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frostsinth · 4 years

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Lost Time - Pt. 2

- Part 1 - MasterList -

Apologies to everyone waiting for this update! I forgot I had mostly finished it and got side tracked with the Raffle winners. But here it is! I hope it was worth the wait.

Check out my MasterList above for other ramblings, and feel free to BuyMeACoffee while you’re there. If you’d like to commission a story or art piece, DM me for details.

I appreciate the comments, reblogs, and asks you guys always send! They make my day and give me life! Thanks for being so great! (Tag request: @decadentsoulbiscuitgoth)

I gasped, my heart racing, my head throbbing. I felt my hands moving of their own accord, searching for something to grab onto. Trying to anchor myself in the spinning void. There was a distant sound, a familiar sound, but I couldn’t place it. I was consumed by the sensation of falling, tumbling. Without an up or down to orient myself. Images flashed past me, blurred and indistinct at first. None lingered long enough for me to focus, and seemed to be wiping past me like trees out the window of a moving carriage. I opened my mouth, tried to scream. Tried to make a sound of any kind. I couldn’t tell if anything came out.

There! A light, a gap amid the strange assault. It spun and drifted, but it seemed to be moving with me. I reached toward it, felt my fingers scrape the edge. Then they passed through it, like an incorporeal cloud. Sparks zapped across my skin, leaving behind tingling skin. But the light shifted, pulsing. Growing larger and coming towards me. Before I could react I was engulfed, and had to close my eyes against the searing light or else be blinded. I instinctively moved my hands to shield my face, but couldn’t tell if I was really moving them at all.

“She can’t have gone far, My Queen,” Came a purring, rasping voice, distant. It sounded like smoke and tasted like sulfur. My heart skittered at the sound of it. “We’ll find her.”

“See that you do.” Another voice, female. Cold, angry.

I blinked, searching through the fading light. But all I could see were outlines and shadows. Blurs at the edges of my vision. A huge form, hulking and glowing as if on fire, though everything was bathed in that unnaturally blinding light. Another, smaller, more slender, more delicate. I sensed the second turn, sensed its eyes settling on me. My breath stopped, my heart raced. I pushed myself back, scrambled to get away. I sensed the figures retreating, as if sucked into a singular distant point; shrinking and swirling as they disappeared like draining water. Then I realized they had not moved. I had. Jerked back from a tether around my middle which bent me in two. I could see my limbs trailing behind me. Could see the tips of my long blonde hair, snapping and cracking like whips as I was yanked away. Tossed back into the swirling mass of images and sounds. A loud ringing was filling my ears, and I tried to scream again.

I woke in a cold sweat, choking on my heart in my throat. I sat up sharply, looking this way and that, my eyes wild. I quickly swiveled my feet out from the furs, moving to stand. I wasn’t sure why, I couldn’t piece together the jumbles of in-cohesive thoughts in my mind. I just suddenly felt this strange urgency. This deep set fear. I needed to move. I needed to run, and keep running. And when I thought I had run enough, I needed to run some more. I pushed off the bed to climb to my feet in the same fluid motion as I had swung my legs free.

I cried out as my bad ankle gave out beneath me, and fell to the stone floor. My rough descent had me jarring my shoulder painfully, but in my confused state, I merely wriggled to try and get my feet under me again. I was shaking so hard my palms slid, unable to find purchase. A growling grunt had me jumping again, and the ground shook just before a large form suddenly crouched down beside me.

“Anha wet, Shikobakin,” Came a deep, soothing voice, “Shie’ka natwe.”

I jerked my head up as a big hand came to rest between my shoulder-blades. As my blue eyes settled on the dark green face with broad features and copper eyes, it all started to come rushing back to me. Well, at least the previous day; waking in the forest. Twisting my ankle. Being rescued by Njord and carried to his home. But the hollow echo of a life forgotten weighed heavily down upon me as I strained to push beyond the dense fog that shrouded everything beyond yesterday. I let out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding, then gasped at the air as if I had just emerged from beneath the surface of a lake. Each following breath came out ragged, then sucked into my lungs painfully. The big hand at my back rubbed soothingly up and down. As I came to my senses, I shifted, sitting back on my bottom. Stretching my legs out in front of me and wincing in pain as my bad ankle was jarred but hardly noticing it besides. I was still shaking, and I brought my clasped hands to my chest, hugging them to myself in an effort to still the motion.

Njord shifted, dropping one knee to the ground and leaning his elbow across the other. He considered me quietly from the side of his eye, his hand still at my back. I glanced over at him, shaking my head. Wishing to explain my behavior, or reassure him I was fine. My mouth flapped open and closed uselessly a few times, like a fish out of water. Unable to form the lies he wouldn’t understand.

“Netka non fa’alsita,” He murmured, “Anha wet.”

I craned my neck back, looking up at him, still quivering. I felt clammy and cold, as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me. But I latched onto the sound of his voice, shaking my head again and bringing my shaking hands to my face. I laid my palms flat against my eyes, attempting to push away whatever dream or memory had so unsettled me. It was in vain; my shoulders shook even more and I felt tears stinging my eyes as my throat began to burn. It was even more unsettling as I had only the fear. I had no memory of what had caused it, which only frightened me even more. I longed to let it sink away with the rest of my life buried in the heavy fog.

I started as I suddenly found myself hoisted delicately from the ground. A moment later, I was enveloped in big, strong arms. Each nearly as thick as I was wide. My hands dropped in time to catch a glint of his copper eyes before Njord buried me in his chest. Creating a safe cocoon of dark green muscle and flesh. He held me firmly, all but forcing my tremors to cease, but also as gently as if I were made of glass. I didn’t bother to try to resist; for one thing, I doubted I could wriggle myself loose from his clutches. For another, I sincerely didn’t want to.

There was no explicable reason why; I didn’t know this man. Hell, I was pretty sure I didn’t even know what he was. And yet I didn’t care. I turned into his broad chest, ensconcing myself in his embrace. I drew in long, deep breaths of his musky scent, and even reached my arms up to wrap around his thick neck.

I felt his posture change as I did, and felt a bolt of electricity shoot down my spine unrelated to the lingering fear. Neither of us chose to acknowledge it though; the feeling we shared in that moment. One that needed no words. He grounded me, like an anchor in a storm, and I clung to him almost desperately for fear of being swept away. There was no space to consider anything else. I squeezed my eyes shut and tightened my grip around him. And slowly, my trembling eased. Then stopped altogether.

I took one last long, deep breath against his skin, then let it out. I started to lean back from his touch, and almost as soon as I did, I felt his arms loosening. I turned my gaze up to his face, and he side eyed me, half turned towards the back of the cave. But the corner of his mouth turned up, and his thick lips curled around his huge tusks.

“Yukna vat.” He said softly, and one big hand came up. With just his thumb, he pushed the long strands of my hair back from my face.

“I’m sorry...” I breathed, even though I knew he couldn’t understand me.

I shook my head, looking away from him. There was not even a hint of the memory of what had set me off, but I still felt that lingering urge to bolt. To run far and run fast. It left me on edge, and I jumped at the sound of a branch snapping beyond the entrance of the cave. My heart faltered and my breathing skipped.

Njord paid it no mind, and his thumb traced distractedly down the edge of my hairline. “Netka non fa’alsita.” He told me, his deep voice echoing ever so faintly around the cave.

I peered up at him through my pale lashes, frowning slightly. He had said that before. Just after he had first come to my side. I saw him chew his lip thoughtfully, tilting his big head to the side. Seeming to appraise my questioning look.

“Netka non fa’alsita.” He said again, then lifted his hand, tapping the side of his head. He pointed to the bed, and laid his cheek over his knuckles. Closing his eyes. Even giving a few comically loud snores for effect. I felt a smile coming unbidden to my lips as I watched. When his copper eyes opened again, he tapped his temple, then made a deeply unhappy face. “...Netka non fa’alsita.”

I glanced over at the bed. “Neh..tukuh non fall see tah,” I echoed, working my lips around the foreign words.

He gave a grunt that came from somewhere deep in his chest. “NeTKa non fa’ALsita.” He repeated, emphasizing the strange sounds that he seemed to form in his throat rather than his mouth.

“Netka non fa’alsita.” I tried again, and managed a shy semblance of similarity to his.

He nodded approvingly, then made the sour face, reaching out to tap my temple lightly before pointing to the bed. “Netka non fa’alsita, Shikobakin.”

“Nightmare...“ I translated, and took note of the curve of my palms cupped in my lap to avoid minding the shiver that rippled over my skin at his touch.

His big fingers came under my chin, scooping it gently until I met his eye again. Unabashed by our close proximity to each other. Unashamed to brush his skin against mine and meld my warmth with his. I wondered briefly if it was a part of his own personality or a social construct of his species.

“Nit...Niightmaar.”

My smile returned as I recognized his near perfect attempt to mimic me. “You’re better at mine than I am at yours.” I complimented him.

He tilted his head, looking down over his broad cheek at me. Frowning. I wracked my brain for a moment, then nodded my head and smiled.

“Good.” I told him, then exaggerated my smile and nodded again. “Good.”

He considered this, then tipped his own chin at me. “Guh-d.” At my smile, he gave another deep rooted snort. “Ars’tok.” He grinned, showing all of his teeth, and I looked at him in surprise. It changed the shape of his face, and while the teeth themselves were large, set into the exaggerated smile made him an almost laughable sight. “Guh-d. Ars’tok.”

“Ars...TOkKK.” I almost spit at him, trying to make the deep throated accent as he did. It was less like his, however, and sounded more like I was choking on something.

A great booming sound emerged from him at my attempt, blasting into me with powerful reverberation and echoing around the cave. At first I jumped, but so accompanied was the roaring by his honest grin, that I quickly realized I was not in danger. After another belated moment, I realized he was in fact laughing, and felt my face flush.

“Easy for you to mock!” I scoffed, crossing my arms. “You’re apparently a natural at Common.”

His loud laughter subsided into quiet chuckles at my voice, and he lifted up one hand to gently cuff my jaw with his knuckles. He said something in his own tongue that I didn’t catch, but the amusement in his tone was plain. His thumb tapped my chin, and I heard him speak the name he had given me. He said it with a tenderness that surprised me, and made my heart flutter again.

I realized I was still settled in his lap, his big legs as sturdy as any chair. My face flushed for an entirely different reason. I twisted in place, trying to hide the new shade settling across my features and hoping he wouldn’t notice. I could see his head cock slightly out of the corner of my eye, considering my sudden shift.

I reached down and ran my hands over my swollen ankle, using it as an excuse. I winced, for it was still hot to the touch and extremely tender. And perhaps it was my imagination, but it looked more swollen than the day before to me.

“...Di’chin yiya?” He asked, and I recalled the words from the previous evening.

I wasn’t given time to answer, and gave a soft squeak as he scooped me up into his arms. Again, I reached for something to hold onto, feeling perilously close to falling despite the fact that his arms all but completely engulfed me as he tucked me back to his chest. My own arms ended up back around his neck, and I felt his chest vibrate as he chuckled softly again. If possible, my cheeks began to burn hotter at that. I pretended to be concerned with where we were going, rather than the proximity of his bare chest and thick neck to my face. Not that there were many options.

He swept aside the canvass covering at the entrance with one hand, easily balancing me in the other, then walked over to set me beside the firepit again. He gathered up some more smoked meat, dropping to a cross-legged seat next to me so heavily the ground shook.

“Tikke.” He told me, holding out the fish meat. As I gingerly took it, he pointed to it again. “Tikke. Tikke.”

A wry smile twisted one side of my mouth at the eagerness in his voice. I gestured with the fish, to show him I understood what he meant. I hesitated. The word was not hard, or at least, didn’t seem to be. Yet my previous humiliation was still quite fresh in my mind.

Njord shoved my shoulder gently with his bent fingers. “Tikke!” He pressed, pointing to the meat.

I opted for a shy glance at him out the corner of my eye. “... Tick-key?”

His grin chewed up half his face, at least what I could see of the good side he always kept facing me, and pushed his copper eyes into his heavy brow. He nodded eagerly. “Ars’tok…” Somehow, he found more room for his smile to grow a few molars. “Guh-d.”

I returned his smile, wondering if he was humoring me. I took a bite, chewing it thoughtfully, glancing around. I started slightly as his hand came up, shoving me lightly again. When I turned back to him, he pointed back at the fish. Then gave a grunt, tapping my shoulder before pointing at it again.

My lips split with my fresh smile, and I almost laughed. “Fish.” I told him, holding up the meat.

His brow screwed up, and he moved his lips for a moment before speaking. “Fii-ssh.”

I nodded. “Good.” I held it up again. “Fish.”

“Fisshh. Fii… Fishh.” He repeated, then seemed pleased with himself. I saw him looking around himself as I took another bite of the meat. He picked up a nearby rock, showing it to me. “Wutbat.” He told me.

I did laugh now, and shook my head. He grunted, frowning, and holding up the rock again. He repeated the word, showing me the rock and pointing as well.

“Wutbat.” I echoed, more confidently and trying unsuccessfully to hide my amusement.

He grunted again and nodded, then tried to pass me the rock. I scrambled to move the remainder of my breakfast to the other hand to take it from him. In his fist it had looked small, but my hand dropped slightly under its weight. He pointed to it, then to me. Gesturing and waving with his hand. My smile never faltered; I could hardly believe my own enjoyment of his eagerness.

“Rock.” I told him.

His eyes lit up. “Rock.” He repeated, without any issues. His long arm reached out, plucking up another and turning it around in his hands. “Rock. Roockk.”

I tossed mine off to the side, wiping my hand on my pants to get off the worst of the dirt. I saw his copper eyes looking around again, and quickly finished off the meat before he could find something else to shove into my hands. He noticed I was finished and stood, walking over to the cave entrance and scooping up his broadsword.

“Oh, please don’t drop that on me,” I begged, still grinning, “It’ll crush me.”

Njord gave one of his deep snorts, tilting his head to the side. His face appeared quizzical, heavy brow lightly scrunched over his broad nose but eyes bright. I wondered if he had a concept of what I had said, or was merely trying to decipher the tone. He shrugged his big shoulders then showed me the sword, twisting it this way and that in his hand. As easily as if it were merely a branch, rather than a few dozen pounds of cold hard iron.

“Sword.” I told him quickly, before he could prompt me. He grinned back at me, and made a few attempts before getting the word right.

“Tu’kegee.” He returned, and spun the sword deftly as if striking down an imaginary opponent.

Hearing the deep sound he produced in his throat to say the word, I shook my head. “Not this again.” I almost groaned.

His grin returned, and he displayed a few more practiced strikes with the blade. “Tu’kegee.” He repeated, then again as he spun and swung the heavy sword at the air behind him.

I was a little awestruck by his movements, and watched quietly. He seemed to enjoy having me as an audience, and executed a few more maneuvers. His big muscles moved with powerful grace, his shoulders exposed without the armor from the previous day. I felt a strange tickling in my chest as I watched, and my fingertips tingled. He repeated the word after each stroke and blow, and after a final, powerful downward sweep which had him using both hands, he settled his copper eyes on me once more. Jerking his square chin at me.

I sighed, rubbing at the back of my neck. “Tuckeggee.” I mumbled, not even bothering to try the throaty sound.

He grinned, digging the end of his sword into the ground and dropping to one knee beside me. “Ars’tok, Shikobakin.”

My breath caught in my throat as I looked up at him, his face only a few inches from mine. I saw him stiffen slightly as well, his smile slowly shrinking as some unknown thoughts drifted through the depths of his copper eyes. He watched me for a second, his eyes moving back and forth between mine. I swallowed, forcing a small smile onto my face.

“I’m not trying that one again.” I murmured. With him so close, I certainly didn’t have to speak loudly.

He studied my face, his lips tweaking slightly as he seemed to attempt to decipher my tone. A few strands of his dark brown hair fell around his eyes, and I had an itch to push them back out of his face. I barely managed to resist. A sonorous grunt came from his chest, soft despite the strength of it. It seemed a good match to my own soft words, as if an answer in and of itself. But he didn’t move, lingering with our breath intermingling in the air between us. After a few breaths like this, his big hand came up, skimming his fingertips along my jaw. I wondered if he had felt that strange tingling to touch me, as I did. I couldn’t explain it, but couldn’t help leaning into his grazing fingers slightly; almost imperceptibly.

There was a distant snap of a branch that broke the moment, and both of us shifted. Pulling away. The sound of the snap was followed by a different, softer sound. It was too strange to place, and I was far too distracted to analyze it.

Another grunt, deeper and louder this time, and he shook his head. Dropping his hand away and standing. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, then jerked his head towards the forest. Words of his own language came flowing out from between his thick lips, and I watched them form in a daze as he gathered up his armor and strapped it to each shoulder. I found I liked the way the straps sinched to his chest, and had to slap my cheek lightly to stop myself from staring. He turned at the noise, raising the brow on his good side. I gave him a sheepish smile. No use trying to explain to him that I found him very distracting… I wouldn’t even know how to begin.

He grunted again, coming back over with some grumbling words I couldn’t distinguish. Even if I had the vocabulary to understand them. But short of a discussion about fish, rocks, and bad dreams (and a very brief discussion at that), it was not likely to be a very lively conversation.

The strange sound was louder, pulling my attention back to it. It was a skittering, scritching sound. Filling the air. Like something scurrying around through the leaves. No… many somethings. It seemed more familiar now, and set me on edge. I looked around, one hand reaching for Njord almost nervously. He seemed wary as well, and I found his hand reaching out at the same time as mine. The hairs on the back of my neck shot up, just before hissing, chittering snarls filled the forest around us...

...

To be continued...

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