"Nothing. I am merely unsettled from this place." TO his credit, he's handling it better than he handled his arrival.
But that's Gadriel's way of saying he didn't want to talk about it anymore. It was something he would figure out, in time. The last thing he wanted to do was sour his return more than he already had.
Melinoë left it alone. If he wanted to talk about it, he would (probably not). Or she hoped he would. Regardless, she kept a hold of his hand if he allowed it, and kept walking, eventually making their way to Dusklight, then further into the woods and their camp where Elion excitedly greeted them. Melinoë broke away to search for his sword. Thankfully, it seemed to be tucked away in the tent, as she expected. She lugged it out for him and set it up against a large rock.
Talk? About FEELINGS?! Has she lost her mind in the three days he'd been gone? He'd just tried talking about that stuff and look how well that had gone. He was not inclined to further the error.
And he wasn't going to drop her hand, unless she shook his hand off hers, until they arrived at camp and he got a faceful of tressym, as Elion launched himself full speed at Gadriel. When she returned from the tent, she would hopefully not notice that some of Elion's fur was a little wet. Crying? WHAT? No. He would absolutely not do that.
Toula meandered out from the woods a few moments after their arrival to gently rub against Gadriel's leg. Melinoë leaned against that same rock she set his sword against and smiled.
"We all missed you, it seemed. Perhaps Elion will cease wailing now that you've returned."
"Elion." Now he had to scold the tressym, holding him up at face level. "Do not be an ungrateful guest when someone is taking care of you. She did her best and you wanted for nothing."
He knew it was true: Elion certainly hadn't lost any weight and his fur was soft and obviously groomed.
Training would begin again tomorrow with Elion. But for the rest of the day... He let Elion climb up onto his shoulder and crossed over to her. "Thank you. For coming to get me." And preventing them from sorcerying him again and messing up his new start. "What can I do to repay you?"
"He was upset." Don't worry, Elion, she'll defend your right to cry about your dad being gone. "I am sure he is grateful."
She smiled softly up at him. "You're welcome. I do not need anything, but since I suspect that is not an answer you will accept — perhaps you can catch something for dinner so we may share it tonight in celebration of your return."
"We will talk later, Elion." Someone is going to try to explain death to a tressym. Surely this will go well. Right now he took comfort in the warm weight of the orange cat curling around his neck.
Food did sound good. When was the last time he'd eaten, anyway? "But. You do not eat meat." What's he going out to hunt? Rutabagas?
"But you do." She noted. "It is not as if I cannot be around it so we might enjoy a meal together." It wouldn't be first time they shared one where she just left out the meat on her plate. "I need to fetch some herbs anyway. So we can meet back here when we are done."
"I can get us something." He's sure the widow has wondered what's become of him, so maybe he could visit her and cadge some food. Good plan. "Say we meet in an hour? Elion needs flight time." Because oh yes, we're back on schedule, orange cat. He'd watch Elion catch some fish. That would be...nice.
And that would probably be where she found him, after that hour, with a basket of baked goods and apple cider (the widow came through and only wanted a hug), watching Elion splash around in the water, chasing fish with more style than skill
"That will suffice." She leaned up to kiss him before they parted ways, wandering off to gather herbs and then starting up the fire so she could roast up some vegetables. As they cooked, she meandered over to find him on the shoreline.
"Back to his old self, I see. Has he caught anything?"
He had let the kiss tingle on his mouth as he left to his task of food acquisition.
"He has." Gadriel pointed to three fish that he'd beheaded and gutted. "There is plenty for Toula, if she chooses." Right now, Elion just seemed to be being a menace to the fish, his tail flicking back and forth, backside wiggling as he leapt into another wet pounce.
"She will be delighted, if she has not caught her own already." She hadn't. Elion enjoyed fishing so much, Toula just let him go for it while she napped. Melinoë chuckled. "Do you want yours cooked, or will you be eating it raw with your furry brother?"
Not much made Elion feel better than providing for his little clowder, so he was more than happy to share with Toula. He'd tried to bring Melinoë fish, too, but she hadn't seemed quite as interested. Maybe he'd bring her leaves or something. He was still thinking about it, but he was orange, so thinking was hard.
"If there's a way to cook that will not contaminate your food,..." She's so tolerant keeping her sorcery away from him; the least he could do is show the same consideration with something she didn't like. But honestly, it didn't matter. He was getting to spend time with her again and Elion, and Toula, and everything seemed extra bright and vivid right now, and all the more precious.
"I can manage it." Cooking the fish on a heated stone assured it would be kept away from the vegetables already roasting. It also wouldn't kill her if she tasted it — as unpleasant as she might find it.
She moved to Gadriel's side, humming thoughtfully as she leaned into him. Who knew it would feel odd sleeping alone again when you were used to a massive space marine laying beside you? The lack of heat had certainly been noticed, and she felt it now when she pressed into him.
Gadriel found himself surprisingly hungry. Who knew that being dead for half a week worked up an appetite? But more important was Melinoë, and the feel of the lean curves of her body against him.
"I do not deserve your kindness," he said, and he meant it--the way she had dropped everything to rescue him from the sorcerous healers, and the way she endured what to her must be his uncivilized ways. Hopefully she wouldn't mind if he just...scooped her up here, just to hold her.
"Because it is our job and duty to die in service to others. One doesn't deserve kindness for doing one's duty." Especially for dying.
He carried her back to camp, placing her lightly on her feet before the fire, the ruddy glow of the flames lighting one side of her, while the sun's slow set lit the other. "Especially from someone so far above me."
Melinoë frowned, hands set on his forearms. "You made an oath before the battle, did you not? To walk alongside me? Do you intend to break that oath so quickly?" He wasn't a god, no, but he had given his word. "I intend to continue showing you kindness where it is deserved."
"I.." That was about as far as he got, as she brought him up short with his own words. Yes, he had been inebriated, but he meant every word and would swear the same oath today. "Gratitude is still gratitude," he said, finally. He was allowed to express that it mattered to him that she had come for him when he needed.
But enough of putting Gadriel on the spot. "What sorcery have you been up to since I...died." Yeah, that felt weird to say.
"You are welcome, then." She could say that much, at least.
She shrugged and turned to take the sizzling vegetables off the heat while she waited for the delivery of the fish to start up next. "Nothing of vital importance? Topping up my poultices, studying your venom and crafting what I can from it." Normal witch stuff. "Dancing naked under the moonlight." A beat. "That was a joke."
Did she say she wanted the fish to be airdropped by a tressym? Because that's what she got, Elion cruising over with leaf-wrapped fish in his mouth. He sniffed the vegetables and then made a feline face, but Gadriel stopped him with a look before he tried to bury the vegetables.
We are tolerant in this camp, Elion. Of sorcery and vegetables.
"Find out anything good with the venom?" Because that would be good news.
His face somewhat fell when she said it was a joke. Because her dancing naked in any light? The only thing bad about that is if it happened and he didn't get to see it. "You...could, if you wanted to." Unnecessary clarification. She didn't need his permission or approval. He was just saying he'd be an appreciative audience.
Thank you, Elion. Melinoë patted the Tressym on the head in thanks and took the fish, leaving it in the leaf wrapping as she set it down on the heated stone over the fire.
"Mm. Nothing more than what Master Barcus and I discussed before. I think it would be best used to coat weapons or craft antivenoms. I would also like to find a means to assist you with the problem altogether." She needed to do more experiments.
His duty done, Elion went off to find Toula and probably pounce on her. Why she put up with him, who knows?
Gadriel had only been gone a few days so it's not like he should have expected any major breakthroughs. Still she'd kept herself busy and that was good, right? "We should have something ready. Because I do not think this battle was the end of things here." If he was going to die again for this place, at least his venom could fight on afterwards.
He sat down, near the fire, because he still felt a bit cold, as though dying had frozen him, somehow and he was still thawing. The heat of the flames felt good against his skin. "I am just saying I would not deter you from naked dancing." He might interrupt, but not deter.
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But that wasn't the point. "You thought I would leave you to worry." Did she think he thought so little of her? That was what hurt.
He frowned, then shook it off, like a dog shaking off water. "It does not matter." He just wanted to get home.
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"It seems as if it does, Gadriel. What is on your mind? I surely cannot read it."
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But that's Gadriel's way of saying he didn't want to talk about it anymore. It was something he would figure out, in time. The last thing he wanted to do was sour his return more than he already had.
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Melinoë left it alone. If he wanted to talk about it, he would (probably not). Or she hoped he would. Regardless, she kept a hold of his hand if he allowed it, and kept walking, eventually making their way to Dusklight, then further into the woods and their camp where Elion excitedly greeted them. Melinoë broke away to search for his sword. Thankfully, it seemed to be tucked away in the tent, as she expected. She lugged it out for him and set it up against a large rock.
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And he wasn't going to drop her hand, unless she shook his hand off hers, until they arrived at camp and he got a faceful of tressym, as Elion launched himself full speed at Gadriel. When she returned from the tent, she would hopefully not notice that some of Elion's fur was a little wet. Crying? WHAT? No. He would absolutely not do that.
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"We all missed you, it seemed. Perhaps Elion will cease wailing now that you've returned."
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He knew it was true: Elion certainly hadn't lost any weight and his fur was soft and obviously groomed.
Training would begin again tomorrow with Elion. But for the rest of the day... He let Elion climb up onto his shoulder and crossed over to her. "Thank you. For coming to get me." And preventing them from sorcerying him again and messing up his new start. "What can I do to repay you?"
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She smiled softly up at him. "You're welcome. I do not need anything, but since I suspect that is not an answer you will accept — perhaps you can catch something for dinner so we may share it tonight in celebration of your return."
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Food did sound good. When was the last time he'd eaten, anyway? "But. You do not eat meat." What's he going out to hunt? Rutabagas?
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And that would probably be where she found him, after that hour, with a basket of baked goods and apple cider (the widow came through and only wanted a hug), watching Elion splash around in the water, chasing fish with more style than skill
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"Back to his old self, I see. Has he caught anything?"
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"He has." Gadriel pointed to three fish that he'd beheaded and gutted. "There is plenty for Toula, if she chooses." Right now, Elion just seemed to be being a menace to the fish, his tail flicking back and forth, backside wiggling as he leapt into another wet pounce.
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"If there's a way to cook that will not contaminate your food,..." She's so tolerant keeping her sorcery away from him; the least he could do is show the same consideration with something she didn't like. But honestly, it didn't matter. He was getting to spend time with her again and Elion, and Toula, and everything seemed extra bright and vivid right now, and all the more precious.
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She moved to Gadriel's side, humming thoughtfully as she leaned into him. Who knew it would feel odd sleeping alone again when you were used to a massive space marine laying beside you? The lack of heat had certainly been noticed, and she felt it now when she pressed into him.
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"I do not deserve your kindness," he said, and he meant it--the way she had dropped everything to rescue him from the sorcerous healers, and the way she endured what to her must be his uncivilized ways. Hopefully she wouldn't mind if he just...scooped her up here, just to hold her.
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"Why do you think that?" She asked. "Why do you believe you are unworthy of it?"
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He carried her back to camp, placing her lightly on her feet before the fire, the ruddy glow of the flames lighting one side of her, while the sun's slow set lit the other. "Especially from someone so far above me."
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But enough of putting Gadriel on the spot. "What sorcery have you been up to since I...died." Yeah, that felt weird to say.
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She shrugged and turned to take the sizzling vegetables off the heat while she waited for the delivery of the fish to start up next. "Nothing of vital importance? Topping up my poultices, studying your venom and crafting what I can from it." Normal witch stuff. "Dancing naked under the moonlight." A beat. "That was a joke."
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We are tolerant in this camp, Elion. Of sorcery and vegetables.
"Find out anything good with the venom?" Because that would be good news.
His face somewhat fell when she said it was a joke. Because her dancing naked in any light? The only thing bad about that is if it happened and he didn't get to see it. "You...could, if you wanted to." Unnecessary clarification. She didn't need his permission or approval. He was just saying he'd be an appreciative audience.
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"Mm. Nothing more than what Master Barcus and I discussed before. I think it would be best used to coat weapons or craft antivenoms. I would also like to find a means to assist you with the problem altogether." She needed to do more experiments.
She chuckled. "Are you requesting it?"
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Gadriel had only been gone a few days so it's not like he should have expected any major breakthroughs. Still she'd kept herself busy and that was good, right? "We should have something ready. Because I do not think this battle was the end of things here." If he was going to die again for this place, at least his venom could fight on afterwards.
He sat down, near the fire, because he still felt a bit cold, as though dying had frozen him, somehow and he was still thawing. The heat of the flames felt good against his skin. "I am just saying I would not deter you from naked dancing." He might interrupt, but not deter.
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