V2 Incline 31: Champion Nin

She dries her eyes of tears as a hand tilts about in the air. An eyebrow rises as I shift my gaze back to her hair. Everyone else's matches their name and some even have colours included in their name. So why did this aelenvari not match her name?

Never heard of a purple dandelion before, maybe there's a breed of them somewhere up here?

"I know it's not your name, going by your hand. But, would you be fine with me just calling you Dandelion for the moment?" I ask as I dismiss any attempt to try and figure out the specifics of her name. This is not something she finds easy to answer, however, she's in deep thought over it and I start to wonder a little. Do the aelenvari really take their names this seriously, am I going to get her in trouble by calling her Dandelion?

Eventually, she nods cautiously and a finger goes to her lips.

I nod as I look back at the entrance of the tent, I should be quiet around her, then. When we get out of here, there shouldn't be any trouble, but, for now, I'll be hush. More so that I can see someone entering the tent. Though, I smile instead as Vapooliar comes into view.

"I'm here, what is it you wanted to talk about?" they ask as she comes to a stop at the end of Dandelion's bed. The aelenvari smiles at her impromptu doctor as she once again does something with her breezy, emerald magic.

"I wanted to talk to you about your patient," I start to answer as I gesture to our mutual centre of attention "Dandelion."

"Who?" Vapooliar goes as her magic dims and vanishes. I again point at the woman in bed next to me.

"The root right here." I tell her as I frown my confusion at the agitated eyes of Dandelion.

"She's not of the dandelion, though, there are no purple dandelions." Vapooliar explains plainly as I keep my eyes on the chalkboard.

"She's the one saying her name is Dandelion, or close to it, anyway." I explain as I pick up the blackboard to show her. Vapooliar inspects it before taking her attention off it.

"So, you want to bring her along with us?" Vapooliar asks as her head tilts slightly, "Is there any particular reason why? If you don't know her real name, then, you barely know her. I understand the life she will continue to live once we go, but, I fail to understand why that means she is coming with us."

"You saw how badly injured she was when I brought her to you! Look at her! She's barely recovered since then as well." I clarify for her, though, it is not my intention to treat her as if she's stupid...

"I did say I am not a healer, Nin." Vapooliar reminds me.

"I know... I'm not having a go at you because of that. I'm just saying that she could die if we leave her here." I say, hoping she properly understands this time.

"And? Her life is not my responsibility, Nin. Death is a normal thing, Undwote will take care of her if the unfortunate does happen." Vapooliar rather callously remarks. I stand up as a palm covers my face. I get that she's a fighter, she's seen her fair bit of blood... But, this...

"You best be ready to leave a bit later, then. I am not leaving Dandelion here just so she can be killed!" I snap, knowing full well the urgency that drives the woman in front of me. Her eyes widen and she steps back slightly, her hands flexing between open palms and fists. She looks around aimlessly as a shaking hand touches the end of the bed.

"No- Fine." she goes as she lowers her head and rubs one arm with the opposing one. I can only apologize in my head for what I am doing, but, I don't want to prove Vadei right. Even when it didn't come to her words, I still tried to make all those people stay back at the hive. I should try to at least help one person here...

I am not a horrible person, am I...?

"That's all I wanted to talk about, Vapooliar." I tell her with a quiet, depressed tone as I sigh towards the end. She nods as she starts to turn and leave.

"I see... So, it's me, you, Vadei and this aelenvari going to Thrurstradtur." Vapooliar explains as she reaches the flaps of the tent.

"The other three aren't coming?" I ask and she lingers.

"No... They plan to make their way back to the Theocracy, as far inland to Thurn's Forge as they can get." she explains as her mind drags her down even further.

"I thought the reason those three are even here is because they didn't want to go back to all of that stuff. You did thoroughly hammer it in that there are those machines nearby?"

"I don't know why they have changed their minds, why they want to return. Maybe they want to see their families again. Maybe they aren't going to fight again, they just want to go home, like you." Vapooliar explains as her lips curve down. Quietly, she ponders whatever is blasting through her head and she leaves. I nod to myself as I sit back down and my attention returns to Dandelion as she draws. It's that seed again.

"I don't understand." I say and Dandelion throws the board down. She looks to me with pain-filled eyes and she aggressively smacks her leather-covered chest. Her mouth looks as if she is gagging and pained breaths break out of it.

"M... Muh... Mine!" she pants before breaking into a violent coughing fit. She takes the board back up and quickly starts to add things to it. Setting the scene, it all seems strangely familiar and then it hits me. She's on about the seed on that pedestal in Rose's tent.

Wait... The root that burst out of the cupboard when I first woke up here is her!?

"You want me to get it for you before we leave?" I ask as she nearly breaks down crying as she nods endlessly. Her eyes suddenly glue themselves to the tent entrance and she covers her mouth as ghostly whimpers leave it. The tent opens up again and a familiar colour of hair loudly taps into view.

"My love!" Rose calls out excitedly as she jumps onto my back, hugging me from behind. She pulls herself in tightly, smushing up her breasts against me and her lips find my cheek. Dandelion starts to panic as Rose giggles at my side.

"Hello, Rose." I answer uncertainly as her grip dies all of a sudden. Stepping away from me, she puts some welcome distance between us.

"You didn't call me..." she starts to say as her eyes keep bouncing between me and Dandelion. I groan quietly as I decide that now is probably the best time to drill something into her head.

"Rose, please do not call me that. I am not your 'love,' I do not love you. Never have since I've met you." I firmly and bluntly clarify for her as my human fingers move ahead. But, she seems to ignore everything I've just said and she makes that hand cup her soft cheek.

"I understand it might be strange, but you must be patient with me, my love, you will understand soon enough." she explains confusingly as she kisses the hand she took up. I snatch it back and wipe it down, much to her confusion. My eyes land on Dandelion for a moment and when I look back at them, the softness in hers is gone.

"Look, in a few days time, maybe less or more. I am leaving with Dande-" I start to explain before I shut up, remembering that Dandelion might get in trouble if I call her that.

Rose's eye twitches as she starts to flex her fingers, move agitatedly and find no words, "Wh-What did y-you just call her?"

"I said Dande." I answer as I shake my head and look away.

"You were going to call her Dandel'Iiha, weren't you?" Rose accuses as her brow sets and her skin burns. A dangerous feeling emits from Rose as she trembles with fury and I cover my eyes as her bulbs try to blind me.