A Cursed Rage

Chapter 2

The group of 4 made their way out of town, towards a nearby forest. Far enough away so anyone with lingering feelings of anger couldn't find them until morning.
Echo led the way through the trees towards a clearing where they could easily build camp. Within a few minutes, they were all huddled around a campfire, Echo and Tango drifting off to sleep amongst the fallen leaves, leaving Cara and Sai alone with the night.
Their watch stretched by, interrupted only with the sound of Sai sharpening the longsword that they always carried across their back in a weathered sheath. Cara watched the flames, the light reflecting in her bright blue eyes.
"Excited to reach your temple?" Sai set their longsword in its sheath on the ground.
"Excited? Yes." Cara paused to warm her hands before wrapping herself back up in her dark blue cloak. "But also anxious. It feels like something will go wrong."
"I'm sure it will be fine. After all," Sai sidled closer to Cara, wrapping a part of their own cloak around her. Despite being the slightly larger figure, they still rested their head on her shoulder. "anyone would be pleased to meet you."
"You're just saying that." Cara sighed.
"No, it's true." Sai yawned in response. "It is for me anyway. Anyone one who doesn't think that doesn't know that you are an amazing person."
"Thank you." Cara muttered, her eyes briefly drifting from the fire to find Sai with their eyes closed, somehow asleep in a snap.

An hour went by in Cara's watch. Eventually Sai had settled to sleep on the ground, leaving her free to meditate. In the quiet reflection, memories flashed of the goliath approaching and the unnatural anger that burned in Sai's eyes. This had happened before. Looking back at every fight they picked, win or lose, that spine-chilling anger was always there.
"I know Sai can be angry at times." Cara sighed to the air. "But I'm concerned." She glanced back at Sai, who mumbled something in their sleep and rolled onto their side. Cara looked up through a break in the canopy at the stars, framed by the swaying leaves. "If I can help them in any way, please show me." The stars gave no response, the leaves rustling in the breeze. "Anything?" Those beacons of light had always watched over them at night, she wondered if her own deity would be doing the same?
"Pain." Sai muttered, more audible than the last time.
"Sai?" Cara broke her eye contact with the stars to see Sai huddled into a ball.
"Pain." They curled up even tighter.
"Sai, what's wrong?" She crawled over to Sai's side, and put a single hand on their shoulder.
"Pain." Their hand shot out and grabbed Cara by the throat. A single adrenaline burst allowed her to break contact. Sai spun up to their knees, eyes screwed shut, teeth clenched.
"What are you doing?" Cara began to back away, closer to the dwindling campfire. Rising to their feet, they pursued her.
"This isn't you!" Whatever had taken over Sai's body was advancing. They opened their eyes to reveal orbs of pure onyx. "I know it isn't." They grabbed her again by the shoulders. In a moment, they were on the ground. The glowing embers were surprisingly close, right behind her head, getting closer and closer. "I know you can be calm and caring! " Cara choked. The pair's eyes burst with bright blue light, temporarily blinding any wildlife that might have been in the vicinity. Sai staggered back, releasing Cara, who immediately rolled away from the fire pit. At that moment, Echo jumped up, a dagger in hand, Tango bleary eyed next to them. Both had awoken to the scene of Cara struggling to control her breathing, with Sai clutching their head in pain, hand buried in their mess of dark hair.