"Alright- Blitzen is starting to get tired. We should probably stop and make camp for the night." Hunter said from behind her, as the elk snorted with each stride as it ran, the fur against her legs damp with sweat.
"Alright." She said, not really knowing what he meant by 'camp'. She had never travelled before.
She felt the air slow down as the elk's strides slowed, eventually coming to a stop as it panted. Hunter hooked his arms around her waist, setting her on the ground before hopping down from the elk himself.
"Stay here, I'll get some wood to make a fire. Silver will stay with you to keep you company." Hunter said, before his footsteps faded into the distance.
The woman bit her lip nervously as noises sounded from the wilderness around her, the strange growls chirps and howls making her uneasy.
She felt a large body sit down beside her, a low reassuring growl sounding from what must be Silver.
She looked toward him, holding a cautious hand out, wondering if the tiger wouldn't want her to be touching him.
He moved over so that her fingers reached into deep rich fur, a low purr sounding from him. She smiled and moved her hand through his coat of fur, feeling powerful muscles underneath the thick pelt. She contacted metal and flinched back in surprise, feeling the metal actually coming from the tiger's skin… what kind of creature grew metal armor from its body? It seemed very strange.
"Looks like you're getting along fine with him." Hunter said, walking back over in front of her. A large clamor of branches sounded as they dropped to the ground. Hunter kneeled next to them with a rustle of metal and cloth to start building the fire.
"Does it hurt him to have metal growing out of him like this?" She asked, running her hand along the smooth, cold metal.
"No, not at all. All kuras tigers are born like that- it's normal for them to grow armor like that." He put sticks together with small clicks before a warmth came from in front of her. She smiled at the comfort, her cold skin finally warming.
"Is it dark yet, is that why it's so cold?" She asked softly, running her hand through Silver's fur.
"Yeah. Another reason I wanted to stop for the night." Hunter said, walking over and sitting next to her. He let out a soft sigh and sat silently for a moment. He laid back against the grass with a long sigh. "So, you said you weren't born with magic- but you obviously have some, right?"
"Yeah." She said softly. She had never talked with anyone other than the sorcerer… she didn't really know how to react or what to say. "I'm not sure all that I can do, though. Some of it scares me."
He sat up again, watching her for a minute. "How is it scary? Do you have fire or earth magic?"
Stella bit her lip uneasily. "I'm not sure if I have magic that's similar to anyone else. He made me what I am- I don't even know everything he gave me."
"'Gave you'? What do you mean by that?" Hunter asked in shock.
"I'm not sure- he just said that he gave me magic. I don't really know how he did, or even why." She said softly, hooking her arms around her legs as she held them against her front. "Is… is that bad?"
"No, not bad, just concerning. It does explain a few things, though. Especially the way you look."
"How do I look? I've never known." Stella said, looking over at him. She was terrified to ask- she hoped the answer wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would be.
"Well…" He said, turning toward her with another rustle of fabric. "You won't get angry with me at all?"
Stella shook her head, letting her hair fall over her face nervously.
"Alright, your hair is black- except… well, normally a person's hair reflects a lighter color- but yours… it reflects in different colors somehow. Sometimes when the light hits it, it's like the light reflecting off a stained glass window. It's…strange. Your eyes are white, but they're not scary or anything if that's what you're worried about."
"What about…" She put her hand up to the area around her eyes, feeling the scars around her eyes.
"What?" He asked, looking at her in confusion.
"I thought…" She felt the ridges of scars, wondering if she was imagining them or not.
"What, do you have a scar or something? I didn't see it." He said simply. "I wouldn't worry too much about that kind of thing. You look fine."
Stella smiled and nodded, not knowing what else to do. "So, is it safe to sleep out here?"
She heard him chuckle and bit. "Yeah. Besides, if something attacks us you have a warrior magi with you. Nothing bad will happen, I promise." He said, laying back down again.
Stella moved a bit more away from him before lying down as well, hearing Remmy squeak as he settled down on her waist, curling up against her hip.
Stella ran her hand through the grass on the ground, smiling softly at the prickly feeling of the blades before drifting to sleep.