[H2][color=coral]Thuraya[/color] and [color=00aeef]Marco[/color] [color=bc8dbf]™[/color][/h2]

Thuraya felt the earth rumbling beneath them, then the loud blasting noise covered all else. They were out of view at first, making sure that people had gotten away safely, though she knew she had to get back to where the others were fighting. If they all died to something while she was elsewhere… her mind told her she cared in that moment, and so she grabbed Marco’s wrist a moment, taking him only a little closer to the battlefield. Emerald eyes looked back, over her shoulder at him through silvery strands that had found their way across her face. As she looked upon him, she froze. Steps stopped, tail uncurled from it’s offensive position slightly and she just stared for a moment, lips parting as if to speak. She couldn’t leave him alone, but she couldn’t very well drag him into unknown combat. She didn’t know the situation, but it sounded pretty bad.


She took a deep breath and looked away from him, continuing to move quickly back to the fight, and when they arrived, her eyes widened when she saw the beast that had come up between her allies and the queen. Though… She could barely say it was between them as the queen dangled from it’s mouth, dropping afterwards, Thuraya felt a fear wash over her that she tried her best to hide. She kept herself in front of Marco, trying to block his view only a moment before she shoved him with the side of her tail and one arm behind a structure. She wasn’t sure if it was to hide him from the beast, or the view from him, but either way, it had been done. 


What being would allow this to happen?


Why would the Divine, protectors and saviors, allow this to come to part?


Marco didn't know what to do. He was lost, in a sea of people and rabid thoughts. He felt trembles throughout the ground, which knocked him down and sent him sprawling into the dirt. His robes and hair flew back as dirt and wind shot past him. He erected a barrier around him and the scorpion woman, to try and protect them both. It was a fresh hell. It brought back memories to the night that he lost his father. He was small, confused, and lost. There was strong magic that arced through the air, bringing a wave of death that assaulted his nostrils. He wanted to gag, but the air was taken from his lungs. 


That abomination, a creature which could only be drawn from the void. It was a living nightmare, that terrified him to the bone. He feared for the others, deep in the thick of the fighting. He feared for his queen, helpless and stuck in the heart of this maelstrom. He feared for himself, a small boy trapped in a war bigger than he was. He feared for everyone, because how could anyone compare to this creature. He screamed out, trying to push pass Thuraya. He wanted to save her and he was sorry that he didn’t fight before. Tears streamed down his face, obscuring his vision and burned his cheeks as they drop from his chin.  


Thuraya was much quicker to act this time, snatching him and picking him up off the ground so he had no way to try and force himself forward. Arms around his waist tightly, she held him up and didn’t care if he hit her in the process, she was sure she’d taken worse than this. It was when they started to fall back that he grip faltered only slightly. That she’d realized just how tightly she’d been holding him. His own tears caused hers to form. She hadn’t known the queen, so she couldn’t have felt nearly as much as the others were currently, but something was there. 


Eyes closed tight and she lowered Marco back to the ground, spinning him around. Arms released from his waist to go around him at the shoulders, just holding him closely. A small ‘shhh’ was all that escaped her. She kept him facing her, rather than the others, and when the others came to their position, she made sure to personally take Marco to safety. 


Marco lashed out, with body and magic, to reach his queen. He should have fought long before. Taken up arms in her name and honor, to protect her ideals, and died in service to her crown. He was a coward, spineless, and green to the horrors he witnessed today. He wanted to be free, but Thuraya kept him still. His magic attracted the blood that was scattered around and started to form it into a weapon he could use. Still she would not let him go. She held tighter the more he fought, until he was left weak and limp. He still wept fresh tear as he collapsed into her chest, his cries muffled. He didn’t know what else to do as his body shook. 


She offered him comfort, cooing him throughout it all and guiding him towards their settlement. Everywhere he looked, he saw the same thing. Others, great warriors and soldiers alike, hang their heads low as they tended to the wounded. Medics rushed here and there, aiding those that they could. He could see they felt the same defeat that drilled a hole in his chest. He was choked up to the point where he couldn’t speak, but he gripped Thuraya’s hand tightly. He didn’t want to really be apart from her. He trusted her, he knew that he could now. She helped him even when she could have been with people who needed it more. She was brave when he was scared, he wished that he had her courage in the face of beings like that monster. 


When they arrived, Thuraya’s gaze moved about to the others, she hadn’t been hurt. Not badly anyway. A few scrapes but nothing she couldn’t deal with. It was Marco, she was worried about. She hadn’t had the time before, to really look him over after she’d saved him and taken him to help her aid the innocents. Hand loosened from around his and she turned to him, sitting him down and kneeling in front of him. Emerald eyes locked on his, her free hand coming up to flick some silvery strands over her shoulder and then fell to his other hand. [color=coral][b]“Hey, you holding up okay..? I- I know it’s not gonna be real good for a while, but.. Uh..”[/b][/color]


Never had really been good at the whole social interactions thing, but she’d try now. He needed something. Normally she’d just eat if she’d seen something like that happen to someone she was close to… If she’d ever seen something like that in the first place. She sighed softly, right hand tightening on his left, as her own left reached to her side, pulling up a canteen. [color=coral][b]“Here, drink. Water will do you good.. Uh.. Let me know if you need anything else, alright kid..?”[/b][/color]


He sat upon sodden earth, his robes tucked underneath him as a form of comfort. Everywhere throughout the encampment people were in a rush. There was much to do as well, wounds to mend and equipment to check. Many warriors prepared themselves in case they were met with a counter attack while their defenses were weakened. Marco could hear anguish from the royals upon receiving what had transpired. [color=00aeef]‘Should I really feel the way that I do, an outsider in a world much larger than myself? I am a boy, playing with tricks and flashing light. I can’t perform magic or wield a blade like the others…’[/color] His thoughts were poisoned by his own ineptness. He wanted to just curl up into himself and disappear. He wanted to stop the pain he felt in his heart or the emptiness that gnawed at his stomach. 


He just wanted to stop being useless…


[color=00aeef]“I doubt anyone will be okay this day or many more to come,”[/color] he replied to her as he was handed a canteen. He unscrewed the top and up-ended the cool water into his mouth. It sent a shiver through him and refreshed his mind. It provided a sudden clarity, along with curiosity. [color=00aeef]“Though, you appear to be fine. How do you do it, Thuraya? How can you remain calm despite everything that has happened?”[/color] He stared at her with his soul laid bare. He was out of options, out of hope. How could anyone defeat any abomination like that? How could anyone dream of using that kind of power? He took another sip and swirled it around in his mouth before swallowing. [color=00aeef]“Honestly, I wish that there was something that I could do to help. This is the second time I froze in the face of danger to my kingdom, in the face of death I am nothing but a coward…”[/color]


Thuraya’s expression softened further, left hand grabbing the same her right hand held tightly. [color=coral][b]“I.. I wasn’t calm. It was everything I could do to keep myself from running. I was scared, Marco. I was scared that no one would’ve made it out alive. Knowing that I couldn’t protect anyone.”[/b][/color] she started, voice soft, breaking slightly as she did. “When I grabbed you and held you back, it was all I could do to keep myself from screaming and crying. Everyone gets scared… Even people who live for battle. In fact, I think maybe... they might get scared the most.” She paused, and bowed her head. [color=coral][b]“Seeing that thing… What it could do so easily. The power it held, I was scared I’d… I was scared everything would just be taken away again. If it stopped us, how long would it be, before it could take more?”[/b][/color]


Eyes found the ground, for quite a while, before looking back up to him, tears clearly wanting to fall, but being held back. [color=coral][b]“Seryosa sent me here… to help. I’m strong, and she believes in me. I survived on my own for a long time before she found me, and… When she believes in me, it’s the best feeling in the world. She’s the closest thing I have to family, ya know? After… After all… I brought an end to my brothers and sisters, personally… But instead of fighting, Marco… I fled. I told myself that if I helped the innocents, that would count. But I wasn’t brave... I wasn’t calm…”[/b][/color]


He blinked rapidly, taken back by her change in demeanor. The boy had always seen Thuraya for what her actions were, brave, strong, and true to her heart. But now… now he saw another aspect of her character. He looked down at her hands as she continued to speak of her internal struggles. He placed his hand on top of her’s, his was smallers than her’s by far, but he held her tightly. He felt tears splash against his flesh and he didn’t like seeing her like this. He had to help. 


[color=00aeef]“You weren’t calm, but you did what you did best,”[/color] he stated in a hushed tone. [color=00aeef]“You survived. You helped me to survive. You helped many others survive and live to see their families. You did as Seryosa asked, wonderfully I might add.”[/color] He felt himself chuckle. It was strange to smile and laugh after what occurred. It was almost as if he wasn’t allowed to, but it felt good regardless. It was almost infectious. It brought warmth to his chest and some color back to his face. [color=00aeef]“Before I was taken in by my master and Queen Kori, I missed my family a lot. My father was taken before his time. I missed him, day and night. Soon after, my mother passed in peace as well. Kori was the closest being I had as a parental figure in a long time. The harsh reality is that I don’t think anyone could have saved her. Not myself, or the Prince, would’ve wish for it to be us in her place I am sure.”[/color] He had to stop to blink away his own tears. He had to be strong this time, just this once. [color=00aeef]“But we can’t let things out of our control command us. She wouldn’t want us to be stuck on her sacrifice. She would want us to move forward and end this senseless war between our nations.”[/color]   


Thuraya allowed a smile to sneak back onto her lips as his appeared. She nodded slowly. He was right.. At least she assumed he was right. She hadn’t known the Queen, but from all she’d heard so far about her, she was sure she couldn’t deny what he said. [color=coral][b]“You’re right.”[/b][/color] she stated softly, letting her hands hold his a little tighter.


She looked away a moment, gathering her thoughts, the smile faltered, but came back after looking back to him, eyes locking. The smile was a little bigger this time. She appreciated him trying to be strong in these times, but she knew that he had been much more affected than she’d ever be by what happened. [color=coral][b]“Hey, kid.. Uh..”[/b][/color] Eyes seemed lost in thought for another moment, but when she came back to actually looking at him, her smile grew. [color=coral][b]“I’m no parental figure.. Hells, I’m barely a good influence. But…”[/b][/color] A sigh escaped, hands loosening their tight grip, but staying on his. [color=coral][b]“Maybe you could think of me like.. Uh, I dunno, a big sister? A big sister that you don’t aspire to be like ‘cause she makes bad decisions.. But can always look to for help, ya know?”[/b][/color]


Hearing her agree with him, brought a light to his eye. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t as useless as he had feared. In fact, he felt that by helping her he helped himself as well. He smiled all the wider, though a look of confusion passed his face as he heard her request. 


[color=00aeef]“A big sister? Well I do suppose there is an opening for a guidance role,”[/color] he said in jest as he tried to lighten the mood. [color=00aeef]“Bad decisions, I make on my own. I mean I did start the study of blood magic and nearly drained myself within the day’s practice I accomplished.”[/color] He let go off her hand to show the scar that form on his palm. He chuckled at the memory and shook his head. [color=00aeef]“I wouldn’t mind having more friends, more family, to look after me. However, I want you to know that I have your back as well. I may not be good with martial skill, but I can teach you minor magical talent.”[/color] He remembered hearing her, out in the manor gardens. He had wanted to help at the time, but he was preoccupied with not bleeding out over the books he borrowed. 


[color=00aeef]“So, you can be my big sister and I will be your lil brother?”[/color], he asked happily, for the first time that day  


She nodded again, smile growing a bit bigger. [color=coral][b]“You got it, kid. And.. uh- Yeah I could use the help sometime. You should get some rest though, it’s been a bit of a day for you, huh?”[/b][/color] She stood then, hand reaching forward to lightly ruffle his hair, letting go of his hands with her other finally. [color=coral]“You hungry? If you are you should eat, but if not, rest’ll do ya well.”[/b][/color]


He nodded and looked up to her. [color=00aeef]“It has been a long day for us all, we all need to rest. I doubt that food will set well in my stomach for now, but perhaps a nice mug of coffee?”[/color] He enjoyed the hot bean water far more than any other earthly pleasure.


One last nod and her hand extended to him once more, [color=coral][b]”Then let’s get you some, kid.”[/b][/color]