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The Diverted Path (DareToDream & Hahvy)

DareToDream

DareToDream

Pulsar
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Location
East Coast of U.S.
As the heat from the sun’s early morning rays filtered in through the open window, Caleb Parker stirred, shifting his body under the tangled and sweaty blankets of the bed. Normally, he’d have been awake before the sun came up but that morning he was sluggish, his mind not wanting to let go of the dreams that had plagued him night after night, stealing hours of sleep. A breeze wafted through the window as he rolled over, tossing a blanket off his body, and he groaned, the sound carrying through the small cottage. Hearing it, a feeble voice called out to him, barely heard over the sounds of early morning. Caleb’s body froze momentarily, as if his ears had picked up the words, and then started tossing and turning again. This lasted for a while, the torment of a man plagued by thoughts that he didn’t want to have, and it wasn’t until the breeze blew through the window hard enough to knock something off a shelf that he woke. The crash of the tin as it clattered to the floor did the trick and with a start, Caleb jerked up in bed instantly, his eyes wide and his heart pounding.

Clutching at the covers, he looked around frantically, his eyes seeing but his mind not registering. It wasn’t until the voice called out a second time that he blinked and began to slow his breathing, regaining control of his senses little by little. Glancing down, he saw that he was still in bed and grimaced. Not again, he thought. With a grunt, the covers were tossed aside to reveal a hard body that had seen twenty eight plus years but looked closer to twenty two. As his feet hit the floor, Caleb stood and stretched, working the muscles of his back and chest, trying to loosen them up just a little. He could hear the birds outside the window and feel the heat of the sun and knew that another restless night had claimed him. That explained the fatigue he felt through his body, tugging at his limbs like lead weights. There was nothing to be done about it though; he knew restless nights would be his bane of existence until he succeeded in his goal and it just made him that much more determined to do just that.

Finally loose, he stepped outside of the little cottage and moved to the water well, drawing up a bucket of the icy cold liquid and testing it with his fingers. With another grimace, he stepped back and bent over, dumping the heavy bucket over his head, soaking his brown hair instantly and sending a chill sweeping through his body. Standing erect again, he shook his head and stretched some more, finally feeling his body wake up thanks to the effects of the cold water. Slipping back through the door after dropping the bucket by the well, he padded across the room to an opening in the far wall and peeked in. There was a bed by the far side and in it lay an old woman, her body propped up by pillows. She saw him and lifted a shaky arm, waving him in. “Come in, Caleb, come in” she said, the words quavering as if she lacked the strength to speak. He nodded and moved to her side, sitting down on the bed. Studying her, his gaze noted her pale skin and struggling breath and he didn’t like the way her eyes looked glassy. Reaching out, he brushed her hair off her damp forehead and smiled.

“Mother, you need to relax and not worry about me. You’re the one that is sick.” In fact, she was more than sick, she was dying and there was very little he could do about it. A combination of old age and a nasty poisoned bite from a fire lizard three months ago had left her frail and weak, her body slowly wasting away. He’d tried everything he could think of and had brought healers in but nothing worked. Hope had failed him and he had finally accepted that he was going to lose the only person in his life that truly mattered to him when a chance meeting with a soldier had changed all of that. It was from him that he’d learned that the blood of a dragon was supposed to cure all ailments, a fact that caused his heart to leap. Of course, no dragons had been sighted in years, the soldier added, and just as quickly his hope had been dashed. Things changed again two weeks ago when word of a dragon sighting in his area had reached him, and from that day forth he had been out hunting, trying to find and kill it. His mother knew of his quest and tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn’t hear it. Standing back up, he smiled down at her. “I’m going back out again today” he said as he headed back towards the other room. “I’ll bring you some food and drink before I do.” With that, he slipped out and quickly prepared her food, returning to her side to leave it on the table near the bed. “Hang in there, mother. I will succeed in this and make you well.” Before she could say anything else to him, he was gone, grabbing his pack and his hunting bow and slipping out into the light of day to begin the search anew.
 
The sky was an encompassing darkness that engulfed the stars and moon. A colorless night. Just the kind of cover a dragon could need if it ever took flight in the open space of the fields. The night time creatures were wandering around for their own meals as a shadow that darkened the night further flew overhead. The smaller creatures fled before it, hiding in the burrows and natural alcoves provided by the nearby forest. But the pathetic creatures of the trees were not what this shade was looking for. It was looking for something bigger and domestic. Lights winked in the distance from a few farms as the shadow drifted, getting lower and lower to the ground, invisible. It was the perfect time of night to hide - the few moments before the sun's rays would start to pierce the morn. And the best time to hunt. The creature landed quietly on the ground, hardly making a sound as it used the wind to carry it to the ground effortlessly. It remained outside the farm grounds, smelling and searching for the perfect prey. It's hearing tuned in on the slightly startled breathing of a nearby long-eared dappled horse. From the smell, it was sick from something it had eaten. Well, all the more reason to devour it and put it out of it's misery.

The creature crawled forward, using what cover it could to stalk forward, knowing that some of the farmers could wake at any moment. It was downwind from the giant horses, giving the creature just the advantage it needed. However, it didn't realize that despite it's stealth, it left furrows in the ground from it's clawed feet and long tail. But it wasn't thinking of what it was leaving behind- it was thinking of sinking it's teeth into some horse flesh. A soft nicker drew it's attention for just an instant, giant brilliant maroon eyes searching the darkness. If she wasn't quick, someone would see her. She had been careful in her clues, but if she was seen, she'd be dead.

Making a small huff, Rue Drakon edged closer, wings pressed tightly against her back. She was a gorgeous creature but the blackness of her scales was only illuminated by the darkness of the night. She blended in like the perfect hunter. She may have been a rarity amongst her kind, in color and prowess, but out here she was an enigma and a wraith. She wanted to remain as much. Creeping forward, she came within reach of the fence and the sickened horse. She had to be quick. Leaping up, she snatched the horse up, crushing it's neck before it could make a sound. But the attack didn't go unnoticed and the other brutes awoken, causing a huge racket.

Draco be damned!

She cursed mentally. The horse was a little bit heavier than she expected but she needed the meat and the protein it provided her. She didn't like poaching but being alive and well was the only option given to her. The farmers soon awoke, and she dashed away with her prize before she could be caught. She heard the words of the farmers reach her. She knew she couldn't lift the whole thing into the air and stay aloft for long, but she needed to try to get a few leagues away at least. Putting all her preternatural strength into it she jumped into the air and flapped her great wings, managing to avoid striking a tree. Her meal was almost too heavy to carry, but she managed to get a mile out. Her eyes sought shelter and located a small cave and dropped down into it.

She huffed once she landed, dropping the carcass in order to breathe. She thought she wouldn't have made it. She almost broke her back carrying the bloody beast! With a sigh, she saw the sun's light peak over the horizon, half blinding her for a moment until she adjusted. Rue looked to her food and then the sun. She'd made it for now and none of the humans after her could find her in this cave. With a huff of smoke, she tore into her delightful meal, knowing that the day held an ominous tone.
 
As Caleb walked through the woods, his feet following a barely seen game trail, he thought about his situation. The very notion that dragons lived had been nothing more than a wives tale for most people in the realm of Alaria and for someone like him, who lived in the remote wilderness with little interaction with others, their existence had remained a secret. Stumbling across the passing soldier, and learning what he had, brought hope for the first time in months and he would be damned if he would let it slip from his hands, not with his mother’s life at stake. She had been the one constant in his life from childhood to adulthood, the one person that stuck by him through thick and thin. He’d never known his father, having been without him his entire life, and only knew that he was someone his mother had loved and respected. All she had told him growing up was that he had died when they were first together, before she’d learned she was pregnant, and that the agony of his loss had driven her into the remote wilderness to live out her life caring for him.

It was the only life he’d ever known so when her illness came, along with the news, he knew what he had to do. He’d been walking for hours at that point, looking for signs along the way, and was closing in on the flat farmlands that lay miles outside his realm. Hitting the edge of the forest, he paused and let his eyes adjust to the light and lay of the land, then headed off towards a nearby farmstead. Bow hung over his shoulder with a quiver of arrows and his pack on his back he slowed as he neared a fence and heard human voices. The sounds were jumbled and frantic, anger clearly lacing them, so he approached with caution. Sighting them finally, he raised a hand and called out a greeting. “Hello” he hollered, shading his eyes from the sun. “Can I be of any help?” The man and woman both spun to face him, looks of wariness on their face. Caleb stood his ground, keeping his hands at his side. “I mean you no harm” he said as he watched them. “I come from up on the mountain, seeking winged prey. You seemed upset and thought I could be of assistance.” The woman’s eyes went wide as she sighted his bow and she turned, slapping the man on the arm, saying something to him in a low voice. The man nodded and stepped forward.

“I see you carry a bow, traveler” the farmer said, pointing. “Are you a hunter by chance?”

Caleb stepped forward them, nodding his head. “Today I am. I hunt the dragon that I’ve seen flying in the skies lately.” The two farmers got excited by this news and approached him, explaining that they’d seen the very dragon he mentioned. More details were filled in over the next half hour and when he crouched down to examine the furrows in the ground he knew he was on the right track. The dragon had struck swiftly and flown off with one of their horses, no doubt to find someplace to eat. Looking in the general direction they pointed, he let a grim smile cross his face. He knew the mountainous terrain like the back of his hand and was aware of a number of caves in that direction. If he was right about his guess, the dragon might be near them and, with a full belly, might be easier prey. Nodding to the farmers, he bid them farewell and promised to do his best to bring down the dragon, then headed off.
 
Staying in dragon form was the most natural thing in the world, but it always caused problems during the daylight hours. However, eating her meal in dragon form made it much easier to keep herself hidden since her predatory taste buds were accustomed to the uncooked and bloody meat. Besides, cooking it took out valuable nutrients. She ate the meatier parts first, the ones that would provide her energy and strength, like the liver and heart. She was large amongst females but small compared to the males of her species so she could eat only about half the horse in one setting. Back in her homeland - dare she call it hers still? - they didn't have horses this big. They had Tusked Oxen that roamed in droves, providing ample food sources. They always picked off the smaller and weaker animals to keep the herds alive. Plus, it made the task of feeding everyone easier. But here, she would provide for herself. She didn't have to hunt for anyone but herself, which had always suited her. Licking her claws clean after her kill, she glanced off towards the horizon. Her black iridescent scales caused a riot of color to appear on the cave wall. Her eyes weren't developed like human eyes - they couldn't see all the colors. But she could make out all the shades of red and blue and green. It made the sunrise and developing day rather pretty. In human form, she could see everything. Being a dragon made things more simple, however.

Yawning to reveal rows of sharp teeth, Rue shook herself, tail thumping lightly against the stone floor. Spikes trailing down her spine were a vibrant ivory and tipped with blue, catching some of the light. Her wings were pressed against her back as she walked on all fours, stretching out from her run. The cave wasn't very big and made her feel cramped, especially with the corpse in the cave with her. So she nudged it with her nose until it plopped into the water to be devoured by the carnivorous fish that dwelled in the deep. Her ears pricked forward as she caught sound, hearing distance sounds in the nearby forest. She knew no humans were around and so she leapt into the air before flapping her wings to launch her up into the sky. She soared up high, much higher than most humans could see so she looked like another one of the Calico Eagles that dominated the skies. They were smaller than her by half, but still formidable. However, they came to an understanding and stayed out of each other's way. Drifting on the air currents, she glanced down at the growing forest, seeing it bloom with blossoms in clearings that were usually found on accident rather than on purpose. It was a beautiful day and she soon saw a small lake in which she could bathe the rest of the blood off of her hide. Taking a nose dive, she whipped through the air and into the lake, causing a loud splash. The water was frigid compared to the warm day, but it was just what she needed. She swam around, getting clean, and just played in the water. It was freeing to be out here with no rules.

Her clan back home would be scrambling to find her, but they wouldn't find her here. It was too populated with humans and would be seen as a last resort search. By then, she'd already be onto another human populated country. Alaria was a nice country, and though she missed her own country of Tuvanus, she was fine where she was. She had her own little cottage on a mountain top where no one would bother her, and a garden that she tended to lovingly. She hadn't been allowed to have a garden back home since her training had kept her busy. Training to be a bride for a brute. Mating amongst her kind was brutal and final. She would have never gotten away no matter how much she hated Malconis. He would chase her to the ends of the globe. Well, fine. He could chase all he wanted. He wasn't getting a damn thing from her and would never, ever find her. She would make damn sure of it, Draco be damned.

Finishing up her bath, which took longer than she expected, she ambled out of the water and shook herself, sending water to the nearby plants. fire blooms and water moss dotted the lake's banks, adding beautiful color to the landscape. She'd have to pick some one of these days. Sniffing the air, she scented the animals of the forest and knew not of the human that was hunting her. Yawning her tiredness, she shook herself again before jumping to the top of the Freya Tree. The tree was large and sturdy enough to hold even her dragon weight. Clutching the gold and green branches, she threw herself into the air and took off into a lazy incline, knowing not of the trouble that brewed on the horizon.
 
He reached the edge of the forest in short order, stopping once to glance back at the farmstead he had just left behind. The evidence of the dragon’s passing had been obvious, with great gouges in the earth from the beast’s claws and a horse missing from the herd, and he knew he was on the right track. Had he not wanted the dragon’s blood to cure his mother, he might have been willing to leave it alone as he had no need to interfere in the affairs of farmers. Caleb had grown up on the mountain and made his living off the land, hunting, fishing, and growing food. He had no need of money, which the farmers had offered him for his services, and so he’d declined it. His goal was singular – hunt and kill the dragon so he could harvest its blood – and he pursued it for one purpose only. With a shake of his head to clear it of thoughts, he turned and entered the ancient woods, slowly moving through the brush with the ease of a man in his elements. The dragon had been in the air when it had fled the farmstead, so he knew he wouldn’t see obvious signs of its passing, but he hoped he’d pick up other little clues. Perhaps it would be the absence of animals, for example, having fled in the face of a greater predator or the sign of dead tree branches blown down by air created by the flapping of wings. If signs such as these existed, Caleb’s able eyes would spot them and from there he could track the beast.

Walking slowly, his eyes scanning the terrain, he chewed up time as if it didn’t exist. One hour passed then two, as he slowly stalked through the forest, climbing ever higher towards the caves that he knew existed up north. He’d spotted little signs as he moved through the area, things he expected and ones he hadn’t, such as the unusual location of a rock slide that fell for no apparent reason and the smoothness of grass in an isolated clearing. Nothing could account for those except for something large and forceful and he knew of only one thing like that. With a predatory smile of his own, he slowly emerged from the forest onto a rocky bluff, smoothed flat by the passing of time. Crouching, he slipped off his pack and with drew a jug of water, taking a few measured sips. That was followed by a strip of beef jerky which he slowly ate. So far there had been no sighting of his quarry but he could feel that he was getting close, very, very close. Packing his gear away, he stood and faced upward, his hand at his forehead to block out the sun’s glare. He was searching for the cave entrance then but to his great surprise, he got far more than that. The shadow appeared first, gliding over the rocks as if it owned them, then came the flash of sunlight sparkling off the scales. He was momentarily blinded so he rapidly blinked his eyes, tracking the movement as best he could. When he finally had his sight back, his eyes widened as he beheld one of the most beautiful sites he’d ever seen, a gorgeous dragon flapping through the air on its great wings. It had clearly come from one of the caves he had been seeking and was now flying away. Swearing softly, Caleb ripped his bow off his shoulders and quickly notched a sturdy arrow then lifted it to the sky. Before he could send it flying though the dragon suddenly dropped from the sky, diving for the forest.

He lowered the bow and followed its progress, waiting to see what it was going to do. His instincts said it was going to land and he wanted to know where so that he could continue to track it. Eyes roamed the tree tops as he watched, pinpointing the general location it was headed and when it dropped from sight at last, he grinned wolfishly. If he was right, the dragon had just dropped down towards Grimwald Lake, a small isolated lake about half a mile from his location, if he took the game trail that he knew was in the area. After pulling his pack back on, restoring the arrow, and slipping his bow over his shoulder Caleb found the trail and set off down it at a brisk pace. Speed was of the essence now and he hurried with renewed strength, his feet pounding the path with each step, carrying him closer. Soon enough the forest began to thin out around him and he eased through the trees more carefully, pausing when he reached the edge. Being careful to keep his body concealed behind a tree, he looked out and saw his prey. The dragon was swimming through the lake, sunlight glinting off its scales, and he couldn’t help but admire its beauty once again. Soon enough, though, he steeled his face against those thoughts and dropped his pack, getting ready. Just as he strung the bow again, the dragon took to the air, alighting on top of a tree for a moment as if to rest, then rose into the sky once again. Stepping from the trees into the clearing, he drew the bow and sighted, letting loose. The shaft flew the air with ease, heading for one of its wings and soon three more arrows followed in rapid succession. Jogging further out into the open, Caleb drew another arrow and notched it, taking aim.
 
She hadn't expected the attack. Hellfire, she hadn't expected anything to be able to get to her such as the arrow that had sliced through the tough yet delicate membrane in her wing. With a roar of surprise and pain, she saw that the arrow had gone clean through before two more pierced her in rapid succession, both striking the same wing. She dropped into a dive, twisting to avoid another attack. Damn! Someone was shooting at her! She turned her sinister eyes to the place of the arrow's origins and found a small male human firing at her with his arrows. He must have had a keener eye than most that had tried hunting her and she knew that if she didn't land somewhere safe, he'd get her. She'd been too arrogant in her abilities, but no one had been able to track her so well before. She'd gotten lazy since she'd been in the area for at least two cycles (two months to humans) without hearing any rumors. Stupid prat! She cursed herself before she felt one of the joints in her wing not cooperating properly. She couldn't snap it all the way out to catch the wind and so she started falling from the sky. She would not die like this!

She flapped as hard as she could, using her good wing to give her the most strength. Her breath heaved in and out of her body as she flailed to stay in the air. If she hit the ground from this height, she'd be dead. But the river...She took a massive turn that almost robbed her strength to head towards the river. If she could just make it, the water would cushion her fall and she could transform. She couldn't be caught. Despite her abilities that most dragons didn't have, if he got within range of her, she'd be getting an arrow between the eyes. Her firebreath didn't extend as long as an arrow's range. Rue refused to die like a pinned beast. But the damage was done. Her wing was starting to give out and in a last ditch effort, she dropped from the sky and hit the water harder than she expected, robbing herself of breath. She sank into the icy depths, knowing that if she wasn't careful, the beasts that lived in the water would eat her alive. The male wouldn't be able to catch her if she changed quickly and got out of the water! And she needed to do it now! She used her arms and legs to swim to the shore, staying below the water a moment, dizzy from the fall. As soon as her claws hit the beach, she transformed.

Usually, her transformations were seamless, like taking a breath. But with her injuries, it hurt. Her legs and arms changed, her wings retreating in jerky motions. Her torso and face was the last to change, a cry escaping her from the pain of it all. Sweat coated her pale white skin- something not seen in these parts. Choking out water, she grasped her arm and back where her injuries were before she collapsed onto the beach, the last little bits of energy forming clothes to hide her nudity. It wasn't anything fancy, just a pair of short pants and a sleeveless tunic. Both were brown with fur to keep her warm. Boots covered her feet, but her magic failed after that. She was groggy and exhausted, her body heat drying the sweat from her skin. Thankfully, none of those sabered lizards dwelt in the water or she'd be very close to being eaten. Her blue blood spilled down her back and arm from her wounds but she couldn't close them in her condition. But soon...soon she'd...she'd be..It wasn't long before she passed out on the beach, her life in the hands of Fate and Draco.
 
He knew he was a good archer, better than most he’d come up against but deep down he’d never really believed he had the skill to take down a dragon. Not until the first arrow pierced its wing, that is. The roar that echoed through the sky when it hit shook him to his marrow, tremors sliding through his muscles instantly. That was the cry of a wounded beast, a beast that could devour him whole if it chose, and for the first time, he was truly scared for his welfare. If he died now, his mother would go next, and it was that thought alone that kept Caleb from fleeing back into the safety of the forest. As he stood there, staring into the sky, another arrow at the ready, he watched as two more flying shafts hit their mark. The dragon reacted instantly, dropping into a dive as it began to twist and turn, causing the two other arrows to miss their mark, drawing a curse from his lips. The words died soon after coming out though as his gaze met that of the dragons, its neck bending such that it stared at him, the gesture full of violence and ill will. If looks could kill, Caleb knew he would have been struck dead in that moment and the thought caused him to take a step back, then another.

It was the struggles of the great beast that finally arrested his movement and Caleb’s eyes widened as he stared. Its wings were flapping furiously, trying to give it air, but the damaged one wasn’t working properly. As he watched, the dragon made a turn in the air, its great body cutting through the wind currents like a knife through butter, and changed the direction of its flight, now heading away from him. He loosed the final arrow in his arsenal then, sending it flying towards the beast, and grimaced as he saw it miss. Realization dawned though as he saw why it had occurred; the great beast was losing altitude, literally dropping from the sky at a rapid pace. He waited with baited breath, knowing that his only chance of finishing what he started was by getting a general idea of where the dragon would crash and when it finally dropped from sight, he grinned. Having surprise on his side had done the trick, allowing him to get the drop on the beast, but the fight was far from over. Now he had to find it and put it down for good, then harvest all that blood that he could.

Loping through the woods in the general direction, he hurried to the general area where he thought the dragon had gone down. After a while, he finally slowed and began to search his surroundings, looking for the beast. As large as it was, there was no way it could hide from him but though he searched for hours, covering quite a bit of ground, he could find no sign of its existence. It was as if the dragon had miraculously healed itself and flown off or had managed to make it further than he had thought. Recognizing that he was out of his element Caleb knelt down and took of his pack, wanting a drink of water. When he reached for it though, he couldn’t find it and realized he had dropped his jug in his rush to reach the dragon. Cursing softly, he considered where he was and, realizing he was near the river, stood and headed off. He was disappointed that his hunt had ultimately failed but he took solace in knowing he had injured the dragon and now stood a better chance of killing it if he found it again.

As he walked, the sound of the roaring river reached his ears and soon he pushed through the vegetation and walked out on its rocky bank. Reaching the water’s edge, he knelt down and scooped some of the fresh clear liquid into his mouth, drinking with greed. The water filled a deep thirst inside him and he felt his body relax, his neck twisting back and forth to loosen it. When he saw her, he froze, caught completely by surprise. Standing, he moved slowly up the bank, his eyes never leaving the shape of what appeared to be a woman. At first he thought she was wearing a blue shirt but as he drew near he realized it was blood that was running blue. Wondering about that for a second, he dropped to the ground beside her and quickly searched her body, finding the source of her cuts. Each one looked like a stab wound and with a start he surmised that she had been attacked by brigands and left to die. Instantly he got to work, setting up a fire on the rocks to warm her since her clothes were soaked and then peeling back her shirt so he could clean and dry the wounds there and on her arm. When he was finally done, he made both of them comfortable and settled in to wait. He’d already decided he was going to take her back to his cabin and nurse her back to health but didn’t want to move her until she woke.
 
Passing out cold had not been in her plans, but the hands on her body made her senses come alive. Due to the training she'd been given, she didn't give any signs that she had awakened. The hands on her body were warm against her cold skin, but still she did not flinch. She didn't know if that person was friend or foe. Then again, no one was actually her friend. As if she'd had one of those before. Still, when he peeled back her shirt, she used all her strength not to cry out or alert him to being awake. She'd been out of it for hours since the light didn't pierce her lids. The crackling fire drew a lot of her attention once those hands stopped touching her. Her wounds felt better from being cleaned and taken care of, but she knew she should have had closed wounds, not still bleeding ones. They were finally stopping, but it didn't really matter, she'd probably have to kill the person who'd taken care of her. She was an oddity in this country, much less this land, and this boy - she smelled - didn't know what he had. If he even guessed at what she was...

With a soft breath she opened her eyes, the red so dark in her irises they were almost black. Her black hair brushed her waist as she slowly stretched out, making the tiniest of pained sounds as she moved her injured arm. Damn it all! sucking in a breath, she made herself sit up and look at her would-be rescuer. The boy - who by human standards was far from a boy - was sitting there. He looked familiar and she felt the hairs raise on her arms. She hoped he wasn't the hunter that had been after her today. She felt her defenses go up but had no weapons in this form. Damn it! Damn it! She got into a defensive position that she could barely hold as she confronted him.

"You there! Identify yourself to me."

Her accent was not from this country, the words having a certain lilt to them that showed exactly how foreign she was. Alaria had deeper drawls while Tuvanus had higher, more musical tones to their voices and it showed. But from the look of this male, he wouldn't have known where she was from regardless. He was darker skinned and had calloused palms and muscles privy to most hard-workers. He wasn't bad to look at, but still. He might be the enemy. Then again, most people in general were the enemy, including other dragons. No one was her friend and despite not having a weapon, she'd fight as hard as she could if he tried anything funny.
 
Caleb was a patient man when he wanted to be and thus he sat with her until darkness fell, never moving from her side. Though his experiences with women had been few and far between over the years, he had been raised a gentleman and that meant that he couldn’t have left her side even if he had wanted that. She was injured, badly from what he had been able to see, and she needed further care. The memory of her soft creamy skin, cold to the touch as he ran his hands over her body, brought a slight flush to his face and he quickly shoved those thoughts to the side. It had been obvious that she was attractive – at least to his eyes – but to think of her as anything other than an injured citizen was wrong and he would not allow himself to go there. As he watched her in the light of the fire, the shadow of the flames dancing across the ground, he smiled. Her coloring made it clear that she was an outsider to Alaria, most likely a traveler from the northern lands. They always seemed more pale than folks from his land but he had little experience in that area so he wasn’t sure.

Her breathing was slow and steady as she lay near him and he couldn’t help but let his gaze wander over her form. She was a shapely lass, that much was clear, but what was she like on the inside. Was she a meek, simpering woman, who was nothing with a man to protect her or was she a strong willed woman of independence? As he watched, he realized that he was actually curious about those things and that confused him. She was nothing to him, just a stranger in a strange land, so why should he care? Closing his eyes to clear the thoughts, he didn’t see her move though he heard the gasp of her breath. He waited in silence for a moment, tracking her movements by sound, trying to keep the smile off his face. Awakening in the night with a fire going and a strange man nearby would clearly frighten her and he didn’t want to make it worse. When her words rang out, her voice strong if slightly weakened, he opened his eyes and gazed at her.

Bless her heart, the poor lass had moved in a way that implied defense but little did she know he could have killed her where she sat with barely a flick of his wrist, the hunting knife resting against his back in quiet assurance. His gaze flitted over her again, seeing something new now that she was up, some quiet thrum of energy that infused her and filled her with strength. A smile played across his lips then as he realized his question had been answered and with a nod of his head, he spoke. “I am called Caleb, milady” he said, keeping his voice low and soft. “These woods are my home but you are out of place. I have dressed your injuries and mean you no harm.” With his foot, he eased a tin across the rocks towards her, letting her see the food that was inside it. “I don’t take kindly to brigands attacking anyone, much less a woman from another land. Please, eat and build your strength. I have a cottage nearby and will offer you shelter and care until you are healed then safe passage to whatever destination you want. It is the way of my people.” It was true too, all the things that he offered. He would do that for any injured traveler that he met; the fact that she was a woman only made the effort that much more attractive.
 
Her dark eyes caught the light, reflecting nothing of her emotions except determination. He thought her weak as the smile on his face portrayed. She was not weak. She'd hurt anyone who said as much. Her cheeks flamed with indignation at the mere thought of being attacked by brigands and defeated, but it was a good cover up to, "you were the one that attacked me, you prat!" But of course, she didn't say that aloud because she didn't rightly know. Yet his body language spoke of a man well in control of his body and weapons. Could she win against him in her weaker human form? She may have been a woman to him, but she was a dragon and even in human form was just as strong if not stronger than he - even injured as she was. She took in his name and place of origin, knowing to store it for later. If he was the hunter, she needed to be able to track him down by any means to reap her revenge. Examining her arm wound, she didn't give her name in return, keeping one eye on him the whole time.

She didn't care about acting like a human woman. She wasn't weak like they were. She scoffed at his offer and murmured something sounding like a thank you before she rose out of her crouch and started to walk away only to find her strength hadn't returned at all and fell. She hissed as she landed on her arm and held it tight to her body as if it would help. But she didn't ask for help or cry out. She kept the pain to herself as she forced herself to stand and leave. She still didn't get very far and cursed her weak body. Rue was practically human like this. It made no sense as to why she was still so weak. Her blood should have closed up the wounds and taken away some of the pain but it was fresh as when she'd received them. Draco, the pain! It hurt like the time she'd fell into a yellow ant mound and been bitten all over her tail. Her mother had found it funny, her backside had not.

She laid there a moment and looked at the stars in the sky along with the two moons. They were brilliant really. The pain slowly ebbed as she stared, counting down the seconds to calm both herself and her temper. She was so stupid to have been shot down like that. There was no way in Hell she would rely on a human to help her. She was much too stubborn for that. Besides, she would heal soon...she would..A frown curved her pale rose lips. What if she wasn't all right? The thought made her blood run cold as she lay on the sand, stranded as a human.
 
The silence between them stretched for a minute, then another, yet Caleb never took his eyes off her. He sensed something in the air, though he couldn’t pinpoint what, and it had the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Clearly it wasn’t this woman, young and injured, but something else in the air or the woods. Possibly the dragon, hunting him now the way he had hunted it? He couldn’t see the threat or hear it but his hair still stood, telling him to be wary and so he was. It would not do to have something attack them while his guard was down, especially if the target was the woman. There was no way of knowing either way so he simply waited and watched, his senses on alert and absorbing all that they could. The minute she moved his eyes narrowed and he leaned forward, watching with quiet calm as she examined the wound on her arm. That was the lesser of her injuries but either way it was still bad. He was a bit stunned that she wasn’t in more pain, though he didn’t let that filter across his face. Clearly this woman was strong of will, if not just a little crazy, so he continued to wait for her to speak.

Patience was a virtue they said but he’d never really considered himself virtuous, a fact that was becoming clear as he slowly began to fidget, irritation sliding into his posture over the continued silence. She’d yet to acknowledge his words, or even look at him again, behavior that was truly bizarre in his eyes since he knew she could speak. He’d heard that northerners could be snobby so perhaps that was her problem, he wondered. Finally fed up, he opened his mouth to speak again, only to have the words die on his tongue in shock. She had jumped up suddenly, a few words flung at him before she turned and ran into the night…or at least tried to run into the night. Her weakened body only made it a few steps before she stumbled and fell to the rocks. As he stood, so did she, her struggle to get away continuing despite the pain she had to be feeling. Moving towards her, hands at his sides, he watched as she fell again, this time staying down as she rolled to her back. Shaking his head, he squatted down next to her, his eyes making contact with hers.

“That was pretty stupid, milady” he said, the words laced with sarcasm and scorn. “I admire strength in a person but you are badly injured. Let me help you. I said I would not harm you and I meant it.” With that, he stood and left her there to think it over as he moved back to the light of the fire and settled down again. This woman was different, there was no doubt about that but he wasn’t sure if she was crazy or simply independent. She had displayed no fear of him at all, which was odd enough by itself, and her speech was strange and foreign too. He could write that last part off if she truly was from another land but it didn’t explain her lack of fear or her defiance in the face of what had to have been indescribable pain. Normally he wasn’t a fan of mysteries but he had to admit that this one had him intrigued. Picking up the plate of food she had ignored, he slowly ate, simply waiting for her.
 
You're pretty stupid, you know not what one such as I am capable of.

She practically said to him, but managed to hold her tongue until he was done. His eyes were almost black this close up, but she knew them to be bright and filled with some emotions she couldn't identify. He stared as if thirsty but then would look away as if distracted by something. She wasn't sure what exactly that meant in the eyes of humans nor dragon. However, his tone was quite clear and she did not like it in the least. She was not to be yelled at like a child. His human women would have been crying and moaning like babes from the pain, but not she. She would not be reduced to such a low simply because it hurt. She huffed and turned her eyes at his final words before listening to him walk back to the fire. She didn't want his human food or anything that dealt with being around him. But as she lay there, it seemed her only option, much as it turned her stomach.

At least she had eaten that horse, but her body had burned away all the fat and energy stores from her early meal quicker than she'd expected because of all the pain and injury to her body. She was hungry but didn't want to admit it. As long as she didn't move, it didn't hurt to lay on her back, but she couldn't just lay on the beach all day with that human simply staring at her. Using her abs to push her up into a sitting position, she used her hips and legs to push her to a standing position. It took a lot of effort but kept her from using her arm. Her back hurt and so did her arm, but all her strength was diverted to just standing. Her knees felt like they would buckle like a newborn foal's at this rate. She didn't want to ask for help just walking over there but as she took a few steps forward, she considered it. The pain was horrible and made sweat appear on her skin, but she refused to give up until she made it to the light of the fire.

Once there, she dropped to her knees and relaxed into her sitting position very slowly. Her pale face was practically green from the pain but she didn't make any distressed sounds, just took deep breaths. Breaking her ribs had been just as bad and so she knew she could handle this. However, she had healed within half a cycle. At this rate, she wouldn't heal for at least a cycle. She was very gentle as she raised her arm and prodded it. She pressed a certain point and winced, barely cutting off a scream. The bone below her shoulder was broken from the arrow which had knocked a joint. She curled her arm into her body and just let the pain wash over her as she sat there, knowing that the male was staring. So she decided to make him useful.

"You, Caleb. Do you carry water with your person?"

Her voice was a little weaker than before as if she might suddenly lose it. She could hear it and she gritted her teeth in anger. She was going to sound weak for a while until the bone started to heal - which would take the longest. It didn't need to be splinted, but she needed to put it in a sling. Rue searched the beach with her eyes and then looked at him a moment and softened her expression just the slightest.

"I would...appreciate it if you would allow me to partake of your drink. And...if you have any spare cloth so I may cradle my arm better."

Being polite was much harder than she figured. She wasn't used to trying to be nice to people unless warranted. However, she knew that the futility of her actions were stupid and she needed help. She was loathe to admit it, but he was the only one who would offer to help her. Sighing lightly, she wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her good arm as her maroon eyes looked at him with puzzlement.

"My name is Rue....Thank you."

There had been a huge gap between the two sentences, but she still said them sincerely. She wasn't ungrateful, but she was just used to relying on herself and no one else.
 
The darkness had settled in around him as he sat on the cold ground, deep and clinging, almost as if it were trying to hide him from prying eyes. Only the light of the fire existed and it gave off shadows that danced in the night breeze, teasing the eyes and drawing his attention to it. The food was good and he took his time eating it, enjoying the taste of meat cooked in a hint of spices and the fresh fruit that quenched his thirst. There was no sense wasting it and the woman had made it very clear that she had no interest in the food, much less in him. Looking across the fire, he sought out her limp body as it lay upon the rocks and he let a smile twitch into place. This one was definitely hardheaded at the very least. He’d never met a woman like her, or even a man for that matter, and it puzzled him. She clearly knew that she was hurt but completely ignored the pain as if it didn’t exist. If her body hadn’t failed her, she would have disappeared into the night without another word to him, and probably would have survived too. Shaking his head, he ate another piece of fruit, knowing in his heart that he admired that kind of strength, even if he would never admit it.

Movement caught his eye then and he stared outward, watching as she slowly struggled to sit up and then stand. He whistled low on his breath, knowing what it must have taken to do that, but he never moved to help her. If she wanted to be stubborn, he would let her be stubborn, it was no sweat off his back. Another bite of fruit made it to his mouth as he waited for her to approach, her efforts slow and clumsy from a distance though the effort had to be extreme. When she finally reached the fire and fell to her knees, he let his gaze wander over her face, noting how pale and drawn she looked. The pain was taking a toll on her, from his perspective at least, but she was doing her best to hold up under the strain. While he watched, she probed at the bandage on her arm, clearly wincing from the pain she felt. No noise came from her mouth though, a fact that greatly impressed him, nor did she pass out. Once she was settled, he let his eyes wander left, then right, making sure they were still the only two people on the beach and only when he was satisfied in that did he look at her again.

When she spoke, his gazed focused on her hard, a frown creasing his lips. Her words sounded clumsy and stilted and she had an obvious accent but it was the way she worded the sentences that he found most interesting of all. If he didn’t know better, he’d have said she wasn’t used to talking but he knew that couldn’t be the case. Closing his eyes for a moment, he thought it through and determined in his mind that it simply sounded weird because she wasn’t from around there. Alarian might not have been her native language after all and if that was the case, her speech made sense. Realizing that, he opened his eyes and offered her a small smile and a tilt of his head. Reaching into the bag beside him, he pulled out the water jug and slid it around the fire to her.

“Here you go….Rue” he said, using her name for the first time, the word flowing from his lips hesitantly. Short and sweet, he thought, and it sounded nice. He’d never met anyone with that name before and found it pleasing. “It’s fresh water from the river. I lost my main jug earlier today but always keep an empty one with me so I filled it up after I found you.” Having grown up in the mountains, where conditions were always rough, he had learned to be prepared for most emergencies. Thinking about her second question though, he realized that he didn’t have anything in his pack that would work as a sling though he searched all the same. Once it was confirmed, he sat back and studied her for a moment, noting her size and the way she cradled her arm against her side. Nodding, he suddenly reached down and stripped the shirt off his back, laying it down across his knees. Slipping his knife from his belt at the small of his back, he quickly began to cut the shirt into thick strips, tying them together then stood once he was done. Moving around the fire he knelt at her side, being sure to stay far enough away that she wouldn’t frighten.

“I can tie this around your shoulder if you’d like” he said, holding the sling out towards her “or you can try to do it yourself. I think you need my help though, even if you don’t want it.” He waited then, squatting quietly in the darkness, unwilling to move until he knew what she would do. He could appreciate stubbornness and strength and had decided that he wasn’t going to force anything on her. If she didn’t want his help, then he wouldn’t give it.
 
She watched the surprise flit over his face at her words. She didn't talk very much or very politely as he'd probably surmised. She only spoke when necessary and living alone for this time had made it a lesser necessity. She did sing to herself in her native tongue which was different from his country and most human speech, anyways. As he produced the water jug, she took it with her good hand and the smell of it hit her. She may have been next to the river but she hadn't noticed the strange smell it had. The dragonic nature within her protested the drinking of the water, but she couldn't be picky. There was probably nothing wrong with it - just that the water was different in this part of the continent. The hair stood up on the back of her neck when he spoke her name, the faintest blush hitting her cheeks. Why she reacted as she did, she didn't understand. But still, she drank the water offered to her and took her fill. It made her stomach ache a little bit when it hit, but it still replenished her energy. Food would have to come later since it seemed like he ate it all.

"What are..."

Her eyes widened as he stripped off his shirt, gesturing with her good arm that he didn't have to do that. But then the damage was done as he cut it up into strips just big enough to support her arm. She didn't know how to handle what he'd done since she could see his torso. All of his torso. Working in the mountains as he did put him in great physical shape that she could see and found herself appreciating the view. Rue didn't really figure herself to be feminine - not like those dragons she'd grown up with or like human women- but some part of her stirred at the sight. She backed up slightly when he came towards her, careful not to jog her arm and knew she shouldn't done that. But it was a natural reaction to the unknown for her. Still, he didn't press in on her like she figured, instead he kept a good distance between them like she might spook. It was..thoughtful. Listening to his words, she came back to herself before answering.

"Help would be..appreciated."

She couldn't think of much else to say. She didn't want to give out information about herself. But the reality was that she couldn't tie it herself. It wasn't like that time with her ribs as she had had two hands to bind herself up. The light of the fire flickered off his skin and her eyes focused on the shadowy shapes, finding a certain calm. A human - hell, a male- had never touched her so it was frightening. Humans wanted to kill her, but he was helping. Wariness still dogged her expression, but she didn't back down from the challenge.
 
The breeze was cool on his bare skin but Caleb didn’t care. He would wait for as long as it took for the stubborn woman to come to her senses and accept his help and if she didn’t, well, then he’d simply pack up his gear and head back to his cottage that night, leaving her to survive on her own. A small part of him argued against that of course - he was raised by his mother after all and taught to take care of a lady in need – but a bigger part squashed it. She was independent, head strong, impolite, and wary of him; if she didn’t accept her limitations on her own, he’d never convince her otherwise. As he waited, crouched in the flickering light of the fire, he took another moment to study her. His gaze moved slowly over her and he realized, for the first time, just how attractive she was and he found that he liked that. It was an unusual thought for him, because he hadn’t been with a woman in a long time, but it was there nonetheless and that surprised him. When he’d first found her, he hadn’t thought of her as a woman in that sense, but more as an injured person who just happened to be a woman. Now though, in the privacy of the night and the warmth of the fire, he saw what he’d missed the first time.

Shaking his head a tiny bit to clear those thoughts from his mind, he shifted his weight and continued his vigil. The handmade sling dangled from his hand, swaying in the breeze, almost as if it was trying to hypnotize her into giving in. It apparently worked too because the woman spoke then, her words short and halting. Tilting his head to the side, he smiled, knowing how much they had cost her from a personal pride standpoint. Definitely stubborn though this time she was much more polite at least, he thought. After a few moments of silence following her words, he finally nodded. “Alright Rue” he murmured, the words soft and low. “I’m going to approach you now and take care of it.”

Standing, he moved towards her slowly, hands out at his sides as he approached. When he reached the spot he needed, he crouched down again, this time only inches from her body. Being that close to her caused him to hesitate, his heart beating a little faster than it had before. It was an odd reaction and he wondered why it happened but instead of thinking on it long, he reached out and slowly placed his hand on her arm.

“This may hurt for a second” he said, gazing into her eyes, a look of concern on his face “but I have to move your arm just a little to get the sling around it.” His calloused hand rested on her smooth skin and he marveled at the feel of it, so soft and smooth. Her body heat was slowly soaking into his palm, heating his blood to a slow boil, and he knew if he didn’t move then, he might not move at all. Pulling her arm away from her body slightly, he slipped it into the sling and then set it back against her side. Raising the two ends, he slowly tied them off at the top of her shoulder, tightening it enough to give it support. Finally done, he slowly backed away from her before standing and moving back to his side of the fire. “How does that feel?” he asked, his voice carrying over the crackle of the flames. While he waited for her answer, he reached into his bag and pulled out some more beef jerky, setting it where she could see it. Now that her wall of stubbornness had been breached, perhaps she'd eat after all.
 
Rue was still wary of him, even with his words being soft and his posture speaking of being harmless. Her skin was covered in goosebumps at the mere thought of his touch. She wasn't opposed to people touching her, it was just that those touches were usually not pleasant. Still, with him being so close, it seemed like too much to ask to simply sit there and just let him come towards her. But she didn't have much choice. Seeing it as a challenge made the transition a little easier on herself as she steeled against his advance. His hand on her skin made the spot burn a little from his body heat. She was warmer than most humans, but he seemed to burn a little hotter, which she found odd. Humans weren't suppose to be that warm but he was just human. He didn't smell different from a human even with all the scents overlapping his own personal scent. But something about him resonated with her dragon that confused her. His words of concern confused her further. She expected him to be gruff in his speech, but he was gentle in all ways.

As Caleb moved her arm, it tugged the damage muscle in her back but she didn't show any signs of being affected by the pain. Her face paled but her breathing nor expression changed. Her heart was beating faster though from trying to keep still. His touch confused her more than anything else - awakened some primal part of her she didn't think even existed. She watched him like an animal who wasn't sure of what to do. She wasn't caged or trapped, but entranced by how gentle he was. Soon, the makeshift sling was tied at her shoulder and held her arm at just the right angle. She relaxed it against herself as he moved back to his spot by the fire. His words carried to her and she looked at the spot where he'd touched. It still felt warm.

"It feels well. The knot is capable of its purpose. Now time is all that can help along with medicines."

She murmured, her voice a little lighter, as if she was intrigued by the knowledge. She didn't have to hold her arm up against her body and instead rested lightly against her torso. It took away some of the pain in her body, but she needed to put some of her homemade remedies into the wounds to help the healing. With some dragons of weaker bloodlines, their healing took much longer and had developed cures to help with their weaker healing capabilities. She wondered if she could find the plants she needed to make the salves. However, her mind trailed away when he put out the food. Her nose took in the scent, knowing it was that chewy meat that humans carried around. Dried beef or something. Still...it was better than nothing. She hoped she wouldn't have to ask for it since she knew for a fact that he'd laid it out for her eyes. Indecision rolled across her expression until she just let out a small sigh and asked.

"May I partake of your meal?"
 
The heat of the fire washed over him as he allowed his body to relax for the first time that night, still wary of the night but not as much now. She had allowed him to come near her, to even touch her, and that fact helped ease his tense nerves just a little bit. Caleb wasn’t the kind of many that people were afraid of normally though admittedly he hadn’t been around a lot of people in his lifetime, especially women. Sure, he’d had a dalliance or two over the years, what man hadn’t, but that’s all they were. Those women had wanted him as much as he had wanted them so the idea of fright from his presence wasn’t something he’d ever experienced until he met this woman. As he watched her test the sling against her arm, he began to realize that purposes it wasn’t fear that the woman felt or at least not fear of him specifically. She behaved as if she’d been enslaved in her lifetime or perhaps had something to hide that she didn’t want anyone to discover. Both of those scenarios would explain her behavior. Caleb kept those observations to himself though because, in the end, it really wasn’t any of his business unless her secret, if there was one, put him in danger.

As she moved, his eyes focused in on the arm in question and memories of their first touch flashed through his mind. Aside from his mouth, it was perhaps the first time he’d touched a woman for something other than pleasure and he found that he liked it. The comfort another person could bring was unmeasured at times and in that simple touch, he believed they’d brought each other a small measure of comfort though he couldn’t have said why. It was just a feeling he had based on the way his body currently felt, as if it was high strung and charged at the moment. Nodding his heads to her words, he smiled.

“I’m a capable woodsman” he murmured “and knots come with the territory. I’m afraid I don’t have any medicine on me though I do have some back at my cottage.” Herbal treatments had been of the earliest lessons his mother had taught him, explaining that the life of an isolated mountain man would be tough and he would need to know how to treat his own ailments. He had meant to bring some with him but the need to hunt had been to strong, overriding his good sense.

When she spoke again, his head cocked to the side and a small smile slid into place. Such an odd way to speak, he thought, with words and sentences that were so formal. Perhaps she was considered royalty wherever she was from; it would certainly explain the weird language and the behavior but if that was the case, what was she doing way out here? Glancing down at the plate, he slid it towards her with his hand, then stopped and pulled away. “Feel free” he answered with a nod. “I have more where that came from if you want it.”

He paused them, letting his eyes study her for a moment before searching the darkness, his ears listening for anything out of the ordinary. When he looked at her again, his face was grave. “I have no idea why you are out here, nor why you are injured, but I don’t feel right leaving you here by yourself.” Remembering her stubborn pride, he quickly added more. “I’m sure you can take care of yourself but my mother would kill me if I didn’t at least extend my offer of help a second time. I have a cottage up the mountain slope a ways. We can be there in 6 or 7 hours from here. You are welcome to stay there until you heal and then I can escort you wherever you’d like to go.” His offer made, he took a sip of water and watched her, wondering what she would say next.
 
"Worry not about medicines. I can see what is about and make some of my own remedies."

She said, not sounding high of herself or anything, just stating a fact. She liked listening to him talk, she found. Mostly, she tried turning people out because they would droll on and on about things that she needed to do, things she should be doing. Hearing the same thing over and over made you less inclined to listen to what people had to say. But he wasn't trying to tell her what to do or anything of the sort. He was just trying to tell her what he would do if she decided to come with him. It was nice. Seeing him slide over the food that was left, she did her best not to simply snatch it up, but she wasn't dainty about it either. She took the biggest strip and chewed on it, simply eating it the best she could. It was tough but wasn't bad-tasting. The distraction made it easier to focus her thoughts as she listened to him speak.

He spoke differently to her than her people. He was informal and straightforward rather than trying to dance around her as if she were dull-witted. Her kind played too many games with each other. Considering their age on this world, they should have stopped decades ago. But dragons loved their games - which was why she was able to get away. She ate slowly, the smaller pieces making it seem like she ate more. But she mostly ate slowly so she could listen just as he did. Lunar Wolves weren't in the area unlike their cousins, the Solar Wolves. But Solar wolves wouldn't start their hunt until just after the moons were at their zeniths. Her eyes looked up and knew that that time would take a few hours. At least they had some time and wouldn't be bothered. Not with her around. Other predators had found out long ago that a dragon in human form was still a formidable foe. At his words, she shrugged and decided to divulge a half-truth.

"I fled from my homeland and was attacked. Simple as that. I am quite capable, but not in my condition. I am stubborn and the like, but I am not stupid. You startled me and so I reacted thus. And it seems I cannot change the course of your intentions and so I will follow you and repay you when I am able."

She had looked at him and said it so calmly and nonchalant that she probably sounded like a different person. She spoke what she felt and thought. Shrugging her good shoulder, she ate the rest of the jerky, taking small sips from the water jug. She truly didn't like this water and hoped that there would be fresher water along the way. It had a tang to it, almost a metallic taste. She wondered if Caleb could taste the difference in the water like she could. And then remembered he was just a human. The thought suddenly made her frown.
 
A hoot of an owl caught his attention while he waited and his gaze wandered to the forest that stood at their back, slowly searching along the edge of it for the winged creature. His eyes tracked a movement and he smiled when he saw it swoop from the trees and scoop up a rodent that had stolen onto the beach. His night sight had always been strong, as was his vision overall, but he’d never really stopped to think about why that was, he just enjoyed the advantages that it gave him as a mountain man living off the land. Turning back towards Rue, who had spoken by that point, he nodded. So she also knew herbal lore; how very interesting, he thought. He would not have expected a high born, and there was no doubt in his mind that she was a high born at this point, to know herbal lore or even be able to survive in the wilderness at all. Finding out that he was wrong was a pleasant surprise in his mind and he said nothing of his earlier doubts.

He watched as she picked up the beef jerky and slipped the largest one into her mouth and an image came to his mind then, one that should never have been there in the first place. Feeling heat in his cheeks he ducked his head momentarily but watched her through his eyelashes, smiling at how methodically she chewed the meat. This woman was different, different in so many ways it was odd, but he couldn’t seem to take his gaze off her. She’d captured his attention in a way no other human before her had done and he didn’t understand why. What was it about her that called to him and why did he feel that draw more strongly than normal? Or at least what he considered normal. He’d heard of love sick people before, or those that lusted after others, but that was never his way, not then, not now. Yet watching her eat brought him more satisfaction than it should have, the knowledge that he was helping to take care of her, even if just this tiny bit.

When she spoke again, he listened carefully, one ear tuned towards her and one tuned towards the forest, an old trick he’d learned a long time ago. The burble of the river as it ran over rocks could be heard behind her but that he ignored as no threat would come from there. As her words finally trailed off, he stayed silent, turning them over and over in his mind, trying to figure out why she was the way she was. Her confession that she had fled her homeland explained the way she spoke, which was definitely different than what he was used to, but it didn’t explain her personality.

“I never said you were stupid” he finally said, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. Taking a sharpening stone from the pack, he began to hone the blade of his knife, the sound creating a very quiet tsk, tsk, tsk sound that was swallowed up by the night. “I’m glad that you’ve accepted my offer of help though. I am now convinced that you are indeed stubborn enough to take care of yourself” he grinned after that and then continued “but I will feel better knowing I’m helping you even just a little.” He finished the work on the knife and slipped it back into belt then put the stone away. “Normally I’d head back tonight but I think you should probably rest before we go. We can head back at first light unless you feel otherwise.” He figured she wouldn’t be able to see well in the dark, not like he could, but he’d been wrong before where she was concerned so he simply waited to hear her thoughts.
 
It didn't take long for Rue to finish the rest of her meal. It wasn't much, but it was enough for now. Even in human form, she ate more than humans because her body needed the energy to be able to transform at a moment's notice. Magic aided her, but it took energy to perform the task. And feeling as weak as she did, she would need to eat a lot more. And even as she tried to attempt subtle partial shifts, the magic was out of her reach. She'd learned to partial shift at a young age and had kept it a secret. Very few dragons in her culture's history had been able to transform body parts at will. It was one of the reasons she'd been chased as she'd been. They wanted to know all her secrets. She belonged to no one but herself and would keep it that way. Her ear caught his words and she snorted, seeing his grin afterwords. The sound of the stone against the blade was a familiar sound and it brought her comfort. She hummed lightly to the sound until he stopped. She mulled over his words before standing up, feeling the strength in her legs again. She could walk, but she wasn't sure how long. Still, she would try.

"We should leave as soon as possible. The wolves will be out in a few hours and we do not wish to be their next meals. However, they do not dwell beyond the mountain passes, so if we can get there without too much hindrance from myself, we'll be fine."

She searched the beach a moment, looking for something. She crouched a little bit and moved quietly through the sand. She had heard some rustling in the reeds and decided to see if maybe it was food. Instead, she found a large stick being moved about by the water. She was partially disappointed. She was still hungry. Grabbing the stick and testing its strength, she found it would be a good walking stick. She would need the support to keep her going. Returning to the light of the fire, she looked at Caleb with a curious expression.

"When shall we be off? And...do you have anything else to eat?"

She seemed embarrassed to be asking for more food. But she couldn't help being a hungry beast, which he didn't know about. Knowing that most humans - even young ones- still knew about the healing blood of the dragons, she could never tell him her secret. The thought weighed her down a bit and it was in this instant she wished she didn't have so many secrets. Or perhaps, maybe someone she could actually trust. But she couldn't trust Caleb, not with the doubts that perhaps he'd been the one to shoot her down. His demeanor made her think that it was a fifty-fifty shot and knowing that he had a couple weapons didn't help either. She wanted to think that even if it had been him, that he had had a good reason rather than trying to earn some coin and glory. Maybe he knew someone who was ill and nothing else had worked. It hit her then that she was already trying to make excuses for him. The thought made her angry and confused. She wanted to believe that there were good beings without hidden agendas.
 
He watched her with bemusement as each piece of jerky was slowly and methodically devoured until there wasn’t a single scrap left. If she had licked her fingers clean right then, he wouldn’t have been surprised in the least, but he didn’t mention it. Clearly she’d been very hungry and having experienced that a time or two himself, he could completely understand devouring what you had available as if it would be your last. Thinking about food made his own stomach rumble quietly but he ignored it and slowly stretched, working out some of the kinks in his muscles. When she spoke, his head snapped up instantly and his jaw dropped just a tiny bit, amazed that she was on her feet and apparently fully prepared to head back to his cottage that night.

Staring at her, his eyes suddenly narrowed at the mention of the wolves and he wondered how she could possibly know that. A high born lass from another country having those kinds of details about his mountains? Something smelly fish to him but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Standing with her, he picked up the pack and slipped it over his shoulder then faced her.

“You are right about the wolves” he said, pitching his voice to be heard over the crackling of the fire “but don’t worry too much about them. I have ways of keeping them off our trail.” Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a metal tin and gave it a shake, letting her hear the movement of something inside. “Ground cayenne pepper” he said with a grin. “Sprinkle a little along the trail as we walk and it messes up their noses something fierce. And if that fails to fool one or two of them, there’s always this” he added, patting the end of his bow.

He bent then, scooping dirt over their fire, snuffing it out slowly as the shadows from the dying flames danced crazily along the stones of the fire ring. Movement caught his eye and he glanced up to see her returning from the water’s edge with a large stick in her hand. Nodding to her questions, he smiled.

“We’ll head out now. As for food, all I have is some bread and cheese.” Slipping the pack off his shoulder again, he dug through it and handed her a small hunk of bread and a small ball of cheese. “That’s all I have but if you don’t mind berries I know of a patch we’ll pass on the way. You’ll be able to fill up on them too.” Settling the pack again, he moved up beside her and looked her over once, then twice. She seemed shaky on her feet but with the stick and her hard headed stubbornness, she should be able to keep up, especially if he kept to the better kept trails. Of course, those were also the same trails the wolves would hunt on but he was prepared for that.

“It will be a hard hike” he said, his voice quiet but sure. “If you need help, don’t be too stubborn to ask for it. I’ll be right there with you.” He grinned as he spoke, letting the smile lessen the sting of his words. Truly he had never met a person more stubborn then himself but it was clear that he had met his match with her. Instead of being turned off by that though, he found himself intrigued….by everything about her he’d seen so far. That alone was enough to give him pause but he shook it off and turned, heading for the forest, keeping his pace slow so she could keep up.
 
The expression on his face sparked her defenses. He was looking at her with suspicion- a look she'd learned to interpret a long time ago. Was he suspicious of what she was? Or what she knew? From her guess, it was the latter. She knew her speech to be odd to him, but what exactly was he thinking she was? Some noble? She was far from a noble. When he took out the metal tin and shook it, she wrinkled her nose at the smell. Ugh, humans and their overly strong spices. She had to try not to sneeze. When she saw him pat the bow, her defenses rose. Was he missing some arrows? Dare she ask? The fire was out now and they were plunged into a semi-darkness, but she could see as if it were day. Her eyes adjusted much faster than his probably would and so she blinked as if to adjust to the change. Putting on some kind of show might rid him of his suspicions.

Taking the bread and cheese, she suppressed a sigh. She wanted hot food and warm drink, and to able to relax in her cottage. Maybe even take a luxurious bath. She ate the food, simply trying to get it into her system without choking herself on it. She had to keep her energy up if she wanted to stay in tandem with Caleb's pace. She knew he would slow down for her since the hike, as he said, would be hard on her. She nodded at his words, nibbling on the bread as she started walking with him. The stick helped her considerably since she must have bruised her legs when she'd fallen. She probably was riddled with bruises but the overall pain in her back was overwhelming everything else besides her mind and senses. Trekking over the smooth terrain, she knew that as the hours passed, that she'd get tired. She hadn't truly slept and her body had been beaten. So as the first two hours rolled by, she was able to keep going, but as the terrain grew rougher, she wasn't exactly sure how long her legs would hold out. But she didn't complain. Not once.
 
Talk done, Caleb moved out, his steps slow and sure, heading down the beach as he skirted the edge of the forest. The river flowed steadily along his flank, tinkling with little chimes and burbles as it flowed over rocks, limbs, and other obstructions. Twice he heard fish jump, a welcome sound to his ears as it let him know that the river was healthy for his kind. Water was vital to humans, both for the life giving liquid it provided as well as the food it shared, and it was always good to know where it was located in the mountains. He should have filled the canteen back up after Rue had taken what she wanted but he was confident they would make his cottage in a few hours so had passed on that step. If things changed, there were water sources higher up on the slope that he knew about and he’d be sure to never be far from one of them. He knew she was walking next to him, could hear her footsteps and the thump of the walking stick though both were very faint. It was another thing that he seemed to do better than others of his kind – hear things that is. He’d always been strong in that area and it had served him well over the years.

Finding the break in the vegetation that he wanted, he turned and moved into the forest, leaving the peaceful sound of the river behind. The night was cool and clear with a slight breeze rustling the branches of the trees and bushes beside them. He kept a steady but slow pace, his eyes constantly scanning the path in front of them and the area around them, watching for dangers of any kind, be they root related or furry related. Twice he heard movement off to the side and stopped them with a raised hand but soon moved them on again, satisfied that there was no threat. Moonlight filtered down through the branches but rarely made it to the ground, a fact that should have made walking in the dead of night almost impossible for any other human but he had never had any problems moving around at night. He’d been told it was an odd skill but had shrugged it off; it was what he was used to after all and if he was slightly better at it than others, it was no big deal. The fact that she also seemed to have no problems seeing at night was something that nagged at him but he didn’t voice it. Perhaps it was something that Northerners adapted to survive over time and maybe he had some northerner in him. After all, he had no idea who his father was ultimately so anything was possible. Glancing over his shoulder at her, he smiled. “Are you doing ok?”
 
The walk wasn't so bad, but her body started to ache. She was damned though if she'd stop for the night. She wanted to prove to herself that even in her human form, she wasn't totally weak. But her injuries had started to hurt a little more, even with the sling supporting her. Faintly, she wondered if she’d reopened them but couldn’t reach to check the bandages. The landscape here was much different than it was from the air and she found herself taking it all in. When he had stopped them based on the noises on the surrounding forest, she’d grinned slightly to herself. She was the one keeping all the predators away and could sense them. They wouldn’t come closer than a hundred yards at best. But he didn’t know that, of course. When he had looked at her and spoke to her about her well-being she’d nodded before shaking her head a moment. She wanted to be okay, but she wasn’t exactly all right.

“Just a moment to rest…”

She’d said before sitting down carefully on a moss covered rock. She combed her hair out of her face, wishing she could use her hands to plait it into a braid. But she didn’t have the strength nor the mobility to do that. And she knew that he didn’t know how to braid hair. It just didn’t seem to be in his arsenal of things he could do. Sitting down, however, felt now like a bad idea. Her legs felt heavy along with the rest of her and found herself coughing. She put a hand over her mouth and felt her whole body hurt from the motion. She also didn’t tell him her palm came away with blood. She simply wiped her mouth and put her hand down to clean it discretely on the rock. The moss itself was blue, so it would easily hide her blood and since her blood also had vital nutrients, it would probably grow over night. She hoped no one would tread that far into the woods and see the overly large moss. She highly doubted it, anyways.

With a few deep breaths, she came back to herself, knowing that he would probably look at her with concern. She really didn’t want to see that look on his face right now. They were playing a dangerous game, even if he didn’t know it. She felt the ache in her wounds and knew she should have asked him to cauterize them. The scars would have faded in time; she had no doubt of that. Still, they were open and could feel the blood start to seep into the bandages. She sighed as she used her good arm to support her head.

“I need you to do something for me that you may not like. I need you to sew up these wounds if you can. If they stay open, I could be prone to infection and won’t heal. And at this rate, I won’t be able to keep up with them bleeding.”

Taking a look around, she spotted some green flowers with purple tipped leaves. She focused on them, trying to remember exactly what they were for. She smiled as she remembered, and motioned gently at him to retrieve them for her.

“Those will give me energy; I just need to eat them. Could you fetch them for me?”

She looked at him with a soft look, blushing in the slightest, but she didn’t stop her small smile.
 
When her words reached his ears, Caleb paused and turned more fully on the path, letting his gaze sweep over her body and take in her condition. She had asked for a moment to rest and he saw why immediately. Weariness was stamped on her frame plain as day; from the drawn look in her face to the slump of her body against the walking stick, he knew her injuries were taking their toll. Smiling slightly, he watched as she slid down to sit on a moss covered rock and began to fuss with her hair, which looked wild and tangled, no doubt a result of whatever befell her out on the shores of the river where he found her. To a woman of her caliber no doubt it was an irritant, one made worse by the hike into the mountains, but he had nothing to offer her and was glad that he had always kept his hair cropped short. Leaving her to sit for a moment, he turned and walked up the path a bit, making sure it was clear before moving back down. By the time he got there, she had begun coughing and his eyes narrowed, watching her body shake from the effort. She was worse off than she’d been willing to admit and worse than even he had suspected, that much was clear. When she wiped her hand on the rock, he watched but didn’t say anything, letting her keep her quiet dignity for as long as possible.

Squatting down in the dirt, he kept himself upright by his legs alone, his body as still as the rock she was sitting on. His gaze stayed on her as he was concerned but his respect for her had grown to a point that he would not comment. She deserved that at least. He could feel the breeze coming down the trail and it caused a small shiver as it brushed over the sweat glistening on his bare skin. When he’d taken his shirt off and used it to create her sling, he hadn’t given it much thought but now he felt the cool night air more. Ignoring the sensation, he continued to focus on her, listening intently as she spoke again. As soon as she was done, his eyes moved to where she motioned and narrowed again. Uncoiling from his position, he moved with the grace of a cat to the spot in question and carefully picked the flowers and brought them to her. As he did it, a small thought flashed through his mind that this was the first time he’d ever given a woman other than his mother flowers and it brought a smile to his lips for a moment before his gaze grew serious again. “You know of ravenwort” he said, his words a statement instead of a question. The small flowers were common to his mountains and his mother had taught him at an early age about their restorative qualities. He often chewed the small healing herb when out hunting because it gave him an extra spring to his step. She was an outsider though, who should not have been knowledgeable of the local plants in the mountains, and it made him study her some more. Finally, he gave his head a short shake, pushing his doubts away for now. She had asked for his help and he would give it.

Moving back to his pack after setting the flowers at her feet, he carefully rummaged through it until he found his aid kit. Pulling it out, he moved back to her side, bringing the bottle of water and a scrap of rag with him. As he poured water onto the rag, he glanced up and noticed her slight blush and smile and found himself returning it. Finally ready, he set the rag on his shoulder and opened the kit, pulling out a rough needle and some thread. Hunting in the back country for days on end often put him in dangerous situations and he had long ago learned to come prepared to deal with any injury he might incur. Many a time he had sewn up a bad cut and he would do that for her also. When he was ready, he met her gaze. “This will hurt” he said matter-of-factly. Reaching out, he slowly unwound the bandage that was on her arm, noticing how wet it felt; she’d clearly bled quite a bit during the hike. Once he had it off, he carefully washed the wounds clean and then set to work, stitching them closed slowly and methodically. That done, he pulled clean wrap from his kit and wrapped it back up, then gently set her arm back into her sling. Looking at her, he motioned to her back. “To take care of the injuries to your back, I will need access to your skin” he said, a slight blush rising to his cheeks at the thought. He had no desire to violate her privacy but to meet her request, it had to be done.
 
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