"You are quiet." Sayla commented and I sighed as I looked at the branches in my arms. "Valery?"
"Sorry just a little distracted." I replied as I set the branches down in a pile next to the campfire. "I was thinking..." I trailed off when she smiled at me. "What?"
"You think about Roshani?" Sayla asked and I coughed, unable to stop my cheeks going red from shock.
"I wasn't thinking Roshani! Just...never mind." I muttered, trying not to think about last night and Roshani. Which just made me think about why he kicked me out of his hut last night.
"You like him." Takkar said and I spun around to find the warrior behind me.
"Okay I wish people would stop doing that. Anyway I like Roshani but as a friend, not a mate." I replied, eyes going wide as they exchanged a look both smiling at each other. "Oh shut up." I grumbled, hurrying away before they could comment.
I'm such an idiot, I thought cheeks still burning as I headed towards the forest. Maybe I should just talk to Roshani and figure out if I actually like the Izila commander...well, former commander I guess now, I thought with a tiny grin.
I just made it to the outskirts of the village when I saw two Wenja standing around a campfire, another sitting beside the fire. As I moved closer I paused, glaring once I saw who was sitting beside the fire. "What are you doing here?" I asked Roshani who looked up at me, a smile on his face.
"You are annoying." Roshani replied, turning back to the campfire and I snorted. I ended up sitting beside the fire, making sure I left a good distance between myself and the idiot.
"So are you." I shot back, holding back a giggle as he narrowed his eyes at me. "Anyway you should be working the fields, not wandering the village."
"Not a prisoner." Roshani answered, staring straight at me. "Why are you here?"
"Not looking for you that's for sure. I was on my way to take a walk, like it's any of your business." I replied, climbing to my feet and he shrugged. I wandered away not seeing his eyes on me until I disappeared into the forest.
"Kion, where are you?" I called out just as his rushed out of the bushes, nearly bowling me over. "Okay well that answers that question. Come on, I still need to wash this blood off." I said as I glanced at myself, the dried blood still coating my fingers and in dark patches over my top.
It decided to find another waterfall that, hopefully, wasn't anywhere near an Udam camp. We walked for an hour or so before I came across a waterfall and even looking deserted I quickly scouted around, making absolutely sure we were alone. A few minutes later I relaxed and as I hurried towards the water I didn't hear very faint footsteps approach.
It wasn't until I was standing near the edge of the water, gripping the hem of my top that I heard a noise and I froze. Wishing I'd grabbed my bow I whirled around, throwing a punch only to have it blocked by Roshani who blinked at me. "You again?!" I snapped as he released my fist, giving me a grin as I crossed my arms.
"Why do you speak like that?" He asked, looking at my top and I growled.
"Eyes up here, Roshani. Otherwise I will follow through with my threat...arrow to the forehead." I told him, arms still crossed and he snorted lifting his head to stare at me. "So did you come to perve on me again?"
"What? I came to protect you." Roshani replied, eyes narrowed and I rolled my eyes. "What is 'perve'?"
"Never mind. Just keep a look out and don't stare at me. Otherwise you might regret it." I told him, moving under the water again. Even if he promised I'm keeping my eyes on him, I thought as I tugged my top over my head. Holding it under the water I started to rinse the dried blood from it, glancing up from time to time to make sure Roshani hadn't left his spot. Good he's actually listening to me for once, I thought as the water washed the last of the blood from my top.
I had just finished squeezing the water from my top when Roshani stepped behind me, clamping a hand over my mouth while the other wrapped tightly around my waist. I dropped the top as I struggled and he quickly tightened his grip.
"Be quiet. Izila nearby." He whispered and I went quiet, finally hearing the footsteps. For a few minutes whoever it was wandered around the area and we both stayed quiet until the voices faded. "That was too close." Roshani whispered and I narrowed my eyes, his hand still clamped over my mouth. "Sorry." He muttered, releasing my mouth.
"Aren't they your people?" I asked, not questioning his arm still around my waist or my heart beating faster as he held me.
"Not anymore." Roshani answered as he relaxed his grip finally noticing I was half naked. "This is...wrong."
"Let go of me." I hissed, quickly grabbing for my fallen top. "What is with you? Can't even take another bath in peace without being stared at."
"I came to...Valery why are you like this?" Roshani sighed as I quickly pulled on my still very damp top.
"You pushed me away so I should be asking that." I shot back and he raised his eyebrows at me. "You shot me with an arrow but you only feel bad about a bruise?"
"I...didn't know you were not Wenja." Roshani explained, getting a stare for his trouble. "You are...pleasant to be with."
"Flatterer. I thought you didn't like me after you pushed me out of your hut." I replied, shivering from the cold of my wet top. I wrapped my arms around myself and he finally noticed, walking from the waterfall before he waved me over. I followed still shivering until he started to gather branches and it finally clicked; he was building a campfire. I helped gather branches and a few minutes later we sat around a lit campfire, making me feel a little warmer. "Thanks." I muttered and Roshani just nodded, staring into the fire.
"I am sorry for the scar." Roshani told me and I glanced at the mark on my thigh. "Does...it hurt you?"
"No, not anymore. Tensay used some sort of green paste and the pain went away." I answered, fiddling with a branch and he gave me a tiny nod.
"I am glad." Roshani answered looking off into the darkness. We sat in silence for a while and I couldn't help glancing at him as he stoked the fire just as he lifted his head. We instantly locked eyes and I stared as a smile appeared on his face. I could feel my cheeks burn as I turned my head, not seeing him stand the fire forgotten. He sat beside me but I didn't even care, still thinking about why I liked him.
The guy did shoot me with an arrow so why am I being so forgiving? I should just leave and go back to the village...maybe find a way back home because I really don't belong here.
"You are upset?" Roshani asked and I blinked, having forgotten he was there next to me.
"I'm not mad at you just a little homesick. I'm a really long way from home." I replied, fiddling with a branch until it snapped. "Oops."
"Where is home for you?" Roshani asked, turning just in time to see me wiping my eyes. "Valery?"
"I don't know! It's that stupid totem's fault I'm here!" I yelled and he jumped, eyes wide as I threw the branch into the campfire. Once I saw his eyes on me I quickly calmed down. "I...sorry. I'm being a fool."
"Valery, what totem do you mean? This?" He asked and I stared as he produced a totem shaped like a wolf. He obviously wasn't expecting me to hug him so he just froze until I finally released him. "Here." He said, handing it to me with slightly red cheeks and I giggled my cheeks just as red.
When the campfire burned itself out I started to shiver again so Roshani climbed to his feet, offering his hand and I took it a little surprised by his attitude towards me. It wasn't until we reached the outskirts of the village that he released my hand, heading in the direction of his hut without glancing at me.
Well that was nice. One minute he's being nice to me and the next completely cold. Hmph, be that way.
Returning to my hut I set the wolf totem down on the floor beside my rug before I lay on the rug. "You're the cause of all my problems. You better take me home." I whispered to it, curling into myself as I began to feel sleepy.
The very next morning I opened my eyes only to freeze when I noticed something missing, notably the totem. Still half asleep I struggled to my feet, shaking my head before I started to search the hut. It didn't take very long due to the fact I had a rug and a pile of clothes.
"Who would have taken it?" I muttered, pushing through the animal skin doorway just as it hit me. "Roshani took it! He's the only one who knew about it and the only one who just barges into my hut unannounced." With a growl I stomped towards his hut ignoring Takkar and Sayla who called out to me. "He'll pay."
"Valery acting strange." Takkar muttered to Sayla as they both watched me heading towards Roshani's hut. "Maybe because of Roshani?"
"She interested in Roshani." Sayla said to the hunter as I stepped through the bushes, disappearing from view.
"Can't believe he'd sneak into my hut while I was asleep and take my totem. Well, probably not my totem but I found it so technically it's mine now." I grumbled as I reached his hut. "Okay where is my...totem?" I asked as I stepped through the doorway to find the hut empty of Roshani. "Huh where is he?"
I was all set to leave when I saw something shiny lying on the floor. As I moved closer I discovered it was a necklace, a handful of sea shells connected by a thin piece of green vine. Curious I knelt to pick it up, not knowing someone was standing in the doorway silently watching me.