Open [Bronze Woods] The Meaning of Co-operation.

[Medhozic]

He turned back to the horse as she thought over the new information - it was far from new for him. He'd lived all of it, every moment.. as much as his memory had clouded over his time in the mortal plane, since he had fallen to the seas and become lost, washed away on a city that had nothing for him but distrust for a beggar with the horns of an Ethaefal.. but he'd put it behind him. He'd seen far more than any of them, any noble or any beggar in the entire plane. He had watched it all, he had met the Sun Goddess in person, she had given him the name that he could no longer pronounce in this stupid petching mortal tongue.. after all, they had spent countless seasons together before he had fallen back to such a dreaded place, that he had been so happy to leave, no matter what awaited him on the other side. He knew he was not the only one, but that did not make anything better, knowing that others had also been dragged away from her care, such warmth and care.. it was almost as saddening as his own falling. In another way, it was amusing to watch them cry and scream, and kill themselves with sharpened sticks and stolen swords in the hopes of reaching her ethereal arms again. He always knew he would never be that pathetic. Not even in his inevitable death would he go, screaming like a newborn child and thrashing in agony... His mind clouded, and when the fog had cleared from the space behind his eyes, the girl had begun a fire. It was almost a good one.. even if she was using her own clothes, instead of the leaves trampled under the tree that her horse had once been tethered to. He reached down for a handful; slightly mouldy and crushed, but they would still work, he knew. So he dropped them on the fire abruptly and watched the fire surge through the fresh leaves, although it created a rather thick smoke. So he turned back from her and the horse without a word and began walking further back from the fire, nearly out of sight of its warm glow, before he found what he was looking for. Not very prominent amongst the winter soils, but a small selection of weeds that he uprooted and brought back to the fire in small handfuls, thrown over it in a gentle scattering to help settle the flames. Knowledge, powerful knowledge. A simple thing like knowing your surroundings could save your life, and he knew just how true that quote was. It'd helped him more than several times and he knew it would save him countless more - it was more powerful than any sword, or any bow, or any magic in the world. Simple, common knowledge when used effectively. Like now. "You should not use your cloak; you will need it for staying warm." He looked down on it, and then his attention turned to her. "And if I was your mother, I would smack you." She shouldn't be setting her clothes on fire, especially when she needed them. There was so much more to the environment that she could make use of - it seemed like she knew absolutely nothing. Except, how to make a relatively good fire. Even if it was with her own cloak as kindling. "And if something comes, I will kill it and cook it over that fire. You look hungry; I am here to try and stop you from dying. Do you want to die?" A serious question with a faint air of curiosity.

[Ildiko]

“Are you leaving?” But no, he was just contributing to the flame. She watched him carefully, taking note of his actions. The flames licked at the dry leaves and rose, growing in intensity. He came back with dirt and used it to control the flame. Ildiko sat in amazement. Was there anything that Medhozic didn’t know? She had to find his weakness, and fast. Just in case. She stole a glance at his face while his eyes were glued to the fire. He seemed to want to help her, which was something that she had never expected. Why was he staying with her? He obviously didn’t need the help. “Sure,” she mumbled, looking at the cloak that she’d ruined. It wasn’t hers, of course, but she felt little regret that she had ruined it. To her, it had been necessary. She had moved from instinct, not knowledge. His correction made her realize how little she truly knew. She admired him in that moment, though for his personal strength than for his character. Ildiko waited a little, then opened her mouth to ask him a personal question. She never got a chance to say it, her thoughts drowned by Medhozic’s snark. She wanted to punch him. Saying that, even jokingly, was a sore spot for her. She quickened to her feet, hands clenching into fists before she even realized what she was doing. "Lay a hand on me, and you'll regret it." She nearly growled the words, her muscles tensing. Only when she found herself in his face, pressed nearly nose to nose to him did her subconscious actions register to her brain. Why was she breathing so heavily? Her nails were digging into the skin of her hands. She was angry. She was heated, and she needed to calm down. Ildiko clenched her jaw, glaring at him for what seemed like an eternity, then sat down again. She slowed her breathing, but did not let down her guard. The easiness of their earlier conversations had been popped with just a few words on his part, proving just how fragile their 'truce' had been. Ildiko was reminded that they didn't know each other: they were strangers and hunters, pure and simple. To him, she wasn't even human; she could see it in her eyes. She watched the fire with a scowl, her conflicted feelings clear across her face. Who was he to talk like that to her? She felt both anger and confusion: anger from his harsh speech, and confusion from the corrective way that he’d spoken to her earlier. Was he looking out for her, or chastising her? Maybe she was just a plaything to him, something to keep him entertained until he found something better to do. “I don’t need your help.” she said, her voice as rough as gravel, and devoid of all warmth. She sat facing him, though she was so angry that she didn’t want to look in his face. “You are not responsible for me.” She spoke slowly, carefully, like she was speaking to someone mentally ill. He was right, she was hungry… but she wasn’t about to admit to him that she was weak. “I will not die. But what are your motivations for helping me? Will you kill me in my sleep?” There was a brown blur of motion directly behind Medhozic. An orphaned deer with its ribs showing, it seemed to be searching for something edible. It seemed wary of the fire, though. Like a primitive hunter, Ildiko snatched a rock from around the fire and approached Medhozic in a slow crouch, her eyes fixed on a point just beyond him. She raised her hand to throw it, but passed him just when it seemed like she was going to attack him. Her stomach growled painfully. The rock went sailing into the air, her whole body weight behind it… but it merely alerted the beast to her presence, the rock landing to its right.

[Medhozic]

He stared into her face, as she pushed close. Of course, there was no fear there - he could see in her muscles, in her lack of knowledge amongst all other things, that she would not make him regret smacking her. However, deep inside, there was a small part that would regret it, regardless. What he had said, though, he would still hold true. If he was her mother, he would have smacked her to make her learn. Like she should have learned, long ago, not to provoke the stronger; she wasn't very good at it anyway, because the blank face stared through her eyes with more curiosity than any fear or anger. The tips of their noses brushed briefly as he leaned down closer, almost prompting her.. they were so close, he could smell her breath. And then, he pulled away abruptly and turned back to the fire. Of course, he knew that he'd broken something of a bond at that moment, though it didn't matter. She would need him, whether she wanted it or not, or even knew it yet. He had a bow, and a dagger, and many skills that she obviously lacked. He would show her the plants of the Bronze Woods and how to make use of each one - then, hopefully, she would begin to realize. But he was not her babysitter, regardless. He would take his pity on her, because she was one that could be taught, and needed to be taught. In the small time, he'd become somewhat of a guardian. Perhaps she would become of use to him, or not. He would not spend money on her - but he would allow her to 'tag along' on his hunting, if she so wished to. "Of course you need my help." There wasn't a doubt in his mind about that. "And of course you are not my responsibility. You would not like it if you were." He wouldn't reiterate the previous statement - it had hit a 'sore spot' somewhere. He'd imagine in abuse from other family members, or from other clan-members.. or whatever species this female was, of which he couldn't possibly fathom. "You will die, as all things will die. But I would have killed you the moment I saw you, rather than waiting for you to sleep, if at all." After this back-and-forth, he was mildly surprised that she hadn't already summoned that knowledge. It was as if she needed it to be repeated over and over, before she understood that if she had survived this far, he didn't have any intention in killing her. That all changed when she picked up a rock, and his eyes widened mildly in surprise. Was she really so stupid, as to attempt an attack? He could not say - but it definitely looked like she wanted to try and catch him with a sharp rock. He couldn't see her attention locked over his shoulder, and if he had, it wouldn't have changed his immediate conclusion - that she wanted to attack him. So, he did what any normal person would have done. He swung his fist straight from where it had hung from his side, for the girls chin in a sweeping uppercut. And just like her, he put every ounce of his strength into it.

[Ildiko]

Upon impact, her head snapped back so sharply that she bit her tongue. The rock went tumbling uselessly out of her hand. There was a loud rustling in the underbrush as the deer hurried away. Ildiko flew backwards, falling to the ground and rolling onto all fours. She stared at the ground for a moment, in disbelief. He'd punched her. Hadn't he heard it? Hadn't he seen? Any Zith could have smelled the deer from a mile a way. Was there something wrong with him? She spit and wiped her mouth, blind rage dominating her thoughts. Wisdom said to roll over and play submissive so that she wouldn't get hurt again. The pain in her body told her to run. The anger bubbling inside of her roared for her to defend herself. She'd been in scuffles with people stronger than her before. With the Zith, many merely needed to be shown that she was stronger than they thought. The question was rarely 'are you stronger than me', but 'are you worthy of living?' Though she hardly ever won the fights, they often relented and shifted to coupling just as passionate and rough as the fight had been. But this was a human, not a Zith. He repeatedly expressed that he didn't want to kill her, and she repeatedly expressed disbelief. He had struck her as if she had been a man his size, yet he didn't want to kill her? Perhaps he was more Zith-like than she had previously thought. She stood up, face throbbing, resisting the voice in her head that told her to claw him, or climb on top of him and beat his face in. She spoke with a great effort, her hands clenching and unclenching as if she wasn't sure what to do with herself. "You...scared the food...away!"

[Medhozic]

He narrowed his eyes as he watched her, ready for another assault should she attempt it. Why did she attempt to attack. She must have known that he was the stronger. That he had the weapons - she had only been lucky, yet again, that he had relented from his instincts and refused to draw the Kopis from his hip and simply cut her neck in the way that befit those trying to kill him. Especially an animal, who he had already given pity on. He wouldn't make the same mistake again - giving such a chance to such an undeserving whelp that sought to kill him while he slept. He waited for her to attack or submit. What she said drew all words from his mouth, and he fought over his own instincts for a second time, to avoid turning around. He didn't need to, though - while focusing on what she had said, he could hear rustling behind, and when he quickly turned, he saw the fleeting outline of some kind of game disappearing into the bushes. What does that have anything to do with it? "Why did you attack me." It made absolutely no sense, still. Regardless of some wild animal behind him.. unless she was actually trying to attack it. With a rock, of all things, a blunt, useless rock... she must have absolutely no sense of hunting. She'd never be able to stun anything by throwing a rock at its head. And she hadn't even told him there was anything there, given a sign that she had seen something.. she hadn't motioned for him to duck, hadn't whispered. He knew that he'd done the right thing - the girl had just been stupid. But it was an accident, based on stupidity. He could understand, somewhat, and leaned down to offer her his hand. He didn't force her, this time. He would accept her choice, if she decided to get up by herself and without his aid. However stupid such a decision would be, to not take aid when given. "I will help you up. And when you see food, you will make a gesture to me. Otherwise you will not be surprised if I try to kill you." He'd shown, without intending, just how intent he was on surviving. He would attack anyone remotely close to him if he didn't know who they were, and if they tried to attack him, he'd attack first, and make sure that they didn't get back up again. The next time she'd make him do that, he'd kill her. There wouldn't be a shred of doubt in his head, that he'd kill her for it. No matter how attached he was becoming to the defenseless little creature. She was only lucky that he hadn't done anything else to her, this time. Hopefully, it would make sure that she didn't make the same mistake again. He felt a little sympathy, but his rational mind prevented him from feeling anything else. It was her fault, he repeated over and over, until it became true. "You will never catch anything with a rock, anyway. I will teach you how to hunt. Later." It was getting dark. He needed to leave, before the horns disappeared and she saw him as he once was; prey. He couldn't reveal that to anyone - anyone - or he faced an inevitable death.

[Ildiko]

She was fuming, and though she didn't slap his hand away, she stood up on her own. Her voice was flat, and though she realized her mistake, she still inwardly blamed him. He should have been able to smell it. He should have noticed earlier. Hadn't he claimed to be something other than human? "You're right. I should have let food get away." Ildiko said gruffly, grunting afterwards. Then, softly: "I'm not interested in a fight with you." It was strange, to her. If they had met in another place, perhaps they wouldn't have been so hostile. But out in the wilderness, where there were no guards to regulate the law, everything set her on edge. One wrong move, and she could be killed. No one would look for her body. Could she even trust him? He certainly didn't trust her. They reacted to fear in different ways: Ildiko ran, but Medhozic was a fighter. Time would prove if he was trustworthy, certainly. She watched him, crossing her arms in front of herself. "I wanted it dead, not tamed." Clearly they had two different perceptions and ways of viewing the world. Teach? Teach her what? "Night is the best part of the hunt, what are you talking about?" A clear look of disbelief was on her face. Perhaps he'd already eaten. He seemed uncomfortable at the thought of staying with her much longer, as if he wanted to leave. But as much as she was wary of him, she She idly rubbed her sore jaw, thinking. His 'later' held a promise of them meeting again. "Perhaps I can teach you some things, as well." Ildiko watched the horizon, waiting for the moon to become visible. It wouldn't be long now.

[Medhozic]

He had no time to continue this shoddy web of conversations, seemingly endless and confusing in the way they all interjected in different topics. So he answered them all at once in a quick, compact burst of words that may, or may not have only made sense to him. It didn't matter, he needed to leave, regardless of whether Ildiko felt like she needed more company, or protection. She would be forced to fend for herself tonight, and for many nights to follow, if she could not find adequate shelter. "Safety is more important than food, you would lose a fight with me, if you wanted it dead you should have used something sharper than a stick, and some of us have been gifted with other things than better vision in the night." His back was turned to her as he replied; he was already walking back through the way he had came, pushing aside the malnourished remains of the trees arms to a loud series of snaps, along with the heavy rustling of the remains of the leaves below, scattering out and scaring away any potential prey that would have been close-by. It didn't matter - the animals would not be around any more, or at least, the ones that would not attack when night fell and prey sat by a toasty fire. And if there were any around, Ildiko no longer had any excuse for throwing rocks at his head - he'd done enough for one day, he didn't think he really deserved a bruise. Unsightly things, making others less wary of him, as if Gods could bleed.. they should have known better, and so should she. If only her aim had been any worse; she hadn't hit the deer after all, what would have stopped her from accidentally hitting him on the head, regardless of whether the deer was there or not? Very little. Still, she could handle herself, though.. she had a horse to protect her. Regardless of how little she knew about starting a fire, how rubbish her aim was with a crude rock for a weapon, or a little razor added to the end of a stick, or something else stupid. She would be able to handle herself, for one night, at least. And if not, then.. The strong shall feed from the weak. Yes, there was always that. Nature, to finish off the jobs that many could not. "I doubt that you will teach me anything, although, we shall see." That was it; Syna was dipping under the horizon, and he lifted the cloak nearly over his head as he quickened his pace away from the fading light and back towards the castle. If he was lucky, nobody would see him before his horns faded away, and the colours of his marble skin became pale and dulled.. like a humans. Perhaps they would meet again.. but then again, perhaps not. It depended on whether she would survive the night at all.

[Accolade]

Medhozic

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 5 XP
Intimidation	+ 3 XP
Unarmed combat	+ 3 XP
Socialization	+ 5 XP
Interrogation	+ 4 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Meeting a hungry savage -Ildiko
•	Future hunt with a wild forest girl
•	Nick name from lldiko - Syna
•	Human side must stay a secret

Ildiko

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Hunting	+ 2 XP
Stealth	+ 2 XP
Intimidation	+ 3 XP
Club	+ 1 XP
Interrogation	+ 4 XP
Socialization	+ 5 XP
Observation	+ 5 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Hunting still be done without fear
•	A fight with an Ethaefal
•	Ethaefal have horns
•	Planning a hunt with a mystery Eth

Notes :

Very interesting story you two. Very high tension. Good job!

The Sylir has spoken

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