"Valery, what are you doing here?" Roshani asked and I jumped, dropping the necklace to the floor as I spun around.
"I was just...never mind that. Where is my totem?" I asked as he moved to my side, kneeling to retrieve the necklace I'd dropped. "Well?" I added, hands on my hips as I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I gave it to you. If you lost it it is your fault." Roshani answered and I snorted, stepping so close we were nose to nose. "You won't listen to reason." He sighed, wrapping the necklace around his wrist.
"But you were the only one beside me who knew about it. Tell me the truth, Roshani." I snapped and he narrowed his eyes this time. Neither of us spoke as I clenched and unclenched my fists, furious he would steal my only means of returning to my own time. "You're not lying, are you?" I finally asked and he glared at me this time.
"You really thought I stole from you?" Roshani whispered, turning the necklace over in his fingers and I sighed. Running a hand through my hair I shook my head.
"I believe you. But who could have taken it?" I said and he shrugged. After a pause he looked towards the doorway and I blinked, curious.
"Maybe Takkar?" Roshani suggested and I nodded after a moment, following him as he headed towards the doorway. It wasn't until we reached Takkar's hut that I remembered the necklace wrapped around Roshani's wrist. "The necklace a present for someone. Do you think she will like it?" He answered and I gave him a tiny nod, a little jealous at whoever the necklace was for.
"Takkar, are you home?" I called out but no one answered. "Huh maybe he's out hunting or something. Maybe we should ask Sayla."
"Or you could just go and look for him in the forest." Roshani replied and I rolled my eyes, heading towards my own hut. "Now where are you going?"
"To get my club, what else? This time I'm going to be prepared." I answered and he shook his head, watching with a slight smile as I left him standing there. I returned with my club and together we headed into the forest, looking for any sign of Takkar.
We walked for hours and I was begining to think we wouldn't find Takkar until I heard voices and the loudest was a woman. Without a second thought I raced towards the shouts, not even looking back at Roshani who stared at my retreating back.
"Valery, wait!" He called out, muttering under his breath as he chased after me. "Crazy woman."
"Takkar!" I called out the moment I saw the leader of the Wenja tribe, fighting blue painted warriors. "I've come to help!" I added, why I don't know as I raced to help him. Of course he had already taken out most of them by the time I reached his side but I still slammed my club into the last one, feeling pretty good.
"Why you here? Should be in village now." Takkar told me and I snorted, following behind him.
"Valery, wait!" Roshani called out and I turned to see him running towards me. I waved, a grin on my face just as he slowed. "Look out!" He shouted, too late as something slammed into my body. I screamed, bright red blood spraying the ground as an arrow lodged itself in my right shoulder.
"Wenja! Take them alive!" A woman shouted and I managed to catch a glimpse of a tall woman wearing a skirt and blue paint over her exposed chest, a leather headress resting high on her head.
I tried to raised the club, not realizing I had dropped it when the arrow had struck me. Rushing to my aid, Roshani pulled at my other arm to get me moving but I stayed in place blood-loss making me woozy. "Come. We need to leave." He told me, grabbing my uninjured shoulder and I shook him off, stumbling towards the blue painted woman. Laughing she raised her bow again and Takkar struck, throwing a fire bomb at her face.
She leapt back, shielding her eyes. By the time she uncovered them we were gone and I heard a furious scream. I tried to laugh at her but it came out weak as I crumbled to the ground.
"Valery!" Someone yelled as the sky blurred until I couldn't see.
I came to to find Tensay standing over me, his hand on my shoulder. I felt his fingers touch the arrow still trapped in my shoulder and when he gripped it I screamed, trying to kick him away.
"Hold her down." He ordered and I growled when Roshani knelt beside me. I couldn't move once Roshani put his weight onto my shoulder so I snapped my teeth instead, just missing his arm.
"Stop!" He shouted directly into my face and I stopped just long enough for Tensay to grip the arrow again. He pulled it free and I cried out, blood pooling from the wound. I shuddered, gasping that both men stared at me. Then room grew dark and everything faded.
"Valery? You alive?" Roshani asked, kneeling beside me and I groaned. Eyes fluttering open I managed a weak growl, trying to move. "Wound healing so no moving." He ordered, holding me down with just one hand.
"Who died and made you commander?" I snapped, closing my eyes to his blank stare. "Forget it." I muttered hoping he would leave me alone.
"Batari shot you with arrow, not me." Roshani told me and I growled, opening my eyes to see him sitting cross legged on the floor beside me. "Does it hurt?"
"Of course it does. Second time in the last few days. Screw my luck." I coughed and he grinned, pressing something cool into my palm. "What?" I mumbled, lifting my hand towards my face to get a closer look. "The necklace?"
"Present for you." Roshani said, closing my hand over it with his.
"Thanks." I whispered, my shoulder throbbing. "Wait...Batari the Izila leader?"
"Yes. Batari wants Takkar dead, sacrifice for Suxli." Roshani explained as I closed my eyes, my head throbbing in time with my shoulder. "You rest here." He added, standing.
I suddenly had the urge to ask him to stay but when I tried to speak it came out as a sigh before I fell into a deep sleep, the necklace still clutched in my hand.
Sometime later...
"You awake?" Roshani asked, finding me sitting on my rug. Rolling my eyes at him I struggled to lift a stone bowl to my lips. "Thirsty?"
"I don't need help." I muttered, trying to hold the bowl in one hand. It didn't work and I snarled as the water splashed my top. Muttering under my breath I raised the bowl again, tempted to smash it, until Roshani gripped the bowl. Holding it close to my mouth he raised an eyebrow until I snorted. "I'm thirsty, okay?"
"Here." Roshani said, tilting the bowl to one side so I could sip from it. After a few careful sips I weakly pushed the bowl back towards him and he set it down, looking up just as I went to scratch my shoulder. "No." He said, pulling my hand away and I growled, eyes narrowed.
"My shoulder itches." I complained getting a smile in response. "Hmph you're no help."
"Means you are alive. Better than death." Roshani told me and I sighed, giving him a tiny nod. "Hungry?" He asked hearing an unmistakable gurgle. Laughing softly, Roshani left me sitting there with slightly red cheeks.
"Valery awake?" Takkar asked as Sayla watched over the campfire, cooking several pieces of goat meat. Getting a nod from Roshani he smiled.
"Angry at Batari." Roshani said, taking the bowl from Sayla. "Valery thinks it my fault." He muttered, looking at the meat with a frown.
"Take food to her. She will forgive." Takkar answered and Roshani nodded, hurrying back to my hut. Once the former Izila commander was gone he looked at Sayla. "He worried about Valery."
"Valery stronger than he thinks." Sayla replied, cutting more meat from the goat carcass. "But not strong like she thinks."
Returning to my hut, Roshani found me sitting cross-legged on the rug staring at the far wall. Hearing footsteps I turned my head slightly, tensing until I saw Roshani enter the hut and I relaxed.
"Is that goat?" I asked as he walked over, sitting facing me and he nodded. "Thanks." I grinned as he handed me the bowl. I grabbed the nearest piece of cooked meat, taking a bite. Quickly swallowing it I started on a second, not noticing Roshani's eyes on me the entire time. I did offer Roshani some goat meat but he turned me down. Huh more for me then, I thought eating the rest.
"Good meat?" Roshani asked, taking the empty bowl and I just grinned. "Your shoulder is still healing. You need to rest." He suggested, his lips curling into a smile when I lay on my left side. I was just falling into a light doze when he climbed to his feet, his footsteps light as he made his way towards the doorway.
Even with the pain in my shoulder, a constant throbbing, I managed to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep with was kind of nice. Waking on the other hand...
"Ugh...shoulder itches so bad." I groaned, opening my eyes to find a bowl resting inches from my face. "Huh...who left this?" I mumbled, struggling to sit. After a few failed attempts I managed it, reaching for the bowl. Finding it half-filled with water I brought it close to my mouth, taking careful sips so the water didn't drench my top again. "Much better. Wonder if Roshani's in his hut right now." I muttered, setting the bowl on the ground beside me.
Laying on the rug again I stretched my legs, wondering what time it was. Though not having a watch didn't help and so I just lay there, feeling sleepy despite having only just woken up. It didn't take long before I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and I started to doze, not hearing light footsteps as someone entered my hut.
Without waking Valery, Roshani moved to her side. Kneeling he pressed a palm to her forehead and she sighed in her sleep. "Valery a sound sleeper. Finally listened to my advice." He whispered, keeping his voice low just in case. But she didn't stir and he smiled to himself. "You are crazy to attack Izila warriors...but brave." He said, running his fingers through her hair.
Still grinning he headed back outside, leaving Valery to rest and heal.