[the Hunter And The Healer] - Tumblr Posts

voidtouched-blue--[Prior]

Cyra had stepped forward, looking at how all of the light had dimmed from his eyes and his face at the sight. It wasn't easy to see so much violence, even the aftermath of it, in one small space. Even for the tortured healer, this was almost too much. Yet she worried more for his untainted psyche, than the pain she bore in her own heart. He hadn't seen this, he didn't need to see this. This was a suffering she couldn't heal, the pain of reality descending upon the unknowing. "It's all right if you need a moment." She said softly.

There was no moment that could possibly allow him to process this.

And he had no inclination to stay and wallow in it any longer than he had to.

This was no small skirmish he had helped with in the past. This was no few injuries, one or two dead, and soft crying. No, this was the wailing of a nation as he stepped forward slowly, sinking down to one knee and staring at the field of bodies as his hand covered his mouth.

The majority of the dead left wore the black coats of the Garlean Empire, but his ears wilted at the sight of pools of blood with no bodies. A sign that the dead of Eorzea had already been collected, taken away, families getting reports of their lost loved ones. He choked, gagged, then turned spit the bile that had rose in his throat, rising, totally unaware of what Cyra had just gone through behind him, his ears flicking towards the sound of twisted metal, and then flicking back and away to protect his sensitive hearing, wincing lightly. Certainly no creak of an oak, he thought dryly. Her words, the silent order behind them, it had him turning, looking at her, his ears flicking up, staring at her for a long moment.

He wasn't offended. He was...impressed in a twisted way. She seemed so put together, so ready to go. As if she was used to this.

Was she used to this?

It was a concerning thought.

Her concern though...his hand lifted, reaching, pulling back, pressing a fist to his chest, looking away from those searching blue eyes as he shook his head, his eyes cloudy with emotion, with pain, understanding, but...his will was still strong. It was still there. And he would not back away.

He began to move, trudging forward, his boots heavy as he called back in a soft voice, "I'm fine. I'd rather move than stand still." And it was true. He would rather take action than sit around and think about how horrible this all was. Even if it meant staring at dead bodies.

And that was exactly what he did.

It was grizzly work, picking over fresh bodies, over cooling flesh, collecting what he could, what he could carry, spears, a rifle, a random keycard. Sometimes he could tell how a person died. Other times the body was disfigured past recognition. Sightless eyes were closed out of respect with two fingers. Soft prayers rose for the young men with fearful screams frozen on their faces. And curses were given for those with an extra "eye" on their forehead. There were far too few of those for his liking, his heart breaking for those conscripted into death.

About halfway across the field, nearly an hour in, he froze, something catching his eye. Black. Metal. Low to the ground. Unrecognized. He had never seen anything like it, some sort of Garlean device...but...for what? Half of it was broken, he could see that much, shattered metal on one side, the other more rounded, full. And he lifted a spear to poke at it, just to make sure. No reaction. Nothing.

Odd.

His mind zeroed in on that, the spear swinging with his gaze as he looked around, carefully looking, and...there! Another, but this one...a light was glowing. He slowly stepped, fulm by fulm, towards it, his eyes locked on the strange object, breathing out as the spear tip hovered towards it, closer, closer, right by that light, tapping it, curious, but careful, hands at the very end of the spear shaft and--

It sprung, a flash of movement, half the spear disappearing, and Kaleh'a leapt like a coiled spring four fulm into the air with a caterwaul of shock, dropping the spear and turning back the way he had come, almost on all fours as he sped away in panic, tail tucked, close, his eyes wide with panic as he went flying right past Cyra where she stood, channeling the aether around them, yelping out, "IT'S A TRAP!"

voidtouched-blue--[Prior]

Darkened jaws of ragged metal rose up from the loose earth to snap up at the air above them. The sound made her wince as it cut through the air with a shrieking snap. It was a far more efficient version of the very same traps hunters and poachers used within the Black Shroud. The same things that she often spent her time wandering around to disarm and leave out for the Twin Adders to dispose of on their patrols of the border. The Garleans weren't so foolish as to incite the ire of the Elementals this far into their territory. Using explosives to hide under the dirt would have been a fast track to losing their castrums seated within Eorzean territory. "Think of it as nothing more than an elaborate bear trap, Kaleh'a." She wiped her brow with the back of her hand. "Look for disturbed earth along the ground and you'll come to find them far easier, I'm sure."

Kaleh'a had continued sprinting past Cyra, to a tree, leaping behind it, and peering out as he tried to beckon to Cyra to join him to avoid whatever other danger might lay out there, only to hear the amusement in his fellow Moon Keeper's voice as she seemed completely unphased and rather...used to it. He slowly, carefully, stepped out from behind the tree, approaching as she showed off a bit of her power, his eyes snapping to the stones as they floated and spun, hovering above another trap, eying the thing now that he knew what to look for, his steps light as the stones suddenly dropped, hitting the center of the trap and--

He jolted, jumping again as he hissed in displeasure at the sharp clang of metal as the teeth of it coming together, snapping up just like a giant bear trap, his tail bristling as he shivered at the thought of...stepping on one. It would have taken him out, left his upper half detached from the lower half, and he had to pat his waist to make sure that yes, yes he was still whole. Carefully he approached the triggered trap, running a hand over the metal of it, tilting his head slightly as poked at it, prodded softly, and then murmured, "This would...shit this could kill a Ziz..."

He could only imagine that these things would easily upset the balance of the forest, his eyes slowly scanning around as he worked to calm himself, soft breaths, calming his racing heart, his mind, and finally managing to get his tail to un-bristle and settle down, swaying angrily behind him as he shook his head and angrily growled, "This is...this is terrible! Why are they here? In Gridanian territory? What possible use could they have!?"

He turned to her, right as she wiped her brow, and his expression changed from anger to worry, noting her slightly paler face and beads of sweat, stepping a little closer and quickly asking, "Hey, you okay? I didn't see what you did but...I can tell something has changed." He wasn't completely lying, he could feel the air felt different, the aether more dispersed, and as he looked closer, he noticed her staff, or more specifically the focus, was glowing a lot more than it had before. He reached out, poking the stone softly, enraptured for a moment as he mumbled, "Oh, it's glowing now. Does that mean...its more powerful? Ah! I'm getting distracted!"

He quickly shook his head, and then pointed back to the trap, and quickly blurted out, "We have to tell someone about this! Or find all the ones out here! These are incredibly dangerous! If I had walked into one..." He shivered and his tail swayed unhappily, his ears slicked back. "I don't think even your healing could have helped me..."

voidtouched-blue--[Prior]

"I'm sure the Adders know. This won't be the first time they've been in a scuffle with these scum." She couldn't fight the curl of her lip in reference to the enemy that laid dead. "They'll be back to collect their dead. We should return soon, lest we want to add to the number of stains on the field." Cyra's eyes scanned the carnage once again. The blood would wash away with the next rain, and the bodies would soon be gone from the dirt and mud. All that would remain as evidence of the conflict would be the broken machinery left behind as graves. Time would heal the land, and she hoped it would heal the hearts of those who had lost. She took a few steps back towards their path towards the Hawthorne Hut, waiting for her companion to follow.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

She swatted at his hand, and Kaleh'a could only grin at her, pleased he had managed to get her to react, to actually try and initiate a touch, even if it was to get him to stop doing something, his eyes twinkling at her as he noticed she looked a little better. Not great, and she definitely glossed over his question without an answer, but she was recovering enough to try and swat him away, which was good enough for the archer until they made it back to safety. He could check in again then, and maybe she would answer that time.

Although, her scowl made his ears flick back again, half expecting a scolding, but instead he was offered and explanation, one that had the tip of his tail bristling with indignation at he affront he Garleans were causing. "What belongs to them!? Nothing here! They don't have a single claim over--!" He calmed himself, recognizing the anger in his blood, his mouth popping closed mid sentence, eyes slowly closing, and after a deep, quick breath, he let it out through his nose and turned to Cyra fully, nodding to her in agreement. "They definitely do not belong."

His attention though was brought back to her focus, his head tilting as he eyed it, his interest in it evident as he hummed thoughtfully, nodding along with her explanation as he murmured half to himself, "A focus...I wonder if I put one on here..." His voice trailed off, but he was clearly thinking, brows furrowed, fingers tapping together as he thought through something, a blueprint of sorts, as his ears flicked at her words, hardly seeming concerned about loss of life or limb, only breaking from his stupor once she finished speaking, nodding worriedly, his gaze flicking about as his tail suddenly lifted from the dirt, hovering a bit higher off the ground now as if afraid it might set one of the unseen traps off. Anything but the tail!

She seemed to know a good deal about the traps though, and how to set them off, and as she spoke about he Adders, their knowledge of how they were placed or why they were there, her lip curling as Kaleh'a felt the same disgust in his chest, he couldn't help himself from asking as she turned away, ready to take her own advice of leaving the potentially dangerous area. "Cyra, how did you know about the traps? I was..." he fumbled the word with his cheeks reddening. "Well I was shocked, and frankly a bit scared, but you seemed to just...it was like you knew what they were before even looking."

He couldn't put it in words. And he wasn't trying to accuse her of anything. But she had reacted and acted so...sure, like she knew the danger, had expected it, or perhaps had seen it before. Any of the above only made his curiosity of the blue Miqo'te grow, to wonder how she knew about Garlean tech as he caught up and walked side by side back towards Hawthorne Hut, his blue eyes flicking to hers as he waited for an answer, silently wondering if he would even get one.

voidtouched-blue--[Prior]

It wasn't entirely a lie, but it still hadn't been the entire part of the whole. Cyra may not have had the mind for understanding how most Garlean magitek worked, but having a familiarity with them from her history certainly helped. "Given enough time, and patience, I'm sure you'll come to find they can be rather easy to spot and disarm if you know what to look for." As indirect as it was, it was the Keepers' way of offering to teach him.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

He saw it, the anger in her expression, the hatred, the tightened jaw and her clenched fists, an expression he was not expecting from, what he had in mind, a well mannered white mage. It was like looking at a completely different person, for just that brief second, before she managed to get it back under control, and he saw the anger bleed out of her, the tension in her jaw relaxing, and he felt his own anger follow suit, sinking down to his feet and bleeding out of his boots.

Each step he felt a little lighter, until he had that telltale sway to his hips and tails of a happy Miqo'te, his eyes still looking for traps, but his ears, their blonde tips had flicked up and focused on her, listening for an answer to his question, to his probe, wondering what exactly she would say, if anything at all. He didn't have to wait more than a few heartbeats of silent steps before she answered, and he turned his head to the side to look at her as she did, humming thoughtfully as he nodded slowly in understanding.

"Whoa... Studying under E-Sumi-Yan?" He fell silent for a moment, thinking over what that meant, that he was in the presence of a master conjurer's pupil, and he bashfully realized his leaping to her rescue, or offering to protect her, was likely a waste of breath. The chances are she knows plenty how to care for herself, he thought ruefully. Especially if she knew of the traps and I did not...

It was a tiny hit to his pride, if he was honest, the desire to know everything around him, about the Black Shroud, the best hunting spots, the dangerous beasts, and the trapping habits of other hunters strong within him, since it made him a better hunter. But to miss something like this? He shook his head, his ears flicking down, then up, and his tail thrashing lightly. "I had no idea they were so prevalent. Clearly I need to work on making sure my info is more up to date."

Already, Hawthorne Hut was within sight, but the offer she gave him was not lost on the blonde Miqo'te, and he smiled warmly, skipping ahead a pace and turning back, walking backwards slowly as he looked at her and nodded in excitement. "I wouldn't mind if someone could help me learn what to look for. Especially if there might be other pesky traps I don't know about!"

His smile was warm, easy, his tail flicking about, with excitement, at the prospect of learning something new about the land around him, even if it did have to do with an invading force. Plus, as they explored, he could find good trees to cut down, saw to size, and use to repair her roof! Hm, oak wood for the supports, some simple water reed thatch to go over it, and waterproof it with linseed oil. But I will have to check the underlying walls to make sure they are still good...

Lost in thought, he flipped back around, falling back to her side, his hands on the back of his head, and he looked up at the canopy of trees above them, the green filtering through as he sighed contently, and murmured to no one in particular, "One day...I'd like to come out here and actually go through the forest without expecting dangers or Garleans. Just...walk around and relish in the beauty."

voidtouched-blue--[Prior]

"Not all regions of the Black Shroud are riddled with dangers, or invading Imperials", she took in a deep breath to further calm her nerves. "From the sound of it, one might think that I've lived here longer than you. I can show you some rather pleasant spots on a map once we've made it back to Gridania. I wouldn't mind a quick rest at the Roost." The beaming grin she offered him was small, but genuine. Even the shroud of death that had hung over them for a majority of their walk had begun to clear. Passing patrols of Wood Wailers and even spotting a small group of Adders on their way towards the darkened field had only set her mood to waver for a moment. The knowledge that she had done what she could for the injured and the Elementals had been enough to keep her spirits far lighter than if she were alone.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Her words were kind, and her smile, while small, was warm, true, and it made his own smile grow, his ears flick with excitement, and his head tilt this way and that. "Well, I have lived here a long time, but in my own little corner of the world. Gridania is my first foray outside of it." He tilted his head, and walked for a few steps, before he murmured. "It was peaceful there, just simple days, the worst to happen a passing beast or two. Traveling away from it was eye opening. Almost depressing with how...different it was. Sometimes I wish I could go back." He falls silent again, now almost to Hawthorne Hut as patrols pass them, heading for the fields, barely marking the Adders and Wood Wailers. He was lost in thought, about his past, his time at home, and the struggles since leaving it.

Still, deep down, he did not want to go back. The draw of the world unexplored, of beasts to find and take out, to help those around him. It was something he enjoyed doing, danger and dislike be damned. He was not one to run away with his tail tucked between his legs and - his tail, swaying agitatedly with his thoughts, accidentally flicked too far, smacking against his companion's leg, and he jerked, taking a step away, and quickly apologizing for the slight. "Sorry! Uh, caught up in my thoughts." He gave her a slightly wider birth as they entered the relative safety of the Hut, returning to her earlier words with a nod.

"I could use a drink too, after all of that. I think my tail is still a little scared. Those traps were so...vicious." The offended appendage lifted up a little, lion's tip flicking about in trepidation despite their safety. He hummed softly to himself, the keeper of the moon turning towards the Aethyrite as he called back to her. "All in all though, I think you did good. With the aether and all. I'm really impressed! Thanks for letting me tag along."

In truth, he still had questions about her, ones he could not ask outright. She seemed so nervous, yet so on top of herself. Too reserved to be a native of the forest or Gridania, but the house, the way she spoke, it was clear she wasn't new here either. Still, the mention of her past, just in passing, was enough to pique his interest, to wonder what she would reveal over a few drinks. It never hurt to know about your friends, and he would like to consider her a friend!

Reaching the Aethyrite, he turned to her, and smiled softly, nodding to it. "Well, ready to head back?"

voidtouched-blue--[Previous]

Gods, I hope they invent a less uncomfortable method of travel, she thought. Steadying herself with a short walk to the railing in the Gridania Aetheryte plaza, she took a few deep breaths as she smoothed back her ears. She clasped her staff to its holster on her back using a small gesture of aether to fasten it quickly. Hearing the somewhat familiar padding of footsteps approach from behind her, she spoke without looking. "I'm all right. I just don't travel much by Aetheryte."

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

He couldn't help the mock gasp that left his lips at her admission of her own wayward tail, his hand covering his lips as he gave her a playful, horrified look. "Not the patients! And here I thought all healers took an oath to do no harm!" He laughed, letting the facade fall to reveal his teasing grin, his hands swinging amicably by his sides as his tail responded in kind, flicking like hers as he regarded the strange, striped appendage. Yes, Miqo'te, but he had yet to see one striped. Of course, staring at another's tail was not the most proper of things to do, so he was quick to avert his gaze before she noticed, his turquoise eyes flicking up to her face just in time to catch her blush.

A cute thing, hidden by little shakes of her head, but nothing could hide her small smile, and he hummed thoughtfully at her words, mulling them over as he walked along beside her, tilting his head after a moment and murmuring, "'What is required of me...'" It was an interesting way to view the world, he supposed. Far different from his own. Albeit in ways similar. He let the moon guide his steps, and acted as he himself wanted, not from a higher calling, or at least not yet. Maybe one day he would, and he would understand what she meant by those words, or maybe he already did know, with his penchant to help those around him. But he couldn't get this nagging feeling out of his head that it was an almost dour way to look at life.

The short hop back to Gridania proper was uneventful for the blonde Miqo'te, the little tingle of aether after his travel making him shiver and grin, only to turn with some concern as he realized his blue haired companion was not doing quite as well as he was. He approached her, his tail nervously flicking as she leaned against the rail and clasped staff to her back, his hand unwittingly travelling to her shoulder as he gently placed it there, his eyes full of worry as he leaned out of the balcony to take a look at her face, her words confirming what he saw. "Cyra, I didn't know you suffered from Aetheryte sickness! I would have hired a Chocobo Porter instead!"

And he really would have, to spare her the feeling of sickness, and himself from having to see her struggle so, his eyes softening. "To think you put up with travelling there and back without so much as a complaint... Come on then, first round is on me! As apology for not noticing sooner. And I can handle the report if you aren't up to it." He didn't particularly want to, not with the reception he had received earlier, but he truly wasn't sure if she could make it more than five steps without keeling over. If there was one thing he knew, you took care of the healer! Besides, he could handle a few suspicious guards.