Cinelle’s wings wrapped around her and she almost immediately fell asleep. With her eyes half lidded she fell asleep with her last sight being Tiso holding his shield close to his chest, watching over her. Her whole body felt like it was overworked. It was as if she hadn’t slept in weeks.
Tiso stared at Cinelle wrapped in her own wings. Her whole body shuttered with each breath, and Tiso wasn’t sure if she was cold or if it was simply normal. He stared at his shield. Someone he had met not even weeks ago had risked her life simply to find something that must seem like a dumb shield to her. Usually he would walk away. Leave the bug to fend for themselves. Make them learn to be a true warrior. She was fragile though. Her wings themselves seemed to betray her at times. He had watched them slowly give out as she jumped platform to platform just to retrieve his shield.
He had never cared about another bug after what happened. After watching all of his friends and family be slaughtered. After watching everyone he loved disappear. He had decided to seek honor. He wasn’t sure what the deciding factor had been but he remembered thinking it’s what they would want. He carried the shells of his fallen partners. Each one eased into the shield he used in battle. He wondered how long it had been since he had visited their fallen graves.
Tiso watched as some of the bugs flew by the small room. Cinelle was close to the door and if she shifted to the right she would likely fall from it. Tiso figured she wouldn’t move and if she did she could simply flap her wings and make it back up. Nonetheless though he felt worry biting and nipping at his mind. He quickly stood up even though he felt his legs wobble slightly as his injuries were nowhere near finished healing. He picked Cinelle up slightly and moved her to the other side of the room. She stirred but stayed sleeping as he set her down. He noticed the black dots spotting the cover of her wings. The red made it pop. Then he noticed the obvious unsymmetrical pattern. The dots covered a good portion of her wings and he felt the need to pull away from the vibrant red and trace over the black dots.
Tiso reached forwards and rubbed a finger over the block spot. Part of him wondered if it would wipe it away. He had never seen a more perfect imperfect bug. So sweet yet so tough. So strong yet so kind. She was a true warrior. Definitely more than him that was for sure. She had managed to win. She managed to get his shield back from who knows where. She had decided to help someone else at the risk of her own victory and honor. He wasn’t sure how long he had traced over the black dot but he did notice her breathing didn’t make her whole body shutter. She seemed more peaceful somehow. Her antenni were flat against her head and her wings fluttered slightly as if to keep her cool.
If there was any way for him to make up for her jumping at the chance to help him, it would be for him to stay by her side and keep her company or just keep her safe as she rested. He stared at her for a moment. She was a pretty bug. The black and red compliment her as she breathed in slowly and released her breath even slower. The way her eyes had shined as her nail cut ruthlessly through her foes had left him speechless. A small sense of pride radiated from Tiso as he realized she had stopped everything to save him. A warrior like her had stopped to save him.
As hours passed, Tiso decided his ultimate decision was to at least fight some of the larger slower bugs in the area. All they did was float around slowly and usually didn’t notice someone coming up behind them. He went to stand only to pause when he felt a hand grip at him. His reflex had him jumping back away only to see Cinelle groggily sitting up. Her wings had stopped their flutter and Tiso found himself slightly missing the intrusive noise.
“You’re awake.” Tiso muttered lowley.
“Were you going to leave?” The question came out as a low mumble that Tiso was almost shocked he could hear. The way her eyes stared at him with curiosity and maybe even a little bit of hurt encouraged him to keep eye contact.
