Rise of The Fallen

-Kora- 

With a big yawn I pushed myself upright and stretched my arms over my head letting all the achy and stiff muscles in my arms and back flex and pop. 

Warm rays of sunlight shined down upon me, making me nearly moan at how nice it felt. Rubbing my eyes I blinked away the sleep in them before glancing around at the forest surrounding me.

The area was heavily shaded by the wispy branches of the surrounding trees, only allowing a few pillars of light to penetrate their thick canopies. Large clusters of small purple blossoms surrounded us, with a few stray ferns growing here and there throughout the open space. 

The strange little flowers seemed to move as the small tendril-like stamen slowly danced around with no real coordination or purpose. 

Glancing back I found Elazar leaned up against a tree behind me peacefully asleep. had he been keeping watch all night? He usually wakes long before I ever do so seeing him like this is surprising, I wonder if all the events of yesterday wore him out?

Carefully moving onto my hands and knees I quietly crawled over next to him curious. He always had such a stern look on his face whenever he was awake but seeing him asleep like this, there was a sense of peace across his features that he rarely showed. 

His arms and legs were crossed with his spear resting against his shoulder in his arms. He always keeps his weapons close as if something could jump out and attack at any moment… turning my head to look around the forest I bit my lip at that thought

Probably because anything could attack at any given moment. Shaking that worry from my head I looked back to El and trailed my gaze over his body. He bore quite a few scars on his arms and backside but none of them really seemed to take away from his overall beauty. 

I could see the cuts from the damp torn bush, covering his arms and legs. That probably hurt like a bitch. Holding my injured hand up I looked over all the cuts I had obtained when trying to free him. Had that plant grabbed me instead I'd probably be dead… 

All the events that took place inside the cave came flooding back to mind, especially the memory of Elazar breaking down. I never thought one of these natives could be so emotional, Elazar always puts up a strong front showing little to no signs of weakness.

But the look of horror on his face as he pulled away from me, that was new. He seemed so broken and ashamed. Like he had done something so unforgivable. I couldn't really understand the reason behind why he reacted in such a way but I had a feeling it was a lot more complex than it looked.

You don't just simply freak out like that over a simple mistake. Has someone hurt him? That's the only reasonable explanation I could come up with, because I've dealt with that same trauma for years. 

Who could've made a brutish man like Elazar look so weak and defeated? What did they do to him? What did I do to him…

I somehow triggered whatever insecurities were weaved into his mind, without even trying. Maybe I shouldn't be so mean to him and tease him so much. He's been nothing but good to me, and I've concluded it's just in his nature. He's one of those naturally good people who just want to help, and don't want compensation like others. Whereas I'm nothing but trouble.

I've always been the one who ends up making things harder for those around me. Even if I don't mean to, somehow I just make situations worse by being present. Yesterday was a perfect example of such. Had I not distracted Elazar he never would've gotten hurt, I was nothing but a burden for him to bear the entire time we were inside that cavern. All I do is cause him more trouble than needed.

The thoughts running through my head made me sulk and I scooted closer to sit next to Elazar against the tree. I stared at the ground and leaned over resting my head against his arm while holding my knees to my chest.

He stared awake from the movement and looked up, scanning the area momentarily with his eyes for any signs of danger before glancing down at me curiously. 

I didn't meet his eyes, I couldn't. 

He seemed a bit confused by my close proximity and I dug my nails into my arm. Even now I'm using him to comfort myself despite all my wrongdoings. 

I really am such a selfish person. Tears stung the corners of my eyes as I grit my teeth and fought them back.

Elazar shifted from his seating position pulling his arm out from under my head causing a pang in my chest. He probably doesn't want me to-

My thoughts were cut off as his arm moved over my shoulder pulling me closer to rest my head against his chest instead. While his tail circled around me on the ground, lazily lying across the tops of my feet.

I had to blink a few times before angling my head up to look at him. He moved his spear aside laying it on the ground beside him before looking at me.

I averted my gaze unsure what to say or do, it was as if my brain was short circuiting. So I did the only thing I could think of and just started talking, trying to come up with excuses and apologies. "I'm sorry- I didn't mean to wake you up I just Got cold and didn't want to leave the camp to find wood and get lost i really didn't wanna wake you either after everything that happened yesterday, i mean you've been through alot and looked like you needed the rest so I just thought it would be better to sit up next to you, I'm not sure if your people have any real customs against touching but I figured not since we've touched so much l, and i don't mean just intimately cause i know that's not how you perceived it but, god im such an idiot sorry-" words tumbled out of my mouth in a flurry of panic.

I felt like my mind was getting darker and darker as my insecurities came rushing to the surface like a thick cloud of smoke coiling around my head, Suffocating me.

"You do not need to apologize, you may use me for comfort…" I nearly stopped breathing at his words and silence fell between us. 

The dark cloud swirling in my head gave way to rain in the form of quiet tears allowing my worries to dissipate. I hid my face wiping the stray drops from my cheeks, no wanting Elazar to see me cry.

Neither of us spoke as minutes passed by and it seemed like we were frozen in time while the forest and all the life around us  continued on. The small chirps of critters and light cool breeze gave a pleasant distraction from our grievances. 

"I guess this makes me a hypocrite…" I finally broke the silence between us, making Elazar's tail twitched. 

"I do not know that word?" He responded quietly. "What does it mean?" 

I gave a half hearted chuckle at the question before sitting upright. Seeing a few stray flowers blooming mere inches from my feet  I reached out to touch the strange bloom. The little tendrils seemed to react to my touch and gently coiled around my finger making it all tingly.

"It means that despite me telling you not to let your fears and worries take hold of you, I let mine take hold of me. By doing so I've put myself in a bad spot." El was silent. Observing me while trying to register my words.

"If- your are in a bad spot I can move you, if it makes you happy and comfortable you may even sit atop of me. As for your fears… you need not be afraid, I shall let no harm come to you."

I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my lips as I looked up at El. "Thanks big guy, that's not exactly what I meant but that helps."

Elazar's tail thumped against the ground as his face showed his uncertainty with my words, and what I meant.

Our discussion was interrupted by the sound of a strained yowl and animalistic grunts somewhere nearby, followed by the rustling of bushes. Both our heads shot up at the sound of the approaching creature.

A new sense of worry took over as I looked towards the treeline waiting for another monstrous creature of some sort to come prowling out of the bushes. 

Instead of becoming defensive and jumping to his feet like I expected. Elazar simply huffed in irritation. grabbing his spear he planted the blunt end into the dirt and used it as a support to stand up.

He offered his hand to help me stand which I gladly took before gathering his items nonchalantly. "We should go back to the cave." He spoke.

The grunting sounded again from the bushes nearby but El didn't seem the least bit phased or worried. "What is it, will it attack us?" I asked questioningly.

He paused, looking up towards the source of the sounds before scratching his head. "It is- they shall not attack as long as we do not disturb them." 

Disturb? Them? "Okay…exactly what's happening?" I quickly stepped back over to the campfire and grabbed my own stuff while side eyeing the bushes.

"It's- it's a male and female jasinku. Has big horns, many spikes, and is small with soft fur. They come here to eat vel'vhe…" he gestured to the flowers on the ground and I eyed them for a moment before looking over to the strange sounds being made. 

"So they are eating? That's why they aren't attacking?" I walked over to Elazar as he stood there waiting and rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. We started walking away heading towards the twisted trees and back in -what I assumed was the direction of my cave.-

"The jasinku are Erisle, making smaller jasinku together. The flowers make creatures compliant and want to create little ones." 

I stopped in my tracks for a moment as El's words sunk in. "Wait they are fucking?! The flowers make you want to fuck?!"  

this time he stopped to look back at me with his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "I do not understand the word phack or phacking"

"It's- You know! Doing the deed! Getting dirty, having sex, Making babies!" I made a circle with my fingers on one hand and picked through it with another finger with the other hand as a way to show what I mean but it only seemed to confuse the man further.

"You humans have many words for Erisle…" I rolled my eyes and put my hands down before grabbing the strap of my bag and jogging to catch up to Elazar so that we could continue walking. Turning towards him I practically walked backwards to continue our conversation.

"That's besides the point. So your telling me those weird little purple flowers that saved our asses from the scalywag-"

"Scalworg." He quickly corrected. 

"-are basically aphrodisiacs that make creatures horny?!" I exclaimed, still trying to wrap my head around the strangeness of it all.

"Vel'vhe does not make you grow horns." Elazar stated. 

"I know it's another term for being turned on!" I waved off his remark and he seemed to only grow more frustrated with all these new terms. "What I'm saying is those flowers make you want to have sex and fuck? To make little xandisians or humans? Kids."

"If phack or zaxx is the same as Erisle then yes, the vel'vhe makes the urge to do so stronger."

"That's so freaking weird- " I stopped mid sentence as the back of my heel caught on something and I stumbled back. Barely catching myself by grabbing onto a branch of a tree. I however didn't fully stop myself completely and ended up crash landing on my hands and knees, scraping my leg on a rock. "Shit!-" I cursed.

Elazar quickly came up and offered his support to help me back up to my feet.

"Are you alright?" 

"Yeah I'm fine just- ow. fuck me that hurt." As I stood up straight I could see the bloodied scrape on my knee that stung like a bitch. I really need to learn to watch my step. This stupid forest is one massive tripping hazard.

With a huff I did my best to ignore the pain and couldn't help but notice Elazar was standing frozen before me, still holding onto my arm. Turning my gaze up, my eyes met his and I could see the intense gaze he was giving me while his tail flicked around behind him.

Arching a brow I waved my hand in front of him trying to snap him out of whatever trance he was in. "You good Big guy?"

He hesitated a moment before responding. "You said it again. You said 'phack me'"

"Yeeahh?" I furrowed my brows confused until he suddenly stepped closer, pushing into my personal space. Making me crane my neck back further to look up at him and put my hand on his chest to stop him. 

"Was that a request?"