Embedded Emerald in Gold fire

The Kara within - 7

Something had changed, maybe it was the air in the forest leaving Kara suspicious, or maybe it was the need to finally NOT be lonely after so many sunrises, but Kara began to keep closer to the men. She joined them more and more often in their camp though did not integrate herself in any kind of conversation. Her dull eyes kept wondering off while her mind seemed to be absent. She enjoyed not having to be on guard all the time, enjoyed having grown enough trust to let one of the men guard the night while she rested with the others.

Nelm, Renmar, Cudar, Phil and Mardaniel grew so used to her presence in camp, a shock ran through them as they found her gone just four nights after the tavern. Freyja and all her belongings were missing, the place where they remembered her resting still flattened from a body. "Where is she gone?" Mardaniel asked Renmar who had been taking the night-shift. "I don't know, I did not hear or see her leave" he admitted apologetic. "But it could not have been forced, I would have heard any fight or struggle" he added quickly as if to make it better. "Yeah I guess" Mardaniel mumbled as he began to worry about her.

Had it only been days ago he would not have, Kara used to be gone all the time, vanishing and reappearing as she pleased, but since the encounter with the welodas she had kept close and even though he knew she was just a weak woman, Mardaniel had found comfort in her being with them. Her senses were obviously better trained than his, her hearing a clear advantage when it came to being warned before danger.

Was he worrying about the group or her? Was he worried for their or her safety? "She'll join us later" he told his man, faking false certainty. "Are you worried for her?" Cudar asked him in a hushed voice while packing his saddlebags next to his. "Why are you asking?" Mardaniel retorted, dodging his question like an arrow shot at him. "I am just wondering Mardaniel... she seemed more than capable to take care of herself days ago" he explained. "Yes I am aware" Mardaniel grumbled, annoyed to hear his own thoughts repeated. "So what is it that worries you?" the older man insisted to know. "I am not sure my friend, with welodas lurking in the forest not being kindly opinionated toward us, I am just cautious" he explained, hoping to find truth in his own words while speaking them.

"Is that all?" Cudar continued to interrogate his friend. "Why are you insisting like that?" Mardaniel suddenly burst, hardly able to keep his voice tamed and low. "I have noticed the way you look at her... I have also seen the way she ignores you" he admitted, his eyes showing the sorrow he felt for his friend. "Bull-excrement" Mardaniel swore "I would never lose my mind or heart for someone like her" "someone like her?" Cudar asked. "Yeah, someone as opinionated and exhausting as that woman" he explained, his voice finally breaking from a whisper to a bark.

Nelm, Renmar and Phil had lifted their heads, looking at their leader in surprise while Cudar slowly lifted his head to look behind them. Freyjas fur was illuminated in the morning sun, almost glowing. Kara was proudly sitting on top of her, her own hair matching the colour of her horse while still in a knot at the back of her head. Her expression was hidden by the rising sunlight reflecting from her skin, but her posture made it clear she heard.

Mardaniel stopped dead as he saw her, as he realized she had heard the insult, had heard him denying to ever care for a woman like her. "Maybe it is better this way" he thought as he did his best to hide any emotion on his face. "Maybe it will ensure our journey to be less stressful, women bring only stress and sorrow" he continued his thought process while pretending to not care at all and continued packing.

Nelm and Renmar seemed to be painfully embarrassed as they swung themselves onto their horses and began to ride to where Kara was waiting. Her stone cold face did not give away what she might be feeling.