She glances from it to me and then to my wound, shivering once all over. “I hate water. I hate the way it feels all over my body at the same time, so wet and chilly. The way it makes my clothes cling to my skin. We don’t have a lot of water where I’m from…” Her face falls as her eyes go back to my wound where I’ve uncovered it from my hand. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. It was a gut reaction.”
“It issss a smart reaction, and one I do not need to forgive. Like I said, I would have reacted the same had it been me.”
She frowns and pouts. “You’re being entirely too nice about this, you know.”
“I have sustained far worse wounds than thissss.” I wave her worry off. “It will heal as they all do. Killing one of my kind is very difficult.”
“I think I’m coming to understand that.”
She watches as the blood drains into the water, as I let the thick liquid rinse away and into the undercurrent beneath. I bleed out into the pool around me and when she hands me a dry hide from my nest, I climb out and apply it to my wound, settling into a coil on the floor beside the few spread out hides she still keeps out.
With a last glance at the water, she joins me and gets towork lighting a fire. I grab the pig leg and cut it into small slices with my claws.
“I am sorry I did not retrieve more kindling for the fire. There has been more activity than usual.”
I notice it is a small one tonight to keep the flames going longer for her meat. She spreads the first bits out on a thin rock to lie in the middle.
“Considering I just stabbed you, I think you’re good. Activity? I heard a ship fly by real close earlier, you’re probably referring to that. You know I could help you, right?” She indicates the ceiling with her hand. “You don’t have to keep me locked up in here every day, especially on those you’re gone all day for. It’s mind-numbing being stuck in here alone with nothing to do. I’m a busy girl. I’m used to being put to use. At least give me a task?”
I growl and cross my arms. “No.”
She crosses her arms back, making the chains on her neck jangle. “Eventually I’m going to convince you to let me see the sky again, Darolus.”
“It issss too dangerous.” Not when I can lose her so easily—to wild animals, other nagas, shifting rocks—the very idea of letting her roam above makes me recoil.
She sighs and I wonder where this is all coming from when she has not asked about opening the tunnel in days.
“You know I can take care of myself. I have up until you?—”
“I found you unconscious on the ground.”
“And you still haven’t figured out who did it which makes me think I got hit with a falling rock.”
“All the more reasssson why you should remain here where there are no falling rocks.”
We both look up at the broken ceiling.
“Maybe not today,” she mumbles, turning away. “Butsomeday that ceiling is going to fall and I don’t plan on being around for it. How is your wound?”
Peering at her, searching her face and not finding any answers there, I raise my hand and the newly-soaked hide covering it. “The bleeding will stop soon.”
She leans in, her eyes softening, taking in the bloody gash. It makes her hair fall forward and my fingers twitch to touch it. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Stay and keep me company. That issss all I want.”
“You could yell at me, you know. Call me a bitch.”
“What is a bitch…” I frown at her. “And why would I yell at you? It could alert others of our whereabouts,” I hiss. Watching her expression, she is acting strange. But something I am coming to be aware of… “You do not need to worry about it,” I say, reassuring her. For some reason… I think she needs it. “I will be fine soon enough. Like I have said, I ate well today.”
Noticing she has not touched the pieces of meat now sizzling on the fire, her soft gaze and furrowed features remain entirely on me. Warmth spreads over my skin, finding her show of care for me… nice.
“I’m glad.” She shuffles back. “I still feel bad.”
Absently, her fingers brush the scales along my tail, petting it. Coiling the long limb around her in a wide arch, I eliminate much of her space, not wanting her to stop. “You do not need to. I am glad to know that if I had been an attacker, you were ready to defend yourself.”
“I’m always ready to defend myself,” she grumbles.
I tilt my head, not liking the way her words make me feel. “Why?”
