koruri-ushikai:

She felt like she was going to die of frustration while with this woman. This is what happens when you do nothing for moons but train and fight. The first damsell in distress who acts all strange and indifferent of things and she couldn’t even do anything but squirm all over the place. When the woman started to work on her thighs again, Cyrina had to force her vision far, far away from the Raen as she stared at the fire, somewhat really angry at it and quite red on the face.

Stupid Raen.

“Mine.” Cyrina responded to the other without looking at the woman, continuing to stare at the fire pit, calming down her own fire within her. She most likely just needed alone time in her yurt after this. “Thought of bringing you home for healing. Wounds leave scars. Unsure if white scale likes scars on them.” said the Borlaaq as she herself had several small nicks of old scars on her body, barely hidden in her current attire of a sleeveless leather top and a ripped short skirt. Her choice of armor was meant for mobility rather than defense.

“Do not know if greens heals even scars. Do not know what green is. New.” said the Xaela as she tried to take a peek at the woman, glad that she was decent. “Travel there. Get food and water along the way.” Then there was a pause as she was about to push herself up.

“Sleep. You need?”

( So I reblogged this at the wrong blog lmfao )

“Yours?”

Koruri pursed her lips, her delicate brows furrowing in light concern. She didn’t like the prospect of going to any home, much less a stranger’s. Even if that stranger did save her life, she was acting... off. She went so far as to worry her lower lip between sharp canines, drawing a bit of blood that went unnoticed by the light-haired Au Ra. Her family never explicitly told her not to follow people she didn’t know, it was sort of a given at that point. Plus, this berserker barely knew how to speak her language. Then again, she also had a habit of overthinking things.

She glanced at all the fresh wounds coated in green moss, wondering what she would look like with white, puckered scars. What would her family think? The thought didn’t appeal to her but she wasn’t against it either. She shrugged. “I know plenty of... white scale who have battle wounds.” She was less a warrior than she was a scholar but running across jagged, rocky surfaces barefoot was bound to harden even the softest of Raen up. But the most important thing was that Cyrina promised adventure, even if it was never said.

“Okay, I’ll follow you.” She was careful not to say the word home, or perhaps it simply never crossed her mind. “I definitely need water.” She tapped her empty flask and sighed. The prospect of companionship was new and not entirely wasted. She was fine on her own, but if Cyrina promised food, water, and shelter then who was she to decline such generosity? At the mention of sleep, she nodded. “Yes. Please wake me up in a couple of hours.” 

Resting on hard surfaces was not uncommon and Koruri had the amazing ability to sleep wherever she wanted, regardless of dangers and discomfort. She laid down without another word, curling into a small ball with her arm acting as a makeshift pillow. “If you like, you can sleep here too.” She patted the soil next to her. 

koruri-ushikai:

She continued to stare at the strange moss on her digits, wondering why the other recommended it and was about to ask before she ended up–once more–caught off guard by what the Raen was doing. With the help of the blazing fire which seemed to be burning brighter that time as Cyrina couldn’t help but feel her face warm up just a little bit, she saw the view quite clearly before her.

Aside from the scratches and the weird green moss the woman was applying to herself–those legs… those creamy legs with beautiful pale white scales hugging her flesh were so breathtaking that Cyrina ended up swallowing. Hard. The bruises and cuts were nothing but added attraction to her body as the stranger slowly moved her skirt higher and higher and…

Her hand reached out to grab Koruri’s skirt, stopping it from its ascension as she looked up at her with a concern expression on her face–a different shade spread on her cheeks as she frowned at the woman.

“What are you doing? Sit down. Fix yourself up in front of fire.” She growled though her eyes were looking at anywhere but the woman’s face nor her legs then, her own short tail curling behind her as if hiding in embarrassment. Really. If this was how she acted in front of those Xaela that she just killed–she wasn’t surprised why they would think her gullible and an easy target.

“Home. They can fix you. Ointment. Bandages. I’ll bring.”

Oblivious to the Auri’s blatant distress, as she was to most things, Koruri continued to spread the verdant paste all over her wounds. It left a strange contrast between the milky skin and the green. While her tribe was outside under the sweltering sun most times, they always kept everything below their torso covered. Ushikai, in particular, were prone to sunburns and it was not uncommon for them to dab a bit of ointment at the tips of their nose and on their scales to prevent peeling.

There might have been a peek of that strip of white cloth underneath her robe but her ministrations were stopped short by the berserker. She raised an eyebrow, neither pulling away nor letting go of her skirt. “What’s the matter? I know these injuries look small but it’s important to tend to anything that might cause pain.” She thought that the Auri was berating her for wasting the moss on her insignificant cuts and bruises but she did not sound insulted in the slightest. In fact, her eyes roamed all over Cyrina, all her bandages and burns, thinking she might have missed a spot.

Koruri shrugged at her savior’s request and dropped her robe in acquiescence. “I don’t see how sitting will help. It’s better to get a full view of one’s body when checking for signs of discomfort.” As if to prove her stubborn point, she slipped a hand beneath her robe instead and began applying more moss onto her thighs. Innocent enough but the gesture was anything but. “I have ointment here,” she said with a shake of her head, “and I don’t get along well with bandages, I will be fine.”

It was only when she was satisfied did she sit back down. “Which home are you talking about?”

koruri-ushikai:

To say she was disappointed was an understatement as the Borlaaq only narrowed her eyes at the terrible attempt in wrapping the makeshift bandage. She just grumbled and grunted as she caught the bandage before it fell down on the ground. She really would have to put it on herself.

"No. It’s fine. Tie myself.” called over Cyrina as she grumbled further, muttering under her breath as she would once again use the blade of her weapon as her mirror as she placed it on her lap. Here she would start to wrap the makeshift bandage around her face. It took a long time due to the lack of help but with her used to getting injuries, it didn’t seem to take forever. She just thought that she could use it as a way for the other to thank her and they can go on their merry way… after she brings the woman safely out of the place she suppose.

The flask was left tucked between her legs as she did her work, only then realizing that it was there when she was done. The bandage covered at least half of her face diagonally, concealing one of her eyes as her hair was disheveled in some ways. Cyrina definitely did not look nor smelled like she just got out of a bath as she was smeared with dirt and blood all over–and  peculiar green moss which she pinched between fingers to look down at it.

“Water. Thank you.” She finally said, offering back the flask to the strange woman, still staring at the weird moss on her digits.

She held her hands up helplessly. “I think it’s best.” The Raen was never great at managing bandages and treating injuries beyond slapping some moss all over it. Her mother had scolded her more than once for wandering through a field of brambles and returning with scratches all over her body - and if she had any previous wrappings, they were long gone. She simply could not remember that she had them on and so never felt it necessary to learn how to tie one. She did observe how it was done, if only because the redhead was taking her sweet, sweet time. Her book was slipped into a compartment of her bag in the meantime.

Koruri nodded, not-so-secretly pleased as she was given back her flask and not-so-secretly crestfallen when she realized she really did have to fill it up herself. She collected the flask and looped it back around her belt. It was strange not hearing the sloshing sound of water. But it is what it is. She stood and brushed her knees free from dirt, noting with a disconcerted frown that her traveling robe was ripped and frayed from her struggles; the edges were burnt from the fire and she noted a couple of blood stains here and there.

As if she had forgotten about her companion’s presence, or she simply didn’t care, she lifted the hem of the robe up. Her pale leg was bare, smooth and covered with little nicks and bruises from ankle to knee. The scales lining her skin gleamed like white ivory in the firelight. She began to smear the moss over these smaller injuries, pulling her lower lip between her teeth as she concentrated. The bruises hurt when she pressed in but she needed to get it as deep as possible. The higher she went, the higher her robe went, hiking near up to her thighs, her spike-riddled tail swishing behind her.

koruri-ushikai:

There was once more confusion. What was the woman saying? She had to think long and hard about the words she just said and came up with this: Book hard, use as weapon? The entire thing was incredulous and it would have shown on her face if it were not for the woman randomly producing a flask. When did she get that and why… was she drinking so poorly like that?

Well, once again Cyrina couldn’t look away as the water trickled down the woman’s flesh, her blue forked tongue flicking out to lick her own lips ever so slowly as the water descended and disappeared down the Raen’s shirt. She was indeed thirsty but to what specifically for was another thing.

She did grab the flask however afterwards–but not before blinking her eyes a few times before grimacing some more at how she was acting. She took a few sniffs of the content, trying to see if the other was tricking her before finally tipping it and letting it fall to her as she drank eagerly if not desperately. Okay maybe she /was/ really thirsty.

Unlike Koruri, she didn’t let a single drop be wasted however.

“You strange. Refreshing like water but strange.” commented the Borlaaq as she kept the flask with her and offered the other her make shift bandage.

“Tie?”

If she knew what was simmering in her savior's mind she would have felt just as taken aback. After all, people don't use books to hit other people with. The Raen smiled politely as her offered to ask was snatched from her claws after a moment's hesitation. No matter how strong a fighter someone was, they always succumbed to the thirst in the end. "Knew it. It's good water, yes?" 

Koruri twiddled her thumbs as she waited, failing to hide her blatant staring as the Auri near chugged the liquid the same speed a maturing Raen might throw down a mug of fermented apple. She sighed. She would have to find a way to get that particular kind of water back. When she wasn't offered her flask back, she shrugged. If the warrior wanted to do it for her then so be it.

The more surprising motion was the woman holding out her bandages. She pursed her lips. Was this an exchange? Or was she being requested to tend to her wounds? The latter seemed more plausible but she wasn't completely sure. Tentatively, she took the bandage and began to wrap it around the redhead's injuries, the cloth loose as she struggled to make heads or tails on how to keep it all in place.

"I think you would benefit from more moss." She said before letting the bandages unravel and fall, leaning backward to grab her bag and began to rummage through for more of the healing green.

koruri-ushikai:

This woman was crazy. Who the hell does she think she was? A reading contest? What the hell does that even mean? How does that even help them in their current situation? Did she not hear the Borlaaq earlier ago saying that she couldn’t read?

This only made her frown deepen, continuing to glare at the other in those pale blue eyes as her limbal rings glowed in the darkness, the fire crackling beside them as their only light. She had no idea what was going on with this Raen’s mind at all. Though she had to admit, that grin she had on her face and the confidence in those eyes were attractive–regardless of how stupid the things she was saying.

“Weakling.” Cyrina said slowly, making sure each weird common syllable was uttered properly in her low and rough voice as she stared at the woman, taking her dare. Though the contest? There was no way in hell she was going to do that at all. So she just grunted and released the other, letting her pull away if she wanted to.

“Gonna die out here within a sun.”

This woman was mad but she was refreshing. Weird but refreshing.

Koruri threw her head back and relinquished a long, disappointed sigh straight from her throat. Judging by her savior’s reply, the competition wasn’t quite sticking. She was looking forward to a contest but she supposed brute strength was the only thing on her companion’s mind. She could have looked at the fire; the ground next to her, the dead leaf rustling dangerously close to the fire. Instead, she chose to stare directly into the redhead’s eyes, noting the intensity and honesty, and honestly, she respected that. Enough to sigh again with less disappointment.

“I don’t think you know what that word means,” she explains patiently this time, realizing that the Xaela might not understand the definition. “This is why books are important. I don’t think I’m a weakling. I ventured out from my home all by myself and, apart from just now, have been perfectly safe by my lonesome.” She quirked a smile. “I may have lived in a mountain my entire life but the sun is nice.”

She tilted her head upward to the moon, baring her pale throat to the world like nothing was wrong as she sighed. “The moon is nice too.”

She couldn’t help but stare at that pale throat. It looked soft and vulnerable like that. Cyrina could easily slit the woman’s throat here and there with the dagger on her hand or… she could press her teeth along its softness and…

There was a sudden intake of breath from the Borlaaq as she had to cut her thoughts short. See. This is why she hated seeing weaklings. She ends up always saving them. Always. And then she ends up liking their weakness. There was clearly something wrong with her.

She would rip her eyes away from that soft pale throat to finally pick up her makeshift bandage, dusting it off of the grass that clung to it.

“Wrong place to venture out to. Better to go outside of the Steppe. Safer.” A pause, “Maybe. Less problems in the road.” She would adjust the ripped clothing she had, trying to estimate on how to put it on herself.

“Brave however.” Oh hey look, a compliment. “But probably stupid if just books.” Well she tried.

“Hm. I see.” Koruri didn’t think herself as elitist, but hearing such common words spoken in such a guttural manner… yet, her savior was still trying so hard. It put her own efforts to shame really, and the ego deflated rapidly. Of course, she didn’t think herself above this lady, only that she was still confused. The lady thought her weak and so she saved someone whom she barely knew and chanced her own life? It was impossible for the Raen to comprehend. And it was a constant curiosity. It would be advantageous for her to remain in such company, it seemed.

The pale-haired Raen sighed again. “Outside the Steppe it is.” Even if she was hoping for an adventure here, there might be adventures and experiences elsewhere. She, however, did not hide the scowl shadowing her features. Brave but probably stupid? That didn’t make any sense! “Just books?” Koruri huffed. “Books with a lot of pages and a hardcover make for a formidable weapon, I will have you know. It is unpredictable, after all.” 

With another hmph she produced a flask of water and washed her hands free from the moss before taking a swig from it. A trickle of water ran down her chin, down her throat and down her shirt. She glanced at the redhead and offered the flask once she was done. “You must be thirsty. Here. It’s water. Refreshing spring water.” She wiped her lips clean from the moisture. “Trust me.”

koruri-ushikai:

This woman was crazy. Who the hell does she think she was? A reading contest? What the hell does that even mean? How does that even help them in their current situation? Did she not hear the Borlaaq earlier ago saying that she couldn’t read?

This only made her frown deepen, continuing to glare at the other in those pale blue eyes as her limbal rings glowed in the darkness, the fire crackling beside them as their only light. She had no idea what was going on with this Raen’s mind at all. Though she had to admit, that grin she had on her face and the confidence in those eyes were attractive–regardless of how stupid the things she was saying.

“Weakling.” Cyrina said slowly, making sure each weird common syllable was uttered properly in her low and rough voice as she stared at the woman, taking her dare. Though the contest? There was no way in hell she was going to do that at all. So she just grunted and released the other, letting her pull away if she wanted to.

“Gonna die out here within a sun.”

This woman was mad but she was refreshing. Weird but refreshing.

Koruri threw her head back and relinquished a long, disappointed sigh straight from her throat. Judging by her savior’s reply, the competition wasn’t quite sticking. She was looking forward to a contest but she supposed brute strength was the only thing on her companion’s mind. She could have looked at the fire; the ground next to her, the dead leaf rustling dangerously close to the fire. Instead, she chose to stare directly into the redhead’s eyes, noting the intensity and honesty, and honestly, she respected that. Enough to sigh again with less disappointment.

“I don’t think you know what that word means,” she explains patiently this time, realizing that the Xaela might not understand the definition. “This is why books are important. I don’t think I’m a weakling. I ventured out from my home all by myself and, apart from just now, have been perfectly safe by my lonesome.” She quirked a smile. “I may have lived in a mountain my entire life but the sun is nice.”

She tilted her head upward to the moon, baring her pale throat to the world like nothing was wrong as she sighed. “The moon is nice too.”

koruri-ushikai:

Her body tensed up, hands quick to release her hold on her makeshift bandage as she procured a dagger out of nowhere, pressing the sharp blade against the woman’s neck. Cyrina seemed calm however, her breaths were warm against the Raen’s face certainly as her pupils were dilitated from the surprise ‘attack’ that the woman did.

When all the other did was tend to her wounds, that hold on the weapon loosened up as she winced and closed an eye or two while the moss was smeared against her burned scar, letting out a hiss. Her body would shift slightly when the stranger started to tend to her other wounds as well, muscles tensing and breathing picking up.

But with the Raen up this close, she was able to see the bright blue eyes on the woman’s face and the scrunch of her face as she was concentrating on her work…

“… What?” reacted Cyrina abruptly at the confidence of the woman’s voice. “<Nhaama’s teats! You were strung up and being rolled about in a spit! The hell are you talking about having it under control?>” growled the Xaela in pure ancient Auri, unable to believe what the other was saying.

“<It’s a miracle that you were even alive still when I got there! It was only a good thing that the fire wasn’t burning bright when I saw the smoke!>” continued Cyrina with a low growl, glaring at the other as she didn’t backed away from the woman at all.

Unbelievable!

If the weapon was of any concern, she didn’t flinch. After all, she had just survived a bandit attack that was about to roast her alive. A knife to the throat was nothing. She was simply glad that the redhead decided to take the treatment rather than kill her; the burn was severe enough to be of concern, even in death. The hot breaths gusting over her face was a testament to the other’s discomfort but she cared only about healing the lady, not about her comfort.

Then the words came.

“Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying in that language,” Koruri said casually, though her brow was scrunched once more in confusion. From what she gathered, she was being scolded instead. The Raen didn’t understand. Did she really need saving? Sure, she was in a tight spot and she was unarmed, but surely she was hoping for some godly intervention? With her hands still clasped tight over the wound on the other’s arm, she mused to herself. Why was she being told off?

“Well, whatever it is you’re saying, I assure you I was perfectly safe.” She announced. “In fact, you’re more hurt than I am…” Koruri squinted. “Shouldn’t you have taken more care?”

She cursed under her breath–No, she just cursed for the other to hear in ancient Auri when it was certain from what she understood, that the Raen was saying that she was okay and didn’t seem to need any help.

With the dagger still on her hand, she would take the woman’s collar and yank her closer, their faces now close to one another and continuing to growl at the other. “Am fine. Not you.” She started once more in common, trying her best to give her message no matter how annoying it was to find the right words to use.

“You were dying. Gonna die. You were not safe.” added Cyrina, letting the words roll off her tongue in that strange accent of hers. Then again, it was hard to look serious and threatening while you had a green gunk smeared on your face.

“You need to be cared. This is the Steppe. It is dangerous for weaklings.”

“See, I still don’t know what you’re saying.” Koruri frowned, pursing her lips. The basics she knew included: eat, sleep, herd. And maybe some form of cursing but this was unlike any other. The redhead seemed intent on keeping her in the dark. She didn’t flinch when she was grabbed and pulled forward, her sapphire eyes remaining as daring as ever. She faced the fire and now she was going to face the consequences too, unblinking.

“What?” Her eyebrows shot up. “You think me that useless?” She laughed and pushed at the lady’s chest in an attempt to free herself though her efforts were weak. In truth, it was fascinating to see her savior up close and personal. The green tinge took away from the image, but it seemed like the lady was genuinely concerned for her wellbeing. “You know, we’ll never know if I was going to die or not.”

Koruri pushed harder. “Call me a weakling again, I dare you. I’ll challenge you to a reading contest. Do you think brute strength is enough?” She bared her teeth in a grin, her canines gleaming and sharp in the firelight. “Try me, I’ll read circles around you.”

koruri-ushikai:

Her body tensed up, hands quick to release her hold on her makeshift bandage as she procured a dagger out of nowhere, pressing the sharp blade against the woman’s neck. Cyrina seemed calm however, her breaths were warm against the Raen’s face certainly as her pupils were dilitated from the surprise ‘attack’ that the woman did.

When all the other did was tend to her wounds, that hold on the weapon loosened up as she winced and closed an eye or two while the moss was smeared against her burned scar, letting out a hiss. Her body would shift slightly when the stranger started to tend to her other wounds as well, muscles tensing and breathing picking up.

But with the Raen up this close, she was able to see the bright blue eyes on the woman’s face and the scrunch of her face as she was concentrating on her work…

“… What?” reacted Cyrina abruptly at the confidence of the woman’s voice. “<Nhaama’s teats! You were strung up and being rolled about in a spit! The hell are you talking about having it under control?>” growled the Xaela in pure ancient Auri, unable to believe what the other was saying.

“<It’s a miracle that you were even alive still when I got there! It was only a good thing that the fire wasn’t burning bright when I saw the smoke!>” continued Cyrina with a low growl, glaring at the other as she didn’t backed away from the woman at all.

Unbelievable!

If the weapon was of any concern, she didn’t flinch. After all, she had just survived a bandit attack that was about to roast her alive. A knife to the throat was nothing. She was simply glad that the redhead decided to take the treatment rather than kill her; the burn was severe enough to be of concern, even in death. The hot breaths gusting over her face was a testament to the other’s discomfort but she cared only about healing the lady, not about her comfort.

Then the words came.

“Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying in that language,” Koruri said casually, though her brow was scrunched once more in confusion. From what she gathered, she was being scolded instead. The Raen didn’t understand. Did she really need saving? Sure, she was in a tight spot and she was unarmed, but surely she was hoping for some godly intervention? With her hands still clasped tight over the wound on the other’s arm, she mused to herself. Why was she being told off?

“Well, whatever it is you’re saying, I assure you I was perfectly safe.” She announced. “In fact, you’re more hurt than I am...” Koruri squinted. “Shouldn’t you have taken more care?”

She might have felt some pity for the lady who saved her life. On some level, Koruri felt the need to ask if she was okay. But on the other hand, she was far more interested in why the Auri risked her life - and face - to save someone she didn’t know about. Curiosity is a curious thing, she thought to herself. The burns, the injuries, everything.

Her grammar and vocabulary was poor, clearly unfamiliar with her language though it was more than Koruri could boast of - she barely understood a couple words as it was and spoke even less. Her tribe focused more on horticulture and farming than ancient languages. “Never the time–” She cut herself off with a sigh, shutting her book with a solid thump. “They’re worth the time.” She said sternly.

Then, a pause. “Here, I have something for your… injuries.” Placing the book aside, she rummaged through her pouch, a sign of clear discomfort on her face, and, guilt. She plucked out a mat of moss and spat on it, rubbing it between her palms before holding her hands out. “This will help.” She said solemnly.

There was a confused look on the warrior’s face, not even sure why the woman was asking about books and reading while it was dark at night and there were monsters and other tribes about. Surely she knows that the Azim Steppe is much more dangerous than the outside world that leisure things such as reading wasn’t recommended? No, of course not. She just saved her from being eaten after all–or whatever that tribe wanted to do with the Raen.

The moss and spit however made her scrunch her nose which ended up with Cyrina wincing and glaring at nothing in particular as the burned skin creased along her face.

“Help? Healing?” asked the Borlaaq after a while, still very awkward with her wording and trying her best to simplify things as much as possible. “Like ointment?” continued the Xaela, not moving from her place nor scooting close towards the other as her hands held her makeshift bandages, a frown on her face.

“Yes,” Koruri said, an answer to both as she lurched forward and clasped the redhead’s cheeks between her hands. “Please hold still, it might sting a bit.” Now that she was firmly in her grasp, the wanderer got to work. Her palms roamed over the burn, smearing the moss over the lady’s burn. The moss itself was grown special from the base of their mountain range, fertilized by the cows and sheep and given incredible healing properties by their shamans.

What the berserker was left with was a green smear across her injury when Koruri lifted her hands away and hurried on to tend to the rest of her injuries. “Bandages don’t do anything but soak up blood. Blood makes you dirty.” She scolded as if she were in the position to do so. Her brows were scrunched in concentration, the scales on her face crinkling. There was a determination set like hard diamonds in her eyes. 

“Anyway, what were you thinking? Risking your life to save me,” she rolled her eyes, “What a dumb thing to do.” She gave a final, hard pat so that the moss would set. But she did not take her hand away, nor did she move away. She stared at the redhead with a strange intensity. “I had it under control.”

She might have felt some pity for the lady who saved her life. On some level, Koruri felt the need to ask if she was okay. But on the other hand, she was far more interested in why the Auri risked her life - and face - to save someone she didn’t know about. Curiosity is a curious thing, she thought to herself. The burns, the injuries, everything.

Her grammar and vocabulary was poor, clearly unfamiliar with her language though it was more than Koruri could boast of - she barely understood a couple words as it was and spoke even less. Her tribe focused more on horticulture and farming than ancient languages. “Never the time--” She cut herself off with a sigh, shutting her book with a solid thump. “They’re worth the time.” She said sternly.

Then, a pause. “Here, I have something for your... injuries.” Placing the book aside, she rummaged through her pouch, a sign of clear discomfort on her face, and, guilt. She plucked out a mat of moss and spat on it, rubbing it between her palms before holding her hands out. “This will help.” She said solemnly.