Wild Life

[Tseranc]

As he was poked to draw him back form his reverie, he looked up at the natural beauty that he decided was just going to haunt him, and for the first time, really took not of just how tall she was. All this time had been spent mostly carrying her or sitting, after the fighting at least. But while he was not a tall man by any means, he still found it surprising that she must have him by a hand or more.

“No, I'll hunt, you rest you're foot.” He filled up the water skin and the bucket, then got dressed. He had no idea if she knew anything about sexual urges, but if she did, he was glad to cover up that which was becoming obvious.

He slung the water skin over his back, and knelt down for her to come get on his back, as before. It'd be hard carrying her and the water, but it was a short distance. He'd leave her in the cave, and take his bow to go procure dinner. By then it should be time for the deer to be out. That should feed them for a time, and free up his time to seek out more herbs.

Motioning her over to climb back on his back so he could get them to the cave, he squatted down to make it easier for her and grabbed the bucket while he was lower to the ground.

 

[PaintaPicture]

She saw him looking at her ankle and then the rest of her body. And she didnt really understand why he was but she went along with it. She was a bit annoyed that he wouldnt let her hunt, but she had learned in the past that fighting him got no where. He filled up their waters and let her get on his back. She first grabbed all their clothes and then got on as they walked back towards her cave.

When they got back she put on her clothes and sat down getting a few things to start a fire so when he got back they could cook. She got some things and before she even started not just sparks but a small fireball came off her hand and into the brush she had set up. She jumped back and gasped as the fire started. She looked at her hand and then kinda just looked at Latro strangely.

She looked back at her hands then at him again.
"why...why dddo i do that?"

 

[Tseranc]

The fireball definitely brought his mind back to the here and now, instead of drifting about how good she looked.

“I don't know for sure. It's magic, of that I am sure. My guess is you used to be a wizard, or at least an apprentice to one. Anyone that can use the 'ancient arts' is sent to the wizard schools. Their hasn't been a free sorceress or sorcerer in years; since I was a child.”

He looked at her, with pity over her fear of it. “In the two day's I've seen you, It seems to happen when you're at the hight of some emotion, except fear. Else you'd have used it against me and the wolves. It seems to be getting stronger too, maybe it will come with memories soon...”

Again the conflict within him rose, as to which to hope for. Without her memories, he might become a target of uncontrolled fireballs. With them, he would have to give her back to society.

“I'll be back soon.” He took his bow and left the cave, in hopes that hunting cleared his mind.

 

[PaintaPicture]

He gave her some answer she didnt understand that well. Then questions flooded her mind. What were the 'ancient arts' or these 'schools' he spoke of. Nothing made sense to her. She didnt get it and just wanted it to stop, or atleast let it be explained. She went to speak again but he was already stepping out to go hunt and she just layed down on her fur, relaxing.

Her mind wandered, about him, about what the images were in her head, and what he meant by the whole sorceress thing. She sighed and just layed there, letting her eye lids drop. Her breathing picked up and her mind shot back to things of her past once again. Seeing another man with her, a strong looking dark haired man tied up while she was being held. He was being hurt and she watched in her head and she shook her head opening her eyes and just screamed. She then remembered his name, the man in her mind's name.
"Adano..."
She said out loud and then sat up, thinking of the horror she just saw in her mind not wanting to think of it again, wanting Latro to come back.

 

[Tseranc]

His hunt was brief. As he figured, deer were about in the late afternoon, but soon decided that all here were too large. A waist to spoil an animal. If he had salt, it would be another matter, but that was back at his home.

Instead he found a small boar, which took several arrows to put down. But before the sun began to set, he was on his way back to Ferox. He entered the cave, and let his load down. Setting down his bow and quiver, he looked at her, and knew she was upset.

“I'm sorry for leaving so quickly. I haven;t lived among people for quite sometime. I'm afraid I'm not the best at dealing with other's troubles. What is wrong? More magic?” He looked around for signs of disturbance, but all he could tell was she had been on her fur bed.

 

[PaintaPicture]

She saw Latro come back with the boar and she slowly started to figure out who Adano was, the man from her past. Latro quickly came over to her asking what was wrong, and it took her a moment to respond, physically she was alright, mentally she wanted to burst into tears.She shook her head 'no' at his question about the magic then She looked up at Latro and mumbled the name again.
"..Adano...he's dead..."

Tears rolled down her cheeks once again more than before and she sat there, her legs folded against her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Her bottom lip quivering while tears rolling over her chin and lips.

Them mumbled again to him, but didnt bring her eyes off the fire in front of her.
"i'm not...hungry anymore."

 

[Tseranc]

“You will be. Especially once it's cooking. Even if you are not, you will need to eat to keep your strength up.”

He let his fingers brush through her hair, then left her where he sat to go prepare the boar. He took it outside the cave to clean, then brought it back, and used one of her spears to spit it. But the boar would require more then her little fire inside a cave, and so built up a bigger one outside to roast his kill.

Once all was ready, all he had to do was turn the pig frequently. As he did so, he looked back at her, “Who is Adano? Some one from your past?”

It seemed the fates had decided for him, she would regain her memory, one painful bit at a time.

 

[PaintaPicture]

She didnt say anything at first. She didnt want to eat and didnt feel like fighting him. All she thought about was Adano, and the memory she was just reminded of and how painful it was. Latro did make her feel better, he was a friend to her, her first friend.

"yes....he is."

She wiped her eyes and sniffled again. She wanted to thank him for helping her, with killing the boar, fixing her ankle...caring about her. Which is why this memory made things hard. She also noticed her speech was improving since she had been talking with him, she would still pause between words but the stutter went away, which was nice. She now wanted to know more about her past, she needed to know it all, she was geting angry. She didnt want any more pain, or any pain to come to Latro.

 

[Tseranc]

“Well, we all have our past, and often it's littered with painful memories. Seems your is returning to you. I hope you remember some happy times to go with the others. I won't press you for details, but it you want to talk about anything...well I can listen as well as I can speak. If you just need a shoulder to cry on, well I'm here for that too.”

He continued to prepare their meal, which was making him more hungry by the minute; the scent of roasting meat making him salivate.

“This will be good here soon, though it'd be better if I had my spices. I'll have to cook for you back at my cabin sometime. I've little else to do, but develop new recipes.”

With the outside of the pig definitely done, he cut of a bit, tried it, and with some satisfaction at his work, cut her off a bit, and walked into hand it to her. “It's not bad, and you really should eat. The past, whatever it is is gone. For you more then most, but there is nothing any of us can do to change it. Only what we have now, and what tomorrow brings. And Tomorrow will bring you nothing better on an empty stomach then it will on a full one.”

 

[PaintaPicture]

She listened to him speak, it didnt feel like it helped but it did slightly. She wanted to hug him, wrap her arms around his neck and cry, but she held her own. She took a deep breath and saw him go cut a piece of the pig and watched him come back. He then spoke of cooking for HER at HIS home. Meaning he wanted to take her to his home, and it kind of cheered her up.

He spoke again wanting her too eat, and it made sense what he said. She then heard her stomach grumble and took the piece from him and she took the piece from him and chewed on it slowly looking at Latro.

"Thank you...for everything."

She wiped her eyes and got some water from her bucket drinking deeply and finnishing the piece he gave her and then stood there trying to relax. Then finally just walking closer to him and wrapping her arms around his waist hugging him. Her head in his neck sniffleing slightly.

 

[Tseranc]

Latro froze at first, as the woman wrapped her arms around him and cried on his shoulder. He'd just offered it, but he'd been so far removed from people, he never figured anyone would ever take it.

After a very brief awkward moment, his own arms embraced her, and he gently pat her on the back. He said nothing, other then, “You're welcome.” He had nothing else to offer but holding her.

But as the embrace lingered, he found himself drawn into the emotion of having another human soul so near him. He held back a sigh; it was her pain to focus on, not his. Especially when he'd buried his feelings of loneliness long ago.

 

[PaintaPicture]

She held him for a few moments and then eventually pulled back wiping her eyes and getting some more water. Her eyes were red and she shivered lightly sitting back down by her fire and holding her 'top' tighter around herself and looking back up at Latro. She looked down at her ankle and saw it was getting better, and she wanted to go for a walk but she knew he wouldnt let her.

Ferox realized she enjoyed having someone with her, and felt very bad for being so hostile to him before. And then felt his pain for why he was so sad when his wolf died. She understood now and saw why he was so uncomfortable when she mentioned it. She wanted to make things better but didnt know how, it wasnt like she could go get him a new wolf since they didnt trust her, none of the animals did.

She smiled at him and chewed her lip nervously, not real sure she had a reason to be nervous. She was and didnt know why. But she had enjoyed the hug...and kind of wanted to 'try' it again.

 

[Tseranc]

When she sat down, he moved to resume cooking, still within sight of her, but a ways off. Besides, he needed the space after her very touch had his blood racing. Cursing his weakness, he continued to turn the boar, until he was satisfied it had been cooked through.

He then sat and carved the beast, laying out the meat into large leaves that he used to wrap them up in. He then went off a bit further and buried the remains of the boar, and returned to Ferox with a large portion of meat to share between them.

“Eat up. Your body heals faster when properly fed. I can tell you're not used to sitting around, so I'll do what I can to speed along your recovery.” He winked at her, not even realizing it until it was done.

Blushing he passed her the meat, and sat next to her, and eat some form his portion. He was hungry, after the day of mostly frivolous activity.

But he smelt like smoke, so after eating a bit, got up and took off his shirt, setting it aside to wash tomorrow. The air was still warm, so he had no fear of getting cold.

His body, outside of water, showed scars of lessons learned in the wild, as well as a few from a long forgotten battlefield. But aside from the unnatural blemishes, his skin was tan, and his bode toned from working for every possible comfort and necessity.

 

[PaintaPicture]

As soon as he returned and cut her a piece she ate quickly. She was much hungrier than she thought she was. Looking at him remove his shirt she saw his scars and and such. She had a few on her back and ribs but his were bigger. She kept eating and then finnished slowly looking at him and running her finger over the scars.
"what are these from?"

She looked up at him and grabbed her water drinking some and offering more to him and then removing her top and holding her breast as she showed him a long scar on her ribs. She thne let go of her breast and drank more water and smiling at him waiting for a story or explanation or something.

"I think i can walk tomorrow...and visit your home."
She paused and just looked him in the eye.
"I know you miss it."
Her voice was soft, and adjusting to how it normally sounds and not as studdery. Much smoother and kinder sounding. But could be harsh when need be.

 

[Tseranc]

Her fingers along some scars nearly gave him chills, but hs stood motionless as she traced lines of various memories.

And then she exposed herself, without a thought, and showed him a sound she had received, proving she too took a spill from time to time.

Swallowing, he tried not to let her increasingly melodic voice distract him, or the sway of her free breasts.

“That one is from a bear. We had a disagreement over the proper distance one should keep from cubs. Turns out I was too close, a mistake I've never again made. I was lucky to survive at all.” That had been the first year he had chosen to live alone, and he was grateful she hadn't inquired about any older scars. He had no desire, or intent to explain a war to someone who had forgotten of such a thing.

He tried to focus on the scare she showed him, but kicked himself every time his eyes were drawn upward. “How did you get that?” he just pointed, not touched. How would he explain sexual urges to a woman who's forgotten modesty.

Deep down though, he envied just how free she was.

 

[PaintaPicture]

She listened to his story and just looked at him while he spoke. And she grimaced looking at the scar and hearing the story, bears were no fun at all. She knew her cave once was but it was abandoned when she got there. She poked the fire in front of them a bit to keep it going and then looked back down at her scar and just shrugged. She didnt know where she got it, it was just there.
"I dont know how i got it."
And she looked back down at it then up at him.

She then moved closer and put her ankle in front of him. Sitting closely to him , her shoulder almost touching his.
"Is it better now?"
She looked up at him with her soft green eyes and then back at her ankle. They hadnt wrapped it yet but it didnt feel as bad since he came along. She yawned softly and just sat there, and she didnt realize why he'd occasionally blush when he looked at her chest and she didnt think much of it.

 

[Tseranc]

He took the offered ankle, while thinking that forgetting some scars might be a blessing.

“I looks much better, I think the infection is gone, but I'd like to keep it wrapped a few more days to be sure.”

Her soft, mater-of-fact demeanor was melting his heart. If only all women could be so simple, then maybe they could be trusted. But he remembered that she'd likely soon remember who she was. Then she'd be like the rest, and return to civilization.

That thought, as obvious as it was, hurt more then he thought. He'd only known her two days, and at first hated her for killing Uhei. But if you got to know someone, at least someone as innocent as this, it was impossible to hate them.

He placed the last of the balm on her ankle, and wrapped it up again; reluctantly taking his hands off such tone legs. Was there anything of this girl that he didn't lust after?!

“If you wish, we can go to my cabin, tomorrow or the next day. It is over a way's hike away, so I don't want to leave until I know you're foot is better.” He smiled invitingly, “But only if you want to. I will stick around until you are recovered. If you like you're privacy, then I have no intent to remove you from your home. I have to admit, for myself, I've enjoyed your company far more then I ever thought I would. I generally do not get along well with people, but it seems you case makes things...different.”

 

[PaintaPicture]

She was glad it was getting better and that she had someone to help her. She got excited when he invited her, finally being able to go somewhere that wasnt her cave or the river. SHe had ventured into the forest, and that was the day she met Latro. She then decided she wanted to see more...and with him. Her ankle felt fine, but she didnt really care, she lived with injuries since she had too.

She yawned again and then looked over smiling.
"I like you here...you are nice. I dont see why you dont get along with people well."

She then leaned her head onto his shoulder lightly and nuzzed him slightly.
"How do I make things differnt."

She didnt understand why his voice changed when he said it. She liked being around him, the way he would touch her to make her better, or playing with her in the river. The way he smelled and her skin next to hers made her nipples harden slightly...and she didnt get it.

 

[Tseranc]

“Thank you.” He blushed again, and his breath caught the closer she got to him. How on earth did he explain this!?

“You're different, because you don't remember all the ways people can be cruel to each other. What you lack in memories, you more then make up for in a behavior that I think most should strive to duplicate.”

He sighed, and let his mouth run, guilty of talking too much, once again. “You're fierce, but trusting. I don; think you have a cruel thought in your head. Which I guess makes it far too easy to trust you. Really, you just lack everything I hate about people. Ever reason I left them behind.”

Instinct took over, and after baring his soul a bit, he put on arm around her, letting his hand rest on her small shoulder. Hugging her close to him, he could feel his blood pulse in his veins. What was evil, foregoing his gentlemanly upbringing, or denying what he wanted. The first a product of the world he claimed to hate, the later the way she seemed to carry herself, if only she understood it.

Looking down at her, her curled up body, her free spirit, innocent eyes. He could fall for a girl this clean from societies mark on her soul. If only she would stay that way.

 

[PaintaPicture]

She listened to him speak and didnt really understand what he meant by it. Ferox attempted a smile and nodded her head slightly.
"I dont understand...but thank you."
She lifted her head and gave him an awkward smile. When his arm was around her she snuggled in more, getting closer to him. His skin felt hot as she got closer to him.

She was slowly getting more and more tired. And looked up at him. She pulled away from his arm and then moved over to her skin looking over, wanting him to join her there. She pulled her top back on and stretched.
"sleep with me?"

She looked over at Latro really wanted him to sleep next to her.
"if the nightmares come back...i want you to be close to stop them."
She said it timidly, really nervous about them. She leaned over and tugged his arm. And sat there looking at him, with a twinkle in her eye and her lips curled into a soft smile. He really did make her feel better, phyiscally and emotionally.

 

[Tseranc]

The question shocked him, but as her innocence, that innocence he'd just told her he enjoyed, showed through, and his face was hot with how red it must be. Still, knowing her true intent, and the struggle between his mind and body, made the request just as challenging. But how do you say no to such a woman?

“Alright.” He was a mix between grateful and heartbroken when she put her top back on. It didn't hide much, but it was at least something between them. He pulled his blanket over to them and lay down beside her, letting her decide on how close was close enough. He lay there, wondering if language, and some magic had surfaced, how far behind was her drive to mate, and if it would come before her sense of propriety.

“Ferox, you might remember another name one day, but I'm glad I got to meet you as you are. Maybe I'm a horrible person for that, but it's true. Just figured I'd let you know, and let you decide.”

He lay on his back, stared up at the roof of the cave, when he wasn't stealing quick glanced as the long beauty beside him.

 

[PaintaPicture]

He paused before he came over and she grinned feeling better that this night might go well, or atleast better than other nights had. She layed next to him and listend to his words and she understood what he wsa saying, sort of and wasnt mad but wasnt happy either. She smiled and snuggled in closer to him.
"But i like this name."
She said with a yawn and then moved closer to him.

Her body curled up next to his as she fell asleep quickly. His body kept her warm and the night drifted on. What she didnt want to happen..did. Her body twitched next to his as her mind swam in things. Her mind went back to how she got the scar on her ribs. She was in some kind of fight getting struck in the side and her eyes shot up as she sat up hard breathing hard. She pulled the top off looking at her scar, feeling it.

She attempted calming herself down as she felt her scar, it wasnt bleeding, but now it hurt and she sat there holding it.

 

[Tseranc]

He sat up with her, rubbing her shoulder to try and ease the tension of whatever evil images woke her. “What is it?” he looked at the scar as if it should be bleeding like a fresh wound, from the way she was rubbing it

In his groggy state, he forgot his hesitation, and reached around her to inspect the scar himself, brushing her hand out of the way. “What's wrong, you dream of this? What happened?” He hugged her to him, letting her know he was there for her, should she need to tell another sad tale.

“What ever it is, you're safe now. Just us here.”

 

[PaintaPicture]

She felt his hands on her quickly, trying to help. Making her feel better. He looked at the scar and saw the same thing she did, just a scar. Her hand went back to it once his arms wrapped around her. She stayed close to him and she pinched her eyes shut and then opened them feeling Latro holding her body close to his.

Ferox's progess paused as her studder came back momentarily.
"tttthere was a bbbad....fight."

And it was all she said and she let him hold her, she felt better slowly and her tiredness came back over her as her body, as she became less tense and nervous. But she didnt move from his arms, she didnt want too and she listened to his heartbeat. the soothing thumps his heart made brought her back to sleep slowly in his arms.

She mumbled softly and shifted a bit as she continued to sleep deeply.

 

[Tseranc]

As Ferox curled back up in his arms, he lay gently against the wall, and let her rest. It took him a long time to sleep, and not because Ferox left him in an uncomfortable position. To the contrary, he found that holding a woman so close, felt divine. The woman who's name he'd never again think, had never been so intimate as to seek shelter on his shoulder. Never so trusting to let another watch over her in a time of need.

This was how it was supposed to be. Titles, and propriety be damned, this was how people should behave. Comfort those who need it, and seek it when needed. No shame, no pretense. No sense of honor, or dignity, or any other mental construct that only separated people from the human deep inside.

Eventually he drifted off to sleep, and dreamt of a world where he and Ferox could live without worry of others. But his dream progressed, and involved more then simple co-existence, and became images of everything he'd craved of her over the past two days. All in all, it was a very good dream.