Chapter Text
It had been some time since he had last set foot in the arid plains of Shaaloani, in Xak Tural. The Rite had taken place entirely down south, in Yok Tural; and after being named Dawnservant, Koana had largely remained within the capital to coordinate its defenses, and to repair the damage dealt by the attack in its aftermath. But now that the threat had passed, and that most of the repairs were well underway, he could discharge some of his duties in person again. In doing so, he'd perpetuate the legacy his father had taken such great care to impart upon him through the Rite: a Dawnservant worthy of the name must know his people. Some issues could not be properly solved by signing a degree in some far away office, no matter how brilliant the mind of he who issued it.
After consulting with the engineers in Sheshenewezi Springs, the Vow of Reason would then make his way to a hhetsarro encampment nestled on the edge of a lake - Mehwahhetsoan was its name. He'd been called there to mediate a solution to an unfortunate problem: the increased presence of rroneek in the vicinity of the railroad that led to Yyasulani.
It was for that reason that he reached out to Erenville. Given his considerable experience with all sorts of creatures, there were few better suited to the task of explaining this sudden behavioral shift than the knowledgeable shetona. With his aid and insight, Koana was confident in his ability to come up with a workable solution.
It was with considerable surprise that he found his sister already engaged in talks with the engineers. His surprise grew further when he noticed Eryl's presence, and Kalha's as well. Upon seeing her, his heart started beating a little faster. Matters were still in suspense between them. They had not seen one another ever since she had left the capital for Alexandria, and Koana had heard little aside from her ambition to take part in a combat championship there.
It had been well over a moon. In the quiet hours of the day, when his thoughts wandered to her, he sometimes felt left behind. However, a promise was a promise; and he had promised her his patience.
Then, she smiled at him warmly, a familiar light in her eyes, and his worries melted away, if only for a moment.
It was when Lamaty'i started laughing to herself that he realized he'd been grinning like an idiot. Her laugh was enough to shake him from his trance, and with a blush, he returned to the matter at hand.
Not long after, the band of five stepped foot in Mehwahhetsoan. The denizens of the camp were likewise at a loss as to why the creatures had changed their habit so soon. To understand the behavior of the rroneek, and what might have prompted this most recent change, the group split in two: Erenville, aided by Lamaty'i and Eryl, would take a good look at the former, now-deserted grazing grounds, while Koana and Kalha would remain with the hhetsarro and learn from their way of life, so that they may be able to conceivable of solutions which respected the people and their hhetso.
“Just like the good old days!” The Vow of Resolve exclaimed - the ‘good old days’ referring to the Rite held but a handful of moons prior.
Koana initially balked at this division of labor. Having been abandoned as a child, he held no desire to reconnect with the culture of the people who'd left him behind. Kalha appealed to his better judgement; if this was the way to find a solution to the problems at hand, it was his duty to learn what he could. Of course, Koana recognized the wisdom in this, and took solace in the fact that he would at least accomplish said duty in good company.
Without wasting any more time, both groups went on their way, and set to work.
There is a limit to what one can accomplish in a day. That day, Vow Koana had well and truly reached that limit.
Not only had they identified the source of the rroneek's unusual grazing patterns, they had defeated that threat as well - discovering, in the process, an efficient and agreeable way to keep the creatures off the tracks: an aetheric whistle, which would emit a pulse of aether matching that of the rroneek's predator instead of a simple shrill sound.
But by the time they returned to the hhetsarro settlement and proposed the idea, it was nightfall. While not opposed to working at night, Koana needed rest, especially after getting in the way of the charging tturuhhetso in a manner that some described as ‘incredibly heroic’ (according to the Vow of Resolve) or ‘utterly foolish and reckless’ (according to an upset archon). Either way, the whistle's creation, and field test, could wait until tomorrow.
Upon learning of the defeat of the rroneek reaver, the settlement's leader, Hhwato, invited the Dawnservants and their friends to stay the night. Wuk Lamat and Eryl elected to return to Alexandria instead. They had unfinished business there, and reasoned that they weren't needed for the elaboration and testing of the whistle on the morrow. The ever-prepared Erenville, for his part, insisted on setting up his own tent by his own means. Turning to the remaining potential guests, Hhwato spoke.
“I insist - please, let us repay you for your deeds with our hospitality. You are of hhetsarro descent; it would be fitting.”
Kalha chuckled to herself. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I am no hhetsarro. I come from beyond the salt.”
The hhetsarro leader appeared surprised. “Is that so!? So rarely do we meet those of our kind who come from abroad. I meant no offense…”
“None taken, of course!” Kalha replied with a reassuring smile. “If the offer still stands, I would very much like staying the night.”
It was Koana's turn to be surprised.
“Are you not returning to Alexandria as well?”
“Why, do you want me to?” The miqo'te shot back teasingly.
“N-no, of course not! I simply thought, since that’s where you have been living recently…”
“That is precisely why I would like to stay here for a change”, Kalha justified. “Get some air, wake up with the sun tomorrow, that sort of thing. I have grown accustomed to the city, ‘tis true, but it still feels very cramped to me. Besides, a short break from my current duties might help.”
“Are you both staying, then?” Hhwato inquired again. Koana answered in the affirmative. “Will one tent be enough? We could always set up a second one…”
Koana seemed to ponder the question for a moment. Of course, the perspective of sharing one with Kalha was pleasing, to say the least, but perhaps it wasn't appropriate at the moment, with things between them being what they were. Kalha had no qualms with it, however.
“I believe one will do.” She replied first, inspecting Koana's face for any signs of disagreement. “We have set up camp together in the wilds before, have we not? Surely sharing a tent should be within the realm of possibility.”
That was one way to solve his inner dilemma. Readjusting his glasses in an attempt to regain his composure, he completed:
“Indeed. One tent will do; it's nothing new to us.”
It was new to them, but the growing darkness hid his reddened cheeks well enough.
Satisfied with their answer, Hhwato left them on their own for a moment. Shepetto, the leader's son, enjoined them to follow him. Together, they sat around the communal fireplace, which was soon lit. The hhetsarro slowly gathered round, talked, and shared stories about the eventful day. Each hunter who had taken part in the rroneeks’ rescue had their own account to tell, but all were eager to learn the Vow of Reason's version. This exercise in story-telling, as well as the warm meal that soon found itself into his hands, made for a pleasant evening. Kalha completed his account with details of her own.
When the hhetsarro learned that she was not Turali, she was assailed with a great variety of questions. Amused, Koana watched and listened as she enthusiastically sated the curiosity of the people. The campfire’s flames cast irregular shadows which danced across her face, and reflected in her eyes. A tired smile on his face, Koana watched this lightshow of a special kind, entranced.
Now that he had spent some time learning about their ways, his mind drifted off to the past. Had he not been abandoned… He would now be living a life much like theirs. It was a very different path, no doubt. But on such cool evenings, to be gathered with friends and family around the fire, chatting and bantering, occasionally being treated to wondrous stories by passing travellers… It was a good life.
And if she was one of those travellers - a woman who was only passing by, telling stories from her life, leaving the next day… Would he still feel the same way about her as he did now?
As time went on, more and more of the hhetsarro went to sleep, and the flow of questions dried out. When there remained but a handful of souls awake around the fire, Koana got up, on fatigued, slightly shaky legs. Kalha followed suit. They thanked their hosts for their hospitality, and retreated into their designated tent. They left their shoes at the entrance.
It was not particularly spacious, but their hosts had clearly put in some effort to set it up and make it look as cozy as possible. A small lamp was lit in the corner, providing dim lighting; enough to see where to set foot, and where they would sleep. They would need to lay down side-by-side, by the looks of it.
“‘It's nothing new to us’, is that right?” Kalha teased quietly, in an impression of his voice, as soon as they were in private. She remembered what he'd said earlier.
“I had to say something…”
“Oh yes, and it was quite amusing to watch you try to save face. I did not know I held such power over you!”
Koana looked for a witty reply, but was too embarrassed, not to mention exhausted, for a verbal joust. Kalha seemed to realize this fact.
“Sorry. Nothing more than a joke, I promise.” With an empathetic smile, she added: “You should lay down, get comfortable. I know how worn out you must be.”
“I am indeed…” Koana echoed her sentiment, his voice exceedingly quiet. “You deserve your rest too.”
“I do. But I am afraid I will not find sleep before I put a small matter to rest.”
“That matter being…?” Koana questioned, at a loss.
Kalha sighed, and looked at him with worry. “You stood in front of a stampeding monster of a beast with nothing to stop it but your own body. By my own estimation, that you are still alive and well is something of a miracle. So please: let me examine you. To put my heart at rest, if nothing else.”
Despite the quiet tone, there was an intensity to her words. He could see it in her eyes as well. Maybe she had believed him dead, for a moment, back there…
With a nod, Koana complied, sitting down on the right-most bedding - an ensemble of furs and soft, flexible, treated leather, like most of what the hhetsarro owned in terms of warm textiles. Kalha made her way behind him, and helped him out of his coat, carefully folding it and putting it away. She repeated the process with his shirt, and then his torso was bare. She then set aside her own coat - the one he'd gifted her before the final confrontation with Sphene - for more freedom of movement within the tent's small space.
“On your back, if you would?” Kalha half-asked, half-ordered. Again, he complied. Strangely, he noticed he was not blushing. This reminded him of the first time he'd sought her out to talk about his problems; reaching out was difficult, but then, in her presence, he was able to relax.
The archon sat to his side, and carefully set to work, her fingers tracing the contours of his ribs, checking for damage. He couldn't help but wince when she touched the broad mark the beast's horn had left across his chest. As she went, Kalha started talking, almost mumbling to herself.
“No internal organ damage, as expected, otherwise you would have needed more urgent care. The skin is… Bruised, to say the least. As for your ribs… Four are cracked, but… Not broken.” She paused, before addressing him more directly. “You are much sturdier than you look.”
Before he could react to that last comment, Kalha hovered a hand over his torso, and with a deep breath, a white light emerged from her palm. The gentle flow of aether embraced him with this odd, refreshing warmth characteristic of healing magicks. Koana closed his eyes, and let out a content sigh as the dull, lingering pain was slowly swept away. This was not the first time he'd been under a healer's care, but never before had it felt quite this good. It was… Intimate, he found. Loving, perhaps?...
A couple of minutes were all Kalha needed to be satisfied with the result of her work. When she was done, Koana reopened his eyes, and gave himself a quick glance. On the surface, his skin looked a lot better already.
“What about your legs?” Kalha asked him. “The impact may have been on your chest, but you took quite the fall afterwards. Any pain?”
“A little.” He admitted. “No more than a few bruises, I would assume…”
“Would you still like me to have a look?”
“If you are comfortable-”
“I am.”
“Then yes. Please.”
Koana sat up, and began undoing his pants. Kalha assisted him in pulling them off, until he found himself sitting there, in nothing but underwear. Vulnerable… Yet safe.
As she had done for his upper half, Kalha gave the hhetsarro's legs a similar treatment. She evaluated the damage by both touch and sight, keeping an eye out for his reactions. After a handful of minutes, she concluded her examination with a relieved sigh.
“Nothing but bruises, as you said.”
Soon came that light again, and with it, a great sense of relief. This time, as the damage was less extensive, it only took the miqo'te about half a minute to complete her work.
“That is taken care of.” Kalha stated, a satisfied, reassured look on her face. “Now, to bed with you. Do you, uhm…”
In the darkness of the dimly yet warmly lit tent, Koana swore he'd seen her cheeks turn red.
“Do you usually sleep… Like this?”
Even though the medical pretense was now gone, for his part, Koana was in no way embarrassed, aside from a tinge he felt on her behalf.
“I do. Nights are generally quite warm in Tuliyollal, as you know.” Eager to respect the distance between them, he quickly added: “I can cover myself, if you prefer.” Even though you had me undress in the first place.
“No, no, ‘tis perfectly fine.” Kalha put her face in her hands, chuckling at herself. “I made you undress to make sure you were alright, but I did not stop to think about whether I may be crossing a line in doing so.”
Koana chuckled with her, a tired little laugh escaping his throat as he laid down, feeling perfectly relaxed. “Then, let me assure you that no line was crossed, and that I'm thankful for your care. You worked wonders on me.”
Theirs was an odd situation; but, so long as they took care to check in with one another, they'd be fine. Speaking of which, Kalha was still up and about, when by rights she should now be resting as well. Perhaps it was she who needed the most help getting at ease.
“Do you usually sleep… With this many clothes on?” Koana tentatively asked, as an invitation for her to get as comfortable as she needed.
“Not when it is this warm, no.”
“Feel free to do as you please, then.”
Without another word, the archon took off her shirt, revealing a thin, skin-tight, opaque layer of fabric beneath. It covered her from a little below the neck, down to her third-to-last rib, but showed off part of her midriff. Then, she did away with her own pants - a slightly more involved process than it had been for him, as she still had leg guards on, and more than a few straps to loosen. Koana tried not to stare too much, but even when she caught him doing so, the miqo'te merely shot him a shy smile. Soon enough, she laid down as well, extinguishing the lamp in the process.
It was just them now. Laying down side by side in the darkness of the tent, with just enough space between them for them not to touch. In hindsight, Koana thought it was a little devilish for Kalha to accept sharing a room for the night, when she knew of his attraction to her. But on the other hand… It meant she was comfortable with that much, at least. And they had shared a wonderful moment, in the intimacy of this tent. Knowing this, he could give in to his fatigue, and sleep easy, listening to her steady breathing beside him.
“Koana?” The whisper pulled him away from his growing somnolence. Eyes half-open, he shuffled, before answering with a quiet groan.
“Sorry.” Kalha continued. “I know you need to sleep. But there is something I want to tell you, while I feel up to the task.”
Silently, a mixture of stress and adrenaline seeped into his body. This was about them. The Vow of Reason got on his side to face her, and discovered she had done the same. In the darkness, her expression was nearly unreadable, but her voice alone showed just how tense she was.
“In Alexandria, I had a lot of time for myself, at least at first… Fights at the Arcadion don't quite happen every day. And, after the novelty of the city wore off, in the quiet moments… I started missing my time in Tuliyollal. An odd feeling, I thought, as I could not recall ever missing a place so suddenly before. Then I understood that I was not missing the city; I missed you.”
Koana's heart started beating furiously in his chest, but he kept quiet, unwilling to interrupt her moment of vulnerability. At his back, his tail grew more difficult to control, the sole outlet for the tightness which filled his chest and spread to the rest of his body.
“Do you remember that time, when you came to my doorstep at two in the morning?”
“Yes, of course.” Koana whispered. The precise memories were shrouded by pain and tears both, but he would never forget the warmth of her embrace. In his moment of weakness, he had come to her - and she had given him all she had to give.
“I want… More of this.” Kalha continued. “But I will not wait for tragedy to bring us together again. I want to share such moments with you, even when all is well, when we are both content with our lives.”
As she neared her conclusion, passion overpowered anxiety in her voice. “I still don't know if this is what other people call love. But I don't care anymore; I choose to call it love. I want to be with you.” The fire in her words subsided as quickly as it had come, leaving only a soft whisper. “I only hope it is enough for you…”
It had taken her some time, but she had stayed true to her promise. This was her conclusion. The hhetsarro felt himself shake with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and raw emotion, rising to the surface. In her absence, he'd had to keep his feelings at bay; now, nothing would hold them back anymore. In a rush of affection, Koana carefully brought a hand up to her cheek, as difficult as that was in the dark. Kalha let out a slight gasp, and met his gaze. When looked at straight, her eyes shone in the dark, a detail he'd never noticed before. He hoped to discover many more.
“It is enough,” he confirmed in a whisper of his own, elated. “It's all I could ever want.”
His thumb gently traced the contours of her cheekbone. Bit by bit, the distance between them diminished, until they were close enough for the tip of their noses to brush against one another. Slowly, shyly, Koana closed the remainder of that distance, and pressed his lips to hers for just a second, before pulling away. Anxious, he awaited her reaction, trying to decipher it through her shining eyes. So measured was the act, it had been less of a kiss, and more of a wordless question - I want this. Do you want this?
He did not have to wait long for her answer. A handful of breaths later, Kalha returned the gesture, with feeling, and his worries vanished. All his longing, his fear, his frustration, all the emotions he'd kept at bay in her absence; all were soothed in this cathartic first kiss.
When they parted, Koana's hand slid to the side of Kalha's neck, his fingertips pleasantly caressing her skin.
“I've waited for this for so long.”
Koana exhaled sharply, taken by surprise by an unexpected sensation. One of the miqo'te's hesitant hands had found its way to his chest, before resting on his flank.
“Having waited so long,” Kalha whispered from a mere ilm away, “will you stop at just the one?”
Surprised but delighted by her playful invitation, Koana leaned in once more. This kiss was far more impassioned than the previous one. The first had eased his worries; the second stoked his desire. Nor was he alone in this aspect. Kalha's hand had slipped into his back, pulling their bodies together. The Vow of Reason relished this new experience, and reveled in her show of enthusiasm. He felt wanted. Needed.
He abandoned himself to her eager embrace.
Morning came a little too quickly for his taste. The rising sun's rays infiltrated the tent through every small gap they found, and illuminated the inside with a soft, diffuse light. Koana's eyes opened of their own accord. Slowly coming back to consciousness, he stirred, only to notice an unusual weight across his chest.
Kalha was still sleeping soundly. Her head rested a little above his right shoulder, her warm breaths tickling the skin of his neck; one of her arms reached across his bare chest, her hand resting on the edge of it. Her red ears flicked and twitched, reacting to external stimuli - the sounds of the other hhetsarro of the camp, waking up and going about their business.
Seeing her nestled against him in this manner was a reassuring sight. It seemed he hadn't dreamed up last night's events after all. With how exhausted the day had left him, he'd feared he might have passed out the moment he laid down, and that his imagination had taken it from there. But no; the proximity of the sleeping archon, and the light tangle their legs were in were proof of their newfound shared intimacy.
Koana felt at peace. While they were apart, his thoughts often turned to her. He reminisced on their adventures; their meeting, the Rite, the defense of the capital… And, of course, their more intimate moments. The times when it was just the two of them. Perhaps he simply hadn’t realized how often she occupied his thoughts, so stark was the contrast with his current situation. Now that he was at her side again, and without any doubts regarding how things stood between them… He could truly rest.
Next to him, Kalha drew a deeper breath. Koana felt her arm’s muscles tighten as she stirred, before relaxing, settling back into her original position. As she opened small, tired eyes, he leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. A low, rumbling sound rose from her throat. Her ears perked up, and her half-open eyes focused on him.
“Not just my imagination, then?” She moaned out, her voice heavily tinted with sleep.
“Funny you should ask that.” Koana replied with a chuckle. “I asked myself the same thing when I woke up.” He set his hand on her shoulder, idly roaming along her neck up to the edge of her hair. She replied wordlessly to his touch with a slow swish of her tail.
“But no, this is real.” Koana continued with a smile. “Good morning, Kal.”
“Morning.” Kalha returned the greeting, with a middling level of enthusiasm. Not that he expected anything else from her - he knew full well her distaste for mornings. At the very least, she seemed to enjoy his attention. Perhaps it would make her morning a little better.
“Getting up soon, are we?” Kalha continued, still snuggled up against Koana.
“I do have work to do…”, the Vow of Reason replied, thinking ahead, eyes turned to the tent's ceiling as he reviewed the upcoming tasks. Constructing the aetherial whistle he'd conceived of the day prior would take a moment. He was also hoping to test it in the field, which would require journeying back to Sheshenewezi Springs and asking for a test drive. All in all, a less eventful prospective day than the last, but nonetheless filled with plenty enough duty.
Still, maybe, just maybe, this moment in private could last a little longer…
“We could stay here a while longer, if you want. We can just tell everyone that we needed the rest, after yesterday's exertions…”
“A very enticing proposition”, Kalha let out with a sigh, “but we should not abuse the hospitality of our hosts.”
“Very well.”
Their decision taken, the pair untangled themselves and got up. As they dressed and readied themselves, Koana stole more than a few glances at his beloved as she re-equipped her gear, and occasionally felt her eyes on his skin as he put on his shirt and coat.
Before exiting the privacy of the tent and returning to the outside world, Koana had one last question to ask.
“When we're done here, will you return with me to Tuliyollal for a time?”
When she answered, her face was full of regret. “I am afraid not. Being away for two days is the most I dare to spare at this moment.”
“Duty calls, I take it?”
“Yes.” She looked at him with the same resolve she had shown during the defense of Tuliyollal. “I have friends in Alexandria now; friends who need my help. Their lives may hang in the balance.”
Koana's eyes went wide. Did the stakes always have to be so high?
“Is there anything my sister or I could do to help?”
“You both have a nation to manage. Leave this to me; I can handle it. I promise to reach out if things get out of control.”
“If your mind is set…”
His gaze fell. It seemed he would trade one worry for another: now certain of their mutual affection, he would worry for her safety instead.
“... Stay safe, will you?” Koana said, looking up into her eyes.
“I will.”
“I'll miss you.”
A second later, her lips were on his, and his tail danced happily, brushing and entangling itself with hers. They shared one last embrace, before leaving their shelter to confront the coming day.