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Teiluj kept her balance, she was used to riding on her Radaku. So she didn't feel that keeping herself on banshee was all that hard. Her eyes watched for the small clearing ahead. Nervousness growing within her, Tao was highly protective and was prone to immediate attacks. If he felt that Teiluj was in danger or anything out of the sorts. Even ignoring her commands to stay and back down. She wasn't a beast tamer, and so her companion was more feral than most. With the sun now completely set and the stars opening up in the sky, Teiluj knew her Kinfa would be resting somewhere she deemed safe until morning.

In the distance their approach to her makeshift campsite was marked by the glow of her radaku's horns and markings. Markings she had painted on the radaku with Nandowa dust and other plants from around Chibale. She had played with some paints during her journey here.

The hybrid womans eyes turned to look up towards Lynx. Giving a nod to his question of her comfort. She turned her eyes cautiously back to the direction of her belongings and her companion. Biting her lip as they drew closer. "I'm alright." She reassured him, her heart pounding against her chest at the thought of him carrying her. The thought of her hand on his chest again sent a shiver of heat up her spine.

The sound of a deep growl came from the bushes ahead and Teiluj nearly threw herself off of Banshee. "Tao no, Lynx lookout!! Tao he's protective of me and he doesn't know you." The Radaku was launching himself out of the trees aiming straight for Lynx and Banshee. His teeth barred and ready to attack.

Teiluj stumbled forward as her ankle gave way to her pain and the healer crumpled to the floor. Her hands outstretched to her companion a deep seated fear that he would harm Lynx seeped into her mind.

Tao snapped his jaws as a warning his body deftly wiggled, swerved and weaved his way towards Teiluj. Inserting himself between his fallen owner and the stranger. His tail moved around Teiluj like a barrier, his hackles were raised. Nothing was going to come closer to Teiluj. "Tao..." Teiluj whispered, trying to soothe the agitated companion. Her hands reaching towards his horns but she wasn't quick enough. The creature had set sights on Lynx and the subtle shift of the wind sent the familiar into an attack. Aimed straight for Lynx.

Hands raised to cover her mouth, stiffing back her panicked gasp and outcry. The situation terrified her, golden eyes shifted from hybrid to radaku. Guilt overtook all her emotions. How could she have simply forgotten that Tao was the type to launch an attack. She should have warned Lynx. This was all her fault, his injury was her fault. Teiluj struggled to her feet limping towards Lynx and Tao. She had also not anticipated the radaku to be patrolling the area. It was normal for him to patiently sit and wait.

Tao snarled, his jaw tightening. The whip-like tail thrashed back and forth, unable to reach Lynx with it. His body twisting and writhing with the attempts to free himself from Lynx's hold. Claws scraping and clawing into the ground, and anything they could hook themselves into. This continued till Teiluj had limped past both radaku and the male hybrid.

The female hybrid bit back the pain in her ankle. Reaching her bag, Teiluj scrambled to reach inside it dropping to her knees. Reaching in, she pulled out a foul smelling substance, bandages and a book. Wincing she hurried back to Lynx. Dropping to the ground with her feet positioned beside her, she shoved the foul smelling item into Tao's nose. Retching at the smell Tao retracted himself from Lynx's arm. Squirming to free his head from the hold he was being held in.

"Aisha's branches." Teiluj cursed. Watching the blood that freely dripped from Lynx's arm. "I'm sorry, i'm so so sorry! Here you are helping me and you get injured. This is all my fault. I should have asked you to wait back. Or at least have said something."

Teiluj reached forward to take hold of Lynx's wrist with one hand. Her other hand flicking through her healers book. Looking for the right page that would help her cast the spell she needed. Her heart pounded in her ears the metallic smell of blood filled her nose. "Don't move, careful... please, let me help." She wouldn't blame him if he grew angry with her, she deserved it. He had every right to become angry and lash out at her, to get up and walk away now. Her body was both rigid and soft, flinching at every move her body ready to coil away. She anticipated a strike of anger.

Tao paced around the two hybrids, watching Lynx carefully. Making sure to keep a fair distance between himself and Banshee. It was unusual for him to be so agitated. Teiluj winced, she was a horrible person. Of that she was certain. Tears were now freely falling down her cheek. Her only desire was to heal the man she was looking at.

There!

Settling on the right page Teiluj took a deep breath in. Glancing at Lynx through the corner of her eyes. He wasn't angry with her? Wasn't going to attack? Watching his hand move slowly made her heart ache. This gentle man didn't deserve the injury he had sustained. Apologizing again, the soft purple light of her healing spell filled the space between her hand and Lynx's injured arm. Her eyes tracing along the scars he already had. Tentative fingers touched the older scars. A feather light caress as her fingers brushed over them. She wasn't yet skilled enough to heal those. All she could do in the meantime was heal his currently bleeding arm.

Tao paused, taken aback by Teilujs attention on the male. Hesitant to move forward. It took time before his pacing stopped. His eyes focused on the outstretched hand. Eventually his head lowered, stalking forward with slow purposeful movements. His nostrils flaring with each sniff towards the treat.

In the time it took for Tao to calm down and approach Lynx, Teiluj had worked her best on Lynx's arm. Having gotten distracted by his previous injuries. Her eyes were half open, tracing the outline of his muscles. From his wrist moving up his arm towards his shoulder. Another apology was uttered. While she could close the wound, she couldn't make blood disappear. "I need to fetch some water. Your arm, I've got to clean it." Teiluj struggled to raise to her feet. Grinding her teeth against the pain. There was only so much magic she was capable of casting. Healing Lynx had taken all of her remaining reserves for the time being. She would have to settle with wrapping bandages around her ankle to stabilize it till her magic could be restored enough to work on healing herself. Right now Lynx was her priority.

Tao tentatively waited for the treat. Not keen on taking it right out of the man hand. Sniffing at the ground with his head lowered he kept his eyes on Lynx. His tail relaxed and lowered. He was still aware of Banshee's energy but chose to ignore the beast for the time being.

Her ankle was very sore now, the feel of Lynx's hand in hers, startled her. It wasn't hard to overbalance the injured woman. Feeling her body pulled in another direction Teiluj gave out a shout of shock, her lithe form falling into Lynx's body. One hand landed on his shoulder for balance, the other on his chest for further support.

Tao jumped back at the sudden movements, hackles raised once again with a growl. Though he showed no inclination to attack. Teiluj had not shown signs of discomfort this time. While he had not gotten the treat from Lynx he returned to pacing anxiously nearby. Something was causing a disturbance with the Radaku.

"Lynx." Teiluj whispered breathlessly. Looking up into the male hybrids pale eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she sat there wondering if this was just due to her exhaustion or if there was something more at play. Her head was swimming, the feeling of floating was consuming her. Trying to calm the rush in her head, Teiluj's head fell against against Lynx's chest.

The sound of her name hitched her breath in her chest. Pausing for a moment as his hand moved her face to look at him. A sudden and intense blush consumed her, her breath quickening at the proximity. Was she alright? That was a complicated question. Her ankle was probably sprained, her magic usage had physically drained her out. To top it all off, a VERY attractive man was now holding her close, her face inches from his. The smell of sandlewood that came from Lynx was captivating. "You're too attractive for your own good." Teiluj blurted out, her quick breathing and fast heartbeat didn't take long before it consumed her.

Teiluj had fainted.

Tao returned to sniffing the treat, his mouth salivating at the scent. Creeping forward he picked it up before running away into the bushes.

A couple hours passed before Teiluj roused back to consciousness. Stirring minimally Teiluj's senses of her surroundings were the first to return. A breeze across her face, the feel and sound of the night air. Had she been dreaming? There had been a really nice man helping her. It had to be a dream right? Her golden eyes slowly opened, half lidded as she took account of her surroundings. She was aware of the warmth of someone's arm around her, of the proximity of another being. Jerking Teiluj's head snapped to look at Lynx. "Wait, you're not a dream!?" She paused, "have you been watching over me this whole time?"

Teiluj moaned, shifting to remove herself from the hybrid males hold. How had he not abandoned her in the night? The pain in her ankle caused her to wince with another moan. Nope, the previous moments had not been a dream after all. Pulling away to give Lynx his own space, face flushed with embarrassment, Teiluj's hands reached towards her ankle. The familiar purple glow surrounded her injury. It was a simple enough mending spell, but enough of a cost that her magic left her drained once again. Her eyes flashed towards Lynx's arm. a pang of guilt at the sight of the dried blood on his arm. "I've burdened you. I have nothing to pay you for your help." Teiluj muttered sheepishly.

Teiluj couldn't help but giggle at his response. A light smile toyed at her face, shyly looking away. Her smile vanished at the mention of relocating her to a different place within the city. She shivered uncomfortably. "I don't mind it here." Teiluj spoke. "Besides I don't want to put you out. I don't have money to afford accommodations. I refuse to be a financial burden on you." Teiluj looked at Lynx with sincerity. "Especially you." Her eyes darted towards her hands when Lynx took them in his own. Giving a light squeeze back.

Looking towards her items the hybrid ran her fingers through her hair, leaving one hand to linger within Lynx's hold. Maybe she could earn money through healing others. It would give her a chance to practice her magic and build some resilience towards it's depletion. Even then, she wouldn't be able to make enough doing just that to pay for accommodations within the city.

"Then there's the situation of Tao, and Starline." At the thought of her Radaku Teiluj perked up. Her attention on high alert. Speaking of Tao, where was he? Calling out to her Radaku, Teiluj heard the creatures response in the distance.

Her wandering hand moved to cover Lynx's hand in return. "He's not acting himself Lynx, I've got to find out what's going on first."