I stared into those milky white eyes, knowing they couldn't see my silver gaze. This was - this was agonizing. I slowly took in a deep breath, then reached up and gripped her hand. I ignored the pain in my arm as my muscles shifted as I took her hand in mine. I didn't detest her - and I certainly was not her master. But how could I speak? How could I, when knowing me had brought this on her? Fuck. I sighed, shaking my head as I tried to think of what to do here.
She froze when my hand landed in hers and I squeezed it tightly. Ah.
“Who….” Her hand tightened its grip and an angry red light burst forth from it. Fuck..fuck she was trying to burn my hand off. Her lips twisted into a snarl and even though she couldn’t see her milky eyes were filled with hate, the type of hate a cornered animal had.
Ethereal snakes erupted from her back and began to dart around, trying to find their target. I shifted, letting one sail past my head - I had not yet experienced the snakes striking me, and I didn't intend to let it happen here.
“You called me, and I came.” My voice was steady. Hard. She didn't need a reminder of the affection right now. I reached over and picked up the black gemstone that had brought me here, enduring the pain in my hand as her fingers trapped mine, burning through the glove and into my flesh.
Her grip loosened and the snakes faded. Her face fell from a hate-filled snarl to confusion. She let go of my hand and reached for her chest. She felt around for a stone that was no longer there. “How?” I took her hand in mine, and pressed the stone into her searching, fumbling fingers. Moving my burnt hand hurt - my healing hadn't kicked in yet, so moving the flesh stung like hell.
“I stopped waiting.” If I had hesitated even a moment longer, would I have had time to get her to summon me? I doubt it, I truly doubted it.
“I…” She furrowed her eyes as she lifted them to - well.. To my left. Would she stay blind? Her entire nude form shivered. “I need to be stronger.” Her words were a whisper.
“So get stronger. Get strong enough that it doesn't matter, that you can do whatever you want. But for now, stay here. I'll get you food - and here, Dawn girl.” I stood up and opened the bag that held the coat I had made for her. I draped it onto her shoulders, and she clung onto it almost desperately. I turned away and moved to start butchering the wolf carcasses.
“I was warned against you.” She said. “That any further interaction with you would result in further punishment till I understand.” She spat. “Like they know. I am supposed to be their leader. I will do what I feel is right. That includes you.” I paused, a chunk of meat in my hand, and looked over my shoulder at her. I took a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
“And I will stand by you. My blade is yours, Scarlet. The only, the single only person who can make me leave, is you.” I stood up and brought the meat over to where she sat, holding onto the new coat on her shoulders. I sat it down on her legs, the blood trailing down her skin. “Hold onto that for a moment. I'm going to get some wood to cook it.” And I had a perfect fucking target. I drew out my blade, clicking it open. My arm tensed - and I swung, burying it halfway into the tree that she had been hanging from. I glared, ripped the Saw-Spear free - then hacked in again, and again. There was a cracking sound - and the tree fell, the wooden sign knocked loose. I stepped onto it, shattering it beneath my boot.
I turned to see her already eating, blood dripped down her hands and arms and smeared over her mouth. I blinked, and tilted my head to the side. “Do you need more?” She looked - good, better than she had when I had arrived. Still unseeing, but even the raw meat seemed to be helping.
“If torturing me won’t work. They may hunt you down.”
I growled in response to her words.
“Let them come then. I'm growing. I will not be scared away. If a day comes when I do not answer you - you will know it is because I am dead. And you will know that - they are scared of you.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“I’d rather you not die.” Her words were spoken with that articulate punch that she had when she had a goal in mind. That strength. Even being abandoned in a forest for days without food, water, or shelter, even after having her eyes ripped out and torn by the wolves. She had such resolve. It suited her well. I snorted.
“I would rather that not be the case either. I have a very long life ahead of me, and I need to prove those fuckers who ripped my life from me that they did not succeed.” I wondered - did she feel the same? A drive to prove them wrong?
“A long life… “ She mused. “I won’t age. I won’t die. I’m immortal. Whomever I meet, its only a temporary thing. Maybe that’s why they insist I stay alone. Less heartache.” I blinked, studying her. She was thoughtful. I knelt by her, and gently took her empty hand in mine, and pressed her palm to. My chest.
“I am eighty seven, nearing eighty eight. In human terms, I stopped aging in my twenties. I am an Elf, one who has been genetically experimented upon. The others I know of - in the memories I have - are centuries old, and still going strong. And I am moon-touched, which twists things even further, as I have inherent magic. I have no idea how long I will live. But it will be on your side, as your ally or whatever comes.” I let her go, watching her face as I sat back.
She smiled. That - I had not expected that. My eyebrows rose, though she couldn't see it.
“For someone so against being emotional and so adamant that you would be naught but my Hunter….” She licked her fingers, tongue lapping up the blood that dripped on them - I fought down a groan. “You’re doing quite the opposite.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Course, I would be a hypocrite to say otherwise.”
“I.. Realized something.” I sat forward, my eyes trained on those blood-stained lips. Then I shook my head and concentrated. “The stigma, the hate, against me was much deeper rooted in my land than I realized. My memories, the ones you showed me were false? They were constructed to build in me a belief that I should never form a true connection with someone, until I stopped being a Huntsman.” I let out a bitter snort.
“You never stop being a Huntsman, until you are dead. Twenty years of training pounded that into my head. See the problem?” The people who had trained me - hated what I was so much that they sought to make sure I died alone. If I had remained in Alerar? That surely would have happened.
“You won’t stop being a Hunter. You enjoy it too much.” I hummed in agreement at her slow, considering words. I waited for her to go on, to finish the thought. “That doesn’t stop you doing whatever and whoever you want.” She rubbed her temple, smearing more blood over her face. “I’m repeating myself. Obviously you’re a threat. My Master doesn’t like what I’ve become. I’m a danger to him. I’m a threat. People try to snuff out and control threats.”
“Precisely. They sought to control me. To restrict me. To prevent me from having a life. Not because I was a threat though - because I had magic.” I snorted in disgust. “They wanted me alone, ostracized, just an emotionless tool. Right until I died. Then they'd likely have thrown me out with the trash. All because of their hate and fear.”
