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I need help… Ora lay on the ground, her head pounding with a headache, her eyes stinging with tears of frustration.
“Ora?” Angus trudged over, Aji resting on his tail. The Fire Spright took the shape of a house cat today, the crimson furred creature peering at Ora with her gold eyes.
“Leave me alone…” Ora said with little energy. “I just… I just have a headache.”
Angus’s nose twitched as he sniffed the air. He didn’t need the heightened senses of a Foxling to know that the Merchant was lying.
“You’ve been out here for five hours; you gotta be hungry or thirsty by now?” Angus held out a picnic basket and a pitcher of water. Ora did not reply, but the growl of protest from her stomach was all the answer Angus needed. “I’ll just leave it here.” He smiled at Ora as he placed the basket and pitcher down. Ora just stared at him before Angus and Aji turned around and walked back towards camp.
___
“I need help…” Ora whispered, feeling as if the temperature had dropped all of a sudden.
“It never hurts to ask when you need it,” Taunic’s deep voice said gently. Ora looked up into his soft chocolate eyes, the moonlight making his blond hair look silver. “It is just difficult when you’ve never had a support system to lean on.” Ora glared at him. For the last few weeks, she and the Apothecary had exchanged witty remarks, light hearted jabs and, while liquor flew freely from glasses… the occasional flirtatious comment about one another’s body or personality.
“Fuck off…” Ora growled but even to her own ears, the curse sounded weak.
Taunic raised an eyebrow at her as he looked at the supplies left behind by Angus. He knelt and opened the basket’s lid. The rich smell of still-warm meats, rice and vegetables flew at Ora. Her stomach seemed to reach out for the smells alone. Once again Ora was made painfully aware of how hungry she was, how thirsty she was, and how alone she felt. She had been the only person to kick up a fuss when the others decided traveling as an eight person group was a better idea. Phoenix and Caster, the least social of the group, had Teara and Otis as friends. Sure, she brushed Phoenix’s hair every morning, and sure she got everyone a good deal when shopping or seeking lodging when in town or…
“Now do you see that we care?” Taunic asked as if reading Ora’s thoughts. Ora sat up, wincing as her back bellowed in annoyance for lying on the hard ground for hours at a time. She pulled the basket over and pulled a small punch of paper towels from the back of the basket. Without wasting another moment, she quickly wiped her hands down and began to ferociously eat her fill.
___
After soothing her hunger and thirst, Ora blinked, realizing that Taunic had moved to sit on a nearby log. He was humming to a silent musical backing, no doubt a small song that Otis had taught him as he turned the pages of one of his heavy tomes. He looked up as he no longer heard the sound of utensils scraping against the plate. Green eyes met brown once more.
“Its never been easy for me to… people.” Ora spoke softly, as if admitting her shortcomings would damage how the rest of the group perceived her. Taunic with his infinitely deep patience and, with bottomless kindness, nodded at her.
“And yet you’re a Merchant?” His question slammed into Ora, it would have hurt less if Taunic would have swung his mighty axe at her. Ora let out a humorless chuckle as she shook her head.
“I’ve done a lot of bad things, Taunic… I’ve robbed, cheated and taken advantage of all types of people…”
“... And yet, you’ve also assisted a struggling young person to get their business off the ground. You’ve aided the rest of the Dream Chasers to find the best deals. Add in your skill with a bow and spear…” Ora felt her heart stop as Taunic fixed her with a wide genuine smile.
“I’ve also enjoyed your rather silly attempts at flirting at the bar.” Ora spluttered and her face burned ruby. Taunic chuckled.
“You my dear Apothecary, suck…” Ora said after a minute of Taunic’s laughter. “...But… thank you, Taunic.” He nodded, standing and walking over to offer his hand to her.
“Let us return to the others, before they get worried.”
Ora nodded, the ghost of a smile pulling at her lips. Perhaps her mind had been doing its best to make her feel like she did not belong here... and yet, Angus, Aji and Taunic had checked on her. There was also no doubt in her mind that Otis, Phoenix, Caster, Henna and Teara had come to check on her when she faced away from the group.
“I need help…” Ora held up her hand as Taunic’s gentle but powerful build aided her to her feet.
I guess… it gets a little easier to ask.