After the Fire

Irrationally, Raz shuffled a bit away from the mysterious foreigner. The look in his eyes held his intent, and though it was determination to see her palm, she refused to offer it willingly. Raz knew- or hoped- that the mute man would more than likely understand the little quiggle no more than she did, but an unnamed fear kept Raz's hands fisted at her sides.

"I know you can't understand me, but... Ugh, just back off! This is my hand, and- What are you doing?!"

((Yes, what IS he doing, Caylee????))

((Lol. I dunno. Just having fun, I guess xD))

For a moment, Talon stood unmoving. He locked his gaze with hers, and kept his arm extended. After a few seconds he seemed to get the message, dropped his arm, and lowered himself next to the empty firepit in the center of the tents. After arranging himself comfortably, he glanced up casually, a blase gleam in his eyes, as if to tell her to carry on like before. Any of his previous intensity has dissapated, and while he was never one for an easygoing demeanor, this was about as light as he got.

Raz eased herself back unto the ground, watching his with a peculiar expression on her face. She hadn't expected him to give up so quickly, let alone act as if nothing had happened.

Boy submissive, The fire mused.

Raz couldn't stifle her giggle, or her reply, "Not quite." Luckily, Talon would not understand her words. Raz was sure he already thought her crazy anyway.


With a cat-like mewl and a nice long stretch, Ra turned to her companion and attempted to communicate, speaking slowly and loudly, as if to a deaf child, "We are go-ing..." She waved her hands around widly, miming walking, "To my home..." After a moment of hesitation she hugged herself to indicate 'home', "So I can hunt down..." Raz pretending to string a bow and take aim, tracking an invisible target, "My family's murderer." These last few words Raz didn't bother to try and translate. She wasn't sure if she wanted tell Talon- or, rather, make him realize ((through another interpretive dance)) what had happened.

((Teehee I've initiated you into the DOUBLE PARENTHESIS!!!)))

An amused expression crossed Talon's face. It was easy to tell he was enjoying this. Above his mask, his cheeks rose just slightly, as if a hint of a smile had crossed his hidden lips. All the same, he seemed to concentrate on her words. When she was finished, he thought them over for a minute, then shrugged and stood, barely pausing to hesitate and brush his hand thoughtfully across his chest, where his torn tunic occasionally revealed a glimpse of pale, almost perfect skin.

Spinning, he offered Raz his hand to help her stand, though he knew she didn't need it. It would be the polite thing to do, he supposed. After doing so, he disappeared into one of the tents, barely starting to tug off his cloak before he was out of sight.

Raz returned from her bath fully doused and content. Her fingers were pruny, her skin was flushed, her hair a soaking, and a wide grin lit her whole face. It was nice to be clean.

Her good mood continued when she came back to camp to fnid a little scribble sunrise in the sand. So cute! she thought.

Days begin again, the fire replied. Today ends.

Sleep converged on Raz, and she threw heself beside the flickering embers of their camp bonfire. A hand sat in the warmth of the flames, her whole body relaxed at the gentle burn of her good friend. "Goodnight," she murmured, only half awake.

With a long-suffering sigh, Raz determined a course of action and heaved herself out of the water. After drying herself thoroughly, she slipped into a fresh change of clothes and ran her now-squeaky clean fingers through her violently red hair.


"Guess we should head out tomorrow..." She muttered to herself.

The fire hummed back neutrally. Like Raz, it seemed torn between wanting to go home and wishing to run as far away from possible

... Talon silently and patiently awaited Raz's return...

((Lol. Make her come back or something!!! I can't take any control of the plot til Talon and her start communicating directly, if you get my drift. xD

I mean, we can discuss the plot separately, but I cannot play it forward.))

Raz huffed as she watched her- her what? Partner? Companion? Mute burden?- sling dagger after dagger with dangerous accuracy. For a minute she considered his skill and their situation, and with a sigh she determined that he might be useful after all. "Not so good for my sanity, though." The redhead muttered. Indeed, the cloaked asshole was driving her up the wall with his silent little smirks and lack of understanding.

The fire cackled in agreement, stretching to lap at her leg. Raz cursed at the sudden tickle and kicked her friend away with a scowl. After another pause for thought Raz rolled onto her back and squinted at the setting sun. The temperature was cooling considerably, as it always did during the desert night, and the Ruiken allowed the flames to come closer. With her constant annoyed expression Raz huddled into the sand a determinedly willed herself to sleep.

((FUCK. This is AWFUL. I had to force out every word and I am ridiculously displeased with it. UGH.))

Talon stared blankly for a moment, his eyes twinkling. Then he nodded, and gestured her to lead. After all, this was her little journey, her mission. He was just along for the ride.

As they first set out, cool air still swept across the desert, ruffling his cloak. He savored it while he could, knowing that the sun would soon bring stifling heat. Sure enough, the next few hours brought a rapid change in temperature. He could almost feel the land simmering under his feet, though it didn't bother him as much as when they first came, not that he showed it either way.

The was one of the things that made him a great companion, after all: He never complained.

Whenever the opportinuty arose, Talon disappeared. Every small gathering of desert flora, or vast outcropping of desert rock that they edged around, he would vanish into the depths. Sometimes, he wouldn't reappear until a few hours later. From the way his brow sometimes furrowed, one might think he was becoming frustrated. But solemn expression was just his way.

At first, he did wonder how far away Razelle's home city would be. For all he knew, they would be travelling to the southern edge of the Barren Lands. By nightfall, however, he saw the decimated skeleton of an abandoned--or plundered--silk city break the straight line of the dimming horizon. Still in the Gauri. At least they weren't straying too far south. He wasn't a big fan of the south.

((*Evil smirk*))