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Nadiya found herself frozen during the battle. It was a story come to life with the Yaeli fighting the giant creature, almost like someone had just spun an elaborate story before her and these were the characters being acted out on stage. But it wasn't a production since the danger of the scene was very much real. That much Nadiya realized as she was snapped out of her fantasy in loo of the reality as blood started to pour from Steel Eyes' shoulder. A gasp left her lips and as the yaotl fled from the cliffs and towards the ocean the Matori dashed down from her perch back towards the warrior. Thankfully adrenaline was a very strong pain killer as she forgot about her sprain temporarily in her rush to get to the Yaeli.

"You're injured!" The words left her lips as she approached him, worry and concern obviously filled her expression as she hesitantly held out a hand towards the wound, "I'm so sorry." She breathed out the apology as her fingers traced the wound and paused above the tattoo there, "What is this for protection perhaps?" She whispered as she glanced at it before looking back to Steel Eyes, "I have extra cloth in my bag, we have to get this shoulder wrapped up so you don't pass out from blood loss and then we can get out of here and find a healer...seems we shouldn't be worried about my foot anymore." She tried to tease with a faint smile before it quickly disappeared with a frown, "But seriously what were you going to do? You could have died fighting that creature!"

Now that it was gone, now that she was tearing up materials to help wrap his wound the Matori was shaking with both relief and anger, "You're so silly wanting to fight something like that....aren't mercenaries and hired swords supposed to be self-serving? All this talk about not being a hero yet here you are bleeding in front of me because you just acted like one!" She pursed her lips at him as she studied the wound, "Now sit still while I pour some water over this and wrap it up." They couldn't linger for long in case the creature wanted to come back and so she had no time to tease as she had to quickly help wrap his wound.

Nadiya just gave a soft 'humph' at his words. What was he doing? Trying to be some protective knight all of a sudden? "You should stop unless you're trying to..." She trailed off and simply bit her tongue. Trying to do what? Make her heart go pitter-patter after getting tangled up in a knot of worry while watching him fighting a giant beast? For someone who enjoyed teasing Nadiya felt as if her back was up against the wall for once. What was wrong with her? The Matori shook her head, "Trying to look more like a fool that is." She finally finished before frowning in confusion at his words, "If you weren't so injured I would ask for more, but it seems to work whatever it is after all you are still alive despite things."

"It's really not a big deal." Nadiya attempted to protest before he went ahead for the bandages. Sighing under her breath the Matori could only roll her eyes slightly at his antics before taking the bandages, "Still I would feel far more comfortable if we have someone nurse you first. My injury simply requires some rest, it wouldn't be the first time I've had a sprain though I would hope to the gods this is the first time you've had a creature try to take your arm off for its dinner." She blew some stray strands of bangs from her eyes as she started to wrap up the wound, "And it's not like I'll die from a sprain, bleeding to death on the other hand is something I've heard of quite often."

At his comment about 'self-serving' Nadiya let out a loud laugh, "Hah! I doubt that you could get much money if you died here. I doubt anyone would consider a bit of extra coin worth risking their neck against that thing for." She rose a brow as she tied a knot tightly to secure the bandages, "Unless you're some really crazy dare-devil who gets a thrill from near death situations?" The Matori wrapped one final round of the bandages over the wound before tying that second layer tightly into place as well, "I'm a story teller, Steel Eyes, not a fool so you really should work on your lying." She stared at him boldly, "I tell tales but even I face reality as you should - and no cold blooded sword for hire would have stood there against a monster when he could have let the weaker one be sacrificed instead." Nadiya poked a finger against his chest, "Now Mister Golden Heart give me your bag so you don't strain that wound, now that we've taken some time I should be able to walk again albeit a bit more slowly than usual since it still is a bit sore."

"Ah, well." Nadiya let out a long sigh, "I guess I'm thankful for this fool then since he saved my life." She glanced up towards the heavens as if speaking to them before glancing a look back towards Steel Eyes, "Is that really your true self though?" She shook her head, "If you're determined to keep saying such things then good luck." The Matori brushed dirt from her legs and arms, "Now that the threat is gone I suppose you'll still at least escort me if you're wanting coin? Since that's obviously the only reason you would do anything, correct?"

She didn't know why she was jabbing at him so, but there was something that just frustrated Nadiya about the whole charade. Hadn't she done that once when she had tried to hide her music from her family? Trying to play a merchant's daughter who was refined and following her family's way instead of being her playful, musical self? Now those had been some stressful years and something that she had yet to fully resolve with her mother. The thought caused a faint shadow to flicker across her features before she forced a small smile to distract herself, "One day I'll have to know your real name so I can properly thank you later for saving me." She commented before holding out a hand for his pack, "And I'll be fine, honestly my bag only has some clothing and a flute in it. It's really super light so I can bare with another~ Unless you have like a few weights in there and another hundred pounds of something?"

She had noticed the hiss of pain and wasn't about to let him suffer when she could offer to help. Nadiya despised feeling useless and lately that had seemed to be her role something she wished to change now. If another yaotl would attack then she would find a way to scare it off herself! A slight joke, but still it showed determination. This man before her must have already suffered through so much and yet here she was causing problems left and right for him. Even if he was a stubborn fool she wasn't a cruel person to be so selfish to ignore his pain for her benefit.

To try and ease the tension Nadiya laughed, "Now you really must be hittin' on me by pairing me with you." She winked playfully, "Takes a few more dates preferably without monsters and dangerous falls to get me to commit as someone's partner, no matter how dashing they may seem. She reached for the bag so she could swing it over her own shoulders, "We should get to that healer soon so we can make them busy indeed." Nadiya tested her foot and bit the inside of her cheek against the hiss of pain that threatened to escape before moving forward. She was an actor as well and it was high time that she used that to let him rely on her more. What was a faint throb of pain after all? Surely they could find a village and she could rest and recover soon enough and it wasn't like her ankle was that injured, not as badly as that shoulder had been.

That decided Nadiya began to move forward, "Let me know if you need to stop, Steel Eyes. I'll gladly take a break after we get away from these cliffs."

Nadiya stared at him thoughtfully, "You really should tell me your story at some point." She rubbed her chin as she studied him a bit longer, "I'm a story teller and you keep hinting at some good material after all. Unless you enjoy being a tease? Giving hints of a mysterious and dark past to lure in a lady?" She teased lightly before shifting the weight of the packs on her back and moving forward, "I'll return it when the time is right, no worries~" Stubborn as always Nadiya pushed on ahead, "I had to help raise a young sister and triplets who loved to cause some serious chaos so I'm pretty certain I can handle carrying a pack like this up a cliff path. If you had siblings then surely you would understand the challenge of having to keep an eye on them, especially rambunctious younger ones. It took a lot of energy, endurance, and quick reflexes so I'm quite capable of doing this."

She had to be right? The last thing she wanted was for the death of Mister Steel Eyes to be on her conscious. As fond as she was of bittersweet stories this was one that Nadiya did not wish to be spinning any time soon. Plus he seemed to have a good amount of materials for future stories - that was if she could weasel it out of him. She was keeping tabs on him though and any slips ups of information she was trying her best to keep in her memories to piece together later when they were in a safe situation.

"Disappointed?" Nadiya chuckled, "So far I have been far from disappointed so I actually think it would be quite interesting~ Not that I'm sayin' I'm that easy to win over anyways." She grinned as she glanced backwards towards him, "I know I'm attractive and all but you'll have to give a bit more effort....though you get points for taking on that creature for me. So I guess I do at least owe you food once we find a place to settle." She could only hope that a town was up ahead and that they would get there sooner than later. Her ankle was secretly screaming with every other step, but the petite Matori continued pressing on as they continued along their way, "If you get too faint headed we can also talk to try and keep ourselves functioning. I can tell you some good stories about the area if you'd like as well~" And as long as he wanted to listen she could spin a few tales about Matori and how the villages worked, the habits of the people, some of their own myths, and other such tales.

Eventually though the path would stop being so steep and the sight of smoke in the distance could hint at a village....

[quote="Orpheus Solon"}

Nadiya gave him a long look, "I'll be the judge of that." She quipped lightly, "You really should stop being a tease by only dropping hints here and there and tell me one day. Maybe not today since we're both battered pretty badly, but another definitely." She smiled, a sincere expression that lit up her amber gaze, "But you've done enough for me today so I won't be pushing you for anything other than to rest and recover." She shifted the bags on her shoulders before taking a few more steps forward, "And be glad! Siblings can be such a hassle....I guess you must have taken care of some troublemakers to assume that you know the feeling."

"What are you some sort of fortune teller?" Nadiya quipped towards him, "Unless you can read the stars and tell me what fate has in store for me then shush it. I'll flirt with whoever I want and if a handsome Yaeli is easily flustered then he's a prime target~" She gave him a playful stare before finally laughing, "But calm down, sheesh. I'm just messin' with you. You really don't know how to joke, do you? Always so serious."

Ah, at least he would like to know some stories. Nadiya smiled as she was happy to oblige, "Well I can tell you about our weather, our festivals, our beliefs, or just some fun tells about the locals." She pursed her lips as she forced her aching body to continue forward, "They say that there was once a Matori man who was so powerful with elemental magic that he moved the whole ocean for a woman. She had been a beautiful woman who had caught the attention of many, but she didn't wish to be married off so she made the impossible request that the whole ocean would have to dance for her to love. So he went and after many months of meditation found the power to move the waves for her. After a while she actually found herself falling in love with him, but realized that he was bound to the ocean since her request was so specific - should he stop using his magic then she would have to stop loving him. Eventually they both grew so miserable and her so in love with him that he had to find a way to break out of the endless cycle. And so he embedded his magic into a giant rock that now floats above the skies every night so that he can enjoy watching the tides with his lover rather than leaving her alone~ They say that's how the first tide callers came to be and ever since our people have relied upon mages to help give their ships a better push in the ocean waves by moving the waters and calling to the winds..."

"Romantic and a bit sappy, but I enjoy it." Finished Nadiya lightly before she spotted something, "Steel Eyes! Look! I think that's a village down ahead!" It seemed to be a small fishing village rather than one of the bigger cities but it was still civilization! She just hoped they would have a healer there and more importantly food, something her stomach demanded with a quiet rumble.

Nadiya simply shook her head, "Don't apologize, I enjoy it." She shrugged her shoulders, "I enjoy challenges and as a story-teller it's fun to try and piece together hints of someone's past." She had never learned about personal space or how to not interfere with someone's history, it simply was too alluring for the Matori. On the bright side she was considerate enough to keep truly personal things secret while twisting others so that their tales could not be tracked back to them. It just seemed more meaningful to learn from the real experiences of others than simply spinning folk stories or something from her own mind. And to learn about a Yaeli like this? Now that would be an intriguing story. Even though she had been to Belrea Nadiya had always kept herself away from Yael. It was strange though how she had traveled the world yet stayed away from the place closest to her home...the Matori closed her eyes. It was a confusing revelation but one that she felt she understood in a sense. Who wanted to go to a place that she had once dreamed about? She hated to be disappointed and it was best to let her imaginary knight stay there in her imagination instead of going somewhere where he truly didn't exist...at least she had thought.

Glad that her back was to Steel Eyes so that he couldn't see the warmth of a flush on her cheeks the Matori pressed on. Even when she was in pain it seemed that her mind liked to continue to spin tales, silly things that would only get in her trouble with the man walking next to her. "It's not an awful thing." She commented quietly, "It makes teasing you more fun for me honestly." Nadiya forced a grin as she peeked back towards him, "Though I hear it's not too unhealthy to smile on occasion, mister."

She was so relieved to see the village that Nadiya almost missed Steel Eyes' comment about the group of healers, "Yes, ye-" She actually caught herself and turned to face him with a wide grin, "Did...did you just say something funny?!" She shook her head, "Oh lords have mercy he's lost too much blood now, we need to find a healer quickly." She did a dramatic swoon before shifting the packs on her back again, "Come, come!" Laughing Nadiya skirted down the path, "We'll find them soon enough so no worries~" She would just have to ask the first villager and then they could go from there. That was simple enough, right?

"Why?" Nadiya smirked towards the Yaeli, "Are my smiles that endearing to you? Then I suppose I can oblige you~" She was just so delighted that they had managed to find a village. Now she could make certain that he wasn't going to bleed to death or anything else that was drastic like that. As they walked along though it seemed that the closer the village was the harder it was for her bad leg to lift. Though Nadiya was a story-teller and with that also an actor so she made her best attempts to keep her voice free of the pain and her limp only slightly noticeable as she moved alongside of Steel Eyes.

"Well I suppose it was a little funny to me at least....just a little." Her gaze studied the approaching village as Steel Eyes continued to talk, "I suppose - do you really think that creature would come all the way here? You did harm it awfully bad too." She shook her head, "Still I'll let you know if the sun somehow disappears because a giant creature is looming right behind us seeking revenge." Surely not though since they had already been through so much, right?

And it seemed to be the case for now since they were already transitioning from sandy dirt to actual cobble paths as the village rose before them, "I'm sure that any tavern will have an idea of where to find a healer." Commented Nadiya as she scanned the scattered buildings, "Don't you think?"