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 Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 4:58 pm
ForMyself and Yushika FeaturingMakala x NasimPlotNothing specific at the moment
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 6:12 pm
Nasim had escaped his parents for the evening, though they had willingly turned their eyes when he ran out of the house. Unknown to him, they had long been aware of his need to be alone at times, and he always did come home. His smiles were false, and they knew it. He just wanted to be alone these days, and nothing he said to them could trick the two clever women.
The dark haired boy was curled up on a boulder, face hidden by a simple mask he wore. The mask was split, half white half black, with a smile painted across the middle and eyes shut. While it looked irrationally happy, he was not. Small pale hands gripped his buttoned jacket tighter as he curled into himself, head in-between his knees, which were pulled up. His black jacket looked brand new, yellow buttons reflecting light off into several directions. A soft yellow scarf pooled around him, longer than the child himself. Large but useless wings curled around his body, protecting the boy from the forest animals gaze.
"Don't look at me." He chanted under his breath, recoiling at each sound of an animal nearby. He just wanted to vanish. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to /exist/. Something was wrong with him, and he wasn't sure what it was. All he knew was that his older brother cared too much whenever a frown touched his face, and his twin sister didn't seem to struggle the same way he did. His mothers seemed genuinely happy and content, and his long lost older sister bore a mask to hide her face, too. That was what had encouraged him to start to wear masks in public if he didn't want to pretend. It was the only way he could truly be himself without giving away the facade he had developed so early in life.
Something stirred within the forest, causing his head to jerk up, wings to tighten around him, and a sharp gasp to escape the small boy. Fear washed over him, wondering if he should remove the mask and pretend once more, or if he should stay within his wings and hide as he truly wished to.
(( Basically, his hair and clothes are like the boy in his theme video: http://youtu.be/L_Qo4VlS1K8?list=PLV006EL7qOIEIY0Ul98tqwFP_4z4RoFzH, but recolored. He's basically completely inspired off the song and main character, so there you go. Perfect reference. ))
A tiny little girl ran through the forest, heedless of the noise she was making. She should have been scared, for she was lost and alone, but instead her small face was scrunched into an expression of adorable concentration. Her momma and papa had to be so worried about her! She said she was only going into the forest to look for some pretty flowers, but that had been a long time ago. She had her mother's sense of direction, and had gotten horribly lost in no time. Rather than sit and wait for her father or one of the other members of Caledonia to find her, she'd decided to try her best to make it back on her own. Which only got her more and more lost. As the sun began to sink lower and the light faded, the only sign of distress she showed was to clutch her stuffed toy bear close to her body.
Makala paused to get her bearings and catch her breath. What had Papa told her about how to tell what direction she was facing? Something about the sun. Or was it stars? Moss? She pouted, unable to recall what he had told her. She'd tried really hard to remember, really, but facts just didn't seem to want to stick in her brain. She sighed and hugged her teddy close, wondering what to do now, when a faint sound reached her ears. She went perfectly still and listened. It sounded like a voice, but it was so quiet that she couldn't be sure. It might have just been the wind; sometimes that could sound like voices. But she didn't know what else to do, so she stood up and headed towards where she thought she heard the sound. She made a lot of noise of her own trying to get there. Her legs and arms bore scratches from all her wandering into stubborn undergrowth and her snowy white hair was a little disheveled, but it was still up in its pigtails.
When she found the source of the noise she stopped in surprise. It was a boy, probably really close to her own age, though it was really hard to tell because his face was covered and he looked like he was wearing a really big coat. Makala belatedly realized the large black mass was actually wings. The sounds had stopped. Had the boy been crying? He looked as alone as Makala currently was, and though she couldn't see much of him behind the mask and wings, he trembled a little like he was scared.
"Hello," she piped in a high, clear voice. She trotted over to stand at the base of the rock he sat on and tilted her head back to look up at him. "Are you lost?"
(( Also here are her clothes. This is about what her appearance looks like:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8hMTmlYBNY/T7ig8uKBXAI/AAAAAAAAGts/lqtJ7vLgra4/s1600/anime+girl+surprised+2.jpg
And this is the bear she's holding:
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/answers/251000/251080_1306877605299_270_350.jpg ))
He didn't dare look up, instead curling his wings tighter around himself. A small voice greeted him, causing his wings to twitch and head to slightly raise, peering through the masks eye-slots to look at the girl. Multicolored eyes were hidden behind the darkness of the mask, narrowing slightly. He wanted to scramble away, however he was struck still as his heart hammered in indecision. What to do? What was he supposed to say? He already had the mask on, but he was caught unprepared.
His mouth opened, hidden behind the mask. He snapped it shut as only a soft gasp escaped him, his heart pounding too hard and mind reeling too fast to respond yet. A soft sound escaped his throat as his wings seemed to spread apart slightly so he could view the other, eyes locking within seconds on the bear and her tattered appearance. She didn't belong here. Was she lost? Did she need help? It was growing dark and he knew the animals that lurked at night would make easy work of her. Finally calming himself enough to respond, the boy shifted and slid smoothly off the rock, landing soundly before her.
"No." His voice was soft and gentle, naturally more feminine then most men despite being muffled behind the mask. "Are you?"
"Really?" A gentle, happy smile broke out of Makala's face. "I'm glad. I was worried cause you looked sad." As open as the boy's was closed, Makala's face, and even her voice, were open books for anyone to read. She was clearly genuinely pleased to learn the boy was not lost.
At having her own question turned back at her she pulled her bear into a brief hug and shuffled her feet, looking around at the forest. "I think so. I didn't go very far into the forest, but I can't find the way out. I've been walking for a long time trying to find it." Her face crinkled into a worried frown. Mamma and Papa were probably very worried about her at this point.
He watched her, head cocking to the side as she spoke. So she was lost? His head raised, revealing his neck and chin as he gazed at the falling sun. Right. She needed to get out of here, soon. Lowering his head to view her once more, his hand extended, palm open for the girl.
"I'll help you." He announced, wings folding shakily into his back. He probably could get her out and make it home just in time, if they were quick and she kept up. Flying would be useful…. huh?
Makala gave the boy another smile, this one full of surprise and joy. "Really? Thank you!" She transferred her bear so that it was tucked under one arm and reached out to clasp the offered hand. Though the boy wasn't too much taller than her, her hand seemed especially tiny resting in his. "My name's Makala! I live in an old castle by the sea, with the rest of my family."
Nasim tightened his grip around her hand, a soft smile on his face, though hidden. He didn't return a name, instead flicking his tail at the castle comment. What? He mentally shook it off, deciding right now was not the time to start asking questions about castles and such. She needed help, and it left a feeling of pride within his chest. He was /needed/.
Tugging on her hand ever so gently, he moved towards the direction she had come from, keeping his head turned to her. "Ready, Makala?"
Makala followed along in the direction the boy led her. She didn't feel a need to chatter usually, but after a minute of walking quietly through the forest she piped up, "So what about you? If you're not lost, do you live here?" She tried her best to keep up with the boy, who, with his longer legs and better sense of direction, seemed to have a much easier time walking. It was okay though, she was used to getting little scratches from all the hidden prickly things. And while she was still a little worried for what her parents might be thinking about her being gone so long (for part of her brain was always worrying about others), the rest of her mind was filled with a bit of relief. She would never had admitted it aloud, but she was starting to get scared being by herself in the darkening, unfamiliar settings.
Silence fell upon them and he was grateful. No questions to answers. No lies to make. Her question caused a wing to twitch once more, throat not emitting a sound as he considered his response. It couldn't hurt to tell her, right?
"Yes." He finally said after a few minutes of silence. "We do." He paused, soft voice hardening slightly. "You shouldn't be in the woods alone. You could get hurt…"
Makala felt her cheeks flush and she looked away, her expression one of chagrin. "I didn't plan on going very far. There's this little meadow close to home that has really pretty flowers in it. I thought I'd pick some for Momma. But then I was in such a hurry to get home and I couldn't remember exactly where I entered the meadow from, and...," her voice trailed off as the blush intensified. She knew perfectly well that she was a bit scatter-brained. Not nearly as bad as her mother, but bad enough.
"What about you? You where alone in the woods. Weren't you scared of getting hurt?" Her tone of one of curiosity rather than accusation. "You looked like you were lost when I found you."
He felt her tension, however didn't look back to see her face. Ah. So she was the sweet type. That was even more of a reason to get her out of the forest, immediately. His hand tightened around hers slightly, letting her know she was safe with him. Flightless or not, he wouldn't let anything hurt this girl.
His tail twitched when she spoke again, mouth tightening. Shaking his head, he sighed against his mask quietly before giving a muffled response. "No. I…." He trailed off, lost on how to respond. Literally, he hadn't been lost. Figuratively? He didn't continue, instead just leading her swiftly through the forest.
Makala looked curiously over at the boy, waiting to hear the end of his sentence, but it appeared that was it. The mask that covered his face prevented her from seeing his expression, so she couldn't guess what he was thinking or feeling. She wiggled her tiny hand around so that it wasn't quite so lost in his, and gave his fingers a squeeze.
"My momma gets lost all the time. But she says if she didn't then she'd have never met my Papa. So I think it's okay to get lost, every now and then."
The finger squeeze caught him off-guard, mildly comforted at the gesture. He didn't glance back, instead keeping his voice and eyes to himself as they walked. He didn't agree with her, at all. Getting lost was lonely. You never knew if you'd get home or not. What if you never found where you were supposed to go? What then….?
He shuddered, pulling her suddenly as the trees broke apart and a field was exposed. Just in time, too, as the sun was almost completely set.
Makala tilted her head curiously, but the boy didn't seem to have much to say. She didn't press him to talk though. Some people were just naturally more comfortable with silence.
Suddenly she found herself pulled forward. She stumbled a little, making a small eep sound of surprise, then looked around. The trees were gone. It appeared they had made it out of the forest! Makala looked first to the left, then to the right. She didn't think she recognized this area at all. She squinted, trying to see into the distance with the fading light. There! The hazy outline of mountains could be see. If she just headed towards them, she should find her way back home. Caledonia wasn't in the mountains itself, but they were a reasonable walking away.
She turned to the boy, her face a little scrunched from concentration. "I think I can find my way home from here, now that I can see the sky. It would be easier if I could follow the ocean, but I don't see it..." She trailed off, peering around the field as though hoping the ocean would simply appear before her. Her expression brightened slightly when she looked back at the boy. "But thank you! I don't know if I could have found the way out of the forest without your help!"
Makala bent down a picked up the object, running a thumb over the smooth glass that covered the face. It was a small thing, but in her tiny hands it looked quite big. She hugged her bear close to her body as she cupped the clock in both hands. Her face, typically very emotive, was suddenly unreadable.
She didn't stand there for long though. In a quick movement she tucked the clock in the small bag hanging at her side and ran a couple steps forward, coming to a stop in front of the boy. She took one of his wrists and pushed her teddy bear against his chest, pulling his wrist up to indicate he should hold the bear, then took two steps back. The whole act had taken only a couple seconds.
"You went out of your way to help me, and now you gotta wander back through the dark forest cause of me, and you'll be all alone. So I'm gonna send Mr. Bear with you. If you get scared or feel lost just give him a hug. And if you want you can pretend I'm there with you and when you hug Mr. Bear that I'm hugging you back." She blinked, unsure if her words sounded strange or didn't make sense. But there was just something about this boy that felt...sad. Hugs always made her feel better when she was sad, so she really hoped her teddy would help. She put a hand against her bag, feeling the hard little lump where the clock sat. "I'll never forget you," she promised, and with one last smile she turned and trotted off in the direction (she hoped!) of home.
Nasim watched Makala behind his mask, about to leave when she spoke. He jumped as, suddenly, a bear was shoved into his chest, hands raising as she tugged on his wrist to hold the small stuffed animal. His head raise, watching her with bafflement.
"Wha–" He cut off as she spoke again, head cocking to the side. What in the world? It was too late, however. By the time he finally composed a response she was gone. Holding the bear, he stared at it before slowly heading back home.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 7:17 pm
Nasim sat on the roof of the cabin, knee raised and arm wrapped around it as he scanned the tree tops. The man wore black pants, lacked shoes completely, and a black shirt with a low turtleneck. His wings stayed firmly against his body, as useless as they were when he was a child. Black hair touched his shoulders in uneven layers, face covered by a white mask. The mask was decorate with a smile turning into a frown, looked aged and hosted cracks and scrapes. His fingers kept raising, checking the mask hadn't left before setting back onto his knee.
A soft sigh left him, a hand pushing the mask up to allow the hot air to escape before he placed it back down. Maybe someday he'd carve a hole for his mouth, but probably not. The area above his eyes were replaced with material he was able to see through, but not allow others to see his face. The mask looked completely solid, and most would wonder how he wasn't blind under the mask. It made attacking easier, at least. Throwing others off before he lunged was a good tactic, even if a cheap one.
Though the sky above was a clear, brilliant blue with no clouds to block the sun, the lighting in the forest had a dimness to it that felt so heavy it seemed like there were parts that hadn't seen the sun in centuries. The light that did filter through was weak and green-ish. Here and there beams of sunlight did manage to find their way through the canopy. The flora took advantage of the light, and there was always some kind of plant basking in those sunny spots. It was in one of these spots were a petite woman was paused, looking around as though to get her bearings.
She was quite small, barely over five feet, and thin. It looked like a good breeze could just knock her over. Adding to the impression of insubstantiality was her long, pure white hair. She wore a layered dress that went down to her knees. The under layer peeking out from the bottom was a bright teal while the over dress was dark teal, both colors helping her to blend in with the forest. Simple sandals were strapped on her feet, though she only had them in case she came across rough terrain. She was just as happy going bare foot when she could.
Makala hummed softly to herself. She was lost. It was funny, in a way, because her memory was better than her mother's but she clearly had Hazel's sense of direction. That was apparently how she and Tokala had met. It was odd how getting lost always seemed to turn out okay for their family. Makala had personally seen quite a few interesting sights, had even met a few interesting people, before either her dad or brother managed to track her down and bring her back home. She was quite far out this time though, really wanting to explore. And she was lost. "Now which way was the sea? I think I'm supposed to be able to tell what direction to go by the sun's position. Only, it's hard to see the sun from here. Darn. Wasn't there some rumor about moss telling direction too? Which way was it supposed to point again?"
Nasim's cabin was high enough for him to gaze over the canopy of the trees time to time. For a second, he thought he saw the flash of movement not limited to an animal, his eyes snapping over before he shifted on the roof. It had vanished, but he had been absolutely certain /someone/ was in the forest. It didn't matter much. Almost 95% of the time the forest would send the person back where they started, but the 5% chance when that didn't occur meant he'd have to deal with it. Sighing, the masked man stood up, sliding down the roof and landing on his knees on the ground before he settled on the porch, guarding the only door to the inside of the cabin.
His useless wings folded, and for a second Nasim had to snort at the thought that he was pretty effectively a /burden/ without them. If they could work he could have approached the moving figure, but alas, he was stuck waiting. As always.
The more Makala walked, the more she began to notice this...silent tension in the air. It was like a blanket had been thrown over this section of the forest, muffling sound and light and making even the air feel heavier. Underlying it all was a feeling of wrongness, like she wasn't supposed to be here. Makala pondered the feeling for a moment. She knew she hadn't been having those feelings before; she'd only really noticed it in the last ten minutes. In all the time before that she'd been convinced she was going the right way.
Maybe this was a sign? She thought she was going the right way and had gotten lost. Now she felt this subtle tension trying to prompt her to turn around. Could she actually be on the right course? Almost certain now that she was, she continued forward, pursuing the odd feeling.
Nasim was curled up on the porch, nails tapping against his knee time to time as he pondered just when the cause of the movement would approach. Perhaps they wouldn't, even, and the forest had either sent them back home or consumed them whole. Shrugging, the man had begun to grow lax against the wall he had leaned against, eyes drifting shop as the wind brushed against his face.
'rustle'
His head snapped up. No. Someone was nearby. Someone was absolutely near, and he couldn't just /sit/ there. Standing up, he walked to the edge of the cabin, peering down. Ah. A girl? Oh. So she had, somehow, gotten past the forest…
"Leave." His voice was muffled against the mask, but it rang clear as he stood on the porch, eyeing the girl from below behind his mask.
Though the feeling was stronger than ever, all Makala was seeing was trees. They didn't look like the trees close to home either. Those were smaller and more close together. These trees were larger, with more space to move between them since their heavy foliage allowed no light to get to the forest floor for anything to grow. She felt a tinge of disappointment, wondering if she really was heading the right way, when a voice rang out, shattering the silence.
'Leave.'
She looked around, startled, but didn't see anyone nearby. Was she imaging things? Maybe she was just wishing so hard she thought she actually heard her own thoughts. Her brother would probably laugh.
"Wish I knew how," she sighed softly. Spotting an exposed root that looked comfortable enough, she walked over and sat down, then pulled her hair over her shoulder and absent-mindedly began braiding it. "I really didn't think I'd gone that far. Or that the woods were so big." She sighed, letting the braid dangle as she propped her elbow on her leg and rested her chin on her hand. "You'd think with all the times I get lost I'd eventually figure things out."
"I wouldn't know how many times you've gotten lost." His voice was rough from lack of use, mouth tightening as he watched her both completely ignore him and /sit down/. Flapping his wings, he flicked his eyes to the ground, then to his cabin. Man, it was a pain in the a** to get back up there when he left. This wasn't fair to non-flying folk like him.
"I will ask again; leave." His voice failed at being curt, instead coming off exhausted as he watched her.
Makala heard the voice again, but this time it didn't really sound like anything she might have been thinking. Plus it sounded a lot closer and...above her?
She tilted her head back, but didn't really see anything. A lot of leaves and branches, black shadows and the occasional movement as the wind above played with the branches. Or maybe... Was the /tree/ talking to her? But that didn't make any sense. Why would a tree suddenly start talking to her?
Nasim was growing tired of the girls inability to follow his orders, sighing softly. This was always the hardest part. He wasn't a fighter.... Stepping backwards, he threw himself off the porch, extending his wings to allow them to help him glide down. Landing on his knees and a hand, the man stood up, cracking his neck before folding his wings back into place.
"Why are you here?"
Makala started a bit at the sound of wood creaking above her head. Was the tree moving? Then a big, BIG, shadow detached from the other shadows and descended quickly to the ground, landing with a thump that was felt as much as it was heard.
The man was huge, and he had surprised Makala. Not very imposing to begin with, she shrank in on herself until she could have passed as a child at a distance. I got lost, and I can't find my way home," she said in a soft voice. "I didn't go very far into the forest, or I didn't think I had, but I can't find the way out. I've been walking for a long time trying to find it."
He froze, watching the woman behind his mask. What? It took a few seconds for the familiar feeling to click. Oh. Now that he looked at her... she was the girl he met as a child. His wings shifted as he eyed her, mouth tightening behind his mask. Was a strange and unnecessary coincidence.... How many times had he wished she'd visit as a child? He had been a pathetic child... No. Focus.
"Why did you come into the forest?" He had three standard questions if "leave" failed, and the man shifted as he watched her, awaiting an answer.
Makala straightened up a little. She was recovering from her scare, and this man seemed nice. He was the first person she'd come across for days, and it felt good to talk to someone again.
"I was looking for things. The forest always has something to find. Useful herbs, pretty flowers. Adventure. I went on adventures a lot as a kid, looking for flowers for my mom." She chuckled a little, recalling those memories. "I got lost a lot then too. My dad usually came after me before it got dark. I had a stuffed bear that I carried around, so I never go lonely." She reached down to her waist where a belt kept her dress close to her body. Dangling from one of the loops was a tiny little stuffed bear. "I gave him away to someone I thought needed him more, so Mom made me a little charm to take his place. She gets lost often too, so I guess she thought I might like to have something to keep close."
His wings flapped at the mention of the bear, mouth opening before snapping shut. Luckily, she couldn't see it. This was the girl. Even more reason to get her away. Approaching her, the man looked down at the much smaller woman, extending his hand out.
"I suggest you don't play in these woods. It's built to send those like you either back home, or lost to the point you wither away. I will take you home." He flexed his fingers to indicate she take it, glad the mask hid his red cheeks. Quietly, he nodded towards the belt on her hip. "Whoever the bear went to, I am sure they appreciate it. Come."
Makala didn't pause to consider the wisdom in accepting help from a stranger, let alone one who had been adamantly telling her to leave just moments before. She beams, words of thanks of her lips as she took his hand. Then a wave of deja vu hit her, so strong she was surprised it didn't literally knock her off her feet. As it was, her fact probably took on a stunned expression, and she blinked a few times.
"Oh," she exhaled softly, then looked up at the stranger's face. For the first time she noticed he was wearing a mask; she hadn't had a clear view before, and she hadn't wanted to stare. "Have we...met before? This feels oddly familiar to me."
It pained him to say no. He had, long ago, accepted he was not allowed to have any significant relationship. Friends were out of the question. Having family was out of the question, usually, but the previous Gate Keeper had promised if he limited his time near them then it'd be fine. He took her hand firmly, moving to begin walking in-front of her.
"No." He lied, feeling the guilt twinge in his chest. Inhaling sharply, he tugged her ever so gently, heading straight for the woods. Just get her out. Get this over with. She'd be gone forever, then.
"You feel familiar," she said, then giggled. "It might just be the situation. Sometimes other people found me before Dad could, and they helped me get home. There were a couple adults, and a boy who I think was about as old as me."
Makala let herself be pulled along, watching to make sure she didn't trip over her feet or the feet of the man leading her. "So, since we'll probably be here a while, will you tell me your name? Mine is Makala."
He internally winced, his heart hammering at the question. His name? What was he supposed to say? He usually ignored the question in the first place, but he felt obligated to give some sort of response currently. He knew the rules; never give your name, never reveal your face, and stay away. The usual spooky commands of anything top secret, really. He paused over a large tree stump, gesturing for her to let him lift her over it.
"Nobody." He murmured, hands held out for her.
"That's an unusual name," Makala commented, placing her hands in Nobody's and giving a little hop to help lift her into the air so he didn't have to pick up dead weight. He lowered her gently over the stump onto the group. She grinned.
"Thanks. So what do you do out here, Nobody? You don't seem like you're lost. Do you live out here? That must get pretty lonely."
Ah, she took it. For a second he remembered them, as kids. Even then she had been sweet, hadn't she? Accepting her hands, he lifted her, gracefully setting her back on her feet before taking her hand again to lead her back out. It felt... intimate, and for a second he felt guilty. Hand holding was one of the only ways he could ensure the forest wouldn't use its magic to wrench her free. He was permitted access anywhere, but her? No. As long as he stayed in contact with her she'd be fine.
He debated her question, muling it over before finally landing on an answer. "It isn't." Was that a lie? Truth be told, he had forgotten what it was like with others. He didn't have much to compare now and a life near other living people, did he? "It's quiet." He added.
Makala nodded understandingly. "Some people prefer quiet. I've met a few drifters who were like that. They either just like being on the move or not being surrounded by a lot of people. I live with a tribe near the ocean. I grew up there, so I'm used to having people around."
She paused, letting the sounds of the forest take over. The gentle shushing of leaving in the canopy brushing against each other, the calls of birds and the scufflings of squirrels and other small animals scampering over the ground. "I see what they mean though. Sometimes it is nice to just get away on your own."
She noted the surety with which Nobody walked, no hesitation in his step or which direction he was going. "You must visit people outside the forest too, right? You have a much better sense of direction than I do." The grin she wore hinted that probably wasn't much of an achievement, though her words had been sincere.
He was quiet for perhaps too long. No. He didn't visit anyone. He was sure Toxic fretted over this plenty of times. Hesitating, his voice dropped, almost a faint and wistful whisper. "No." He sounded perhaps even sad, however any question related to his mental state would be deflected.
He quickly pulled her to the right, eyes flicking from tree to tree, judging each landmark. Close. They were almost out. Good. She probably would be on her way not, skipping off to anywhere but here. Still, the Deties must favor torturing him. What were the chances they'd meet again? Was it a trick to see how devoted he was to his job? What had he done for such a cruel game?
Makala's face pinched. She could hear tones in Nobody's voice that made her believe he wasn't telling the truth. Or maybe he thought he was, but if so it seemed like he wasn't being truthful with himself. She didn't know what she could do about it. She didn't really know Nobody or what his life was like. Much as she wished she could fix things, there were some people who got more upset, rather than less, when you tried to meddle. No matter how good your intentions.
She was looking around the forest, trying to distract herself from helpless thoughts, when she noticed a particular tree lit up in a rare beam of sunlight. She inhaled sharply, pulling her hand free. "Oh, Nobody, look! Apples!" She took a few steps towards the tree. "They look perfect too!" She turned back and beckoned. "Come on!"
He stopped the second she let go of his hand, head snapping her way. "Hand!" He almost yelled, fear touching his voice as he extended his hand. His heart hammered as he allowed himself to dare glance at the tree before looking at her. "This forest will swallow you up if you let go and wander too far." He added, apologetically. Perhaps yelling hadn't been the answer. His heart slowed as he once more looked at the tree, offering his hand again. Fine. He'd follow her if she took it, and release her hand when they were right under the tree....
Makala paused in startlement when Nobody shouted. She looked back at him, brow knitted in confusion. She reached out and took his hand, giving it a slight pull.
"I don't get lost /that/ easily," she said with a laugh. "Though I still don't know where we are, so if I lost you I'd probably be in the same boat. It's a pretty big forest. I come here all the time, but it's like I never follow the same paths." They reached the base of the apple tree. Makala released Nobody's hand and scampered up the tree like a squirrel. She scooted forward on one of the thick limbs, then carefully stood up and reached for a plump, golden piece of fruit.
He decided it was best to leave it at that. How did one explain that, no, this place was one of the few magical locations in this world, and it fully intended to harm her? You didn't. Once she was at the base of the tree he sat down, spreading his wings for comfort as he watched the girl scramble up. Using one finger, he pushed his mask high enough to only reveal his mouth, exhaling loudly and placing it back down. He really hoped no one chose today to enter this realm through the gate....
"Careful." He found himself calling, internally wincing. He wasn't her dad, sheesh.
Makala grinned down at him. "Don't worry. The place I live is a ruin of an old castle. The forest is also pretty much right next to it. I think I was climbing things before I could even walk, much to the dismay of my parents." She grabbed a couple more apples, then walked back across the limb to the base of the tree. She pressed a hand against the rough, sun-warmed bark, and internally thanked the tree for the fruit. Cradling the fruits in her skirt, she managed to get back down the tree with a short drop. Thankfully she hadn't had to climb far.
Makala walked over to Nobody and plopped down on the ground, offering him an apple while selecting one for herself. "Seems like this is a good time for apples, with the weather turning. They smell good too."
He watched her in awe, head snapping away when she approached as his nerves fired back up. He was supposed to be getting her out. Not playing friends. Yet, he accepted the apple, turning it in his hands thoughtfully before he lifting his mask a bit to take a small bite, placing it back down. The quiet man sat there, examining the bite mark he made as he realized that he was supposed to say something. That's what people expected, right?
His eyes flicked to the sky, wings lowering before he finally made a comment. "The sun will set in roughly an hour."
Makala happily bit into her apple. It tasted every bit as good as it looked. She was enjoying the crisp texture and sweet flavor, wishing she'd remembered to bring a bag with her so that she cold have brought some of the apples home, when Nobody chimed up. She glanced up, noticing the light did look a bit dimmer than usual.
She swallowed her bite and tapped a finger thoughtfully against the fruit. "It doesn't bother me much. I spent the night in the forest before. Had to last night, actually." She frowned a little. "I just don't want you to have to wander back in the dark. Not after you've been so kind as to show me the way out. We've been walking at least an hour. I don't even think you could fly back in time before it got dark."
He frowned at her comment about sleeping in the forest, watching the sky from behind his mask. The mention of his wings caused a sharp sigh. "It doesn't matter, anyway." He commented before standing, gesturing for her to take his hand back. "We should head out. We're nearby."
Makala nodded and stood, still clutching her half-eaten apple in one hand while she took Nobody's hand into her free one.
"You could always stay the night, you know," she said in the quiet after they'd been walking for a few minutes. Her tone was slightly hesitant, like she expected a refusal but couldn't resist making the offer anyway. "My tribe is small, and the ruins are huge. There's plenty of places you could sleep if you want solitude. And we don't mind friendly visitors. That way you don't have to try to find your way back in the dark." Her face was pinched with worry as she looked up at the taller male. Her white hair had come unbraided as they walked since she'd never tied it. It formed a pale frame against her face that almost seemed to glow compared to the dark tones of the surrounding woods.
He looked down at the much smaller girl as she spoke, his mouth clenching. Stay the night? He wasn't allowed to. Shaking his head, he was about to protest when he saw the opening before them. Ah. The clearing. Now he could say goodbye, and be done. Once he tugged her into the clearing he let her hand go, stepping backwards. He stood there, facing her as he was unable to speak. Here she was, the girl who had given him the very bear he still had inside the cabin. The girl he sometimes remembered when he tried to think back on a time he was happy, for even just a second. Swallowing thickly, he hardened his voice in an attempt to be serious, for once.
"Don't come back." He stated before stepping backwards, suddenly snapping around and bolting into the forest before she could tempt him with more sweet requests. He knew better. He always had.
Makala stood there for a long moment, watching the dark forest where Nobody had vanished. Her body felt rooted to the spot, fighting the urge to flee after him while knowing to do so would only get her lost again. He could move much faster than she and likely was already long gone. Her hand felt very empty and cold now after those hours holding Nobody's large, warm hand. Finally, with darkness well set in and a chill wind whipping through the clearing, a violent shiver broke the spell. Makala turned and saw the outline of the castle ruins in the distance. She slowly stumbled her way back home, but her mind was still in the forest, running with a tall man with black wings.
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 7:18 pm
Several days had passed since that time in the woods. Makala had stuck close to home, mostly to reassure her parents she was fine and had not suffered for being lost in the woods overnight. It took a bit of convincing, considering she'd walking into the castle shaking like a leaf and pretty chilled from the wind. She kept her hands and mind busy, but whenever she found herself with nothing to do her mind kept drifting back to Nobody.
It took several days for her to make up her mind. Her desire to please battled with her worry for him living out there all on his own. The worry finally won out.
The sun had just begun peeking over the horizon when Makala set out, a bag slung over her shoulder. She wore a similar color scheme (most of her clothing was teal, as it was her favorite color). This time she had on pale teal shorts, a pale teal tank top, and a long-sleeved dark teal sweater top that had a wide neckline and showed the tank top's straps. She also made sure to bring a bag with her. She set off into the forest, trying to remember exactly where Nobody had brought her out and what direction they'd been going. It would probably take her a little longer to find her way without him leading, but this time she was determined to not get lost.
'Cling'
'Clack'
'Smack'
The sound of metal smashing against one another echoed throughout the forest. A masked man panted as he leapt at a larger and sturdier man. It could be mistake for a dance as the two wield their weapons; Nasim bearing a spear and the other holding a sword. At times blood would splatter against the ground as one knocked the other. A wing would crumple here, a leg would give in there. The blades sliced without remorse, cutting through skin like butter. The game had gone on for about an hour, and both were exhausted. Their breath were ragged as they lunged at one another, eyes wild and hands trembling against their weapons.
'Thud'
The strangers weapon went flying. Nasir stood tall, pointing the spear at the attacker, the face behind his mask letting out almost frantic breaths. The other stood there, uncertain, before they fled towards the cabin. Nasim watched them, recognizing the familiar glow through the windows before he fell to the ground. Success. They had returned to their world. A long, exhausted groan left the masked man as he laid in a small puddle of his own blood. His wings bled profusely, arms torn by the shoulders and the side of his ribs sliced open. He'd tend to it.... later.... when he was..... awake....
Sleep greeted him, and he welcomed it with open arms.
The sun was high in the sky if Makala was a proper judge of such things. Spending more time in the forest, she was starting to get better at figuring out the varied levels of light here. She was pretty proud of herself, and for more than one reason. Her bag held several ripe, golden apples. She'd managed to pass by the exact same tree, a sign she was definitely going the right way. The whole journey just had a feeling of rightness to it, like for once she wasn't going to put a step wrong.
It took her perhaps a bit longer, but that was as she expected. Finally a familiar sight loomed ahead; the fallen log that Nobody had helped her over. Makala rushed forward eagerly, scrambling over the log and running forward, only to stop dead in her tracks. A large heap was crumpled at the base of the tree, near the root she'd sat on last time. The copper scent of blood hit her nose with a blow that felt physical. Makala covered her mouth with a hand and just stood there, feeling her legs start to tremble. She took one shaky step forward, then another, the paused. Then the lump stirred, ever so slightly, and Makala broke her paralysis to run to it. She recognized those wings, and that mask. It was Nobody. She knelt next to him, hands fluttering over him without actually touching his body. She wasn't sure what to do, where to touch without hurting him even more.
Feeling herself on the verge of panic, Makala held her breath and gave herself a sharp pinch. The pain broke through her panic, and she tried to think of what the healers had taught her. Bandages. She'd need those. Water, if she could find it. Make sure nothing was broken, or sticking through the skin. Don't move the body if the head or neck seemed hurt. The panic threatened her again. She didn't know where to get bandages or water, and if she tried to go back it would take too long. Wandering off to find a water source was totally out. She swayed a little where she leaned and reached out to brace her hand on the root. The texture of bark helped to calm her, and she looked up. A thought came to mind. Nobody had come out of the tree when she first met him. Did he live up there? Maybe he had supplies. She leaned over the prone male, fingers ghosting over the one bit of unhurt flesh she could find on his shoulder. "I'll be right back. I'm just gonna look real quick, I'll be right back." Nonsense words, probably, but she felt she had to say /something/.
He heard something. His eyes feebly opened briefly to see the blurry figure of a female before the world turned black again. Ah. The darkness greeted him, shifting and growing blurry before a bright light flashed. Ah. What was this? A memory? The scene flashed before him, showing a small boy holding the hand of a small girl. Her. The one who had given him the very bear on his bed right now. Ah, even then he wore the mask. Had she ever seen his face? No. Ha. It was almost funny, even. Even the one person from his childhood had never seen his face.
The humor was lost as the memory faded and suddenly, rapidly, the world became a bright white light. He was awake again, and the pain was real. A sharp screech left him as his ribs screamed in protest, his body pulling into itself. ********. Make it stop. Please. Please. Please
Makala came rushing down the tree as fast as she could, a first-aid kit tucked in the bag slung over her back. She saw Nobody had moved, curling into a fetal position. She bit her lip, feeling momentarily helpless, then moved towards Nobody before she could clam up again.
She started with the arms. Those were the most obvious and easy to reach. Arms led to shoulders, which led to the base of the wings where they emerged from his flesh. She got his ribs as best she could, but worried she hadn't put enough pressure on the wounds. The entire time she worked on him Makala talked to Nobody in her softest, most soothing voice, keeping her touch as light as she could to avoid inflicting more pain.
It took her some time to get all the wounds bandaged. When she was done she sat there a moment, wondering what next. She should get Nobody to shelter, but there was no one he or she could get him up to the cabin in the tree. She knew how to build crude lean-tos, but could she make one that would be big enough to shelter Nobody? She'd seen a bed up there, so there were at least some blankets. She stood there, debating whether to look for branches or hunt for blankets, gently stroking Nobody's hair. Her fingers kept running over the cord tying the mask to his head. It couldn't have been easy to breath in that thing, especially with the pain he was in. Her fingers hesitated. Should she?
His screeching had subsided as she worked on him, body limp against her touches. It was almost soothing, and the injured man found himself smiling under the mask. If this was how he went he didn't mind. Someone tending to him; caring for him. At times a sharp hiss would escape him when she touched something particularly sensitive, but often her soothing voice caused his mouth to shut and body to return limp.
He drifted continuously, fluctuating between awake and asleep through the process. His hot breath against his mask left a burning sensation against his mouth, but he didn't dare reach up. She couldn't see his face. She couldn't see hi- His eyes snapped open as fingers touched the cord to his mask, hand snapping up to grab hers. "Don't. Please." He whimpered, voice trembling under the pain. "Please..."
Makala frowned. "Why," she asked simply. Did he think she was going to be afraid of him? That something about his appearance would cause her to change her opinion of him? A face was just a face.
He twitched, keeping her hand firmly in his. "I can't. It's the one rule between us.... please. Don't." His voice was pleading, hand releasing hers as the weight of it was too much. It fell against the ground, recoiling into his chest as he prayed she listened.
Makala sighed. Her fingers traced the band to the mask itself, until her hand lightly cupped the side of his face, the edge of the mask pressing against her palm, then moved up, back to his hair, and resumed a gentle stroking, trying to calm him. "Okay."
She sighed and looked around. It was only slightly past afternoon, but the light would probably be fading in just a few hours. "I should find stuff to make a shelter. I can't get you up the tree by climbing, and I don't think you should try."
The stroking was enough for him to cave into her need to calm him, eyes blinking back weakly. His eyes trailed to the cabin, idiotic thoughts running through his head. He could get up there.... with enough patience.... and time... and gritting his teeth...
"Why..." He trailed off, wincing before finally jerking his head to look up at her. "Why are you here... Not safe..."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Says the man shredded to bits," she said lightly, hoping taking a teasing stance would distract him. "I might get lost more often, but I tend to keep my hind intact." She sighed. "And I wanted to see you. I kept worrying about you on your own. Looks like I was right, at least this time."
Makala peeked at the surrounding woods, then stood up. "I'll be back in a bit. Try not to move, okay. I think I see some branches that will work for a lean-to." She trotted off in the direction that had looked promising, throwing anxious glances back at Nobody.
He snorted at her comment of him being alone, mostly out of the absurdity out of it. She worried? Why? He watched her trot away, only to cast anxious glances back. Ah... she really was a good girl, wasn't she? And he dragged her into this. He was disgusting, even, covered in blood before her and laying limp like a rag doll. If he was able to walk he would hide himself from the horrible fact that he was vulnerable, and making her care for him.
Ah..... he might as well go back to sleep.
When Makala returned, Nobody was still. She panicked for a moment, then noticed the even, if slightly shallow, rise and fall of his chest. Sleeping then. She felt her heart unclench. She wished she could see his face. It would have been easier to tell what his state was. Just seeing if his eyes were open or closed would have made a difference. But she wouldn't. She'd promised, and she wouldn't break that promise.
Her arms were full of long branches, as straight as she could find. There'd been several, and she was pretty sure she could find more. It took three trips before she had as many branches as she would have liked, but once there were enough to suit her she began to carefully lay the shelter around the sleeping Nobody. She dug little holes in the earth to keep the sticks from sliding back, and leaned them against the tree in a careful pattern. It wasn't much, and it seemed ridiculously frail to her, but at least it was some kind of shelter.
Makala then climbed back up the tree to the cabin. She needed a blanket to cover Nobody with, and if there were any extras she could lay them over the lean-to as an extra blockade from the elements. She moved to the bed to get the blanket when she saw it.
The teddy bear. Her teddy bear. The one she'd given to the boy so long ago. She picked it up, trembling a little. Could it be? What were the odds that Nobody had a bear just like her old one? But no, she remember the ribbon. Remembered that tiny stain on the corner from when she'd gotten berry juice on it.
She set the bear back down after another long stare, then folded up the blanket and put it in her pack. Not now. She could ask later, but now probably wasn't the best time. She looked over the cabin real quick for any other bedding, then made her way back down the tree to Nobody.
By the time she was returning he had stirred, sitting slightly up. He hissed sharply, watching her make her way down the tree, mentally running over the insides of his cabin. He was certain he hid the bear... or did he... or.... or ..... or....
He couldn't focus, instead watching her returning form. His vision was still blurry, but it was defiantly Makala. A frown bore under his mask as he tried to sit further up, yelping sharply before he laid back on the ground, careful not to knock over her carefully constructed shelter. His wings shifted, pulling feebly into his side despite the screaming agony it caused. Collect yourself. Now.
Makala rushed to the shelter when she heard the yelp. There was enough room for her to squeeze in, but it was a good thing she was so tiny. She shushed soothingly as she pulled out the blanket. "I brought something to keep you warm. Otherwise your muscles are going to stiffen up from a night on the ground, and you'll hurt worse." She wished she'd been able to put something on the ground under him, but there'd been no way to move Nobody and she was honestly afraid to.
There it was again, the soothing sounds from her. He melted, succumbing and resting on his side the second she entered the shelter. He felt like a child, pathetically clinging to each gentle hair stroke and hushed whisper as if it was the last contact he'd ever receive. "Thank you." He croaked, reaching up to touch her hand and, tentatively, squeezing her fingers. It was a grand gesture from the quiet and reclusive male, and immediately he regretted it as he recoiled into himself.
Fool
Makala just smiled, taking the hand in both of her small ones and returning the squeeze. "Don't mention it. I just wish I could do more." She settled her back against the trunk of the tree, setting her bag next to her.
"I tried not to rummage through your stuff too much, so I didn't see if you had anything to eat up there. I brought some apples, but they might be tough to bite into. Do you even want food right now, or do you think it might come back up?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 7:01 pm
It had been a few days and Nasim had finally seemed stable enough to head up to his home. It was about time, after all, as he had grown fairly stiff sleeping on the ground. Malala did her best, despite the many times he tried to send her home, and Nasim's wounds were beginning to heal rather nicely. It was finally time to sleep in a bed, and he couldn't be more ready at this point.
He had already climbed the tree, stepping onto his porch with a shaky sigh before pushing the door open, collapsing in the doorway as his ribs screeched in agony and his legs gave in. Grunting, the 'daeva tried to push himself back up, making it halfway up the door before collapsing once more.
Makala cleared the porch only a few moments after Nobody. She'd been standing at the base of the tree, watching and fretting the entire time he made the climb. She almost made her lip bleed from worrying at it with her teeth. She couldn't blame Nobody for wanting to get to a more comfortable place and it would help his healing, but she still fretted it was too soon for him to make the attempt. As soon as she saw him reach the porch she scampered after him like a squirrel. From all the previous climbs and descents she knew the tree quite well, and could probably have made the journey blind-folded.
She saw Nobody collapsed in the door frame and bit at her lip again. She made herself walk rather than rush, but the anxiety fairly radiated off her. "Almost there," she said encouragingly as she squatted down, back towards Nobody. She carefully pulled one of his hands to rest on her shoulder, then tapped at the other one, indicating he place it on her other shoulder. "You're too tall for me put an arm around my shoulder, but I think this should do the trick as long as it's a short distance," she said, trying to inject enough cheer in her voice to mask the anxiety she felt for Nobody's health. And her doubts at the idea. Nobody was tall. Like really, really tall. Or she was just short. Maybe both. She could help prop him, but if he collapsed with all his weight she'd probably go down with him.
Nasim did as she asked, a soft and pained groan escaping him as they moved upwards. He didn't rely on her long, almost flinging himself into the bed when he was within throwing distance, grimacing and sharply hissing at pain. He didn't care, he was there. Rolling over, his hand smacked against something furry, eyes snapping open and a soft gasp escaping him behind the mask. Abruptly, he smacked the bear behind the bed, hoping she hadn't seen before squirming to fit his wings against the wall, now turning to view her.
"Thank you." He murmured, his voice muffled behind the mask. His eyes rolled backwards as a spasm from his wing reminded him how much it hurt, a whimper escaping before he leaned his head back onto his pillow. "I can handle things from here." Lies. All lies.
Makala giggled, despite her anxieties. "Just cause I can't see your face doesn't mean I don't know a fib when I hear one." She walked over and got to work on pulling Nobody's shoes off his feet; she would have even folded back the blankets too if he hadn't been laying on them. She set the shoes down neatly by the foot of the bed and sighed, looking up at Nobody from her position.
"I'm sorry I'm being so selfish," she said, regret making her voice almost child-like. "I know you like alone time and you haven't had any of that in a while, but if I left now I'd probably fret myself to pieces wondering how you were coping." She attempted a smile. "My parents say my imagination is too active for my own good sometimes."
He cringed as she removed his shoes, internally feeling guilty at the gesture. His eyes rolled to look out the window beside his bed, head snapping back to her when she spoke. His head shook before he could control it, hands folding together.
"It's fine." He promised, returning his gaze towards the window once more. "If you're staying, then avoid the back room." He added, voice molding into a firm tone as the masked man turned to look at her. "You may wander the entire house, but the room with a white door is off limits."
Makala nodded. "This floor looks much more comfortable than the one we've been sleeping on," she said, chuckling a little as she stood up. She gave the room a look-through, taking note of the door Nobody had mentioned. She hadn't gone through it her previous trips up here, mostly because she'd been able to find what she needed without having to check. She actually hadn't given it much notice until now.
"You'll have to tell me what kind of foods you like. I'm not a great cook, but I can make simple stuff just fine."
"Pasta." He mumbled. "Though, it's all I ate." And this was true. He didn't have much money on hand. Just what the previous guardian gave him. Pasta was cheap, and quick. He stocked up on it plenty. If she ventured into his pantry she'd be horrified, probably, but it's what he could afford and what he could make.... What did his moms make him as a kid? He.... he didn't remember...
Makala tilted her head. "Just pasta," she asked. "Do you like vegetables or sauce or anything mixed in with them?" Not that Nobody would have much choice. Makala was known for her green messes back in the tribe, which, though nutritious, were a trial to swallow. Anybody who had eaten Makala's cooking would probably be pitying Nobody at this moment.
"Jarred sauce?" He questioned, voice almost comically curious as he tilted his head. "I am only allowed to leave once a month, I don't tend to get adventurous when buying food."
Makala's expression was so dismayed it was practically comical, though no one with sense would have laughed in her presence. It was clear she was unpleasantly surprised to learn about Nobody's dining habits. At least he'd been eating moderately healthy while she was looking after him. Now that she had access to a stove, she was going to see about getting a proper meal into him.
"I'm going to check the kitchen stock real quick. It's still early enough in the day that I can forage for a decent meal." Squaring her shoulders like a general about to face and assess her troops, Makala turned to the kitchen and proceeded to ruthlessly insect the contents of every cabinet. From the way the crease between her brows deepened with each cupboard, she was not at all happy.
She turned to face Nasim, her face an expression of displeasure. Nothing directed at him, more towards the thought of how horribly he'd been caring for himself. Unfortunately when she was most displeased, she tended to look more child-like; she had a habit of puffing out her cheeks since she was a child, and it stayed with her to this day. "I'm going to go get some food," she announced. "You rest, I'll be back in a bit." She slung her back over her back and proceeded out of the cabin, vanishing from sight in mere moments.
Nasim watched her puff her cheeks out, a smirk appearing behind the mask before he killed it, fast. He barely acknowledged when she left, having returned his gaze back to the window as a haze rapidly descended upon him. Being in so much pain often was followed with a need to sleep constantly, and the tall man was no different. Absently, his hand shifted to pick the bear he had knocked over back up, pulling it into bed. She'd be gone for a bit, right? Did he trust her heading back? She had, for a bit, been meandering the forest for the past few days.... and it seemed to behave. Perhaps it welcomed her at this point.
He was too tired to contemplate it, really. If she wasn't back by night fall he'd find her. Right now.... right now he needed to rest. He forgot about the bear he held, eyes closing behind the mask as his body went limp and sleep greeted him. Finally, a well-deserved nap.
It was close to dark before Makala returned. She'd managed to find enough to satisfy her for tonight. Mushrooms, acorns, berries, a different apple tree with fruit that looked as tasty as the first, and several varieties of greens. She wished she had any kind of hunting skills to get some meat, since that would also do Nobody good, but this would have to do for now.
Makala scaled the tree and entered the cabin, looking around and waiting for her eyes to adjust to the lighting. She spotted Nobody, and had to smile a little when she saw a bit of brown fur poking over his shoulder. Then she turned her attention back to the kitchen, and started unloading her finds. Soon a dubious green sauce was bubbling away while Makala hummed over it and occasionally added something else to the mix.
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:57 pm
Makala had been gone for a bit, and at first he had said "good". He even wished she wouldn't come back. Maybe something would distract her and she'd forget. Maybe the forest would send her home and deny entry. Something. But, eventually, after the second day he felt lonely. The lack of her usual chatter caused a hole in his chest as he glanced around the cabin each night. She had been there for such a short time and already it felt wrong without that almost child-like sweetness he had grown to recognize and even expect. On the third day, when he woke, he finally stopped expecting her to greet him, instead rolling to view the door before sighing softly, very slowly leaving the bed.
He was feeling a little better. His wings could stretch and he could raise his arms above his head. He traveled to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of whatever before flopping back into bed, body moving back to the side. Hrm. He probably should stop expecting her any second. Wasn't this what he wanted in the first place?
The path Makala walked upon had a feeling of familiarity to it now, though for a good portion of the trip she'd been afraid she was going in the wrong direction. Her bag was heavy on her back, loaded with carefully wrapped food items. Her tribe was small, but the land was generous and there was more than enough to spare for her to take back with her. She was sure Nobody would enjoy the added variety to their meals. She also had a plan. The gatherers of the tribe showed her the special plants, ones that were difficult to track down but had high value attached to them for that very scarcity. Certain kinds of mushrooms, for example. She didn't have any particular talents that could earn money, but if she could find good plants she could sell them and use the money to help Nobody. The nearest town was pretty far off though. It was a problem Makala tried not to worry about. Maybe Nobody would know of a closer place, or better routes.
The tree was in sight, and Makala picked up her pace. Climbing was a bit more of a challenge with that full pack, but it was one she relished. "Nobody! I'm back," she called out as she clambered onto the pouch, stretching briefly then heading for the door.
! His head snapped up, hand smacking the bear he had on his bear back behind the bed. Oh. She did come back? Wings folding against his back, the male sat up, sitting up as straight as his ribs would allow him. Bruised ribs still hurt after a few days!
"You came back." He murmured, voice almost relieved. Almost. Vaguely.
Makala's step paused briefly in the doorway where the wood hid her face. She'd noticed the bear, and noticed again how Nobody shoved it into hiding. Then she kept moving. The pause probably wasn't even noticed; it could have been the pause of someone standing in a doorway to announce their presence before entering a home. Makala went straight to the kitchen and set her heavy burden on the counter. "Yup! Didn't take as long as I thought. I must be getting better at figuring my way through the forest, cause I don't think I got lost even once this trip!"
She pulled the biggest pot Nobody owned out, filled it with water and set it on the stove, then pulled out the packages of meat she'd brought with her. All but one went in Nobody's small, mostly empty freezer. The remaining one was opened, revealing a generous portion of venison, bone still in. "My family hunts for their own meat more often than they buy it, and thankfully they're all better hunters than me! I thought you might like somethings besides just plants."
Makala turned on the stove, then found a knife and started cutting the meat into cubes, tossing the bones into the pot as she cut around them. Finished she rewrapped the meat and put it in the fridge (also mostly empty), then washed her hands and turned her attention back to the pack, pulling out vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and other greens. The pot of bones was bubbling merrily away next to her. Her thoughts were an echo of the pot, and though she wore no mask her back was to Nobody so he could never catch more than brief glimpses of her face.
The bear was the one she'd given away as a child long ago, she was beyond sure of it. She'd had plenty of time to examine it, retrieving it from where Nobody hid it whenever he went to the bathroom. She was less sure about Nobody. It had been a long time ago, after all. She remembered the boy had had wings, big black ones like Nobody. She wasn't sure about the name, since she'd never asked as far as she could recall. His face had been hidden by a mask too, though she couldn't remember the design. It would have been too small for Nobody anyway, a mask for a child. Then there was his hand. The feeling of putting her small, lost hand into a larger, guiding, protecting one. The deja vu it had evoked couldn't be denied. So was Nobody that boy? But then why did he hide the bear? He obviously liked it enough to have kept it. Was he afraid Makala was going to take it back? Or did he just not want her to see it because he didn't want to be associated with her and that memory. Did he forget her? Then why hide the bear. Or did he wish to forget?
Makala's hands paused at her work of chopping. All these thoughts here getting her nowhere. "Nobody," she called in a quiet, questioning voice, then hesitated. She seemed to wilt a little. She hated herself for doing this. Nobody wasn't a bad person. He was quiet and didn't seem to like being around people, but he was still nice. There were things he refused to talk about, secrets or personal reasons, and she could see the subtle hints of distress in how he held his body whenever she was close to touching on them. She did try not to pry, but she could be curious. And this...this was probably going to cause him stress at a time when he didn't need it. But she couldn't help it. She had to know. She drew in a deep, shaky breath.
"If we'd never met before, why do you have my old bear?"
He watched her for some time before growing interested in his own wings, hands raising to stroke over the slowly healing cuts. Meat. She finally brought meat. His stomach groaned in agreement with her mention of the food, appreciating the fact that soon meat would fill it.
He hadn't noticed her abnormal silence, or her back to him. Eventually, he just laid back on his side, his own back to her as he faced the wall, nails running against the blankets under him. His head raised as, as if a question, his name was called. He tilted his head towards her, back still viewable but the side of his mask was now in sight. He heard the breath, about to sit up when her question left his blood cold.
His mouth parted, heart freezing for just a second as his hand trembled. She had seen. Yet, she couldn't have been able to tell it was her bear but the only tiny glimpses she probably had go- Oh. He left the bear on the bed back when he was sleeping outside. His mouth opened, then closed, hands gripping one another as he began to sit up, finally facing her. A pregnant silence lingered before, with a hint of fear, he responded.
"I found it." It was a lie, and obvious as the last word, 'it', was almost whispered. He was caught. He was trapped. He was breaking the rules and now she knew. She remembered. Help. Someone help him. His throat was closing as he waited, tense, hands shaking in his lap as his head lowered, face low. He couldn't fly. Even before this incident he never could. Something about his wings were unable to take to the sky. He couldn't run. He was trapped. There was no escape.
He had ******** up.
Makala felt all the blood drain from her face, and she couldn't move even if she had wished to. Which she didn't. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could only be grateful that Nobody couldn't see her face. She feared her expression would have only caused him pain or annoyance. She was glad she had pretty much finished chopping up the vegetables, because she wouldn't trust a knife to her numb hands right now. All of her felt numb right now. Everything but her heart, which seemed to have contracted with a pain she wasn't sure how to even sort out.
She knew Nobody's words were a lie, knew it as surely as she knew she had been correct when the silence after her question had only grown. Why was he lying? Was it her? Did he just want to forget her, erase any ties that might have existed between them? Was his name even Nobody? It was always possible, but perhaps it was just another attempt to keep her away. That he would be nobody to her. Was she a nobody to him? Maybe it shouldn't have mattered. Maybe that was just who he was, deep down to the bone. Maybe all he wanted was the name he had given her; nobody. But there were just so many conflictions, little things here and there, that it had made Makala wonder. Could she have been wrong this whole time?
"Why did you pick it up," she asked, voice so soft it was hard to hear over the boiling of the water. It was the best she could manage though.
He cringed into himself, wanting nothing more for her to stop. Digging his nails into his palms, he didn't flinch when the nails drew blood, instead draping his wings around himself. Wasn't this his chance to scare her away? Did he want that? No. No, he didn't. But he had to. He needed to.
"I don't know." He mumbled, hands raising to touch his mask, holding his face. 'Go away'. His mind screeched. 'Shut up.' 'You're so nosey.' 'I told you that you should leave.' None of that left his mouth. He knew he didn't feel this way. He knew the anxiety was rising. He felt his throat constrict, chest tightening. A panic attack. He was familiar with those. Stop. Breathe. Stop. Don't. Don't think. Don't speak. Don't do anything but breathe.
And then his breath hitched, loud enough to barely hear. The panic. It was rising, swirling in his chest and leaping into his heart, rapidly forcing it to accelerate. He just wanted to be normal. He didn't want to lie. He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted his name. He wanted his family. He ******** wanted his life back! He wanted it back! He couldn't do this! He couldn't do this anymore! Stop! STOP!
Makala finally willed enough strength into her limbs to turn around. The first thing she noticed was Nobody, sitting up on the bed. She couldn't see his face, but the deep rising and falling of his chest was reminiscent of someone stressed and trying to calm down. She hesitated, torn between wanting to rush to help and knowing that it was her fault and her touching or talking to him might make things worse. Feeling beyond helpless, Makala wobbled over to the kitchen table and slumped down into a chair and dropped her head into her arms. She should have just left when Nobody had told her to. She should never have come back. He was strong, he'd have found a way to cope without her. All she was doing was messing up his life.
He heard her move, tightening into a ball. He listened, intent. The kitchen table. She was sitting down. He could run. He could flee. He could just go.
A frantic sound escaped him, a mixture of a shaky exhale and a gasp. Go. Go. Go. GogogogogoggogoGO. His mind was reeling, hands trembling as they raised to hold the sides of his head. Leave. Now. She wouldn't come back. She probably wouldn't even follow. Hell, he was a mess, and he was showing it. He was pathetic. She knew it. He was a liar. She knew that. His head raised, eyes looking at the door. He could run. Right into the forest. He could hide there. Maybe nearby, even, to keep an eye on the gate.
Or he could run from everything.
Abandon the gate. Abandon her. Give up. The old gate keeper would return, right? Surely he'd notice Nasim gone, and then he'd return. Surely Nasim could be selfish? He could run.
But he didn't. He was breathing heavily, breath frantic and reaching a more stressed tone with each inhale. Panicking. Stress. Lies. He couldn't do it. He couldn't. She was going to leave. He wanted that, right? Or did he? She was never going to look over at him again. She'd leave the forest. She'd abandon it. Forever.
There were only two paths. She would leave forever, or he. He didn't believe any other choice. Of course she wouldn't come back for him. Of course she wouldn't come close. He ruined it. He ruined the one chance for someone normal and sane to be in his life.
Makala wasn't sure how long the two sat like that, either saying a word. It seemed like hours, yet it only had to have been minutes. It might not have even been that. She raised her head from the table and saw Nobody hunched in on himself, and felt regret for her curiosity leading them to this.
She stood up and walking hesitantly over to the bed, then crouched down on her knees in front of it and gingerly extended her hands until her finger tips were barely touching Nobody. "Don't be sad," she pleaded. "Please don't be sad."
He heard her moving, but his brain was going overboard. His breath was losing control, heating up behind his mask and suffocating him. He almost lashed out in terror when he heard her voice right infront of him, surprise becoming absolute panic. His head snapped backwards to view her, hands trembling violently before raising back to hold his head.
"I can't do this!" He yelped, voice trembling violently. "I can't tell you. I can't. I can't. I don't want this. I don- don't want this! I want to be me! I want to be normal! I-I can't–!" His voice was growing frantic, cringing back into himself as his chest seized. "I don't want to lie ." He whimpered pathetically, feeling the tears stream down his face and slip from under his mask, hitting the ground with the tiniest of sounds. For a second, all he could remember was the days he cried and his mother would hold him, whispering soothing words as she pet his hair. One of the few times Toxic could show affection without mixing a curse word in.
He was pathetic. He had been told before the job was tiresome on the mind. He had been warned how lonely it'd be, and yet he had simply shrugged it off. Loneliness had been normal, and something he handled. Yet, here he was, breath erratic and body cold as he panicked before the one person he had wondered about for years since their first meeting. The one person he sometimes daydreamed of seeing again, or worried she didn't make it home. She would run now. He was a liar. A crazy liar. That's what he was; crazy .The previous Gate Keeper warned him, and now it was happening. The forest was taking it's toll.
Makala made a gentle shushing sound she remembered from her childhood when she was upset or scared. "It's okay. I'm right here. Just breath."
Nasim heard the sound, head raising slightly, breath growing softer, just barely. She was still there. Swallowing thickly, he gasped for air as the hot air behind the mask suffocated, taking a second to try and force himself to calm. His breathing didn't completely soothe itself, but the panic gasping became soft sounds of slightly elevated breathing, his body fighting to breathe. In. Out. Breathe. That's it... his chest was feeling less restricted as he focused on the pattern of his breathing, hands lowering from his head slowly.
In. Out. Calmly. Focus on her.
Makala remained on her knees. Nobody's breathing seemed to be getting better. "There you go. Just keep breathing." She moved slowly, standing up and sitting on the edge of the bed.
She moved. He reacted, head turning slightly towards her. Focus. Breathe. His chest tightened once more as his breathing became a gentle hush, still tense, but it was the best it'd get for now. His hands settled into his lap, head slowly turning away to look at his lap. He could breathe, even if he felt sick to his stomach. Now what? Was she going to tell him how disappointed she was? Hell.... he never should have left the cabin in the first place...
A shaky smile found it's way on Makala's face as Nobody's breathing slowly began to even out. It wasn't back to normal completely, but he didn't seem to be laboring for breath the way he had been earlier. For a moment they just sat like that. Though Nobody was so much bigger than her, Makala was afraid she might shatter him if she wasn't careful.
Then, with a soft sigh, Makala leaned forward and buried her face against Nobody's leg, one of the few places that didn't sport a half-healed injury. "I'm sorry," she muttered into the soft fabric. "I know you don't like it when I ask questions. I just wanted to know more about you."
She moved, coming closer and resting against his leg. Nasim's eyes widened, a hitched sob escaping him before he leaned over, his hands boldly touching hers, clutching them desperately. "I'm sorry." He whispered, placing his head against hers. "I'm sorry. I want to. I can't."
And he meant it. Something about this girl felt so comforting, as if anything he was and everything he had to say could be accepted. She would understand. He felt it, and wanted nothing more then to press forward, offering his name and story. Himself. Everything he was. He wanted to, oh deities he wanted to.
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 2:02 pm
Nasim had grown accustomed to her. She spent plenty of time at his place, and sometimes when she was late he'd panic. Then, she'd appear, food in hand and that familiar smile. It wasn't long before his heart would hammer when she approached, mouth opening and snapping each time she smiled to him. Deities help him, she was adorable. Sometimes, during the months, he'd find himself about to reach out and take her hand. Sometimes, for a second he forgot who he was, brutally reminded when the weight of his mask became apparent.
Today he had greeted her with his usual hum, leaving the bed to investigate her new offerings. He had become friendlier, approaching her and allowing her brief touches. Sometimes, he even offered advice on her cooking, which always lead to disasters. Still, it was the thought that mattered!
Makala hummed a little tune under her breath as she stirred at the contents of a pot on the stove. Half her time these days was spent at Nobody's cabin. She was becoming better at foraging in the forest, sometimes finding food which went into Nobody's fridge, and sometimes finding valuable plants for barter. These she took back to the tribe, and traded them in for food stuffs that needed to be bought. It was likely her tribe would have allowed her to take the items without trading, but Makala didn't want to place even the smallest of burdens on the tribe.
None of them knew why she was so fixated on Nobody. She'd been told he sounded dodgy, not giving her a name or showing her his face, not telling her anything at all or even interacting that much. She couldn't give them answers. Certainly he was healed enough that he didn't need her. She could have easily brought him things without staying there as often as she did. He had managed fine enough without her, and would likely continue to do so. He also clearly seemed to want solitude. Makala couldn't explain /why/ she had to be there. There was just this feeling to Nobody, like a pain deep in his soul that she couldn't help but try to heal no matter how often her efforts were blocked.
Makala began to carefully arrange food on plates. She was rather proud of this latest dish; stewed greens, but they /looked/ so much better than last time. There was also rice, with some nuts mixed in to give things more texture. "Food's done," she called out, carefully juggling the plates as she brought them to the table.
She had been, admittedly, getting better with cooking. Earlier it had been a disaster, but perhaps continuous practice helped? Maybe? When she approached he offered a smile, though she couldn't see it.
"Thank you." He whispered faintly, accepting a plate and gently placing it on the table. He gave a small and grateful hum, looking up at her. "Someday I should cook for you." And he should. How many times had she done this for him? When would he return the favor?
Makala grinned at him as she sat. "Sure. You can impress me with your pasta-cooking skills," she teased, then started in on her food. She was probably the only one enthusiastic about whatever she cooked, oblivious to the odd tastes she sometimes produced; for someone so petite, she could put away a lot of food fast! Eating together had been awkward at first, but they had a routine now. Makala was always very careful not to look, and since she usually finished her food first she would usually get up to do dishes while Nobody finished his food. He protested from time to time about her doing all the work, but she always told him it was more convenient this way.
A finger pushed up the bottom of his mask as he ate, laughing ever so slightly at her joke. His was quiet, though at times he looked up to view her. Eventually, the question arose, and he lowered his utensils.
"Makala." He whispered, hand lowering as his head raised. "Why do you always visit? Isn't it boring?"
Makala had finished her food, and was just starting to get up when Nobody asked his question. She shook her head as she stood. "Not really. I spent a lot of my time out exploring, which is kind of what I do around here too. I've always been able to find something to do! And it's nice, knowing there's someone here to visit with!"
She gathered her plate and made her way around the table, prepared to start on the pile of dishes awaiting her.
He watched her, nodding faintly. Ah. She was odd, but he found that comforting. Glancing back over at her before leaning on the table, finishing his food mere minutes after her. "Still." He mumbled, head raising to view her again. "You return everyday to me. Isn't there another you rather be with?"
"Not every day," Makala corrected as she began running warm water into the sink. "Sometimes I stay with my family. Mostly if I get there a bit late and don't think I can make it back before dark." There /had/ been a few times when Makala had been forced to spend the night in the woods, either because she mistimed her journey or she got lost looking for certain plants. She didn't get lost as often now, but it still happened. Those nights were a strict secret kept from Nobody; he still got nervous about her roaming the woods by herself, and that was when the sun was out.
"It's not like there's anyone special back home," she continued, slowly washing out pans. "There weren't any kids my age growing up, so no close friends. It's just my parents and siblings, and I still see them all the time still." She laughed, and threw an impish smile at Nobody. "You'd make a terrible dragon in a story, always letting the girl roam."
Nasim snorted at the impish smile, standing up and approaching her, placing the plate beside the sink. He'd wash it himself. He leaned against the counter, directly in-front of her with a hidden smile. "I'm a dragon?" He questioned, voice so faint in amusement.
"Maybe that's my plan? To fake your freedom until, one day, I snatch it up?" Ah, he seemed in a talkative mood. He laughed, head tilting side to side. "Or maybe I really am a terrible dragon."
Makala laughed. "Probably the latter." She snaked out a hand to snatch at Nobody's plate, intent on dragging it into her small pool of soapy water; Nobody had yet to convince her to give up a task she'd started, and had to all but hide his plate on top of the cabinets if he wanted to keep it away from her and her soapy hands.
He watched her take the plate, hand lashing out and grabbing hers on reflex. "No." His voice wavered, attempting to soften as he realized how abrupt his movement had been. He was always overly cautious of his actions, and now he feared her recoiling. "Let me, you've done plenty for me already."
Makala wiggled soapy fingers against Nobody's palm. "Sorry Dragon, no can do. If you want to take up a particular task, you'll have to be faster than me about getting to it." Her smile was teasing, her eyes firm, and her touch soft as she waited for Nobody to release her hand instead of pulling away.
He cocked his head to the side, frozen in place. She was close, close enough for him to see the light in her eyes. Her touch against his palm sent a warm tingle up his arm, mouth parting as he began to release her hand, fingers sliding away from her palm before, suddenly, he grabbed it again. A silence draped around them as he watched her, drinking in her. It wasn't often he allowed her so close, and perhaps it was for this very reason. She trapped him in-place, leaving him vulnerable to her smiles and laughter. He was a mere prisoner, and he couldn't let her go.
His body shifted, closing the distance between them, standing right before her, blocking the sink from her ritual. He stared down, his free hand raising, hovering over her arm, as if pondering the limitations between them. The masked man stayed silent, caught in awe and lost in his own thoughts. Surely she'd pull away soon.
Makala smiled and was about to turn back to the dishes with Nobody released her hand, when suddenly he took it again. She shot him a surprised look, which quickly turned into a kind of blank shock. His body was now /much/ closer to hers, heat radiating from him to envelope her. She hadn't really noticed that he was now blocking her from the sink.
Her curiosity about Nobody- 'Dragon,' she interrupted in her thoughts. She'd never liked the name he had given her. She'd have respected it if it was his real name or one he desired to have, but she was sure neither was true; she'd only used it because he refused to give her his real one (one of his many unexplainable quirks). He was full of quirks and the did have conversations, but nothing really stood out as a nickname until now. Even if he wasn't a typical dragon, it suited him better than being a nobody.
Her curiosity about Dragon had never abated; if anything, it continued to grow. He still thwarted every attempt she made, and would withdraw from her for a bit of time afterwards. Not even the most subtle prying on her part seemed to get past his shields. It got to the point where Makala had learned to deal with her curiosity, and use caution with her overtures. More often than naught she waited for Dragon to approach /her/, but it meant the progress of their personal interactions passed in baby steps.
This.... This went /waaaay/ past the baby steps that were typical for them. Makala held her breath, almost afraid to move. He moved like he was going to touch her. Makala brought her free hand up, resting it lightly against the little dip of Dragon's skin where chest, neck, and shoulder all met. She inched her fingers up slowly towards his face, not sure if she meant to press against run her fingers through his hair or touch his face. Most of it was hidden behind a mask still, and while she wouldn't be the one to remove it she still wondered if she could guess the shape of Dragon's face from the feel of it.
His breath hitched as she began to touch him, his hand slowly resting on her arm. And then she reached up, about to touch his face. He recoiled, body slamming into the sink as a gasp left him, body immediately going cold. No. Nonono no. He almost shoved her, managing to calm himself long enough to just support his weight against the sink, hand trembling.
"S-Sorry."
An uncharacteristic frown appeared on Makala's face. She whirled about and went back to scrubbing dishes, though perhaps with a bit more force than necessary. "Well, I'm not. You always do that. You're always pulling away, you never tell me why. If it was just because you hated me you could have kicked me out ages ago. Then you go and do stuff like that, then suddenly pull back like a kid afraid of cooties."
Dishes done and resting on the draining board, Makala pulled the plug in the sink and turned to face Dragon as the water swirled down the drain, hands coming to rest on her hips as they did when she was in a take-no-prisoners mood. "What am earth am I /supposed/ to do when you go doing stuff like that? How the heck am I supposed to know what rules to play by when you won't even tell me anything?"
He just stood there, completely dumb-founded by her new.... anger? What was that? His heart hammered, mouth opening and closing without any ability to articulate how he felt. She whirled around, spouting something at him. He barely caught it, lost in.... whatever it was he was feeling. Fear? Hurt? His hands trembled, shoved back into his pockets in an attempt to shield his vulnerability from her. Stop. Stop it. Stop expecting so much from him! Suddenly, anger lashed out, mouth tightening as he pushed away from the sink.
"I didn't ask for you to be here." He snapped, voice trembling. "I didn't ask for you to demand what I told you I can't give. You're a normal. Someone who shouldn't no. No, someone who can't. I told you the rules. Don't touch my mask. Don't touch the door. They're simple. You expect to alter the rules." His voice trembled violently, a tear dropping from his mask. She knew the rules! Why did she expect more?! He knew this would happen! He always had! This had been destined to fall apart! She couldn't understand, and he couldn't give in.
"Get out." He sobbed, voice teetering between anger and hurt. "Just go. " He cried out, hand slamming into a nearby chair, sending it over. "You're better off gone, so leave. " He didn't give her the option, instead heading for the front door and dropping down from the tree, vanishing into the forest. He couldn't do this. This was it. He finally did it. He chased her away. So why did it hurt so much?
Makala was practically vibrating. As was her usual she seemed to puff a little when angry, like a cat causing its fur to stand on end. The unjustness of those words stung deep. She /did/ follow those rules. She'd never so much as looked at the door most of the time, never tried to remove Dragon's mask. Those were the only rules. What rules had she been breaking then? Before she could respond though, Dragon took his own advice and stormed out of the cabin. Makala stood there for a while, letting the unfamiliar anger course through her body as she just stood there. She wasn't sure for how long. Then the spell broke. She picked up her bag, empty, slung it over her shoulders, and stormed out, heading for home. The sun was setting and it would be dark soon, but she didn't care. She just knew that right now she had to get out of there, before she did anything she might regret further.
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Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 5:03 pm
Makala was irritated. It had been weeks, and there was still an undercurrent of irritation about her. It was very unusual for her, and most people had commented on it. Usually they never commented on it again. Her mother was one of the few people brave enough (and, though Makala would never think this, airheaded enough), to bring it up. Pretty soon Hazel was getting the story, bits and pieces at a time. Today Makala's irritation had been so bad that when her mother mentioned it, the whole story came bubbling out.
Hazel sat there for a while, dumbfounded. Or, at least, that's what Makala thought. Then she burst out with a, "Oh, so the gate was actually this close! My, I do feel silly! Well, your father found me before the forest pulled me back or the Gatekeeper sent me home, so I guess it's all to the good!." This, of course, baffled Makala. Then the whole story came out. And as odd as it sounded at first, the more her mother talked about it the more little things about Dragon's behavior began to make sense.
And now, for the first time in her life, Makala was mad. Not irritated, not grumpy, not out of sorts. Mad. Maybe the anger wasn't fully justified, but at the moment she had a bone to pick and justice could just wait its turn. She didn't even notice most of the trip back through the forest, and wasn't sure when she'd even made the choice to actually go back and confront Dragon with what she knew.
"Dragon," Makala called out as she strode through the forest, getting closer and closer to that familiar tree and cabin. "Dragon, I know you're there! We need to talk!"
He hadn't left the cabin in days. No. He just laid on the bed, body limp and wings draped around him. Sometimes, he'd eat. Usually, he was struck with grief, remembering the words he had said and the actions that had finally frightened her away forever. He knew it would happen, he knew. And yet it hurt waking up without her calling out. His back was turned to the front door, fingers brushing across the bear she had given him. He wanted to toss it out. Forget her. Forever. Never again look back on this past.
His heart sunk, and for a second he almost heard her..... wait. Wait, that was her. His head snapped up, mouth gaping open. What? Why? His heart hammered, sitting up fully as he awaited the wrath. No. She was supposed to go. Why?! Why was the forest allowing this?!
Makala stood at the base of the tree, tapping a foot with her hands on her hips. "Fine," she finally called. "If you aren't coming down, I'm coming up!" And she proceeded to do just that.
She did feel a momentary twinge of regret when she saw him sprawled in the bed like he hadn't moved in days, but she was still too worked up to let it go just yet.
"I know," she announced into the room. "I know everything. Why on earth couldn't you have /told/ me any of this yourself? You should have been able to! Did you think I was going to run around babbling?" She stood there in that doorways, hands still on hips and as puff-ball-looking as she'd ever been. Clearly she expected some kind of answer.
His mind reeled as she appeared and started screeching, head snapping back. She knew....???? What? What did she know? She couldn't know what he thought she might be implying... she was just a.... a... Taking the chances, the man cleared his throat, voice rusty. He still remembered the hoarse sobbing he only just gotten over today. Thank Deities she choose today and not any earlier day to come crashing it, howling at him.
"You know what?" He questioned, his tone clearly suggesting he had some idea what she was so mad about.
"The gate," she hissed. "Gatekeepers, other worlds, that stuff." She huffed a little, and seemed to have turned her focus inward for the moment as she muttered to herself. "I mean Mom wasn't super clear about most of it and most of it just makes no sense, but she was at least positive this had to be a gate spot."
He froze, body stiffening. Suddenly, he stood up, grabbing a nearby bag and shoving things inside. He had to leave. He had to break the gate. Speak to the previous Gatekeeper. Make a new one. She knew. It was far too dangerous for her, and.... her mom?! How did her mom know?! More than one person knew. Was he that terrible at his job? Yes, yes he was!
"I couldn't tell you." He snapped back, heart hammering. "They'd kill my family." He added, voice dropping into a whisper. "No normal is supposed to know. None of you. I-It's my job.... You know. They'll kill you, too. T-they'll.... I have to leave. You have to leave." He was panicking, grabbing random items and shoving them into his bag frantically. He'd lie. He'd say the gate broke because of a malfunction. Something. Anything but the truth. Anything.
"Wha-?" Makala seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, it was like she almost doubled in mass. You could almost /see/ the image of a puffed out cat superimposed behind her. "That's so stupid! They'd kill your family just for knowing about a gate? What about the people on the other side of it, do they kill them for knowing too? Mom didn't say anything about it, and she's been on this side for at least a couple years. Or she thinks it's been a couple years. She said the gate wasn't clearly marked on her side and she isn't sure when she fell through, but she thinks it's been a while. Still!" Makala just stood there, trembling in indignation. For the first time in her life she was not only angry, she wanted to find the people making these stupid rules and causing a whole bunch of people distress, and give them a good kick!
He froze in his packing, head snapping to view her. "They know about your kind. They always have. I keep them from coming i- Your....?" He trailed off, slowly standing up straight. "Your mom fell....?" He couldn't finish his sentence, hand slowly dropping the bag as the masked man just stared. Her mom fell through the gate. Her mom fell through the gate. She was.... part..... His hands trembled, shoving into his pockets as he stepped backwards, wings flapping.
"You.....?"
Makala didn't really notice Dragon. She was still too busy silently fuming over the thought of any sort of busybody trying to run people's lives like that. She only really snapped back at the last question.
"Huh? Me what?"
"You're from the other side?" He whispered, taking a step closer, as if drawn to her without any willpower to stop himself.
Makala tilted her head. "I don't know what you mean. My mom is, I guess, or that's what it sounded like when she was telling me about all this. You'd have to ask her."
He collapsed. It was the only response he had. All this work... for nothing? All this time he could have.... he landed on his knees, hands supporting himself on them as he bent over, a shaky sigh escaping him. All of this was pointless. All this pain. All this fear. Why. Why had the forest done this to him?!
Makala furrowed her brow, momentarily distracted from her anger by Dragon's odd behavior. "Dragon," she questioned, wondering what he was doing on the floor. Surely she wasn't /that/ scary.
"This was useless." He spat out, venom touching his words. He grabbed the bag, tossing it violently to the side in a fit of rage, head snapping up to her. "I wanted to, so bad– I wanted to tell you everything. I wanted to be me. Instead, I hurt you. All of this, it was worthless. I hurt you. I scared you. I ruined everything. I didn't know, I–!" His breath caught, hands almost reaching out for her to come closer before they just slipped under his mask, holding his face as soft gasping left him. All of this was worthless, and now? Now she probably hated him. He could have.... have what? Had her? Ha! Why would she want him...? Did it even matter now? After the things he said? After the way their last meeting went?
Did it even matter anymore?
"Hmph," Makala huffed softly. "Those people who made the rules better be glad they aren't here now. Normal or not, I'd take a spoon to their backsides and then feed them the nastiest weeds I could find!" Having declared what was probably the worst punishment in her entire arsenal, Makala stepped closer to Dragon.
"You really are a terrible dragon. You don't hear many stories of them trying to protect the female character." She actually cracked a grin. "I guess I'd be a horrible female character. I'm not at all afraid of the dragon and go chasing after the threats it's trying to protect me from, threatening them with spoons and bitters greens."
He heard her get closer, body instinctively trying to tell him to run. But he didn't there was no reason to. His breath hitched as, for a second, a soft laugh escaped him, tinted with a soft hurt that lingered around the edges. "What are you doing." He whispered from his spot on the ground, hands clenching against his knees.
"You're going to run away again. I'm a pathetic dragon. I let the female character leave time and time again." He whispered, faintly. He couldn't help his hands reaching out to her, finally, fingers stretching out. He wasn't sure what he was accomplishing, instead overcome with a need to do something. Hug her. Hold her. Apologize. Cry. Something.
Makala took the hand and lightly squeezed the fingers. "Nonsense. I just explore, but I always come back. I'd be more worried that the dragon decides the female character is too much of a hassle and just flies off for good." She chuckled softly. "Besides, even if the first book goes wrong there's always sequels."
Reassurance. He let out a breath sigh of relief, squeezing her hand back. "Would she miss the dragon?" He questioned, almost thoughtful in his response. He held her hand, arching his back slightly to reach it will sitting. When had she decided this was his name, anyway? After the fighting and chaos.... he hadn't really noticed the new name. His mouth tingled, desperate to tell her what he was actually called, but he was silent, simply soaking in the fact she had yet to abandon him. She was here. Holding his hand. Chattering and chuckling over something, as always. This was the Makala he knew, and it pained him. He had sent her fleeing. He had hurt her, and while she switched gears so rapidly he had yet to forgive himself.
Would he ever?
[11:09:32 PM] Jinx: Makala was silent for a moment, deep blue eyes unreadable and long white hair fluttering about in the draft from the door she'd left open when she came storming in. She gently pulled her hand free, walked over to the bed, picked something up, and walked back. Dragon was so much taller that even on his knees his face was only a few inches below hers.
In her arms was the bear she had given him all those years ago.
"Of course she'd miss him. She never forgot the dragon, even though their meeting in the prologue was brief. She gave him an important treasure then, because she thought he needed it more. You don't forget someone like that."
Her hand left his, his own falling slowly to the ground, head lowering. He didn't move, listening to her travel across the floor. Was this it? Was she gone? No. She was returning. The masked man raised his head, eyes rolling to lock on the item in her hands. The bear. The one thing he had taken from his old home and into this one. His mouth tightened, hands shakily raising before lowering again. Stop. Don't touch her. She was just sweet. That was it. She'd done this for anyo–
His hands lashed out, grabbing her arms and, with a gentle force, he pulled her down to him, arms wrapping around her and embracing the white-haired woman. He didn't care anymore. He might tomorrow, or the next day, but right now? Right now he couldn't help from holding her, wings wrapping around her as he kept his grip soft enough for her to recoil if need be.
"I'm so sorry."
Makala twitched in surprise when Dragon pulled her into a hug. It was the most contact she'd gotten from him in all the time she'd known him. She hadn't even really expected it. He could have still been mad at her for prying or butting into his life all the time, even if he did realize the all the tip-toeing he'd been doing was unnecessary now.
'I'm so sorry.'
Makala relaxed into the hug, chuckling softly and reaching up a hand to run her fingers through Dragon's hair. "Don't be, silly dragon. You were just trying to protect the female character as best you could."
He didn't know what to do, allowing her to stroke his hair, forcing himself not to flinch back. It was comforting. Sincere. He was content. His wings released her, head raising to view the woman. She wasn't mad. She didn't seem to be, at least, and it caused his heart to leap. They were okay. Or, so she made him believe.
The two stayed like that for a time. Such intimacy was so rare for Dragon that Makala was unwilling to be the first one to move and break the moment. She left the next move up to Dragon.
"So what now," she asked softly, afraid even her voice would shatter the moment. Well, it was a question that had to be asked.
He looked up at her, hands raising before settling on her arms. His own voice came out soft, perhaps even afraid. "What do you want?"
Makala frowned and pulled back a little so she could tap the mask where she estimated Dragon's nose to be. "Nope. You don't get to wiggle out of this one. I've been doing what I want this whole time, regardless of your feelings on the matter. Now it's your turn." Her expression softened. "Don't be afraid. Just tell me. If you could pick your ideal path from this point onward, what would it be?"
He frowned when she didn't give a proper response, eyes closing as a shaky and trembling sigh left him. What did he want to do? He.... He wanted....
His hand raised, tugging the strings of the mask and letting the knot unravel, catching the mask in his lap when it abruptly fell. Strange eyes peered back at her, a mixture of colors swirling within them. They were red with a startling yellow around the pupil, eyes narrowing nervously before he reached up, gently touching her cheek. Would she let him? Would she shove him away? This was what he wanted, yes, but what if she never came back?
Shoving the fears aside, he leaned closer, pressing a gentle and shy kiss against her lips before beginning to recoil, hands fumbling with his now removed mask nervously.
Makala had only a few moments to look at the face she'd been wondering about for so long. Strange, multi-colored eyes stared at her, and there was a wariness deep within them as they flickered over her face. She felt the touch on her cheek only distantly.
Then the eyes were gone, but not hidden away behind a mask. They had simple moved much closer. There was a soft pressure against her lips, the lightest brushing of skin against skin. Almost as quickly as it came the sensation was gone, and Makala could see Dragon's face again. The wariness he'd had before was nothing to what was showing now, and she could hear and feel him toying with his discarded mask like he was fighting the urge to shove it back on his face.
Like handling a spooked fawn, Makala moved slowly so that no move she made would be a surprise. She brought her hands up to frame Dragon's face, thumbs lightly brushing over the skin on his cheeks. She lifted herself up, having to half-stand to reach. She placed the most delicate of kisses over first one eye, then the other. Then, with a smile as shy as Dragon's, she pressed a soft kiss back onto his lips.
He fumbled with the mask continuously, throat shutting. How long had he used it as a barrier? It had been moderately safe behind it, and yet now she saw every flicker of doubt. Every worry. Every emotion his fairly expressive face would emote. He had almost forgotten she was there, about to place the mask back on when her touch caused his head to turn back to her, eyes widening just a fraction. One eye closed as she kissed it, and then the other, head raising ever so slightly into the contact before he was surprised with a return kiss. A tiny gasp left the much taller man, hands lowering and touching her hips ever so gently.
He didn't press forward. Instead enjoying the light and gentle kiss. Finally, he pulled away, nervously flicking his eyes away from hers. This would take getting used to.
"Nasim." He whispered, voice so unsure. So worried. "My name is Nasim."
Makala blinked, then smiled with so much happiness it was dazzling. "Nasim," she said, testing the feel of the name. She continued to smile. "It suits you far better than Nobody."
His eyes widened at her happiness, completely taken aback. That had been enough to cause such a pure smile? His name? Flushing ever so slightly, he pulled some of his hair in-front of his face, cheeks turning an even brighter red. He released her hips, nervously fretting behind his hair before flicking his gaze to his tossed bag, wings lowering around him.
"You aren't.... mad, still?"
Makala chuckled softly in the back of her throat. "It wasn't your fault. I was just frustrated before. Then after I found out.... I don't think I was mad. Not really. I guess I was just intent to learn the truth from your own lips, and in mom-mode." She chuckled again. "That's what my family calls it. They say the only times I ever seem upset is like watching a mother scolding children."
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