Early One Morning (Eoin)

[Vala]

53rd of Spring, 511 AV It had honestly crushed her a little, a secret she kept locked up tight never to see the light of day, when she had to send a messenger Dek to tell Eoin she had to postpone their hike. But now that she was finally well enough to lightly jog without crying from pain, the plans had been reset and Vala was genuinely giddy with excitement. Because of their past in the kitchens and their lack of one at the Enclave it had been mutually agreed that the as so far neutral Courtyard of the Sky would be the best rendezvous spot. It was early – only the 9th bell. Normally this would when Vala would be rolling out of her lumpy mattress. Her mousy head whipped around, her eyes flitting onto anything moving within a ten yard radius. When she was sure no one was watching her, she released a mighty yawn; she was unable to stop a tiny mewl from escaping. With that urge taken care of, Vala allowed herself some more people gazing. She tried to identify specific mannerisms that identified people she saw often. It didn’t take her long to find the singer. Well that’s what she called her. She didn’t know her name. Vala knew she was a dyer though, probably since she was a yasi. Never having asked, Vala had only assumed from the lady’s stained fingers. Though occasionally there were splashes of bright verdant hues that challenged the very heavens for beauty, but usually her bony, wrinkled hands were a rusty sepia, or even almost a cloying black. The Singer always sat around the edges of the courtyard, away from general traffic. Vala stood up, brushing off her dusty byrda. She wistfully made her way over, finding a spot where she could listen to the Singer’s voice. Though she was old, she still sang very clearly; her range was low but expansive. Vala eyes followed the flowing movements of the Singer’s hands through the air, it was if she was trying to mold the notes as they traveled before her; at the higher notes she would raise her hands, as if trying to push them up ever higher to the skies. Vala’s own hands twitched as her body tried to mimic what they saw. Today her hands were a deep sea sapphire. Her songs were always called in their siren urgency. Vala began to sway side to side. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the notes that rolled over her. She gasped. Bubbling yet thinly controlled energy seemed to rush and overwhelm Vala’s sense of smell and hearing. A shadow crossed her face but she couldn’t focus on anything but the waves she could feel rolling off the form looming in front of her, only to crash onto her consciousness. It was suffocating and comforting at the same time. She tried to remember. Had she seen the Singer since she had been opened up to Auristics? No. Then it made sense. Ever since Torc had brought her to a new level of consciousness, she had trouble blocking out stronger projectors. Vala forced herself to open her eyes, trying to block out the feeling that threatened to make her pass out. Putting up walls as fast as she could, it still wasn’t enough to quell the growing faint that fogged her mind. Before she knew it, it was over. The singer pulled back. Just before she did Vala caught a glimpse of the rainbow of colors that made the outer aura of the singer: it was a rainbow of unbelievable beauty and range. Vala felt like she couldn’t breathe. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, dear.” Her speaking voice was radically different than her singing voice; it was raspy and stained with age. Vala could only nod. “Do you sing, child?” She asked, her eyes bright and invading, eerie for one so aged. Vala nodded again. “Then sing with me!” Vala opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Her voice had caught in her throat, choking her. The Singer cackled, but only with good will. “Don’t be afraid dear, sing.” Without waiting for Vala to gather her wits, the singer began. Vala soon joined, weakly at first, then stronger. Vala was a soprano, with an airy depth, but her notes still managed to dance along side the Singer’s with meek confidence. This was not a new song to her; the singer had sung this before. Vala knew the notes, but not by controlled memory. Occasionally she would mess up the words. It was made even harder since the Singer had chosen a song in Common, one not their native tongue. Normally Vala would never have sung in public. For one who could tell stories fairly easily, she had a crippling stage fright when it came to singing. The only thing that kept the notes from receding back into Vala’s throat, was the unrelenting blue gaze of the Singer. Early one morning, just as the sun was rising I heard a yound maid sing in the valley below "Oh, don't deceive me; oh, never leave me! How could you use a poor maiden so?" Remember the vows that you made to me truly, Remember how tenderly you nestled close to me Gay is the garland, fresh are the roses I've got from the garden to bind over thee Here I now wander alone as I wonder Why did you leave me to sigh and complain? I asked of the roses, why should I be forsaken? Why must I here in sorrow remain? Through yonder grove by the stream that is running There you and I have so merrily played Kissing and courting and gently sporting Oh, my innocent heart you've betrayed Soon you will meet with another pretty maiden Some pretty maiden you'll court her for a while Thus ever ranging, turning and changing Always seeking for a girl that is new Thus sung the maiden her sorrows bewailing Thus sung the maiden in the valley below "Oh don't deceive me; oh, never leave me How could you use a poor maiden so? Vala continued to sing with the aged lady. Her voice gently quavering as she slowly built confidence. The memory of why she was at the Courtyard so early in the morning, or even who she was waiting for was beginning to wane as she was captivated by the Singer’s aura and presence.

[Eoin]

Vala’s message had come as a surprise to him and even drew a bit of worry from the Avora. Thankfully, with the date of the Song Festival quickly approaching, Eoin was much too preoccupied to dwell on those thoughts. The turn out this year was the same as usual, with nearly all Inartans attending at different intervals at a time. It seemed as though the reputation of Inartans looking for ways to celebrate was an understatement, for the Courtyard of the Sky was brimming with people and the kitchens swamped with work, with Avoras and Endals requesting fancier and usually more time-consuming dishes in light of the festivities. Rare were the times when the kitchens were given a break, and most chefs missed a great deal of the festival as a result. Even Eoin, who was a lover of the arts, could only catch a few snippets of the performances before hurrying to back to his station. There would be many celebrations in the coming days, but for today, he tried not to let them probe his mind and seed worries. Eoin had already been up and about for a few bells now, accustomed to rising as early as the 5th bell on some days. His backpack had already been filled with the necessary equipment, including his shortbow and arrows should something unexpected happen. Even though the path he hiked upon was typically free from danger, inhabited mostly by herbivores such as deer and rabbits, one could never be too confident in the apparent safety of the wilderness. The itinerary was simple, a trek around the old trail before resting, perhaps grabbing some food from the kitchens before moving over to the Edge of the World for some climbing. With everything set and the weather agreeable, the man was definitely looking forward to the day. Eoin was not so much weaving through the small throngs of people as he was walking slowly behind them, gradually making his way through the halls. He was early, and had time to waste and the patience of a sage, his stride steady until a young Dek ran around a corner and collided straight into his moving leg, falling from the impact. To a bystander, it may have looked as though he had kicked the child down. There was a small note in the young Inartan’s hands, but it had easily escaped and slid across the floor. Eoin had barely felt the impact, slow to react even to physical stimuli, but did see the piece of paper fly by. He automatically went to retrieve it, returning to the recovering drudge before it had returned to its senses. The messenger’s gender was indistinguishable at its age, but it was a common sight for girls tend to mimic the appearance of a male to avoid certain dangers. The drudge was too afraid to look into the Avora’s tepid gaze as Eoin handed him the note, its small hands outstretching after a good chime of silence. As its fingers slowly inched forward, the man could see that they were scraped from the fall and were bleeding rather heavily. Instead of grasping the note, thin wrists were caught with a kind hand, and the child instinctively tried to retreat in fear. “You’re bleeding.” Eoin spoke, a gentle tone similar to the way he had spoken to his mother. His voice was so drastically different from how the drudge had been spoken to before that it stopped pulling and simply listened in confusion, its eyes fixed on the ground. He kneeled to have a better look at the cuts, which were littered with small pebbles and dirt from grazing the stone floors. The child simply ducked further into its shoulders defensively, afraid to even look at its own hands with the Avora’s face behind them. Eoin then proceeded to ask for the drudge’s name, its age, and if it’d like for him to help, but not a word escaped those chapped lips. Though he wished to exercise his authority over the Dek in order to clean and dress the wounds, respect was regarded on a higher level and he would not change his mind. However, that did not mean he wasn’t worried about possible infection and illness that could afflict the child, but his priorities were fixed and even he could not change them. Thus, Eoin simply instructed the drudge, “Please carefully wash your cuts and wrap them in a clean fabric if you can find one,” before reluctantly slipping the note into two relatively unscathed fingers, watching as the Dek ran off immediately after. The scene was rather close to the Courtyard of the Sky, with only a few paces separating that hallway from the view of the open area, which was fortunate to the now late arrival. Before Eoin began to look for Vala, he was distracted by a sweet duet near one end of the courtyard. Curious, he walked over to the singers, one of which was a blue handed woman smelling of dye and the other, a short Inartan woman whose face was turned away from him. They were locked in their gaze and their voices, the higher struggling with certain lyrics but faring well against the more experienced songstress. Despite the soprano’s untrained voice, he found himself enjoying the light touch she brought to the folk song. He was unfamiliar with Common, but took this as a chance to improve his knowledge, linking known words to phrases and putting each into the context of the story. Eoin briefly wondered if the duo had sang during the festival, and was now simply training for the next, but that thought quickly and quietly dissipated into the sea of the hymn. Inadvertently, his lips curved lightly in appreciation, green eyes easing in appearance as each note drew him closer to the heart of the melody.

[Vala]

Just as the last note flew from Vala lips, the Singer decrescendoed into silence. Vala cringed, drawing into herself; the abruptness of the Singer’s aura change was unnerving. The Singer smiled at Vala, gave Eoin a mischievous wink, and flitted away into a dark warren. She was fast for someone so old. It took four seconds for Vala to stop wondering where The Singer had gone off to, and to wonder what she had winked at. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Eoin, standing right behind her. It was a pleasant surprise. She smiled, a genuine smile. She brushed a stray lock of hair from her temple behind her ear; the crimson strands fell back to their place at an errant flick of her head. Her smile wavered, the ends of her lips quivering, until she was frowning. Vala wasn’t so sure if she was happy to see Eoin, well not in the current circumstances. She was embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed, not rosy and cute, but rather sanguine and worrying. Vala did not understand why she had begun to sing with the lady she had grown to admire and respect of the years; she did not understand. The Singer had seen Vala’s aura. She knew Vala could see auras as well. Vala did not know. It was as simple as that. Now Vala was flustered. She didn’t like being flustered. She got petty and childish when she wasn’t in control. She had messed up when she had sung, not badly, but enough to be noticed. She had hoped their corner real estate had prevented much viewing, but obviously not. Vala did not dislike Eoin, she disliked the position he had put her in. She needed to save face before she broke, but there was nothing to save. So she put on a mask. It was a simple mask, one that she was very comfortable in, but it still had that echo of false depth that revealed her lack of true intent to the more astute observers. “Hey Eoin! Ready to go for our hike? Sorry I had to postpone before… I’m all better now I swear!” Her words were welcoming, but the cold undertone gave the words a flinty sharpness. Her white knuckled grip tightened around her short bow, while her shoulder shifted to adjust her quiver. The feel of her weapons, tools that she could use to kill, calmed her throbbing heart. OOC : Wow I'm such a dunce. I completely forgot about the music festival. And sorry if "The Singer" is such a cliché and childish name - its Vala, not me; I swear! :3

[Eoin]

oocDon’t worry about it, you have a lot more threads going than I do after all

The Singer just makes me think of an evil teacher for some reason XD.

As the notes dissipated into the air, Eoin felt a soothing exhale accompanying their departure. The effect of music on him was immense, and the man was falling into complete ease, until the aged singer sent a wink his way. His eyes widened just barely and his lips faded to a default position. The implications of the gesture were obvious even to a hopeless man like himself, but that was about it, and instinctively his thoughts then froze in confusion. Even stranger was the fact that the other songstress was Vala, and worst still was her expression, which only seeded more and more unanswered questions. In times like these, even Eoin did not think it was wise to analyze the situation too thoroughly, and actually, he didn’t think it was possible considering his current state of mind. Returning his attention to Vala, her face lit red as a tomato but her voice brighter than he had ever heard her, he could not help but dismiss the disorientation and respond with a half smile. The strange tones to her voice went unnoticed as he answered, that same sincerity as always. “If you’re sure you’re alright, then we should get a move on.” Eoin paused just a moment for her response, before moving to walk by her side. He noted that she came prepared with a weapon herself, a bow she was gripping onto rather heavily. Perhaps she hadn’t ventured far from the city and the fear was getting to her now that they were finally departing. To ease her nerves, he began to explain the schedule and the trail as they neared Sanikas Gates. “The trail is fairly safe, since I’ve only ever seen rabbits and deer around. There are some hard to climb sections, but there are shaded areas where we can rest in between.” Eoin looked forward as he spoke, not wishing to trip and embarrass himself in front of another. As they past the city’s entrance, he gave a curt nod toward Val Imsun who returned a slight dip of the chin himself and a smile for Vala. Briefly, the image of the singer’s wink flashed before him, and he swore that the elder had a similar look in his eyes. A bit perturbed but steady still, he continued with barely a falter in his voice despite his racing thoughts. “The returning trail is much easier so we won’t be too tired for climbing in the afternoon. In between, we can stop by the kitchens for lunch.” Finishing, he glanced over at Vala to reveal anticipation dancing in his eyes, a gaze green with excitement, before leading the way. Getting to the area was a breeze, an unfit indicator of the difficult time they’d have scaling the mountainside. Eoin understood Vala may have some issues getting past certain areas, but he was quite certain that she’d enjoy it all the same. He did after all, and what was not to like about the wilderness? Any opportunity to be closer to nature was a blessing for the overworked Avora, reviving fantasies as a child of dangerous adventure. As they continued, if one was attentive of the changing environment, they’d notice the growing size of the rocks that scattered the trail. Eventually, Eoin could walk no further since a border of boulders now hindered his path. Without hesitation, he readjusted the straps of his backpack, placed two hands firmly in the grooves of two boulders and hoisted himself to sit. Tucking his feet under his bottom, the man stood at an imposing height above the already impressively high obstacles. He had almost forgotten about Vala and was about to proceed, expecting her to follow before noticing the difficulty she was having. Squatting, he offered a hand, lightly scarred with careless burns and cuts from years past.

[Vala]

Hehe, My bad : Sorry if I kinda pushed the thread into a certain direction. Coughcough… I actually hadn’t meant to… Do you believe me when I say it ‘just happened’? ;p Ha. She’d heard that before. ”Just rabbits and deer." Vala pulled an arrow from her quiver, nocking it in her bow, but she didn’t pull the string just yet. They reached the Gates. “Hey Val! We’re going for a ‘hike’. If we’re not back by the afternoon could you make sure to send out a search party?” Vala called out without the ring of false cheer, she even giggled. She was only half joking. They walked on. Val returned Eoin's nod and Vala a hearty smile and wave. Vala pulled the string halfway back, keeping the arrow head pointed down as soon as they were out of Val’s sight. As they walked, Vala never stopped whipping her eyes about as she tried to catch sight of anything big and hairy through the sparse brush and rocky outcropping. She didn’t now a whit of tracking but she had gone hunting before, so she knew she should have been looking for foot prints or dung, or any other signs, but she still wasn’t too sure what to look for. After a while her arm started to scream in pain as she grew dizzy trying to identify everything that moved. They walked in relative silence. Eoin was enjoying himself immensely. Vala was in pain and very much afraid. She didn’t know why she had agreed to a ‘hike’ so soon after her ‘event’, she was pretty sure she had been distracted by ‘thoughts’ of Eoin every time she tried to remember why she had sudden heart palpitations at mentions of their hike. She un-nocked her arrow, returning it to her quiver. Vala pouted. Her lips quivered, not from the sudden disappearance of Eoin to a much higher, inaccessible plane, but because she was remembering. She hated to dwell; she didn’t mind grudges, because those could be nonsensical and kind of fulfilling; but dwelling over an event that one couldn’t change? Well that was just pointless. Vala hated it. Vala couldn’t help it. It took her a little longer than expected for the hand to appear. A second skin of worn leather, her only pair of gloves, covered her hands enough for touch to be bearable, especially by one she didn’t mind as much as Eoin. She didn’t take it right away. She traced the scars and burns with her swift gaze; she expected as much from a cook. When she was sure he was strong enough to take her trifling weight, Vala took his hand, her small fingers easily encased by his steady yet gentle grip. Her right arm gave out; she had fatigued her muscles by keeping her arrow ready. She had to use her left arm to grab his forearm just so her right shoulder wasn’t ripped out of its socket. As her fingers wrapped around his arm she realized she wasn’t cringing; odd since this was more touch she could usually tolerate. Vala pushed the stomach churning thought from her mind as soon as she was on her feet again. Silence. Vala’s skin itched. More silence. “…Did I ever tell you why I couldn’t make our first hike?” Vala whispered, her words an accidental confession. She gasped, trying to suck them back into her mouth, but it was too late. He had already heard them.

[Eoin]

oocI do, because it came out of nowhere, but I love surprises. Though I have to say, Eoin’s reaction was just a slight exaggeration of mine when I read that post. XD

She hesitated, but Eoin was again unaware, still relishing the high of the surrounding scents, wild yet comforting. Her hand, though unexpected, did not tip his solid balance atop the boulder and was in fact a welcomed presence, allowing him lend more aid. To put it simply, the man was afraid to touch Vala and thus, had offered only one hand for the situation deemed it necessary. It was as though their first encounter scarred him, imprinting a clear image of who he believed was the girl standing before him. In a way, she was his opposite, expressive, emotional, turbulent. The rage and sorrow she forced down his throat silenced him, unearthing forgotten ignorance of deep seeded sins, quenching the barren lands with a relentless tide. He feared her effect over him, disturbed by her accomplishments thus far. There were weapons at her disposal that she might not even be aware of, but rather than hold expectations over her, Eoin simply accepted what had come to past by facing the future head on. He wasn’t, couldn’t be a saint, for he held other intentions besides curing a lonely heart. Yet for what it was worth, the man was sincere in his wish for friendship, even if he may benefit from the added bonus. With the tension shared between two points, Vala was able to make her way past the first obstacle, standing tall. What followed was serene tranquility, a long look from their home in the mountains toward the horizon as he breathed silently, not wishing to disturb the peace. Though the view was always present and visible from certain areas of Wind Reach, when surrounded by the natural birthplace of all things, it could not be compared. The wild was where every living being was equal, a gift sacrificed for the order and safety of civilization. Eoin wondered if this was the reason behind the pull he felt from the natural earth, an ingrained wish for equality. His musings were brief but were still cut short by Vala’s mumblings, the wind easily carrying her voice and brought unwanted clarity to her words. He turned to face her, catching a bit of the surprise in her expression. “No.” Was all he said, but was not all that he gave. Now with his attention focused solely on Vala, Eoin’s unwavering gaze seemed steadier than ever, his eyes a curious green.

[Vala]

They were in the middle of no where. Vala sighed. He was looking at her. Vala looked off into the distance. Their pace slowed down to an easy drawling walk. Vala sighed again. Confessing is cathartic. For one like Vala, a girl whose life was held together by lies only visited by passing truths, it was absolutely nerve wrecking, but it hurt so good. "Well I uh... this is really embarrassing..." Vala groaned in pain. "Can we actually sit down for just a little bit? My ankle is starting act up pretty bad." Normally it would have crushed her to admit to her weakness, but it really was starting to throb. When they sat down, Vala took of her left boot. A tight bandage, cheap white gauze, ran from her mid calf all the way to the ball of her foot. She hadn't bothered with a hard splint that morning, naively assuming it would be fine. She gently massaged the tendons and ligaments around her foot and ankle. They had made great distance at a reasonable pace. There was swelling. Vala waited for Eoin to take a seat beside her; she avoided eye contact. Blunt. Why not? Acting, all the time, it got tiring. Why not try being blunt? "I went out for a 'hunt' with my friend, just bunnies mind you... and we got attacked by a bear. Long story short, I sprained my ankle." Vala giggled deprecatingly. "That actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be... I bet by now you think I'm a silly twit who can't keep her head on straight." Vala giggled again, her bright blue eyes glistening in the bright sunlight.

[Eoin]

She isn’t well after all. He thought, nodding in response before following Vala’s lead toward a nearby sitting area. Trailing behind, Eoin briefly scanned the surroundings for subtle movements, growing cautious as their pace slowed. They had not encountered much wildlife so far, only a few hares in hiding and the ever present birds nestled in the trees, but that guaranteed nothing for the future. Now aware of Vala’s healing injury, the man grew cautious and weary, not wishing to add to her wounds or be caught off guard by supposed safety. In a way, he was also a bit disappointed, for the remainder of their journey consisted of terrain that crescendo in difficulty. It would’ve been a fun adventure, he knew, for Vala. However, they may have to turn back in light of this new information. There was an evident pause before Eoin finally sat, still on the lookout but not wishing to scare his hiking partner with his watchfulness. (He hadn’t forgotten about Vala’s death grip on her bow just yet.) Reluctantly, he peeled both eyes away from the surrounding greenery and focused solely on Vala, since he was the single-minded type. His gaze fell to her leg wrapped in gauze, sloppily bandaged but tightly done. Yet, it seemed to suffocate in the firm hold, for there was obvious swelling. A splint could have been used, but neither of them had one on hand, but just as Eoin was about to inquire, Vala spoke. As she recounted her story, he simply did what he did best and listened, blind to the effort behind her words. Her giggles however, were hard to miss, reminiscent of his mother’s own in times past. That was when he clued in, if for a bit, that this just might be important. Though, from her words, Eoin could hardly see the significance. But this was Vala, and he knew what she was capable of, thus the man treaded carefully. He first turned away, following her own line of sight to relieve her of his gaze and whatever might betray him in them. As he did, her last words dissipated in the air, leaving a harsh silence to follow. There was that familiar self hate, a long kept curse to his family, stinging his lips in mockery. His eyes sank, a lovely green reflected in muted moss of his hooded gaze. Quietly he spoke, words weighed down by understanding and disdain. “You’re wrong.” It came out sharper than he expected, but lacked any hints of anger that his words might suggest. “I would never think that.” Eoin felt disconnected from the now, his voice seemed faraway and Vala’s presence lost in a haze beyond his reach. His audience seemed to grow, but his volume did not compensate for it. He didn’t want to repeat himself, not to her. This wasn’t what he wanted, a tranquil day without these thoughts was his goal, his wish, but they seemed to manifest in every form imaginable just to spite him. His mind was their favourite haunt, and they weren’t inclined to share even one piece. “You’re just like her, it’s amazing…” He mumbled, unaware that his thoughts had penetrated reality to form words as his lips drew taut.

[Vala]

Vala's lips narrowed until they were razor thin. Her words came sharp and clipped. "Like who?" Her nose curled until her angelic features had transfigured into a wicked sneer. Her jagged canines flashed as she spoke. "Like your mother?" Every word shot from her mouth in hushed rage, daggers cloaked in understanding. Vala was clumsy, emotional, vain, and so many other things that would have one to believe she was a fool; but if she was anything, she was observant. He was avoiding eye contact. A lot could be read from eyes alone, but his stance projected more than she needed to know. He took some time to speak his words; he was deliberate in his thoughts, but that last line. That last line was a misstep. It was mumbled, not meant to be heard by the likes of her. Vala’s sneer softened, just barely; he was like her, troubled by inner demons, but for him, those demons had a face, a body to manifest in. In an instant, every muscle in her body slackened; the arm that had been massaging her throbbing ankle fell limp to her side. She seemed so tranquil, so young. No lines marred her rounded face, her still plump cheeks, or the corners of her doe wide eyes. Eoin was still thinking to himself, giving Vala time. Her eyes glazed over, the bright blue drained, hidden behind a glassy film, until they were a steely gray. Eoin was not a projector; well not around Vala. She could barely penetrate even the outer layers of his murky aura. He probably had just as many shields as she had, maybe better. Impossible. Vala growled, deep in her chest, but it was barely audible. The hair on her neck bristled as her own energy flamed and flared. His outer aura, while resisting detection seemed to push her away. She unconsciously raised her left hand, her fingers reaching, prodding to touch, just to feel, just for a second, what it was like to be privy to his aura. She gasped, pulling back. It didn’t hurt; it did the opposite. It dragged her into a place so like her own it made her want to cry, to be held, to be reminded she wasn’t alone. All she could see was gray, she felt it too: A fog. Her mind spun. Her breath hitched. Vala felt something warm against her cheek. She brought the afflicted hand to the place; her fingers touched something sad and quickly dying. She coughed. Blinking her eyes several times, it took her longer than usual to get back to seeing and feeling properly. She held her hand further away, close to her lap, to see what she had touched. Her fingers were smeared with red. A throbbing began behind her eyeballs; a feeling she knew all too well. Now it was Vala’s turn to look away from Eoin.

[Eoin]

Like a spear, her words pierced with deadly precision, but lacked the necessary accuracy to shed honest blood. Nonetheless, he sustained injury from her attack, but his resolve would not betray any emotion. Eoin was a quiet man, but the silence that followed seemed to loom and smother, a smoke thick with tar. She was right of her accord, but the entire truth was still hidden safely away within his fortressed memories, burrowing itself a pit with no end. He knew it would come to this, for he acted so unlike himself by reaching out to another, as though he were waiting to be bitten. It was almost fitting how well he had chosen, for it was his choices in the past that had created these ruins. Punishment, he yearned for its justified assault on his guilt ridden heart. He would not answer, because he already said too much. When it came to the act, Eoin wasn’t as prepared for the scrutiny that followed as he thought he was. Colour inevitably returned to his eyes with time, as he pushed away the haunting reveries of his childhood. He thinks of it as a time far along in the past, but few years separated the physical from then to now, and only in his mind did age with profound speed. But into what sort of man…? The Avora blinked slowly, and watched the leaves sway gently in the wind. Somehow, through that, he found a sliver of peace to fend off the creatures of nightmare, keeping them at bay for a moment longer. Now, in realization of existence around him, his eye caught the slight movements of Vala’s hand and her turn from him. He mirrored her movements, delayed lips parted, then closed. Her hair hindered his vision, and Eoin felt inclined to move the strands from her neck but did not act. Instead his gaze flowed down the length, finding the tips dragging in a small droplet of blood. “Are you hurt?” He asked immediately, his voice calm despite the quick reaction. She gave pause, but the man was determined to have his answer. Rather than wait for the pieces to fall into place, Eoin connected them himself, a breakneck speed considering the individual in question. Whatever ails Vala was known to her, but it was to be kept secret from him. He found himself remembering the young Dek that crossed his path just a few chimes ago, how he had let the child go despite knowing what would befall it. However, he would not regret his decision, for his pride would not allow him. But now? Now that Eoin realized his pull toward Vala was for a reason, could he still turn a blind eye? The severity of the situation was exaggerated in his mind, creating an ultimatum of it all when all he needed to do was to step out of a simple boundary, one heavy with the footsteps of his race. Silently, he riffled through his bag, pulling a green scarf from underneath the waterskin and knife. Then, without hesitation, his hand reached for Vala, his body leaning slightly to extend the reach. He turned her chin toward him, a firm but gentle grip that spoke only concern. She seemed surprised, but Eoin was too distracted by the blood surrounding her eyes to notice. Before she could protest, he began to dab with a corner of the scarf, his touches feather light to avoid causing further pain or blood flow. Never had he seen such a sight, nor was he skilled enough to provide proper aid. The least he could do now was wipe away the crimson tears. And there it was, the one act he was so afraid to perform was done just like that. Eoin released his grip, and looked into the familiar blue of her eyes. This time he would not be careless, this time he would choose correctly, to choose trust. “My sister had eyes just like yours.”