Ever since Anok had been brought into Granny's hovel, Nadia had been getting better.
Tremendously, in fact.
It had been five days and Nadia was already out of her bed, moving around the hovel and stealing glances at Anok at any given opportunity.
Just like she was doing right now.
Nadia had lost count of the water droplets that rolled down Anok's bronze skin, as he swam slowly around in the river. Instead, she had gotten lost in the way his muscles moved under the ray of the sun, and allowed herself to fantasize about how he would feel against her.
Warm.
Wet.
It would be perfect.
These days, all she could think about was him. It was as if she had gotten better just because they were made to be together, she hadn't died because she was meant to be his, and her death would have left his life so devastatingly imperfect.
The rippling of the water floated to her ears, and she imagined what might happen if she would just become bold enough to take off her heavy gown and join him in the river.
The leaves rustled and her heart raced when she thought the loud sound had come from her, but it hadn't.
By Ignas, relief.
"Oh, my heart!" Taria said, startled, taking a sudden step back with a basket of cloth in her hands, and the other on her chest. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun and her sleeveless knee-length gown was the color of the sun. "My apologies, I came here to wash. I was lost in thoughts and I didn't take notice of your presence earlier. I will leave you to your swim and find another river."
She turned to leave, and Nadia smiled from where she was hiding.
Yes, she should leave.
She still had a lot to admire about her warrior. Her dear Anok. She was especially waiting for him to step out of the water.
It would be pleasing to see what he would look like when that would happen, and she wished to be the only audience to witness the glorious sight.
So, yes. Taria should go away.
"I am sorry I stabbed you," Anok said and Taria smiled, turning to him, the colorful blend of her hair, was a sight to behold as the sun rays hit it.
"I don't think an apology will be enough." She said on a teasing note, taking a step closer to the shore. "You see it was a big stabbing."
"What should I do?" Absentmindedly, He swarmed closer.
He had found out from Kenji that ever since she had been healed from his attack, she had not been able to wield her powers again.
Galdur had told Kenji, who also told him, that it was an effect of the Blood Moon. Still, Anok couldn't help but blame himself.
"What do you think you can do?" She was at the shore now, looking down at him, the wet, hard ground, comforting against her barefoot.
"First a peace offering."
She chuckled, lowly, slipping to her knees, closing up the space between them, Anok's gaze following her. She didn't mind that her yellow knee-length dress was going to get stained with dirt. She wasn't thinking about that at the moment. In fact, she wasn't doing much of any thinking at the moment.
"And what might that be?"
"A grand animal to cook a meal of your choosing." He paused, his eyes assessing every detail of her face and nailing it to his brain, how the corners of her lips lifted in a subtle smile. The twinkle in her black eyes. The slight reddening of her skin.
What a jewel.
"My cooking is terrible, Sir Anok."
"So is mine, but my brother cooks well. Let's suffer Kenji with that."
She chuckled again. "I think he will be very happy about that. He has been filling my ears about how Granny's cooking made him feel challenged, and how he couldn't wait for an opportunity to test out his culinary skills."
When her fingers mindlessly trailed his shoulder, he didn't flinch, instead, he reached for her hair and twirled it delicately between his fingers.
All sense of logic, was by now, very far away.
Her lips twisted unpleasantly.
"I don't like my hair."
Anok's gaze shifted from the multicolor art, to her captivating eyes.
Maybe it was because of what had happened to him, but the lock he had on his emotions seemed to have disappeared. His filter, gone.
"I can shave it off for you if you want."
"So I can look like you?" She tapped the tip of her nose playfully.
"And how do I look?"
"Beautiful."
The water must have grown hotter.
He felt warm. She made him feel warm.
"You will look even better. Breathtaking."
"Don't play with me, Baldy."
"I'm not." He brushed his hand over his head, his cheeks raised in a smile.
Happiness glinted in her eyes and her fingers moved to his neck, trailing upwards.
"I like your eyes."
His eyes darkened. He moved closer hoisting his body upwards as much as he could, his wet hand cupping the nape of her neck. He was getting lost in the flow of the moment, and the guard he usually had on his tongue had somehow slipped away during his freedom from the darkness that had stolen his mind days ago.
"I like you."
The rustling of the leaves from the bushes a distance away, broke the spell of the moment.
"Seems like my peace offering is already around here. You should go and hunt it down" Taria said, standing up and taking her basket of clothes with her. There was a tremble in her movement, so slight, only to be caught by his keen eyes.
"Taria--"
"Have fun hunting, Nosy Warrior." With that, she left.
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Nadia raced through the forest, biting her sobs away so she wouldn't be heard, eyes clouded with tears.
When her legs were tired, she stopped by a tree and sat beneath it.
Then she wept like there was nothing else to live for.
Anok liked someone else?
That multicolored-hair lady?
After all these years that she had liked him from a distance, he had moved a little closer - lived in her home with her- and now, he liked someone else?!
It was wrecking, to say the least.
Her heart was broken and she would never be able to heal.
The voice of someone from a distance away, echoed around her.
It was a cry for help.
Nadia wiped away her tears and stood weakly on her legs, looking around.
"Help me!" A pause. "Anybody, please!"
Without much thinking, she started searching and finally, she found a woman in the forest, her leg trapped beneath a rock.
The woman's silver eyes found hers, and she pleaded.
Nadia hesitated. She had lived close to Nuktar Forest for a very long time, and she knew certain boundaries shouldn't be crossed. Her Granny had told her repeatedly.
This was one of the boundaries.
That part of the forest the woman was in, was plagued with restless spirits.
That was what Granny had said.
It was a fate worse than death to cross the threshold and test fate.
Nadia's lips trembled and she turned away. She would not cause her Granny grief today.
"Please, help me. I am trying to find my daughter. Please, don't let me die here."
Nadia stilled. She was looking for her daughter?
Their shared predicament took over her brain and all logic was lost.
Let fate be damned!
She turned back and crossed the boundary to help the woman without hesitation this time.
Oh sweet, kind, and lovely Nadia.
She really shouldn't have.