It had been a few days since Chozi had last seen Tikoto. His body still radiated a pleasant ache, but the feeling was already fading. Pinpricks would dance across his skin whenever the wounds were touched, and he wondered if he could keep the memory alive longer that way. But no, it wouldn’t be the same. I wouldn’t be the same as the sharp, jagged claws against his skin or a body against his own. And, honestly, Chozi needed to return home. Home where he didn’t have any friends or children to return to.
And of course, that made his chest ache with a hollow thrum. Loneliness - that was pain. He couldn’t understand how others told him of physical pain of a bleeding wound. Those were not painful at all, but the pain in his chest - that was different.
That was the opposite of a good thing, after all.
Being so absorbed in the alone feeling that was encasing his very soul, he was surprised when he nearly ran into another. A mossy green female with eyes as black as night. He could barely see emotion strike behind the dark eyes, but the other gave him a smile.
“Terribly sorry, my dear, I didn’t see you there,” the voice from the dark eyed… well, she wasn’t a full blooded creature, he could tell that for sure.
“Not… not a problem,” Chozi mumbled, stepping back a bit, shyly. “I wasn’t paying attention either, I’m sorry for running into you.” Chozi had been terribly distracted when walking, but Kilua couldn’t blame him.
“You smell like blood…” she murmured. It wasn’t the blood of a kill, either. It was too strong, too deep within the other’s being. She could feel it ring through her soul like a crash of thunder. She watched as the Cheeton stepped back.
“Um,” Chozi started. He didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t think anyone would be able to tell from head on, but his breath probably smelled like blood as well. He bit his lip, looking away for a moment. “It’s nothing.”
She looked at him in a hard stare. He wasn’t fine, she could feel it. She wanted to touch him again, to get a feel for it. Past or future, she would be able to figure out the damage of his body. She could help him. She stared at him for a moment. “Your side is bleeding,” she told him. He shuffled away from her, the frown on his face evident of something, though she couldn’t quite place the emotion. It was normal, especially for others felines or canines, to hide any weaknesses from others they didn’t know.
Kilua was good at spotting the fear, but this male just seemed put off. “I won’t hurt you,” she tried to console him, but the cheeton shook his head, backing away a little more. He sat a few paces away. Her stride was longer, and she’d be able to reach him quickly. She was actually a lot larger than the male, though she was quite large for her species anyhow.
“I’m alright,” the brown cheeton stated. “It’s nothing, I promise. I’ll heal on its own…” He hated that part, honestly, the knitting of his skin to form a scar or just a nothingness. It made him feel empty, but he didn’t quite know how to relay that feeling.
Especially not to one who did not understand. He had heard of this female, simply in passing by a small avian called Mellas. The Avian was a good friend of his, but also of one called Kilua. The Leopon had been described in detail, and he knew it was her!
A healer. Someone who wanted to take away the blessing of Tikoto’s claws against his skin.
“Are you sure?” Kilua frowned. Of course, it was always within a creatures right to refuse to be helped, unless the situation was deemed dire. He didn’t seem terribly put off by his wounds though…
She stepped a pace closer, watching as the male tensed at her nearing. She paused, sitting where she previously stood. “Are you okay?” She asked, concerned, but also a little curious. The cheeton gave a weak smile.
“I’m perfect,” And the way he said it, she could almost believe him. It was so near the truth. She did not know exactly what was wrong though. She absolutely could not press though. Perhaps she should leave the other alone?
She smiled at him though. “As long as you’re sure,” she told him. “I’m sorry for pressing the issue. I didn’t mean to intrude.” She got a more genuine smile in return then, and a nod. He hesitated, standing and stretching. The smell of blood grew stronger in the air for a moment, the wounds re-opening with the motion.
But Chozi did not seem bothered by it, she decided.
“It’s quite alright, Miss. The physical wounds, they… hmm…” Kilua paused. She had nearly walked away for a moment. “They’re pleasing. I, um. I quite enjoy the feeling of them, but they’re well cared for!” He hastened to add.
Kilua nodded. It wasn’t completely unheard of, but somewhat unusual to her. He shifted. “I’m sorry for disrupting your day, miss. I was distracted because I have not been on my own in a while,” he explained, mostly rambling to himself, even as he tried to search for an explanation.
She smiled at him. “It’s okay, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’m just a passerby,” she gave a small laugh. “I didn’t mean to bully you into trying to heal your wounds. My mother always told me I was a little headstrong, though I’m trying to be better about it.”
Chozi could only beam brightly at the healer. She was kind, and he was glad she would not force his wounds to heal more quickly. “Thank you,” he told her in a breath of gratitude. She smiled at him kindly.
“If you ever need my help, though,” she smiled at him. “I have eyes everywhere. You’ll know them when you see them,” the leopon laughed before walking past him to take her leave. Chozi gave a smile, bright with the thought of open acceptance and perhaps a friend.
Perhaps one day, he’d take her up on the offer. He was still smiling when his paws touched the wetlands of home once again.
