Tauren's side

Conversation had been little, as Teo and Lynx changed quietly hearings in forgein language for the annoyance of Iisai and Aikatherinee. Drake, however, understood Forte and seemed to be listening with interest. Iisai, who didn't really let one word slip by his ears noticed that when Teo spoke the standard language her voice was rather or very low, just as Drake's and Lynx's as well but when she spoke forte it was more brighter. Not that much but enough to notice. Forte was like water in their mouth, it sounded soft and silky. Iisai hadn't really though there were languages other than what he spoke but now that he thought about it, Ofcourse there had to be. They made a camp next to some sheltering rocks and discovered there was a hotspring behind them.
"Oh, good. I already thought I wouldn't get to bath before S'kai." Aikatherinee sighed and then decided that the women would go first and men after. Teo didn't like the idea of having to bathe alone with Kathy but would not have rather bathed with the men either so she held no choice. As they disappeared behind the rocks she swore she'd whip the crap out of the one who'd peep at them. Aikatherinee just giggled. Teo tried the water, it felt like hot velvet.
Just what I need..
She smiled and took off her shirt and pants having left with only the bandage that covered her chest and panties with a short underskirt. Kathy looked at her.
"You're scrawny. You do too much sports." Her tone was arrogant.
Teo gritted her teeth.
"Thanks. The next time I need a comment from you I'll prepare a viper kit with me!"
She didn't have time to get a response when she heard Iisai's restless shout from the other side.
"Aaa.. Teo! You should... Come see this."
Her eyes checked the radar but saw nothing. Iisai sounded distressed however so she quickly climbed on the rock with her whip and peeked over at him. Before her eyes reached Iisai, she already saw what he had meant. Aikatherinee came from the other side of the rock as well, just to see a huge something walking towards them. It hadn't reached them yet, it was still pretty far but its steps were enormous making it move fast. Teo jumped down the rock, heart beating fast.
"What is this?" she asked a restless question as she noticed the closing person was holding a huge axe.
"I think.. It's a tauren." Lynx spoke, giving Teo a worried look.
�You aren't going to take it on alone, are you?�

"Everyone, move aside! Behind the rocks!" Teo shouted, trying to get her clothes on as fast as possible.
Drake and Iisai obeyed without hesitation, but Lynx and Aikatherinee were not so cooperative.
"Move!"
"Heck no, you can't take it all on your own" Lynx said with a serious face.
Teo suspected Aikatherinee only stayed to bug her.
"I-SAID-MOVE!" Teo shouted as loud as she could.
"This is an order!"
Lynx hesitated a while, but then moved behind the rocks, just to make Teo happy. Aikatherinee, how ever, stayed in place.
"Didn't I just say something?" Teo hated when someone didn't listen to her.
"I bet you did, but that doesn't make you my boss. I stay here, no matter what you say"
Aikatherinee said, without removing her gaze from the approaching tauren. Teo sighed.
"Fine, but if and when you get yourself killed, it's not my problem."
Aikatherinee looked at Teo.
"Has it ever been?"
At this point, the tauren had got so close they could hear its footsteps. It stopped a little before reaching them, pointed at the rocks behind them and grunted:
"Move, I came here for the redheaded one."
"Like everyone" Teo said, not surprised.
The tauren looked at her then turned its gaze on Aikatherinee.
"You, I know, you're the one with the shamans" it growled, pointing at Aikatherinee with its finger.
"So what if I was? None of your problems, cow" she snorted.
The tauren stepped a few steps forward and grabbed Aikatherinee by lapels and lifted her into air. As much as Teo enjoyed the sight that someone stood up against this little bitch, it was her duty to get her down. Well, not duty exactly but she still disturbed her real duty. So, she simply slashed the tauren's hand with her whip. He groaned and with one simple move threw Aikatherinee to the ground. Next thing Teo actually realized was a huge fist coming right at her. A smooth dodge, a turn and another slash. The tauren was still on its feet, and as it rose its axe for a strike, Teo realized that it wasn't even bleeding badly. She dodged the axe, not as smoothly as last time, and she stumbled to the ground. The axe missed her just barely, making a cut on her arm.
Oh, crap, hurts�
Teo bit her lip and jumped back up. She slashed the tauren across the chest and aimed for the head, intending to end this once and for all. But no, she could feel her ribs snap when tauren hit her with the flat of its axe. Teo rolled around on the ground, gasping for air.
"That is futile, little one. Give me the redheaded demon!"
He shouted so loud that Teo almost felt the ground tremble.
"No.. Never!" She jumped up.
She refused to give up so easily. She lifted the whip to attack, but it made her lose her balance. The pain was unbearable, and Teo closed her eyes and fell back. She felt how the tauren's axe hit her shoulder, cutting its way through everything. Her chest, her stomach, everything. Then, there was a loud explosion, right before Teo's face. She felt how she hit the ground, and after that, everything was nothing.

Teo opened her eyes slowly. The sun burned her eyes, and everything looked hazy. She heard low voices, talking, mumbling, but she could understand. Someone touched her hand lightly, and blocked the sun.
"Teo... Teo, can you hear me... Please, answer..."
She barely recognized Iisai's voice.
"I... it... hurts.."
"Shh-sh-sh-shh, it's alright, we take good care of you"
Iisai whispered and pat Teo's forehead.
"Can I get you something.. Anything at all?"
"..No.."
"Alright, I'll let you rest" Iisai smiled encouragingly, even though he was almost scared to death.
"Don't... leave me alone.." Teo tried to say as loud as she could.
"I.. Ofcourse I won't leave you" Iisai tried to convince.
"I'll.. Stay here then." He grabbed Teo by her hand.
Then she remembered the horrible pain, caused by the axe of the tauren.
"Am I... will I live..?" she mumbled, weakly.
"Ofcourse you will, there was no internals wounded, you will be as good as new in no time"
Iisai lowered his head. Teo could feel his breath on her skin, and it felt very comforting.
"Where's.. Everyone else..?"
"Fetching food, building camp, everything. Don't trouble yourself with it."
It was silent for a moment.
"I.. was scared for you, Teo" Iisai whispered. "I really thought you were going to die.."
"For a moment, I thought so too.." Teo sighed. "Is.. The tauren.. Dead now?"
"Yes, he is. Very." Iisai said, petting Teo's head.
"What was the.. The explosion?"
"Well.. I shot at him" Iisai admitted.
"I know you don't want others to be involved in your fights but.. I couldn't watch you getting killed. Just.. Don't be mad at me, please."
Teo shook her head.
"I'm not.. Not now, but later.. Were you the only one who 'helped'"
"Well.. Yeah, no one else moved, and Kathy was out cold" Iisai told, quietly.
"But now, you should rest a little, I'll wake you up when there's food ready, ok?"
"Well... sure.." Teo mumbled, closed her eyes and sighed.
This is my life.. Life on the edge..

Next time she opened her eyes, Iisai was quietly talking to her and gently squeezing her shoulder.
"Wake up, Teo... there's lunch now."
She looked at him and noticed several things. He didn't look so scared anymore, and it didn't hurt that much either.
"Wow. I.. feel actually better." She stated to Iisai and he smiled.
"Lynx did a good job healing you. I didn't know he was a mage."
Feeling herself foolish for thinking about anything else, Teo smiled back to him.
"Yea... he has some.. hell of a spells... ...where is he?"
Iisai looked around.
"I don't really know.. But the last time I saw him he was talking with Drake. They probably wandered off somewhere."
She tried to nod.
"Aye. I though Drake would find it interesting... to talk with him.. He's a half mooner, half sunner.. You ..Know that?"
Teo tried to keep herself talking. It took her thoughts off the dried pool of blood she was lying in.
"Really? I didn't know that was possible. Drake told me that sun's and moon's don't get a long."
He put his arm under her shoulders and helped her half sit up, pressing her against his chest. Teo looked up to him, and couldn't help but to blush lightly.
"Hmm? What is it?" Iisai asked her, noticing her tiny embarrassment and a whole lot of confusion.
"Is this position bad for you? Does it hurt?"
He offered her a bowl of something that smelled good.
"No.. just that I'm not used.. of getting nursed by my client.."
"Then who takes care of you when you get injured if not your client?"
Teo laughed silently, but heartfelt. Just hearing that made Iisai be at ease.
"I myself, silly. Who else? I get money.. For looking after them, they aren't supposed to care what happens to me as long.. As they are safe."
There was a shadow on the boy's face.
"You know what. You lied to me. You are not emotionless. Why did you say that?"
She was trying to drink the contest of the bowl but her hands were shaking. Iisai took it and put it to her lips. Little by little, she was able to get it down her throat.
"Because..."
Iisai hadn't expected to hear an answer, and now looked down to her in mild surprise.
"Because. I didn't want to explain you that when I kill someone I close everything and everyone away from me, that it's the only momentary thing I can do in order to be able to do it, in... order to be able to tolerate myself with it.."
Iisai didn't understand.
"But you told me that now. It wasn't so hard now was it?"
Teo closed her eyes.
"Oh yes it was. Way was.. It is a part of me, part of who I am.. It's not easy for me to share myself with someone."
Iisai pondered for a while.
"But.. I want to learn to know you."
Teo turned her face against his chest but didn't answer. He couldn't possibly understand.

Lynx knelt next to them, and smiled.
"Hey there."
Teo turned to look at him, and rolled away from Iisai's arms who backed off a bit to give them room with unsure face.
"Lynx" Teo called him happily.
Concern took over his face and he helped her sit up.
"How is it, now? Are you in pain?"
She shook her head, bit against the truth.
"No, not really. You healed me.."
Lynx snorted.
"Ofcourse. After such of a suicide attempt what else was there for me to do?"
Teo pressed down her head.
"Thanks for stepping aside. I know you did it only to please me."
Lynx shook his head. "I have a feeling you are going to ask the moon from the sky next time. These favors are getting kinda big. I'm an Atrac too and so I know what it means to interfere."
His eyes were a bit angry.
"But you truly were foolish. Going to a battle like that without a plan."
Teo lift her eyes.
"That's not correct! I so had a plan I-"
But more she didn't have time to say when Drake interrupted them.
"You're up! Thank god. For a moment it looked like you were going to leave us.."
He put down the dry grass he had been collecting for fire and pat her head, smiling truly pleased. That made her feel a bit childlike, and on any other day she would have killed him for it but not today. Lynx got up and looked at Iisai.
"I trust you help her clean up a bit, she's a bloody mess as you can see."
Iisai went as pale as Teo.
"H-hold on. What do you mean? I can't do that.. She's a girl."
Teo rolled her eyes.
"Thanks for noticing.."
Iisai ignored her, still digging his eyes to Lynx.
"Even so. What I have been looking at you guys, it seems it would be more unwise to put her and Aikatherinee together than her and you." Lynx replied and shook his head.
�You'll just carry her to the spring and watch elsewhere. Ofcourse she can wash herself, grown up woman, you'll just be there in case."
Iisai frowned.
"And you won't do this because...?"
Lynx gave him his most evil smile.
"Would you prefer it to be me?"

Five minutes later Iisai put Teo down.
"Is this good?"
They were at the very edge of the spring and Teo nodded.
"I'll just.. Go a bit over there. And turn my back. I'll hear you tho, ok?"
Iisai shoved behind him with his hand and Teo nodded.
Oh man.. How did this go like this?
Teo asked herself as she took off Lynx's coat he had given her when her own clothes had been torn by the axe, and slipped into the water. It felt warm, like heaven. It wasn't so hard to wash away the dried blood as she had thought, and it was nice, she had to admit. To get clean. She wasn't even bothered by the boy, he was so resistant about taking her that he'd hardly peek. If he did, same to her, bad for him.
"Iisai.." She called hesitantly.
"...Yes? Everything ok?" his voice was nervous.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think that once I stretch a bit I can walk. Where is Aikatherinee? I didn't see her."
She examinated the line of the wound. It was fading, little more than a scar. The warm water dissolved the rest of the pain.
"She.. wanted to be alone or something and wandered off. Her horse is still with the others, tho. I think she was really shocked.."
Teo frowned.
"And still you just let her go alone?"
Iisai was silent. Teo sighed deep, making the wound ache again.
Shit�
She cursed and decided she had had enough of the water. Dragging herself to a rock on the ground, she waited for a breeze to dry her off.
"We should leave soon.." She stated as she had put on her pants and the coat.
It was a bit open from the front, giving out un-Teo much bare skin but it couldn't be helped.
"Can I turn?" Iisai asked, and looked at her as she gave an approving answer.
"Are you sure you can stay on a horse? ..I'm just worried ok? I don't want you to entrench yourself." �Well, I believe I must�. �
She got up taking support from him, and was actually able to take few steps before her legs gave in and she fell. Iisai looked horrified, called her name and knelt beside her. She laughed, but there was something ironic, maybe even bitter in it.
"I'm fine. But you're right. I might have to rest just a bit longer. Besides, we need to wait for Aikatherinee to return.."
Iisai agreed and carried her back to the camp on piggy pack. Aikatherinee was nowhere in sight.

The camp was unnaturally quiet. Both Drake and Lynx were staring at something, both looking terribly pale.
"Guys.... what's wrong..?" Iisai asked, nervous.
Neither of the men turned to face him, but Drake rose his hand.
"Iisai, don't come any closer, you do not want to see this.."
"See what?" Iisai streched his neck, despite Drake's words.
Drake looked at him with terribly angry look on his face.
"Don't you ever listen?!" he shouted.
Lynx gasped, closed his eyes and turned away from what ever he saw. He looked terribly nauseous. Teo tried to see what was going on, but couldn't due to some rocks in the way. Then there was a huge crunch. "Oh come on, I wanna see!" Iisai shouted, laid Teo on the ground and took a good look.
Iisai's jaw dropped.
"Oh for the love of.... GROSS! Ugh..."
He took few steps back, turned around and ran off, totally forgetting the whole thing of staying within Teo�s vision.
"What the heck is going on? Show me!" Teo grabbed Lynx's hand and pulled herself up without even looking twice after Iisai. And there it was, the tauren's corpse right where it had been left, and Aikatherinee's horse eating it, tearing it with it�s teeth. Iisai was right. It was gross.

The surroundings of the campfire were silent. Teo and Lynx were sitting quietly, staring at the fire. Drake had gone after Iisai, and even though it was already dark, neither of them had returned. Not to mention Aikatherinee, who was just as gone. Teo tried to come up with something to say, anything at all to brake the silence, but nothing she thought of seemed to fit the situation. Lynx seemed just as uncomfortable, tho they were friends with a long way behind them. In the end she just ended up resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Teo felt worry for Iisai, but not strong enough to really get up and go look for them. He had violated the contract and if he now ended up death she didn�t feel responsible for it. Finally, her thoughts wandered away, into her past. All sorts of disturbing memories got mixed up with wishes and fears. She finaly woke up from her thoughts as she heard two very familiar, welcome voices.
"Is the horse still there...?"
"Yeah, but I don't think it's eating anymore."
"What if it is? It's gross..."
"I know, but you don't have to look. Just think of something nicer."
"Like what..?"
"Don't ask me, I can't see into your mind."
Teo turned around and smiled faintly at Iisai and Drake, who held his hand on Iisai's shoulder.
"Hey, welcome back" Teo waved her hand.
Drake waved back, but Iisai didn't even seem to notice. He seemed still rather shocked. He sat down next to Teo and hugged his knees. Drake sat next to him, patting his shoulder.
"There there, it's not the end of the world. Might be a sign of it, but well, let's not worry about that now."
Drake's smile was catchy, and soon Teo found herself smiling, staring at Drake's green eyes. She hastly turned her eyes at the fire, but she still felt Drake's gaze on her neck.
Stop staring at me, she begged.
As if someone would have heard her, Drake turned his eyes away.
"Ain't that... Kathy?"
Everyone turned to see, even the horses. And yeah, it was Aikatherinee, walking carefree at them. As she sat down between Iisai and Drake (her favourite place) she got a whole barrelfull of questions, such as "Where have you been" and "What the heck was on your mind" and "Do you even understand what has happened". And ofcourse, Drake explained what happened with Aikatherinee's horse.
"Oh, she did that?" Aikatherinee asked, like it would have been perfectly normal.
"She does that once in a while, she means no harm. It's like humans eat flesh too, and there's nothing wrong with that."
"But she's a HORSE!" Iisai pointed at Aikatherinee's horse, who was like nothing would have happened.
"No original one" the mage smiled.
"I'll explain it to you later. I want to get some sleep now."
Teo looked down at Kathy and she wished a look could kill. There would be nothing left of the poor, defenceless Kathy.
"You still didn't tell us where you went" Drake sighed.
"I was just gathering some herbs. There's nothing bad in it, is there?"
Kathy smiled. Drake was silent for a while.
"Well, no, but you should tell us before going anywhere. What if something would have happened to you?"
Aikatherinee just waved her hand and laughed. "I can take care of myself just as well as the next girl. There's nothing that could get me."
"Except a tauren..." Iisai snorted.
After that, there was just uncomfortable silence, in which everyone finaly fell asleep, one by one.

Next morning, Teo was the firts up. Slowly she got on her feet, and noticed that they carried pretty well.
She streched and took a few steps farther away from the camp.
"Hey.. How are you feeling today?" Lynx called from behind her.
Teo turned to face him.
"You're as quiet as ever" She smiled.
"..We'll depart again today, won't we..?" she seemed to struggle to keep the smile on her face.
Lynx took her by her hands.
"Keisoku is only few miles away.. You'll head to S'kai and I'll go on my way to Dante.. But this time, Teo... I want a part of you to come with me..."
Teo shook her head.
"Lynx..."
"I found it. And I know what we are doing.. Know that this 24/7 stress is and fear for others is a part of it. But I don't ever want to experience again the uncertainity I felt when the rumors of the crash reached my ears. So please.."
He looked like in pain and Teo couldn't move her eyes off his eyes.
"We've known each other for so long.. You're the reason for me doing this... I want you to be my asereje."
While Lynx's grip on her hands tightened and Teo's eyes had shot wide, neither of them noticed Iisai who was looking at them still half asleep. Lynx took a knife from his pocket and unsheathed it. It was silver, decorated with incredibly complicated carvings and symbols. He let go of her right hand and carefully placed the left one in his.
"Will you?" his voice trembled.
Tears treathened to rise in Teo's eyes.
"Ofcourse. Do you really even need to ask?"
Her gaze was on his eyes, smile back on her lips. Lynx nodded in approvance, and placed the knife on her palm lopsidedly.
"Ready?"
Teo nodded and gritted her teeth as he pulled down the knife leaving a red line after. He refused the urge to drop the knife as it got suddenly burning hot and finished the job.
"YOU CUT HER! What the hell are you guys doing!?"
Teo closed her eyes. There really was nothing else in the world that would have disturbed her more being caughed by Iisai. She grabbed the knife and with one quick move made a similar cut to Lynx's left hand. Now, all the others we're up too, woken by Iisai's scream. He had gotten up, walked slowly to them and his face told all his thoughs. Teo inhaled deep and turned to deal with Iisai.

"Asereje? What the hell is that?" Iisai asked, giving the two of those a confused, scared look.
"Old magic perormed through an specified object, such as knife or dasgger."
Aikatherinee aswered before Lynx had time to think up how to explain it.
"Magic? What does it do?" Iisai turned to face her.
"You connect two lives with it. Two soul strems. When he other one dies, the other one's scar will break fresh again. Ancient war lords used it between their wives so they would know when their husbands fell."
Lynx nodded.
"Indeed. I had to search all the caverns of Asgard to find the last remaining piece."
Aikatherinee seemed relatively interested.
"May I take a look at it?"
Lynx handed her the knife and its sheath. Drake had remained quiet, spontaneusly tieing Teo's hand with a bandage. It was kind of needless, since the bleeding had stopped almost immediatelly.
"Does that mean..." Iisai started both carefully and a bit scared
"That you two are a couple or something? "
Lynx and Teo looked at each others quickly, and Teo laid her healthy hand on Iisai's shoulder.
"Iisai.. Atracs don't form couples. Such thing as being in love does not exist for Atracs. It would be the end of their career. Lynx is a good friend of mine. The best one. The purpose of this is that the next time we hear a rumor of the other one's death we already know wether it is true or not. You cannot possibly understand how painfull it is to live in uncertainity."
The later one made sense to him, but Iisai couldn't catch the part about love.
"You... Aren't allowed to love?" His face was shadowed, eyes in disbelief.
"I can love, but only as a friend. It's the best for everyone. Please don't make a scene out of this."
Teo frowned and unexpectedly Iisai remained silent, deep in though. They grabbed breakfast and the party moved on. There wasn't really silence anymore tho, since Aikatherinee and Lynx talked vividly about magic and spells and Drake kept idle talk on with Iisai and Teo. The later one was especially relieved that Iisai hadn't made more ruckus. In some level, he even seemed to understand. After an hour of riding, they reached Keisoku. Without any drama, Lynx simply hugged Teo tigh once, not getting off his horse and with wave started riding down stream. The others, crossed the river.

Chapter 5 - Chapter 7