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THE UNRESTING EXPANSE - MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS - AROUND MIDNIGHT
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Emmeline had somehow managed to get a few kilometres away from Yzzayt's Abyss and found a well concealed cave in the foothills. She had missed it on the first time past, but managed to see that a gust of wind disturbed a pile of sand which vanished into what looked like a solid hillside. Now she huddles inside a small cave barely big enough for herself and Lianne to sit up in. It's really more of a hole than a proper cave, to be fair. In the hour or so since they arrived, Emmeline has managed to bash open the poorly-riveted shackles around her own and Lianne's ankles and moved them aside.
Lianne Sparr's body has been ravaged by the damage caused both from her extended servitude and Dyvrisse' lightning bolt, heavy burns down her wings through one of her legs. Who knows what the internal damage might be? She begins to stir with pained, laboured breaths, gritting her teeth and muffing some screams as she wakes. Deliriously, she looks around, her eyes glazed over but trying to focus.
Emmeline hasn't been able to find a source of liquid water nearby, but luckily there were clumps of damp moss lining the edges of the ceiling of the small crevice. She sees and hears Lianne stirring and rests a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. When she speaks, it's quiet. "It's... we're safe... for now... I think..." She moves her other hand near Lianne's lips and squeezes some
Emmeline odd-tasting water from a clump of moss into her mouth.
Lianne Sparr still doesn't quite register Emmeline, despite trying her hardest to get her mind and perception in order. The words blur together along with Emmeline's form, though as soon as that moss hits her lips, she immediately starts coughing and spluttering the water out, along with some more pained sounds. The world begins to focus from the odd, disgusting sensation snapping her into painful reality.
Emmeline quickly pulls back the moss, not wanting to waste what little water they have for the moment. She gives Lianne space and frowns. "Lianne, stop... it's me, Emmeline... it's... OK..."
Lianne Sparr immediately tries to start moving, though finds her damaged left side too much to deal with at the moment. She strains against it momentarily, but the unbearable pain forces her to give up.
Emmeline leans over Lianne once she settles a bit and helps get her into as comfortable a position as the cramped quarters allow. "Lianne? Can you hear me?"
Lianne Sparr continues attempting to get her breath back, coughing a couple of more times. "Yes." Lianne finally affirms, her usual pleasant demeanour replaced by one that is rather gruff and short.
Emmeline lets out some tension in her shoulders and leans back against the wall. "Good... you're not fully gone then. Dyvrisse... she... lightning... how?"
Lianne Sparr: "Is that really an important question right now, Emmeline?" Lianne snaps at the cow.
Emmeline blinks. "Uh.. well, I mean..." She trails off and looks down. "I don't know." She pulls her legs up to her chest.
Lianne Sparr attempts to move once more, getting a little bit more motion this time, but ultimately failing yet again. "Fuck. . ." Lianne quietly screams. "You need to keep moving." Lianne instructs.
Emmeline shakes her head. "We stay together. So if we move, I'll carry you again."
Lianne Sparr also shakes her head in response, "You are a fool, Emmeline. Taking me with you is an unacceptable risk." She states, still short in tone. "I'm only going to slow you down in my current state. If you don't make it back to Respite and tell them where we are, then the entire escape would have been for nothing."
Emmeline shakes her head. "If I leave you behind, I'll just worry about you. Won't be sharp. Besides, I won't do that. We go together or not at all."
Lianne Sparr: "I don't understand." Lianne's tone gains some confusion. "Why?"
Emmeline shakes her head and looks Lianne square in the eye. "Because I wouldn't be here without you, and I'm not going to leave anyone in the middle of a desert to die. As long as you're alive, we go together." She lowers her gaze and turns to take a few carefully squeezed drops of water onto her tongue. She shudders a bit at the taste, but swallows it down all the same.
Lianne Sparr: "My survival hinges upon one of us making it back to Respite, Emmeline. And your chances go down by choosing this." Lianne sighs, calming down some. She realises that she isn't going to be able to change Emmeline's mind, and she must admit that somewhere inside of her, she is grateful.
Emmeline nods a bit. "Right... so... we should move again, right?" She holds out the clump of moss. "You want some water? It tastes bad, but that's just the moss..."
Lianne Sparr: "Yes. We should move again. But if you're going to take me it may simply be better to hole up for now." Lianne sighs. She looks to Emmeline, nodding in response to her question.
Emmeline hands over the mostly squeezed wad of damp moss, making sure that it's firmly in Lianne's grip before she lets go. "Right... so... i took off our shackles. Think I might have scratched your leg a bit, but you weren't bleeding, so..."
Lianne Sparr takes the moss in her less damaged right hand, reaching it to her mouth and squeezing it. It's disgusting, but Lianne manages. She looks to her leg, wiggling it a little, then to the chains nearby, then to Emmeline. "I. . .Thank you." She admits with some difficulty, sighing. "You're. . .Lucky it was me that got hit and not you, Emmeline."
Emmeline shakes her head. "No... she was trying to miss. I know it. She wanted us to get away. She didn't mean to hit you, I think." She sighs and stretches out her legs. "I think she wanted us to go. I think with enough force on our side, she could be reasoned with, maybe..."
Lianne Sparr: "I meant because I would've left you behind." Lianne admits. "Certainly felt like she was trying to miss when she hit me square in the back." Lianne grumbles, "Why. . .Do you think that? What could she possibly hope to gain by letting us go?"
Emmeline closes her eyes for a moment. "I don't know. But she doesn't like keeping us, watching us die..."
Lianne Sparr: "I'll. . .Have to take your word on that." Lianne replies. "But, even if true, she doesn't get any sympathy from me." She sighs, looking to the shackles on the ground. "Are. . .You able to break the rocks on one of those shackles? The chain could be useful as a weapon."
Emmeline opens an eye and looks at it. "Maybe... it'd be loud though, and I think... just a bit of a rest before maybe?"
Lianne Sparr: "I'll do it myself. . ." Lianne strains herself to try and move once more, in a deliberate attempt to manipulate Emmeline into doing what she wants.
Emmeline presses a hoof against Lianne's arm. "Stop. You shouldn't strain yourself..." She opens her eyes and takes the pair of rocks closer to where moonlight filters into the hole. After a few moments of assessment, two hard blows break both rocks enough for the chains to come loose.
Lianne Sparr lets herself rest back against the hard rock behind her. "It's not much, but. . .It's better than nothing."
Emmeline pushes the chains across the floor to Lianne before leaning against the wall again and closing her eyes. "Ok... I'm going to... rest at least. Don't let me sleep long though..."
Usid rides atop his raptor, his scouts and Nesseth's having coordinated a quick exploration of the area, trying to ascertain what happened at the Abyss. Usid watches, noting the rather deep tracks, someone heavy, possibly carrying another? His eyes trace the path towards the cave and he rides in closer, quietly, dismounting to examine them a moment. He lets out a few whistles to signal to his riders that he has found something.
Lianne Sparr: The whistling attracts Lianne's immediate attention, startled and concerned by it. She carefully picks up the chain on the ground. She struggles to move once more, but the extreme desire not to be re-captured fuels her, pushing her to both to shakily move closer to the entrance of the cave and conceal herself against the wall, chain in hands, and stay silent despite the sheer pain the movement causes.
Emmeline similarly stirs at the sound of the whistle. She takes up the other chain and copies Lianne's stance, though her white coat doesn't do her any favors when it comes to stealth.
Usid waits a moment until he hears whistles in return, then moves quietly into the cave. His eyes fall upon Emmeline, resting against the wall, her bulky frame explaining the footprints. The Keeper let some of her prisoners slip from her grasp? All the better for the rescue effort. He takes a step forward, but not getting too close yet. As Emmeline moves, he raises his hands, "Wait! Stay calm."
Lianne Sparr: Usid. Lianne's eyes go wide, but he isn't close enough yet for her to strike. She stays hidden, biding her time, though she looks at Emmeline and nods her head deeper into the small cave, wanting Emmeline to draw him in.
Emmeline is shocked at the sudden intruder, the sight of Usid sending her mind into flashbacks from the attack on her carriage and then waking up bound in the camp afterwards. She shakes these off after barely a moment, taking a crouched step back from the raptor. "You... how... You won't capture me again!" She brandishes the chain rather ineptly at him, giving it a half-hearted swing that just causes it to rattle more than anything.
Usid nods, keeping his hands up in a placating manner. "No. Usid will not. You are Cow from Caravan... freed from Dyvrisse. Things are... different now. Help is nearby."
Lianne Sparr continues to wait for a moment to present itself, though she knows that it's only a matter of time before Usid's reinforcements arrive.
Emmeline continues to back away, dropping the chain. "Just a lone carriage... you took me to her. Why... why would anything be different?"
Usid slowly lowers his hands as Emmeline drops the chain. He sighs, "Don't expect you to trust Usid. Will wait for others, then. You have friends, very close. If you will not come with Usid, Usid will bring them to you."
Lianne Sparr can't risk Usid leaving, and he isn't coming any closer. She lunges forward from the shadows, chain bared between her hands. Her form is less than perfect thanks to her injuries, but she puts everything into attempting to get that chain around Usid's neck to then pull tight.
Emmeline is unsure of what to do, letting the scene before her play out. "Lianne!" she calls out to her friend, but what she wants is unknown even to herself.
Usid spins a moment too late the sound of chain behind him as Lianne rings it around his neck. His armor doesn't fully protect him there, letting the metal links sink in, but the Chosen is well trained, letting combat instincts take over. He raises a hand to grip the chain as best he can, but failing to find adequate purchase upon it, he thrusts himself backwards into Lianne, hoping to loosen her grip.
Lianne Sparr is easily swayed by the thrust, causing her to scream through gritted teeth as her senstitive, burnt wings are pressed into the jagged rock behind her. Her left hand fumbles on the chain, slipping a few links back before getting purchase again.She attempts to further wrap herself around Usid, moving the chain firmly behind his neck and then back in front, so that her thick, blubbery wings may assist in containing him, though her rapidly failing strength in her left side would be more than evident to a fighter such as Usid.
Emmeline reaches out toward the struggling pair, but it's dark and the struggling pair are moving quickly and frankly she has no idea what to do. Despite everything she's been through in the last few hours, the last few months, Emmeline is no fighter, and she doesn't have the first idea about to how to help in such a fight.
Usid sense Lianne's weakness, taking the initial opportunity that his strike provided to wrap his hand around the chain, giving him just a bit of breathing room. He hisses as he pulls the chain away from his neck, tail thrashing against Lianne behind him as he chokes out words, trying to use familiar names to the pair, "Nessssssethhh! Loumaaaa!"
Lianne Sparr: The names mean little to Lianne. She knows only Louma by name, the person she was to talk to about the Inquisitor for Gareth, but nothing about Nesseth. She attempts to yank the chain tighter around Usid's neck, though quite frankly, struggles to do so, so she attempts a different angle. "Listen here you little shit." Lianne grunts furiously into Usid's ear. "You're going to tell your troops to stand down and not follow us, and I'm going to use you as collateral to make sure that they don't. You fuck around, you die." Lianne attempts to intimidate, though she's bluffing, feeling as if she'd lose if Usid truly resisted.
Emmeline finally gets it in her head to pick up one of the larger fragments of stone, one with a sharp edge and brandishes it toward Usid in a not-very-menacing way. She's pretty much just following Lianne's lead here since she has no idea what to do and well, they're pretty committed at this point...
Usid rasps out a laugh, the realization dawning on him that he most certainly could regain control of this. "Sssstupids! Usssid isss.... TRYING to help!"
Lianne Sparr doesn't attempt to pull the chain around tighter, only so that her failing strength isn't as apparent. She hasn't figured out yet that Usid knows she's bluffing. She instead opts to menacingly flick her tail before Usid, flashing her stinger in front of Usid's eyes. "I CERTAINLY felt your help when you put an arrow in my back you fuck. Now. When your men arrive. Tell them to stand the fuck down."
Emmeline moves closer with the rock in her hand, still clearly not any sort of trained fighter, but feeling a bit more confident now that Lianne seems to have the situation under control. "Wh-what she said, yes... and have them bring us some water."
Usid has pulled the chain away enough to let him breath and speak without issue. He nods as best he can. "Hmph. Water, yes. Food too? Usid will provide. Usid should call off search?"
Gareth arrives at a full sprint, leading a couple of Respite scouts after the trio had been alerted by one of Usid's riders about potential trouble. He immediately spots the scuffle between Usid and... someone, he can't quite tell in the darkness, and draws a pistol. He's breathing rather hard from the sprint, but his hand is quite steady indeed. "Ye either... let him go... or I shoot ye, whoever ye are." As he talks, the two scouts spread out a bit to either side, flanking the struggling pair, while also keeping Emmeline in view.
Usid grunts, raising his voice with a laugh, "Oh no! No cow or crazy fish here, Gareth! Stand down!"
Lianne Sparr is about to reply to Usid, though Gareth's arrival causes her to switch focus. She recognizes the voice, combined with Usid calling out Gareth's name. "Gareth!?" Lianne exclaims. "You traitorous asshole! No wonder little runt-shit here knew I was on that carriage! This about your fucking eye, mate?" Lianne makes a lot of assumptions. "Do it, motherfucker!" She taunts Gareth, not loosening her hold on Usid.
Emmeline drops the stone at the sight of the guards rushing in, recognizing them all at least a little from town. They're at the very least not dinosaurs. She's about to rush over to Lianne when the ray's words make her stop in her tracks, confused. "Wait... why would..." She looks from Gareth to the other two guards. "I know them... they're not... traitors?"
Usid continues to laugh, "Usid told you..." He sneers, giving a sympathetic look at Emmeline. "Usid is traitor."
Narrator: The two scouts with Gareth tense up at Lianne's outburst, but hold off on attacking with their crossbows unless Gareth gives the order.
Gareth blinks at the voice, recognizing it immediately as Lianne. He's further confused by the accusations flying his way. He does, however, keep his pistol up, if not necessarily leveled perfectly. "Lianne?! The hell are ye talkin' about? I got back weeks after ye left Sarn. The town guards are camped out not too far away from here. Usid's helpin' us get all o' ye back from the Abyss."
Emmeline glances between everyone in the increasingly cramped hole that could barely be called a cave with two people in and just shrinks back down to the ground, holding her knees to her chest, just overwhelmed for the moment.
Lianne Sparr: "Why are you helping this little runt!?" Lianne aggressively questions Gareth, the pain she's in evident in her tone and her anger only mounting higher and higher. "You know I spent the last fucking two months putting a fucking pick against stone because of this prick?! So either fucking kill him right now, or I will!"
Gareth bares his teeth a little, hating the necessity of drawing this out, but also knowing Usid might die if he doesn't keep Lianne at least talking. "Because we'd all be dead right now otherwise. The guards would have walked right into an ambush a few days ago, and we'd all be six feet under, or in chains with the rest o' ye." He lets a sharper, commanding edge enter his voice from a time long past, "Now... let him go... and fuckin' listen. Ye hear me?!"
Usid growls, "'Lianne' is in no position to kill Usid. Usid is trying to be reasonable. Usid is offering return to friends. Water. Food. Healers. Respite camp at end of canyon."
Emmeline perks up at the mention of Respite. "I... I believe you..." she says as she shuffles her way toward the exit to the hole. "I want to go home..." She looks at Lianne. "Please..."
Lianne Sparr: "Shut the fuck up!" Lianne screams at Usid, giving him a weak, though heated, knee into his back. "I ain't fuckin' talking with you no more!" Lianne levels her eyes against Gareth, staring at him, silently, in a stand-off. Or, well, what she believes is a stand off. She doesn't face Emmeline, though in a quieter tone speaks to her, "Emmeline. . .This. . .Doesn't make any sense. . ."
Gareth snorts, his teeth still bared a bit. "O' course it doesn't. No one in the Saurs knows about this alliance yet, since it just happened less than a week ago, so I doubt anyone in the Abyss even caught wind yet."
Emmeline just shakes her head and makes her way out of the hole past the two respite guards, removing herself from the situation for the moment.
Narrator: One of the scouts watches Emmeline carefully as she moves past, then lowers their crossbow and goes to help guide the cow back to camp, if she wants to just leave the current situation.
Emmeline opts to just sit outside the hole for now, still not wanting to leave Lianne behind.
Usid growls but opts to remain silent. Instead, he makes a move to call Lianne's bluff. The fact that he is still holding the chain at bay from his throat is probably proof enough that he could break free, and now he brings up his other hand to grasp the chain and simply break the already abused chains apart and slip from Lianne's grasp.
Lianne Sparr: "Say I beli-" Lianne starts talking to Gareth, though Usid slips free from her grasp as she does so. She reactively attempts to pull him back in, though decides to instead drop the chain completely and go for Usid's knife, pulling it free from his belt. She's left standing in the entrance of the cave, naked body on display, with the bloodied symbol of Usid's traitorous actions in her right hand. Her left arm falls down, the burns highly visible down it and her wings, as well as down the length of her white frontal leg. She chuckles, pained, at her situation, brandishing the knife but not moving just yet. "You know I'm gonna go for one of you, soon as any of you move. Make your decision, Gareth."
Gareth hums, staring intently at Lianne. "Guessin' no way to make ye think otherwise, then?"
Lianne Sparr continues her chuckling. "I'm not going back, Gareth. You're either killin' him to prove you're with me, or I'm killing him with my dying breath."
Usid falls into a defensive stance, eyes on his knife as he watches Lianne, ready to fight back if necessary.
Gareth casts the smallest of glances over at the remaining scout, the other one otherwise occupied keeping Emmeline company just outside of the cave. "Switch to stun bolts."
Narrator: The scout quickly obeys, eying Lianne warily as they unload their crossbow as quickly as possible in order to switch to a blunt-tipped bolt.
Lianne Sparr: With the two scouts out of immediate combat readiness, and only Gareth and Usid to worry about, Lianne tests Gareth. She lunges for Usid with the knife as best as her body will allow her to.
Gareth pulls the trigger without hesitation, the pistol discharging in a flash. His aim, however, seems a bit off-center and towards the left as she moves.
Usid is ready for her, and even though he is otherwise unarmed, he is still quite dangerous. He is quick to dodge aside, striking Lianne's arm in an attempt to retake his knife.
Narrator: The scout flinches as Lianne bursts into action, fumbling their reload as they try to hop back from the ray. They scramble even faster to try and reload.
Lianne Sparr: Gareth's bullet passes cleanly through Lianne's left wing, near her arm. The jolt of pain, combined with Usid's follow-up strike to her right arm, causes Lianne to fall off balance and collide to the ground, scratching her up pretty badly, dropping the knife. Her nervous system at it's limit once more, and no amount of willpower can help her now. She chuckles a bit as she bleeds from both the bullet wound and ground having opened her tender burnt flesh, unconsciousness quickly moving to take her once more. She looks up at Gareth as best she can, though her eyes are starting to glaze over and unfocused. Seriously convinced that death is about to befall her, "Gareth. . " Lianne coughs, with another dark chuckle, ".I love you."
Usid retrieves his knife, checking the blade for damage. It has become more symbolic to him than anything, the dried blood of his kin still on it like a stain of Usid's own guilt. He glances at Lianne as she seems to fade from conciousness, watching her to ensure this is not some additional ploy.
Gareth watches Lianne fall with a bit of a somber look, then sighs as he holds his free hand out to stop the scouts as well as Usid from continuing their attack. "She's down. Let's get her patched up so we can get her back to camp and under the healers' care." He approaches the ray and gently rests a hand against her cheek, "Rest, Lianne. Yer safe, now. I'm sorry we had to do it that way."
Usid sheathes the knife once again and nods to Gareth. "As is Usid. Should have expected Usid might scare folks... not... this, though." He sighs. "Guessing their escape caused the disturbance."
Emmeline peeks inside as the sounds of the struggle end. "Is she... did you...?"
Gareth nods as he moves aside to let the two scouts patch Lianne's wounds and abrasions as best as they can, so the group can at least move her back to camp for better treatment. "Seems so. At least they're both okay." He glances around towards Emmeline and shakes his head, "No, she's alive, just unconscious. She won't be fully safe until we get back to camp, though, and the healers."
Emmeline backs out of the hole to leave space for the guards to work. "Good... she's very hurt... lightning got her... from the Keeper..."
Usid nods, leaving Gareth and the others to retrieve Lianne as he walks past Emmeline, but stops when he hears her. "Dyvrisse attacked her? And she was still standing? Impressive..."
Emmeline still looks warily at Usid, but nods. "We were far, though... and I don't think she meant to hit. She was trying to miss me... probably couldn't see Lianne in the smoke..." She cocks her head. "So you're really turning against them? Helping us?"
Usid nods as he continues walking, heading towards his mount to pat the Raptor on the snout for a moment. "Yes. Usid. Usid's clan. We are helping."
Emmeline lets out a held breath. "Oh, okay then. You still... sent us there... I can't... won't forgive you."
Gareth nods at the scouts once they finish patching Lianne up, then dismisses them back to their normal duties. He carefully scoops Lianne up in order to carry her back to camp himself, joining the rest of the group outside. "Aye... they met up with us a few days ago, and they're helpin' us now." He nods out away from the cave, in the direction of the guard camp, "We can talk more while headin' back. The sooner ye and Lianne get to the healers, the better."
Usid sighs, but nods. "Usid understands. Usid not asking for forgiveness... Usid simply... trying to be better."
Gareth: [The two guards shift their ammo back to proper bolts and take up positions on either side of the four as they start making their way back.
Gareth hums as he walks, looking around to make sure anyone that might be approaching is either a Respite guard or one of Usid's riders. "Ye've done plenty, lass. Save yer strength fer the walk back. I don't want ye collapsin'." He nods at Usid, "I used to be a pirate, now I'm savin' folks. Never know where things go."
Emmeline looks between the folks with her. "Yes... of course... now about that water..."
Usid climbs atop his mount and nods. "Usid will ensure we have not attracted attention, yes? Good luck on your return to camp, Gareth."
Emmeline rises to her hooves and follows behind Gareth. "I can take a turn carrying her, if there's far to go... already brought her this far..." She looks to Usid, but gives no acknowledgement of his words.
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THE UNRESTING EXPANSE - RESPITE BASE CAMP - EVENING
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Brunilda is sitting down inside her and Fiora's tent, gently stretching her back and neck after another (thankfully uneventful for her) day of Guard patrols. During all this, she has been mostly just helping carry and build things, aside from the one violent encounter with Saurs so far. She has been relatively quiet after swinging her halberd around in real combat, recalling all too well the look on her foes' faces when the elephant came swinging by shakes her head. Not going down that route again. What's done is done.
Fiora pulls open the tent flap and steps in, dressed in her full plate armor, the giraffe unhinges her helmet and pulls it off, giving Brunilda a smile, "Hey there, beautiful. Bit of a fuss out there, but I think we're in the clear for the night. Your patrol go well?"
Brunilda smiles as she looks up: "Hey, you. And yeah, it was all fine. Think we're pretty close, but nothing today yet that I heard of." She's already just down to her dress shirt and shorts, never having been a fan of sleeping in more gear than that, even in the cool desert air.
Fiora reaches up to her armor, digging a hand up to the linked gorget that protects her long neck when fully extended and connected to her helmet. She fiddles about until she fishes out a slim chain and a pendant. Gripping the pendant a moment a flash of light fills the room, and Fiora's armor vanishes into the necklace. She's left in her own underarmor clothing. Though, her other hand still grasps her ornate sword, Zorya. "Ahhh, better." She moves towards the bed and sits down next to Brun. "Okay, good. How you holding up?"
Brunilda shrugs, shifting to give Fiora space: "Fine, I guess. I mean, we're still here and in one piece." She looks at the giraffe, smiling: "How was your day?"
Fiora shifts into the space that Brun has just given her, leaning her long neck down to settle her head against Brun. "Boring, which is the best case scenario. But you know that too. Not exactly excited for another 'midnight ambush', but still gotta be ready for whatever comes."
Brunilda holds her hand around Fiora, leaning just slightly. "Yeah. I hear there's been talks of maybe just achieving peace, which... I am all for." She shudders slightly. "If the next time I fight it's sparring with you back home... all the better."
Fiora takes a breath. "This is your first real combat, isn't it? Not like, wild animals and guard sparring?"
Brunilda nods, looking at Fiora: "...y-yeah. It scares me. It's... not how I imagined... well, anything really."
Fiora gives the elephant a sad smile. "It's a small-scale war. Never fought in one either, but done enough real combat that it doesn't feel to unfamiliar... still though... It's hard to actually want to be here. If that chicken-bastard is good to his word, then yeah... maybe at least peace can be a thing instead of another night like before."
Brunilda nods, leaning on Fiora: "I hope so." She closes her eyes tightly, images of that night dancing in her mind: "I will do what I must, that's why I am here, but..." She trails off, her thoughts scattering as she tries to grasp at them. Instead, she just holds the giraffe close.
Fiora shifts to wrap an arm around Brun in return. "Yeah... I feel bad for dragging you into this, even if I uh, didn't? Fighting's my bread and butter but... I dunno. I've always kinda wondered what I could even do if stopped fighting like this, you know? You're way smart, helping that weasel with the generator. Building stuff. Reading all those books. I tried to be an apprentice blacksmith and that sorta uh... well, I don't think Cavro likes me much, even before he probably overheard me say I'd kill him for hurting Erika's feelings."
Brunilda starts nodding to Fiora's words, then pauses: "Well, I guess that would cause a bit of a... schism. But Fiora, you are smarter than you think, if you focus you can do a lot. Just gotta figure out what that is." She holds her hand upon her lover's shoulders: "If we were somehow done fighting this fight, you'd find something."
Fiora raises a hand, "It was a joke! It was supposed to be at least..." She sighs, "But yeah... maybe. You know how much I've struggled to 'settle down' in Respite. Focus was never my strong point."
Brunilda shrugs, then pokes at Fiora with her trunk: "Well, sooner or later we've got to think of something for you. Not much in terms of bounties, exactly, and I really hope this rescue is a one-time thing."
Fiora nods, glancing towards her sword. "I don't know... still feel like this is what I'm supposed to do. Defending the weak and triumphing over evil. I mean, sure, it's big talk but..."
Brunilda prods Fiora's snout with her trunk, smiling: "I do like it when you talk big like that, though. And it's not like I disagree, really. Doing the right thing, that's something we think alike in."
Fiora turns away from the sword and back to Brun, to look her in the eyes and smile, "Yeah, we do. You're a wonderful partner, Brun... on, and more importantly, off the battlefield."
Brunilda smiles with a bit of a blush: "Well, I certainly hope I am. Because you are."
Fiora blushes as well, and gives Brun a hug. "Heh. Nah. I'm just a goof in armor, who fights for what she thinks is right, and is really good at it, and okay I'm pretty cool, sure."
Brunilda grips Fiora's shoulder slightly: "And don't you forget it. Your confidence is inspiring... and attractive."
Fiora grins, lifting her hand up to set it atop Brun's. "That goes for you too, you know. Well, not inspiring? But you're the best you when you're happy and know where you want to go... that... makes so little sense, heh. But I think you know what I mean, right? And attractive."
Brunilda blushes again, though her grin is pretty unmistakable: "Y-yeah. I get you. And I'm working on that... trying to figure out where I stand, you know."
Fiora lowers her hand and gives Brun a mock-punch. "Well, you stand right next to me, obviously. Or like, back-to-back, taking on whatever life throws at us." Her grin slowly fades. "You sure you're gonna be okay? First blood... I know it can change folks. I just want to make sure you're... dealing with it alright."
Brunilda sighs and looks down, staring at the ground for a moment. "...probably. It's... different, but we had to do it. I'll... I'll get over it." She looks back up: "With you, I'll have a reason to get through."
Fiora grins, "Talking about it helps... I know. There's some that get a taste for it. Others just deaden to it. I... guess I was one of the latter. Never really 'liked' it. I like the adrenaline, the action, the feeling of combat. I made it into a game almost. Like sparring... but not."
Brunilda looks at Fiora, giving a weak smile: "I can see that... it is using your honed skills, for what you hope is overall a good reason... but, well... yeah." She shrugs and squeezes Fiora's shoulders with her arm some more. "We'll deal."
Fiora puts her arm back around Brun. "We'll deal. I'll be here if you need to talk, or cry, or however you need to deal with it, alright? Or just... you know... the whole snuggling thing has been pretty nice."
Brunilda leans on Fiora and holds her trunk upon Fiora's chin: "Yeah... that one has been pretty nice. Just... this. Holding you close."
Fiora leans in to kiss Brun upon the forehead. "It is, yeah. Miss our bed back home though. Heh... something I never thought I'd say."
Brunilda smiles, closing her eyes as she holds her arms around Fiora: "Well, now you have said it."
Fiora leans against Brun and holds her in a very similar fashion. "And meant it. Hmmm. I love you, Brun."
Brunilda smiles: "I love you too, Fiora." She squeezes again, not really wanting to let go anytime soon.
Fiora doesn't do much to let go either, letting the day's exhaustiong let her lean against Brun. "We'll be home soon enough."
Brunilda hums softly: "Home. I like that." She leans likewise on Fiora, just holding her close as she can, the world around them ceasing to matter just for this moment.
Fiora just holds Brun for awhile before the two settle down to sleep for the night, cuddled up close in their tent in the midst of the camp.