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Sebastian sighed and leaned against her. "Me too." He sighed back.

At that moment, Tkal and Thalanir were riding back, their purses now filled with the reward for the job they had sat out on. Thal grinned at his brother. "Its been too long brother."

Karia tilted her head and grinned back up at Tkal as if sensing his worry. "You have not hurt me, and probably won't as we are just over the ridge now. You can stop worrying now." She said with a small laugh. She had grown to enjoy listening to the small elf-man while he rode on her bad.

Thalanir laughed. "Most can be 'unfun', but atleast we get paid." He replied back as they crested the hill.

Sebastian nodded and held Manga's hand as they walked out to the main room where the girls had vacated in order to do their chores outdoors.

Sebastian looked out the window and recognized the colors of the mounts. "Its Tkal and Thalanir. They're back." He smiled at Manga, softly, love shining through his eyes.

Thalanir laughed. "I don't think there's anything that Manga could get up to... then again... you know her better than I."

Thalanir slipped off of Kailyn's back as Karia bent down to let Tkal down. "Well now you have your brother, and a new friend right there, Right Karia?"

The mare grinned and nodded her head.

Sebastian laughed. "Guess we'll find out real soon, huh?" he teased.

Thalanir sighed and shrugged at the two humans. "Congrats in any case, but I think I will go get things settled in the barn. If you two need anything, let me know..." He said before turning around abruptly and leaving.

Sebastian sighed and loped his arm over Manga."He just cares for you."

Sebastian sighed. "You probably are, and as for Thalanir, pay him no mind. He will get used to you. He just has bad experiences with humans, as Tkal doesn't really trust anyone."

[ AIM Log ]

Sebastian sighed and lightly rubbed Manga's shoulder. "I wear it proudly now... It is a part of me, and eventually the girls will come to realize it is a part of them. They should be proud, for they have something to show that they are stronger than the average person." he replied softly.

"Even so..." It kept them all running. Manga didn't want to admit it, but she was scared--scared that the meaning behind that mark would separate them. She sighed, turning and giving him a proper hug. "I just--" An all-too-familiar sensation of pain began shooting out from her right shoulder blade, cutting off her sentence. She suddenly went rigid, trying to keep at least some degrees of control and composure. Her fingers clutched the back of Sebastian's shirt. "I need to lay down," she managed to get out without leaking too much pain into her voice. This wasn't good. With her injuries, this was a bad time for her to have one of her... episodes.

Sebastian clung to her, feeling her body tighten in what he could only assume was pain. He grimaced and caught her, picking her up swiftly. "Just breath easy, Love," he said softly as he quickly carried her to his room and laid her down in the only room that was sure not to have someone barging in.

Manga smiled weakly. "Easier said than done," she mumbled. Her fingers snapped into fists like little clams the instant she let go of Sebastian, the pain spreading further and further with each second. Her wounds felt like they were on fire. She closed her eyes for a moment or two before opening them again to smile at Sebastian. "I'll be alright," she reassured quietly. "Happens... all the... time."

Sebastian nodded and sat beside her on the bed after he laid her down gingerly. He reached to his side table and grabbed the pitcher or water he used for night, and drizzled a little on a cloth, and used it to wipe her brow.

Manga felt surprisingly peaceful despite the pain. With Sebastian there, things just... didn't seem as bad. She was going to say something else, but a sudden increase in pain managed to knock her out cold. When her eyes fluttered open again, Tkal was getting up and calling out the door. "Hey, Seb, Sleeping Beauty's awake!" "How long...?" Tkal turned to face the disoriented artist. "A few hours. It's been a while since you passed out from one of these." She sighed, not bothering to move more than shifting a bit to make herself more comfortable. "It's probably because I was already injured before it hit... The weaker the body, the harder the hit." The gladiator shrugged, glancing towards the door. "He took this a lot better than I thought he would." He scratched his head. "Even I was surprised when I first saw your little 'episode'." "I told him it happens all the time." "Well, it does, but that doesn't make it any less worrying..." Manga rolled her eyes. "Maybe he's just less of a worry-wort than you are." She could only grin at Tkal's irritable look; she didn't dare try to laugh with how her chest hurt. Her limbs ached... She doubt she'd be moving anytime soon. Where had Seb gone, anyway? Apparently the question was written on her face, since Tkal answered it. "Seb went to fix dinner for the girls. He didn't want them coming in and bothering you."

Sebastian chose that moment to come into the room, after he had gotten the twins settled into their dinner. He told them to leave Manga alone cause she had a headache and was taking a nap. Nodding at Tkal, he stepped into his room and smiled softly at Manga. "Glad to see you're up again..." he said, wiping his hands on the apron that was tied around his waist

Manga smiled wryly. "Depends on your definition of 'up'..." Whether she could get herself vertical was questionable. She glanced at her hands, which had been gloved at some point while she was out. "Thanks, Tkal." Tkal waved off the thanks. "Figured you'd be mad if you scarred your hands again." Without waiting for a reply, he headed out to join the twins and Thal for dinner.

Sebastian moved to the bed and sat down beside her, rubbing her arm lightly. "Are you okay?"

"It's passed... so I guess I am." Manga lifted her other arm, managing to move it enough so that she could cover Sebastian's hand with her own. "I'll be sluggish for a little while, but I'll be fine."

Seb nodded. "What... happened?"

Manga closed her eyes. "I'm... not positive, but the most likely explanation is that it's a side-effect of my brand. That's where the pain always starts... The brands weren't meant to be long-term tenants, after all." She shifted so that her head was a little higher on the pillows and it was easier to look at Sebastian. "Sometimes I think they're reminding us that our deaths were due eleven years ago." Opening her eyes, she smiled slightly. "But... it's a small price to pay for being alive."

Sebastian sighed and leaned down to kiss her cheek lightly. "I'm glad you're still alive..." He said softly, his amber eyes glowing softly

Manga's smile widened, love shining in her brown eyes. "I'm glad I'm with you," she replied just as softly. Although it was still weak, her grip over Sebastian's hand tightened. "You're worth living for."