29.Aug.22, 03:20 AM
"What?" R'dare likely looked a mess or perhaps horrifying with wide red eyes and tears running down his cheeks but he didn't think either of them cared. Any other time and it would have been a race to see who could come up with the teasing remark about his appearance first but for once, they were both being utterly serious.
He was frowning as he squeezed Zelly's hand in encouragement or like it was possible to magically give her his strength. He worried about how much talking or trying to recall the attack was hurting her in one way or another but didn't dare tell her to take it easy. Zelly was too stubborn to listen to him and they both knew she might hold a clue to help catch the bastard.
The attacker's words didn't make sense. If he had been confused over being a target, Zelly being one left him utterly baffled. What had she done to deserve being stabbed? It didn't entirely ease the guilt he carried for leaving her alone in his weyr but it did help clear his head enough to not wallow in every negative emotion known to humans and focus on his injured friend and the mystery. It also let him try smiling again when cuddling was brought up once more.
"Oh, fine," the smile felt a bit more natural this time as he stood and debated how they would do this. His biggest concern was causing Zelly more pain. Should they just lie facing each other? There seemed to be enough room that he could lie on his back and she could snuggle up. It took some time as they both moved with caution but eventually the cuddling commenced and he even admitted she was right and he needed it as well.
He let time pass in silence, not wanting Zelly to push herself too much with talking. But he was still trying to think what tied them together to be targets. But if he did that, he'd have to link himself to so many other victims and R'dare didn't believe everything the man had done had been for one reason alone. What linked him and his family to goldriders or even the R'nd Kids outside most of them lived in Katila. Wait... R'nd Kids and Zelly...
"Hey, Zelly?" He asked softly, afraid she was asleep again but a noise of acknowledgement answered him. "You saved A'tay and Zory. You ruined part of his last attack and that angered him." That had to be it. Unless the man was one of her past lovers taking the breakup poorly but that seemed too far-fetched. But if he was right, they couldn't leave Zelly alone. Not only had she saved two of his victims, but she also survived. Would he try again?
He was frowning as he squeezed Zelly's hand in encouragement or like it was possible to magically give her his strength. He worried about how much talking or trying to recall the attack was hurting her in one way or another but didn't dare tell her to take it easy. Zelly was too stubborn to listen to him and they both knew she might hold a clue to help catch the bastard.
The attacker's words didn't make sense. If he had been confused over being a target, Zelly being one left him utterly baffled. What had she done to deserve being stabbed? It didn't entirely ease the guilt he carried for leaving her alone in his weyr but it did help clear his head enough to not wallow in every negative emotion known to humans and focus on his injured friend and the mystery. It also let him try smiling again when cuddling was brought up once more.
"Oh, fine," the smile felt a bit more natural this time as he stood and debated how they would do this. His biggest concern was causing Zelly more pain. Should they just lie facing each other? There seemed to be enough room that he could lie on his back and she could snuggle up. It took some time as they both moved with caution but eventually the cuddling commenced and he even admitted she was right and he needed it as well.
He let time pass in silence, not wanting Zelly to push herself too much with talking. But he was still trying to think what tied them together to be targets. But if he did that, he'd have to link himself to so many other victims and R'dare didn't believe everything the man had done had been for one reason alone. What linked him and his family to goldriders or even the R'nd Kids outside most of them lived in Katila. Wait... R'nd Kids and Zelly...
"Hey, Zelly?" He asked softly, afraid she was asleep again but a noise of acknowledgement answered him. "You saved A'tay and Zory. You ruined part of his last attack and that angered him." That had to be it. Unless the man was one of her past lovers taking the breakup poorly but that seemed too far-fetched. But if he was right, they couldn't leave Zelly alone. Not only had she saved two of his victims, but she also survived. Would he try again?