Toney
*Björn placed a hand on his cheek. It was warm... Darkened, blushing. His eyebrows raised a bit, he was shocked at this new revelation. So when he felt warm in the baths... He was blushing? When he reached her collarbone, that's when he stopped.*

"So that's why you turn red. You blush when I touch you." *He seemed to realise it since he blushed when she touched him. This was confirmed by her statement.*

*Björn noticed her sway a little bit in his arms, lightheaded and wobbly.* "You are nauseated... Are you okay?" *He put the back of his palm to her forehead, cheeks, her mouth and neck. Checking for temperature changes. His innocence gave way to a caring side of him.*

*He wasn't used to caring, or giving a damn. He was only taught to care by Solaire... His vision of her haunted him still. Made him feel worry, he turned a bit pale as he looked away but when he saw Ves' glittering eyes once more, he realised he felt at ease. He sort of knew why too.*

*He placed two large fingers on her cheek and traced her scales with them, down her face, her neck, her shoulder and clavicle. He recognised the bumps and shifts in direction...* "I like your... Scales. They are bumpy and comforting, like you." *He seemed to realise their close proximity.* "Oh, do you want me to put you down?" *He asked plainly once more.*

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Gary
His touch made her shiver. His fingers tracing down her cheek and neck were overwhelming. It gave Ves a feeling she had never experienced before. It was a pleasant sensation and one she wouldn't soon forget. When he asked her if she was okay, Ves nodded. "I'm alright. I'm not nauseated. Just a little dizzy."

At his question, Ves smiled uncertainly. "I'm content where I'm at," She said with a nervous chuckle. "But if you want to put me down, you can." She liked being in his arms, perhaps a bit too much. It was addicting. She hoped he would still hold her close once her injury had healed.

The trees surrounding them gave Ves a feeling of tranquility. She felt safe, though of course the forest had its own dangers. She had been lucky during her first escape. She hadn't faced any wolves or mountain lions or bandits. She had made it across the border safely. Would they be so lucky this time? Ves could only hope. 

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Toney
*He nodded his head as she spoke, he also noticed her shiver at his touch... But she was hot. Red hot even. Why was she shivering? Maybe it was a lizard thing? He didn't understand her. He wanted to understand her so badly.*

"No, I'll keep you up here. Snake might bite your leg." *It was a shitty excuse. One he had thought of on the fly. True, a snake could bite her but she was a reptile too! Of course, she would see right through that.* "Or spider." *Nice save, Björn.*

*He looked at the trees around him. They were green... Why? He slowly walked up to one and, while balancing Ves in one arm, he placed his free hand on the bark of the tree... He could hear a humming somewhere distant - no. It wasn't really there, he knew that.* "I haven't seen a tree in so long..." *He felt the branches, the bark with an unspoken affection. It mesmerised him, enthralled him.*

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Gary
Bitten by a snake, she wondered to herself. Or a spider. Ves smiled a little at the excuses. He didn't yet realize that he didn't need any sort of excuse with her. But either way, Björn seemed equally content to continue holding her. She was perfectly fine with that. It was exactly what she had wanted, after all.

He could easily balance her in one arm and did so now as he moved towards one of the trees. She watched him explore the bark and leaves and she smiled to herself. He seemed so innocent, so easily fascinated by the simplest things. It made him seem fragile. It made her want to hold him. She barely resisted the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and bury her face into his shoulder.

"There will be plenty more trees where we're going. We still have to decide on a route. Taking the roads will be the fastest way, but also the most dangerous for us. That's where they'll be looking for you. Sticking to the forests has its own dangers, but I've done it before and can do it again." She sounded far more confident than she felt.

Absently she reached out and brushed aside a stray strand of his hair. "You should let me rebraid your hair," She commented without thinking. Then realizing she was being too bold again, she ducked her head shyly.

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Toney
*He was too distracted to pay attention to her almost cuddling into his neck. It was when she touched his hair that he turned to look at her. He made a deep humming sound as he looked at her. Was he considering something?*

*He took his hand from the tree and used the curl of his finger to lift her chin to look him in the face... They were so close but he found it rude to not speak to her with eye contact. He then lowered her to the ground before she could utter a word as he joined her on the forest floor. He pulled at a piece of hold twine and his hair came loose.*

*His hair was long and would have been matted if not for the bath before. It was, however, dark and murky. Bits of twigs from the branches at head-height were already stuck in it. His hair looks like the perfect length to be braided. Then again, his beard was full enough for it too.*

"I trust you to do well." *He said plainly, before looking at her over his shoulder with a soft, small curl of his lips. Björn lowered himself down further to give her ease of access to his head and then... He closed his eyes. Björn had let his guard down, it was a rare opportunity - one that showed his trust in her.*

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Gary
Gods, he had no idea what he was doing to her. As he lifted her chin to look her in the eyes, Ves' heart skipped a beat. Her scales turned red again. She had never blushed so much in her entire life! She almost protested when he set her down, but stopped when he sat down as well. He had taken her quite seriously, it seemed.

The Kobold admired the Goliath's long hair as he let it down. His smile made her melt and she exhaled softly to keep herself under control. Her tail flicked back and forth as she began to carefully pick out the twigs and leaves. She ran her fingers gently through the tresses, carefully getting rid of any tangles. She didn't have much experience with hair, but she knew how to braid a rope. Hair wasn't much different, right? She could manage.

Ves had nimble, quick fingers and she parted his hair in three ways. Yet she continued to stroke his hair, even after the tangles were gone. This was an intimate moment and she didn't want it to stop too soon. He trusted her and she savored the feeling. But she couldn't run her fingers through his hair forever. He was expecting a braid. So she'd give him one.

It took a couple of tries, but eventually Ves managed a decent braid. But even as she finished, she didn't want the moment to end. Her hands *Somehow* Found their way to his shoulders and she gently began to massage him through his new clothes. *What are you doing, Ves?* She asked herself. She just wanted to keep touching him. Was that so much to ask?

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Toney
*Björn let her pick out the debris in his hair. As she did so, she would find, burned to his scalp some symbols. Being ilitterate, it was hard to discern what exactly. But it was big and crude, the skin around it was healed, meaning he was young when he had this.*

*She noticed something as she stroked his hair, his hair on his neck began to stand up on end. He was enjoying the experience! Why was he liking a simple act? He always tied his hair! He didn't even snarl or growl when her attempts snagged the hair a bit. He tried his best to not let the pain spring him into a fighting mentality.*

*The braid was finished, it was time to stand up... It was then he felt her small hands slide over his shoulders, pressing at the rocky surface below his clothes over his shoulders... What was she doing?*

*It reminded him of when Solaire washed his wounds once... He felt Solaire's once vibrant eyes - now milky and rotted staring at him from behind. He could smell the rot, the viscera, hear the phantom cries of a newborn baby somewhere in the corner of his mind... A couple tears fell down his face, he hoped Ves couldn't see.*

*He felt her rubbing his muscles with her small hands. A small gasp escaped him as she did so. He didn't protest, even as small splotches of tears landed on his tunic-covered chest.*

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Gary
Ves felt all the muscles in Björn's shoulders tense as she touched him. Ah, she had crossed a line again. Her massaging ceased almost immediately. She didn't want to push him too far, too fast. Well, she had already done that, hadn't she? It was too late to take it back now. His gasp made her focus sharply on his face, wondering what had caused it. Had she hurt him?

That's when she noticed the tears. Alarmed, Ves drew her hands back, not certain what to do. It was obvious something was wrong, but what? She couldn't read his mind, couldn't know the haunted memories he was currently reliving. She only knew that something was wrong and she seemed to have caused it.

"I'm sorry, Björn," She whispered softly. "I didn't mean... I don't know what's gotten into me." That was a lie. She knew perfectly well what had gotten into her. She craved the intimacy and hadn't wanted it to end. It was selfish of her, she knew that. She should have been more considerate of him. "Are you... Is there something I can do?"

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Toney
*Björn simply turned to her and with a soft voice, almost a whisper he asked:* "Why did you stop?" *His face was a blank slate save for the tears... Until something caught his eye behind her. In that moment, Ves saw the one emotion she wouldn't want to see: fear.*

*He caught a glimpse of her black, blood-soaked dress. He whipped his head around to avert his gaze from her. He couldn't see her. She wasn't there... Oh but she was. She was there and he could feel her hatred.*

"Ves... You did nothing wrong." *Is all he said in response to her... She had not hurt him. He had hurt himself... He kept his eyes on the trees infront of him. He wanted to look at Ves. He wanted his friend but... She was making him scared to even move.*

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Gary
She was so confused. Hadn't he wanted her to stop? Wasn't that the cause for his tears? He looked back at her and Ves felt herself begin to tremble a little. The sudden fear in his eyes made her tense and she looked over her shoulder. There was nothing there. Nothing that she could see anyways.

Her amber eyes returned to Björn, but her friend had turned away again. Something was desperately wrong here. What was it that caused that look of fear in Björn's eyes? What was he seeing that she could not? She swallowed, not knowing what to do.

"Björn..." She whispered, feeling as though her heart were breaking. She circled around in front of him and knelt, ignoring the pain in her leg. He was all that mattered. "What can I do? I'll do anything. How can I help?" Or had she done enough already? 

Maybe Björn was better off without her. Maybe she was just a pest who would slow him down. She remembered how he had pleaded with her not to leave him, but was that what was truly best for him? Ves wasn't certain. She wasn't certain of anything, except that she cared about him deeply. And in the end she wanted what was best for him.

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Toney
*Björn kept repeating their mantra in his head: be brave, be strong, be brave, be strong. It was helping... He heard her call his name softly as he looked up. She was in front of him, kneeling on her bad leg, all for him. He was a bad friend, a bad protector. She was hurting herself just to comfort him. He was a weakling.*

"Promise you'll never leave. Never hate me." *Is all he could mutter, he placed a hand on his shoulder, scratching the brand he had. He was definitely hurting. He kept his eyes on Ves, oh Ves. She was a beacon of safety. She was clever and smart and intelligent. She was nimble and crafty.*

*She was his friend and he was her's. He instinctively reached out and touched the scales on her cheek. He wasn't certain way, but the bumps and ridges were comforting. Bumpy, yet smooth.*

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Gary
As though he could read her thoughts he began to beg her not to leave. "Shh... Shh... I won't leave you. I won't hate you. I'm here and I'll always be here," She whispered soothingly. What was going on? She had triggered some kind of response that was threatening to push him over the edge. She just wished she knew what to do!

When he reached for her, she moved forward. She set her hand upon his briefly, then gently spread her arms and wrapped them around him. She pulled him close to her, embracing him like she had done before. She held him tightly against her, gently rubbing his back.

"Shh... There now... Take a deep breath. I've got you," She whispered into his ear. She wanted to protect him, to take away his pain and his fear. "I'll take care of you. I won't let you go." Her heart ached. He was probably better off without her, but she couldn't just abandon him. She had made a promise and she wouldn't break it. 

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Toney
*The irony was apparent to no one as the two felt like failures. They had just escaped a painful death after a lifetime of servitude and yet here they were. Sat in the forests, one feeling weak, and the other feeling unwanted.*

*Björn needed the hug. He pulled her tightly in too, allowing himself to be comforted. He heard a humming sound that he couldn't locate. As he began to hear it, the presence of her shrunk away... Leaving nothing but a sour taste in his mouth. As soon as the humming came, it left.*

*He took her advice and breathed deeply, he continued to feel her scales as she comforted him. He remained in silence for some time before he finally looked up at her, his eyes dry and no longer so desponded. He leaned in really close to her large ears and said softly, yet still rumbly and deep.* "...Thank you, Ves." *He emphasised her name before tilting his head and kissing her cheek. His beard scratched against her scales as he did so.*

*He immediately pulled away and looked down at the ground.* "...We should not ruin our clothes on the forest floor." *He tried to change the subject, his blush told a different story.*

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Gary
She continued to hold him, gently rubbing his back, until at last he seemed to calm. He drew back and she searched his gaze for something, anything, that might clue her in to what had happened. She still didn't know how she had triggered such a reaction, but knew she would need to be more careful in the future.

He leaned close and whispered into her ear and his breath was warm and it tickled. She resisted the urge to squirm and was successful... Until he tilted his head and kissed her cheek. Her eyes widened and she tensed up all over as her blush reappeared and traveled down her neck. 

She looked at him in shock, swallowing hard as she placed a hand on the spot he had kissed. He was blushing as well, even as he attempted to change the subject. Only she didn't *Want* The subject to change. She wanted to let the intimacy linger. She wanted to savor the moment a bit longer. She wanted more.

"No..." She muttered. "We don't want our new clothes getting dirty so soon," She agreed but made no move to stand. Was he going to be okay now? The fear was gone from his eyes. Whatever had frightened him so much had faded. He was left vulnerable and raw and as much as Ves wanted to, she was hesitant to do anything else. She didn't want to take advantage of him.

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Toney
*He watched her face and neck light up with red, her shocked expression made him feel excited and worried. What was she thinking? Was that a good move?! She placed a hand over the spot... He searched her expression for answers, and came up short.*

*She agreed with him, yet why didn't she stand. Was she waiting for him? He was confused.* "Yes. Sitting would just make it worse. We are losing daylight. Nighttime is too dangerous. Too dark." *He saw the concern in her eyes and put his hand over her's.* "I am fine. I will be fine. You did nothing wrong. Whatever you did to my shoulders... Felt good." *He muttered quietly.* "Your touch is needed." *He looked at her again.* "Do you want to make a move?" *The irony of his words. If only he knew.* "We should at least find suitable area to camp."

*Björn rose to his feet and grabbed her into his arms without asking. He assumed she would have asked if he hasn't. He held her up close once more and rested her against his chest. He would walk in a straight line unless advised not to or if danger arose from the shrubbery. He was confident in his abilities to keep her safe until nightfall.*

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Gary
She nearly laughed. Did she want to make a move? Of course she did! She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and press her lips to his and feel the warmth of his embrace. She wanted to undo his braid and run her fingers through his hair. She wanted to feel their bodies pressed together. She wanted... Oh, gods, she wanted so much!

Her cheeks heated up even more at these intrusive thoughts. He scooped her up before she had a chance to agree again and began walking. She sighed gently. At least she could be close to him this way. Camp. Yes. They needed to make camp. That was what was most important at the moment.

She leaned into him and pressed an ear against his chest. She listened to his heart, counting the beats quietly to herself. Only once did she redirect him to head in a different direction so they would be on the proper course. Then she went back to snuggling up comfortably in his arms. 

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Toney
*Björn noticed her nestled against his chest as he walked. He didn't know what she was doing but she kept returning to that same spot. Maybe it was comfy? He doubted it. His pectorals were large and stern - like the rest of him - not exactly made for resting on.*

*It felt like they had walked for a good while in the right direction. Björn was making small noises to himself to asking if she was in pain periodically but he kept quiet. His thoughts were on her however... Eventually they came to a opening in the forest. It was far enough away from the road to be secure. Björn looked up at the dying light in the sky, night would be upon them soon.*

"Ves. Here we can make camp. Sleep here tonight, it looks safe after all." *He looked around the area. It was pretty nice, secure.* "Want me to help? I don't know what I'm doing but... You are so clever." *He paused and coughed loudly.* "I meant you could teach me."

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Gary
Ves glanced around the clearing, nodding her head. It looked like a suitable spot, far from the city and a good distance from the road. Hopefully they could rest there unbothered for the night. 

"I'm really not all that clever," She replied shyly. He kept calling her that, but she was really just making it up as she went along. "I don't have a tent unfortunately. We'll have to sleep on the ground. But it looks like a comfortable enough spot. We'll clear out the sticks and rocks and it'll just be the moss."

"I think it's safe enough to start a fire. It'll help keep the animals away." As for the bandits... Well she only hoped there weren't any around. They would be drawn to the fire like moths and would take everything she and Björn had to offer. Ves had been forced to hide more than once when her makeshift camp was overtaken by thieves. 

"You can set me down here. I'll arrange our sleeping spots while you gather firewood. Then we can have something to eat." 

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Toney
*He placed her down listening to her words. No, she was clever.* "Okay. Firewood. I'll go chop some trees. I'll scout a bit too in case there are any predators." *He patted her head.* "Be brave, be strong. And for you, do clever things."

*He pulled the axe from his back and spun it effortlessly as he walked off into the forest. Soon the sound of dull thumps against wood could be heard, their source? A nearby Goliath who was swinging a battle axe into a tree with the force of a bear.*

*Some time would pass before he would return. Scouting the wilderness would take him some time and carrying logs would also be a tedious task too. Every once in a while, he would lean through the trees to check on her. Even though, he didn't have a watch, he was routine with his checks.*

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Gary
Ves watched as Björn spun the axe, admiring the way his muscles flexed beneath his shirt. She flushed at the thought and turned away, getting to work. She found a suitable spot where they could rest, one covered with soft moss and a bed of dry leaves. She began to pick out the small rocks and sticks that would make sleeping uncomfortable. Then she laid out her blanket on the ground. She wished she had thought to buy a bigger one that would have fit Björn better. Maybe at their next stop she would get him one.

When he returned with the lumber, Ves busied herself stacking the wood carefully. Pulling out a fire starting kit, she created the sparks needed and added kindling until a small flame appeared. Breathing on it carefully, she encouraged the flame to grow. It leaped and danced as it caught on the dry firewood and soon they had a decently sized fire. Ves had purposefully kept it small, but not *Too* Small. It needed to be big enough to keep Björn warm.

Smiling to herself, Ves put her hands out to the flames, warming them. It was already getting cold now that the sun had disappeared behind the hills. The sunset was gorgeous, a display of red and orange and violet, and Ves tilted her head back to admire it. She felt very happy at that moment. And why wouldn't she be? She was with Björn, whom she cared about deeply. They were free and away from the horrors of slavery and the pits. And they were on their way out of Dasvaz. Why wouldn't she be happy?

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Toney
*Björn noticed her admiration of the sky and grabbed her from behind, lifting her up to stand on his shoulders. He held her ankles firmly in place. He had hoped this would give her a better vantage point to admire her view. As he admired his - trees and fire.*

*Björn was very fascinated by how she made a fire like that. It was amazing to him. He was used to light from fire, hurt from fire but never warmth. It was comforting... It made him sleepy. Björn was happy and had every reason to be. He was free and had someone to protect. He had fire and clothes and an axe; as far as he was concerned, this was the best day of his life. He smiled as he felt this. Oh if only Ves could have seen the way he smiled.*

*Eventually, as sunset gave way to night, Björn lowered her down to the floor once more and sat next to the fire, warming himself. Against the flames of the fire, Björn's skin took on an oddly human hue, the red flames making the pale of his skin brighten.*

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Gary
She squeaked in surprise as she was suddenly picked up. What was he doing?! Oh! He set her upon his shoulder so she could be closer to the sunset. Ves' tail curled around his wrist as he held her ankles carefully. She glanced down at him. It felt strange to do so and she smiled at the novelty of it.

He seemed distracted by something and his yellow eye reflected the firelight, making it glow golden. As he set her back down upon the tiny blanket, she scooted closer to him. The wind was picking up a little. Perhaps she should buy a tent at the next village as well as a blanket for Björn. It would help protect them from the chill.

She let the silence settle, her ears twitching as the wind stirred up the fire, making it dance. She shivered a little and cleared her throat. "Do you want me to take the first watch so you can rest?" Her eyes lifted towards him, admiring the glow the fire cast upon him. Once again she reflected on their differences and once again she wondered what he could possibly see in her.

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Toney
*He looked down at her as she scooted over to him. He softly shook his head.* "No. You can rest first. You need it more than me."

*He pulled his tunic off and threw it over her.* "Here, an extra bit of warmth." *He shrugged. He did not mind the cold for some reason. He liked it. But he preferred the warmth... Ves looked warm.*

*He stood up and rested his axe against his side.* "Sleep well. I will keep you safe till you wake." *He rubbed her head and stood up. He was going to keep watch just like before.*

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Gary
She wasn't so sure about that. They both needed their rest equally after the long day. But Ves decided not to argue. She blinked when Björn took off his tunic, wondering what he was doing. Not that she minded the view. 

When he tossed the discarded clothes on top of her, she flushed then wrapped them around herself more firmly. They smelled of him, faintly of soap and sweat and mint. She liked the smell and inhaled slowly. Then she lay down on her blanket and rolled onto her side. The moss and leaves beneath her provided a suitably comfortable bed.

"We'll switch soon. Just give me a few hours," She mumbled as she gazed up at him. She felt safe and warm knowing that he was there, keeping watch and protecting her. The Kobold closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly, drifting off to sleep.

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Toney
*Björn watched her smell his tunic and laughed a bit to himself. She was bizzare. It is what he liked about her. Her small frame, her quirks... She was a wonderful sight. An experience.*

"Goodnight, Ves." *He stood over her makeshift bed, watching her before moving to patrol the camp. He wanted her safe and would take no chances.*

*He found himself sat tired eyed around the campfire, looking at her. In his tired voice, he looked to Ves and said.* "You really are clever..."

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