The Next Step (Job)

Saryn responded to her story first by addressing the curse that afflicted her. As she continued on though, the floor began to sizzle beneath her feet as she sat up and the girl stood and stepped back to avoid the spreading ruin. She listened quietly to what she said, not saying anything back to her. She wanted to argue that her past was anything but beautiful, only the words that followed those softened her and she remained silent, a glowy blush blooming in her cheeks at the kiss that was left on her forehead. But then... Katherine froze at something in particular. She stared at Saryn with wide, almost fearul eyes.

Take her to the ruins? Just being as close as she was already made her chest feel tight, but actually going back to them? That was asking for a disaster. Not even asking, begging. However, this woman had promised to help her and had already done so much for her. She couldn't help wanting to pay her back and do as she asked, no matter how much she knew it would wreck her. Hesitantly, Katherine nodded. "Follow me..." She said softly and exited the rendezvous, trusting that the woman would be close behind.

-

The air that surrounded them felt thick and suffocating to her and despite the lack of necessity to breathe at all, she found it hard to do so even out of habit. As they drew nearer and nearer, the fear and anguish that sloshed inside her stomach began to eat at her and burn a hole through her calm. Though she paled and her limbs were reluctant to follow her orders to keep moving, she kept on until they reached the very edge. From there one would see something that could only be described as a graveyard, however of unconventional means. All that stood before them were scattered remains of stone walls and gravel paths that were overgrown with new foliage. The place was littered with piles of charred material; wood beams, grass patches, shrubs. Things that had been killed too much to go through a rebirth. The thing Katherine's attention first went to was a large black plot in the farthest end, where her guild had once sat. The next was a much smaller plot, that of her childhood home, closer to the field-cutting river that now only trickled. Her heart space ached with emptiness and she stood frozen in place, her hands clenched so tightly that her nails cut into her palms and drew her paste-like blood to the surface to smear all over her skin. Her eyes welled with tears but her face was otherwise emotionless, numb even. Suddenly she was hit with a flashback like a gust of chilled mountain wind and she gasped, blinking out of her daze and making a choked sound. Painful. Unconsciously she took a step back, but once she realized what she'd done, she made an extra step forward to make up for it. She had to be strong and do what Saryn had asked of her. But oh was is difficult. Probably one of the most difficult things she had ever done; not topping the list, but adding to it.

Katherine blinked her tears away or rather, down her cheeks, and opened her mouth to talk. The first attempt was sticky, her lips almost glued from pressing them so hard, and her voice croaked so she took a breath and swallowed. Turning to look at Saryn with wet eyes she whispered, "This is it."

She was trying hard to hold back, to keep everything locked inside as she thought was best to do. Saryn disagreed. With tears streaking her cheeks and her bottom lip caught painfully between her teeth, she kneeled and kept her fists clenched in her lap, sticky with her own blood that leaked onto her borrowed pants. She couldn't bring herself to care. She felt Saryn touch her, a gesture meant for urging and consolance, but she barely responded, not even looking up to meet her eyes. But when she hugged her... Katherine felt herself crack. The sob that was trapped in her throat fought its way out and the girl clung to the woman that held her close. Her fists unclenched and her fingers dug into her back, gripping as if her after-life depended on it. As Saryn spoke to her, telling her to just let it all out, she clutched harder and somewhere in the back of her mind hoped that she wasn't hurting her. She cried, loudly and without restraint. The same kind she'd done a decade ago the day she found out who she was and near all of her memories came crashing down on her shoulders. The same kind... when she discovered that everyone she had ever loved was dead and she hadn't even gotten to say good bye before she threw herself into a battle that changed her life forever.

-

Katherine sat with her head between her knees, staring down at her bare feet and watching absently as she curled her toes into the dirt. The heat of the fire was comforting, but could only do so much to bring her back up from the low she seemed to drowning in. She'd cried all of the tears her body could conjure and was now dry-eyed and hollow, tired even. Sleep would have been nice then...

She jolted out of her limbo and looked up at Saryn, who was standing opposite her on the other side of the pit. She couldn't help furrowing her eyebrows at what was said. What more could she possibly learn about that retched place? And then, instead of furrowing them, she raised her eyebrows. Her lips parted in shock and a strange feeling flooded her empty chest, like a pang. "Like a... daughter?" Her hands trembled as she sat up and forced them back through her hair as she took in this statement. She didn't really know what to say. If it meant what she thought it did, then Saryn would be the first to harbor such feelings for her since her own biological mother walked the earth. This information was staggering, could even be life-changing if she let it do that much.

Katherine stared at Saryn like an awe-struck child, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Slowly though, a smile spread and graced her lips and she laughed.

A lapse of silence fell between the two for a few moments, not at all painful or awkward which was something Katherine was happy to go without. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, absorbing the heat of the flames before her and for once... feeling calm. Saryn broke through her drifting thoughts then and brought her back to attention, making her eyes snap open and catch her gaze. The girl sighed and picked at her cuticles.

"Whether or not Basilisk Fang changes is not of concern to me," she started, dropping her hands into her lap and staring at Saryn with sad eyes. "I just want to find happiness again. I want to find a home in someone and have a purpose so this blasted curse doesn't weigh me down anymore. I'm tired of being alone, of being hurt... She paused and took a breath. "Saryn, we haven't known each other long, but our relationship seems to have blossomed rather quickly and I am indescribably grateful for your newfound presence in my life. I wanted a purpose and I've found one thanks to you. It is clear that you don't want me put in harm's way, but it is the same on my end. I'd ask you not to get yourself hurt because of me, I am stronger than I look." She quirked her lips into a half-assed smile. "What is it you will do when this time comes?"

Upon being handed the lacrima, Katherine would stare at in slight awe. They really have advanced quite a bit, haven't they... The orb would allow them to see each other provided Sayrn ever left the guild. The possibility of her leaving was somewhat saddening, but the fact that Katherine would still get to be with her in a way was comforting and dulled that momentary ache in her chest significantly. As the woman ruffled her hair, the girl smiled delicately and stowed the lacrima away in her pocket. She'd have to keep it there until she found a safe place to put it though.

They'd be leaving then, which Katherine was glad for. Despite having spent nearly an entire night basking in the shadows of her past and becoming fairly numb to it's pressure, she was still eager to leave and never return. She would stand from her seat, mentally prepared to just get away from this depressing place, but Sayrn's failed attempt to shift would make her halt and stare at the woman with deepseated concern. Purely out of instinct she would have asked if she was okay, but she'd already seemed to have brushed it off and so Katherine put her worry away for the time being. Sayrn then offered her hand and once again addressed Katherine as her daughter. Words could just be words, but these made a warmth bloom in her chest and she couldn't help blushing. Taking Sayrn's hand, she would squeeze her fingers briefly and nod.

-

Basilisk Fang was in no way, shape, or form, something Katherine would consider material for a home. But with this new bond she had, that dark place seemed to become more of one. Just a little. At the end of the day, it never would be. She knew that for a fact.

Being with Sayrn made Basilisk Fang feel less awful and she almost couldn't wait to get back.

[END]