Could things work out much less in her favor than what they were during this entire journey? Mentally scolding herself and her luck, Deryn laid on the ground for a long moment before Malkier approached her. He offered her a hand to assist her scramble to her feet. She stared at his outstretched hand for a long moment. Deryn realized that her position was one of weakness - he could have taken advantage of her, and yet, he hadn’t. She was still alive without any wounds caused by him, and ironically, part of her did trust him even though all logic told her not to. Hesitantly, she gave him a nod before grasping his hand with hers and used both of their strengths to get to her feet once more. The minute she was standing, though, Deryn backed up a few steps and brushed herself off, still keeping distance between them because she still wasn’t sure how she should feel.<br/><br/><b>”You should have been honest.”</b>Deryn stated, looking at him with more hurt in her eyes than fear.<b>”I asked you a question and you did not provide me with the entire truth.”</b>Deryn thought back to when she’d first blurted it out, having received a chuckle in response and now what she understood was a half answer.<b>”That is how trust is broken. That is how fear is imbedded into the minds of the weak.”</b>Deryn pulled a leave from her hair and set her eyes blazing on his form, anger rising from the pits as she fought to understand.<b>”I am not like the rest of those from my kingdom, nor would I ever judge someone for <i>who they are</i>, but do not expect me to toss aside superstition just because you state that <i>you are not here to harm me</i>.”</b><br/><br/>Reluctantly, Deryn then agreed to head back to camp. There were still items that she would need to gather, and if necessary, use to protect herself. There were still lives at stake, and if it meant continuing on her journey alone, she would. That was the honorable thing to do. Deryn liked to think she was honorable. She kept her distance as they walked through the forest, standing a little further from Malkier until she could start to trust him once more. He handed her the garlic bulb that she’d tossed at him, and embarrassingly enough, her face turned red at the way he proved her superstition incorrect. Her palm still stung from the other object she never let go of, and as she held out her hand to retrieve the bulb and store it away, the gold chain shone in the moonlight as she accepted the garlic.<br/><br/>Deryn listened, although her face was more stoic than it had been before. The stony appearance was not her usual, lightered, fun demeanor, but it did the job for what she had intended. Her intrigue was captured, though, and the things that Malkier told her about himself - what his vulnerabilities were not and how the things she’d been taught were nothing but lies themselves - raised several questions that she wanted to ask of him. Deryn did her best to hold her tongue, but as soon as they got back to the camp and Malkier set up the fire as if nothing had happened, he opened the window that gave her the opportunity she needed.<br/><br/><b>”How do you die?”</b>She asked without hesitation.<b>”How does one defend themselves against you? Surely, you’re not as fragile as say…”</b>She raised an eyebrow in his direction.<b>”A pathetic human?”</b>Testing the waters, she did.<b>”How did you become a vampire? Did you kill that man?”</b>All of the questions she asked had a purpose. If he was telling the truth, he would divulge this information to her and allow her to protect herself if she ever needed to. The realization that she was no longer tired also sank in during that moment of questioning. Her body needed to recover, but the adrenaline that pushed through her veins spurred her to stay away. She needed the rest. Her body needed it the most. The beastkin would not treat her kindly without rest - especially if she went about this alone.<br/><br/>Tag:<a class="username" data-user-id="92" data-username="@Malkier" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/92/">@Malkier</a>