[ It's such a relief to be useful. Arietta had been raised into a pack mentality, that no one member suffered alone, that you fought for your pack with every last ounce of power you had packed into you. Being Ion's guardian, once he'd trained her enough, had been no different. She simply did better when she had someone to fight for, something solid and tangible, and there.
So it simply makes the most sense to her that she refuses to stay idle when Volug is fighting, no matter the reason behind it. He'd found her, saved her when she'd had nothing left, and she won't forget that. It's why she's joined up with his group, as quiet and timid as she still is around the majority of them. Battles, however, are a different matter entirely. ]
O twisted door, open wide!
[ Because she has confidence in wanting to protect and to fight. And as she chants the last bit of her spell, she's determined to help finish this. ]
Negative Gate!!
[ What follows is that six of the opponents charging the laguz are getting seized by tendrils of crimson-lined darkness and being dragged, thrashing, into the pool in which those tendrils stem.
Well, that's six down, even though she's not exactly doing all that great at watching her own back right now. ]
[ it's common sense to be paired up with someone on the battlefield, and something he's used to. It also wasn't unusual for people they found along the way to join up with the army - mercenaries, wandering soldiers, anything in between. To be honest, it seems like a fairly dangerous method of recruiting, but he trusts Micaiah - and his Queen - wholeheartedly, and so he obediently did nothing when the girl he dragged back to camp ended up getting enlisted. She had the scent of someone who had something to prove about her, kind of. Considering her pack was gone... not surprising.
Still, he hadn't expected her to be quite so proficient in combat. The magic she uses is nothing he's ever seen. Volug doesn't know anything about magic himself, but he knows you're at least supposed to have a tome with you. But her? Nothing. Though he's careful to watch his step and keep his eyes and ears on the enemies around them, it's hard not to be drawn in by her destructive spells.
One thing that she shares with the mages he knows, though, is how much concentration it takes - and that's exactly why they go out in teams. While she might not notice the assassin that moves with quick, silent feet towards her back, Volug's nose does, and he's quick to readjust his position, turning quick from the soldiers before him to sprint and leap at the man. He intercepts him before he can connect the blow, tackling him to the ground and closing his jaws around his face. It tastes bad (it always does), but it's a quick solution, albeit rather bloody. ]
[ Arietta hears the approach a little too late - which is, not at all, until the snarling, the thump reaches her - and when she turns, the man is down, and Volug is triumphant. She hopes. She needs him alive, unharmed, and it's with this thought that she narrows her eyes and launches another spell at the remaining soldiers. She'd looked harmless, weak, an easy target-- and it's true that on her own, she might have had difficulties, but Arietta had never fought alone. She'd had the other monsters, her friends... even now, she's got an ally.
It takes a few minutes for the battle to die down with their side the victor-- there are bodies strewn all over the place, and Arietta wobbles back, glancing around for Volug. She's drained, but first things first. Is he all right? ]
[ he is all right. If there was one thing common to all Laguz, it was their hardiness. There are plenty of cuts on his body by the time the fighting is through, and even more bruises hidden beneath his fur, but the huge wolf looks just as menacing as ever. Yeah, he feels like he could probably go another round. But it's fine that the fighting's over, too; then he could rest. He is tired.
Unlike Arietta, he doesn't seem particularly concerned about his partner - not by any sort of callousness, but by his own quiet, whimsical nature. He figures she's okay, probably - he can see her still standing from the corner of his eye. Volug isn't the type to fret over others much, aside from those who earn it. When he thinks none of the other soldiers are going to get back up, he lays down where he was standing, carefully licking a still-bleeding gash on his paw. ]
[ it's kind of unusual for people to bother checking up on him after fights, considering his quiet, distant nature - usually he sits for a moment to catch his breath and then ends up wandering off somewhere again. Where the commander is, maybe. She must have taken a liking to him after he found her in the woods.
His ears perk up as she comes nearby, and he pauses tending to his wound to tilt his head at her, blinking. It was only normal to help, wasn't it? ]
[ She smiles, a little tiredly, as she tilts her head right back. She understands he's confused, but to her, it's been a very long time since she ran with a pack. The God-Generals tended to operate independently, and even in battles, they didn't choose to protect each other (Legretta being one exception) as they chose to eliminate a common enemy. ]
It's been awhile... since I lost everyone else. So thank you.
[ oh, so it's like that. He realizes he still doesn't know very much about her... So she'd lost her family. As a wolf, he can imagine how painful that would be, though he hasn't experienced it himself - Hatari was a powerful clan.
He feels a small pang of guilt for being so standoffish. So, with a small huff, he attempts to actually speak. ]
You... welcome.
[ he has a very thick accent, and his voice is slightly distorted from being in animal form, but he tries. Gah, it's always embarrassing trying to use the "common tongue" on this side of the continent... After a moment, he jerks his head at her, eyes flicking across her. Does she have injuries? ]
[ It's with no small amount of surprise that Arietta regards him-- none of her less vocal friends had tried to express themselves in a language they were unfamiliar with, and she had figured Volug would have communicated in his own usual manner. That he's even trying is an incredibly touching gesture, and she'd rub his muzzle if she thought he'd accept it.
But she's not sure, so she only nods, tilting her head as he looks her over. There are scrapes, of course, on her cheeks, on her uncovered hands, one stocking torn to reveal a small, shallow gash. ]
[ if she thought that was surprising, she's probably going to get a heart attack from what happens next. He looks at her injuries - nothing too serious - and while he considers attending to them as wolves do (with his tongue), he decides that might be a little too intimate for a beorc. So instead, he nods once, and then, quite suddenly, his entire body is engulfed in the purple glow of magic. Unlike other laguz, he doesn't require the power of stones to transform, so there's no sign of what he's about to do at all until it happens.
But it does happen, and, lo and behold, in the giant wolf's place stands a young man with blackish-gray hair, the same shade as his fur, and the same impenetrable stony expression. Rather than offer any kind of explanation, or even an apology, all Volug does is retrieve a vulnerary from his pack and hold it out to her. Opposable thumbs help with these. ]
Take.
[ as if all that was totally normal and expected... ]
[ She doesn't have a heart attack, to her credit, but Arietta couldn't possibly look any more owlish than she does in this precise moment. She's never seen a creature like a wolf transform into a human, and for a minute, her mind is racing, denying, trying to make sense, because what if this is a trick or a trap--
But the coloring is the same. If she concentrates, his scent is the same, and so is the voice she hadn't expected to hear.
Still somewhat dazed, Arietta accepts the vulnerary, although she's pretty much forgotten about her injuries in her shock. ]
[ ... oh yeah. She hadn't seen him transform before. And she wasn't from around here... Volug doesn't smile, exactly, but the corners of his eyes crinkle in the suggestion of one. It's about as close as he gets.
He puts a hand on his chest, as if indicating himself. ]
Laguz. [ maybe she's seen some of the others around camp. That's all he says, though... as usual, he's quiet, and seems to be waiting either for her to use the medicine or to decide she's well enough to head back towards the main unit. ]
Laguz... [ it's a word she's never said before, but one she's heard. And those people with wings... ] Like the birds?
[ She's not sure why she hadn't made the connection sooner. But Arietta's quick to put the medicine to good use, before she nods at him and straightens. Okay, she's recovered enough. ]
[ he nods once, strongly. They weren't the same as him, but they were his kin all the same. Volug is pretty sure he doesn't need to explain to her that he's a wolf, at least.
Once she's properly treated her wounds, he narrows his eyes at her a little before turning to head towards camp, looking over his shoulder as if asking her to come with him. He hadn't really treated his own wounds much, but he seems like he doesn't care about it much. ]
[ oh god, slightly larger words than usual. At least that one's easy to pick up when you're in an army for so long. His ears flick back, picking up her words, and he turns to look at her, seeming a little surprised. A laguz could easily handle this much - didn't she know that? Then again, she didn't seem to know very much about laguz at all. She certainly was a mysterious girl.
Regardless, that leaves him with the problem of explaining, and he has very few words to do so with. His expression changes to something a little more uncertain, and he shakes his head. ]
[ Volug is glad that she speaks in small, easy-to-understand bits of sentences most of the time. Shaking his head, his brow furrows just slightly as he tries to figure out how he should respond. Things like this are exactly why he avoids talking with people who aren't Nailah most of the time. ]
... Not hurt bad. [ again, he sounds stilted - and clearly unhappy with sounding that way, too, seeing as he adds on in a long string of the ancient language that she probably can't understand: ] Us from Hatari are sturdy and heal quickly.
[ He's right in that Arietta doesn't understand what follows next-- but from the way she purses her lips, she's trying desperately to get it.
The gist, though, that's enough. She doesn't know Hatari or any of those other words, but if he says it's not bad, she'll trust him. Wolves didn't lie, not like humans did, so easily.
And so her shoulders slump a bit as the relief sweeps over her, and her eyes soften. ]
[ he feels very vaguely guilty for suddenly inundating her with the ancient language like that. Vaguely. Normally, he doesn't care - it'd be easier if everyone spoke it, honestly... The outside world is so strange. That gentle look in her eyes is what makes him feel badly, though.
For one reason or another, she actually did care and legitimately wanted to communicate with him. They could use the language of animals, but it was limited. Volug can't say it's the first time this has happened - someone wanting to get to know him better - but it's not all that often, and not only because he spends the majority of his time as a dog. He's not great with people.
But she didn't have anyone else. Maybe he could try. He nods in response after a moment's hesitation, bushy tail swaying once behind him, and slows his gait enough for her to walk beside him. ]
[ She's quick to follow, feeling strangely childlike beside him-- or maybe not so much. She'd never been impressively tall, or even a slender, curvy thing like Legretta's student. But Arietta had never minded being small. That meant being underestimated, and any creature knew that your prey lowering its guard was the best possible thing.
Right now, though, she wonders what it might be like to be able to walk with Volug without him having to slow for her. Maybe she'll just have to practice quicker strides...
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So it simply makes the most sense to her that she refuses to stay idle when Volug is fighting, no matter the reason behind it. He'd found her, saved her when she'd had nothing left, and she won't forget that. It's why she's joined up with his group, as quiet and timid as she still is around the majority of them. Battles, however, are a different matter entirely. ]
O twisted door, open wide!
[ Because she has confidence in wanting to protect and to fight. And as she chants the last bit of her spell, she's determined to help finish this. ]
Negative Gate!!
[ What follows is that six of the opponents charging the laguz are getting seized by tendrils of crimson-lined darkness and being dragged, thrashing, into the pool in which those tendrils stem.
Well, that's six down, even though she's not exactly doing all that great at watching her own back right now. ]
RISES FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL i'm so sorry kia
Still, he hadn't expected her to be quite so proficient in combat. The magic she uses is nothing he's ever seen. Volug doesn't know anything about magic himself, but he knows you're at least supposed to have a tome with you. But her? Nothing. Though he's careful to watch his step and keep his eyes and ears on the enemies around them, it's hard not to be drawn in by her destructive spells.
One thing that she shares with the mages he knows, though, is how much concentration it takes - and that's exactly why they go out in teams. While she might not notice the assassin that moves with quick, silent feet towards her back, Volug's nose does, and he's quick to readjust his position, turning quick from the soldiers before him to sprint and leap at the man. He intercepts him before he can connect the blow, tackling him to the ground and closing his jaws around his face. It tastes bad (it always does), but it's a quick solution, albeit rather bloody. ]
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It takes a few minutes for the battle to die down with their side the victor-- there are bodies strewn all over the place, and Arietta wobbles back, glancing around for Volug. She's drained, but first things first. Is he all right? ]
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Unlike Arietta, he doesn't seem particularly concerned about his partner - not by any sort of callousness, but by his own quiet, whimsical nature. He figures she's okay, probably - he can see her still standing from the corner of his eye. Volug isn't the type to fret over others much, aside from those who earn it. When he thinks none of the other soldiers are going to get back up, he lays down where he was standing, carefully licking a still-bleeding gash on his paw. ]
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Thank you... for helping me.
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His ears perk up as she comes nearby, and he pauses tending to his wound to tilt his head at her, blinking. It was only normal to help, wasn't it? ]
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It's been awhile... since I lost everyone else. So thank you.
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He feels a small pang of guilt for being so standoffish. So, with a small huff, he attempts to actually speak. ]
You... welcome.
[ he has a very thick accent, and his voice is slightly distorted from being in animal form, but he tries. Gah, it's always embarrassing trying to use the "common tongue" on this side of the continent... After a moment, he jerks his head at her, eyes flicking across her. Does she have injuries? ]
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But she's not sure, so she only nods, tilting her head as he looks her over. There are scrapes, of course, on her cheeks, on her uncovered hands, one stocking torn to reveal a small, shallow gash. ]
... I'm all right.
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But it does happen, and, lo and behold, in the giant wolf's place stands a young man with blackish-gray hair, the same shade as his fur, and the same impenetrable stony expression. Rather than offer any kind of explanation, or even an apology, all Volug does is retrieve a vulnerary from his pack and hold it out to her. Opposable thumbs help with these. ]
Take.
[ as if all that was totally normal and expected... ]
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But the coloring is the same. If she concentrates, his scent is the same, and so is the voice she hadn't expected to hear.
Still somewhat dazed, Arietta accepts the vulnerary, although she's pretty much forgotten about her injuries in her shock. ]
T... thank... you?
[ there might have been a squeak at the end. ]
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He puts a hand on his chest, as if indicating himself. ]
Laguz. [ maybe she's seen some of the others around camp. That's all he says, though... as usual, he's quiet, and seems to be waiting either for her to use the medicine or to decide she's well enough to head back towards the main unit. ]
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[ She's not sure why she hadn't made the connection sooner. But Arietta's quick to put the medicine to good use, before she nods at him and straightens. Okay, she's recovered enough. ]
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Once she's properly treated her wounds, he narrows his eyes at her a little before turning to head towards camp, looking over his shoulder as if asking her to come with him. He hadn't really treated his own wounds much, but he seems like he doesn't care about it much. ]
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Wait, your injuries--!
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Regardless, that leaves him with the problem of explaining, and he has very few words to do so with. His expression changes to something a little more uncertain, and he shakes his head. ]
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... Thy don't hurt?
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... Not hurt bad. [ again, he sounds stilted - and clearly unhappy with sounding that way, too, seeing as he adds on in a long string of the ancient language that she probably can't understand: ] Us from Hatari are sturdy and heal quickly.
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The gist, though, that's enough. She doesn't know Hatari or any of those other words, but if he says it's not bad, she'll trust him. Wolves didn't lie, not like humans did, so easily.
And so her shoulders slump a bit as the relief sweeps over her, and her eyes soften. ]
Then I'm glad.
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For one reason or another, she actually did care and legitimately wanted to communicate with him. They could use the language of animals, but it was limited. Volug can't say it's the first time this has happened - someone wanting to get to know him better - but it's not all that often, and not only because he spends the majority of his time as a dog. He's not great with people.
But she didn't have anyone else. Maybe he could try. He nods in response after a moment's hesitation, bushy tail swaying once behind him, and slows his gait enough for her to walk beside him. ]
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Right now, though, she wonders what it might be like to be able to walk with Volug without him having to slow for her. Maybe she'll just have to practice quicker strides...
... And not nearly stumble over tree roots. ]