Early One Morning (Eoin)

by **Vala** on July 7th, 2011, 3:48 am

Still in shock, Vala could only watch in frozen fear as he dabbed at her face. She couldn’t even feel the texture of the green scarf as it was gradually stained dark crimson nor could she feel the warm flesh of his hand gently lifting her chin. She could only feel the constant pressure that helped prop her aching head. It was… nice.

Eoin’s hand dropped away.

Vala’s chin nearly slammed to her chest as her head fell from lack of support. Who was this man? Vala closed her eyes tight and grimaced, just for a second. Just for a second she let the pain wash over her without trying to dam it within. Once the moment had passed, she grabbed the reins and pulled hard, until everything was repressed again. She smiled. Smiling fixes everything. The soft dabs had absorbed most of the blood but it hadn’t wiped it away completely. Vala’s porcelain face looked ghastly with streaks of red lining her eyes and cheeks. She wanted to cry. Vala cleared her throat. Her mouth was filled with cotton; her tongue was like sand paper. She needed to say something. Was he looking for an answer?. It was different now, much different than before.

This was all her fault Well, it had started when she decided to spill her guts and allow her physical weakness to get the better of her. It had only been throbbing for Priskil’s sake. Her hands sought activity, anything to keep from fidgeting. Vala began to unwrap her bandage; the cheap cloth was starting to cut into her soft flesh. Slow and deliberate movements to calm her racing pulse. She looked down as she worked, her long lashes brushing, tickling her cheek. It took a few moments of silence for Vala to build up the courage to speak. Her mind was spinning so fast. “What’s her name?” Vala finished unraveling the long strip; she began tying it back on with a little more give to compensate for the swollen joint. “Your sister I mean.” She kept her voice low and soft, but it still shivered ever so slightly.

Vala finished wrapping her ankle. She was still avoiding eye contact with Eoin. She slipped on her boot. “Thank you.” She exhaled, only then acknowledging that something had gone wrong with her earlier. “Shall we go?” Vala stood to leave, wincing in pain as she put a fraction of her weight onto her left ankle. “I’m Okay…. I’m ok.” She said to herself. She wanted everything normal again. Just, normal.

by **Eoin** on July 7th, 2011, 11:41 pm

oocWasn't sure how Vala would react, so I stopped here. Sorry, I feel like I'm making you do all the work >.<. I'll have Eoin back to his "active" self in the next post, if Vala doesn't throw him another curve ball

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Her smile looked ridiculously out of place amidst the smeared reds on her cheeks, despite his care, looking pitiful even to him. Eoin then recalled a vague memory of his suspicions weeks ago about the validity behind Vala’s expressions, gradually merging the two ideas together. Most likely, she was upset, perhaps from her blood-streaked appearance. Whatever the reason, she was probably imagining the worst, just as his sister had always done. He was lost to the real reason of Vala's false smile, for there were so many possibilities when one had little to go on.

Dear brother…you have no tact at all do you? You can’t even see from my eyes, so you have no right to peek into my mind! Her voice was shrill even in his recollections, but he was glad that he could still remember every intonation, her form appearing so vividly before him, as though she were sitting by his side. Her hair was a crimson red like his mother's, the length longer and her height taller than Vala’s. She always spoke as though she was cross, but his sister was kind of heart. Those dark, cerulean eyes never failed to see right through him, but he could never penetrate the strength of her gaze. Eoin was surprised to find himself longing to talk to her again, after years of living in ignorance of his sibling to repress the guilt. What followed the nostalgic feeling was a crushing sensation of failure, sprouting at his heart and spread throughout his body, clawing mercilessly at his insides. He couldn’t let it out, not now, not ever. This was a new opportunity presented itself, and thus he struggled to trap the rampant demons. Eoin was not going to let it repeat again, for his second chance, his redemption, was in Vala.

After a moment’s pause, he answered. “Noelle.” The word tasted foreign and it showed, his voice strong at first, but crackled softly at the end. He was fumbling again, his composure growing weak when faced with recognition of all that he wished to be forgotten. Eoin needed a distraction, anything to preoccupy his mind from itself, and so he focused on Vala. By now, she had already given thanks for the small favour, much to his relief, but was now attempting to continue on foot. If she was trying to convince him of her ability to soldier forward, it wasn’t working. The girl moved slow, limping at times in reaction to the pain shooting up her leg. There was no way they could finish the hike now, not when he found the trail difficult on his best days. Eoin was disappointed, but he didn’t want to drag Vala through the mountainous terrain in her current condition.

Stretching his legs to a stand, the Avora treaded lighter than he ever had before, a sense of loss hollowing out his body. When he moved to Vala’s side, Eoin took another step forward and half kneeled, half squatted, partially blocking her way. Eoin didn’t trust his voice just yet, and did not dare to speak again for fear of another slip, and so he remained silent in wait. With their height difference, it would've be ineffective for him drape her arm over his shoulders, and with the obstacles, troublesome to have his view obstructed by carrying her body in front of him. So the solution would be piggyback, but no matter her protests, Eoin was determined to carry her back to Wind Reach one way or another.

by **Vala** on July 8th, 2011, 3:30 am

Noelle… There was pain in his voice. The word carried so much weight; Vala did not press further. Sure, she wanted to know more about him, but she was not in the proper mental or emotional state to appear caring. Vala liked hard information; knowing a person's loves, hates, and fears was only knowing how to manipulate them. She knew enough about his drudge mother, and his relationship with her to manipulate him for a lifetime: a sister as well? And she didn't even want to manipulate this guy. Why was he making it so petching easy?... Did I just curse? Vala bit her inner cheek until the warm copper taste coated her entire tongue.

And she was just getting use to the pain, both from her ankle and her chest, when Eoin had to bring all her efforts crashing down around her ears. What was he doing blocking her way? She had made it a good five yards without stumbling; he was going to mess up her rhythm. “What… what are you doing?” Vala stuttered, wincing in pain. “Please don’t touch me…” Vala pouted, her eyes begging for mercy. “Please.”

She tried to push past him, but nearly fell. Her hand shot out, landing on his steady shoulder. Unable to stand alone – she needed him – she used him to steady herself until the pain subsided. She could feel his body heat even through her glove. “I can walk. See? I can walk.” Came the words through gritted teeth. “I might just need a-a-a… a walking stick!” Vala hobbled to the side of the path, to a dry and dying tree no taller than herself; a withered thing that had tried so hard to survive, only to waste away, alone.

Nothing. Nothing. More nothing. Vala’s fingers pried, pulled, and searched desperately for anything she could use. Her fingers crusted with dirt and near bloody with abrasions from the callous bark. Nothing! She was being a reckless idiot; walking sticks were not something one found near Wind reach – bludgeoning rocks were another matter. No; Eoin was a productive member of society. Why did that thought cross through my mind? Well specifically the first one. Vala thought as a tear rolled down her cheek. This time it was a real salt water tear; one that helped clean off some of the blood from her right eye as she wiped her face with her sleeve. When she was sure no more tears would follow, Vala limped back to Eoin. Scratching her mussy hair, Vala tried to appear as casual as possible. Still no eye contact. Her façade was cracking. “I can keep going… I can. I can keep going.” Vala insisted.

OOC Note :

by **Eoin** on July 13th, 2011, 12:20 am

oocThat's true. I guess I'm still not used to a large roleplaying forum like this one. Still wish I could give Vala some opportunities to develop in other ways, but Eoin is not co-operating with me DX.

Her hand unwillingly fell on his shoulder, palm pressing firmly against his skin despite her wavering voice. Eoin was as he always was, unmoving and steady, as Vala readied herself. By now, he shouldn’t have been surprised to be surprised by the Chiet, but here he was again, stumbling blindly through the winding corridors of her mind. Determination he could understand, but the stutter in her voice indicated that there was more to this, as though her words were afraid to commit. Yet if it was fear, what was the source?

Please don’t touch me. She had said but, at the time, Eoin filed the response away as embarrassment. He had never been one to analyze another’s actions, for choosing the most simple and logical conclusion seemed natural to him, safer. Vala was changing all of that, forcing the man to fall waist deep in troubles and concerns that shouldn’t have been his business. Though, it’d be unfair to set the blame entirely on her, for he initiated friendship and he was the one still plagued by mistakes of the past. Being stagnant for so long, the moss that once grew wildly around him now sheltered his very being, a cloak of green to fall behind. Change was necessary, he had always known that, but the simplicity and ease of knowing proved tempting to the cowardly man. Where was the bravery that once consumed his soul, thrusting the once young boy into adventures unforeseen and fantastical, never the expectation for a victorious return but was always proven wrong? Perhaps one day, the young Eoin simply failed to come home, lost to the mountains of a Wind Reach long gone.

His gaze rose slowly, deliberately, settling on Vala’s lumbering figure. She was his desperation manifested, the action to the thoughts that sullied his dreams. He rose, uncurling from a kneeling position to stand tall, the shadow fleeing from his face to welcome the pure light of Syna. Vala was retreating now, persistent in her wish to move forward, but Eoin wasn’t paying attention to that. Humans weren’t as simple as he’d like them to be, or him to be, his understanding cemented by the girl standing before him. His mother, his sister, and Vala, all volatile women with hidden passions, all more than the eye could see. Alongside them, he was more vacant than a blank canvas to an Inartan glasswork, a homunculus that merely imitated life. To continue living, he had to embrace this fact, but he could not simply cast aside the purposed ignorance that shields him from the elements. Just as the light and dark shared an existence, the complexities and simplicities of reality did as well. This came to him gently, so unlike the turmoil of emotions that stormed within him, and felt almost relieving to realize the idea, the very one that his sister had failed to drill into him all those years ago.

Now was the time to dip his toes into unknown waters, to see beyond the physical. The conclusions he drew were still valid, all within reason, yet somehow they tied together more cleanly and smoothly than ever before. It no longer felt like laying a stone upon another, but rather, like a small waterfall merging with a stream. Still, Eoin could not place so much confidence on a journey into such unfamiliar territory, but only his warm eyes spoke hints of his uncertainty.

“There’s no shame in accepting help.” He dared not touch Vala at the moment, not with what he concluded, even if it may add to the delivery of his message. “Your ankle will only get worse. The danger is not worth your pride.” His intentions were in kind, but his words weren’t quite as convincing as they sounded in his mind, coming off as blunt instead. Should Vala take even one glance in his direction, she’d see both the resolution in his gaze and the calm restraint of the Avora before her. In retrospect, he’d then find himself apologizing once more, but in a tone entirely different from before.

“I’m sorry for my previous actions…I was unaware that you had a fear of touch.” His voice was still made of the same stuff as always, the sincerity, the smooth syllables, but was evidently unsure in its execution. Eoin only wished to justify his apology, and to do so, he must acknowledge and confront Vala with her own weakness.

by **Vala** on July 13th, 2011, 5:27 am

Vala made eye contact.

She smiled, one of her natural feral ones – so fitting in the secluded path that was the very epitome of nature’s eternal power. The poignant fires within her baby blue gaze flickered, to be quickly extinguished by an all consuming fog, until her stare glinted a steely gray. It could only have been described as extreme stupidity. For anyone who had a scrap of common sense would have run from the soulless shell that was Vala, after seeing her fall apart so often. He had already experienced a full on collapse once before, was not once more than enough?

No one likes to have their weakness known, and especially not advertised. Vala could not handle another breakdown so soon. She willingly relinquished her tentative power.

She stood up straighter, back curving until her petite frame was perfectly balanced. She distributed weight equally between her feet. There was no pain. Her leg quivered but the control willed it still, stabilizing it by pure force of determination.

Years and years of practice to hide her fear. Years and years of keeping people distant. And as soon as she let one close – look where it got her. This was just another lesson, a lesson learned early, only to be reinforced. Mistakes should only be made once. Weakness was not tolerable. The dead murky pits bore deep into Eoin, trying to invade his very core. Her right hand shot out, a frail and fragile thing. It landed gently upon Eoin’s cheek, cupping the hard bone and soft flesh. “Do not be sorry. Never be sorry…” She released a pained sigh, but did not look away. “Afraid of touch? My dear Eoin, whatever are you talking about?” Her voice was beautiful, so beautiful, like precious gems crushed so fine, wooing with silky waves to demand you to love her and care for her. Her eyes shifted once more; her cheeks curved with a full and loving smile as a rosy hue powdered her supple flesh. She still bored into his core, but no longer with emptiness: Vala looked into Eoin with a love so intense it could shatter mountains into dust.

It looked real. So real, how could one not see and believe? Not only that. Not only would a passing gaze say, nay, shout with truth of Vala’s sincerity, but her endearing touch, her ethereal flesh as cold as ice, could not be anything but proof. Everything she was, everything she had been was in this instant transformed, discarded to become nothing but a vessel for pure adoration of the being, the man before her. All for Eoin.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

OOC Note :

by **Eoin** on July 13th, 2011, 11:10 pm

oocAh I'm so sorry! I guess I must've forgotten to send a pm your way

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And I thoroughly enjoyed that bit of craziness. Here's a quick reply and a more daring Eoin as compensation for my forgetfulness

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Somehow, Eoin managed to keep his composure as the girl became nymph, her enchanting gestures finally striking a nerve within him. A display so overwhelming had to, and even his eyes were unable to leave her sapphire gaze for a moment that seemed to drag on and on, stretching time itself. His fingers twitched, perhaps in reaction but more likely in defense, unable to comprehend this turn of events. She wore the skin of temptation itself, and even he, a man so chaste, felt blood dashing through his veins. For a second, he wondered if this look on Vala’s face was what the two elders could see so easily, but had taken such a dramatic demonstration for him to even consider. However, the beautiful trance soon passed, for at his root, logic was king.

This all seemed a bit too sudden, and it certainly didn’t take a scholar to figure out that suspicion was warranted. Vala had been distant, tripped over her words and her steps and was injured for Wysar’s sake! Professing her love for anyone in such a state seemed highly unlikely, though Eoin didn’t doubt that the Chiet could trade in one emotion for another as easily as a babe could sleep. He had to consider who he was dealing with, a fanatically overemotional woman, but even that served little to dismiss his skepticism. Intuition pointed in the same direction, but even now, to trust it was a gamble. Her expression was still the appearance of a girl in love, almost poetically so, and was all too much for Eoin could accept on the slim chance that her confessions were true. Vala had managed to derail his thoughts, disabling his ability to tie one and one together for that unworldly moment. He was unable to advance in his analysis of her fear, but noting that confrontation had brought about this change, Eoin decided to continue further down the rabbit hole.

“I was talking about this.” A hand clasped firmly onto hers, weaving through petite fingers for a secure lock against his cheek. The man was still restraining himself, unwilling to claim more skin than he was offered, even if Vala was serving herself upon a silver platter. From an outsider’s view, it looked more like a reunion of lovers than a contest of wills. Should the Chiet be unfazed, Eoin would muster the audacity to pull her hand downwards with his, gliding with a deliberately slow pace past his jaw down to the base of his neck. His gaze was a determined, almost defiant, one, but the kind green never ceased to leave his eyes. They were locked in a sort of stalemate, neither willing to submit. For Eoin, it was the desire to be right about Vala’s weakness, to have her admit to him that the fear exists. He disliked being wrong, for it was simply embarrassing and was even more so in the face of a female. No, he was set on the idea, already a fact to him.

Now, all he had to do was educate Vala.

by **Vala** on July 18th, 2011, 6:41 am

She hadn’t expected him to fall for it – she wasn’t that deluded, yet. Eoin was logical and calculating, a worthy target. At best she had expected to fluster him. Humiliation was always the first domino to domination. But no matter how stoic and strong Eoin was, he was still a man. And no man can purge himself, no matter how proud, of what make them men.

Finally, a challenger worth a damn.

Any other man, well any man with his most civilized temperament, would have at least hesitated taking ‘advantage’ of her somewhat compromised position. To jump into the lie so wholeheartedly, weaving the story almost as well as her, was an unexpected turn. His strong hand encasing her cool fingers was still not enough warm her icy skin; nothing would be. It did not waver; it felt no fear. Her gaze, hazy with affection, blurry with emotion, did not break its noxious hold on Eoin. Her soft hand slid easily, gently caressing the heated flesh at the crook of his neck. Her fingers curled, her sharp nails lightly scraping, almost playfully. Four red lines.

If he wanted to play: so be it.

Now that she had given up her control, there was no telling when Vala would regain her power. Not that she wanted to, right away. As she watched, locked deep in the confines of her mind, safe from fear, but barred from power, something akin to pride began to stir, albeit stifled by the shell’s supreme command.

Above all else, it wanted control: with absolute, irrefutable power. It was easy enough to govern Vala’s frail body and simpering mind, so naturally prone to domination, but it was when it manipulated the variable, the outside, that it would be satiated, but only for a time. Power is a hunger that can never be fully fed.

It quickly calculated its options. Backing down did not make the list. To admit to weakness would be to relinquish control, and it had fought so hard for the meager scraps it had now, to throw away all that hard work would be not just shameful but demoralizing. And there was still above a 70% chance of success, still risky, but enough to justify the effort.

Its eyes watered with crystal tears. She did not try to speak; actions are far more effective. He wanted to prove her fears. The only way to win would be to prove him wrong without a doubt. Inside, Vala shivered with disgust; if it had been her she would have been dry heaving from the minor skin contact alone. The shell did not care, flesh was flesh, nothing more: success was eternal. With her hand pinned against his nape, Vala balled her left hand into a loose fist, and then pressed her forearm and fist against his steady chest, before taking a bumbling step forward, until her own feather light body stumbled into his. Now that the focus was redirected to her physical affections, she made the calculated decision to shift her weight so that her left foot hovered off the ground, as Eoin was forced into supporting her. While her mind could ignore the pain, the body would surely suffer from prolonged ‘bravery’, which would then be justly relabeled stupidity. Since she had relinquished control, Vala’s body temperature had dropped significantly, even her heart rate had dulled to something weak. And though it should have been a minor detail, it was wondering how long it would take Eoin to comment on her sickly frigidity. Compared to her, Eoin was the personification Skyinarta. His flesh burned, flushed all over. It made it a far easier task to melt right into his arms. Crumpling herself small, pressing her rounded cheek over the racing thudding of his heart, Vala was the epitome of femininity. She entrusted herself wholly into his care.

While her physical maneuvers was sure to cause incredible damage, her plan would not be complete without the siren call.

With a frail and shaking voice, no louder than a whisper she hissed into his ear, right into his subconscious with cryptic cruelty. “I’m scared”

OOC Note :

by **Eoin** on July 26th, 2011, 12:04 am

oocI enjoyed that little paragraph either way, ‘it’ reminds me of a character I used to play, before I got bored of roleplaying women. They always came out too one dimensional

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Of course not XD. Eoin’s always wearing the same thing (listed in his CS). I couldn't find a place to put it in my post, so I'll just sum it up here: rich, dark brown Bryda, plain aside from the thin green accents, appearing like climbing vines. He is shirtless and wearing dark leather boots, a bit dusty but otherwise, in good condition.

Her thinly painted scratches seemed only to throw him into confusion, the playful meaning lost on the Avora. Still, his body understood the sensations well, reacting with a molten heat. The neck was a delicate area, for when animals showed their necks, a predator could take advantage and ended them. Somehow, Eoin felt a weakness from her lingering hand, growing increasingly cautious but strangely comfortable. The presence was not foreign, but natural, a tender gesture despite the dark intentions that followed in shadow. However, the weariness persisted, but his patience was endless. Vala’s was not, and away went her now crumpled fingers, a fist meeting his chest, dragging the rest of her body along. Her small frame sunk into his, the heat consuming her whole. Eoin could not help but feel her curves against his planking body, his mind momentarily drained of thoughts from the unforeseen action and sudden contact. However, his pulse remained at its leisurely tempo, grounding his body from its slight betrayal.

A whimper crawled up to his ears, a pitiful, brittle sound reviving him to his senses. Eoin settled into his exhale, chest collapsing gently as the hot air exited, taking a bit of the heat with it. His body was still gently aflame, but was a slowing fire yearning for kindling. He peered down at the shorter Inartan, her expression hidden away under a mane of crimson. Despite his determination, he felt awkward in their current position, but felt even more so to pull the girl away. Vala was going to such lengths to prove herself unafraid, and in a way, he didn’t have the heart to ignore her efforts. She admitted she was afraid, but of what he wasn’t sure. Eoin knew he was right, thus it could not be the fear of touch for the Chiet had practically thrown herself onto him. However, she had already proved herself to be strategic in thinking from earlier attempts at diverting his focus. This could, and was probably, simply another move forward in their game of tactics. He was disappointed, but was understanding of her perseverance, knowing full well the strength of his own defences.

Barren was the silence, his thoughts resounding clearly through the hollow caverns of his mind. Vala had managed to deter him once more, but with each try, the impact dulled. Recovery came quickly, and somehow, his awareness was heightened. To force an adversary such as Vala to admit defeat, Eoin had to analyze every detail of her gestures, voice, and demeanour, all which came so naturally to others around him. He would have to adapt, learn to tackle the problem with a new perspective, an act easier said than done. Routine was safe, he lived by the comfort it promised. The man did not want to stray if he did not have to, but to remain as ignorant as he was, continuing to take things at face value, would only cause his downfall. He needed to take steps in accepting reality, to become conscious of others, to stop living linearly. Eoin could not promise that to himself, for despite knowing his own weakness, he rarely succeeded in convincing himself to change. He was not heroic enough to say that overcoming this challenge was for Vala’s sake, for her situation was only a small motivator. Rather, it was to quell the demons that fed on his guilt, to chase away remnants of a critical moment past.

His hand, having caught Vala’s false stumble, now rested on her arm. With his mind open to a crack, Eoin could now feel a definite change in her body, her skin growing frigid and muscles stiffening beneath his fingers. Likewise, his temperature was falling to its usual warmth, adding to the strength of the sensation. A familiar memory called to him of a battered man, reeling away from a sneering figure, an atmosphere thick with desperation and malicious intent. He felt disturbed from the thought alone, a bitter taste crawling up his throat, the consequence of a new awareness. There were always misdeeds, but most acted as he had and simply saw past them. Now that he chose to accept the world for what it was, the wide-eyed recollections of a young boy quickly returned. Fear, it was obvious that Vala was drowning in the feeling, blind to the consequences in order to avoid consequences. It was a backwards way of thinking, but all the women in his life seemed full of it, so there was little question.

A gentle grip circled around her thin wrist, pressing into a dying heartbeat that only confirmed his theory. As easily as her body merged with his, they were separated, the other hand helping to guide her arm away. Patiently, he waited for Vala’s eyes to meet his, surprised when they did to see an entirely different person staring back at him. Eoin could not be sure what it was he really saw, still unfamiliar to the subtlety of emotion, but he equated it to an effect of her daring move. For a moment they were locked in a gaze, the man taking in as much of her expression as he could to carefully choose his words. With lenient resolve, he spoke in that steady, blunt tone, his composure fully regained.

“You’re cold, and your pulse is weak.” He lifted her limp wrist in one hand, removing his other from her arm. Her fingers were now curling beneath his eyes, her palm just outside of reach from his cheek with the inside of her arm exposed. “All to protect nothing.” The words were sharp on their own, but coupled with his hooded eyes, seemed more of an observation of pity rather than a statement intended to cause harm. Then, as if in wordless apology, Eoin gently placed her hand by her side, his eyes following. Meeting those watery, blue eyes once more, he ended the contest on his own terms.

“I have my answer. There is no need for anymore.”

by **Vala** on July 26th, 2011, 11:16 pm

Vala laughed, a sharp and mocking bark. Her hooded eyes swirled with dark clouds. Was she honestly being dismissed? It didn’t care for this at all. Her heart rate rose a fraction, enough to bring a heady flush to her cheeks. This was a stalemate – no one was going to win – they were both too strong. It knew it was at a serious disadvantage. She was an unattached female, of a lower caste, with a physical disability, and the only power afforded to her by the sheer luck of fate and its gift of fragile beauty, had been far too easily resisted by the man before her: she was in danger.

Its eyes darted about, scanning the environment. If she jumped properly, putting a painful amount of force on her wounded ankle, there was an 80% probability she could reach her bow and quiver, but only a 20% chance she could nock and fire before Eoin pinned her down.

WHAT DO I DO

It was rare for it to be so vulnerable – that was Vala’s job; it was its job to save the day. It fought to stay calm; it fought to stay logical.

There was no other option…

“So what happens now?” The veil of delicate beauty fell from her form, to reveal a still fragile, but solid frame of frosted ice….All she had wanted was a nice, uneventful hike with a man she found pleasant. – Why was fate always so cruel?

OOC Note :

by **Eoin** on July 27th, 2011, 11:44 pm

oocAgreed, I ended up rambling a little in my last post because I couldn’t think of any other reaction for Eoin aside from what I wrote, knowing it’d be hard to respond to.

Disenchanted, Eoin took a closer look at the stranger before him cackling like a demon exposed. Somehow, he had missed the now crusted blood trails, the pink scleras and the frail frame of the Chiet, seeing the illusion more vividly than he expected. To that, he reasoned that it must have been his youthful tendency to fantasize that drew him in, unable to fess up to the brief attraction to the temptress despite previous resolve. The man was not ready to see it all, the blinders only slightly ajar to a level already beyond his comfort zone. Unlike the avian creatures they confided in, his vision remained forward facing. He wondered if this was what set the others from Endals, the awareness of the world around them. It was almost comical the conclusions he came, for though they were logical, they were often out of place for the situation. Perhaps, daydreaming habits could not be freed of with age.

Now, they were back to where they started, an innocent enough scenario that sprouted a tense moment of competition. They both knew the other would not relinquish control, and thus there would be no progress, a full circle that solved nothing. It was wasteful, especially considering how the day began, light and brimming with promise. For a second, Eoin doubted his decision to aid Vala, but it had to be done for it was the safest way. She had already walked and stood on the bruising ankle for far too long, and the journey back to Wind Reach would only drive the damage deeper. If she really were to give her no choice, he’d simply carry on without her approval.

“Let me carry you.” His expression was at its default, melting from its more determined appearance to quiet warmth. Eoin didn’t want to make this any more difficult than it already had been, and though he hadn’t exactly tired from it all quite yet, he knew time was of the essence at this point. “It’s dangerous to remain in your condition.” He advised, knowing that with one member of the party disabled, the more dangerous the situation could become. Meanwhile, he held her gaze, only releasing contact in attempt to encourage Vala’s decision. Measured steps lead him to the sitting area occupied only by their equipment, a strap grasped in each hand as he carried the two bags, eventually both in one hand upon noticing the light weight. Eoin returned to Vala’s side, standing with his eyes calm, but did not rest, hinting that they should depart.