A stitch in time (Malkaren)

[Min]

His expression shifted, a somewhat troubled look painting more taut lines over that dark blue skin and clouding eyes that were already the hue of a stormy sky. Malkaren seemed to grow nervous and his more animated mien of a moment before seemed to ebb away. Clearly, he was caught off guard at her question – and the knowledge about his race that lay beneath it, and his words confirmed that. Then, he introduced himself. Rorin. The other individual who resided in this same body. Or perhaps it was another aspect of Malkaren? One half of a whole? Though the Konti healer who had first explained this racial phenomenon to Min a week or so ago had insisted that the two who occupied one body really were separate and distinct, Min had been skeptical. She had run across a case in Taloba where it appeared that five or six personalities lived inside one poor woman’s head. Each had been clearly a different persona, and it had certainly been baffling. But the Konti Min had spoken with had told her that each and every Akalak had two – and only the two – sides – a light and a dark as they were sometimes referred to. One was dominant, the other less so, and typically both were very different one from the other. It could sometimes cause monumental problems, if the two were at odds and fought for control of the body. It was such an amazing and intriguing racial trait that Min could not help but feel her heart beating a bit faster as she realized that here was a new person – or personality – where before there had been Malkaren. Rorin – his brother, bound to him in a way unique to their race. “I am pleased to meet you, Rorin,” she said, her eyes holding his until his gaze dropped to look at the knife in his hands. Hands that until now belonged to his brother – it was all so very fantastical, she thought, continuing to look at him – them really – as he gathered his thoughts. Rorin’s thoughts, she supposed – but – where was Malkaren now? She had so many questions, but now didn’t seem the time to turn into a walking talking notebook, questing for answers. So she said nothing more and waited patiently until he answered hers. So the gift was something they both desired – Rorin spoke of Malkaren’s – Mal’s – reticence when it came to being emotive, and this brought a tiny smile to Min’s lips, for she knew it to be true, from what she had seen of him so far. And Rorin was different in this regard. His whole demeanor seemed…freer, less rigid. He smiled more easily and his pleasure had been written on his handsome face – until he realized he’d been caught out and discovered. But Min was glad to know him – and fascinated as hell by these two individuals, who now proposed to give a piece of their soul into her safekeeping. It was a mind boggling prospect. Once again, Rorin’s gaze lifted to hers, and she considered the implications of his next observation. True enough, it would seem Rorin had been brought to the fore to make this presentation – Malkaren must be a wise man to realize that his brother might do a better job of it. Min’s gaze now dropped, to the lakan, and she knew that what they asked was of very great importance to them. She didn’t view her work as creating a debt – but they did. And if she refused the offer of their most precious weapon, would that not, in a way, minimize the importance of their existence? Maybe to her, the healing treatment had been standard and routine – but to them, it literally meant their life. Perhaps in the course of her years as a healer, she had forced herself to become immune to thinking in such a way, for to do so then made the enormity of what she held in her hands far too scary to contemplate – and that in turn would make her job so much more difficult. Fear of failure - and the death which could result from it - was not something she would want sitting on her shoulder each time she attended a patient. She uncurled her fingers from around his and placed her hands under his, flat and ready to accept the lakan. “I will take it, Rorin….and…Malkaren. You give me your precious gift and I will treat it with great care. I will carry this part of you, both, with me until we meet again.” Her eyes lifted to his again and she smiled warmly. “I hope we do.”

[Malkaren]

As the camp went silent again after what the akalak could only describe as pleading, he did his best to read the healer's face in an attempt to decipher the unfamiliar look upon her brow. It appeared as if she was searching for something about him that looked different from when his light brother was in control or at the very least that's how it felt. Of course there was nothing to be found as the transition was anything but skin deep. Then he realized how little her eyes wandered, the warm twin pools the color of chocolate looking dead ahead and right into his dully steely eyes. There wasn't a trace of shock, annoyance or disgust in them as she searched for... something. The look was one of great curiosity and wonder as if she was a child spotting some great little wonder for the first time ever. Maybe in a way she was exactly like that as for the first time ever one of the souls took note of her age. While she was indeed beautiful and wise, it was the soft look of one untested by the ages as of yet and the fast thinking of a student still truly mastering the art. Despite being patient much of the time she could also snap quickly and there were times she appeared to be more than a little rough around the edges. She was a young adult, no more than a few steps into her life and able to do so much with the time she had ahead of her. She had already saved the life of two souls and countless others from the way she spoke. To be so humble at such an age, if indeed she was as mature as she looked, was a great task indeed. The hunter couldn't help but be in awe of her, the realization of all she was hitting him like a ton of bricks. Rorin wasn't knocked out of his daze that he expected must have made him look rather absent minded until Min suddenly looked down at the weapon in his hand with hers still lightly pressed atop, giving his fingers a small feeling of warmth that had quickly grown warmer than the fire pit's heat. She gave the weapon the same searching look she had given him while he could only sit there and wonder what was going on in her head: another first that he'd never thought much of. He was very much use to hearing what one person had to think and having his thoughts heard by another but for once he cared to know another's thoughts. She had said so many interesting things to say and she asked questions with such a real passion that it made the air being so void of her voice feel drawn out and stuffy. It was something of a surprise when she did finally speak up again, not even bothering to raise her head as she did so. Rorin could only blink dully down at her as his mind tried to process just what she said and it perhaps took even a moment longer as she looked back up at him and gave him a warm smile he'd only seen flashes of in Malkaren's memories and thoughts. As the words slowly sank in his own smile came back as he realized they were words of acceptance. He looked down to notice her hands had moved away from his and now lay folded out, ready to accept his gift. He slowly lowered the blade down onto her palms, being very careful on how he held it and where he placed it before sliding the case into her hands as his fell quickly into his lap. "Thank you, Min," he said in nothing more than a whisper as he looked up again, his bright smile causing his eyes to crinkle. "It may seem like an odd thing to say to someone accepting a gift but it's genuine. I'm honored you'd accept our lakan and I'm sure Mal is too. I can only hope that the day we do meet again is sooner rather than later."

[Min]

Rorin placed the lakan carefully into her waiting hands, and Min tested its weight, all the time considering its place in his life – their life – and what this transference meant. To another, it might have been purely symbolic. But Min was convinced that such was not the case with Rorin, and his brother. She felt honored, and humbled, and slightly proud to be rewarded with such a significant gesture. As Rorin offered her next the sheath, she took the knife up by its wrapped handle, testing its balance. Rorin thanked her again and then said that he hoped their next encounter would not be so very delayed. To that, her eyes lifted from her inspection of the lakan to give him a frank look. “I hope the same, Rorin. But my path may lead far, and long. North and then…it is not known. I may never return to your city.” Her eyes dropped again, and her voice was quite sobering as she added in a low tone. “I may never return to my own.” Carefully, she slid the beautifully crafted weapon into its sheath and she set it on her knees, as she knelt beside him. “But with your lakan, I will remember you. I will remember you both. If we do not meet again, I will always remember this night.” She reached out her hand and placed it on his upper arm, feeling the hard strength of muscle there, and the warmth of his dark skin, and she was very glad that she had been able to help him, to put him back together, and that he lived, and had not perished and passed out of this world. For it seemed to her now, that the world would have been a lesser place for loss of a man such as this one.

[Malkaren]

Rorin was taken aback by the sudden dark reality Min put out as she broke eye contact with him for just a moment. The possibility that they may never meet again was a bitter one to even think about even though what time they had with one another was short. Sadder still was the way she said it and how she tacked on her feelings at the end. It was obvious that she must dearly miss her home and maybe the akalak as well once the two finally parted, the latter tugging hard on Rorin's heartstrings. Even how she went on about never forgetting the two in a much warmer manner felt like she was simply preparing herself for never meeting the hunter again and accepting it as truth. Hardly the most triumphant note to follow her finally accepting the lakan. His brow knit tightly in frustration as he looked the Myrian dead in the eye, lifting a hand up to the one she placed on his arm and carefully pulling it off, the cold night wind blowing away the warmth of her skin quickly. It could have easily been taken as a crude attempt to distance himself from the woman, to accept her reality as his own and ready himself for it if he hadn't held on tight and brought up his other hand to press his palm to hers. Holding her hands in a soft but firm embrace between his he stared straight into her face and spoke with a fierce determination, his dull colored eyes holding a fire in them. "Min, I promise that you won't have to remember me long. I'll be with you as soon as I can no matter the distance or obstacles. I'll keep you safe not because you saved my life but because yours is not worth losing to me or anyone else. And above all..." He stopped to let a small confident smile cross his slowly relaxing face. "I'll make sure you'll see your home again." Each word was spoken carefully and strong, no hesitation in his voice as he spoke nothing but the truth. He gave a promise to both himself and her that he would make his words reality.

[Min]

Indeed, it did seem to Min that perhaps Malkaren, the sober brother, had slipped back into control of the shared skin, as his hand came and removed hers from his muscular arm. She could see that her statements – true though they might prove to be – were not the most congenial, or optimistic. But she was just trying to be candid, regardless of whatever hope might have lain in either of their breasts. She was wrong in her thinking, though, for Rorin it was still who took her hand in his and even brought his other up to wrap about hers as well. He spoke with a quiet fierceness that Min found compelling, and the look in his pale eyes was every bit as sincere as her own had been. He made her three quick promises, and from another, she would have took them for glib sentimentality. But not from him – not from them – for she thought, she felt – in her heart – that Malkaren’s will was contained in those vows as well as the brother who spoke them. She knew that Rorin meant each and every word, and, despite her Myrian pride and mettle, that he meant to join back up with her, at some point, suddenly made her mission seem a lot less…lonely. Rorin, and Malkaren, would be with her – if there was any possible way that they could be – and that thought warmed her heart. If she could have chosen a companion for this ordeal, she didn’t think she could have selected a better candidate than this odd, fascinating being who held her hand so firmly yet tenderly and who spoke with such conviction. To go home – at the end of the day – yes – that would be the best thing of all. Her head tilted a bit to the side as she looked at him, and she said nothing to take away from the strength of his words, and his heart. She nodded, saying only, “Then I will look for you, Rorin. I do not know where my path goes. But to know you will find me brings me great happiness.” She brought her hand up to cup around his, an unconscious gesture of their newly formed solidarity. “And I would like for you to see my home. I would like that….very much.” She gave him the smallest of smiles, in response to a very foreign emotion that was stirring so far down inside her soul that she barely recognized its genesis, or what it heralded, in terms of this man sitting beside her.

[Malkaren]

It took a few silent moments for her to react to his words, leaving tension thick in the air as Rorin waited for a response. While he optimistically hoped for her to see his views and take his word seriously, another part of him that echoed closer to his brother's thinking reminded him that the world wasn't a place where wishes came true and that's exactly what this was: a wish. His desire for his future to mirror the words he had spoken was so intense and sincere that it felt like he must be grabbing at a fantasy that he was determined to make reality. His promises held great sadness if they never came to be but a massive wealth of joy if he was able to defy all odds and make it to her again. Whatever doubts that ate away at his mind vanished the moment she spoke and touched her hand against his in such a calming, caring way. She spoke little more than a few sentences but each one held a great deal of sincerity and warmth that he couldn't fathom. She spoke of their reunion as if they were old friends parting for the first time and she couldn't wait for his return. Such simple words made Rorin feel like the center of something much, much greater than the man he knew he was if only for a few brief moments because his attention was quickly absorbed by the smile she flashed. It was a simple little gesture, something she'd done half a dozen times already but something about this time look, nay, felt different. She's been genuine about the gesture a few times before but he felt like she only bothered showing it to him to keep him assured all was well. This little moment felt like a window into her mind and soul, giving him just a peek of exactly who Min really was in this moment as she smiled at the thought of being with him again. It took until a few moments after feeling her fingers brushing against his for him to realize he must have been staring for some time and he quickly broke eye contact to look down at their entwined hands. It was such an odd sight to see her light brown skin wrapped around his dark blue and vice versa in such a gentle way. Her hands felt nice and soft in his grip if only in comparison to his own rough palms and he took a moment to appreciate it until he realized that they were also holding hands for longer than he had excepted to. He cleared his throat and pulled one of his hands away slowly from hers but he kept the other that she had decided to touch in place, convincing himself it was just manners. "It's getting rather late," he said softly as he looked back up at her again with a kind smile. "I don't think I'm going to be much good for myself or anyone else if I spend the entire night dodging sleep. We still got a trip ahead of us if I'm not mistaken." Despite having woken up not that long ago the akalak felt his mind and body still needed a break and the cooked meal was starting to settle in and make his eyes droopy.

[Min]

When Rorin gently pulled away his one hand, Min immediately felt that small seed of something warm and rife with potential hide back away, shyly, as if it had decided that now was not the opportune time for it to begin its journey of growth. He held her hand still with his other, though technically it was really now she who held his one trapped between hers. Her smile shifted, to a look more of wry amusement – in point of fact it was one directed at herself. She wasn’t embarrassed a bit by the moment of connectivity that had just passed between them. But she put it away, carefully, to be brought out and examined later, in the privacy of her own heart. For now, as Rorin went on to say, the next portion of their evening was come round, and she had to refocus on business – her business – and that encompassed seeing to Rorin and his brother’s body. The rest could wait. “Yes,” she said, in a businesslike tone, nodding in agreement. “But we have something to do, before you sleep.” She had previously shifted from sitting cross-legged beside him to kneeling by his side. Now she rose gracefully to her feet, sliding his precious lakan into its sheath and thrusting that through her belt. Looking down at him, she nodded again. “You can stand. It will help – or your body will be stiff. Come – stand, if you can.” She extended one long, slender hand down to him and smiled, in almost a teasing way. “Show me,” she said, thinking the Akalak would not refuse this challenge.

[Malkaren]

Rorin watched his hand slip from hers as Min stood up and in an instant the cold night wind sucked away all the warmth that his skin had soaked up from her touch. He quickly slipped his hand back in his lap, trying to shake off the few thoughts eating at the edge of his mind as he focused on what the healer had to say. She wanted him to stand up and stretch his muscles after lying still but the way she put it made it impossible not to do as she asked. He could already hear the echoes of a taunt in the mere wording of the challenge himself and he couldn't just lie there and take it. With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, he reached up and grabbed hold of her hand tightly as he tried to get up. It wasn't a task as easily said as done. His tired and sore muscles struggled to do anything more than get more irritated while his wound began to sear anew like embers catching flame. His legs shook badly under him as he kept pulling, hoping the Myrian was strong enough to hold up his weight. After what felt like an eternity his heels finally caught ground, giving him a chance to stand on the flat of his feet for the first time in over a day. Still feeling shaky he placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to push as little weight down on her as possible as he kept himself supported. "Well, that wasn't so hard," he said with a chuckle, trying to catch his breathe after the strenuous effort. For the first time since the attack he was standing somewhat stable on his own two feet. Looking down at Min proved to be quite a surprise as he realized for the first time how tall she really was. He thought that it was simply him lying on the ground that made her appear so high but in reality she was taller than most women he knew. Short enough that he had to look down but not as much as usual. "Not going to lie." He let out a weak cough before clearing his throat and continuing. "I don't think I could walk right now even if I wanted to."

[Min]

He took her hand and it was a small struggle – of course, he was all stitched up and still very much at the very beginning of recovery. She felt the strength of his grip, but she felt the pull too, as Rorin used her own arm as leverage for his uncooperative legs. She held steady, though, as best she could, given the Akalak’s size. But in the end, his will won out and he was standing, one huge hand coming to rest on her shoulder, for balance. Min thought that felt good, and right, somehow, his touch on her body, but she pushed that feeling aside for the moment. Rorin made light of his accomplishment, but she knew what the effort had taken, and she smiled in approval up at him – but not so far up. Just as he was realizing, she too was well aware that this was the first time they had stood together – that he had stood at all, in her presence. And she saw that, for an Akalak, Rorin was not overly tall, though still taller than herself by some inches. Some of the dark, exotically hued men she had met in Riverfall towered over her by a foot or more. Somehow, the fact that Rorin did not, pleased her. But she said nothing, except in response to his admission. “Yes, your body is hurt, and tired. But you did well. It is good that you can stand now. Tomorrow maybe you try to walk. Tonight just this little thing. And sleep. Please, I will help you to lie back down.” Her hands came to his ribs and other elbow, careful to avoid the wounds under the bandages, as she readied herself to help support and steady him as he eased himself back down. From a distance, it might have looked as if the two were ready to begin a strange dance. It was a closeness devoid of any real intimacy, though, for it was simply a healer doing what healers do, to help their patients as they can. At least, that’s what Min had to remind herself, feeling that smooth skin stretched over taut muscle and bone under her fingertips, as her eyes lifted to his to gage if he was ready.

[Malkaren]

After only a few moments of standing up Rorin felt much better as his sore muscles got a little exercise while his joints gave satisfying pops. The warmth from both the fire and Min's hands felt welcoming and comfortable despite his condition and what had led him to it. Looking down at the healer and how careful she was with him as he tried to stay standing was such a relief, knowing that she had been and would continue to take care of him as long as this trip lasted. Despite how he ended up and his current condition, Malkaren had been struggling with an idea that baffled him in every way. He had been worried it was a fever or that he was going delirious or some other unspeakable condition that was messing with his mind but Rorin didn't question it in the least bit: the two were happy for the situation they were in. It honestly sounded like some sort of madness. Nobody in the world would be thankful for near lethal injuries from any source, especially the physically aware akalaks, but neither soul could find themselves to hate the situation they were in or at the very least the company they were keeping. Neither honestly knew nor cared about the others they had been travelling with but there was just something about Min that captivated them both. She was beautiful, kind, even funny at times. Even what few things that could be taken as flaws were nitpicks or had a silver lining. She was just absolutely captivating. After standing for a little while the Myrian insisted that Rorin lie back down again and he complies without even a thought of rebellion as she helps ease him back down on the blankets again. After a short and slightly painful descent his head eventually hit the pillow again, making him let out a deep sigh of relief. "My thanks again," he muttered as he placed one hand on his side, letting his aching body finally rest again. "The little things like that will ward off the feelings of being useless for the next few days." He laughed lightly at his words, trying his best to ignore the part of his mind reminding him that it wasn't simply a joke.