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THE BOUQUET ESTATE - EARLY MORNING
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Narrator: With reports of the farmlands and area around Respite's walls having been attacked, Teis feels awful as to what has occurred, as well as relieved that she told Enver to come live with her temporarily, though both her and the Mongoose are still sleeping in separate rooms. As the morning light awakens Teis softly, the first thing Teis notices is another report from Dorri on the parchment on her bedside table.
Teis yawns vaguely in the direction of the parchment, takes a moment to stretch in all manner of contorted ways, then sits up and rubs her eyes. She grabs a quill and some spare parchment, transcribing the message, such that once she's finished doing so, she may perform the magic required to reset the magic parchment. Only once she is done does she get up and get dressed. With parchment in hand, she leaves her room, walking to hand-deliver Nesseth the latest communication from Dorri.
Rondelethia was in main room, and she looked up at Teis as she came downstairs "Morning Teis, Sleep well?" She saw the parchment, and had a pretty good idea of what it was "You can pass that off to one of the runners. They can get it to the guard. They know the way" She was finishing up another report, and closed her log book, which contained the finances, which had numbers in allll the wrong places.
Teis glances over at Della, though continues to walk slowly across the room. "All things considered, yeah. Kinda feel bad about it though. . ." Teis sighs in response. "It's fine. I'm good to walk it over. Admittedly it's. . .Nice saying hello to Nesseth." Teis replies.
Rondelethia: "Teis..I don't want anyone leaving this estate unless they have to. It's just not safe. The runners can be over, and back much quicker than you can too. Social calls are good, but..well, safety is more important than catching up with friends" She's not exactly happy about it, but the tea shop being out of tea does, at least, make the decision easier.
Teis: "You know how I feel, Sis, about the staff doing things for me. . ." Teis replies, deciding to come to a stop. The letter isn't super urgent, so it can wait for a morning chat. "Besides, it's not like I'm leaving the walls or anything. Just over to the barracks and back. And I'd like the fresh air anyway."
Rondelethia gives Teis a somewhat sceptical look "You aren't going to get embroiled in something that will leave you needing to leave the city 'just for a little bit'?"
Teis: "Given that a good friend of mine is the acting captain right now, and he's told me himself about staying inside the walls. . .Yeah, decently confident I'll be staying inside the walls. Besides, I've no reason to leave anyway. Enver's already inside, and he's the only thing outside the walls I really care for. Well, except I suppose maybe Tarbin, but last I heard he was working with the guards, so. . ."
Rondelethia: "..I do want you to give me your word on this. No going outside the walls, no going up unto the walls, no..anything! Okay? I -need- you to stay safe. If I could, I'd just lock the house down and ride all this out, but..I can't afford it, and there's not enough guards willing to take the money over their duty to the city even if I could" Which is a slip, Rondelethia is, generally, a very honest businessbun, but this is probably the first time she'd admitted (out loud) that occasionally palms get greased. "They're attacking caravans with children aboard. They wouldn't blink before snatching you up, and.." She shakes her head "No. I don't want you leaving the estate, but..I want you to Promise. Me. you don't leave the city. Oh Mother's life. I need you to promise me Teis."
Teis: "Why would the guards take money just to protect us. . .?" Teis tilts her head, questioning out loud. "If Respite falls, so do we. . ." Teis skews her lip, pausing momentarily to consider Rondelethia's slip-up just long enough. She continues her line of thought, "That's why I've agreed to help in whatever ways that I'm able to. I'm not a fighter, my talents are best spent here. Besides, even if it wasn't in our best interests. . .It's still the right thing to do? This is our home now, Sis." Teis sighs. "Look, I get it. You're worried about me, like I was worried about Enver. I know you wouldn't know what to do if something happened to me, and I know you don't mean that in just 'cuz I'm the business or the product or whatever. What I'm trying to say is, yes. I won't leave the walls, I promise you. But I do need to help. And I want to hand-deliver this letter. Nesseth's under a lot, you know? I think it'll stress him out if someone other than me delivers the letter. He'll worry about me. And I'm not who he needs to be thinking about right now, when he's got so much more on his plate." Teis rambles.
Rondelethia: "Stop" She puts up her hand to cut the rambling down "Good, now. I -mean- it Teis. Nothing. No Reason. At All. If you leave these walls so help me I will go out there and get you back myself" The fan that she uses as a sort of fidgeting tool is back there, and she's squeezing it a bit tighter than normal "I need you to stop, think, and then tell me you aren't leaving. Not just...rambling on and telling me because you know I want to hear it"
Rondelethia is, in fact, looking a little flustered.
Teis skews her lip yet again, then frowns proper a moment later. She walks over to Rondelethia, putting her hand on the bun's. "I already said I'm not leaving." She pauses a beat, then in a heartfelt tone questions, "Are you okay, Rondelethia?" Full first name. Rare!
Rondelethia: "No" She said with a bit more force than normal, before gathering herself, and straightened up "No. I'm not okay. The business is shakey, the staff are terrified they'll be eaten by dinosaurs, and..oh. The peacefully little hamlet in the middle of nowhere is now a warzone!" It's the bizarre juxtaposition of a calm, even tone with the not nearly calm even subject matter "It's my job to keep everyone safe, and happy, and I'm doing -neither- right now. For all I know, the fact that a big juicy estate just got built is the reason that Respite was picked in the first place!" Well, a small bit of emotion, but it's still very, very reserved of a tone. She moves a few folders around, before picking one out, and opening it "This. Is a list, and descriptions of everyone that has gone missing, or died because of this" All from public data, but Rondelethia is thorough "And, with it, as far as I can tell, how many children, or parents with them that don't have family any more" She moves another folder up "And this, is a list of our staff, and all their family that I would have to inform if anything happened to them. That's why I need you to stay. put. I just want to not be worrying about you. The moment you leave, you'll..I dunno..get pulled along on another trip like with that what? Elemental? You don't listen to me when what you want clashes with what I want, but..just this once. Please. Stay. Put."
Teis listens to Rondelethia intently, though balks at the mention and sight of the folder, her demeanour cracking and souring, her grip on Rondelethia loosening. ". . .Why. . .Why would you even. . .Make a list? I mean, the staff I get, but. . .Of the deaths and the missing? Why?" Teis questions quietly. ". . .Why would you put yourself through that misery? Is it just to convince me not to leave. . .?" Teis questions. She stumbles a step backwards from Rondelethia, her eyes immediately starting to water.
Rondelethia: "..It's what I do. When I need to understand anything, I make lists, I research, I try to understand it, but there's just nothing to understand. They just hurt, and kill, and then go back, to wherever their homes are, and tell themselves stories to convince themselves that what they're doing is okay" She was just..tired, so, so tired "You understand people, and then you try to deal with them, but there's no dealing here, there's just locking up, staying safe, until the guards do what they do. I'd been hoping that maybe I could find a way to get some supplies to be let through..but..no. I have my limits" She looks up to Teis "I deal with all the mean, and nasty bits of the business, so that you can invent, and create in peace. So..please. Stay. Safe. I can't protect you if you keep putting yourself in trouble."
Teis: "Just. . .Put the folder away. . ." Teis whimpers. Death, after Melia, is still an incredibly touchy subject for her. "Why would I ask Enver to come inside the walls if I thought it was safe. . .? Of course I understand. . .I'm not just going to run out there. . ." Pause, "And I've been. . .Nothing but change since we came to Respite, Sis. . .Please, I need you to see that I'm not the same person as when we arrived. . ."
Rondelethia: "I would love to sit here, and talk about our emotional growths, but" She does put the folders away, sliding them underneath other folders on her desk. For all that's on there, it's all remarkably organised. Rondelethia may have breakdowns, but they are very well structured breakdowns "Until everything is safe, and working again..I just..I just need everything to be as normal as it can. I know you're not planning right now to run out into danger, but.." She shakes her head "Just..don't, okay?" She's even more even expression "If you really need to hand deliver, do so, but..please, don't let yourself get drawn into something, okay?"
Teis: The folder is out of sight, which provides at least surface level comfort for Teis. Reducing the casualties to statistics. . .And having them all fit inside a folder. . .It doesn't sit right with Teis. "Sis. . .I'm not stupid. I've no reason to leave the walls, okay? But I'm... going to do what I can to help Respite. And if that means hand-delivering this letter to reduce the stress of someone working for all of our safety. . .Then that's what I'll do. But. You. . .Have my word that I'm not gonna do something so reckless. Okay?" Teis speaks through heavily watering eyes.
Rondelethia sighs, and nods "Thank you" She reaches up, and brushes Teis's eyes with a cloth (Where did the cloth come from?) "I'm sorry..but..for now, we all have our ways to deal with things, and this is mine"
Teis passively allows Della to wipe her eyes. She's left in brief thought after Della's closing words, then pulls away. She begins to leave.
Rondelethia watches Teis leave, and once she was out of sight, takes a deep breath, and instructs the few servants nearby away to attend to chores the other side of the house. That way nobody can be around her for a bit, and there's nobody that she needs to keep it all together for, and stay strong and unflabble around.
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THE UNRESTING EXPANSE - FAR WEST OF RESPITE FALLS - LATE MORNING
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Baldwin and the rest of the small scouting party are all spread out across about a hundred yards on the dry, hardpacked savanna dirt, all easily within eyeshot of each other, and reachable within seconds of running. They continue to follow a trail of messy footprints further westward, partially hoping that the trail doesn't turn south into the desert proper as Baldwin continues to mark the trail on his map.
Narrator: One of Nyzai's small flying scout groups has been monitoring Baldwin and his group since they stepped foot into the desert, with one of them peeling off to inform Nyzai of the happenings, as well as word being sent further back to Yzzayt's Prominence. Nyzai herself has joined the watching party as quickly as she was able to, though she has been biding her time. Ideally, she's waiting for better weather conditions to engage, but Baldwin's group has gotten too far. If they get much further, they'll know the exact location of Yzzayt's Abyss. She will simply have to make do. She gives the order to her flyers, whom begin the minute long journey to advance on the group, staying low to the ground as they fly to avoid sky-lighting themselves as much as possible. Once within range, half of the flyers land and quickly prepare their bow and arrows for an opening volley, while the other half, Nyzai included, rapidly climb to gain some altitude, such that they may strike with their swooping bladed talons following the initial strike of arrows.
Narrator: One of the scouts notices the shadows rising into view and quickly looses a loud whistle, courtesy of the recent equipment additions to the guards' kit, and catches everyone else's attention. They gesture up at the figures rising into the air and begin to scramble away.
Baldwin and the rest of the scouts immediately perk up and look towards the sound of the whistle, then look towards the direction the caller is pointing, only to essentially drop everything and start scrambling for cover and distance. Baldwin himself immediately turns and bolts to the east while tucking the marked map away as neatly as he can.
Narrator: The initial dozen arrows mostly slam down into the dirt of the Savanna, with only a couple finding their marks. Like hungry sharks, Nyzai's flyers all swoop down one after the other on the two scouts hit, in an effort to thin the numbers off quickly. With the remaining scouts scrambling to regroup, Nyzai's forces that were once airborne land, pulling out their bow and arrows to let loose a volley of arrows themselves, while those that had done so just a moment before take to the skies to begin swooping themselves - A two-stage manoeuvre that allows the group to maintain arrow pressure, while also advancing. Such is the weakness of the Pterosaurs, with wings connected to arms and hands, that they cannot easily use a bow while flying.
Baldwin skids and turns as he catches the sound of a couple of his scouts crying out in pain from shots finding their marks. The scouts that got hit have fallen over, but are trying to get back up to continue fleeing, while a few of the other runners likewise turn. Almost in unison, Baldwin and the other scouts pull their bows out, nock arrows and fire to provide some cover for the injured scouts. Similar training, but they lose out against the pterosaurs in sheer numbers.
Nyzai and her scouts are successful in picking off the two injured scouts with their talons, though before they can post up with their bows to continue, the return fire comes in. Nyzai lets out a squawk signaling to her flyers. She and her flyers quickly taking evasive flight backwards and away. A few of her own flyers are hit in response, with one vitally wounded enough to immediately drop. The others manage to back up for now. Nyzai squawks again, in a different pitch and rhythm. She begins to climb higher into the sky, with the other flyers rapidly ascending to join her as they aim to climb above effective bow range for now.
Baldwin and the few scouts that stopped loose one more volley of arrows to try and catch Nyzai and the other pterosaurs as they lift off into the air, but when it's clear there's nothing to be done for the two scouts in the face of superior numbers, be they dead or captured, Baldwin calls out a full retreat at top speed. As the scouts continue their full-blown run, he spares one last regretful look at the two scouts lying flat on the dirt. Two more senseless losses the saurs would be made to pay for, no doubt...
Nyzai looks down at the treating scouts, considering in that moment whether to continue the pursuit, though deciding to hold. If it were that weather conditions were in her favour, she would have had swooped down herself to finish them off, but simply routing the scouts for now in favour of keeping her own numbers is the tactically superior choice. . .Even if the scouts might've gotten close to Yzzayt's Abyss. She holds the position in the sky for several minutes, making absolute certain that she and the wounded beneath are alone, before she descends to firmly stomp on the heads of the two dead scouts with her bladed talons, and then the head of her fallen comrade in turn. Just in case. Then, the flyers depart.
Baldwin and the remaining scouts continue their retreat through the rest of the day, sticking as much as they could to cover to ensure they wouldn't be followed all the way back. The mood on the trip back is decidedly much darker, what with the loss of two of their own from an ambush, but Baldwin has at least been able to mark enough of the trail to point pretty definitively at some mountains near the westernmost edge of Aephix.
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TRAINING GROUNDS - MID-AFTERNOON
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Sammi: Sammi was doing a bit better, she had managed to get the smokiness around her to go away, and the wounds have mostly faded, though overall she's lost a little bit of 'luster' to her skin, and general demeanour. That force of presence she had pared back just a bit. At the moment, she had a simple spear, not that much more than a glorified pointy stick, but it was easier to use, you just made sure that the spear was always between you, and the bad guy, with the pointy bit forcing away from you. Sammi was practicing against a training dummy, focusing on people able to jab, and dart away, all the while keeping the spear level. Nothing complicated, but that just meant it was within her skill level.
Gareth makes his way into the training grounds, not really seeking any sparring after the match he'd had against Victoria, but just to observe the guards practicing for the upcoming rescue mission and to maybe provide pointers to anyone that wants or needs them. His shoulder, still healing from the wound Usid gave him, throbs a bit, but not enough to cause him any more than minor discomfort. It doesn't take him long to spot Sammi practicing, and it's with an air of curiosity that he moves to the edge of where she's set up just to watch.
Sammi had very little 'flair' to her moves, it was very basic 'first day of training stuff', but the effort was in there, and she was.. roughly on target? Everything was hitting the training dummy at least. After about twenty minutes of it, she took a break, and fell back unto a bench nearby with a slight huff of exertion, eyes closed. She hadn't acknowledged Gareth just yet, because she didn't know where he was, but she was.. aware he was watching. So she knew he was nearby.
Gareth approaches the bench once Sammi's done with her practice for the time being, smiling a bit as he moves into view. "Gettin' some practice in, I see. Ye holdin' up alright, lass?"
Sammi: "I'm..fine" She rubs some new aches in muscles (Or what she assumes are muscles) "I just wanted to be able to learn how to use a weapon off my own ability, and spear is the best choice I think. I can use it underwater, and it's just as good on the ground. I really wanted to avoid a sword" She had pointedly avoided talking about her own contribution to the caravan defence, and didn't seem to want to talk about why. "If I need a fancier spear, I can probably pull one out?" She looks to the bag briefly
Gareth hums and nods. "Aye, I could see a spear bein' useful all around. Water won't slow it down anywhere near as much as other weapons." He chuckles a bit and pats his belt, "Water even stops bullets really easily. They won't get much further than maybe a couple o' feet deep, at best." He glances towards Sammi's bag for a moment, then shrugs, "I don't know if ye need fancy, as long as it's functional. Some folks do like makin' their gear look good, though."
Sammi: "Well, it would be also better than this" She taps the spear, which is just a wooden pole with a pig iron tip on it. "Plus..well..I like fancy! If I'm going to helping you with all this..saur stuff, I want to look the part"
Gareth chuckles. "Fair enough, Sammi. Aye, the fancier weapons tend to be made from better materials, and the folks that own them are usually quite skilled in usin' them. O' course, ye need to balance form with function."
Sammi: "True! True!" She smiles gently, finally getting a bit cheered up "But, I do want to sort of..make it my own thing. Actually put something on that makes me, kinda me?" She hasn't really been one for clothes beyond the minimum "Though, I don't really know where to go with that..uh..do you know any fashiony types?"
Gareth rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Fer weapons or clothin'? Weapons... ye could maybe chat with the local smiths... and clothin', ye could ask around the marketplace. I know there are a few folks that sell clothes fer decent enough prices there."
Sammi: "Yeah, clothing. I think I'm better getting the weapon myself. I just need to be confident in myself when I reach into the bag" She touches the edges of the bag by her side "And..well, if I can't get something, then I shouldn't be there at all"
Gareth nods. "Then aye, ye'll want to look around the marketplace. I'm sure even with all that's happenin' right now, some o' the merchants are still stocked with clothin' to sell. Ye may even find a merchant or two that do custom clothes, if ye don't find anythin' ye particularly like already made."
Sammi: "Yeah! It's all just fabric and stuff, If they have the material, then they'll be able to make it" She nods "But..uh..what do you think would look good?" She raises an eyebrow "And saying 'anything would look good' is really sweet, and I'd love you for it, but ..not really useful" She chuckles just a little
Gareth blinks, then chuckles. "Well, shoot, I guess ye got me there, lass. But, let's see... fer a serious answer..." He hums as he leans back a little and scrutinizes Sammi a bit, "If yer wieldin' a spear, slightly looser, flowin' fabric could mask yer movements to confuse yer opponent. Not too flowin', though, or ye'll get tangled up or give yer opponent somethin' to grab onto... Ye could also try fer somethin' less restrictin', if ye prefer mobility over distraction.""
Sammi: "I do! I wouldn't want to be hindered by stuff..uh..silk? Silk doesn't get soggy in water, right? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that it stays flowy regardless..."
Gareth hums thoughtfully. "Some o' me old crewmates used to wear things like silk kerchiefs or cravats, and they held up reasonably well on the ocean. I don't know how well full outfits would work with water, though. Ye'd probably have to ask the person sellin' the clothin' fer more details."
Sammi: "Hmm..Maybe?" She considers her own bag "I dunno..I can't really be using it for myself too much..."
Gareth gives Sammi's bag a curious look. "Ye use it more fer others, anyway, don't you? What do ye consider 'too much'?"
Sammi: "Well...I dunno, even when I'm using it for something for myself, it's for others to help them.." She shrugs "It's not like there was any real rules...It's just.. meant to help others, y'know? I don't think I can't use it for myself.. but.." She shrugs "I dunno, I've been kinda out of sorts lately"
Gareth nods understandingly as he takes a seat next to Sammi and gives her a warm hug. "We've had quite a rough trip from Bairnell's Folly, so I'm not surprised. If it helps, ye gettin' a spear out o' yer bag isn't fer selfish reasons. Yer doin' it because ye want to help defend folks."
Sammi: "Oh..It wouldn't be about the spear! I'm thinking about getting the cloth for nice clothing made" She puts her head down on his shoulder "That would only be because I want to wear pretty clothing"
Gareth blinks, realizing he was on a completely wrong thought track just now. "Oh! Oh, okay, right." He chuckles after a moment, "I mean, it's also to look the part, and fer defense, aye?" He pauses, only to give a lopsided grin, "Though, ye would look really nice in silks, anyway."
Sammi: "Hmm.." She ponders "Oh! I know!" She opens her bag, and holds it out to him "Just..uh..reach in! Then you can take it, and uh..reach in confidentially, grab, and pull out"
Gareth tilts his head, then shrugs as he figures he understands what Sammi's on about. He spends a moment thinking, then reaches in, acting like he knows what he's reaching in for and knows exactly where it is in the bag, too. "Sure thing, one second while I just..."
Sammi: The inside feels very, very cold and empty. It's a place where there's really nothing..but he does find a small wrapped package. Which when he lifted it out, would be a pack of cloths of some sort. "Ooh! It worked!" Or at least, no immediate costs were being paid.
Gareth hums curiously as he pulls the package out of the bag, then grins as he holds it out for Sammi. "Well, I guess that works, then. Here ye go, lass, a gift for ye!"
Sammi: "Thanks!" She takes the package, and hugs it to her, before giving him a hug "I'll wait a bit, and give this to a weaver, or a tailor or something"
Gareth chuckles and hugs Sammi in turn again. "Yer welcome, Sammi. I'm sure there are a few merchants who could turn that into somethin' really nice fer ye."
Sammi: "That's what I hope too!" She allows herself a little smile "I'll need to find someone now! Thanks Gareth!"
Gareth gives Sammi a little kiss on her forehead as he lets go of the hug so she can go and search for a clothier. "Glad to have been a bit o' help fer ye, Sammi. Good luck in yer search!"
Sammi: "Yup!" She nods quickly, and heads off "Okay! Sorry for all this, but..um.." She's all excited now, and rushing off.
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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S PROMINENCE - BEAST PENS
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Usid walks amongst the riding raptors and other creatures, saddened by the loss of his riding mount at the hands of this... 'Gareth', he finds himself brooding a little after his talk with Louma. He sets himself to a few menial tasks, tending the other mounts, feeding them, some grooming, preening their feathers. It's one of the few tasks that gives him some sense of peace. The thrill of the hunt is something Usid shares with these creatures. He clicks and coos back at them softly, almost seeming to understand them as he works.
Narrator: An hour or so after talking with Louma herself, The small feathered raptor, Tizza, is on her own hunt, for Usid. She doesn't have to search for long, knowing much of Usid's habits around Yzzayt's Prominence. She approaches the beast pens tentatively, less nervous of the vicious creatures inside and more nervous about Usid himself. "U-Um. Usid?" Tizza softly calls out.
Usid growls softly at the interruption, setting down one of the brushies and emerging from the stall. He's lacking his armor now, just wearing very menial work clothes. "I said no one is to dist-" He pauses, frustration turning to a more disgusted scowl. "Tizza. What?"
Narrator: While Tizza was expecting Usid's sour mood and scowl, she still finds herself recoiling slightly and hurt by it. "I. . .Um. Just wanted to. . .See if you're alright?" Tizza sheepishly replies. She takes a tentative step closer. "I, um. . .I'm. . ." Tizza can't quite get it out.
Usid's hard look at Tizza slowly turns aside. He looks away from her. "Hmph. I am unharmed. No need for healing." He folds his arms, tensing. "...Louma had it correct. I was too weak. Ran. Cowardly. Nyzai would call me 'bunny-eater'."
Tizza: ". . .Unharmed body." Tizza pauses a beat, "But. . .I. . .Want to do more. I. . .I want to help heal your spirit. I've. . .Never seen you like this." Tizza's expression softens, wanting Usid to receive her empathy. "You are. . .Um. . .Important."
Usid slumps slightly before looking back at Tizza. If any disgust remains, it's for himself. "Heal my... spirit? Am I truly so pathetic? At least when you healed my body, it was a result of physical weakness. Too weak, need healing. Always too weak. Always need healing." His fists clench, "Now so weak that I need... bah. You mock me."
Tizza: "No, no. You. . .Twist my words into a barb that hurts us both, Usid." Tizza saddens. "I. . .I'm. . .You're. . .I. . ." Tizza glances away, frustrated at herself now. She clenches her fists, internally debating herself for a moment, before turning back to Usid with at least enough resolve to just spit the damn words out. "Usid important to Tizza. I. . .I not do this because Yzzayt ask." She steps closer.
Usid is uncertain about any of this, slowly dropping his arms down, his expression softens, "Tizza...? I... do not understand...?" Emotions have never been Usid's strength, but Tizza's raw admission has him off balance. She had always been there for him, healing his body when he pushed too far to overcome his weakness, yet still this is new, strange.
Tizza continues to step forward, gingerly attempting take one of Usid's clawed hands in her own. "Usid. . .Strong. Smart. Brave...But also scary. . . Too scary. I. . .scared of Usid. But. . .I heal you anyway. Not. . .Not for Yzzayt. For you. Tizza. . .Admire Usid. Like Usid."
Usid shakes his head ever so slightly, but lets Tizza take his hand. "I am too weak, always. The hunt is all I know. Usid is more like the beasts than like Tizza." He hand tightens, squeezing hers. Fear and self-loathing have long been the only things to drive Usid forward, "I... am weak. I will only hurt Tizza."
Tizza: "You are wrong. It is. . .Not weakness to ask for help. Even Yzzayt knows this. Yzzayt stronger than all of us, but he still ask all of Saurs for help and united us. Usid doesn't ride into battle alone. Why should you be alone now?" Tizza clutches Usid's hand, "And. . .Usid not hurt Tizza. I'm. . .Only hurt when you're not here."
Usid looks down at their hands, slowly bringing his other hand up to reach for Tizza's. "I do not know why this is so." He is silent a moment, just standing there holding Tizza's hands. "How? How would you heal me?"
Tizzasmiles warmly, gladly taking the other hand, appreciating the gesture in silence herself. "I. . .Do not know. Maybe Usid just. . .Talk?"
Usid closes his eyes. "I hunt... I fight. It is all I know. Talk is... hard. Words painful. Hunt is easy for Usid, in the moment, there is only the prey, the thrill of it. Strong prey makes Usid stronger. Become so strong that Yzzayt see me at last! ...but still not strong enough? Gareth strong... Louma strong, I saw it in her eyes."
Tizza: "Prey not only way to be strong. Sister Louma has fears and worries. She has told me of them. But she stands up to them instead of running away." Tizza replies. "Usid face fears, Usid become stronger." Tizza pauses, having a brief thought. . . "If. . .Ignorant Ones are strong, then Usid learn from them? Perhaps become even stronger than by hunting prey." She attempts to sow a seed into Usid's mind.
Usid thinks on this, the thought somewhat close to his own on how perhaps Louma might teach him more, yet still... "Yzzayt has said they are fit only to serve. Blasphemy to think they have things to teach us..." He sounds uncertain, mind going back to the... whatever Gareth did to avoid his shot. Louma insists he missed, but he knows he did not. The wolf did something.
Tizza: "Yzzayt also wants what is best for his children. What is best for you?" Tizza questions. She's not quite comfortable outright stating that Yzzayt might be wrong in the presence of a Chosen.
Usid falls back into silence, unsure he has an answer to this question. He takes a few breaths, still holding Tizza's hands, before he answers. "I... cannot say. To become stronger. To better serve. To slay much prey. Answers I had. Answers feel... less right, now."
Tizza is patient, remaining in empathetic silence herself as she waits for Usid's mind to tick. "Then. . .Usid find new answers. And Tizza help."
Usid squeezes her hands, looking up at Tizza with some spark that has never been there before. "...I am a fool. Too weak, all this time... too weak to see the strength in Tizza. See it now, though..."
Tizza's soft smile grows, accidentally letting out a happy, brief squee. She quickly composes herself, though she fears the damage may already have been done. "Usid strong. But together, stronger."
Usid feels his heart skip in surprise at Tizza's joy, something he's never felt before. "Tizza has made Usid stronger for a very long time... moreso now, I think, yes."