[Center][h1]Moss VI[/h1][/center] [hr] “Have you ever looked at something… something that makes you pause?” Rahdayo murmured as he cradled his sister’s head. He had Zafrina clutched close to his chest, blood stained bandage pressed tight to her stump of an arm. The world was in constant motion around him, a green blur to his eyes. He had to blink every time he lifted his head to look out. How they raced like a demi-god of old. Zafrina didn’t answer but that was alright. She could hear him. “I once stared out at the mountains back home on a morning like any other, you know? Da was chopping wood. Ma was…” he trailed off as they hit a bump in the road. He could hear Moss and Teefee talking, saying something, but what? He didn’t know. He cared but not enough to look at them. What would they see if they saw him? He began talking to his sister again, shoving the thought aside. “And I saw nothing out of the ordinary but I felt so strange. I looked at my hands, back at the scenery, back to my hands. They were shaking. I couldn’t quite grasp it but I knew, deep down, something was [i]wrong[/i].” he felt a smile form on his dry lips despite it all. Leaning forward, he rested his cheek upon Zafrina’s warm head. “I came to realize that what was different had nothing to do with what I saw but with how I saw myself.” he sighed. “It was a moment of stark realization. Have you ever had that sister? Ever asked yourself why you were alive? Why you got to breathe mountain air? How you can flex your hand? How you can walk and talk?” He felt something wet slide down his cheek, his voice growing small. “I didn’t feel real at that moment. Like everything had been a lie. How could I deserve any of it? How could I live when… That was the day after… She died.” He did not like to think about that day. Her face flashed before his eyes. Golden locks and small horns. A blue dress blowing in the wind. A raging river from spring melt. A dare. Cold, cold water and a warm smile despite it all. He did not deserve that smile. But Rahdayo found that, like a snake, it slithered its way into his mind when he least expected it. Those thoughts and memories. Zafrina didn’t know how it still poisoned him. Worse than when their parents… He shut his eyes tight, trying to banish the thoughts. Yet it was no use. He had failed again. He had failed to protect someone he loved. He swore he wouldn’t. He swore! He had done nothing as he had held Teefee. He had smiled, reassuringly, even when he was breaking like glass inside. “I’m drowning again.” he cried but the world kept moving. [hr] Nikan plunged his spear into the water with precision. He had been waiting an age for such a chance. He brought the spear up from the churning current and frowned. There was no fish on the tip. He muttered a curse under his breath and tossed the spear to the side. He stared at the water rushing past his legs, then fell face first into it. He was content to let the flow take him wherever it pleased. He didn’t care. The water was his friend after all. He let out a sigh all the same, bubbles rising from his mouth. The old ways were difficult and he couldn't grasp how his father and his father before him had managed to spear any fish. Perhaps they knew a secret he did not? He should have asked. He floated up and turned so that he faced the sky. He took a deep breath as he rounded a curve in the river. The water was cool and the sunlight warm. Nowadays, there were better ways to catch fish. So he let his frustrations wash away. There was no point in being upset when the water called him home. He drifted to sleep. It was only later he awoke to shouting. “...Leave it alone!” “But Mistressssss, Teefee sees him breathing.” “Teefee by the love of the gods, come over here now! We have more pressing issues. We can’t deal with a dead man washed to shore.” Dead? Nikan sat up. He both heard someone yelp and another curse. He looked out at the river, it seemed it deposited him on a nice sandy beach but the lengthening shadows of the day had obscured the sunlight. He spun to see a short green thing and a tall white haired woman looking at him, not a boulder throw away. They looked haggard with worn clothes stained dark. The short green thing took out a knife and pointed it at him. She had the air of a hunter. Nikan cocked his head and stood up. He towered over the squat green thing and even the white haired woman from where he stood. Oh, she had strange ears. The green woman took a step to stand in between him and her. Not a hunter then, a warrior. Nikan raised his hands up, and said, “I mean no harm.” The green woman narrowed her eyes at him. “If you truly mean no harm, then let us depart separate ways.” Nikan lowered his hands and gave a nod. “Of course. But for curiosity's sake, might I ask your purpose here? It is not every day I find strange people by the river side.” “We could say the same.” The short woman said, eyes sharp but wary. “But so be it. We are simply travelers taking rest for the night. We won’t linger here long tomorrow before we go on our way.” “The road has been difficult, I see.” The woman gave no reply as he stroked his chin. The taller woman looked nervous, flighty like a bird. After a time the short woman said, “We must be going now. Farewell.” And spun to leave. The white haired woman looked after her as she left, then back at Nikan. “Come on.” The short woman said, glancing back at the girl. Nikan watched as she took a step after her but then paused. She looked him in the eye and said, “Teefee wonders if you are a healer?” The short woman spun fully, face aghast but surprisingly, she made no outcry. There was pleading in the white haired girl’s eyes, her expression one of sincerity. Still, the way she spoke of this Teefee? Was it the short woman, her mistress? “I know some remedies. Is this Teefee hurt?” he asked. The girl shook her head. “Teefee is fine. Teefee’s friends are hurt. They need help. Help Teefee cannot provide.” Her words were sorrowful, her strange accent reminiscent of a song. Nikan found himself intrigued. He had not expected to find himself in such a strange situation but who was he to go against the river’s flow? “Show me Teefee’s friends and I will do what I can. I swear upon the river that I shall bring you or your traveling companions no ill will.” She looked back at the short woman, who looked at Nikan with a raised brow. He could tell she thought it was a bad idea. He did not blame her but if there was a chance he could help those she cared about, well… She nodded. [hr] Pain. Dull, throbbing, pain. She opened her eyes to blinding light and aches. She couldn’t help it, she couldn’t keep it in, so she screamed. But it didn’t come out like a scream, it came out like a dry wheeze. So thirsty. Her eyes fluttered between light and dark, as voices drifted into her ears. “Zafrina? Zafrina?” “Breathe, just breathe.” “It’s going to be alright, just focus.” “Hold her down. Don’t let her hurt herself.” The wheeze became a scream at last. Her eyes began to water as they focused, despite the pain. Oh gods, it was terrible. Then she saw an angel. Or the closest thing she could imagine was an angel. He was tall and looming over her in the sunlight. But his bronzed skin… She had to blink back tears but she could swear in that moment, his skin was alive like light touching clear water. Reflecting and shimmering. It was hard to look at and then his eyes… Crystal blue. He crouched down and said but one word to her; “Sleep.” [hr] Teefee sat next to Rahdayo with tired eyes, yet Teefee knew Teefee could not yet sleep. Teefee’s friend? Lover? Teefee did not know. He looked as if sleep would bring no comfort. It broke something inside Teefee. Teefee did not know why. Teefee had never felt such a way before and Teefee was no stranger to such terrible things. Teefee was banished, after all. That was the secret Teefee had not shared with anyone. Not even the mistress. And Teefee wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe never. What would big sis Shah think of Teefee? What would Teefee’s other siblings think of the cowardice that bloomed in Teefee’s heart like a jaw that trapped the paw. Teefee leaned against Rah but he made no move to wrap an arm around Teefee. Teefee pouted but stopped herself. Teefee had to act better. This was not the time for such kitten-like behavior. Teefee was an adult. Teefee had to prove to them. All of them. Teefee could be better. Teefee would be better. “Rah?” Teefee asked, looking at him. There were bags under his eyes as he looked at the fire. It reflected in his dark eyes. He did not answer. Teefee spoke anyway. “Zafrina will be alright. Teefee knows this. Large man has helped her, like he helped you.” Teefee tilted her head, hoping for any recognition but still, it did not come. “Rah. Teefee knows you hurt. Teefee wants to help. Please let Teefee help?” “You already are.” Rah whispered, leaning his head onto Teefee’s. Teefee felt a bolt of warmth curl around Teefee’s heart. But Teefee wasn’t so sure Teefee was helping. “How does Teefee help?” She asked, unsure. “By being beside me.” Teefee smiled as a purr blossomed within. [hr] Moss slumped against the same tree as Nikan. The tall human was a strange man, with strange ways and the way his skin reacted to sunlight… Moss was wary of him but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel impressed. He had helped Zafrina, cleaned the wound and put some sort of healing salve on it before bandaging it with leaves. The same for Rahdayo. At least he was conscious but she knew those eyes of his like her own. They would need to talk. Nikan in the meantime, had asked no questions besides the nature of the wounds and how they came to be. Moss answered truthfully, even if it sounded insane. He took it all in stride. Now they settled into the dusk of approaching night. She felt uneasy but they couldn’t go any further without proper rest. It was a miracle they had even found a healing man. Moss didn’t want to think about the alternative. For now she looked out at the makeshift camp. Teefee and Rahdayo huddled by the fire, while Zafrina slept. “I worry about a fever.” Moss said. Nikan, who had his eyes shut, gave a small nod. “I have done what I can for now. If a fever comes then we must hope the spirits help her to break it.” “You can’t help if it comes to that?” Moss asked incredulously. “There is little I can do here. Only the village shaman knows the true healing words. And we are far from her.” “So what you’re really saying is that you don’t want to take us to your village.” A smile graced his lips. “Perceptive of you.” “Why?” Moss asked, crossing her arms. “Hmmm. How would you feel if someone you knew brought strangers into your home? Even if it was for all the right reasons? You might understand, you might even help, or you might feel betrayed. How dare you bring strangers here. Some of my people would feel this way.” he confessed. Moss sighed. “I get it. But so what? If a fever strikes her, I won’t be equipped to help her if it worsens. I can’t…” She felt her voice catch in her throat. She cleared it with a grimace, composing herself. “I’ll do anything.” “Anything is too steep a price.” Nikan said, “But I hear your heart, Moss. It is good. I shall stay with you until we can be certain a fever comes to neither. I shall consider what action to take if the worst comes to pass. Until then, as payment, you will teach me your ways.” Moss narrowed her eyes. “A generous offer, one I will accept gladly but pray tell, what ways are you after?” Nikan smiled and opened his crystal blue eyes to look at her. “Anything.” [hr] Above them, breaking through the darkening sky like a flaming arrow, a meteor fell… [hider=Summary] Multiple perspectives after the battle that changed their lives and we are introduced to a new character with strange origins. [/hider]