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 Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 1:21 pm
 This new world may not have been as harsh as the old one in the same sense...but that didn't make it friendly and welcoming either. She hadn't been in the best condition when they'd broken through, and Lahasha had been running purely on adrenaline and fear when she'd arrived through the portal. Alone in a strange new land, she'd slipped into survival mode the best she knew how. She'd slept little, always alert, afraid that if she let her guard down, the felines would descend upon her in the blink of an eye.
She couldn't even compare this world to her own, as she had no knowledge of the world outside the Rakshasha prisons. It wasn't long before hunger and thirst began to wear on her. She'd risked the water from the lake near where she'd landed and luckily, that had turned out to be safe to drink. She'd had much less luck with food.
How was one supposed to know what one could and could not eat? Those berries had looked so good...so bright and enticing...it was a good thing for her there hadn't been many of them on the bush, as she'd found herself doubled over in a ditch later that day. She hadn't much in her stomach to bid goodbye to, but her body continued attempting to do so long after it was already emptied. Two days, she had suffered the weakness and chills...she was dehydrated as well, likely, but she'd left the lake behind already. And by now, she was so turned around, she wasn't sure she could find it again.
Perhaps some great spirit decided to smile upon her. That's what she thought when the clear, clean rain began to sprinkle down on her. A few hours later, when she was shivering and stumbling through the downpour, she was becoming far less grateful. Without conscious thought, running purely on instinct, she had turned towards a soft glow in the distance.
That glow had turned out to be a small home. Little more than a reinforced shack, perhaps, but it looked cozy enough. The most wondrous sight, however, were the cultivated fields surrounding the home, full of various types of produce, from what she could tell. Then again, Lahasha was still weak and sore from her last attempt to judge the nature of something growing in this place.
However, this seemed purposeful. Evil berries growing wild were one thing...right? One wouldn't purposefully grow poisonous things around their home...would they? She didn't know for sure, but she couldn't imagine why they would. In any case, perhaps the risk was worth it. At this rate, as weak as she was, she wouldn't survive much longer without food. If there was a chance that something here might help...she needed to take it.
Approaching the fence, she knew she was planning to take something belonging to another. Likely, if caught, she'd expect the worst. Stealing back home....death would be a merciful punishment. Here? She had no idea what the penalty might be...but if she didn't eat something soon, she wasn't sure how much longer she'd last anyway. The risk...she'd have to take it. For survival.
She hadn't made it this far just to give up and die.
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:45 pm
 This was a good, strong, soaking rain.
The fields needed it, as did the reservoir. It had been a somewhat dry summer, and Lugh felt that he'd needed to water the fields more than in past years. Hard to tell, now with the pond in place and he didn't have to go as far for water...but the fields were also larger this year than in the past. He'd seen little of his friend, Lillison, since...well...since everything happened at that party...
Why he'd ever insisted that they go, he'd never know. And what had happened there...
He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts like the water that flew from his hair. He needed to stop entertaining such wayward thoughts. He'd had little companionship or help as of late, but he'd learned to deal with it alone.
The water level of the pond was definitely improving, and relieved, he'd shrugged his cloak back into place and turned to head back inside to dry off for the night. It wasn't a sound that drew his attention, but more...a feeling, pausing his movement back towards the warmth of his home and instead drawing him towards the outer boundary of his fields. The fences marked the edge of his lands, separating his fields from the wild lands beyond, but also providing physical support for a few types of climbing vines and bushes that he'd cultivated.
It seemed he had a trespasser. Eyes narrowing, he watched silently before making a move. Long time since anyone had ventured onto his lands...***** Lahasha hissed between clenched teeth. Pain was nothing new to her, and this was minor by comparison, however...that didn't make it any less agitating. She was getting dizzy and weak, and somehow she'd managed to get herself tangled in climbing rose vines in her attempt to scramble over the fence. The thorns dug in the more she struggled and she glared at the flowers on the vines...pretty, deceptive things...blood was welling from some of the new cuts, then getting washed away by the torrential rains. She was about to see if her dagger could do something about these..."Don't move."The gruff order was accompanied by a heavy hand falling upon her shoulder. Lahasha froze, automatically obeying, eyes widening. This is it. Her posture tensed, the instinct of fight or flight warring for control. She wanted to fight. She'd come this far...she wasn't about to give up her freedom or her life, not after coming so far!
...on the other hand, just the action of tensing combined with adrenaline caused another wave of dizziness to wash over her. She was in no condition to fight. She was sure her captor could feel her shaking. Maybe...just maybe, he'd realize she was no threat...maybe he'd not kill her at least...if she was alive, there was hope to escape...that's what had gotten them this far without giving up...Lugh frowned, preparing for a reaction when he'd surprised her, but luckily she seemed startled into inaction instead. When he was sure she wasn't about to try to attack him, he reached for her arm with his other hand. "Stop fighting. It only makes things worse."Flinching noticeably when a second hand was laid upon her, Lahasha was still subconsciously waiting for the blow to come. But it never did. Instead, the other took her wrist, the hand on her shoulder moving to join it as the cloaked figure slid into her vision. His hand touched one of the thorned vines, rested there for a moment, then he began gently untangling the snare around her arm. He muttered something about keeping calm and still, to which she complied. He was making far better progress than she had been. The vines seemed to fall away, where before they'd seemed to reach for her, tangling impossibly no matter what movement she made.As he worked, Lugh couldn't help but notice the condition of his 'security system's captive.' Her wrist was thin...bony. Her limbs lean, more so past the point of being healthy and fit, that was for sure. And all of that was besides the trembling. Otherwise, she was drenched and the rain was still coming down hard enough to make it difficult to see clearly, so he could tell little more than that.
"So...what are you doing sneaking onto my property?" He questioned when he'd nearly finished freeing her limbs from the vines. At the silence, he added, "Hungry, aren't you? Looking for some food?"Lahasha's face flushed warmly at being found out so easily, her eyes looking away in shame. Or maybe that was a fever coming on. None of that mattered though, because he knew the truth! He knew she'd been intending to steal from him! What was the punishment for stealing in this land? Was she about to lose her life? Her hand? Was that why he was freeing it, so he could remove it himself? Adrenaline and fear churned in her stomach, making her sick. She had nothing left to forfeit, but she felt ready to double over again.Taking her silence for affirmation, Lugh snorted and removed the last vine with a fond pat. "I see." Without releasing her arm, but surprisingly gentle and mindful of her scratches, he tugged her hand briefly. "Inside. Let's go."Despite the lack of force behind the movement, Lahasha still stumbled before catching herself and halting in a panic. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Why?" What are you going to do to me? She was too afraid to ask the rest aloud.The cloaked figure turned to look back at her and she caught a glimpse of golden eyes staring back at her from beneath the hood. "Because it's raining," he answered simply, then attempted to pull her forward again. This time she didn't resist, so he made sure to move carefully towards the glowing sanctuary, offering support when she stumbled.
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:12 am
Panic and confusion were warring for control of her mind. She'd been caught! But...punishment still seemed yet to come. And why was he taking the time to pick her up when she fell? Could he have something horrible in mind and this was all just to keep her off-guard? What hope did she have, when she could barely stand, even with help?
The cloaked figured pushed open the door, revealing a simple, but warm abode within, glowing with light from a fire. It seemed to be...some sort of cooking area, given the pot set over the fire, and the savory smell that filled the room. Her stomach seemed to notice, that was for sure, and reminded her of its presence and emptiness with a painful spasm. Lahasha glowered, covering as best she could while allowing herself to be pulled into the warm sanctuary. As soon as he shut the door behind them and released her hand, she recoiled, pulling away from the light and warmth, as tempting as it was, to collapse and cower near the wall.
He'd closed the door, thinking that the poor thing might still try to bolt, even in her condition. Or maybe she'd actually make herself comfortable by the fire. Lugh had not expected her to immediately collapse to her knees and try to cling to the wall like that. Why is she...?
"You know, there's nothing in here a little water or even dirt is gonna' hurt," he said idly. Not that he believed that was the problem. He had seen fear, true fear, in her eyes when their gazes met outside. She was terrified. He'd felt her shaking, though he couldn't tell if it had been because she was afraid, or because she was weak from hunger. Perhaps some combination of both.
She'd practically curled in on herself, huddling over and clutching her arms, visibly shaking. Or was she chilled? Her long hair had been plastered to her neck and face from the driving wind and rain, rivulets of water now running down and dripping to the floor. Depending on how long she'd been out there, that could be the case. Something seemed...off...about her wings. They hung limply at her back at the moment, looking...damaged, but dripping like the rest of her. He pushed that thought aside, reaching for a spare wool blanket on a shelf. "Here. 'S not much, but could help you dry off a bit before the fire does the rest of the job."
Lahasha turned her eyes towards the cloaked stranger just in time to react and catch the tossed bundle, with only minor fumbling. Dry off? Before the the fire did the rest? Was he going to toss her into--
Okay, clearly her mind was running wild. He was acting too....nice. Something was wrong here. Why would someone she'd wronged, or been about to wrong, behave in such a manner? It didn't make sense. Yet, her mind was spinning, trying to equate the odd male's current behavior with what she'd expected as a result of her actions. Nothing was matching up, leaving her lost and bewildered, silently fighting her panic.
Still, the blanket didn't exactly look like an obvious trap...and she was shivering, chilled to the bone. Common sense wouldn't allow her to disregard such an offer, and she hurriedly, if awkwardly, shook the blanket out and attempted to wrap it around herself. Her eyes kept being drawn to the floor, but she attempted to look up at a sign of movement from her 'captor'. She froze, eyes wide and staring, whatever she'd been thinking lost to what she saw now.
The harvest angel had shrugged off his cloak, whirling it free of his wings and shaking off the excess water before hanging it on a hook by the door to finish drying. Only afterward did he turn back to the female, puzzled by her blatant wide-eyed stare. "What?"
The Fallen visibly jumped, dropping her eyes back to the floor submissively. "...n-n-nothing," she hurriedly stammered, though the image had remained locked in her mind for study. Huge, glorious, feathered wings. Even damp, it was easy to tell that they were healthy and strong, likely easily capable of flight; unlike her own. Unlike those of her kindred.
Though he raised an eyebrow at this response, Lugh shrugged it off for now. Instead, he moved towards the fire to check on dinner. While he stirred the pot with a long ladle, he took another glance at his new guest. She behaved like a beaten animal, cowering over there like that. Yet, she didn't seem to fight when given some sort of direction. Just what sort of situation had she come from?
"It's not much, but it's almost ready," he said conversationally, nodding to the stew. "Thought soup would be nice on a night like tonight." He didn't normally speak so much, not since he'd been alone. It felt both...awkward and reassuring to have someone to talk to again. Not that she was doing much speaking back.
He assumed she'd want some, but would she say so? He could see the desire in her eyes as she looked towards the soup pot. Obviously she was hungry, starving even. Yet, she made no move to be so forward. Odd. It was almost as if she were afraid to act on her own, at least...now that she was in the presence of another. Clearly, she'd made a decision on her own to enter his fields.
Testing his theory, he turned to her and said simply, "Come over here."
Lahasha shifted nervously, keeping her gaze downcast whenever the angel turned to look at her directly. The order came and she was compelled to comply. Even if she remained afraid of some unspoken punishment. Even if she could barely stand.
Yet, she reached out to the wall, using it to brace herself as she struggled to her feet. She was determined to keep the blanket with her though, clinging to it with her other hand. Her steps were shaky, but she eventually managed to cross the room. She halted at the maximum distance she thought could be considered 'here' to the angel...still just outside arm's reach.
Interesting. Taking note of her response, Lugh turned to nod to a small table and chair. "Sit down." He watched her do so, then started ladling up a couple of wooden bowls full of stew. He set one in front of her with a spoon, the other on the other side of the table for himself before moving to grab a second chair. The only other chair he owned. "It's not much...just some tomatoes and onions...a few herbs; nothing too heavy. But, I have a feeling that's probably best in your case right now."
Lahasha's eyes were locked on the bowl that was placed in front of her. Even if it appeared unfamiliar, the savory scent wafting up from the bowl seemed like the best thing she'd ever smelled, surely it had to be the best she'd ever taste. That could also be the hunger speaking. Her stomach clenched, and though she wanted to immediately devour the contents of the bowl, she hesitated, waiting until she saw the other pick up a spoon and begin eating before she dared move towards her own. The first spoonful was heavenly...and the next...and the next...then her stomach seemed to turn and she stopped. Take it slow. You haven't kept anything else down but rainwater in a couple days, you idiot, she thought to herself. A deep calming breath, then she slowly attempted to take another spoonful.
She only made it halfway through the large bowl before realizing that she was pushing 'full' towards 'sick' and forced herself to stop. It was just so good though...she had forgotten what a full belly even felt like. By this time, she was warm, full, and exhaustion was taking priority and telling her to sleep. She was completely off-guard by now, feeling dazed and unable to dredge up the energy to be paranoid or fearful of the unspoken punishment sure to come.
By the time Lugh finished his dinner, it seemed his guest was about to pass out on the table. Not the best place to spend the night. He stood and moved around to take her arm. "Come on. Up you go. Can't spend the night here."
Stirred from her stupor, Lahasha felt dismay setting in. She knew it, it was all too good to be true. Now that she was warm, she was being thrown out again into the cold and the rain and--
Instead, the angel led her to a separate room, towards a cot padded with straw and covered by a blanket similar to the one wrapped around her. When he gestured for her to lay down, she hesitated, biting her lip. "Why? ...why are you doing all this?"
Taken aback by her question, Lugh stared at her for a moment. "Why wouldn't I?" Now it was his turn to receive a surprised look, to which he frowned. Where had she come from? "You're clearly in some kind of trouble...you're weak, you're sick, and you need help. I've got food and I've got shelter. I can provide that. I don't know what it is you might be running from, but...you're safe here...okay?" He supposed he didn't have to go so far just for common courtesy. He couldn't say why he was so eagerly accepting a stranger into his home, if temporarily. Maybe he really was lonely. He shoved the thought aside, noting that the woman seemed...rather warm. She'd even given up trying to keep her distance from him, leaning on him for help. He couldn't very well send a sick woman back out on her own.
Hopefully she wasn't going to be bringing some kind of trouble to his door instead.
Still biting her lip, Lahasha nodded. She was grateful...and she was too tired, too sick to keep in constant fear for now that the other had some ulterior motive for her. He was doing so much for her...it was an insanely elaborate ruse, if that's what it was. Unable to stay on her feet any longer, even with help, she sank into the cot weakly. With a shiver, she curled up on her side, drawing the blanket tightly around herself. She watched the angel back away through blurred, swimming vision before she sank into blissful, warm, darkness.
"...goodnight."
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 2:22 pm
The next time she woke, Lahasha emerged from a deep sleep, and immediately panic set in. Where was she? How'd she get here? Had she been found? She shifted to grab her dagger, hidden within the void in her chest...then slowed at the feeling of rough warmth surrounding her. Wool blankets...straw...some sort of sleeping cot...
The memories flooded back, touched by the haze of exhaustion and sickness. She felt better at this point, but still weak as she learned when she tried to sit upright. Woozy, she halted before attempting to go any further just yet. Instead, she looked down in puzzlement at the wrappings on her arms, one around her leg as well. Lifting the wrappings, she sniffed at the herbal mixture beneath. Poison? Again, a lot of effort if that's what they were. A less paranoid thought would suggest that her minor wounds had been cared for.
It did make her somewhat uncomfortable to imagine that happening while she slept.
A final glance around the room confirmed that she was alone, though sounds from the next hinted at activity there. After some hesitation, she attempted to climb to her feet. Not the most steady, but she was up. Slow, shuffling steps eventually brought her to the doorway, peering in at the room from...last night? It seemed like days, but maybe it had only been the night before.
Glancing up at the first sign of movement, Lugh paused in what he was working on to notice his guest up and about. She seemed better at least, but seemed to balk and back away suddenly. Frowning, he looked down at what he'd been doing: sharpening one of the few metal tools he had, a gardening hoe. "Relax..." he said in an even tone, slowly setting the tool aside on the floor. "It's a tool...used for digging in the ground." Had she really never seen such a thing before?
Only after she seemed to relax, he asked warily, "Feeling better?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:11 am
Though she remained wary of the implement, even after it was safely on the ground, Lahasha forced herself to appear calm to at least to placate her 'host'. Better? Was she better? She supposed, by a matter of comparison, she was. "Yes," she said quietly with a simple nod, keeping her eyes on the ground ahead of her. For stability, she allowed herself to lean against the frame of the door, grateful at least to be on her feet.
Lugh paused, looking her over before responding again. She was upright and she seemed a bit more lucid at least than she had been the night before. That was an improvement. Perhaps her fever had broken. Hard to say without checking. For now, he'd keep his distance to keep her at ease.
"Good," he said simply, looking down as he brushed fibers from his hands and arms. "I um...hope it's alright... Suppose I'm asking forgiveness instead of permission now, but...I tried to take care of your injuries while you slept." He'd felt more than a bit guilty for the scratches she'd received from his roses' over-enthusiastic efforts to protect his property. He'd found much more, however, upon a closer look. He dreaded this conversation, knowing it would have to come when she woke.
"The cuts were easy enough to treat but...I'm sorry. I'm afraid...I couldn't do anything for your wings."
Lahasha had been more concerned by the realization previously that someone had touched her while she slept...and she'd slept on, completely unaware. She couldn't let down her guard so completely! It was a wonder she was still alive. It occurred to her now, belatedly however, that there was a different concern here. He was...apologizing for treating her wounds? For touching her? That's right...she was free now. Her body was her own. What a strange concept.
Apparently, in this land, that was common acceptance?
His comment about her wings did not go unnoticed, nor the way his posture told of delivering some great weight. Remembering the sight of his own grand wings from the night before, the way they shone, healthy and sturdy in the firelight, she thought she understood.
He....thought she was like him?
With a touch of bitterness in a sad smile, she shook her head at the floor. "You wouldn't be able to. They've been like that for a long time..."
Still looking down, she dropped her gaze further as she let the blanket slip from her shoulders. The top of the hole slid into view and she commented quietly, "...of course, this is still rather new...but apparently not as bad as it looks..."
Lugh's head shot up in surprise. He'd been unable to look at her while delivering the bad news...he'd never expected to see such damage after getting her out of the storm. Her wings were torn, ragged and bare, likely looking as if she'd never fly again...
...and she knew? She didn't seem surprised by the news at all, meaning...she'd been like this long before? What sort of situation was she coming from? It cemented the worry growing in Lugh's mind all the more with this new revelation, spurring his resolution. He hadn't even known what to make of the hole in her chest...she was clearly still breathing...somehow, but...honestly, he couldn't even begin to process understanding it and had pushed it aside to deal with after she awoke.
With a frown, Lugh stood and said simply, "So...you knew." He didn't have nearly enough information about this stranger to feel at ease. Not anymore. Taking a few strides to cross the room, he noticed her tense and recoil as he neared. He felt the temptation to back down, but ignored it. It wasn't his style to try to strong arm any Pae, especially a woman, but there were too many questions here. He needed some answers.
"Look, lady...I don't know what you've gotten yourself involved in," he said quietly, then noting her eyes darting back towards the other room as if contemplating escape, he calmly planted his arm on the wall to block her path. "But I need some answers. I don't mind helping you out a bit, but...if you're about to bring trouble to my door for doing so..."
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:05 am
Lahasha jumped as the angel's arm blocked her imagined escape route. Not that she really had anywhere to escape to in that direction. It was just...the close quarters made her anxious and she backed against the wall to put as much distance between them as she could. Which he then negated by leaning in to her. Answers? He wanted answers? Answers she wasn't sure she could give, even if she wanted to.
"I...I...I can just go....if that's okay," she stammered hurriedly. He was talking of helping her. Which was still confusing. It implied that there was still no punishment for trying to steal from him...already, he'd done more for her than she could have ever dreamed of in her wildest imagination...and he was saying he'd do more. But, he needed answers, a promise that trouble wouldn't find her here.
She couldn't give that.
If he wasn't keeping her here, if she wasn't his captive though...she could just leave? Was that alright? If he said she could. She had no idea where she'd go, of course, but if she were free, she'd continue on as she had. Better at least for one night somewhere...safe.
She'd slept so soundly that she hadn't even woken while he'd dressed her wounds. Was she just that exhausted? Or had she actually felt safe for once in her life?
...likely just exhausted and sick.
Still, she had been safe. He'd taken care of her, asking nothing in return but assurance that he wouldn't pay the price for doing so.
And she couldn't even give him that.
Frowning, the angel shook his head. He pushed too much; she was just trying to flee. "You don't have to go. That's not what I'm saying. I don't mind helping you. You haven't been much trouble so far. You don't eat much, anyway, and you're quiet enough," he half-joked, trying to lighten the situation. "I just want to know...is something chasing you? Is some horrible thing going to show up on my doorstep looking for you? You can give me that much for helping you, can't you?"
Feeling more and more trapped, with no escape route, Lahasha had started to tremble. If she didn't answer, would he hit her? He was clearly stronger than she...the strong controlled the weak...she was certainly weak. It was the only hierarchy she'd ever known...it wasn't strange to assume things worked the same here. Sure, he'd been nice to her before, but if he wanted something, even just answers, and she denied him, then what stopped him from doing whatever it took to get them?
She couldn't give him what he wanted though. She couldn't promise any of that. She didn't know that she hadn't been followed. She had been fearing the exact same thing each and every day since she'd arrived in this strange place. Beginning to shake, she tried to hide it by clutching the blanket tighter around her. "I...I can't..." she admitted, stumbling back against the wall and cringing as if expecting a blow to fall.
"Can't what? Can't tell me what happened to you? Where you came from? I don't even know your name!" Lugh shot back, a hint of exasperation creeping into his tone as he got louder. He saw her cringe, but pushed forward, justifying that he'd make it okay later...he'd apologize, if he could just get some answers.
"Can you give me something? Where in Telrunya did you come from? You look like you've been wandering for a long time. You show up on my property, sick, starving, and you won't even tell me where you're from?"
His raised voice seemed to affect her like a physical blow, causing her to recoil and slip down the wall for lack of anywhere else to go. Wincing, Lahasha felt the panic bubbling up and only when he said something that registered as a foreign word did she take note. "...Telrunya?" Is that what this place is called?
She'd have rather run than try to answer his questions...the ones she even could answer, but she was trapped. Besides, she could barely stand...how far would she make it on her own? Much as she hated it, she needed his help, if he would continue to provide it. Trying to calm her shaking, she stopped cringing and tried to look up...though instinct told her to keep down. "...Lahasha." After a moment, she added, "My name. The one I took at least. I'm not...from here. From...far away," she started, trying to think of the best way to explain something that she only partially understood herself.
The tension building in his chest at having to be so harsh reached a breaking point, then started to release. It was a strange answer, and not what he'd been hoping for, but... "Well...it's a start." The way she cringed from contact, he thought better of reaching to touch her. Instead, he sank to join her in sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. Small steps...
"Lahasha, is it? Well, I'm Lugh." He propped up one arm on his raised knee, then glanced at her sideways. "You don't seem surprised by any of that," he nodded, glancing at her wings and towards the hole in her chest, trying not to stare directly. "I suppose...that's not recent then? Can I ask what happened?"
No longer did he tower over her. His voice had quieted again. Lahasha was able to release some of the tension and lean back against the wall as he joined her on the floor. Such a simple act spoke volumes to her subconscious mind. He was down on her level, speaking to her. Though she didn't want to think or talk about where she came from...somehow, it made it easier to speak. Perhaps enough information could be shared without it being too painful, that he might be satisfied with her answers.
Shifting slightly and letting the blanket slip down, she flexed one of her wings to the side, glancing over her shoulder. "This...was done long before I can remember...I'm used to it by now." She dropped the wrap the rest of the way, reaching up to touch the edge of the cracked hole in her chest. "And this...is the price I paid for freedom from the ones who took my wings."
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:58 am
Silence hung between the pair before Lugh lifted his voice again to dispel it.
"I hope you realize you just raised more questions than you answered with that reply," he said lightly. Serious words, yes, but at the same time, it all still sounded so foreign and surreal, he wasn't sure how to take any of this just yet. For Guardians' sake, he had a woman in his house with a hole in her chest. How did that even work?
Frowning, Lahasha turned her gaze down again, staring somewhere in the general area of her hands. How was she supposed to answer his questions? She knew what she knew...but what did he know? Anything of where she came from? This world seemed so different...they had completely different spheres of experience and she had no idea where they intersected, if they did at all.
"Um...let's...try something else. One question at a time?" she pleaded, thinking maybe it'd be easier to answer that way. Not that she was refusing answers...just trying not to be overwhelmed. "What do you want to know first?"
Lugh seemed to consider the option for a moment before selecting his first question. Most important, he figured, if he was going to avoid danger coming to his own door. Or at least be able to recognize it if it was. "Who did this to you?"
Big question. An important one, she supposed. Lahasha drew one knee towards her chest, wrapping her arms around it as she answered quietly. "...have you ever heard of the Rakshasha?" She paused, glanced over at the male and was relieved to see a puzzled expression as he shook his head. "Thank the Light," she murmured, lapsing to an old phrase from the prisons whose meaning had been lost long ago. She relaxed visibly, continuing, "They are horrible creatures. With sharp teeth and claws and cruelty. And three eyes that watch your every move, preparing to strike when you least expec--" She cut herself short with a shiver. The nightmares still lurked. "Pray you never learn more of them than what I tell you now," she finished flatly.
Taking a moment for a deep breath, she continued after a minute of silence, "From birth, these creatures cursed us...all my kind. We serve from birth to death...some of the lucky ones get to leave the prisons, if for a short time, to be used as traveling servants. I never did," she murmured, fiddling with the blanket in her fingers. "The curse though...it poisons our hearts, killing us slowly. Our wings wither away. By the time we're fully grown, every day is agonizing...and yet, you've grown used to it. There's no other option; you cope or you die." She explained it as a mere matter-of-fact, though her hands shook slightly.
"Legends said...that the only way we'd ever be free of the curse was the day we left that world. Death was the only escape...or so we thought. But someone found a loophole," she explained quietly, thinking back to that place, to the plan, the others, the ones who had planned it all. "We could leave that world...for another. And the price was in leaving our cursed hearts behind." She touched her chest thoughtfully. "I can't explain how it works. I don't know. I just know...the pain is gone...and I feel...empty. And it's a relief."
This was...certainly a lot to take in. Hard to believe at best, yet here she sat before him. Lugh reached up to scratch his head, then push his hair back. "That's....a heck of a story. I've certainly never heard of such creatures...or of such a situation. A whole people enslaved? I know I'm a bit out of touch out here, but I'm pretty sure I'd have heard of something like that if it had happened here on Telrunya. Guess...you really are from far away, aren't you?" He paused, something else occurring to him. "Wait, you said 'we' and 'our'. Are there...more like you here?"
Hesitating only a moment, Lahasha nodded. There was no danger in admitting as such to this stranger who had done so much for her already. "Several of us escaped...only a few days ago, I think. It's hard to judge. But...I don't know where the rest ended up. I was on my own and..." She swallowed hard, horrible memories of sickness and pain stirring up. "I...didn't really know what to do about food...I found some berries and never thought...I needed food and water. But...I got so sick..." She dropped her head. Even if she knew it was logical for one who'd never been outside in her own land, let alone this strange one, to not know safe foliage from not...it was still embarrassing. If she'd not been caught trying to steal from him...if he'd not shown her such kindness...her escape may have all been for naught...her body lying somewhere for the scavengers to find...
Frowning, Lugh noted that her gaze had grown distant, as if distracted by some thought. "Well...that explains a lot," he commented, seeing her jump a bit and refocus on him. "Sickness...exposure...injury. That explains your condition." He glanced at her, meeting her gaze. "Doesn't sound like these creatures you're afraid of are likely to find you here, so...I suppose, that means the primary concern now is getting you healthy again. I mean, I assume you'd like to get back to looking for your friends."
Rising from growing despair back into wary hope, Lahasha bit her lip as she met the angel's stare. "I...I can stay? For just a little while, I mean...I don't need to be anymore trouble than I have been already..."
Chuckling softly, Lugh looked away. "It's fine. It's been too quiet around here lately anyway. You at least need to get your strength back before heading out again. Maybe....I can show you a few things about how to find safe food here on the isle in the meantime. Help keep you from ending up in trouble again."
Lahasha swallowed hard, then nodded meekly. Could it be true? Did his kindness know no bounds? "Thank you....for everything."
"Don't mention it. Now, how about some breakfast? Though...I suppose it's more like lunch at this point," he smiled, rising then reaching down to help her to her feet.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:57 pm
The next couple days went by fairly uneventfully. Lahasha continued to eat, rest, and regain health, and it was no more than a day before she insisted on pitching in with work to help repay Lugh for his kindness. The rest was nice and a strange sort of luxury for the Fallen. So strange that it began to make her uncomfortable to indulge in too much. She needed to work, to do something to help out and serve as payment for the food and hospitality. At first, Lugh insisted she stay indoors, at least for the first day. She complied with his wishes, cleaning and straightening up inside the shack, sweeping the floor, even learning a bit about food preparation. She wasn't content to stay inside again for another day, so Lugh (somewhat reluctantly and warning her repeatedly against overexerting herself) took her out with him to share in his daily chores.
The bright sunlight felt heavenly on her skin and Lahasha caught herself more than once pausing just to relish the sensation. No dark creatures out here, that was sure. They'd likely burn up in such intense light and heat.
The mental image of flames engulfing one of those horrible felines entertained her for more than a moment.
The morning was filled with instruction mostly. The angel showed her some of the types of plants he grew, teaching her to identify them, then showing her the differences between them and the tiny weeds that sprung up amongst them. Tiny as they were, they stole strength from the crops, and would easily grow to overwelm them if left unchecked. The work of removing them seemed important, and also easy enough, so Lugh left her to work while he moved to a different field for another task.
Focusing on a singular task helped ease some of the guilt she felt, being indebted to the angel. Kind as he was, she didn't like the uneasy feeling that settled in her gut whenever she thought about how much she owed him already for saving her. No, she'd work off her debt while learning more about this land, then be free to move on to try to find the others again.
Free.
Such a beautiful word.
On the opposite end of the field, Lugh worked to collect the hay he'd recently cut and left to dry in the warm sunlight. Raking the dried straw into a pile, he used the massive fork to scoop and heave the harvest over his shoulder onto a massive, still-growing mound of hay. Sweat was pouring from his brow and Lugh wished not for the first or last time that he'd thought to grab a cloth to use as a bandana while he worked. It was hotter today than he'd thought it might be, and he'd hoped to have most of this done by midday. He supposed he'd spent too long instructing Lahasha on the finer points of identifying crops and weeds, but...she'd been such an eager student, he'd lost track of time.
Ah well, if he could just finish this row, perhaps they could break for midday and he could resume later when the sun had dipped lower in the sky. Despite the heat, he picked up his efforts, raking, scooping, then tossing the hay over his shoulder onto the pile. Perhaps he got in too much of a hurry, forsaking care for speed, but he didn't want to stay out too long in the worst of the day's heat. He tossed another forkful over his shoulder towards the pile, shaking his head as the stray bits of hay rained down onto his hair and shoulders.
"LUGH!"
The angel was startled by Lahasha's shout from the other end of the field. She'd never been particularly vocal, or at least so loud before. Had she hurt herself? He'd never forgive himself if she had. One look to the far end of the field, however, and he realized she was looking in his direction with eyes wide, at something just above him...
He turned just as the shadow of the collapsing pile loomed overhead.
Oh, cripes, this is gonna' hurt... he thought as he raised his arms overhead, bracing himself for the impact. He expected to be momentarily buried in dusty, smothering hay.
The sudden impact from the side nearly knocked the breath out of him. The following collision with the ground finished the job. He coughed weakly in combination from having the wind knocked out of him and the dust stirred up into the air from the collapsing hay stack. Lugh tried to shift, lowering his arms from his head to see the damage that the fall had done, but his vision was obscured by dark blue ringlets of hair. "...Lahasha? Are you okay?" Wait a moment...Lahasha? He looked down at her form prone atop his, then back towards where she'd just been standing...on the other side of the field...
A bit dazed at first, the Fallen coughed as the dust attempted to ride the sharp inhale of air when she stirred. She shifted, raising her head in confusion. He...wanted to know if she was okay? But...he'd been the one in danger...not her... "I...I'm fine." A bit dizzy for some reason and feeling weak, but that wasn't important. She wasn't important. "Are you unharmed?"
She'd...tried to save him? But how...? Lugh wasn't sure the fall had been much less damage than he'd have sustained from the hay, but he wasn't about to tell her that. "I'm alright," he answered to reassure her, attempting to sit up in the process to check for himself. However, he was reminded quite quickly of the secondary weight on top of him as he tried to move. Attributing the rising heat to the sun above beating down on them, he placed his hands on her waist to gently move her to the side so that he could rise awkwardly, seeming focused on checking the status of his wings.
Lahasha withdrew quickly to kneel to the side, hating to think she might be in the way or making things wors--oh no...his wings! Eyes wide with alarm, she started to reach out without thinking, but stopped just short of touching the extended wing Lugh was inspecting. No...she couldn't...she shouldn't dare. She withdrew her hand slowly, the temptation had been obvious, but also despair clawed at her. To imagine she could have harmed such beautiful, perfect... "I-I'm so sorry...are they okay? I didn't mean..."
The obvious distress in the young woman's voice shook off any of Lugh's remaining awkwardness and he turned his eyes from his wing, back to her, noting the odd gesture. "No, they're fine. Really. But, Lahasha...how'd you do that? You were on the other side of the field..."
"I...no I was..." Lahasha seemed confused for a moment, staring at Lugh, then turning to see where he gestured. She noted the section she'd been weeding...well on the other side of this cleared area, across a couple more rows of tomato plants...there was no way she ran all that way. She didn't remember running even. Just seeing the hay stack start to collapse...Lugh beneath...too many things had run through her head...then the impact...
"...I don't know."
Lugh frowned in thought, but it seemed she really knew no more than he had what had just happened. Strange... He shook his head. "Well, whatever you did...thank you."
Lahasha couldn't stop wringing her hands. Some of which was anxiety, but the rest was the overwhelming urge she had to reach out to those gorgeous fiery-colored wings, to stroke the soft feathers, to feel them and just know it was real. It was so much worse now than ever after being so close. "I...It's just...are you sure? That...nothing's wrong? Nothing hurts?"
Puzzled for a moment, Lugh watched her anxious behavior and went through everything he'd learned about her since she'd arrived on his doorstep. Strange behavior, even for her. Was it more than what it seemed? "No...nothing hurts. I'm okay." His eyes narrowed thoughtfully and he tilted his head at her. "What is it? There's something on your mind. You can tell me."
Clearly, she was horrible at hiding secrets. At least...from those who cared enough to really look at her, it seemed. It was stupid. A silly whim of a silly girl. Embarrassing. Shameful. Just a passing urge, really. She swallowed, momentarily biting her bottom lip. "...it's just..." She reached out again, but didn't make contact, eyes turning towards his outstretched wing. "...may I...?" She couldn't even voice it aloud, hoping her small gesture completed the question for her. Then, she attempted to cover a bit by adding on hurriedly, "Just...to make sure they're not hurt."
Lugh stared back in reply, understanding slowly blossoming. He'd seen the looks she'd given his wings over the past couple of days, and knowing her story, he could sympathize to some degree. Still...well, it seemed a bit awkward, but it wouldn't hurt to indulge her for a moment. He nodded, opening the wing closest to her slowly until it was fully extended.
Her touch was exceedingly gentle, as if she were handling something as delicate as a robin's egg, only sampling the texture with her fingertips. She went through the movements as if checking for injuries, but it was clear she was fascinated by them and thinking of little else except exploring these strange, foreign objects. To be completely honest, it hurt Lugh to see her wings in such a condition. He felt strangely guilty, simply for having what he'd taken for granted all these years. His wings yes, but also his freedom.
Yes, he could indulge her in this much.
Still, it felt very personal...her intense focus on his wings, the gentle way she caressed the feathers with her fingers, the look of longing that settled in her expression. It all felt very...intimate.
Swallowing hard, Lugh noted the heat again and mentally berated himself for sitting out here in the middle of the day. Worst time to be out, really. Yeah, that was it. So as not to startle her and allow her to keep her excuse intact, he kept his voice low and soothing as he spoke up, "See? No harm done."
She jumped nonetheless, pulling back her hands hurriedly. He felt a bit bad, but...they really should get back inside. "All good. Come on. Let's go in until it cools off out here. Besides, I think we could both use a rest for a while. Then I can clean up this mess my carelessness caused." He climbed to his feet, offering Lahasha a hand up, which she accepted long enough to stand.
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 5:18 pm
The days had continued to flow by, mysteriously seeming simultaneously swift and slow for the lost Fallen. Lost, yet found. It had taken some time for her to adapt to the laid back, peaceful lifestyle; yet, she could imagine nothing more that she'd ever want for herself having experienced it. And yet, she could not stay here. She could not hide away in this peaceful place while her kin may still be out there somewhere. Besides, she still felt like an intruder. As kind as Lugh had been to her, she was still an invader on his peaceful life. Even if he said nothing to the contrary, Lahasha felt the anxiety grow the longer she stayed here. She needed to leave."...only if you're sure you're ready to go.""I am," she answered quietly, focused on packing a few meager supplies in a satchel. She would rather not have had to owe him further, but Lugh wouldn't let her leave without some supplies. Lahasha would just mentally add the items to the list of things she already owed the angel. One day, when her own problems were handled, she'd find a way to pay her debts. "I really should go." She thought the discussion was closed. She'd made up her mind and surely he'd be relieved to be rid of her.
Instead, she was surprised by a hand on her shoulder."You don't have to go. I mean, not on my account. You could stay a while longer if you'd like."Lahasha turned, looking puzzled. As she did, she took in Lugh's frown of concern, the earnest look in his eyes as he reached out to take her free hand. And she returned a frown of her own. "I need to go find the others...if they still live," she finally responded quietly.Lugh's expression seemed to tense for a moment, then softened. Of course. How could you forget about the others? Selfish fool, he berated himself quietly. She had much more pressing concerns; he'd been so focused on her recovery and helping her adjust to life on Telrunya, it'd slipped his mind that she'd originally escaped with others, their fates still unknown. It hadn't been long, but he'd grown accustomed to her quiet presence. He still knew little of the details of where she'd come from, but he'd seen enough change in her already to appreciate the improvement. And he wasn't about to put her through the pain of remembering just for his own curiosity. She was still quiet...but he found himself reminding her less and less to look up from the floor and meet his gaze. She no longer cowered when he entered the room or flinched if he neared her while she was focused on some other task. Strange details to note, but they were definitely signs of progress. And it had been nice to have something other than his crops...someone else...to focus his attention on as a distraction.
Shelving his wandering thoughts, he relaxed into a calm smile, if somewhat touched with regret. He gently patted her hand in a reassuring manner. "Of course. My apologies. I mean, if you're up for the trip, of course, I understand wanting to resume the search. Here, let me help." In silence, he fell in alongside Lahasha, handing her small packets he'd prepared with travel bread, some dried fruits and vegetables, a rough blanket, warm and durable, good for travel.
They remained in silence as she finished packing, then threw the satchel over one shoulder. With some adjustment, she got it to hang crossways over her torso and rest on her opposite hip. It wasn't until the pair headed outside that Lugh spoke again. He looked awkward at first, glancing out to the open prairies beyond his fields, then back to Lahasha, who seemed ready to leave. After a moment, he said, "You know, this doesn't have to be goodbye or anything. I mean...if you have any trouble or need some more supplies, you can come back. Or...if you can't find anyone...or heck, if you do find them and just want to...let me kno--" He trailed off awkwardly, glancing aside at his fields. The place was already starting to feel emptier and she hadn't even left yet.It was a strange sight, to see the angel fumbling his words and seeming so awkward all of a sudden. Perhaps, Lahasha had changed more than she realized in coming here. She felt like she should be the cringing, stammering one, and yet, her mind had turned to the lands outside the farm, already wondering how best to start searching for the others. What dangers she might face armed with her new-found wisdom of this land? Whether success was possible or if this land offered only futility?
No, there was some some flicker of hope. She'd found it here. On a farm. In the kindness of a gloriously winged, kind stranger. This land couldn't be all bad. Definitely better than where they'd come from. If they were just careful.
She cast a glance at Lugh, who was currently looking away from her, at the fields spread out beside them. They had spent many days in each other's company. Learning about one another and exchanging awkward gestures from their respective cultures. Though she had her reasons for shying away from physical contact, she got the feeling that such things were more common in this land as a form of expression. At least, they apparently were for the angel, as she'd caught him looking very awkward and trying to find alternate actions to take so as not to touch her. She wasn't about to throw all of her own insecurities away, of course, but perhaps she could do something to breach the divide before she left.
It was the least she could do for him.
Lahasha reached out, taking the angel's hand in hers and gingerly (and more than a bit awkwardly) placed one arm around Lugh's waist. It had to be...quite possibly the most uncomfortable, one-armed hug, but still she leaned into it just for a moment.
It was quite possible they were both equally rigid from shock and pure unfamiliarity with the action.
Nevertheless, she offered a quiet, "Thank you...for everything. I owe you more than I can repay now, but I promise I will...someday."Lugh had frozen in shock when Lahasha took his hand, then he felt her pressed up against his side. Since when did she...? What was she...? Why...? It took him a moment to process what she said as she pulled away. "No, really...you've been a big help, don't worry about it. Just...be careful out there, okay?"Lahasha only nodded in reply as she pulled away. They both seemed to relax again, though the somber feeling settled over them once more. She adjusted her bag one last time, then headed out on a light jog. Hopefully that gesture had helped the angel somewhat.
She had to admit, it hadn't been a completely altruistic action.
As she jogged away from the farm, she could still remember the feeling of warm, soft feathers brushing against her cheek and fingertips...savoring the sensation and committing it to her memory...Lugh watched the dark skinned woman until she faded into the distance before he moved. He tried not to listen to all the thoughts whirling in his head, but he didn't know how to fight them. What would she find out there? Would she find the others? But, what if she ran into trouble?
What if this really was goodbye?
When she was long out of sight, the harvest angel finally stirred, returning in solitude to his empty shack.*****
[FIN]
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