"While you were hunting, we were speaking, Rajni. Having shown us kindness by sharing your fire and food, we would like to help you survive your quest. If you would have us. Perhaps, we might also find our way home in the process."
Skaar breaks away from watching the bacon sizzle long enough to nod in agreement with Nicatha. "That is assumin' you don't mind sharin' your dragon with us", he adds with a laugh.
"What's your father got 'gainst this dragon anyway? And why did he send you out alone to bring it down?"
As she sits there quietly, cleaning her knife she listens to Nicatha nodding slightly as if in thought. Looking over at Shamara, she smiles slightly. "It might be nice talking to people who can talk back sometimes." Shamara looks up at her and makes a noise that sounds like something between a snort and a huff, before going back to her badger.
Rajni reaches over and scratches her head, "Oh relax....I'm not trading you in." She laughs a little at Shamara's 'go to hell' look that she gets before looking back up at the others.
"Are you sure you'd want to come? It's a really long trip over some pretty difficult terrain. See...I got this map of the area from my father. It shows how to get up into the mountains and the general location of the Dragon....but I'm not sure of it's exact location. There's no way of really knowing how long it could take? I understand you wanting to get home....." She looks off into the distance for a minute, a far off look on her face before she snaps out of it. "....so, I'll understand if this is something that you're not comfortable with doing."
She looks down at the ground, "Father never gives reasons....he just...well, it's complicated."
"Yes, will do want to come with you. As we be now, we have no idea how to get home. Perhaps that will change, but sometimes you must plant what seeds you have and hope something grows."
Her voice hitches a bit every time she mentions him, and her body seems to...twitch a bit. As if she's having a muscle spasm just thinking about him. Without making eye contact she continues, "It's supposed to be a test. That's what he said....the Ranger Guild Master is old and ill....Father want's me to take his place for some reason, and he thinks killing this beast will prove that I'm ready. I'm not allowed to return there until it's done. If I don't kill it...." She shudders and just gets quiet.
Shamara stops eating and goes to Rajni putting her head in the young woman's lap.
"Rajni, we have just met, and advice from strangers be not always welcome. But, the past does not necessarily determine the future. I too have tasted exile's bitter cup. Even if your quest fails, you don't need to. There be other homes and other paths. Ones that you have chosen." Nicatha's voice is quiet and sincere.
"I think it's a bit early for talkin' like that", Skaar butts in. "Let's get this quest started before we start talkin' 'bout failin'."
"The girl thinks she can do it and we're gunna help her."
As her head comes up, her hood falls back as she looks at Nicatha with tears in her eyes. "If there was another path available to me...don't you think I would have taken it by now? There is only what he wants and wishes...he has ways...he just..." She tries to take a deep breath, but her body is shaking and she just shudders again. "I...I know you're trying to help...but, you can't possibly understand and I don't know how to explain it in a way that doesn't sound like I'm insane."
She takes another breath, "He paid for me with a pouch full of gold when I was eight years old....do you honestly think he'd just let me go?"
She looks around as if worried that someone might hear her.
"Just because someone paid doesn't mean you have been purchased. Those be lies that the abusers tell the abused. You might not want to hear this, and I will not press it, but you are not the first to walk such a path."
The dark woman's voice doesn't rise in volume, but there is a presence and intensity to it that belies her calm features.
This woman has been hurt and hurt badly.
"It is not about success or failure, Skaar. It is about our choices and our lies, lies that have been told to us and the lies we tell ourselves."
Not wanting to have a full on breakdown in front of people she doesn't know, she just nods her head. She stands up and signals Shamara to stay. "I...I need to get cleaned up. Just make sure the meat gets turned...I'll...be back." She turns and runs back into the forest with her bow, she always has the bow with her. Shamara grunts and laying back down starts to clean herself.
Nicatha will mind the meat, as she sets about cleaning up the camp site and herself.
With a few whispered words her white robes lose any stains and her silver jewelry is burnished bright.
Rajni runs for a while into the forest before stopping to catch her breath. Sitting down on a fallen tree she hugs her knees to her chest and tries to take deep calming breath. They don't understand...they just don't. It's not about any kind of lies...it's just fact, and one that I can't escape. They have no idea what he's capable of....damn why did I say all that?
She sits there for a minute before she recognizes the sound of running water. Getting up, she follows the sound. After a short time she comes to a small river that appears to be coming from some place up in the mountains. It's not too incredibly wide or deep, but the water looks cool and clear. Bending down she tests the water with her hands. Cool, but not bitter cold...it must be coming from some other source.
Looking around and not seeing anyone, she takes off her garments and lays them on a rock close to the waters edge. Taking her bow with her, she eases into the water letting it soothe her aching muscles. At mid point it only comes up to her chest. The water is refreshing and eases the stiffness in her muscles, especially where all the scars are. From about the shoulder blades all the way down to her lower thighs, they cover most of her backside. Some look older than others, but are felt all the same.
Washing herself she is suddenly filled with a fury that she has never truly been allowed to express and can't help herself from screaming out.
Slamming both fists into the water, she allows herself the release she's so badly needed for so long. She's told him that she hates him before, the only difference is that he's not here this time to "reprimand" her. She plunges herself under the water for a minute or so, then comes back up and takes a deep shuddering breath. "I hate you."
She finishes washing up and gets out of the water. Shaking out her wild violet hair, she puts her clothes back on, picks her bow back up, and heads back to camp.
Skaar assists in tending the food as well, helping himself to bits and pieces as they become cooked through.
"Once we get high enough into those mountains, you think you might be able to figure out where we are? I don't recognize this place at all but I've never been further than Zhavroma."
"Possibly. I will make an effort to do so, but success be uncertain."
The beautiful woman is silent for a time, before continuing on, " . . . Skaar, I'm worried. I was once told by some spirits that Drago's and my destiny were intertwined. That without my aid he would perish, and without his my own fate would come undone. I long resented that prophecy. Who was this man to me? Why should his destiny be of more import than my own? But, I do not want him to die. And, if you have not noticed, your friend be not the strongest and be danger prone, moreover . . . and what of Harakhty? For all your talk of fangs, he be a kind person. Though his spirit be burdened and his heart full of turmoil . . . I would help him if I could."
The sound of the water, along with the distance she managed to put between herself and the camp, makes it too difficult for Shamara to hear her distress.
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The big Orc listens, recognizing in Nicatha the same kind of hopeless burden he carried around himself not too long ago.
When she's done, he points south (though he has no idea Zhavroma really is).
"I've had plenty of experience with prophecy these past few months and I'll tell ya one thing they all shared - they're b!*@%**~. Magic can do a lotta things but nobody can tell the future, not really. We make our own fates - even if we need help 'long the way sometimes. You've gotta believe in yourself."
"They're out there. Corda, Drago, Harakhty and the others. We'll find a way back to 'em. But not if we're too busy worryin' over what's supposed to be."
The orc's passion brings a flash of ivory to Nicatha's lovely face. "You are right, Skaar. Few, if any, can predict the future with perfect certainty. For all my insight, much of it comes from knowledge of the past and spirit whispered secrets. Your past is like a tapestry whose threads I see woven in the present. The more I see, the better my chances of prediction become, but it is not certain. Some can see the future -- like a shattered mirror -- glimpsing fragments of what could be or intimations of coming necessity. When I first realized how such prophecies worked, I thought that the best prophecies were the ones you made happen. I think that be my true worry. That some of the spirits are playing a long con against me. But, still, you are right -- no reason to borrow trouble."
The sounds of screaming waft to Nicatha's well-turned ear. "Our new acquaintance be either releasing some long held tension or be devoured by horrible monsters. While I will not interrupt long-overdue catharsis, the latter be unacceptable."
Nicatha steps lightly across the camp and peers out into the murky forest.
"Rajni, are you well? Do you require assistance?"
Skaar nods. "You know your spirits better than I ever could but you gotta know yourself too. We-"
The sounds were indistinguishable to him from the rest of the Wilds, but Skaar stops when he notices Nicatha's concern.
"Let's make sure she's okay. She said this place was dangerous."
"You should stay with Zia and the food. We don't want to lose either. If there be trouble, I will call so loudly that you won't be able to mistake me."
With that, Nicatha glides out through the shadows of the woods to where she heard the screams.
"Zia can take care of herself and the cat's here. I'm comin' with you."
Following Nicatha toward the sound of the cry, Skaar calls out.
"Rajni, you out there? We heard a scream."
Approaching the river, the big Orc bellows to be heard over the water. "Girl, say something!"
Suddenly hearing the Orc alarms her to know end. Dipping herself down in the water where only her head could show, she covers herself as best she can as she calls out.
"I'm here...I'm here. It was...nothing..just stay back okay?"
Looking beseechingly at Nicatha Rajni asks, "Could you throw me that cloak...please?"
Nicatha slaps Skaar's arm playfully. "Cover your eyes, man. Let this woman have her dignity."
Skaar gestures toward the sound of Rajni's voice and keeps moving forward.
"What's goin' on? Are you hurt?"
***
"What'r ya talkin'-"
A grin swiftly spreads across the Orc's crude features and he slowly brings a hand up to cover his face.
"It's not like I've never seen 'em before", he chuckles.
"Yes, of course." Nicatha kneels to pick up the fetchling woman's cloak before bringing it to her.
Almost in a panic she raises a hand out of the water..."No no no...I'm fine...everything is...fine. I just need my cloak please..." She gives Nicatha a look as if to say, 'Can't you stop him?'.
"While you may have seen some women, you have not seen them all."
Skaar cannot see neither Nicatha's face nor her smile, but he could be forgiven for hearing a smirk in her voice.
Taking the cloak from Nicatha she brings it about her in a way, but not enough to cover her back completely as well as her front. Part of her back and legs are exposed as she tries to gather the rest of her clothes. You can see she's probably 95 lbs soaking wet, as she is now...but her muscles are lean and taught. She is slight of frame and right now looks like she wants to crawl under a rock somewhere.
"It wasn't those I was worried about you seeing..."
"Does that mean I can look? he adds while still covering his face with a meaty hand.
With an exasperated sigh she looks at him, "No!" As she tries to back away from them so they can't see what she hates most about herself.
"Some may find him crude, but Skaar has a good heart. I do not think you have much to fear from him."
Rajni might notice that Nicatha is also giving her space. Withdrawing after handing her the cloak and looking around but not at her as she approached.