Heathen

|13|

Barre

I'm once again holding Elodie in my arms as I walk through the forest. She is still slow. I had no idea it would take this long for her to heal. Humans must heal at a much slower rate than Rytarians.

I feel incredibly guilty for traveling when she's still injured, but the palace has many healing remedies that she will have access to when she arrives. The sooner we get there, the better. I just wish I didn't contribute to her pain.

My mind wanders often to the kiss she gave me. I don't think I've ever felt so much desire, so much affection. I didn't want it to end, but I ended it anyway.

If I thought I was becoming attached before, I'm definitely attached now. The thought of giving up Elodie is unbearable.

I glance down at her cautiously. She holds a handful of flowers that she insisted on picking this morning. She won't stop raving over them, smiling as she touches their pedals gently.

When she started plucking them from the ground, she didn't even notice the Triperef behind her. I had raised my weapon, ready to take it down if it charged the precious human. Elodie was completely oblivious of the silent show down, too focused on the field of wildflowers around her to see the danger.

The beast wasn't large for its species, and it didn't seem aggressive, in fact it's snout twitched in curiosity. Sometimes triperefs can be antagonistic. This one simply trotted back into the woods. I had lowered my bow after that, convinced that the creature somehow knew of Elodie's importance.

By the time she was done gathering a bouquet, the beast was long gone, and I could finally relax. It is my job to make sure she's safe. I am bound by duty to protect any female, but Elodie has become more than that to me.

I stare down at her now, watching as she traces the many scars on my neck and chest, the skin that's exposed not quite covered by my shirt. She's become important to me because she's Elodie, she's so much more than just being a female.

She sings to me the past few nights, something I didn't expect. I love it. The last 2 nights have been filled with her songs. Her voice is melodic, entrancing.

It reminds me of when my own Mama would sing me to sleep at night. The presence of a female just has a way of making you feel right.

After lots of walking, it's time for a break, and to feed Elodie. I find a small creek, setting the human on a nearby boulder while I take off my bag, digging through the contents.

I take out the leftover Yaltrip, a food that Elodie calls "fsshh". Her words for things are always cute.

The female insisted that I cook the flesh, and I gladly did to keep her happy. I look down at the crisp food, wondering if it tastes any better than a fresh catch, I sincerely doubt it.

"fir-me?" She wonders, standing up. I hold a hand out, prepared for when she falls, and she does.

I've decided that Elodie is extremely clumsy, I'm not sure if it's because of her ankle or if it's simply in her nature.

"I always want to stay put, tiny, but you never do." I muse, close to chuckling at her. She never notices that she should stay put. It's frustrating.

She grins, putting her hands on my arms for support.

"thankyeww" She says, something she says often.

Salsh runs up, panting with energy as he nudges my side. I glance down to see a stick hanging from his mouth. He wants to play.

Elodie grabs for the stick, I take it from her hand, replacing the branch for the food. She shakes her head, taking a bite of it anyway. She knows that her eating pleases me.