Rabbit Kin

JP with Lucian and Omni

Looking over Gonyaul’s grievous injuries, Voah questioned whether he could survive this. She was on the verge of collapse herself, but experience had taught her that the body was amazingly resilient and could endure some insane trauma.

Tarmen sat next to the boy. Looking over his wounds closer, it was one hell of a way to introduce him to such trauma.
From looking at the sweat and the movement of his eyes, he was deep in some sort of sickness. Too many nights next to dying men let him know he was far from them.

Seeing that her focus was on him, he couldn’t decide what to say. Jumping into business felt rushed right now, they needed time to heal.

Looking back at Barrel Boy, he answered his own question rather humorously.

“What’s his name? Don’t think I ever picked it up.”

Resolving to let him rest some more, Voah relented and took the bait of Tarmen’s easy question. It would at least take her mind off of his injuries.

“His name is Gonyaul-Vaux… and he doesn’t deserve this.” she said. Tarmen could tell she was beating herself up over what happened.

He chewed on that comment. He could see that the severity of his wounds meant someone was intent on killing him. Such hostility he had never seen the boy warrant from his own actions and had to agree.

“Gonyaul-Vaux…he’s a tough one. Anyone I’ve met with.. a gentle soul and has lived through hell… they are always tough.”

He had to be to have made it this far. It had earned him Tarmen’s respect early on.

“Know where he’s from?”

She relished Tarmen’s kind words for Gonyaul. He could’ve just as well mocked her poor beau. She knew how strange he seemed to some people and how unexpected it was that she had chosen him over someone more... manly. But she adored him.

“Turns out he hails from the very same jungle laden lands as yourself, Kru’ll man.”

She cocked an eye at him with the hint of a smile.

This…. He truly didn’t know how to comprehend that news. The same cruel, relentless home that had molded him had also allowed this flower loving boy to live? The surprise was not hidden from his face in the slightest.

“If not for our history, I’d call you a liar.”

Looking back to Gonyaul, he couldn’t see any resemblance to his people. He had to say this was the cherry on top for how things had gone, like some final attempt of the Gods to throw a joke in, get some laughs amidst the pain.

All the same though, he did find it chuckle worthy given his last comment, before catching himself off guard again with his next.

“And what did I say? If he can survive there… then he’s probably the best of us all.”

She pursed her lips, “Indeed… The best of all of us… He certainly deserves better than me.”

With that, Gonyaul’s eyes fluttered open like butterflies at a window garden.