Closed [The Bronze Woods] Squires, Kelvics & Bandits, Oh My! (Kyra)

[Kyra]

Kyra stopped for a moment and turned to look back towards the direction where she had left the woman. She wondered if it were a good idea to leave her while she was sleep? The blood from the dead mercenaries could draw predators to her location and she could be attacked. The kelvic also began to wonder why she was doing all this. She could just leave the woman there and go off on her own, forgetting that anything had happened. She owed her nothing, and she had already saved her life as well. Kyra sighed and continued on, apparently she was in one of her caring moods and wanted to be helpful.

She was tired however, and even though she was used to fighting by now, it still took it's tole on the girl. Kyra stepped lightly through the forest and trying to remember where she had found water before. The kelvic sniffed the air around her and walked on, there had to be something near by. There was the lake that she had been to, but Kyra wasn't sure of how far away it was.

And so she continued on the search for water.

The kelvic had been walking for a while now, using her nose and ears to pick up the scent of damp leaves and rocks, as well as the sound of flowing waters. Kyra had lost track of time and she wasn't sure how long she had been searching. Suddenly, a rather large white wolf appeared in the forest and it was staring right at her. Kyra stared back in surprise, it was the biggest wolf that she had ever seen, or was it a bear?

There was something else about it, a familiarity, a kin to her own in ways. For some reason, it seemed as if the wolf wanted Kyra to follow it, but she hadn't a clue why. The wolf waited until she started to move again and headed off into the forest. Kyra followed with a hand on her bow just in case she needed to use it. She really didn't like dogs, and bigger ones she hated even more. Kyra followed through the forest until she could hear it, and caught the scent of it

Water

The wolf had led her to find the stream that she had been looking for. It seemed strange to her, how did the animal know that she was looking for water? Had it been watching them? Following her? Kyra kept her eyes on the beast dog, and didn't turn away until it had vanished back into the forest. The kelvic settled on the ground near the stream and opened her water skin and refilled it. She drank from it and gave a happy sigh as the cool water sooth her throat and tongue. A second dip into the stream, and this time she poured it over her head and neck.

A sudden breeze wafted through, and Kyra closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of the air whipping about her hair and gently caressing her moist skin. In truth, the kelvic felt like staying for a while, but she remembered the reason that she came. A third dip into the stream and Kyra fastened her water skin and headed back into the forest. Finding her way back was easier than it was finding the water, the scent of blood was still fresh, and soon enough she was back at the woman's side.

Opening the top again, Kyra poured some of the water onto the woman's face and kept the rest in case she needed something to drink. "Wake up now, come on.."

[Kayelin Mannering]

She'd been knocked out several times in her short life. This was number four, and it never got any easier, or less painful. The initial blow didn't hurt as much as the headache afterward, when Kayelin finally awoke. She wasn't sure how long she'd been out, possibly a while. The bandit, now dead, though she didn't know that yet, had hit her a good one. Her Falivan had crept around the dead, deterred by the smell of blood, and curled up at her side, resting her soft head across Kayelin's chest. She was young, so still developing, but was turning out to be a good dog. She sighed softly, twisted to lick her master's dirty face, then resettled onto her chest.

When Kyra finally returned, the dog stood, hackles raised imperceptible, and whined loudly. But the hound feared her smell, an odor it had never come across, so with her tail tucked between her legs, she slunk back to her master's pack. Settling on the ground, she watched the proceedings intently, with her head resting on her paws.

Is it raining? Kayelin thought groggily as the water splashed her face, bringing her to some degree of consciousness. Then, just as quickly, the lights when out again, though only for another moment before her eyes fluttered open. Waking up after a knockout was a little like being born again. For a few ticks, she didn't know how to do anything. Breathe, move, talk, or blink. And then it all suddenly washed over her, like the water, jolting her into full but groggy awareness. "W-Wha?" she mumbled, propping herself up on her elbows. She looked up, right into the strange eyes of the girl who had saved her, and gave a small start. "Shit!" Her face went red, and she rubbed her head, already feeling the return of her headache, tenfold now after getting headbutted.

"Shorry," she hurried on, smacking her dry lips, and clearing her throat. So much dried blood. "Ish tish all mine?" Kayelin asked, a little horrified. Her memory was very foggy, even if she had full control of her body now. "Wha happened?" Then, completely serious, with a look of horror on her face, she come to an idiotic conclusion. "Am I dead?!" Suddenly and quickly, overjoyed by the sound of her master's voice, the Falivan ran forward, covering her dirty face with wet kisses. "Shon of a-!" The dog's tongue went right in her mouth before she could even finish the curse, and she coughed and spat, trying to shove the hound away. "Get the fush off me!" she slurred.

With both hands, she grabbed her dog's loose neck skin and pushed her away, holding her at arm's length. Dazed, Kayelin looked back at her tiny savior. This was embarrassing.

[Kyra]

Kyra had been called many things in the short time that she had been alive. A man eater, a thief, slave, mercenary, killer. But helper, this was a new thing for her, and she could likely count on one hand how many times she had helped people in the past. Knocking people one was one thing, but trying to wake them up..that was different. Those years ago, she had tried to wake Marcelo from his sleep, and despite her best efforts he would not wake. He was dead, and it was only the faint heartbeat and breathing coming from the woman that told the kelvic that she was still alive.

She watched the dog warily as it moved away and settled across from her. It was a good idea in fact, the closer the animal was to her the more she would want to turn and leave. But with the dog hided, she was able to come to the aid of the woman and sprinkle the water upon her face. Kyra wasn't a medic and although she had a quick lesson in bandaging from Orion, he hadn't told her about caring for someone who was unconscious.

The kelvic watched the woman closely, observing her facial features for any signs that she would be ok. Finally, the woman woke, and Kyra's eyes brightened in relief. At least the woman was alive, and hopefully now, she could walk on her own. Dragging a buck through the forest was one thing, but she had the feeling if someone saw her dragging the huge woman through the forest, they would get the wrong idea.

The woman stared up into her eyes, and the girl stared back down into those of the woman. The sudden scream caught her off guard, and Kyra jumped back a bit and crouched down very low to the ground. "What is the matter?" she asked quickly. She fell silent as the woman started to observe herself and her surroundings, but she continued to watch her closely. The kelvic stared at her through unblinking eyes, her head tilted slightly as she heard the question that was asked.

"No, You are not dead....You are alive."

When the dog attacked, pounced? Kyra scurried back a little further and watched the scene play out. She really didn't like dogs, but this one seemed to really care for the woman. If it wasn't for her grave dislike of the animal, the scene before her would be very humorous. "I..suppose we should go?"

[Kayelin Mannering]

Not dead. A good start. Kayelin pushed her pup down on its haunches, where it thankfully stayed. She looked around them, at the trees, and the ground. She glared at the corpse of the bandit she'd had the intentions of taking back to the city. He lay crumpled a ways away, the shaft of an arrow sticking out of his lifeless body. Good riddance. "I owe you more shanks," she mumbled, focusing on her hands. Kayelin was a little ashamed of being bested so thoroughly in front of this tiny stranger. What she must have thought of her. Let alone what Kayelin thought of herself. Some Squire she was turning out to be. She lapsed into a small silence, staring dully at her gloves. Her head pulsed painfully in rhythm with her heart, it seemed. They couldn't waste any more time, though. Gods knew what creatures out in the woods would be attracted by the smell of all the blood.

Finally, she nodded. "Yesh, we should go." Carefully, she crawled to her feet, feeling like an overly large, clumsy child trying to walk for the first time. She wobbled on her feet, squinting against the rush it sent to her head. Her hound panted quietly at her feet, wagging her tail vigorously, glad to see Kayelin back on her feet. Even though all Kayelin wanted to do was lay down, cover her head with some blankets, and go to sleep. Tenderly, she touched her forehead. A knot had already swollen up, right in the middle. What a sight she probably appeared. "Did anyshing happen while I wush out?" Other than the woman whooping another ass. Limping, she hobbled back to where her gear lay. Moving in slow motion was about as agonizing as her physical discomfort. She wanted to sprint back to the city and fall into the bed, not drag herself around like a beaten animal.

The ground sudden pitched and rolled, and she had to grab the tree trunk next to her for balance. She stood braced with her legs wide apart, as if on the deck of a heaving ship, until her world stopped spinning out of control. For a moment, she thought she was going to be sick. Kayelin breathed deeply through her nose, shivering in pain. What a migraine. "I shink a doctor wiw be my firsh shtop," she slurred, feeling queasy and shaky. Despite the predicament, she couldn't help but smile lopsidedly back at her little companion. "Want to cawwy me?" She stood a little straighter, unbuckled her small shield and let it drop to the ground, then ran a hand through her sweaty hair, accidentally smearing bandit blood into it. She looked at her red strained glove, and grimaced. "Shyke."

"Bath wiw be my shecond shtop." Kayelin looked at the small woman, dully. "I'm ready," she said, with careful emphases, before stooping, buckling her shield to her pack, and gathering everything up in her tired arms. She glanced around the clearing again, wanting to quickly leave it behind them. Her eyes roved over the body of one of the bandits, and she had to double take when she saw his chest rise and fall. "Shyke," she hissed. Kayelin had completely forgotten she'd left him alive and unconscious. For a split moment, she almost went to gather him up as well, to drag back to the city. But she stopped herself, and just watched him for a moment. A war played out across her face, making her grimace. But slowly, her features eased back into to a tired dullness. She swallowed, and winced, as her bitten tongue burned. Even the wince made her wince, as her head throbbed. That the was decision maker.

She glared at his prone body, lying there in the leaves. Let him fend for himself, or rot, she thought menacingly, then turned and started picking her way back in the general direction of Syliras.

----------

Kayelin walked in silence for quite a while, brooding to herself, and trying not to curl up in a ball and slip back into unconsciousness. Her dog constantly kept ahead, sniffing and searching and in general doing puppy activities. Leaves crunched under her heavy footsteps, making her edgy. A squirrel fled up a tree, chattering unhappily, making her flinch. Definitely edgy. Awkwardly, she glanced over and down at her companion, accompanying her along. "My name is Kayelin, by the way," she finally said, carefully enunciating her words past the swollen tongue.

OOCTime for some painfully uncomfortable socializing!

[Kyra]

Kyra watched the woman hobble around, spit up even more blood and stumbled more. It made the young kelvic wonder if the woman could make it back on her own, or if she would have to help her. She also thought that it would have been a good idea to steal two of the horses that bandits had, but they had already run off and she didn't know how to ride one either. She followed along as the woman collected her items and her dog before they would leave together. "Nothing happened really. He tried to run so I shot him."

The woman appeared ill, or something worse. A few more steps and she was already about to pass out again. Her speech became worse, and it was now harder for Kyra to understand what she was trying to say. "Are you sure that you are okay?" Kyra didn't know what to make of it, she wasn't a doctor, but staying in the forest in the condition the woman was in seemed like a bad idea. "What? I do not understand." more slurred words and the kelvic arched a brow as she attempted to make sense of them. "You need a doctor? We should hurry then, there aren't any here in the forest."

Kyra did understand the mention of a bath, and she too wanted one. Being in the forest alone was enough to call for one, but battling bandits as well? She would be sure to make that her stop also, after parting with the woman who she assumed was going to see a doctor first. They started off, and just as they did, they learned that one of the men weren't dead. The kelvic looked on, waiting to see what the other woman would do. Between them, she had received the worse end of the fight, but if she wasn't concerned, neither was Kyra.

They started off and Kyra followed in silence. She slowed her pace to that of the woman who would probably double over at any moment. Kyra watched her, looking to her on and off while being sure to walk on the other side of her away from her dog. "I am Kyra. Tell me, why were you out here alone?"

[Kayelin Mannering]

She smiled a little, wanting to laugh, but not daring to right now. "I wash twaining," she admitted. "Worshing on shord and shield shtanshes. Didn't do a good job, obvioushly. Fell and bish my tongue. Got attashed. My patron wiw not be pweashed." Kayelin sighed, wondering what Aquila would say when she saw her Squire in this state. Maybe knock her over the head as soon as it quit hurting. Possibly before even that. But she'd learned her lesson, even without a reprimanding. She very well could have died today, and would have if she hadn't lucked out and got her ass saved by her little companion. Speaking of which.

Kayelin turned curious eyes back to Kyra. "What were you doing out here? Hunting?" She looked at her bow and arrows, then back to her face. "I mean, you're sho... sho... petite. And you picked them off like fwies. I got my ash kicked." She smiled a little. "You move wike a cat," she joked good-naturedly, hoping Kyra wouldn't be insulted by being called petite. Some people were sensitive about being small or big. She was sure sore about her height, even if she was pretty used to stares and remarks. She tried not to stare at the inhuman eyes looking back at her. If she wasn't so tired and beat all to hell, she might have been able to put two and two together.

[Kyra]

Kyra stared at the woman as she spoke, there appeared to be a lot of staring going on between the two. The woman, looking at Kyra's eyes, and the kelvic staring at the woman's size and height. Perhaps once in her life she had been taught not to stare, but that was a manner that she had long forgotten. Kyra started to ask about the woman's height, but another question came to her and she decided to go with that one. "Is there a reason to train in the forest? There are places to do so inside the city walls after all."

The walk continued, and as Kyra started to catch her second wind, the young kelvic started to walk with a bit more bounce in her light steps. "Yes, I was hunting, but I also wanted to go out and stretch my legs." She looked up at the woman again as she mentioned her size and blinked curiously. "Are you really that tall, or is there something hidden inside your boots?" Kyra didn't know what to say when Kayelin commented on her fighting, the girl rarely ever saw her fights as easy. Suddenly she turned on her heels and spun herself around to where she was walking in front of the squire.

A cheeky smile rose upon her lips as she started to walk backwards. She swayed her arms around daintily and twisted her hips with each backwards step to make sure that her feet met the ground and kept her from tripping. "Do you like cats?" Kyra asked in a friendly voice. "I wouldn't think so, not with the animal you have with you now."

[Kayelin Mannering]

Kayelin smiled uncomfortably. She'd been training in the woods because being around the other Squires still made her feel immensely uncomfortable. For one, there was her appearance. Secondly, her very poor upbringing. Being as self conscious as she was, she feared they judged her for both of those things. "I don't fit in wew yet," she admitted. "I jush wanted to be awone for a wiwe. I'm vewy new to the Order." Then her smiled changed to a more genuine, amused one. "Yesh, I'm reawy thish tall. Are you reawy that shmall?" she jested, grinning at the girl playfully. Her pup barked suddenly, and she glanced at it, but it was only chasing a squirrel. She looked back at Kyra, who was now walking backwards in front of her.

"No, I do wike cats. I wike lotsh of animals," she assured, though her 'animals' sounded more like 'amimoos'. "I ushed to have a tabby cat named Beans, becaush hish toes looked wike beans." Kayelin had to force herself to not chuckle. "My dog wash a gift from my muffer when I weft Shunberth to come here. I habn't named her yet, and Beans pashed away a wong time ago." A little absently, she muffled a worn out yawn, covering her mouth with her hand to keep her swollen mouth shut. Finally she continued. "Why don't you wike dogsh? Bad experienshes? Not awl of dem are bad. It awl dependsh on how you raish and twain them."

[Kyra]

Kyra was curious about the squire, and although she hadn't met many women her size, she was the first to be so kind and even gentle-like. There was also her voice, the odd way she spoke that caused the kelvic's ears to twitch each time. "Why don't you fit in well? I thought that squires were friendly..at least with others in their Order?" There was a puzzle slowly being put together in her mind. Kyra remembered the other times she had seen squires out alone in the forest. She wondered now if they too, felt that they didn't fit in.

"I suppose that I am...small." the kelvic offered, and glanced down at her body that could almost completely be covered by the squire's shadow. "Does being so tall help you to be a better squire?" Kyra asked and continued to walk backwards in front of the squire. One leg swayed out and around towards the other, her small boots gently dragging on the ground to keep her balance more. There was a feline-like movement to the twist in her hips, her steps light and lively, causing her blondish hair to bounce against her shoulders.

"Beans?" she asked, thinking on the name of the pet. It sounded like a cute name, though she couldn't imagine anyone calling her that. "My mother would never allow me to own a pet, it must have been nice." Kyra had wanted a pet back when she was only months old, but her mother wouldn't hear of it. To her, the tiny kelvic was enough trouble to keep up with, and a pet would have likely driven her insane. "They smell awful." she said referring to dogs. "They are loud and they're dirty creatures with no training that I've noticed."

The walk continued and Kyra looked around for familiar trees and markings to show her where she was and how far she had til she reached the city. Once she noticed where she was, the girl spun around again and started to walk at Kayelin's side. "Tell me, why did you become a squire?"

[Kayelin Mannering]

"No, no. They are all nish. I jush don't feel wike I fit in yet. I mean..." Kayelin trailed off and motioned to herself. "If anyone shaid I looked like a propah wady, they'd be wying froo their teef. I get shtared at a wot by the uffers. They aren't ushed to me eiffer." She paused for a second, working her jaw uncomfortably. It was feeling really stiff. Finally she continued. "I jush feel more comfortable out here for now. I'm not ushed to working wiff sho many people." She smiled a little. "Being tall doeshn't neshesharily help me be better. I'm a wittle clumshy. Not shtealthy, eiffer. Shome of dem are pretty short in the Order, and I'm afraid I'd crush one of dem in a shpar." Her smile grew a little wider, and her eyes twinkled with amusement. That last part was a joke. She usually didn't joke about her awkward size, but she was oddly comfortable with the strange eyed girl.

"Pets are nice," she agreed. "If they aren't terrorsh." Kayelin feigned insult at her claim that dogs were dirty and untrained, trying to look affronted. "I wiw haf you know that my dog knowsh how to shit!" Comically, her eyes widened and she blushed. Cursing inwardly, she tried again, with more annunciation. "Not shit. Sit. My dog can sit." Her face was aflame with embarrassment. Damned tongue.

Thankfully Kyra changed the subject to something she could easily go with. Still blushing, she relaxed and pushed away her embarrassment. "I became a shquire becaushe I wanted to do shomething better wif my life." Kayelin paused, trying to grasp for words. "I grew up very poor," she said carefully, looking straight ahead with pursed lips. "In Sunberth, there ish crime everywhere." Her eyes grew a little melancholy as she thought back to that wretched city. "My mother worked to the bone to keep ush fed, clothed, and sheltered. I helped when I could keep a job." She finally looked at Kyra again. "She shent me here to save me. I wash going nowhere, like everyone elsh alwaysh did in our poshishion. When I can, I will go back and take my family from that pwace."

She licked her dry lips, scowling at the metallic taste of blood. "I haf a wittle brother and father as well." Kayelin wanted to get the subject off of herself now. Hurriedly, she turned it around on Kyra. "What about you? Any family?"