Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Knight tensed up at Talon's question, but not fast enough to stop the sting from getting through. "Don't be an ass. Or does trying to hurt me make how you just acted bother you less?"

[Emora Deen]

Talon scowled. "It wasn't meant to hurt you. It was a legitimate question. If you flicker out of existence, whose going to stop me when the hunger comes back? Hmm? Its a long way back home and there aren't many entrées lying around. So, how are you doing?"

Tenele stripped off her clothes behind the horse, the cold night air biting into her skin as the sand from the harsh wind stung her flesh. She couldn't go back to them covered in blood, it would only be tempting to Talon. She drew a change of clothes from the bag, piece by piece.

[Soran Nightblade]

Knight frowned and tried to pretend he believed that. "My existence is accelerating Atul's weakness. If I try to accompany Tenele to the capitol, it will leave him severely hurt. I cannot stay with you, and Vlad's strength will not reach you across the sands." He looked at Vlad's protege unhappily. "The others will all be weak. I need to be able to trust you."

[Emora Deen]

Talon frowned at Knight, turning his eyes to the earth, to the body of the young reptilian girl, to the horses and Tenele's bare feet as she slowly slipped her boots back on. "You can't," he said, his voice a ghost of a whisper. He turned his red eyes up to Knight. "I don't trust myself. You can't trust me either. When he returns, I will make Tenele take them as far away from me as possible."

[Soran Nightblade]

Knight took a deep breath. Her plan was the best one, if Tenele was to be kept safe. But she wasn't the only one he was worried for. Damn it, Vlad. "It will take both horses to return them to the Capitol. You'll be left with no mount, and insufficient strength to walk home. If you go mad on the sands, there's no saying whether anyone will be able to find you."

[Emora Deen]

Talon smirked. "Is that such a bad thing?" he asked. "Its a risk worth taking, at any rate. But, I doubt Tenele will head back to the capitol. The Zar village is closer. They would be safer moving there, find more resources and shelter. A storm is coming."

[Soran Nightblade]

Knight paused. The instinct to get them back home and closer to Vlad and Sinead had overriden the fact that they were more than halfway to their original target. He looked into Talon's eyes. There was something different about him right now, and it wasn't just the pain. This bitter sarcasm, that upturned smirk. He was every bit as practical, but it wasn't the Talon Vlad and Tenele normally knew. It was the Talon that Atul hated.

Knight finally nodded. "Make your way toward your master. We will explore the village, and when everyone is strong enough, make our way back to join you."

[Emora Deen]

Talon brow furrowed while he shifted to his knees. "Well," he sighed, groaning as he stood. "To my master it is."

Tenele reappeared from behind the horse, dressed in cleaner clothing and holding her bandaged wrist to her heart to slow the blood flow. She met him as he was walking away from them back towards town.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm heading back to the capitol, you are heading to the village. I've been ordered to return to my master," he replied, frowning at the rising sun.

"Are you strong enough?" she reached out to touch him, but her sore arm earned her a sharp gasp.

Talon twitched, his upper lip curling into a snarl. His fingers flexed at his sides, curling into fists. "No," he shuddered, turning from her and heading into the dust.

"Talon!"

[Soran Nightblade]

Knight watched Talon depart, his mismatched eyes dark. After the figure was no longer visible in the sandy gusts, he turned to look at Tenele. "We ride. Quickly. The winds are rising."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded. She went to the reptilian girl and knelt next to her, drawing her into her lap. Her right arm had an arrow in it and a slit wrist. It was her weakest, so she balanced all of the girls weight onto her left and stood. She stumbled at first, but managed to carry Sho to her horse and throw her over the front.

"What about you? Will Atul be with us when you have to return, or should I return you now?" Tenele drew the cloak on, pulled the hood over her head and wrapped the cloth veil around her head and face to conceal everything but her eyes. She turned her gaze to the rising sun that was slowly being swallowed by a cloud of sand.

[Soran Nightblade]

"I...cannot stay with you," Knight said softly. Bitterly. "Please dismiss me, while Atul still has strength to ride with the girl." He wanted to touch her, but didn't. He didn't feel the right, when he'd just sent her brother into hell to ensure her safety. He was willing to make the cruel choices, if it kept her alive. Even though she might hate him if Talon was lost to the sands.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded. "Thank you for helping him," she said over the wind. "I will see you again. I'm sorry for this. I wish...." Tenele turned her eyes down. "I will see you. Sagra re ero."

[Soran Nightblade]

A moment later, the sands swirled where Knight had been, and Atul returned, standing beside her. He stumbled down to his knees and hands with a choking sound. He took a thick breath, and his spine gradually straightened from its bowed posture. "Fuck, I need a drink," he muttered, squinting at his surroundings.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele fell down next to him, curling her hands over his wounded neck. "Are you okay?" she said, worrying over him with her hands. "There is a storm coming, we need to get to the village and seek shelter there. Knight sent Talon back to the capitol... He's very weak."

Tenele turned her gaze where Talon had disappeared in the sands. "Can you ride?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Atul started to nod, and deeply regretted it. "Yes. I'll ride," he said stiffly, hauling himself up. He cast his wife-to-be a haughty grin. "Good as new. You, on the other hand," he glanced at her arm. "How would you prefer to deal with that?"