𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐂 || 18+ 𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚡 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝙵𝙼𝙲

┉┈◈𐍆𐍊𐍆†𐌴𐌴𐍀◈┈┉

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Nula told her that Daki held their mourning ceremonies at a secret lake somewhere within one of the winding ravines. It was difficult to navigate to if you didn't already know the way. The caves were like a maze and there was one specific path that led to the hidden location. If you wandered anywhere else, you'd probably be lost forever and whatever lived in the darkness would have a tasty new snack.

As Charlie slipped on the new leather shoes Tük'hala had made for her, the memories she had of those who died played through her mind. She was already starting to get choked up from it and she tried to collect herself. She could let herself remember during the ceremony. She could cry there.

But another thought came to her that nearly did push her to tears. The Daki who died at the market. He surely had a family who missed him. Would they be at the ceremony, too?

Charlie hoped so, but at the same time she was dreading it. Would they be mad at her? His death was caused by such a preventable situation and she felt immense guilt for it.

Arms wrapping around her from behind pulled her out of her depressing rumination. She leaned into the comfort of his embrace with a small sigh full of sadness and regret.

Tük'hala's voice whispered across the top of her head, "How can I help you feel better?"

With the way his arms tightened around her, it seemed he was desperate to cheer her up and take away every negative feeling until she could smile again.

She would smile again. Who wouldn't with the people she surrounded herself with? The guilt would remain and maybe it would get easier to deal with as time went on. But that in itself only added to her guilt. Did she deserve to feel better? She hadn't meant for it to happen, but it was because of her.

No.

It was because of him.

The reptilian male who held her in his arms right at that moment. He bit her in the first place which forced those heat episodes on her. Yes, she held some blame for doing something stupid knowing her condition, but he had put her in that condition.

"You can't," she finally said, pulling out of his arms.

Tük'hala was visibly hurt and concerned as she distanced herself from him. Reluctantly, he gave her space, taking a couple steps back with his big arms hanging loosely at his sides.

"I will wait for you outssside," he said with some difficulty as if he never wanted to be apart from her.

But as he turned to leave, she reached out and grasped his wrist. He paused at the touch, looking back at her as his tail swayed and curled gently behind him as if aching to give an affectionate caress to her ankles.

Charlie had surprised herself with her sudden action and dropped his wrist, awkwardly retracting her hand to herself. "Um... No need, I'm already good to go."

The reptilian giant stood there stiffly, watching her for a moment before giving a nod. His fingers twitched as if he wanted to take her hand or pick her up, but he refrained and turned to the door, gesturing for her to follow.

The streets were quiet as they walked towards the palace where they'd meet with the rest of the group, not a person to be seen. She assumed this was because of the mourning ceremony taking place soon. It was weird for such a bustling city to now be so still. Still as death.

Her eyes lifted to the large burst of crystals that lit up Irotak in an eerie red glow, like perpetual dawn. It only added to the unsettling atmosphere. Though there was a sense of calm in it that Charlie couldn't help but enjoy.