I've been crying a lot lately. I don't really understand why. During six months of hard labor, constant beatings, shitty food, and filthy living arrangents, I really only cried like once a day, before I fell asleep. Maybe twice if I got a particularly bad beating. Now, I break down into tears maybe 10 tis a day, a statistic made more impressive by the fact that I spend most of the day sleeping.
I an, I'm finally free. I should be happy. No more beatings. No more mining. I've been rescued by a group of murder ninja tribesn. I even managed to sohow convince them that I'm one of them, for them to take in. And yet I cry over the smallest things. Yesterday, I spilled so water and just lost it. The day before, I started bawling when Charok started singing a sad song. Right now? I'm crying because I cry too much. Most of the ti, I don't even know why I'm crying. Fuck, I'm useless like this.
I can't even hide my tears. I'm literally tied to Alsantset. Under normal circumstances, I would be ecstatic to engage in so light bondage play with a gorgeous cat girl. Unfortunately, things are anything but normal. I'm tied to her because, aside from being too small to sit properly in the saddle, apparently, I also keep blacking out. She's afraid I'll fall off while we travel. Added to the fact that I'm all weepy, all the ti, makes being tied to her extrely humiliating. I'm not into that sorta play. It doesn't help that she notices the crying and is trying to comfort . She's very nice about it, but all it does is make cry harder. Live Free and Cry Hard: The Story of Rayne.
We stop riding at dusk, and everyone starts setting up camp. Alsantset unties and makes sure I'm comfortably bundled in so blankets. She treats really well. Don't cry. She also hurt Gortan for . That brings a smile to my face. Stupid pig bastard. Wish I had a video. Or selfie with his corpse. Glad they're all dead. Those piggies didn't stand a chance. I'm glad they were able to experience how it feels to be powerless before they died.
My rescuers are a scary, tribal looking bunch. They're all dressed in fur-lined leather vests and pants, tal plated leather gloves, hard boots, and round open-faced helts. They have shirts made of so very colorful cloth underneath. So don't wear anything under the vests, showing off massive biceps, pecs, and shoulders. The won are all fully dressed unfortunately. So of the murder ninjas paint their faces, while others have their clothes adorned with various feathers, horns, and scales. I find them thoroughly intimidating.
At least I didn't see anyone collecting ears, scalps, hands or anything like that, so they seem pretty civilized. Minus the murdering, but they did that for , so they're A-ok in my book. I didn't see them use any magic at the mines, so I guess they're all muscle. Then again, the guards magic didn't save them from a vicious beating before murder. Stupid piggies.
Bows seem to be their weapon of choice, with short-spears and knives close behind. They're a very diverse bunch, in skin color and animal type. Most have animal ears and tails, but a handful are human, like Charok. Most of them have an Asian cast to their features, but not all. There are a handful of sorta-European, like Baatar, and even a few maybe-African types. It's all almost familiar, with enough of a difference that it unsettles . They're a very cheerful group, smiles and singing, but I'm a little wary of asking too many questions about them. I an, I'm supposed to BE one of them, so I can't really ask about every little thing.
Taduk cos over to check on my health. He's their bunny eared healer. If I had to make a comparison, he looks to be the mixed love child of an Indian-Chinese couple. Or maybe from one of those countries around China, close to the middle east. He's dressed differently from the others, pants and a really long shirt, almost a dress. It feels silky, but heavy, and warm. He let touch his ears once. I didn't even ask, he just leaned forward and pointed. Told he could use them to hear a mosquito fart from 20 paces. He's a funny guy. Plus, he made all my bruises go away. With magic! He just puts his hands over the injury, it fades away, and I feel better. I asked if he could teach , but he just smiled and told to get better first. I feel like I'm being humored. He mixes an herbal tonic for to drink. He's made one every day so far. They are pretty nasty tasting, but I haven't coughed since yesterday, so it's probably working as well. Science! Or herbalism?! Whatever.
After Taduk leaves, I watch Alsantset comb her roosequin, Suret. Although I haven't seen much of this world yet, roosequins are hands down my favorite discovery so far. The murder-ninjas use them as mounts, creatures that look a bit like giant bipedal otters, just the cutest things ever. About 2.5 ters in length from nose to tail, their large, muscular back legs let them carry heavy loads for long distances. A harness on their midsection puts a rider in a half kneeling position over their lower back, allowing you to either sit back in order to fight or lean forward and press up against their incredibly soft, fluffy fur. You control them by using pressure from your knees and calves, or with the reins attached to a bar that the roosequin holds in their tiny hands. They can even be trained to pull wagons and carts.
The best part is how affectionate they are with their owners. Suret chirps and squeaks in contentnt as Alsantset combs her, nuzzling into the brush. Roosequins are mountain dwellers, and could eat almost anything organic, from birds and rabbits to roots and bark, so feeding them was simple. Although they were slower than horses, they can run for much longer distances, and in much rougher terrain. I want one. I wonder if they can be house trained?
I feel useless sitting around admiring the roosequins, so I get up and to try find so way to help out. Everyone shoos away and tells to rest, except for Charok. I think he understands how frustrated I feel. He hands a knife and so odd-looking vegetables, and asks to peel and chop them. He's a really great guy. A tall, hairy, sorta Asian, with a big smile and kind eyes. Really light brown and almost glowing eyes, but kind. Loves telling stories, most of them about him and Alsantset. He starts telling a story about how he stopped in the middle of a fight to bring flowers to her. He's so ridiculously in love with her, it's heartwarming. And a little nauseating. I wipe my tears and settle down, letting my mind focus on peeling and chopping.
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I sit close to the fire next to Baatar, while we eat our dinner. It's delicious as always, grilled at, so roasted vegetables, and so soup with grains in it. I cried during my first al with them. I'd forgotten the taste of anything but brown slop. Spices seem to be used commonly here. Unless Charok is using spices because I'm here? I'm such a burden. Fuck, I've started crying again.
I look at Baatar to try to figure him out. He's the boss-man around here. O Captain, my Captain. A tall, densely muscled, 30 sothing wolf-man, with close-cropped silver hair, and blue eyes that scare the crap out of . A veritable Adonis. He gives off a very no-nonsense vibe, walking around, straight-backed, tight-laced, and eyes that are always glaring. When he smiles is the scariest. Like you're a al he found, and he is starving. I have no idea why he saved .
He isn't all bad though. Around al tis, when the food is almost ready, Baatar will appear out of nowhere, with the sa taciturn look as always. His tail gives him away though. It wags furiously around altis. No one says anything about it, but everyone who sees it smiles. I don't know if the silence is due to respect or fear, but it's probably both.
How are you feeling, boy? Baatar always speaks slowly and quietly to , like I'm retarded.
Much better than yesterday. I haven't been coughing.
Good, good. Good. Sa dialogue every day, sa wolfish smile. Baatar stands up to leave.
I haven't properly thanked you. He turns to with a quizzical look. For saving . Just thank you so much. I don't know how to ever repay you, and everyone else, for just how much you've done for , but I will, even though I'm so useless. For feeding delicious food, and giving warm clothes, and helping so much, with the slavers and... God dammit, I'm going to cauterize my tear ducts.
Baatar stands around for so ti while I cry. After I calm down a bit, he speaks.
Look in the eyes boy. Know what I say for truth. I look up at him timidly. Is he gonna yell at for crying so much?
There is no need for thanks or repaynt. You are one who was lost to us, and now you are returned. All we have done is right what is wrong. In two days, you will be ho. There, you can begin healing. Rest easy. His smile isn't so scary this ti.
I give up though. I don't think I'll ever stop crying.
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