After Kumandra

Namaari Part 1

Namaari tossed fitfully in a cold sweat, held tightly in the clutches of a nightmare.

No rice. Limited water. Too many mouths to feed, and druiins at the gates.

The age old adage was true, a part of her reasoned lucidly. Some issues could not be solved with fists.

But then how?

She cried out, her arms cradling the air, or in her mind, a starving infant member of Fang.

"Dep la." A voice whispered. "Dep la, wake up!" It resounded more insistently.

What? An intruder? Not remembering where she was, Namaari lashed out blindly with her fists.

An unprepared oof called out, and Namaari felt something at once firm and soft land on her ribcage.

Her eyes opened wide as she winced. A person? Oh, Raya. She felt her face grew warm as she realized the rather comprimising position they were in.

Raya grumbled. "Every time we have a sleep over in Heart, Dep La. Every time. There's other ways to sweep a girl off her feet, you know."

"S-s-sweep, what?" Namaari was at a loss for words until she noticed Raya's teasing grin. "Oh please. Just another nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Raya asked, already knowing her answer.

Namaari retreated back into her shell. "No thanks, I'm good" she replied, attempting to hide the trembling of her hands." She rolled over away from Raya, trying to calm her breathes.

It was working, at least until she felt two wiry arms work themselves around her waist, Raya sighing into her back contendedly. She forced herself not to tense. How many time had she dreamed of this, lying here with Raya at her side? Why did the gods let her be so close yet so far to what she wanted? Agh.

Too much philosophy, too late at night.

With a shiver, she ignored the growing warmth in the base of her stomach and tried to get some sleep.

Not much in life was certain, but one thing was for sure: the two of them could never be.