[center][h1]The Heart Matters[/h1][/center] [hr] Almost a full day had passed since the fateful rescue of the village, and the two weary travelers had made good pace away from the smoke rising from cinder and thatch. It could not be seen now, though whether that was due to the remains of burning houses finally calmed down enough not to be seen, or the smokestack being blocked out by cliff and hillside, was not something either of the two women knew. They’d done their part in driving off the invaders - and to her credit, once Sanya had agreed with Lucia’s proposal, she had wasted no time in putting the village behind them. She hadn’t exactly talked either however, lost somewhere in her quiet haze of old terror and bitter memories. If she had truly listened and heard her words was up in the air, beyond being enough to break her out of a worse episode then and there. She was silent during the walk through brush and over stone, offering the bare minimum when prompted. [i]Sorrowsting[/i] was still spattered with flecks of dried reminders of the night before, and neither of them had had much chance to process beyond a brief cleanse at a riverford earlier in the day. Sanya, typically an unnaturally enduring woman, seemed to be drained of her vigor; each passing of the sun in the sky seemed to make her less inspired to keep walking, and when Lucia had finally suggested they camp for the day, she'd offered a non-committal grunt and sunk to the ground near a rocky outcropping. [color=tan]”Here… Let me get a fire going and I’ll cook some food.”[/color] Lucia said, working with a spring in her step. Even her tattoo’s were helping set camp up, with vivid movements in the dying light. With a semblance of camp set up and a ring of stones to contain a fire, Lucia turned to Sanya with a small smile. [color=tan]”I’ll be right back okay? Just going to go get some firewood.”[/color] she said, yet Sanya offered only a brief sound to acknowledge her - Lucia wasn’t sure she was listening. The dark-haired warrior seemed deep in her own world still, placing her weapon over her knees and unwrapping a small kit to clean it. It seemed she was content to leave their survival in Lucia’s hands. The golden haired girl slipped away, glancing several times at Sanya before she vanished into the trees. It was only a short time later did she return, with a handful of sticks and with several tendrils of her tattoo’s helping as well. They deposited the wood next to the fire and Lucia set them up into a tippee. Lucia outstretched her hand over the logs and then recited, [color=tan]”Fire, fire, warm and bright, Lit by a spark to ignite. Use my love as a key, To make us warm and happy.”[/color] she finished, and the logs ignited into a roaring fire. She then rummaged through her pack and took out something wrapped in leaves. A small bunny from earlier in the day. She took a stick and skewered it, then placed it over the fire. The sizzling and pops of cooking meat filled the air and Lucia sat down next to Sanya, who still seemed to be in her own little world. Her eyes were fixated on [i]Sorrowsting[/i], obsessively running a small cloth over it to scrub away every little speck of dirt she could find in the firelight, using her nail when the cloth would not do it. For a good while, they remained like that, silence reigning supreme save for the crackle of flames on wood. Still consumed by her almost religious work on her weapon, Sanya decided to break the silence. [color=a187be]”What you said back there,”[/color] she began with a cautious tone, quiet and demure. The words hung in the air, as Sanya seemed reluctant to continue. Lucia turned her head to Sanya, [color=tan]”What about it?”[/color] she asked with another smile. [color=a187be]...Thank you.”[/color] Sanya professed in turn, pausing in her worship of her spear to stare somewhere between it and the flames. [color=a187be]”It shames me that I behaved that way in front of you. The Daughter of Life.”[/color] she confessed further, voice kept at a quiet and sullen level. She busied her hands with stowing her weapons kit away again, slow and purposeful in motion. Lucia seemed to wince. [color=tan]”Sanya, I told you. You don’t have to be ashamed of what you did. It happens and I understand, better than most.”[/color] she paused, looking to the ground. [color=tan]”I hate to say it but, some lives aren’t worth keeping around.”[/color] [color=a187be]”I think about that a lot.”[/color] Sanya replied, a brief moment of brisk honesty before she regained her senses and ventured far back into her guarded sullenness. [color=a187be]”I’m not who you think I am, Lucia. This was a brush with who I’ve been. Who I become the longer I stay out there. The woman I was, before we ever met. Full of hate, spite and cynicism.”[/color] Sat back on her knees, Sanya sighed quietly, and extended a hand to put on Lucia’s leg in a brief show of compassion. [color=a187be]”I try to be better. It’s easier around you, and your brilliant light.”[/color] Lucia sat up straighter at the touch and she looked at Sanya again, biting her lower lip before saying, [color=tan]”Sanya… I know you better than you think. You are strong, proud, smart, and don’t hesitate to help others. I fell in love with that woman, not the one in the past.”[/color] Lucia laid a hand on Sanya’s. [color=tan]”I meant what I said, you know.”[/color] That seemed to catch Sanya’s attention, as the dark-haired woman lifted her head out of her daze to peer first at their hands, and then Lucia. [color=a187be]”Lucia,”[/color] she mustered quietly, the ever-serious warrior still wearing an expression mingled between sorrow and displeasure. [color=a187be]”I know you mean that. You shouldn’t abandon the world for my sake. I’m not worth it.”[/color] Lucia took Sanya’s hand within her own and squeezed. [color=tan]”Don’t say that. Of course you’re worth it.”[/color] She tilted her head slightly. [color=tan]”Don’t think less of yourself, Sanya. I want to be with you, so please, don’t push me away.”[/color] Lucia’s eyes locked with Sanya’s as if she was searching for something, for anything. The warrior’s eyes were notoriously hard to read, centuries of emotional pain had made her appear vulnerable and displeased at a standard measure. Even now, she seemed unfazed. Sanya parted her lips to breathe softly, not shying away from the intense scrutiny the tattooed woman gave her. [color=a187be]”What are you saying, Lucia?”[/color] she asked eventually, a genuine query by the quiet and uncertain tone. Lucia smirked. [color=tan]”I love you. I’m not just saying it, to say it, Sanya. I. Love. You.”[/color] Her words seemed to evoke at least a brief widening of Sanya's eyes, before the dark-haired warrior looked away. Sanya cleared her throat, gaze fixated on the fire in the aftermath of Lucia's words. [color=a187be]"I'm in the company of gods,"[/color] she breathed softly, almost the start of a scoff. She continued to gaze forwards in silence, brought back into her own world. When she spoke up again, it was with a nod towards the fireplace and the rabbit. [color=a187be]"That's gonna char."[/color] It took a minute for Lucia to register what she meant. [color=tan]”Oh no!”[/color] she exclaimed, scooping up the burnt meat with one of her tattoo’s. She brought it close and sighed, before throwing it away. [color=tan]”Great Lucia. Just great.”[/color] She then went over to their packs and began rummaging through them again. [color=tan]”Hopefully there’s food in here. I’m so sorry Sanya.”[/color] Sanya huffed a quiet chuckle. [color=a187be]"And I was so looking forward to rabbit, too,"[/color] she tutted softly, before putting her spear aside - for the first time since the village - and leaning back to observe Lucia suffer through the motions of locating more rations, considerably less worried. Lucia sat down in defeat and groaned. [color=tan]”We have no food.”[/color] she muttered after a moment. She then stood up, [color=tan]”I’ll go see if I can’t find something in the forest. I shouldn’t be long.”[/color] She got a simple hum of affirmation from Sanya. Before Lucia disappeared into the trees, she paused and looked back at Sanya with a thoughtful look, then pressed onwards. [hr] It was about an hour later when the unmistakable footsteps of someone carrying something could be heard. It wasn’t long afterwards that Lucia emerged from the forest, carrying a small buck with the support of her tattoos. She grunted and hefted the thing onto the ground and beamed a smile at Sanya. [color=tan]”That should do it!”[/color] Sanya, who had apparently spent the last hour constructing a snug little rain shelter against the outcropping and beside the fire, glanced over at Lucia and her considerable catch from her new lazy perch under the small shelter. She promptly wriggled out from under the make-shift shelter to sit up properly. [color=a187be]"Very nice,"[/color] she offered with a modicum of cheer to her voice, and rummaged in her pack for a sizable knife. [color=a187be]"Grilled backstrap for dinner, then. Can't get better in the wild. I didn't know you were a master huntress."[/color] [color=tan]”Oh I’m not. I just happened on him by chance. Tattoos did the rest.”[/color] She said kneeling down beside it and running her hands along his fur. [color=tan]”He is a beautiful animal. I thanked him in my own way and now, he’ll fill our bellies up.”[/color] she said, a small sunlit knife materializing in her hands. She hesitated though and looked over at Sanya, [color=tan]”I haven’t skinned such a large animal in a long time, could you show me?”[/color] Sanya moved over towards Lucia and her quarry, and shuffled to a seat beside her, her own knife flipping in her hand. [color=a187be]"Are we leaving the carcass for the wilds? If so we can field dress what we need with a cut along here."[/color] she murmured idly, running her free hand out to stroke along the side of the deer's back. [color=tan]”Let’s just take what won’t spoil right away. Who knows how long we’ll be traveling until we find a ho-”[/color] she coughed. [color=tan]”Until we figure out where we’re going.”[/color] she followed up quickly. [color=a187be]"No reason to let the loins go to waste, then. We'll take the best cuts and dine like queens for half a week,"[/color] Sanya intoned calmly, scratching her cheek with the tip of her own knife. Her free hand slid over the buck in quick succession, showcasing a pattern. [Color=a187be]"So, you'll wanna cut in here-... and then here, and carve down along this line on the side."[/color] Lucia followed her guidance and within a bit of time, the deer had been drawn and quartered and it’s backstrap was hanging over the fire. This time, Lucia rotated it so it wouldn’t burn too much. The smells of cooking meat made for a wonderful aroma but Lucia was quiet now, staring into the fire with a blank look. Sanya in turn had found a new seat outside the small shelter, hugging one leg as she watched Lucia cook. With a quiet sigh escaping her lips, she ran her hand through her hair and opted to break the silence. [color=a187be]"So, where do you think we should go?"[/color] Without moving her gaze she spoke, [color=tan]"Anywhere I guess. Far away from people. The prairie? The highlands? Further south? I don't mind."[/color] [color=a187be]"You've been to the south, haven't you?"[/color] Sanya offered in further thought. [color=a187be]"Travelers in the east used to say there was a paradise down there."[/color] [Color=tan]"They call it the Gardens. Just on the other side of the mountains. A fertile land as far as you can see. It was perfect, except, it was plagued by slavers.”[/color] she sighed. [color=a187be]"Right,"[/color] Sanya replied quietly, and sighed as well. [color=a187be]"I suppose not even a paradise can escape the curse."[/color] The dark-haired warrior leaned her chin on her knee, eyeing Lucia with a thoughtful expression. Her lips parted briefly, about to offer another quip, but appeared to decide against it. [color=tan]”Yeah.”[/color] she responded. SIlence reigned again, but only for a short time. When the meat was done cooking, Lucia cut it up into manageable chunks on a flat rock. Then she stood and made her way over to Sanya, and sat down next to her. [color=tan]”Here we are. Eat up.”[/color] She said with little vigor in her voice as she took a small bite. Sanya didn't eat. Her eyes remained on Lucia, head turned to glance her way as her tattooed companion dug into her meal. She let silence reign for the duration, ignorant of the crackle of fire or building howl of the evening wind. [color=a187be]"I went north to die,"[/color] she eventually confessed, calm and even in voice. Halfway into chewing into a piece of meat, Lucia looked over at Sanya with wide eyes. She quickly chewed and swallowed. [color=tan]”W-What?”[/color] she asked, turning her entire body to the warrior and setting her hands upon her own knees. [color=a187be]"Mmh,"[/color] Sanya hummed softly. [color=a187be]"It's not the first time I've done something dumb. Not many months before we met again. It was too much, just like now. I just wanted to escape the noise, the misery. Somewhere along the way I stopped caring about food and heat."[/color] she explained with a morose tone. [color=a187be]"I would have died, if not for a tribe of helpful men and women finding me in the snow. They gave me some hope, before this cruel world came down on them as well. It was eating at me, like every lost village or each time I've been too late over the millennia. I'm just so tired,"[/color] Sanya took a long breath. [color=a187be]"And yet, when I heard a rumour of you, I forgot all that. And when we journeyed together again, it's as though nothing had ever happened. I'm content to just see where your energy takes us next, how your smile warms other people's lives. You are the one fixture in my tired life, Lucia. For a long time, now."[/color] she professed, gazing over towards the fire. Lucia breathed, wiping tears out of her eyes as she smiled. [color=tan]”Oh Sanya.”[/color] she scooted closer to her and wrapped her in a hug. [color=tan]”I’m so glad you’re still here, Sanya. If-If I lost you, I don’t know what I’d do anymore. If you weren’t by my side in Ha-Duna…”[/color] she said, [color=tan]”I’m glad.”[/color] is all she could say. Sanya hummed quietly at that, wriggling her own arms free to lower her leg, and then wrapped her arms around Lucia in turn. [color=a187be]"There's nowhere else I'd rather be, Lucia,"[/color] she murmured. Lucia pulled away and rubbed her mouth on her sleeve. Her tattoo’s pulsed wildly and she bit her lower lip as she looked at Sanya again. [color=tan]”Can I…”[/color] she murmured, moving her head in closer. Sanya watched her intently, saying nothing but tilting her head ever so slightly as she watched Lucia's approach. Her lips pressed together briefly before parting to let a small breath escape. Lucia shut her eyes, before pressing her lips to Sanya’s. The warrior's fingers brushed against the nape of her neck, as Sanya responded in kind. The fire crackled. [hider=Summary] Lucia and Sanya are walking away from the bad village where the bad (but also good) things happened. Sanya is still being all guarded after the whole fire and misery thing, and Lucia takes care of making a campfire as they settle in. When they get to talking Lucia confesses her feelings again, but pays for it by ruining their dinner. She wanders off to hunt for new food while Sanya gets some time to get her shit together. Lucia returns with a buck, and together they take what they need. Lucia has had some time to think, and is sad because Sanya still hasn't acknowledged her words. But then Sanya is all like 'u r my errythang', and they embrace. They share a tender moment, still not having decided where to go. [/hider] [hider=Prestige] Sanya: 19 Prestige +5 (10k+ chars) = 24 Prestige Total Remaining: 14. Lucia: 35 Prestige +5 (10k+ chars) = 40 Prestige [/hider]