>>41339157 >>41338623 >>41338589 >With its feeding done, Rebecca's body sat down without slumping as it had before, rather, the girl's eyes which had been clouded mere moments before were clearing at a rapid pace. There was blood all over her mouth and face now that she'd drank from both the rats and her savior. And with the clearing of her bright red eyes came the return of the gentle girl that had been so savagely attacked in the alleyway.
W-Wha.
>It all felt so incomprehensible for her. One moment she was coming home from a hard day's work and the next she was covered in blood. Again there was so much blood. Whose blood and where did it come from? There were small furry corpses near her but that couldn't be its source. But looking down Rebecca could see her stomach was a mess. Flame, how had such a thing happened?
>>41339157 >>41339164 >The Beastkin wanted to look away at the disgusting, cruel display that was about to unfold before her, but... For some reason, she just couldn't. In fact, she not only couldn't look away, but she felt herself being interested at what she was seeing, her tail wagging slowly back and forth as the rats were snatched from her hands. The pained squeaks, the sounds of tearing flesh... She intently stared at the scene through it all, appreciating the remorseless, animalistic killing.
>After the grisly scene was over, the Beastkin still didn't look away, still staring at the blood dripping from the Wight's mouth with a slight blush. It was only at the girl's voice, now having returned to her, that she snapped out of her trance. Jolting slightly, she blinks and stares into Rebecca's eyes, tilting her head.
In the middle of a street. You... Almost died.
>Despite the delivery of such news however, the girl gives Rebecca a big smile as she points to the ravaged bodies of the three rats on the ground in front of her.
Luckily it looks like some food cleared your mind, huh? How do you feel? Can you walk?
>She squeezes her still-bleeding arm wound, which was beginning to pool on the ground at her side.
I can carry you... If you promise not to bite me again. I promise, I don't taste all that good.
>Red, the world was so red again. She remembered the red hues of her blood being splashed on the wall and floor of the alleyway by a man driven to violence and madness, remembered his throat being torn out by the beast-girl whom she bit. And now, looking at the half-eaten bodies of the rats around her, the woman's words on food became clear to her.
>Filled with revulsion and regret over her actions, the girl who had been unable to do so much as breathe properly a few minutes ago pushed herself back to her feet to lean against a nearby wall. With a darkened expression, Rebecca wrapped an arm around her perforated mid-section before bowing low to the girl who had so brutally murdered a man over herself.
I-I can't say I thank you for killing a man for my sake. But I, I'm truly sorry to have injured you the way I did.
>Straightening herself Rebecca turned her back on the woman and took a faltering step away from her and the many corpses that littered the alleyway. Though she felt no pain from her injuries, Rebecca's body faltered with every step she took away from the horrors of the night.
>>41339936 >The Beastkin's eyes opened wide in surprise as Rebecca stood up, having briefly forgotten the resilience of Wights. Blinking a few times at her, she tilted her head towards the girl and took a step forward, ready to support her should she lose her balance.
>However, she froze as she was spoken to once more, explicitly not being thanked for saving the girl's life. Frowning as she bowed to her, the Beastkin shook her head slightly and let out a small chuckle through her nostrils.
Man? That "man" was less human than me. As soon as he decided to try to murder you, he abandoned his humanity...
>As Rebecca turned her back to her savior, the Beastkin sighed. Maybe she just didn't understand some social norms yet, even after living among the "civilized" folk for years, but this girl was coming off to be rather ungrateful towards her, she thought. Shaking her head, she took a step forward towards Rebecca's back.
You don't need to apologize... it's not the first time I've been bitten by a Wight, believe it or not. And besides, to be seen by someone as nothing but food, its-...
>She cuts herself off, stopping herself from going too far into her embarrassing thoughts. Shaking her head again, she looks at Rebecca with a smile as she makes her way around to her side.
If you don't want to thank me, that's fine. But don't be sorry for something you can't control.
>>41340150 >With the beast-women following her and offering compassionate words even after Rebecca had been so obviously cold to her, the fatally wounded girl sighed and stop to lean her back against the dark wall that supported her. Turning her head to the enigmatic woman that had saved her life and killed a man to do it.
I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound ungrateful for your help. My heart just can't seem to accept murder to save a life, naive tho it may sound.
>With a grim smile the girl's head dipped forward to look at the ground as she contemplated the idea that she could very well have died.
I know this is a hard city, and you did save my life but can I ask you to help me find the pouch of coin I dropped? It may seem silly given the circumstances but I did work quite hard for its contents today.
>>41340495 >The girl gives Rebecca a kind smile before nodding, her fox-like ears flapping back and forth as she did so.
Nah. don't worry about it. I would have helped even if I knew you weren't going to thank me! I can't just leave someone to die like that.
>Her ears perk up slightly at the question about helping her retrieve the sack of coins, eyes widening curiously as well. She must have dropped them when she was attacked, she thought... Which meant going back to that bloodied alleyway.
Oh, sure! Its probably back where you got attacked, right? Why don't we look around over there?
>Beckoning towards Rebecca, the Beastkin began walking back towards the scene of the assault.
Oh! And by the way...
>Turning around as she walked, she smiles at Rebecca.
The name's Inxaris Elawynn.
>And with that, she resumed heading to the alleyway, assuming Rebecca was in the state to walk on her own now, seeing how she didn't seem to be in any kind of pain anymore.
This post was edited by its author on 12 May 2016 7:58:00 PM.
>>41340547 >With a tender smile, the broken woman whose body aught to be able to do nothing more than bleed out slowly nodded and followed slowly after the fox girl, her own liveliness somehow carrying on past the her wounded state to color the words she spoke.
I wish we had met in kinder conditions Ely. My name is Rebecca and, despite it all, I'm glad we met.
>The girl said even as they reached the point at which the alley was painted red and a corpse was sprawled out along the stony floor of the way. Fighting the urge to vomit what little content her stomach held, Rebecca knelt down with difficulty and began feeling around the blood-soaked stone for her own humble pouch of coin and her tailor's kit. After a time, Rebecca stood up again with a small sack of coin containing only a meager day's wage and a small box of needle and thread. What was left of the cloth she had been bringing home had been ruined with her own blood soaking it through.
I should make my way back now.
>She said, thinking of the guard and the disturbing ease with which the kindly fox approached death as a whole and the murder she had committed though kind she otherwise seemed.
>>41341421 >Inxaris simply travels to the scene of the assault with Rebecca, keeping an eye out for anything else that might bring her harm.
>However, the single word "Ely" that came from Rebecca's mouth took her by surprise, much more than would normally be expected. Her ears perking up and her eyes wide, she looks at Rebecca for a good few moments before smiling and continuing on.
<"A nickname, huh... ?"
>The rest of the way, she'd have much more of a bounce to her step, giddy and cheerful despite the horrors that transpired this night.
>As Rebecca finally gathered her things in the bloody alleyway, "Ely" just stands by, keeping an eye on the girl. However, as she finished gathering the objects and spoke of heading back to presumably her home, the Beastkin steps forward.
Are you sure? I mean, you're still really hurt... I live at a place where they love people... like you. Their beliefs are kinda weird, but they're good people!
>Tilting her head, she looks at Rebecca curiously.
>Rebecca was confused into something like a stunned silence by Ely's sudden declaration of a group of kind strangers who "loved" people like her. People like who, what exactly did the beast-woman think she was to associate her with a religious group?
Ah, no I've never heard of them but, uhm...
>Looking down at her ruined midsection covered in blood and bits of viscera that should by all rights been a mortal wound, Rebecca couldn't help but feel a hesitant lurch.
>Inxaris shakes her head, still smiling and wide-eyed.
Well, it's just that they're all about helping out Wights like you... Food, shelter, protection... I felt it'd be a good idea to bring you there, but then you woke up and, well...
>She shows off her bite wound on her arm, lifting it up towards Rebecca to clearly show her. After a few moments, she lowers it, putting pressure on it with her paw once again.
A-Anyways, I'm sure they'd love to meet a new Wight! I'm not asking you to come right now or anything, but I'm sure they'd really appreciate you stopping by some time.
>Tilting her head, she steps forward and straightens out her expression.
So, erm... Do you mind if I walk you back to wherever you're staying?
>>41343921 >Seeing the bleeding arm of the woman stirred something in Rebecca that filled her with guilt and regret of her involuntary actions. Even if she wasn't conscious for any of it, even if she couldn't help herself from biting the beast-girl like she had, the wight closed her eyes and looked away from her terrible handiwork. Even if she had killed someone who had attacked her, it had all been to save her. She had killed and been wounded all to protect a walking corpse like her.
>Fighting back the tears that welled up in her eyes over the tragedy of it all, Rebecca's bloodstained hands ran down along her ruined middle feeling the terrible wounds with feelings numb to heat and cold. Thinking, all the while, of what Caella would say if she knew of what she had been harboring under her very roof out of the kindness of her heart. She had been so cold when she thought Rebecca might not have been human, what would she say then if she knew her guest was a dangerous corpse?
>At the very least, she had to cover it all up, sew up the damage and find new clothes before she could go back to the church. She owed Caella that much at least.
Actually I ehrm, I think I would like to see this place you were talking about.
>>41347455 >Inxaris tilts her head slightly at the girl's sudden change in attitude towards her. Before she seemed kind of hesitant, but now she wanted to come with? Well, the Beastkin wasn't one to squander an opportunity like this, so she immediately smiles at Rebecca and nods.
Oh, alrighty then!
>Stepping forward, she grabs Rebecca's hand in her own (normal) one, immediately pulling her along out of the alleyway and through the now-darkened streets.
I'm so happy you decided to come with! They're going to be so happy when they see you, trust me.
>As she walked, she pointed one of her clawed, furred fingers at her new "friend's" wounds.
They'll be able to fix all that right up, too. Stuff like that is, like, their specialty.
>With that, she simply continued to lead her through the streets to a less familiar part of town.
>>41348089 >With Ely taking Rebecca's hand and tugging her towards unknown parts of the city, Rebecca found herself suddenly reminded that she really didn't know this girl apart from the nickname she'd given her and the kindness she'd shown after murdering a man. True, everything she'd said so far had been understanding and compassionate but did that mean there wasn't something more to her offer of kindness?
I'll be in your care then.
>Was all she could say despite her reluctance. If ever she was going to trust someone completely, it would have to be now.
>>41348546 >Inxaris continues to grin as she pulls Rebecca along, weaving through streets and taking shortcuts through alleyways, before finally reaching their destination: The Chapel of St. Lothander.
>It was a rather simple building, clearly once meant to be a Holy Flame Church, but sadly unfinished. Bits of the roof were covered by planks of wood, windows were boarded up, and there was even a bit of scaffolding still erected around the sides of the large stone building. Regardless, Inxaris turns towards Rebecca as the finally approach the ominous building, smiling.
Well, here we are! Not much to look at, but the people inside are great.
>Finally letting go of her hand, the beastkin steps forward and opens the door to the chapel, revealing a brightly-lit, warm interior filled with lively people. Even from outside she would be able to see people performing prayer, and a few masked figures lighting candles. Once more beckoning towards Rebecca, Inxaris enters, expecting her new friend to follow.