"Forget it," Etim told her. He had already shared enough with her. It was difficult exposing everything to her, he wasn't even sure why his mouth won't stop running before her.
Tabibah frowned but let him be, she knew too well how hard it was to open up to people. She barely opened to anyone, not Caasi. . . So she let him. They just met, she was not opening up, it won't be fair if he was the only one putting all his effort into this.
It is better like this, she told herself, it would make it easier when we split up. She thought so, but her heart and powers were in agreement and decide to let out their fury on her by moving wildly.
So. . . The food?
"Ha, yes, the food." Etim broke out of his thoughts and darted around the cave-like a mentally ill person. He brought out equipment from his stomach like a pro chef and worked quickly.
He would do well with Caasi, she felt. They both had the same habit of separating everything even though it would still be added together. . . This habit, Tabibah found very unnecessary.
Etim placed all the vegetables in the basket and went to the river to rinse them. Tabibah never felt she would find things like washing vegetables attractive, but here she was, staring at Etim's porcelain skin and dainty wrist like a pervert.
How were his hands so small, he was a little taller than her, yet his hands were smaller than hers, his fingers were tiny and round. They looked so cute.
Wash fast, don't do anything strange, does my hair look weird.
It was hard for Etim to function well when Tabibah continues to stare at him like he was her last meal. He finished washing the vegetables, she was staring. He was cleaning the rabbit, she was starting, he tried to make the fire, she was still staring.
Her stare made him uncomfortable, the stones in his hands kept striking, but not even a spark could be seen. And her stare wasn't ending.
Do you need help?
"Yes, please. The stones are not working, I don't know why."
She raised an eyebrow at him, to his embarrassment. Sure, go ahead, Etim. Blame the stones for not lighting. Dummy.
Grey mist left her lean fingers. They danced through the air, landing in the arranged woods. The wood caught in fire, it's unusual purple color reminded Etim of the night sky in Caninè. It was really beautiful.
He stared at it for a while before placing a pot with a sigh. He didn't do much, just rabbit soup. There was no carbohydrate to support the food. Because of his nervousness, the soup was a little more watery than he expected. But Tabibah ate it like it was the best meal to exist. She even took a second plate. Etim couldn't help comparing her to Sao and Mia. Once, he made a similar mistake when he wanted to surprise them but Sao only condemned him for wasting food while Mia tried to quell the matter and praised him, but her plate remained untouched after that sip.
Etim won't lie, but he felt delighted seeing Tabibah eat and couldn't help smiling like a pervert.
The sky turned darker and the night colder. Etim easily felt cold, so he wore all his clothes back. He would have given one to Tabibah, but she didn't seem cold. She went back to the rock in the middle of the river and meditated. . . Again.
"Boring." Etim tsked, turning away from her. She was even worse than Sao. At least that one was obsessed with puppies and fighting. All she does is look gloomy and meditate.
He heard the ruffling of materials and turned red.
Stupid witch, no class, stupid witch rules. Unlike the Canines and Elementalist, the witches have no concept of clothing and get undressed anywhere.
Can't she see I'm here? Am I invisible to her? I'm a man, a man, does she not consider me to be a man because I'm not as built or masculine as Sao?
His heart hurt and he could only lay there with his insecurity eating him up. That night, it rained heavily.
SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH
A young man in a brown and red uniform with a golden headband holding back his long pink hair entered a cave. Contrary to the rough outside appearance, the cave was warm and brightly lit, with a thick fur rug on the floor and a few pieces of furniture scattered around.
"Your highness!" the young soldier said. He was lean, with sharp facial features and an exaggerated beauty. A fox, no doubt. He looked at Elba who sat on the chair with his eyes closed and whispered.
"We can't sense any track, it is raining, and the men are tired. . ."
The room was quiet for some seconds before Elba replied with his thick, rough voice.
" If you were my mom. . . Why would you disappear with a random stranger."
"Master…" the fox said in a whiny tone. He couldn't tell Elba not to call Tabibah's mom, he was unable to tell Elba to lose his delusional dream of Tabibah forgiving him, and he couldn't tell Elba that nobody could understand Tabibah. So, he did the only thing he could.
He removed his hair, long hair fluttering as he shook his head. Elba's eyes snapped open.
"You…"
"Just this night!" he said, unbuttoning his shirt. "Please, master, it has been too long."
Elba's eyes were dark. He looked at the entrance of the cave, where only a curtain separated it from the rest of the group and sighed. "We can't do this, The men…"
"The men know better than to disturb us." the fox told him, removing his shirt completely. Elba's eyes went over his tanned skin and pink nipples. His cock hardened immediately. He was horny. This was just a way of keeping the body warm. They both know nothing would come out of this.
He didn't feel guilty as he kissed him, he didn't feel guilty as he bent him over. He didn't feel guilty, even though he knew the Fox was catching feelings. He will just pick a new guy. There was a cute bear he was eyeing lately. Nothing mattered to him. Sex was a way to relieve his anger. All the anger he felt from that butch Mia, all the anger he felt from the pressure given to him, all the anger he felt from his mother not picking him but that cheap slut Etim.
He showed the person under him no mercy. Boys were easier than girls, they didn't grow hope for marriage and shit, and they don't grow expectations. The fox might lose his ability to walk tonight, Now that would be something to brag about.
Lightning sparked across the sky, and a dark smile grew on Elba's face.