Avë'tri

Poor Ohä :<

Avë'tri laid on the floating mountain, the early morning sun casting a gentle, golden light over the landscape. Her hair was loose, falling in soft waves rather than its usual braids. Little strands were being tenderly stroked by Ohä, who was lying beside her. Avë'tri rested her head on Ohä's stomach, Avës arm hooking under Ohä's waist to hold her close, her other hand working to trace delicate circles on Ohä's hip, while their breaths synchronized in a comforting rhythm. Occasionally, she would play with the beads on Ohä's waist cloth, admiring her handiwork.

As the sun rose, painting the sky in shades of pink and purple, Avë'tri allowed herself to take a deep breath. The stress from analyzing RDA rosters and pinpointing RDA camps for Jake had been weighing heavily on her. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of Ohä's body provide a fleeting solace from the tension in her mind.

Avë'tri's hand glided over Ohä's calf, halting when she felt a rough texture. She glanced down just enough to see a harsh, bright red graze along Ohä's skin. The stark contrast of red against blue made Avë'tri clench her jaw slightly. Her thumb traced the graze softly, hovering just above it.

Their surroundings were serene, with the night sky and the dawn merging into a gradient of soft hues. Avë'tri could hear Taw and Tirik', their ikrans, flying around the small mountain the girls slept on.

She found comfort here, in this moment of peace, and she felt that she could be content, if she tried.

Avë'tri's eyes narrowed slightly when she noticed Ohä's fingers had stopped running through her hair. Looking up, she saw Ohä fast asleep, her eyes closed and lips slightly parted in peaceful dreams. Avë'tri wished she could also find rest, free from the nightmares of gunfire that often woke her in a cold sweat. She would rush to Ohä, seeking reassurance that everything was alright. At least here, she knew she was safe.

Even so, Avë'tri would never wake Ohä. Ohä had her own reasons for being exhausted, evidenced by the calluses on her palms from handling her bow and the marks on her thigh. Avë'tri smiled at the sight of Ohä sleeping so peacefully—a rare sight these days.

Knowing that Jake would soon be awake, Avë'tri quietly lifted herself up, kneeling beside Ohä. She reached for her shawl, draping it gently over Ohä's body and tucking in her tail to keep her warm. Avë'tri admired her for a moment, a slight tug at the corners of her mouth threatening a smile. But before she could fully indulge in the moment, the sharp crackle of static interrupted her thoughts.

"Avë, come in. Where are you?" Jake's voice came through the radio. Avë'tri sighed silently, closing her eyes briefly before standing up.

"I'm here, what do you need?" She responded, pressing on her radio, glancing down at Ohä as she awaited Jake's instructions. The warmth of the rising sun sent goosebumps across her skin.

"Need to do patrols around the east river and home remnants this morning. Could you cover east?" Jake's request came with the early dawn, prompting a thought from Avë'tri—great, already put to work. Her compliance was reluctant, her tail flicking as she picked up her bow.

"Wilco," she replied. The familiar wave of melancholy washed over her as her ikran landed nearby. She looked back at Ohä, still peacefully sleeping, her head resting on the soft moss as the sun bathed her in a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry, ma yawntu," Avë'tri whispered softly. This wasn't the first time she had left Ohä abruptly to follow Jake's orders, and it wouldn't be the last.