Completed Shelter from the Storm

[Litani]

For a half second, Litani blinked at Viper's response and, unwilling, her mind cast itself quite a different direction than the one he'd been meaning.

Whatever they looked like in the dream, they're hurt now so I just--

And then she realized that, rather than making a pass at her, he was reiterating another aspect to their shared hallucination. The aspect that started everything in the first place: the culling of the Zith.

Oh.

Her throat moved as she felt the ghost of the Zith's blade against her throat and remembered how it felt when he'd lifted her into the air. It had felt so real! Well then... so had the rest of it. She remembered the way the fire smelled. The way his eyes looked, watching her, when she shared water with him. The way the leather sounded when it hit the ground, after she'd taken it off hi-- She tried to push that out of her mind and recenter. Again.

She also noticed that he had not answered her real question at all. But... there was nothing for that without embarrassing herself even further.

She took a deep breath as he went on, nodding faintly. Every wall she had was slammed up in full expression, making her nothing of the contented and open creature she'd been moments before but instead something... more distant. Absolutely guarded. Briefly, she flicked her tongue over her lips and pressed them together, listening to his reassurance, watching him as if to gauge whether or not it were true. Either way, there's nothing to be done about it so... go on with it now. Let him believe what he wishes... let him believe the cane is the only defense you have. Anything... just get me out of here!

That she continued to feel shamed beyond all words was... starting to become less evident. She gave him a single, solemn nod as he informed her of her misplaced concern. We'll see. She leaned slightly on the cane as she walked, but she turned their path back towards Syliras, suggesting with her body language that they might best return as he had been eager to do only moments before. And then, to soften the edges slightly, she offered a quiet explanation. "You shall have to forgive me, Warrior," she said quietly, using the common phrase as an epithet, as her own private way of acknowledging what she wanted desperately to hide from him. "Not every man is as kind as you..." She wanted to finish the thought: ...appear to be. But she did not.

Instead, she paused for half a step and glanced up at him, daring herself to look him in the eyes without looking away or melting on the spot. So far, she managed. "And just what is the prescribed reply then, for being saved from a Zith by a phantom Drykas in a dream?" There it was, the gentle smile coming back. Real, perhaps, or perhaps a mask to deflect the weight of the real question between them. "...should I offer my thanks, perhaps?" She went quiet for a second, then said in a low contralto tone, "Perhaps you'll consider help with the deer as repayment in full."

Damnit. And me without my water skin.

She fell silent then and watched him sidelong, wondering just what he'd make of the shift she'd forced herself to perform. It was genuine enough, so far as that went... but went fully against her better judgment to offer him a way to see her again, even something so innocuous as help with cleaning a kill. It was not manipulation she sought, not hardly. It was self-defense. But her curiosity was slowly getting the better of her, bit by tempting bit.

[Viper]

A suspicious eyebrow raised when she made her first couple of comments. How strange it was that they seemed to behave so completely opposite of the dream. How different this was from his last experience of an apparent dream character actually being a living breathing person. Something told him what she said and what she was thinking were two different things. But with nothing to base this off of, he simply remained silent, instead opting to watch and see what she did.

As she finished speaking, he thought about the dream once more. A smirk appeared on his face once more. "You owe me nothing." And as quickly as his smirk appeared it disappeared once more. The general stiffness of her frame, and the coolness of her words were enough to tell him that she was still frightened. Frightened of what, he still did not know. Thrown off that she shared such an intimate thing with a stranger now in front of her. ...Ok he could understand that one at least. Such a thing could be extremely difficult to wrap ones mind around. Perhaps it was because he had already some experience with this that he was now not as stunned for quite so long as he probably should have been.

Either way, as she took to the road only daring to look back at him briefly, he sighed once more slowly walking toward his strider. Pulling gently on the reigns he brought, his friend about so that they were now both facing the direction of the city. "No, you are mistaken Litani. I am no phantom...and there was no Zith. Thus you need not offer up thanks, nor repayment." He paused for a moment closing the distance slowly between them once again, his Strider in step next to him, all the while not taking his eyes off of her.

"However..." He started, his tone noticeably warming, and his more traditional smile daring to return. "...if you wish, to return with me to help with the deer. You are more than welcome." With a slight nod to her, he actually walked on, brushing past her towards the city. A mischievous grin suddenly flashed across his face and he stopped in his tracks. Turning around baring his expression, he said pleasantly. "And yes, you may keep the hide if you do decide to join me." A playful wink was sent her way, and he turned back to Syliras to begin to long walk back, wondering what she might have to say in response now...if anything at all.

[Litani]

How similar 'You owe me nothing' sounded to 'Nothing to forgive'. Litani all but rolled her eyes to the sky, gazing up at the tree canopy overhead and the clouds behind them, chiding herself all the while for the idiotic child she felt just that moment. She was reading meaning where it likely didn't belong and ascribing purpose to things that had no business bearing it. He was a Warrior of the Sea, practical and skilled, not some silver-tongued paramour to linger on such subtle and intense details. Of course not.

As he rebuffed the offer of thanks, she caught his comment askew and her shoulders curved forward ever so slightly, bearing the blow of her momentary misinterpretation as if it were a physical thing. She blinked for how strongly she felt it and then glanced at him, guilt and accusation rich in her eyes at the same time - it was a dream, he reminded her more than aptly, and it was not real. Nothing of it was real. However they'd come to share it, whatever game the Gods had been playing, it was not real.

I am no phantom...

And then he offered that she follow, offered her the hide she had so brazenly requested a few moments ago. She felt the sting of the needless blush returning, felt ever more the fool for having asked at all. Now, he knew why.

Oh my God I'm an idiot. As obvious as the sun and not half as bright. Her inner diatribe wasn't going to let her live this one down any time soon.
She sighed and gave a reluctant nod, either at herself and her own musings or at his gentle tease. This is how it's going to be, hm? ....all right. There were a thousand implications in all of this tangled mess, a hundred ways every gesture and every glance could be taken from here on out. Merciful Gods.

And then he winked one of those beautiful green eyes, and may as well have set the baited hook. Damn it all anyway. I'm such a fool for eyes.


She knew what a grisly task awaited them. She'd seen it done once, she'd actually helped with the task, but only the once. And it had turned her stomach at the time, but she'd had some years between now and then... some study of the body, some hardening against the gore. She hadn't liked it, though, and doubted she would like it now. And still, she continued to walk with Viper, implicitly agreeing to her part in what would come next.

After a reasonably lengthy passage of silence between them, she found herself wondering how best to keep conversation alive after such a strange, intimate set of revelations had been exchanged. Let it go, she told herself again. ...so he's the same one. It wasn't real. Let it go. She actually stopped walking - for just half a second, before resuming - as she realized what a dichotomy of emotions she was feeling: shamed to have been caught, then something damn near to a sense of angered betrayal that it wasn't real anyway. Be reasonable, doctor.

Her best efforts at being reasonable went something like this: "It will need to be skinned, first. Do you have a reasonable place to do such a thing...?" Some weird twist of a thought wandered through her mind as she paired the concept of skinning an animal with the thought of inadvertently inviting herself to wherever it was he called home. She closed her eyes and briefly relied on the cane for support. Opening them, she went on steadily, "I should trust, I realize. Forgive me. It is my nature to plan... to know, in advance. Call it a physician's training."

With this, she glanced at the sky, judging the sun past its half point and leading to late afternoon. "We can start it today, let it bleed off tomorrow... cook it the day after? Or do you think that is too long to let it sit? I confess, I do not know the nuance of cooking a fresh kill as well as you must, living on the plains."

On the Sea of Grass. Where you found me. Where you thrive. Where water is life and where we...

[Viper]

The silence was....awkward. He didn't much care for it at, and in his mind, it didn't even need to be there at all. Well...maybe not "at all"...but still. He mused to himself. When he first posed his question after remembering the dream, and what played out in it, he was all for and perhaps niavely hoping the could just possibly continue their pleasant interactions. Now that didn't mean he was under any delusion they would pick up everything where they left off...but her cold reception when she realized that he remembered did surprise him. He snuck a glance back at her for just a moment.

It was interesting. If a picture painted a thousand words, the look of her facial expression seemed to indicate she was swelling on quite a few more. Who knows, maybe there was a way to salvage this derailed chance meeting after all. Though Viper suspected only time would tell. And with that thought passing through his mind, the silence was broken. Thank the gods! He listened to her completely without any interruption. When she was finished, he stopped and turned back around. His traditional friendly smile appearing on his face once more.

"Forgiveness...?" A soft chuckle left his lips as he looked to the ground for a moment, and then back up to her. "I'd say something about that...but I think you know what I would say." He let his comment linger for a moment before he continued in a casual tone. "And of course I have a reasonable place to prepare this deer. My camp. It's just outside the city walls. Out of site so I'm not bothered. But close enough to where help is nearby if something happens. It's not much, but hopefully if things go my way. My fortunes in this world will change some."

"And as for the itinerary for the day." He too glanced up to the sky to check the position of the sun. Too late to get any real progress done on the deer. But still plenty of time he figured to get a few other items he needed for his task. Besides, at least then he could spare her the less than pleasant task of skinning, cleaning, and butchering the animal. "I'd actually more like to take advantage of your knowledge in the locations of certain plants and spices that might benefit us. I can bleed the deer over night and butcher it in the morning."

Viper paused for a moment, a hand rising to wipe away a couple beads of sweat that had begun to form on his forehead from the afternoon sun beating down on them through the thinning trees. His mouth felt dry, and it was only then he noticed that she didn't even have a water skin with her. He sighed inwardly. She was a tough cookie, that was sure. But why in the world was she trying to beat herself up by coming so far out unprepared? Alone, unarmed from what he could tell, and no water or provisions. Stubborn little thing she was when she got her mind set to a task it seemed.

Suddenly a memory from the dream flashed through his mind as did an idea. Reaching over to his saddle bag, he pulled out a flask which, much to his chagrin did not contain any alcohol. That had long since been drain and had been replaced with the cool water from the nearby river. He twisted the cap off and took a swig. Looking at her for a brief moment, he offered her the flask with just a few words. "It is life...", Viper smiled playfully wondering if she we remember the reference. Not only the reference, but maybe, just maybe she would see it as his small way of showing that she meant more than a random dream. That he still felt she equated to something special. Special enough for him to care about even small details.

Still, in the back of his mind came the nagging sensation that maybe he really was doing nothing more here than chasing after a....dream.

[Litani]

The herbs. Of course. In her haste to be free of the thorn bushes - some of which she still wore - and in her general state of anxiousness at having her dream’s reality revealed, she’d entirely forgotten his request for herbs.

She sighed at herself. Her inner voices of chiding and self-derision didn’t even start in this time... It was getting to the point where she felt so thrown off and cagey that yelling at herself was becoming pointless anyway. She was a perfectionist at heart, always in control and prepared, and this situation was allowing her none of that. It was as if something insider her just decided to give up and let go, and let the situation be as it may. It actually felt just a little strange... having her mind be quiet without having to force it into silence. It was... eery.

To him, she nodded softly and turned back towards the line of the trees. Her hand raised to cover her eyes from the sun and, in an instinctive gesture, the webbed fingers spread a little to offer more shade - subtle, but a curious difference from a human mannerism. The iridescence from her scales flicked the sunlight away from her face but they were slightly dulled from the brilliance they’d shown in the dream. They’d begun to heal over but were still in the process of shedding from the sunburn. She seemed not to notice.

“You will want wild onion... paprika perhaps... pepper, if we can find it.” She paused, drawing her shawl up again to give relief from the unforgiving sun. The shadow did not veil a quick smile, however, as a thought suddenly occurred to her. She started back towards the forest, slowly, thinking; when she got focused on something, it was indeed hard to deter her and she almost missed the fact that he fetched a waterskin from Aeyan. Only his words recaptured her attention, well and truly.


She remembered the subtle ritual that had passed between them in the dreamscape; it was not without a note of surprise that she realized how clearly he remembered. That she herself recalled was no shock to her, as she often did keep memory of her dreams, but for a human it was... unusual. But then nothing about him had been usual.

If she were asked, she could not say exactly when the sharing of water had become significant to her. A Konti born and raised in Syliras, only attendant to Mura in sparse slices of time during her childhood, she did not hold the vast stores of cultural and traditional knowledge that others of her kind might. Instead, having traveled much in her life and having keenly felt any enforced distance between herself and the nearest lake or sea, she’d taken to reflecting on how very much each living thing of Mizahar required water. It was the one common thread, the one shared similarity linking every individual to every other. Whatever crawled on the earth, whatever flew in the sky, whatever swam in the ocean... All felt the cycles of life by the tides of Laviku.

Perhaps it was, then, that a creature of the sea should find such significance where another might find only triviality. Litani’s eyes flicked over his in a suddenly quiet way as he spoke, watching him as he offered her something which she considered sacred - which was not merely the water, but instead the way he did it. Two travelers can share a drink without thinking twice, but this held a note of intent behind it... a note that she did not miss. That he remembered - that he cared - resonated within her and caught her by surprise. So much so, in fact, that it echoed from her blue eyes and carried through the tone of her voice as she replied in almost a whisper, “Water shared is life shared.”

She hesitated then, briefly. More than one thing would pass between them if she accepted, one of which he knew nothing; unless she was more careful than she presently had energy to be, if he touched her even slightly... then his body would show itself to her Gift in a way that he could not imagine. She considered trying to tell him, trying to warn him, but the thought was short-lived in her mind; how many patients did she touch over the years, using this Gift for their benefit without their having been any the wiser? Why now did it seem like an intrusion, like a violation that she was hesitant to inflict? ...especially strange when it was she who was the recipient, in this equation, yet it was him that she was concerned for. She bit her lower lip lightly and reached out to him, readying her mind in thoughtful silence.

And then it happened.

As their fingers slid along each other, the sense of Viper’s body crashed into her awareness, informing her of all its truths and whispering to her all its secrets. She felt his thirst slaked by the water, his hunger piqued by the recent kill, the warmth of his skin as the sun bore down on him. She felt some remnant of tension as well... nerves, perhaps?. Or perhaps it was tension of another kind. The touch was not long enough, nor was she familiar enough with him, to tell for certain.

The flask passed from his hand to hers and, with a slight pause, she looked into his eyes and said softly, “May you never thirst.” And then she completed the sharing of water, drinking as deeply as he had.

[Viper]

There it was! The first real glimmer of what he thought her to really be...or was it hoped her to be? He wasn't quite sure on anything at this point. It was just pleasant and perhaps relieving to see a bit of her 'old' self from the dream finally peaking back out. Now don't be sentimental here Vipe...just because she quoted something already said in a dream doesn't mean she really thinks any better of you here in the real world! Remember that cane from just a moment ago! She's wary of you. Possibly still scared and just playing along to not elicit some trumped up though that you'd be aggressive or even hostile.

In point of fact, his reflection had a point. This could very well be the case...but as he tossed the idea back and forth in his mind, he couldn't help but be optimistic...or maybe he was just that sentimental. A slight sigh escaped him, though he muffled it as best he could whilst maintaining his friendly smile. For now he decided to simply take a wait and see attitude. Perhaps this woman could be more than just a fantasy, a dream....or maybe not. Time would tell all.

As she finished partaking of the water in his flask, he reached out to retrieve it. While doing so, he may have purposely let a finger rest on hers. Pausing for a moment and looking deeply into her eyes, he gave her a slight bow. "My thanks. And you as well." He then took the flask back, and with it, his hand away from her touch. Slipping the flask back into his saddle bag, he finally replied. "So wild onions, paprika, and peppers huh? All can be found out here? Well that is definitely convenient." A chuckle left his lips as he turned back to her. "Well I guess I will follow you then. I believe in this land, I am the guest and you are the native."

His friendly smile turned more to that of the warm smile he had given her in the latter parts of their shared dream. He held out his hand gesturing to the road ahead of them. "After you ma'am."

[Litani]

Litani watched him carefully as she drank, swallowed, capped the flask and handed it back to him. Her eyes never left him the whole time, actually, and seemed especially focused on the response that he gave her. Whatever she saw, she seemed unspokenly satisfied with it and let her hand linger that faint degree as he touched her again. Yes... that tension was still there. Beyond that, though, there wasn't time to tell. Deep within herself, she felt the barest twinge of something she'd thought lost to a dream, more than a month past.

Alder's going to kill me.

Breathing out a slow, tense exhale, the Konti heard his voice and nodded slightly. Not for the first time, and not for the last, she cursed her skin for betraying her in such an undignified fashion as to conflict with her desire to see this situation through. He wanted herbs, she knew where to find them. Very well then. Weakness of the flesh be damned.

...yep. You're dead. Soon as you get home. Dead.

A sigh turned into a faint chuckle and she renewed the hold she had on her slender cane. She might need it more than ever before the day was through, and she had to accept that fact before moving on. Nothing said she had to like it, however. The wood creaked faintly under her touch but it obeyed, offering her support as she gently picked her way out amongst the field plants that were lingering nearby. The going was slow and happened on hesitant steps sometimes, but she was clearly looking for something.

"We may find nothing, Warrior," she called quietly, glancing at him briefly over one shoulder. Suddenly, she wished she'd been more interested in the herbalism that Alder had tried to teach her over the years, and less interested in how the joints of the body were put together. Ah well. Nothing for it now. "I am not an expert, not by any means. And we may not find pepper or paprika at all here - it may not be hot enough for it to grow here. But..." She paused then and seemed to meander slightly, as if she'd caught sight of something she was hunting. "...I do know how to find an onion." She smiled just a little, just to herself. Then, softly, she said, "Easy."


Amidst a field of eratic, tall wildflowers, the shawled Konti paused and glanced around herself with a smile. She held the basket looped over one arm and transferred the cane to that hand so that she might run her fingers over the petals of the flowers she saw there. A light chuckle escaped her as she enjoyed the sensation but something specific seemed to have taken hold of her attention - the thicket of waist-high plants gave way to a smaller circle, a collection of purple, six-pointed flowers. This was where she stopped, lowering her basket to the ground and herself a moment later.

The movement of sinking to her knees was accomplished awkwardly, as if her hand were climbing down the length of the cane to take the weight from her legs as she gingerly folded them beneath herself. The pressure of her body weight helped, sort of; she was able to tell that the wrappings were not completely broken, and that while she was most certainly agitating the wounded skin, at least it would not be bleeding as she worked. And then, stealing a quick glance up at the Drykas, she drew her right leg up by the knee so that she could reach the calf.

Curled in such a position as she was, she was certainly no threat - wounded, bent into a folded spot on the ground, moving slowly. Her hands came down to her right ankle and started to pull back the pant leg of the split skirt she wore. The garment was loose enough that it formlessly hid all of her legs and the bandages she wore there, higher on her thighs, but it also hid the sheath of a strange-looking blade that now glinted faintly in the sunlight as she revealed it. The weapon was curved, simple and yet unsurpassingly elegant. Her fingers worked it free of its clasp as if she'd done so a thousand times before.

Without a word, she withdrew the blade from the sheath and set to the task for which she'd settled. Surrounding her was a patch of twincrest onion, its purple flowers waving softly in the breeze and its rich scent beckoning as soon as she cut the first leaf. Perhaps it looked strange to use so beautiful a weapon for so low a task as trimming an herb but... her thoughts were cast aside from the fact.

I miss you... I miss you so very much.

A subtle smile graced her lips and she reached into her basket to nudge the berries to one side. One by one, she laid the onion leaves next to fruit, idly wondering aloud, "Have you ever seen a Lakan, Viper...?"

[Viper]

Viper nodded at her warning of not being able to find everything. It was fine. He figured he'd have to go to the market for the rest of the items anyway. But if he could cut down that shopping list a bit. All the better. Following her into a nearby field, Viper held out his hands lightly brushing the tops of the plants with his palms as he walked. There was always something so peaceful and relaxing about walking through natures wonders. He laughed internally. Odd then that of all the places he could choose, was the biggest most densely populated city in all Miz.

Still even with its drawbacks, he had found in this place a few friends, a bit of security, and...

His eyes shifted toward Litani as she pressed forward into a patch of beautiful purplish flowers. A smirk then graced his face, before he shook it off. Don't get your hopes up Vipe...there may be something there sure...but don't get your hopes up again, just to be let down. As this thought passed through his mind, a frown appeared as his gaze dropped to the ground, bringing with it memories past that he just as soon have erased from his mind. I mean seriously, you only really 'just' met.

His thoughts were pushed aside as Viper's attention was soon captured again by Litani, as she crouched lower to the ground approaching what looked like a patch of wild onions. Curiosity getting the better of him, his head tilted to the side a bit as she drew back her long skirt almost to her thigh to reveal an impressively ornate dagger. His look of confusion was quickly banished, to be replaced by a mischievous smirk. . "Well now. I guess it's a good thing I had no ill intentions toward you. That..." he said almost proudly for her pointing to the weapon, "...could have been a nasty surprise." He chuckled lightly as he got closer to help. Course you're just full of surprises aren't you, Litani?

Kneeling down beside her, he drew his own knife, but snapped his gaze back to her with a grin. "Don't worry...just helping you." A playful wink was sent her way as he began to pull a few onions for their project as well. While he worked, she inquired of him about something he had never heard of. A puzzled look now took over his face. Shaking his head no he replied, "A Lakan...? Nope. Seems I have heard the name before. But I probably couldn't match the name with the item." His eyes did glance down for just a moment at the weapon in her hand suspecting it to be that. But he honestly wasn't sure. Returning his gaze to her, he awaited her response curiously.

[Litani]

That he knew nothing of a Lakan was only a passing surprise to her. Few might know such things, not without direct interaction with Akalak... The weapons were sacred. Why would such secrets be given to outsiders?

With a soft voice, she murmured as she worked, cutting the leaves delicately with an exquisitely sharp blade. "A Lakan is an Akalak's most precious possession," she told him. "It carries with it a part of their soul... they forge it in Djed and blood, and each one is unique. Each one is special." With a subtle smile, she paused and examined the blade, carefully plucking a leaf from its edge. Was it blasphemy to use a hallowed weapon for so mundane a task? Tromik would not think so. She smiled anew, casting her eyes along the well-crafted length of the blade. "They are given away as a matter of duty and honor, as a matter of repayment," she went on, glancing then at Viper's eyes. Here she held this token of another's affection, this symbol of the deepest soul's commitment. And yet she looked at him. "An Akalak can tell where any of his Lakan might be, and if the bearer is in danger..? He can tell that too."

Now, her smile took a sad note. She closed her eyes briefly, then looked back at the plants and started to carefully preen them again, laying the sprigs of onion leaves into the basket in an almost reverent fashion. "When the debt is repaid, he may come take it back. But... sometimes he will not." That her words had become cryptic and veiled was a matter of course; so lost was she in the thoughts of the Lakan's owner that she momentarily lost sight of Viper's perceptions. She'd wanted him to know, she'd wanted to explain for some reason... but for now, her mind wandered back to memories that would never come to life again. And if she mourned inside, why then... her exterior showed only a softly contemplative, gently sad smile just barely at the corners of her lips. So easy could she read the body of another, and so easily was she herself usually read... but not now. The truth of agony in her mind refused to give itself up by something so mundane as physical expression.

"You have your traditions, Emerald Clan," she said then, stealing her eyes back to his. For just an instant, her words faltered as she felt herself drawn into them again, felt her body react the way it had the first time she'd seen him in the dream. Her tongue darted briefly across dry lips and she looked back down again, that subtle smile still present. "...we have ours."

[Viper]

Well Viper was pleased he wasn't totally retarded. As he least he was able to put the few clues he had to make an educated guess and be right. Still, he probably should have known the answer to that earlier question. In truth he had just never really been around Akalaks. Tending instead to stick around his own people, or obviously the occasional Kelvic that would enter Endrykas. He thought to himself as he thought to roll his eyes to himself before deciding against the action.

He stole another glance at the blade and it's intricate engraving while he listened to her describe the background of such a weapon. Her words seemed to indicate the item had some special importance to her. He supposed it would have to be if she, not being an Akalak had such a treasured belonging. He tried to think back to the dream for clues. Hadn't she mentioned something about an Akalak? A close friend perhaps? A relative...? No couldn't be. Akalaks only sire Akalaks no matter the race....or so he had been told. He was annoyed that this detail was not as clear, not nearly as vivid as the, well, other parts of the dream...ahem. He at that point almost wanted someone to smack him up side the head. Focus Viiiipe...came a sarcastic chiding, though slightly playful rebuke from himself.

When she mentioned the part about the actual owner of the blade knowing when the next receiver of it was in danger an eyebrow rose as he smirked. "Is that another warning Litani?" His tone was playful, and maybe just a bit teasing. He change of expression though began to check his playfulness as she seemed to be contemplating something. Viper didn't suspect her to be sad, but merely thinking on something. Perhaps even about how she acquired the blade herself. Something he was also curious about.

Her last words held many possible meanings. What caught his attention most was the "we have ours" bit. Was she claiming to be part Akalak? The way she spoke gave him pause to press the matter further. He didn't wish to pry if she didn't feel like sharing. What he did do, however, was reach out slowly...perhaps even cautiously.

Taking her left hand if she didn't resist it, or merely pointing to it if she offered even the slightest bit hesitation to his movement. He rubbed his thumb softly across the beautiful mark decorating her hand and fingers. In a clear bit of reflection on his own tattoos and what they meant to him, his eyes locked in on hers. "Aye...that we do." His own tongue moved across his drying lips as well, but he finished the movement, biting down softly on his lower lip as he smiled.

After another moment, he released her hand and looked up to the sky. The sun was clearly much lower. "Well Litani, we should probably be heading back. With what we have gathered here. I'll have plenty of work to last me all night." He rose to his feet after depositing a few more of the wild onions into the basket. Offering a hand to help her up, he couldn't help himself but ask, his thoughts returning to the dagger and the obvious importance it had with her. "Now I am curious. And if you don't mind my asking...a repayment of what? I mean it must be a fairly epic tale to have an Akalak indebted to a Konti no?"