short fall."

Worry comes from him easily.

"Yes, you can." Vaera nods. "Unlike this one, who's only use was to fail to convince the wizards in charge to do anything."

The red makari sighs, with the fire being started, that was one less thing for her to do for the moment. So she busies herself undoing the false limb. At the question, she looks up from the leg, and shakes her head. "I am fine, it was not that bad of a fall. My own leg is just fine, but the metal one, I did not take into account falls of that height properly, it seems. I do not know the extent of the damage, but it is likely some of the frame crumpled from the impact. I will be fine, I am more concerned about you. That, did not look pleasant."

Skielstregar shakes his head. "Nonsense. You helped this one keep that girl from falling. This one almost dropped her."

He watches the fastenings get undone for a moment before using both hands to supply more air. The ember grows to a proper flame, and he carefully moves the wood about to help it grow further. "... that fall would have killed this one. They were... afraid," he quietly admits, looping his hands loosely around his neck. "Felt like this one's head was going to get ripped off. And then seeing that man willingly take the fall. Then... you..."

Another sigh leaves him, and he presses his palms into his eyes. "... 'twas a lot."

"Only after you and the others dispatched 3 or so other ghosts. It should not have reached that point to begin with, and the wizards at that building should have taken it more seriously." Vaera sighs. "You should not have been concerned about this one, this one knew it was a fall they could manage. It was more important to ensure that the one who had fallen was alright."

She looks over to Skielstregar, and shakes her head. "You would have been alright, too. But it was my own failing for not being able to do more. It always is."

The hunter winces as she tries to pull off the limb and finds it stuck. She reaches into her jacket to find a tool to pry a piece of metal that had dug into her limb out.

Skielstregar huffs. "This one agreesabout the wizards. But. Do not sell yourself short. You do quite a lot that this one cannot do. But still, it's... seeing you jump made this one think the same will happen to you."

There's an embarrased and worried feeling coming from him.

He blinks at the sight of the limb, and then he scoots closer and holds a hand out. "... ah.. this... one can hold it or pull it slowly for you?"

"This one understands. They should have said something before jumping, but time was important at the time." Vaera sighs. "But, what this one can do does not matter much when they can not keep those they care about safe."

Vaera looks over, and she shakes her head, which makes the hunter grunt. "Just hold it steady, please. I will have it off in a moment."

Skiel just quietly murmurs, "You've kept this one plenty safe."

He nods once, and places both hands on the metal limb and holds it down firm. His eyes a tinge downcast, his thoughts wandering.

"At times, but that was a failure on my part to do more. And that one time was almost enough." Vaera chuffs. The makari grunts more as she works the bent metal out of her limb, and a few other parts that were deformed. She manages to pull the leg off, and the bandage underneath was bloody. "Thank you for your help. And, I am glad you are safe."

Skielstregar holds it firmly, wincing as metal is pried free. He reaches for his bag, pulling out more bandages. "... and this one is glad you are safe as well.." he mumbles a bit distantly.

"Of course I am safe. Somehow." Vaera chuffs as she pulls off the bloodied bandages from her limb. It was not too bad, the blood was mostly from the wound from the metal, but the stump was definitely getting bruised.

Vaera grunts as she takes some water to pour on the wound, only to see Skielstregar growing distant. The red makari sighs, and sits up, to attempt to pull Skielstregar into a hug.

Skielstregar drops the fresh bandages to his lap as he's easily, and wanting, to be pulled into an embrace. He holds Vaera close, enveloping her in his large hold. A shudder leaves him.

Vaera leans against Skielstregar, moving to the bronze and silver scaled makari's lap so she could wrap both her arms around him.

"This one was, worried about you Skielstregar." The hunter rumbles, letting the worry and sadness break through their emotionless facade. "This one did not wish to see anything happen to you like that."

There's a pause as Vaera shifts around, and he pulls her as close as possible, his head resting on a shoulder. He inhales deeply, fingers twitching as the worry and sadness is taken in. It fans at the affliction, but he wrangles it down.

His own worries mingle with hers. "... a-and the same to you, Vaera." Silence in the embrace. Nervousness, embarrassment, anxiety. "... do you remember what this one said at the Temple?" he rumble mumbles.

Vaera chuffs and settles into the hug, one hand holding the back of Skielstregar's head over a shoulder. Even with the sadness and worry, she attempts to rumble something reassuring, for some time into the silence.

The hunter pauses. "This one would struggle to forget it, yes." They admit. "Why do you ask?"

It was that mutual worry that he found some comfort, him too returning the rumble and burying himself deeper into the embrace. A taloned hand runs up and down their back.

He dry swallows. "... this one did mean it," he quietly says, closing his eyes.

Vaera chuffs and pulls Skielstregar close gently. The red makari rubs the back of his head in an attempt to be reassuring.

"It was, too sudden to not be meant in some way, yes." Vaera sighs. "This one, did not think you thought of me as such, and still struggles to imagine it."

The hunter chuckles, and pokes at a few of the cracked and flaking scales on Skielstregar's neck. "This one thought you were a good soul, and though they do not dislike your appearance, they can admit, your silver scales look much better, and seem to bring you much joy."

Embarrassment floods from him, Skiel nestling his head into her shoulder, minding his fangs. "... this one always had. They just... never realized it."

He looks to the side building fire, and mirrors Vaera's hold. He winces a bit at the poke, but he pulls away slightly to look at Vaera in the face with his own mottled one. "This one is... glad you think they look better. This one felt like they were wearing rotting scales all the time... This one likes them much better."

His dead gaze softens some, and a hand rises to brush against the side of Vaera's face. "... we're... still afraid, aren't we?"

Vaera peered at Skielstregar as he faced her, and the red makari tilts her head somewhat. "This one could not think so, with how full of life you were, and are." Vaera chuckles.

Though Skielstregar asks the question, and the hunter has no answer for no minute. Vaera chuffs, a warm gout of air against the silverscale.

"This one is, not sure. They are, afraid. But, they were still afraid back at the library earlier. This one wonders if it truly makes a difference."

Skielstregar can't help but lightly chuckle as well. "They had to be, otherwise they'd truly look dead."

Her answer makes a cold breath wash over her as well. "Afraid fot ourselves, and each other. Does it make a difference....? It... probably does not."

The silver parts of the makari's face glimmer as the campfire grows in strength and warmth. Dead eyes glance at the nary space between them, and the arms looped around the other. "So... what now, redscale?" he rumbles, brushing his hand against the side of her face once more.

"It does make a difference." Vaera agrees. "But the importance, is how much, and if it would get in the way?"

"Looking back on it, this one wondered. And, they came to the conclusion, after being alone for many years. That they do not regret the life they lived."

The hunter tilts their head one more time, this time to rest the side of their face in the hand. "Well, this one needs to tend to their leg, eventually. And they should likely also go about preparing a meal. But, it is almost wished to say nothing to sit like this a bit longer." Vaera chuckles.

Skielstregar shrugs lightly, a thumb tracing a red scale. "It might. But it is something to work on and through."

He bows his head some. "That is good. This one is glad you have come to that conclusion."

A sigh leaves him. "There's nothing saying we cannot return to this."

A beat, embarrassment.

"... this one hopes they are not being too forward..."

"And, yourself? Your worry?" Vaera asks as she rolls off his lap to sit beside Stielstregar then, keeping her gaze on him for a moment. "This one was concerned about your fear, and Tawyse."

The red makari sighs and chuckles slightly. "You are not being too forward though, Skiel. But this one would prefer to do such under happier circumstances."

Skielstregar lightly sighs as she rolls off, and he picks up the fresh bandages on his lap. They're handed over. Worry comes from him at that. A touch of silence. "... this one spoke to her. She... told this one to persue you instead of her. Yet.. no matter what this one chooses, someone will end up hurt." A long sigh leaves him, and he shakes his head. "... and... this one is... getting better about it. Their affliction, they think."

He moves the logs around, getting the fire brighter now. "Yes... happier circumances. Perhaps a trip to the Wayfarers inn to have a drink or three."

Vaera sighs and works on wrapping up her leg for a moment as Skielstregar tends to the fire. "She said that? This one is, surprised. But this one hopes she will be alright, and, will likely need to speak to her. She has done so much to help you after all, and, if she is hurt, this one believes she should be helped, so that you can remain friends."

"And this one feels bad for feeling a bit happy about them saying that."

"Perhaps to the wayfarer's inn? That could be nice, if you desire drinks like they have there. This one has grown accustomed to them, and would likely enjoy that."

Skielstregar bobs his head. "Yes, they did. And they do wish to remain this one's friend. But still, it is... hard. She has helped quite a bit. Perhaps the two of you sharing words will do well."

He looks at her, and blinks once. "... it is only natural to feel that."

He rises some, heading over to where they store food buried in the snow." We could do that. Have a nice time instead of worries abound."

Skiel brings over some foodstuffs, setting them down as he looks watches Vaera."... the fire does look nice on you..." he murmurs.

Vaera can not help but chuckle just a bit as she looks at Skielstregar. "Was that a hint of self confidence at someone desiring you?" Vaera asks with a raised brow. "That confidence suits you."

Vaera sits up near the fire, and looks over when Skielstregar deposits the supplies nearby.She bows her head slightly at the compliment. "This one has fire within, it would look right to be without." She chuckles again. "But ah, thank you, Skielstregar. It is nice to hear you say such. This one imagines it reflects much better off your new scales, and it does do so."

Skielstregar's eyes widen some, then his gaze drops to ground. Embarrassment, so much of it floods from him. He busies himself with making sure the lean-to was secure. "... perhaps just a little...." he answers after a long moment.

He pauses some, then smiles to himself. "... thank you."

A moment to fuss with his tent, and he pulls out a large stack of tarnished scales. He grabs his cloak, and sits with it. "... though, this one will strive to ensure they do not forget the trials before these new scales grow in. Like that of the carvings on your leg."

"Just a little is a good start." Vaera continues to chuckle, taking one of the frozen fish, and working on chopping it up for some skewers. "It is at least a fraction of what it should be, this one feels."

The hunter pauses their work, and she tilts her head towards Skiel. "I am sure that you have good reason, but I am not sure what you mean by that, Skielstregar. Trials are meant to be remembered, but this one does not know which ones you speak of."

Skielstregar rubs his neck. "... it just feels... validating? That despite how this one looked, someone still..." desires this one, he doesn't say.

He chuffs, taking out some thick twine and a large needle from his bag. "What this one means, is they do not want to forget how they used to look and act. To remeber how hard it was for this one back then," he elaborates, putting a tarnished scale on his cloak and starting to sew it on. "To remind this one how far they have come."

"This one has been trying to tell you for some time this, Skielstregar." Vaera chuffs, returning to the cooking for a moment. "This one is happy you have realized it for yourself, though."

"You are correct though, it is important to remember where we come from, what we have been through." The redscale agrees, as she struggles to one foot for a moment. She hops over to Skielstregar, and plucks a loose looking scale from one of his shoulders, before running the back of her knuckles over the area, to help with any itchiness. "But, just like myself, you need not let it control you, either."

Skielstregar sighs. "It just took time is all, and a lot of support." His contemplation is cut short by a surprised yelp, and he looks up at Vaera with a faint pout. "Was that necessary?" he lightly teases. The skin under the scale was rough, indicative of another one coming up soon.

He nods a bit, then leans into the hand some. "You are right." He adds a few more stitches. Then, he chuckles to himself, smiling even. "This one thinks things between us are different. But... this one thinks it is a welcome change."

"It was loose enough, I did not intend to cause any pain. And yes, it was necessary." Vaera shrugs as she stows the scale away in one of the multitude of jacket pockets. "You are correct, Skielstregar, it was just my intention to show you." The redscale chuffs, returning to sit back down by the food. "This one has plenty of time, and still more support to give. No matter what happens, this one will be there to help you along your way. And, yes, this is true."

Vaera looks up and over to the slowly dwindling bronzescale, and smiles. "This one is, glad for the change. Both between us, and for you. It is important to eat well while growing new scales however. So this one will make sure to cook plenty tonight."

The hunter falls silent, her leg left for the night. There was plenty to do for the night around the camp, and she had no desire to leave for the time being, anyways.

-End Scene-