Of Fire And Scales (Liam/Aria support C)

[Aria]

Takes place after Extermination Party.
--

Somewhere in the country side of Laus, a fair distance away from any villages. Aria, Chewy, Liam, and Julius have arrived to recover after the fight with the black armored undead monster. The sky haired rider was still processing all that had happened. She was silent through out the flying. She was focused on getting Liam out of the people's way. No dobut the villagers had sent scouts out to investigate what had happened. Perhaps they were raising stories about a clash between monsters. Stories about demons fighting gods. To be fair there was a fair amount of dark, light, and anima magic being flung all over that empty space in the wilds. Scorched lands and dead bodies littered everywhere. Yes, Aria was certain that getting as far away from the village and the battlefield was the best course of action for everyone.

And so they landed, in this abandoned place. A windmill covered with overgrown weeds that turned it's stony walls into a plush green. Her body hurt. Chewy's body was exhausted. And Liam.. she knew Liam got hurt. He needed to rest. He needed to recover. He needed to explain how the f*ck he turned into a giant fire breathing thing. She knew he could do that before. But she was under the assumption it was some kind of magic. A spell that allowed for men to transform into beasts. Magic like that of fairy tales and holy books. But now that she had witnessed it.. she felt it was something more then just a book spell. Aria closed her eyes briefly before carefully getting off of Chewy's saddle, putting her own two feet firmly on the ground, and then taking a moment to raise her arms up and help Liam down from the saddle.

[Liam]

Aria had wanted to retreat, Liam not wanting to argue with her nor having the strength to do so followed. Bending over he scooped up little Julius before getting on Chewy behind Aria, setting Julius in his lap he wrapped his arms around Aria's stomach before they took to the air. In normal situations he wouldn't need to hold on to her, but he feared he didn't have the strength to stay on by himself, and if it was an area like Nabata he would have flown them. While they were in the air his eye lid had grown heavy, his body had felt cold so he rested his chin on Aria's shoulder. He wasn't sure if it was his wounds or the extreme strain he had put on his stone that caused his body to act like this but he was sure he needed time to rest.

Once they had landed Julius had jumped from Liam's lap as he took Aria's hands and lifted his leg over Chewy and slid off. "Thanks" Liam mumbled as he walked past Aria towards the windmill. He stopped in front of it for a moment or two before punching it as hard as his body could, which wasn't the greatest idea. He was still pissed at what happened, he had to take his anger out on something but instead his entire hand was in pain, as well as the wound on his arm. Punching the wall had loosened some of the dry blood and more had began to flow out once again. He returned his hand to his side, with blood slowly trickling down his arm, turned his back to the wall and leaned against it before sliding down landing on his rear end, keeping his right leg bent and his left laying flat on the ground. Leaning his head back resting on the wall he shut his eye. "What are you waiting for?" He finally broke the silence between the two.

[Aria]

She nodded softly when Liam said thank you. Aria knew better then to get in between an angry man and a wall. But, she visibly winced at Liam when he punched the wall. He shouldn't have done that. But now the eye patched man was bleeding again. Aria sighed softly. She watched him lean against the wall and slump to the floor. Aria grabbed the pack off of Chewy and then stopped. Liam had broken the silence, with a question. Aria shook her head again. What was she waiting for? What was Liam expecting her to be waiting for?

"I'm not sure what you mean." She replied.

Aria quickly glossed over the contents of her pack. She grabbed the right one thankfully. This bag had some medical supplies and clean bandages. Next she grabbed the one with the food. Jerky and some dry biscuits. It wouldn't be much of a meal but it would be enough.

"Chew go get some rocks for a fire pit." She ordered. The wyvern perked up a bit. Rock gathering was something she enjoyed doing. Right up there with wood chewing and running away from Aria when it came to a bath. The brick wyvern dutifully went out to go look for some. Wyverns often gathered rocks to make their nests so hopefully she wouldn't look too out of place. She glossed around the windmill. Hoping to find a way in to the tower without too much fuss. The door was the obvious answer. She handed him the bag with medical supplies.

"Some bandages and potions. I think one of em's a numbing agent." She spoke then tried to push the doors open but to no avail. Locked.

[Liam]

"We both know what you want to ask. What the hell I did back there. Liam let out a sigh. He knew that was more than likely the number one thing on her mind, closely followed about helping him due to his injuries. He wasn't sure how to "gently" break the news to her that he was a dragon, this wasn't like their talk in Bern where he could stretch the truth. He stuck out his arms for Aria to do her thing, as one of the very few humans he trusted he tried to keep her happy the best he could. "I'm not a f**k**g human, I'm a dragon. On that mountain pass when Chewy was scared shitless, she knew what I was apparently."

From there he wasn't exactly sure what to say next, but he still attempted to "explain" himself. "I've been alive since before that damn war you humans call the Scouring. Liam opened his eye and lifted his head off of the wall and looked at Aria for a moment. You didn't seem to be afraid of me after we ran into each other in Bern or after that fight a little bit ago. Don't you understand the danger you're in? He could remember before the war there were a few humans that were uneasy finding out he was actually a dragon but he figured that was ignorance, but now he guess he could understand their fear. Something that should have been killed off over a thousand years ago and suddenly one appears in front of them.

[Aria]

Ah so that's it. Aria thought to herself. She approached Liam, and slowly went to work on his arm. She was gentle with the bandages and tonic. She had plenty of experience in bandaging up all sorts of wounds. The military and living on a wyvern ranch had taught her that much. There was no shortage of wounds to practice with in both life styles. While her actions were kind, her head was a bit of a garbled mess. This was Liam. A man she had grown to trust in their short time adventuring, admitting to. Her that he was a dragon.

Now, Aria knew what a dragon was. A bigger, badder, monstrous wyvern like creature that the eight heroes put to rest for ever in the scouring. At least that's what the stories her brother had told her. The stories the books of Eliminsm had taught her. And the historical documents and artifacts of Bern had taught her that too. That they were once creatures of intelligence corrupted by power and went on a mindless rampage through Elibe, in an attempt to conquer the world. But, Liam wasn't a mindless beast. Nor a monster. She had seen monsters. Hordes of undead that raided villages and made more undead of the living. Those were real monsters.

“I have no reason to be afraid of you Liam.” She spoke after a long bit of silence.

"In my presence, you've not hurt any humans whom haven't deserved it. You aren't mean to Chewy or Julius. You used your power to try and slay a monster and protect a nearby village." She nodded softly, as if to assure herself of those words.

“I grew up on a wyvern ranch. And I'm wyvern rider. You know what dangers I have to go through on a daily basis?” She pointed at the brick wyvern whom was arriving with the first rock.

“If I piss her off the wrong way I'm losing an arm.” She tried to joke but couldn't. That was a very true statement. Chewy had all the power at her disposal to kill Aria 4x over. Little Julius arrived to nuzzle up to Liam. Concerned for his surrogate parent.

“He will be fine Julius.” Aria glanced over at Chewy.

“Chew can you be a sweetie and get the door open.” She asked as she started to put the extra bandages back into the bag. She was done tending to Liam's arms. Chewy seemed more then happy to oblige. She reared her tail up and gave the door a firm hard slam. She knocked the wooden doors off of its hinges and the whole thing slammed onto the empty floor below. Aria closed her eyes drying the slam down. She opened them again once the doors were defeated.

“Thank you.” She told Chewy. Who then scampered back put to the wilds for more rocks. Aria got up and offered her arm for Liam. She'd help him get inside the tower like structure.

[Liam]

Aria had admitted she had no reason to fear him. It was an understandable reaction given the encounter they just had. But honestly the first met under different circumstances, then he only cared about Chewy's safety and didn't care about what happened to the woman riding her, or any of the humans in his group or the ones that stopped them. He left his arms out so she could tend to his wounds why he listened to everything she had to say. He didn't even flinch or wince when she had applied something to wounds so they didn't get infected, almost not moving an inch while she wrapped it with bandages.

"What happened to those humans we met out there, or that village was none of my concern. They could all rot in hell for all I care. I had fought that damned thing to protect you and Chewy. I knew she wouldn't disobey your command and you wouldn't leave them to die. I made a warning to those people because I was unsure how the fight would end, and if either of us would need medical treatment. I would have been able to pass myself off as deja vu in a decade or two if I ever returned to this area." Which was the way the wyrm had lived since the war. He lowered his arms, resting one of his hands on Julius' head as he pet him.

"My life is one that doesn't matter. Who I really am would grant me death, something I was not worried about in that fight. If I live I can continue to keep Julie and Julius' lives in my heart through memories, if I die I can finally be reunited with my family that passed over a thousand years ago."

[Aria]

"You claim not to care.. and yet you fought still. You learned a little bit about that monster. And you.. are alive. It has to all count for something." She wasn't really sure what to say. I mean what was there to say? Liam was over a thousand years old. He's lived in the time before the scouring. He's seen things that humans have only dreamed of seeing. Things that have not been in recorded history. She shook her head lightly. Something about his wording made her think he was being a bit melodramatic. But, then again being alive for so long.. maybe he's entitled to that.

"At least I think it all counts for something." She got up.

"For what it's worth.. your secret is safe with me. And well while.. it might not mean much to you. I think your life matters." She took a moment to investigate the tower. The insides were empty save for the rotting support beams and a few scraps of cloth. Whom ever owned this windmill did well not to leave anything behind. It looks like they would be the first people to be in here for a long time. It wasn't a pretty structure, but it will due to hold them both over until tomorrow. Chewy arrived with another rock. The brick colored wyvern looked over at Liam and Julius. She approached Liam slowly. Her head was low and she appeared to be calm. She could smell the blood and medicine on him. She was within arm's reach of Liam when she nudged his leg. A small whimper like growl could be heard coming off of her.

"She's worried about you too."

[Liam]

Liam had closed his eye once again as Chewy approached him and began to nuzzle his leg. Using he free hand he reached over and placed on her head petting it. "Being alive is a hell sometimes. I've seen the world change time after time through out my life. I've been alone for far longer than I had hoped, now it's even worse seeing how my kind had either been killed off or forced to leave and the few that stayed behind forced to hide our true selves." Liam moved both of his hands to his side and pushed off the wall to stand up straight.

Opening his eye again he looked around their surrounding for a moment before walking to the door and looking inside. It was a complete dump inside, he couldn't complain much seeing how he's stayed in far worse looking places before. He could feel the weight of his large body on his knees, he wasn't sure if he could remain standing for too much longer after putting such a strain on his stone and his injuries. "I hope you have something planned for dinner, I'm famished." He said in an attempt to change the subject and lighten the mood.

"I also hope you have something to start a fire, my stone is tapped out for a while. That also means it's up to you to defend us if something happens." Liam walked to one of the support beams giving it a light nudge seeing if would cause the windmill to come crashing down, luckily it didn't and he hoped it stayed that way.

[Aria]

"I probably won't ever know what it's like.. to have gone what you have gone through. But, well, I'll stick around you for as long as I can. Ya know.. within reason. Life's got a funny way of separating people with responsibilities.. and uh.. mortality. But, hey in the time you do have me well you won't so alone." She smiled softly. "Hope you don't mind." Then Chewy pressed her nose to her back.

"Ah right, Chewy and Julius too. They can live just as long if not longer then humans." Aria turned around. Chewy couldn't fit through the doors of the windmill. So she was stretching her neck in as far as she could.

"Chew, take a step back before you hurt yourself." She slowly ushered the wyvern out.

"There's some rations in the bag. Mostly hard tack and beef jerky. I could make a soup out of jerky so they last a little longer. It won't taste too good. But, the broth will help you recover your strength. The meat will get soft and soggy so it's easier on your gut." She looked around the windmill. Yep, this place really was a hovel. Aria quickly took from her supplies a blanket and bedroll. She placed it down on the ground and offered Liam to sit. Slowly, she'd bring in the rocks that Chewy brought and make a fire pit.

"I can't really defend us either. The healer managed to patch me up.. but I'm so sore and exhausted from everything. Worst case we'd have to turn tail and run. But.. looks like this place is so old and abandoned. I doubt we would be bothered. Here.. I laid out the bed roll for you. Try to make yourself comfortable." She dusted the thing off and tried to make it look inviting. She was really trying her best to make things hospitable.

"There's some water in my canteen. I've got a spare attached to Chewy so don't worry about leaving high and dry." She placed the canteen on the ground.

"Although if you eat the rations before I get to cooking them, then I'm liable to skewer you." She tried to joke as she moved. But her expression shifted from one of mirth to that of pain. She closed her eyes and lifted her arm up over her chest in defense. The injuries she sustained from the fight were slowing her down. Come.. on Aria. You are a big girl now. You've had worse. She slowly regained her composure then turned around and walked towards Chewy.

"I'll go look for some fire wood. Got some flint and tinder in the bag. So I can make us a fire. You.. just focus on resting. I'll be back."

[Liam]

Liam was a stubborn wyrm, why he didn't view humans as equals he still had some sort of manners. He made his way towards the bedroll Aria had laid out for him and sat down next to it. "I've taken worse beating in that war and had to live in conditions like this, I'll be fine on the ground." The past millennium he had received kindness similar to what Aria had been showing him, but unlike her they didn't know the truth. Liam was trying to keep the mood in a happier one, for her sake.

"If I had the strength to dig through your bags for it, then you'd have one hell of a time skewering me." letting out a light chuckle after saying that. "Fully cooked meat isn't my preferred type. While I've enjoyed it time to time, I like it while it's still bleeding. The flavor of meat when it's been cooked lightly on both sides is almost heavenly." Liam rested his chin on his chest for a couple of seconds before lifting his head a little to talk again. "My wife had always told me I should have eaten it raw at that point, I would joke when I said I enjoyed hearing the animal cry in pain as I clenched my jaws."

It was at this moment Liam couldn't decided what hurt the most, the physical injures he received in that fight or the ones that he still suffered from when he lost his wife. While the salt in his emotional pain was out living his son was painful, the throbbing in his arms reminded him that he was still alive. At this point he knew of only one thing he should do and say. Lifting his head and turning it to look at Aria he said only two words. "Thank you."

[Aria]

"This dung heap.. makes you feel right at home?" Her voice sounded sincere but confused. She wasn't sure how anyone would willingly live in a place like this for more then a day. Then again she shouldn't judge. She had spent many nights out in the wilderness camping out with Chewy.

"I guess this is a guy thing." She sighed.

"Heh.. you sound a bit like my old man. He was a fan of eating meat that was still bloody. That was until the day he found a worm in one piece now he likes his stuff well cooked." She commented. Before she departed the little hovel and went out to look for wood. Her body hurt like hell as she bent down and collected twigs and branches. Chewy didn't join her. Instead, she choose to stick around the entrance keeping an eye on Liam and his adoptive wyvern son.

Chewy would only leave once she felt Aria had taken too much time. Or if she heard her rider in distress. Or lost her scent somewhere in the air. Chewy knew Aria was hurt. But, she knew she was strong too. She would only show concern if Aria was on the ground like Liam was. Lifeless and full of the scent of blood. Well in Liam's case he was still alive just incredibly drained. Chewy herself would feel the soreness of the battle on her own body sometime during the night. When her body had a chance to relax its muscles and the temperature dropped down. Aria was gone for about fifteen minutes. When she returned she had her arms full of twigs and grasses to use for tinder. This material would be enough to make a small fire that could boil water and cook their meal. But, not enough to last them through the night.

Her hands were covered in scratches and flecks of bark. Her hair was lightly doused in leaf litter too. As if she had fallen a few times. She didn't let that bother her though. She sat back down and closed her eyes. Pain flowed through her. She probably should have sat down much more slowly. She grabbed her bag and was content to see that it's food contents had not been scarfed down.

She slowly went to work on making a fire. She seemed to work magic with her tinder sticks and dry hay. Soon there was a small fire, in the center of a fire pit. She pulled from the bag a tin pot filled it about half way with water. Then put some of the jerky inside. The boiling water would soften the hard meat and make a broth. She added a small spring of rosemary that she kept in a side pocket for some flavor. After a while the jerky soup was ready. She carefully poured some into a mug and set it next to Liam. She fished out a small biscuit and gave him that too. She sat back down to her spot. Her supplies were almost empty at this point.

"I.. think a trip home is in order."

[Liam]

It would be difficult for somebody such as Aria to understand the struggle a dragon would have living in the world of humans. They could watch a whole town age from children to adults while looking like they had not aged a day in their life, sticking around too long would lead to suspensions. Drifting from town to town wasn't as exciting as one would think when you know you could return appearing the same and everything has changed decades later on top of this wyrm's dislike for humans.

Liam had sat in silence while Aria spoke, and let her leave on that note. He didn't want to hold her up from her quest, as well gave them something else to talk about once she had returned. He had nodded off for a minute or two till he heard footsteps and jolted awake. He watched he enter the room and begin to do her thing and spoke up after she had talked.

"Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond, call me what you will. I'll take my time anywhere free to speak my mind, anywhere I roam where I lay my head is home. That's why I'm comfortable in places like this dump." Honestly, there was only one place Liam would truly call home, but that was stuck in the the past, over a thousand years ago. "It also sounds like your old man is weak spirited then. But thanks." He reached down the grab the mug as stared at it for a moment before fishing out a small chunk of the jerky and popping it into his mouth. Liam had done that a few more times before talking a loud slurping drink of the broth. "I take it as this near death experience made you home sick?" It was painfully obvious that spending all of this time alone had given Liam's terrible meal time manners more room to be terrible.

[Aria]

"You are welcome." Aria responded.

So Liam was accustomed to places like this due to his longevity. Aria took a moment to breathe and let her mind catch up with her thoughts. Never in her life did she think she would meet a living breathing dragon. And have that dragon have a human form with terrible table manners. Then again she supposed it couldn't be helped. They were low on supplies.. including utensils. Aris shook her head lightly. She should be accustomed to this sort of behavior. She was raised among four brothers all of which had table manners of varying degrees of vulgarity. Aria wasn't immune to this behavior either. As she was accustomed to eating most meats with her hands or stuffing food in her cheeks like a chipmunk. She shook her head again.

"Sort of." She sighed. No. I should give him a proper answer.

"Actually.. yes." She took a sip of her jerky soup.

"Im.. homesick. But.. that's not the only reason. We are low on supplies. And we need a place.. to recover. My family has a large ranch. You could make a temporary home out of one of the barns. You won't be bothered much... we get three square meals a day.. Julius could interact with some wyverns his age." She sighed. She was holding back some emotions. The whole day was starting to get to her and she didn't like it. She was an adult damn it. She needed to act like one. She rubbed her eye a bit.

"..I think. It's a good call. Home.. isn't too far from here either. Unless you have any other ideas."