A Strange Feeling Called Friendship|Clan Seere

[Kender Bard]

"Your mate is asking for you," one of the Seereling healers informed Bael.

Demetria was being forced to stay in Seere. Although she was no longer in danger of dying at any moment, she was still in very poor condition and could not be moved outside of the infirmary. In the couple days since the attack, she had briefly slipped in and out of consciousness. Sometimes Bael had been there when she had and sometimes she hadn't. This was the first time she'd actively asked for him to come to her.

[tuo]

Bael glanced at the Seereling healer and gave a shallow nod before rising from his meal and goes to see Demetria.

[Kender Bard]

Demetria was still a wreck. She'd been almost mummified in wraps and bandages and splints. She often looked in pain when she was awake, and now was no exception.

"I won't have long until the herbs they gave me work again," she told Bael in a tight, tense voice. "I'm glad you came to me. I'm... honestly surprised you're still here. Why are you here?"

[tuo]

"There's still...'clean up' duty to take care of. Besides, a lot of the Beasts are still here, if there's gonna be news of a counterstrike it'll probably start close by or something.." Bael answered gruffly.

[Kender Bard]

"I was trying to come help you," Demetria told Bael. "I swear. I thought I could." She gave a short, bitter laugh. "It was stupid of me. I ruined our plans, our mission." ~I don't suppose Thavan died on his own, conveniently?~

[tuo]

Bael grunted in irritation. "You wouldn't have liked fighting that faerie anyways.." Mentally he responded to her Mind question. ~No, Sloan did though.~

[Kender Bard]

~I don't give a shit about Sloan~ she thought moodily. "Maybe not, but... Nevermind." She started to twitch her wings over herself like a blanket. Instead she went rigid, her eyes wide with pain for a few moments until she managed to calm down again. Sucking in her breath to try to will the pain away, she carried on the conversation mentally. ~We can still salvage the situation, if you're willing.~

[tuo]

Bael shakes his head. "Just focus on recovering before moving and end up wasting the effort to patch you up." ~I'll hear you out, but don't expect any good opportunities for a while now.~

[Kender Bard]

~On the contrary~ she replied, closing her eyes and going a bit more limp. ~Now is the best time. Thavan's military maneuvering was a disaster. He was caught with his trousers down between his ankles on this one. Many people, civilians even, died because of his incompetence. If you were to challenge him on these grounds, you would not only have a sporting chance to beat him in combat, but I wouldn't be surprised if many other Beasts agreed with you.~

[tuo]

Bael thought about that for a few moments. ~Perhaps..the problem is that some of the..softer Beasts might raise objections in light of Sloan's death if I am too harsh.~

[Kender Bard]

~Twist that to your advantage~ Demetria instructed. ~Point out how his life could have been saved if Thavan hadn't thrown us all into a trap.~ She lifted her head slightly. ~You are confident you can beat him in a challenge, now that you've seen all his stupid little tricks, yes?~

[tuo]

Bael nodded slowly. ~You're right...I can do this.~ He grins. ~Just make sure to recover. I'd rather not see you be crippled for life.~ He rises, readying himself to go.

[Kender Bard]

~Wait!~ Demetria called out and tried to sit up. She hissed in pain and lay very still again. Even her mindvoice was pained for a moment. ~Don't go just this moment. Bael... Do you honestly mean to keep me at your side despite my injuries? What if I don't recover and I am crippled?~

She was no fool. She knew of the Belegite creed. But she asked him anyway, perhaps to be cruel to him, perhaps to be cruel to herself.

[tuo]

Bael pauses at the question before thinking back. ~If that happens, simply prove you are still useful and able to take care of yourself and I know you can do that.~

[Kender Bard]

Demetria looked at Bael with a strange expression on her face. She seemed puzzled and perhaps a little... awed? While not the precise word for her expression, it was clear she was looking at Bael in a new light.

~...I won't fail you again.~