A/N: :: = Italics… since I can't seem to get it to work any other
way…grrrr…. :)
Battles we've Fought
Another Fanfic by De-gone Gin
Chapter 2:
The party relaxed on the small ledge and waited, as Wakka maneuvered his Chocobo across the gap. Rikku, in a fit of curiosity picked up a pebble from the ground and walked over to the edge of the deep earthen fissure. After the soft thump of a landing yellow Chocobo, signaling the blitzballer's arrival, the thief dropped the pebble into the gap. With the patience of someone with nothing better to do, Rikku waited for the sound of the pebble-hitting bottom. There had been no such sound for the long moments it took to set up a base camp and cook food.
Auron grunted, he was in a foul temper after the incident with Tidus. Added to his overall state of grumpiness was the fact that his ribs troubled him. It was not like the older guardian to cater to his weaknesses, and he was impatient to be on the trail. The previous pilgrimage had not needed anything that was hidden in the maps or texts of the Al-Bhed, and even though he was a very open minded Yevonite; he still wondered what the strange folk could possibly have secreted here. He watched the group and ate mechanically whatever Lulu gave him. The dark mage taking a small delight in cooking for the group. Auron did not taste the food, he couldn't have cared less what it was or named what he had just stuffed in his mouth. His mind was taken up with the past, the previous pilgrimage of Braska, Jecht and himself.
Tidus and Wakka sat across the fire from the warrior monk their discussion covering every aspect possible of the sport of Blitzball. Auron tuned them out, listening instead to the internal dialogue within his own spirit.
The scarlet robed warrior let his gaze rest on the movement of the fire; it was soothing, dancing before him. Auron remembered spending much time looking into the yellow flames of a campfire, his mind seeking rest from the constant internal monologue. Now, he was again on the path to someone's death, his near brush with the Farplane had set him thinking. With the cold detachment given to him by his Unsent state he opened up his inner doors, he allowed his thoughts to run free.
::What has made me so… angry?:: He thought to himself. :: I should not be so affected by the simple unthinking actions of any ONE of my charges.:: Auron sighed, with an unconscious hand he reached down to his tokkuri. The warrior-monk was sipping the potent liquid without tasting it, mimicking actions that satisfied and comforted him in life, but taking no pleasure in them now. ::So, after this little jaunt to Yevon knows where we can get back to the business at hand. Braska, you would be proud of your daughter, she leads as well as you do.:: He saluted the thought with a deep drink of his sake.:: I remember when I could taste this. I remember when it helped me control my temper.:: He snorted at the fire, picturing his youthful self slumped in a near stupor against any unmoving wall that was handy.:: I hated your drunkenness, Jecht, because it was a mirror of my own failings, now I watch over your son and wish I could feel at all.::
A small noise stirred the deeply thinking man, he looked with more intent into the fire, his sunglasses sliding unheeded to the tip of his nose. With in the yellow and red dancing light he saw Jecht, not as a man, but as Sin. The bloated abomination floated in the wavering air above the fire. Auron could hear the sad sounds that flowed from the beast, the near human moan of pain, madness, and utter fury. With a strangled yell, the scarlet robed warrior shot to his feet and threw the clay jug at the apparition.
Tidus waved away Wakka's last ridiculous statement. A cheerful grin on his tanned face, he shook his head. "No, no, no. Wakka, my man, with a 3-point defense and a man down you can't just try for a normal blitz! What are you t thinking? That old 'best defense is a strong offence' crap? You need strategy. Lots of it- HUH!?" the ranting teen was interrupted by the guttural shout from across the fire and the sting of hardened clay slapping into his upraised hands. Wakka turned quickly to see what was going on as the rest of the party; Lulu, Rikku, Yuna and Kimahri froze in place at what ever they were doing. Tidus thanked his blitzballer's reflexes as he settled the tokkuri in his lap, not really sure how he managed to catch it without even knowing it was coming.
"LEAVE IT BE!" shouted Auron at the fire. He turned abruptly and stalked away from camp, toward the opening in the cliff. His red kimono stark against the darkness of the passage, gold markings gleamed in the fading firelight. Yuna watched with utter confusion and then turned her gaze to Tidus. She walked over from setting up her bedroll to check on the blitzballer. Lulu shot a glance at the retreating form of Kimahri as he followed quietly after the distraught monk. The Ronso's meal left where it had fallen to the ground.
"Um, can anyone explain what the hell just happened here?" asked Tidus quietly in the shocked silence that settled around the obscenely cackling fire.
"Ya, that ain't the normal reaction to a good meal and great conversation, heh?" Wakka rubbed the back of his neck in confusion, "You okay, brudda?" He asked looking at Tidus, as the young man absently rubbed his stinging hands.
"No problems, just that jug's a lot harder than a Blitzball."
Yuna settled down next to Tidus and took his hands into hers; the palms were scuffed, reddened from the rough texture of the tokkuri. Auron may not be as strong as Wakka or Kimahri, but the old man could still pack a good deal into a throw. With a whispered chant she channeled her white magic into his hands, the familiar aquamarine glow of a cure spell lighting both of their faces.
"Yeah, and I bet he didn't pull his throw ether, ya?" Wakka added.
Tidus nodded in replay and sighed as the cooling effect of the spell calmed the sharp pain in his hands. "Thanks Yuna." He murmured, smiling at her. "Maybe I outta…"
Lulu shook her head. "No, Kimahri went after Auron. I just worry what caused all that?" She turned her crimson gaze on where the legendary guardian had sat. The dark mage caught a flash of white in the dirt near by. With a look of utter curiosity she moved to the spot and fished out a piece of paper on the ground. Lulu realized it was a flattened origami crane, carefully folded out of an old piece of parchment that had writing on it. She held it up for the group to see.
"Anyone know what this is all about?" Lulu asked.
"Father had a habit of folding animals out of his notes. He would jot something down and then give it to someone all folded up like that. But, Father's been gone for a long time, I don't know why you would find a note out here." Responded Yuna.
"I have a suspicion it fell from Sir Auron's coat. We should give it back when he returns."
"But we get to read it first, right?" asked Rikku. "I mean, if it was important he woulda had a secure place for it." She nodded to herself.
"It is most likely private, Rikku." Replied Yuna. "I know that I wouldn't want just anyone to read what ever falls from my robes."
Tidus blanched unseen at that statement as he fingered a sphere in his backpack.
"I think it's best if we just let it be, Sir Auron will most likely have an explanation. If he's willing to tell us that is." Lulu frowned and handed the little crane to Yuna. "Best keep this from prying eyes, my lady." She pursed her purpled lips and walked back to where she was cleaning the cooking gear.
Yuna placed the small paper bird, frozen in the upstroke of a wing beat into the obi that held her white over tunic. She patted Tidus on the shoulder and settled down next to him. With in moments she was resting her head on his strong shoulder, his arm around her back, holding and comforting her. Tidus turned to the rest of the group and noted that they were settling down and getting comfortable around the fire. Night had closed in around them and it was soon time to rest.
"So, what do you think that was all about?" asked Tidus as he used his free hand to jerk his thumb at the opening in the rock wall.
Wakka yawned, "Won't know until either Sir Auron or Kimahri get back, eh?" The red-haired man stretched, popping all the major joints in his upper torso like fireworks on the New Year.
"Oh man, Wakka, knock that off. It's disturbing!" Rikku scrunched her face up.
"You get a little older and see how well you do on the road, Rikku. 'Till then, lemme alone, 'kay?"
"Yeah, well, I'll know that if I HAVE to do that to relax, it's a sign I need to retire to Home." The spunky thief shot back. Them a dark cloud passed over the normally bubbly face. She sniffled and rested her head in her hands.
"Oh, man, sorry Rikku." Wakka looked anywhere but at the young Al-Bhed.
"It's not your fault." She sniffed back, "I'm the one who said it." She whipped her face with her hands. "It's just really hard for me to get used to the thought that it's gone. All gone." She started to cry, the strain and tension of the evening catching up the excitable young girl. Wakka looked uncomfortable and then stood up. With a caring look on his open face, he settled down next to the crying thief. With a gentle hand he patted her back.
"If you wanta, you can use my shoulder, ya? Lulu says it's almost as good as a pillow for being cried on, eh." He spoke in a soft, concerned voice. Lulu watched with an odd expression on her face, almost completely blank but her red eyes blazed with emotion as Rikku clutched on the big man, sobbing her pain onto his offered shoulder and holding on as the emotions clawed their way out of her. Wakka sat still as an oak in a typhoon, lightly patting the back of her head and rubbing her back. The dark mage sniffed and finished with the dishes. With no other sound or gesture she retired to her bed roll for the night, making sure to turn her back to the fire and the rest of the group. Tidus watched with a small smile on his face an he absently stroked Yuna's sleeping form, running his hand in her hair and slightly shifting to make her more comfortable.
Kimahri was impressed. It didn't take the old man very long to loose the Ronso in the dark jungle beyond the mountain wall. It was a no-brainer that Auron had left the obviously overgrown path. The blue warrior stopped his useless lope and sniffed the air, his ears twitching and filtering out the natural sounds. With in a short time, Kimahri smiled to himself and headed to the right, following an obvious trail of broken and sliced plants along the other side of the mountain wall. He moved with the stealth of a mountain lion, almost on all fours as he cautiously followed the distraught warrior-monk.
At the point where the two rock walls met, Kimahri spotted a flash of crimson. Auron's signature red cloak did nothing to hide his presence in the darkening jungle. Kimahri paused and went completely still, barely breathing to tune his fantastic hearing on the bundle of man and coat. Auron was sitting with is back to the corner. His head was cradled in his arms that rested on his folded knees. It was a picture of loneliness and abject pain. The raven-haired man was curled up in a ball, and he was whispering.
"…'t'll be over soon, Jecht. We're almost done with the pilgrimage and your plan had better work. I can't go on after that touch you two gave me."
The balled up man paused as if he was hearing a reply. Kimahri was concerned; Sir Jecht was dead, killed in the trials of High Summoner Braska. Auron seemed to be reliving the past, or wallowing in it.
Auron sighed and continued his whispered conversation with himself, "I know that Yuna will see through that crap. She has too, and your son will make it very difficult for her to continue on the way. She won't want to die and loose him. It'll make it almost insane to continue on our foolish path. Not to mention that bitch will cause no end of trouble." Auron waited for a response only he could hear. "No, no. I'm all right. You just startled me that's all, you lummox. You can't just tap me on the shoulder; no you have to appear in the damn fire. You almost caused me to kill Tidus with my tokkuri. Laugh now, Jecht, but I will remember that."
Kimahri stood up and made a small rustle in the brush around him with his tail, a warning to the wary that he was approaching.
Auron's hand shot to the hilt of his blade as he looked up, Braska's name on his lips. With a snort he let his right hand drop and he closed his eye. With visible effort he schooled his features and took a moment to raise his glasses and return his collar to a more upright, and hiding, position.
"Everyone else with you I assume?" the baritone was scratchy, almost a whisper itself.
Kimahri shook his head and crossed his large arms over his expansive blue chest.
"Just you?"
A nod this time, the yellow eyes glowing faintly in the near pitch dark of the night.
"What do you want?" Auron asked, his detached and emotionless mask effortlessly slipping back into place.
Kimahri cocked his head to one side and flicked the higher of his ears. His tail, motionless after the warning swipe, began to twitch and sway behind him. He looked directly into the scarlet warrior's one eye.
"I'm not completely sure what you want, Kimahri. Please just tell me, I'm in no mood…" Auron ran a hand through his spiky gray and black locks, taking a second to scratch at the base of his skull.
"Kimahri hear Auron speak with the dead. Kimahri worried that Auron is not well. Can Auron hear the dead?"
The question stopped the warrior-monk in mid scratch. He looked up at the Ronso, his façade cracking slightly. "How much did you hear?"
"Kimahri not hear anything but a name, and some talk of us." The Ronso gestured with his right paw, it was an ancient ward against the spirits of the dead, one Auron was well familiar with after his stay with the Ronso Tribe.
"You don't want to know anything about that, Kimahri, please don't make me tell you anything about it." Auron shifted his weight to his legs and pulled himself up to his feet. "Will you trust me on this?"
Kimahri watched the monk with a careful eye; he smelled desperation, even fear coming off this legendary warrior. A smell the Ronso would have never considered possible coming off of the Unsent man. He noticed the left hand disappearing into the folds of the red over kimono. With a sniff he subtly shifted his weight to his back foot, his right hand now resting back over his left arm.
Auron waited for the answer that he wanted to her, a simple "Yes" would be all that was needed, he curled his power hand around a hidden tanto, one he had placed under his kimono and against his leather chest plate. He shifted slightly to make the left side of his body more hidden. A dangerous glint in his single russet eye.
"Kimahri trust Auron. Does Auron trust Kimahri?" the Ronso asked softy in an almost purring voice. He dropped his hands to his side, opening up his vitals to the warrior before him. His glowing yellow eyes bore into Auron's soul, demanding the man act with honorable intent or destroy the long bond that held the two with a single knife thrust. "Kimahri know about the hidden fang you have in your hand. Will you use it on me?" he asked.
Auron blinked, sweat started to form on his forehead. With a cold shock he realized what he was about to do. Shuddering he loosed his grip on the straight edged knife hidden in his belt and grasped his temples with both his hands. Kimahri had dropped his stupid Ronso routine; he looked at the dead warrior with unclouded eyes. Auron's face burned with shame; fear that he was loosing all self-control making him stink in sweat. He lost control of his weakening knees, falling gracelessly onto the ground, crushing the grasses beneath his feet.
Kimahri nodded, the man had realized what he was about to do. The large furred man-beast settled onto his haunches near the collapsed warrior-monk. With a soft purring whisper he spoke.
"You have to hold on a little longer, my friend. You have the journey over my lands yet, and then it will be over." He reached out with tender clawed paws and lifted Auron's face, digging under the shielding gray leather and flicked the sunglasses off with his free paw.
Auron moaned and opened his one good eye. Wordlessly he poured forth all the pain and doubt that was corroding his determination out onto the surface of his gaze. Kimahri blinked, reading body moves as well as he understood spoken words.
"What is it? You cannot walk down this mountain alone. Tell Kimahri." The Ronso smiled, bearing his long canines.
The scarlet warrior took a long breath. This was going to be tough and a very long explanation.
Battles we've Fought
Another Fanfic by De-gone Gin
Chapter 2:
The party relaxed on the small ledge and waited, as Wakka maneuvered his Chocobo across the gap. Rikku, in a fit of curiosity picked up a pebble from the ground and walked over to the edge of the deep earthen fissure. After the soft thump of a landing yellow Chocobo, signaling the blitzballer's arrival, the thief dropped the pebble into the gap. With the patience of someone with nothing better to do, Rikku waited for the sound of the pebble-hitting bottom. There had been no such sound for the long moments it took to set up a base camp and cook food.
Auron grunted, he was in a foul temper after the incident with Tidus. Added to his overall state of grumpiness was the fact that his ribs troubled him. It was not like the older guardian to cater to his weaknesses, and he was impatient to be on the trail. The previous pilgrimage had not needed anything that was hidden in the maps or texts of the Al-Bhed, and even though he was a very open minded Yevonite; he still wondered what the strange folk could possibly have secreted here. He watched the group and ate mechanically whatever Lulu gave him. The dark mage taking a small delight in cooking for the group. Auron did not taste the food, he couldn't have cared less what it was or named what he had just stuffed in his mouth. His mind was taken up with the past, the previous pilgrimage of Braska, Jecht and himself.
Tidus and Wakka sat across the fire from the warrior monk their discussion covering every aspect possible of the sport of Blitzball. Auron tuned them out, listening instead to the internal dialogue within his own spirit.
The scarlet robed warrior let his gaze rest on the movement of the fire; it was soothing, dancing before him. Auron remembered spending much time looking into the yellow flames of a campfire, his mind seeking rest from the constant internal monologue. Now, he was again on the path to someone's death, his near brush with the Farplane had set him thinking. With the cold detachment given to him by his Unsent state he opened up his inner doors, he allowed his thoughts to run free.
::What has made me so… angry?:: He thought to himself. :: I should not be so affected by the simple unthinking actions of any ONE of my charges.:: Auron sighed, with an unconscious hand he reached down to his tokkuri. The warrior-monk was sipping the potent liquid without tasting it, mimicking actions that satisfied and comforted him in life, but taking no pleasure in them now. ::So, after this little jaunt to Yevon knows where we can get back to the business at hand. Braska, you would be proud of your daughter, she leads as well as you do.:: He saluted the thought with a deep drink of his sake.:: I remember when I could taste this. I remember when it helped me control my temper.:: He snorted at the fire, picturing his youthful self slumped in a near stupor against any unmoving wall that was handy.:: I hated your drunkenness, Jecht, because it was a mirror of my own failings, now I watch over your son and wish I could feel at all.::
A small noise stirred the deeply thinking man, he looked with more intent into the fire, his sunglasses sliding unheeded to the tip of his nose. With in the yellow and red dancing light he saw Jecht, not as a man, but as Sin. The bloated abomination floated in the wavering air above the fire. Auron could hear the sad sounds that flowed from the beast, the near human moan of pain, madness, and utter fury. With a strangled yell, the scarlet robed warrior shot to his feet and threw the clay jug at the apparition.
Tidus waved away Wakka's last ridiculous statement. A cheerful grin on his tanned face, he shook his head. "No, no, no. Wakka, my man, with a 3-point defense and a man down you can't just try for a normal blitz! What are you t thinking? That old 'best defense is a strong offence' crap? You need strategy. Lots of it- HUH!?" the ranting teen was interrupted by the guttural shout from across the fire and the sting of hardened clay slapping into his upraised hands. Wakka turned quickly to see what was going on as the rest of the party; Lulu, Rikku, Yuna and Kimahri froze in place at what ever they were doing. Tidus thanked his blitzballer's reflexes as he settled the tokkuri in his lap, not really sure how he managed to catch it without even knowing it was coming.
"LEAVE IT BE!" shouted Auron at the fire. He turned abruptly and stalked away from camp, toward the opening in the cliff. His red kimono stark against the darkness of the passage, gold markings gleamed in the fading firelight. Yuna watched with utter confusion and then turned her gaze to Tidus. She walked over from setting up her bedroll to check on the blitzballer. Lulu shot a glance at the retreating form of Kimahri as he followed quietly after the distraught monk. The Ronso's meal left where it had fallen to the ground.
"Um, can anyone explain what the hell just happened here?" asked Tidus quietly in the shocked silence that settled around the obscenely cackling fire.
"Ya, that ain't the normal reaction to a good meal and great conversation, heh?" Wakka rubbed the back of his neck in confusion, "You okay, brudda?" He asked looking at Tidus, as the young man absently rubbed his stinging hands.
"No problems, just that jug's a lot harder than a Blitzball."
Yuna settled down next to Tidus and took his hands into hers; the palms were scuffed, reddened from the rough texture of the tokkuri. Auron may not be as strong as Wakka or Kimahri, but the old man could still pack a good deal into a throw. With a whispered chant she channeled her white magic into his hands, the familiar aquamarine glow of a cure spell lighting both of their faces.
"Yeah, and I bet he didn't pull his throw ether, ya?" Wakka added.
Tidus nodded in replay and sighed as the cooling effect of the spell calmed the sharp pain in his hands. "Thanks Yuna." He murmured, smiling at her. "Maybe I outta…"
Lulu shook her head. "No, Kimahri went after Auron. I just worry what caused all that?" She turned her crimson gaze on where the legendary guardian had sat. The dark mage caught a flash of white in the dirt near by. With a look of utter curiosity she moved to the spot and fished out a piece of paper on the ground. Lulu realized it was a flattened origami crane, carefully folded out of an old piece of parchment that had writing on it. She held it up for the group to see.
"Anyone know what this is all about?" Lulu asked.
"Father had a habit of folding animals out of his notes. He would jot something down and then give it to someone all folded up like that. But, Father's been gone for a long time, I don't know why you would find a note out here." Responded Yuna.
"I have a suspicion it fell from Sir Auron's coat. We should give it back when he returns."
"But we get to read it first, right?" asked Rikku. "I mean, if it was important he woulda had a secure place for it." She nodded to herself.
"It is most likely private, Rikku." Replied Yuna. "I know that I wouldn't want just anyone to read what ever falls from my robes."
Tidus blanched unseen at that statement as he fingered a sphere in his backpack.
"I think it's best if we just let it be, Sir Auron will most likely have an explanation. If he's willing to tell us that is." Lulu frowned and handed the little crane to Yuna. "Best keep this from prying eyes, my lady." She pursed her purpled lips and walked back to where she was cleaning the cooking gear.
Yuna placed the small paper bird, frozen in the upstroke of a wing beat into the obi that held her white over tunic. She patted Tidus on the shoulder and settled down next to him. With in moments she was resting her head on his strong shoulder, his arm around her back, holding and comforting her. Tidus turned to the rest of the group and noted that they were settling down and getting comfortable around the fire. Night had closed in around them and it was soon time to rest.
"So, what do you think that was all about?" asked Tidus as he used his free hand to jerk his thumb at the opening in the rock wall.
Wakka yawned, "Won't know until either Sir Auron or Kimahri get back, eh?" The red-haired man stretched, popping all the major joints in his upper torso like fireworks on the New Year.
"Oh man, Wakka, knock that off. It's disturbing!" Rikku scrunched her face up.
"You get a little older and see how well you do on the road, Rikku. 'Till then, lemme alone, 'kay?"
"Yeah, well, I'll know that if I HAVE to do that to relax, it's a sign I need to retire to Home." The spunky thief shot back. Them a dark cloud passed over the normally bubbly face. She sniffled and rested her head in her hands.
"Oh, man, sorry Rikku." Wakka looked anywhere but at the young Al-Bhed.
"It's not your fault." She sniffed back, "I'm the one who said it." She whipped her face with her hands. "It's just really hard for me to get used to the thought that it's gone. All gone." She started to cry, the strain and tension of the evening catching up the excitable young girl. Wakka looked uncomfortable and then stood up. With a caring look on his open face, he settled down next to the crying thief. With a gentle hand he patted her back.
"If you wanta, you can use my shoulder, ya? Lulu says it's almost as good as a pillow for being cried on, eh." He spoke in a soft, concerned voice. Lulu watched with an odd expression on her face, almost completely blank but her red eyes blazed with emotion as Rikku clutched on the big man, sobbing her pain onto his offered shoulder and holding on as the emotions clawed their way out of her. Wakka sat still as an oak in a typhoon, lightly patting the back of her head and rubbing her back. The dark mage sniffed and finished with the dishes. With no other sound or gesture she retired to her bed roll for the night, making sure to turn her back to the fire and the rest of the group. Tidus watched with a small smile on his face an he absently stroked Yuna's sleeping form, running his hand in her hair and slightly shifting to make her more comfortable.
Kimahri was impressed. It didn't take the old man very long to loose the Ronso in the dark jungle beyond the mountain wall. It was a no-brainer that Auron had left the obviously overgrown path. The blue warrior stopped his useless lope and sniffed the air, his ears twitching and filtering out the natural sounds. With in a short time, Kimahri smiled to himself and headed to the right, following an obvious trail of broken and sliced plants along the other side of the mountain wall. He moved with the stealth of a mountain lion, almost on all fours as he cautiously followed the distraught warrior-monk.
At the point where the two rock walls met, Kimahri spotted a flash of crimson. Auron's signature red cloak did nothing to hide his presence in the darkening jungle. Kimahri paused and went completely still, barely breathing to tune his fantastic hearing on the bundle of man and coat. Auron was sitting with is back to the corner. His head was cradled in his arms that rested on his folded knees. It was a picture of loneliness and abject pain. The raven-haired man was curled up in a ball, and he was whispering.
"…'t'll be over soon, Jecht. We're almost done with the pilgrimage and your plan had better work. I can't go on after that touch you two gave me."
The balled up man paused as if he was hearing a reply. Kimahri was concerned; Sir Jecht was dead, killed in the trials of High Summoner Braska. Auron seemed to be reliving the past, or wallowing in it.
Auron sighed and continued his whispered conversation with himself, "I know that Yuna will see through that crap. She has too, and your son will make it very difficult for her to continue on the way. She won't want to die and loose him. It'll make it almost insane to continue on our foolish path. Not to mention that bitch will cause no end of trouble." Auron waited for a response only he could hear. "No, no. I'm all right. You just startled me that's all, you lummox. You can't just tap me on the shoulder; no you have to appear in the damn fire. You almost caused me to kill Tidus with my tokkuri. Laugh now, Jecht, but I will remember that."
Kimahri stood up and made a small rustle in the brush around him with his tail, a warning to the wary that he was approaching.
Auron's hand shot to the hilt of his blade as he looked up, Braska's name on his lips. With a snort he let his right hand drop and he closed his eye. With visible effort he schooled his features and took a moment to raise his glasses and return his collar to a more upright, and hiding, position.
"Everyone else with you I assume?" the baritone was scratchy, almost a whisper itself.
Kimahri shook his head and crossed his large arms over his expansive blue chest.
"Just you?"
A nod this time, the yellow eyes glowing faintly in the near pitch dark of the night.
"What do you want?" Auron asked, his detached and emotionless mask effortlessly slipping back into place.
Kimahri cocked his head to one side and flicked the higher of his ears. His tail, motionless after the warning swipe, began to twitch and sway behind him. He looked directly into the scarlet warrior's one eye.
"I'm not completely sure what you want, Kimahri. Please just tell me, I'm in no mood…" Auron ran a hand through his spiky gray and black locks, taking a second to scratch at the base of his skull.
"Kimahri hear Auron speak with the dead. Kimahri worried that Auron is not well. Can Auron hear the dead?"
The question stopped the warrior-monk in mid scratch. He looked up at the Ronso, his façade cracking slightly. "How much did you hear?"
"Kimahri not hear anything but a name, and some talk of us." The Ronso gestured with his right paw, it was an ancient ward against the spirits of the dead, one Auron was well familiar with after his stay with the Ronso Tribe.
"You don't want to know anything about that, Kimahri, please don't make me tell you anything about it." Auron shifted his weight to his legs and pulled himself up to his feet. "Will you trust me on this?"
Kimahri watched the monk with a careful eye; he smelled desperation, even fear coming off this legendary warrior. A smell the Ronso would have never considered possible coming off of the Unsent man. He noticed the left hand disappearing into the folds of the red over kimono. With a sniff he subtly shifted his weight to his back foot, his right hand now resting back over his left arm.
Auron waited for the answer that he wanted to her, a simple "Yes" would be all that was needed, he curled his power hand around a hidden tanto, one he had placed under his kimono and against his leather chest plate. He shifted slightly to make the left side of his body more hidden. A dangerous glint in his single russet eye.
"Kimahri trust Auron. Does Auron trust Kimahri?" the Ronso asked softy in an almost purring voice. He dropped his hands to his side, opening up his vitals to the warrior before him. His glowing yellow eyes bore into Auron's soul, demanding the man act with honorable intent or destroy the long bond that held the two with a single knife thrust. "Kimahri know about the hidden fang you have in your hand. Will you use it on me?" he asked.
Auron blinked, sweat started to form on his forehead. With a cold shock he realized what he was about to do. Shuddering he loosed his grip on the straight edged knife hidden in his belt and grasped his temples with both his hands. Kimahri had dropped his stupid Ronso routine; he looked at the dead warrior with unclouded eyes. Auron's face burned with shame; fear that he was loosing all self-control making him stink in sweat. He lost control of his weakening knees, falling gracelessly onto the ground, crushing the grasses beneath his feet.
Kimahri nodded, the man had realized what he was about to do. The large furred man-beast settled onto his haunches near the collapsed warrior-monk. With a soft purring whisper he spoke.
"You have to hold on a little longer, my friend. You have the journey over my lands yet, and then it will be over." He reached out with tender clawed paws and lifted Auron's face, digging under the shielding gray leather and flicked the sunglasses off with his free paw.
Auron moaned and opened his one good eye. Wordlessly he poured forth all the pain and doubt that was corroding his determination out onto the surface of his gaze. Kimahri blinked, reading body moves as well as he understood spoken words.
"What is it? You cannot walk down this mountain alone. Tell Kimahri." The Ronso smiled, bearing his long canines.
The scarlet warrior took a long breath. This was going to be tough and a very long explanation.