Collab between Leon5431 and Toxic Diamond

Deven had begun moving through the halls retracing the steps he had taken from the mess hall looking for any sort of landmark to remind him of where he was going. [i]Thank the gods she wasn't wearing armor.[/i] He thought to himself. [i]Though maybe if she was she wouldn't be in this situation... [/i] He thought again. His eyes drifted down toward the girls face as he finished climbing a small collection of steps. She had a bruise above her eye likely from when she collided with him. Her short black hair fell down messily in every direction. A few times he thought he saw her eyelids begin to open but they never fully did. Each time her bright striking draconic eyes would show through slightly. She was a very beautiful girl, that much he undeniably could notice. [i]No wonder that Eysire was so willing to accompany her.[/i] he thought. Before scolding himself, [i]Gods deven focus, she is hurt! You need to get her to the mess hall, to someone that could help more than you![/i] He thought angrily to himself.

Another small flight of stairs passed and Deven trudged up them, slowed by her weight and by the faint nagging tirdness that hung over his limbs after using his blood. His eyes drifted back down to the girl, "Just hang in there we should be there soon." He said hopefully. As his eyes went back to where he was going, he found himself stuck at a four way intersection. Each hallway leading of in a different direction and his memory failing him as to where he had come from. His eyes shot back and forth between the different choices each time his eyes hesitated as he looked for something to jog his memories yet each time coming up empty handed.[i] Well no matter which I choose I have a chance at being right...unless I have been going in the wrong direction to begin with whereas then...you know what lets not think about that.[/i] He thought to himself as he picked the hallway to his left. He trudged his way through the hall his head scanning the walls and the floors for anything he might remember. Then his eyes found something.

Right ahead a splinter hallway formed leading to his left, and there on the right wall, across from where the splinter wall formed, sitting on a pedestal was one of the gargoyles that the headmaster told them about and that many people had used back in the mess hall. [i]How did those things work again? Press the pedestal and tell it where you wanted to go? Guess I will find out.[/i] When Deven got close enough to the gargoyle he put all of his weight on his right foot turning to the side a bit and kicked out toward the pedestal, his foot making contact before he brought it back to the ground just in time to regain his balance before he fell.

By the time he looked back toward the gargoyal it was giving him a dirty look after having been so rudefully activated. "I need to get to the mess hall and hurry!" He shouted urgently toward the small construct. Its eyes drifted toward the girl in his arms and the bandage across her torso and took on a look of urgency before it lept of the pedestal and began leading them through the halls moving at a light jog. "Alright now we know where we are going." He said, once more partially to himself and partially to the girl, letting his eyes drift down toward her. It was then he noticed her eyelids slightly open as the girl came to.

Her eyes gazed up at him and she tried to move, as she did a gasp escaped her lips, "No don't move, just stay still. I got you." He said as soothingly as possible. Then he heard her speak, "I am Deven and currently? I am trying to get you some help, I have done what little I could but you need some actual treatment." He answered as they rounded another corner.

Aruna let herself take in the boy's appearance. He looked like he was in a panic, his hair was ruffled and he was huffing as if he were out of breath. [i]Well, he is carrying you.[/i] She blinked hard and tried to think straight. when she opened her eyes she saw Devin's face wreathed in light as they passed a torch sconce. she had opened her eyes just as he seemed to be looking down at her. His eyes were the most beautiful blue, and they locked with hers in a way no one really had ever done before.

She shook her head, which both cleared it and caused her pain, she needed a clear head. She had no time to deal with idol fantasies about a boy. [i]Since when were you a romantic, Aruna?[/i] She made herself look at the path ahead of them and did her best to ignore that his arms were around her, cradling her. She focused instead on pain. The sting in her back and ribs, along with the throb in her face and shins. She made her voice steady as she spoke. "My name is Aruna. Thank you for your help. Though, I'm sure you wouldn't mind me saying that a wish we'd met under," The pain flared and her next words are through clenched teeth,"Different circumstances."

Now she eyed him with a bit of suspicion. "why did you though?... help me, I mean. What’s in it for you?" She looked at his handsome face and looked for any guilty signals, or signs of lies. There had to be an ulterior motive, no one 'just helped'.

Deven rounded another corner, following the gargoyles every turn, only taking his eyes off of it for brief periods of time to look down at the girl. She seemed distracted by something but Deven payed no mind to it, she had just been shot by an arrow and fallen out of the sky, she likely had a reason to distracted. His eyes drifted to the his makeshift bandage going across her torso. [i]I made the right choice cauterizing the wound, she could very well be worse off if she still had an open wound.[/i] He thought before he was shaken from his thoughts as the girl spoke. His eyes returned to her face and he realized how odd it must have looked that her was starring at her chest. Feeling awkward he quickly whipped his eyes back up towards the path ahead hoping she hadn't noticed. It was then he realized exactly where one of his hands was holding her at and he found himself feeling even more awkward and tried to act like he was paying no mind to it.

Deven gave a weak laugh at the girls comment and smiled softly, how she had said it made a warm feeling spur in Deven's chest but he pushed the feeling and the thoughts that came with it away, [i]She didn't mean it like that Deven. Don't get all romantic now.[/i] He thought, scolding himself. "Oh come now, these are some pretty good circumstances miss Aruna. I normally try to start my conversation by getting shot by an arrow and then promptly tackling someone. You may have one upped me with the falling out of the sky though..." He said in a lighthearted joking tone and looked down smiling at her. Before turning his gaze back to the path.

They made another turn before she spoke up again, "Does their have to be something in it for me? You were in trouble, you had half an arrow sticking out from your back. Let alone landed right on top of me. I couldn't and wouldn't just leave you there. I couldn't live with myself if I had done that. You needed help and I am here to get you your help." He said honestly, keeping his eyes on the path. [i]We can't be much farther from the mess hall could we? Did I really go that far away? [/i] He asked himself. Despite being unsure himself Deven decided to speak up, "We shouldn't be much farther now. Just hang in there and try not to move." He said repeating his previous instruction. 

Aruna glanced at Deven and saw that he saw looking at her chest. She almost said something, but then she noticed his eyes analytical, he wasn't looking at [i]her[/i] he was looking at his patch job. Probably making sure that he did it correctly or something.[i] And why would he be looking at you, Aruna? You know in areas of that nature, you've been measured and been found... Wanting. And why would you care? He's just a boy.[/i]

She looked away with red cheeks, and tried to focus on his answers. He seemed amused with her introduction, but when she turned to make a snide comment her objections were blown away by his smile. She looked away her cheeks burning even more now. At his reply to her question about his motives, she just looked straight ahead. No one had ever done something like this for her. Just out of kindness. She felt a warm stirring in her chest, but she just chalked it down to her lungs beginning to fill with blood. When he told her not to move she just snorted and mumbled,"Not like I can do much else, is it?"

Silently she hoped they would get there soon. Her pain was getting worse again and she felt that any more time with this boy would cause her to do something she would regret.

Deven's arms had begun to grow tired, but still the trip continued. They had to be getting close now. None of this looked familiar to him, [i]Was I going in the wrong direction the entire time? Or is this little scrape of stone lost?[/i] He thought looking to the gargoyle ahead. He was grow inpatient at how long it was taking them.

Deven opened his mouth to say something and looked down at Aruna, as he did he noticed her cheeks had turned a bright red. He closed his mouth and looked at her confused, that was until a thought had worked its way into his head. [i]Shit. She saw me looking. She probably thinks I am a creep now. Great job Deven even when you are trying to do some good you mess it up.[/i] He thought angrily toward himself. Even with the scolding he gave himself he could not help but notice how cute it was when she blushed but he tried his best to push that thought from his mind and focus on getting her the aid she needed.

Once more they rounded a corner, save for now the delectable smells of the variety of food could be smelled on the wind. The mess hall was close, "Smell that?" He asked looking down at her with a relieved smile. "We're close, now we can get you some actual help." He added a second later.

They rounded another corner and there before them sat the doors leading to the mess hall. The gargoyle stopped and turned gesturing towards the doors and Deven rushed passed barely paying it any mind. He trudged through the doors and immediately began looking for the vitamancy teacher. Some of the few people still remaining in the hall turned their heads and were staring at Deven as he cradled Aruna in his arms. Many of them looked confused a few others concerned. "Where is Lidda?!" Deven shouted towards the entire inhabitants of the halls after he was unable to see her at first. He then began making his way towards the teachers tables. His shouting having drawn the attention of any of those who weren't already looking.