middaeg | [ CATCH-ALL ] we're nocturnal creatures

[ She's seen illness as well, although perhaps not quite as much as Iskandar has. She doesn't comment though. Her brow is furrowed, her focus on the way he examines her. She flexes her fingers again, a grimace spreading over her features. If they're going to end up doing this - well, now is as god a time as any.

She takes a deep breath and, after a beat of surprise, takes the offered hand and grips. ]

I'm ready.

[ Good thing, too. The pain is beyond almost anything she's felt before and her face slowly goes pale, sweat starting to stand out on her forehead, her frame trembling. Poor Waver probably feels like his hand is being crushed from how tightly she's gripping. She doesn't scream, though. All she does is make a low noise. Almost a grunt.

She'll endure. ]

[Iskandar might never say he's fond of magic. He doesn't share Waver's fascination with the art... and he has his own reason for not liking the very concept of himself being a force to become a practitioner of this craft. There are times, though, more frequent lately when he is grateful for it. They make him hate the cursed thing a little less.

Times like now.

It's not his first time he's using this particular healing spell. He had a lot of practice. He would never have proposed if he wasn't absolutely sure of his mastery in it. This is too serious.

Of course, she doesn't scream. She is King of Knights after all. She'd break before showing even the smallest hint of weakness. Iskandar thinks it's a bit sad but he also recognizes it is not the right time to express that particular opinion. They still have missing kids to find.
The purging spell used in conjunction with regular healing spell leaves only a thin red line, by the end of the day even this faint mark would disappear.]

There. The arm will seem weaker for two, maybe three days and you might feel waves of sharp pain where the wound was. Especially, if you strain the arm. If they don't go away by the end of the week, come see me.

[He just incinerated a substantial chunk of her flesh. He also restored it almost instantly but her body might need time to realize there are no third-degree burns where it feels there should be. It's like that with all healing magic. Only the degree of weirdness varies.]

[ The brief scent of scorched flesh makes Waver's nose wrinkle, and the crackle of magic in the air makes the fur on the back of his neck and shoulders stand up. His hand tightens on Saber's in return, the harsh grip making his fingers ache, but he feels far too guilty standing around doing nothing at all why Iskandar work and Saber bears it. It's the only thing he can do to help, even a little bit. Especially when he knows he was the one best-equipped for scouting, and he hadn't noticed the beast until it was right on top of them.

Despite the discomfort, Waver doesn't pull away until she does. ]

I can make you a potion for pain relief when we get back. And sleep, if you need it.

Thank you, Rider.

[ By the time Rider is finished, Arturia looks like she might be ready to collapse for a little while. Despite that, she pulls herself to her feet and sways slightly, catching herself with her good hand against Waver's side. She'll manage. She has to manage. There's no alternative. She swallows thickly and then manages to speak. ]

That would probably be helpful. But for now we have a mission to accomplish, do we not?

[ She's ultimately disposable. Or at least she's not why they're out here. ]

We should keep moving.

[If there are spells that Iskandar had real trouble learning even when he wanted that would be all the anaesthetics. Not that there are many teaching them anyway, potions for relieving pain are considered far more effective but alchemy is not something Iskandar feels good at. He prefers to leave it to Waver. He could be the one supplying the magic but he cannot, for the love of all the Gods, remember or even follow a single recipe correctly. All the ingredients, the directions on how to prepare them, the amounts, the order in which they need to be added, and all the steps that are extremely important. Even with a detailed recipe in hand he simply cannot make it work.
So he's relieved when Waver proposes his help. He's so much better at this.

And Saber is right. They are here for a reason.]

Indeed, we do.

[In all truth though, Iskandar is not that certain that they should continue but it would be insulting to Saber to question her judgement. Still, the quicker they find those kids the better.]

Waver, were you able to pick up the trail?

[ Automatically, Waver moves to steady her with a hand around Saber's back when she falters, making sure she can stand well enough on her own before he'll move away.

The question makes his ears sink lower against his hair anxiously. He's supposed to be helping scout and track, and he's keenly aware he hasn't been doing a good job. They don't know where the kids are, and Saber's gotten hurt on top of it. They need to hurry... ]

Er... yeah, I think so.

I caught the scent going that way. [ he points to a spot on the edge of the clearing he'd been exploring earlier. ] I think it's fresher than the other one. I-it's hard to tell, sorry.

[ Saber very determinedly begins fashioning an impromptu sling for her injured (or not so injured) arm, so she can at least have it out of the way if things go south again. ]

Don't apologize; we'll trust in you and your abilities.

[ She seems determined. ]

Let's keep moving. [ And she starts without waiting. ]

[Iskandar was just about to say the exact same thing when Saber beat him to it. So he just smiles instead. At least they agree on something.]

It is as King of Knights has said. [He puts his hand on Waver's shoulder. I trust in you, dearest.] Lead the way.

[Yes, Saber already sprinted in the direction Waver has pointed...because of course, she did. So there goes any actual leading... but she will have to wait for them eventually. For all her ardour it's Waver who knows the way, not her.
Iskandar makes a conscious effort not to sigh. Somebody might have thought she's injured or even gasp not in her peak form. How preposterous. Exactly this kind of attitude is what gets people killed in the Wilde! Sadly, he suspects that it wouldn't be received as a valid criticism by Saber should he even state his opinion.]

[ Waver doesn't argue that his abilities are nothing much. He has enhanced senses thanks only to the changes he didn't even want; he only knows how to use them on instinct, and has more resigned himself to trying to put his new assets to use than actively training them.

Though, after this, perhaps he'll try a little harder in that regard. There's no going back-- at least not in any known capacity at this time. This is what he is now. This is how he looks now. After spending the better part of a year ignoring those parts of himself as much as possible, this is one of the rare times Waver realizes he kind of regrets that.

The words of encouragement are appreciated, even if he doesn't think they're deserved. It's the reassuring weight of Iskandar's hand on his shoulder that inspires him to move forward. Waver takes a deep breath. ]

Okay... yeah. We have to keep going.

[ He doesn't even register that Saber has gone ahead. He doesn't actually envision himself a leader in any way, and he's least equipped to handle another Shade, even with Saber's arm weakened. But Waver walks faster to catch up, and turns his full focus on following the trail. This time, he's extra careful to listen for potential danger too. ]

I could be wrong, but... I think they came this way recently.

[ Saber does pause to allow them to catch up. She doesn't want to miss the trail and she's relying on Waver to track the children as best he can. She seems like she wants to get moving, though - perhaps shes trying to make up for being injured in the first place. ]

Let's hope they avoided the shade. Or anything else...

[ She glances down the trail and starts out again, peering into the undergrowth. ]

And hopefully they won't run from us.

[It's never a good idea to relax completely in the Wilde. They had the best example of this rule in their encounter with the Shade. Still, Iskandar let's out a sigh of relief at a patch of light green he notices a patch of light green under a huge and mysteriously uninfected tree.

He goes past Saber and Waver to investigate, sinking down to crouch near the massive trunk.]

Hm, I think you might both be right.

[Iskandar stands up holding a handful of empty pea hulls in his outstretched hand. Still fresh and green. As if to confirm his words a single hull floats down spinning on its way before landing on the ground in front of him. Iskandar looks up but the tangle of branches and leaves obscures his view, not letting him catch even a glimpse of anyone or anything that might be hiding up there.]

[ With all the other scents mixing together and the tracks going back and forth, it's no wonder Waver's having trouble following the scent. Waver blinks in surprise as Iskandar crouches down to look at something. He squints at the green bits of plant. ]

...huh? Up there?

[ Waver steps closer to the tree, peering up through the branches and sniffing the air. He'd scented the overlapping trail all around this clearing. It's not going to change now. But if he listens... ]

Hello? We're not going to hurt you.

[ Saber still cradles her injured arm close to her body, gaze sharp as she looks for potential threats. It's only when Iskandar and Waver draw attention to the tree that she glances up with a little hmm noise. She moves to join Waver. ]

We're from the city; we're here to make sure you're safe.

[ She's trying not to come off as threatening or too stern. Hopefully it works. ]

[There's more rustling up in the higher branches, a few snap with an audible crack as something, or rather someone, evidently moves there.

Then the reply comes, in a squeaky, trembling voice that can only belong to a child.]

I-i-is the demon boar gone?

[Iskandar grins. Finally! He moves away slightly. He'll keep an eye on the surroundings and let Waver and Saber do the talking.]

Edited 2020-08-14 07:49 (UTC)

It's gone, but there might be others.

[ Waver doesn't bother sugar-coating this for a child. ]

So you'd best come down and come back to the city with us right away.

[ Maybe it helps that Saber is a chimera. Or so Waver hopes.

Remembering what the family he'd talked to at the outskirts of the city said about why the children had run off into the Wilde, he adds: ]

You can't prove anything to anyone if you're dead. But you can when you come back from the Wilde in one piece. Plus, that boar is dead now. That's all anyone who asks need to know, right?

Come along.

Proving yourself is an admirable goal - but I do not believe your friends and family want to see you harmed doing so.

[ Saber's trying not to be super stern. ]

Please, come down - we can take you back and you will have a story to tell.

[ She flutters her wings. ] No one can tell you what you can and cannot accomplish.

[There's a flurry of agitated rustling in the branches above and even more heated whispering before another voice responds. Older and calmer than the previous panicked squeak but still very much a child's voice.]

We don't need any help! We're not coming back! Everyone is just going to make fun of us again! Like they always do! Go away!

[Iskandar just groans with frustration. This is not going to be easy... At least two kids are up there, though he suspects more. It's just too much movement and noise only for two younglings. The older one sounds like a leader of their little pack. All hinges on an answer to one question: how desperate they were when they left. So he decides to stage a little provocation.]

Clearly you're making a lot of progress here for someone not in need of help!

Why, you little idiots...

[ Waver growls, increasingly annoyed at this ridiculous stubbornness. He might care about these kids not getting hurt or killed out here, but he's not particularly patient when it comes to talking nicely to them. ]

You think people won't make fun of you even more for being a bunch of stupid little upstarts who marched out here and got eaten? If you care about your reputation for some reason, go back and do something about it. Sulking out here until a Shade finds you and tears you apart is literally the worst way to prove those people wrong.

Waver-

[ Saber settles a hand on his shoulder and tilts her head back to try and see the children through the branches. ]

Throwing your life away for the sake of reputation won't help you or your families; it takes more strength to live and to live well. To endure in the face of scorn. What others think can hurt - but what's more important is the strength of your convictions.

[There comes even more rustling and a hushed Shut up clearly coming from the leader of the pack. Still, neither Iskandar nor Waver get any response. People telling them they are stupid is most likely nothing new. Iskandar doesn't believe it would have worked even if they asked nicely though.

When Saber looks up she can see four pairs of very dirty feet dangling from the branches high above her head. Yet it is what she says that finally gets a reaction.]

You really think so?

[It's the girl leader again. She drops to a branch just below the group then swings from it with the dexterity of a trained acrobat to one even lower but still above Saber's head. From that spot, she stares at her unblinking for a moment. She's thin and dirty, just like one would expect from a child that spent a few nights in the wilderness, but surprisingly unharmed.]

You look funny. Are you a chimera too? Do people tell you often that you are cursed?

What?

[ Waver grumbles when she steps in, but lets her take over with a muffled sigh. He knew he was going to lose his patience. These kids are being so damn stupid...

At least they seem to be responding well to Saber. He steps back. No need to interfere. ]

[ Saber's expression softens a little and she bends down a little to speak to the child in front of her. ]

I am, actually. And sometimes people don't think highly of me because of it - but I know who I am and what I can do and I don't allow them to hold me back. You can take hold of your own destiny and shape it as you wish. What others think need not be the beginning or end of who you are.

[Iskandar devotes only a fraction of his attention to the ongoing conversation. It looks their initial assumption was correct. The kids - or at least their leader - truly seem to be more receptive to Saber than to either him or Waver. So he lets Saber do the talking and instead surveys the trees and the bushes around them looking for potential threats.
They might have left the slain boar to disintegrate into dust behind them but it does not mean anything equally deadly won't be lured by the sweet, sweet smell of blood and magic. All this is taking way too long.

Meanwhile, the girl stares at Saber unblinking.]

How do you know such things? Our parents always told us to listen to the elders. But you say we don't have to?

[She tilts her head to the side and her eyes narrow in unmistakenly reptilian fashion. She's just a child but it's not difficult to imagine it could scare some. It does look creepy.]

How do you know if you don't listen to other people?

[This is not exactly what Saber has said... but it looks some progress has been made at least.]

Ah - I don't mean that you ought not to listen to your elders or parents.

[ She's doing her best here. She's not used to children and was a terrible father herself, so this is new territory. She's trying to treat them like young squires in many respects. Hopefully it works. ]

Having guidance from those with more experience is worthwhile; I mean more that you need not accept that what others say to disparage you is true. Taking well-meant advice is worthwhile - allowing others to completely steer your destiny is... a bit different, I think.

[Iskandar turned away to survey the surrounding forest but for to his contentment the area remains calm. It looks that the boar was a singular incident. For now. The Wilde is never safe for too long. Saber might not be able to see him but he does smile hearing her explanation. Not allowing others to completely decide your fate for you, eh? Not bad, King of Knights, not bad.

At the very moment when the girl seems most hesitant, not yet fully accepting what Saber has told her, another voice, much younger, a lot more scared, almost on a verge of tears, joins in.]

Can we go home now? I want to go home, Rivka. I am hungry. And I lost my shoe.

[That is what breaks the last opposition and the girl's shoulders sink visibly. For the first time, she stops looking angry, rebellious and determined, just scared and very, very tired.]

[ CATCH-ALL ] we're nocturnal creatures

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wrap here?

works for me! good thread.