Hey guys! Welcome back to Hear a Tale! Before we do anything else, review time!

Thanks so much to CitrusChickadee for reviewing! Yeah, Therion's still not happy about the "being thrown in prison" incident XD And thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed my expansion of Ophilia's ending!

With that, on with the tale!

Relevant Events: None

27. Foreign

"So much for making it to Cobbleston by sundown," Therion grumbled as he dropped down onto the sand, resting his back against the rock formation he, Alfyn, and Primrose had chosen as their shelter for the night. He grimaced and stretched out his aching right leg, glaring daggers at the reddened bandage knotted around his upper thigh. "We're not even out of the damned Sunlands yet, and it's already dark. Remind me to never trust an optimist to estimate travel time…"

"It's not like I could've known that we'd be ambushed by Lizardmen," Alfyn protested, collapsing into a sitting position as well. "So we're a bit delayed - it's not the end of the world, right? Our provisions'll last us a day or two, and anyway, you need a chance to rest. How's your wound holding up?"

"It's fine," the thief muttered. "Barely a scratch from a lucky claw swipe, that's all."

"That's not what it looked like from where I was standing," Primrose drawled. With a sweeping motion, she settled down in the sand beside Therion, eyeing him skeptically. "In fact, it's a miracle you've managed to walk this far with a gash like that." Her gaze flicked over to Alfyn. "Those herbs of yours must truly be something else."

Alfyn smiled sheepishly. "Aw, shucks, well…I'm just doin' my job as an apothecary, makin' sure I've got the very best supplies for my patients!" He nodded at Therion. "That said, though, I'll probably have to change your bandages soon, and make sure there's no sign of infection. I don't really have all the supplies I'd need to clean it thoroughly, since we're in a desert and all, but a little Noxroot and Soothing Dust should be enough to keep it from festering."

Therion scowled slightly. "I don't need you to be my nursemaid, you know."

"But you do need me to be your apothecary," Alfyn replied, unbothered by Therion's venom. "Just to be safe, you know?"

"Ugh…"

Not bothering to justify that with a response, Therion simply shook his head and waved his hand, letting a few tendrils of flame furl from his fingers. The fire coalesced into a sphere, hovering in the middle of the three travelers in the form of a small, woodless campfire. Therion sighed imperceptibly, shutting his eyes as the magical fire's heat chased away the frigid nighttime air of the desert.

"Well now, it would seem that traveling in a group has its merits after all," Primrose said, stretching out her hands towards the fire to warm them. "One that includes someone with an affinity for fire magic, anyway."

The thief rolled his eyes. "Glad I could be of service," he said dryly.

"Much appreciated, Therion! Though…you can't keep it up forever." Alfyn stood up, dusting sand off of his clothes. "You'll need to sleep sometime, so I'll look around and see if I can find any wood to sustain it without you havin' to burn your own energy all night."

"You do realize we're in a desert, right?" Therion said, eyebrow raised. "Last I checked, palm trees weren't exactly known for dropping branches."

"True, but there could be other things made of wood, right? Abandoned crates, broken cart wheels…I dunno, I might be able to find somethin' out there we can use."

Primrose shifted, as though to stand and join him. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

The apothecary shook his head. "Nah, don't worry about it! I won't go far, and I can defend myself in a pinch. 'Sides, I'd like you to keep an eye on Therion, if you don't mind."

"What am I, an invalid?"

"Leave it to me," the dancer said primly, ignoring the thief. "But do be careful, alright?"

"Of course!" Alfyn grinned. "Like I said, I won't go far. In fact, I'll make sure the fire doesn't leave my line of sight, okay?"

Primrose nodded. "Very well. Good luck, Alfyn."

"I feel like I'm not even a part of this conversation anymore."

"Thanks, Prim!" Alfyn shouldered his axe and nodded at the two of them. "I'll be back soon. Take care!"

"Likewise."

"Ugh…" Therion groaned, throwing an arm over his face and flopping down on his back on the sand. "Why do I even bother?"

"Excellent question," Primrose said as Alfyn walked away. "Perhaps you should reflect on the answer while we wait for Alfyn to return."

Therion shot a glare in the dancer's direction out of the corner of his eye. "Watch it. My injury's not serious enough to prevent me from throwing sand in the eyes of anyone who pisses me off."

"Oh? You'd treat a lady in such a barbaric way?"

"I'm not above it, if she's annoying enough."

Suddenly, to Therion's surprise, Primrose actually laughed - something he hadn't heard her do once since they had left Sunshade.

"Well now, you're a blunt one," the dancer chuckled. "Most men I've met would have either backtracked or followed up with some…shadier proposal."

"What can I say?" Therion said flatly. "I'm one of a kind."

"Mhm…it would certainly seem that way. You and Alfyn both."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She scoffed lightly. "Please. A couple of men, alone with a woman like me…and by my count, neither of you have so much as leered even once. I must confess, it's a concept that's…quite foreign to me."

"Tch…you've been stuck in Sunshade for too long, then." Therion folded his hands behind his head, carefully crossing his injured leg over his other knee in order to elevate it. "I don't mean to shatter your entire worldview or anything, but not every city in Orsterra attracts that same…unique sort of crowd."

"Mhm…" Primrose's eyes wandered across the expanse of desert before them, then she lifted her gaze to the spatter of stars that dotted the night sky. "You may be right…it has been quite some time since I set foot outside of that damned city. Perhaps my concept of normality truly has shifted…"

"Right, well, welcome back to the real world. Wouldn't you know it, not everyone's a perverted asshole."

A wry smile played at the dancer's lips. "I take it you're counting yourself amongst that number?"

The thief shrugged. "Oh no, I'm definitely an asshole. But I do try to stay away from the subject of perversion."

For the second time that night, Primrose laughed - and this time, it seemed even more genuine than before. Her eyes were closed, and there was a slight dimple at the corner of her mouth as she giggled quietly. Gone was her mask of sultry sardonicism, and her face was lit by a rare display of a more wholesome humor. With a start, Therion realized that, for a brief moment, he had actually caught a glimpse of the real Primrose Azelhart.

And…she was beautiful.

"Glad I could serve as your entertainment for tonight," Therion muttered, averting his eyes. His fingers curled against the back of his head, gripping at locks of his hair as he willed his expression to remain neutral. "What's next, want me to juggle for you?"

If Primrose had noticed Therion's momentary distress, she did not comment on it. She instead took a breath to compose herself, but her soft smile remained in place. "Forgive me," she said. "It's just that your demeanor…it's refreshing to me, somehow. Unapologetically blunt, yet not legitimately cruel…you are a very interesting man, Therion."

"Whatever you say…"

Despite himself, as he firmly shut his eyes and returned his attention to maintaining his fire magic, Therion found himself inwardly praying that Alfyn would return soon. Maybe then, Primrose would stop studying him so intently. Maybe then, she would turn her strangely charming curiosity upon the apothecary instead.

Maybe then, Therion's heart would stop pounding so godsdamned hard.

It's a concept that's…quite foreign to me.

Yeah. And so was this.

See you guys next time for Tale 28: Sorrow!