Helping Gonyaul (Part 2)

JP with Lorem and Cindy

"Of course," Islana responded, gently.

She began helping remove his work tunic, deciding to start on his chest. Getting his chest more exposed, at first it didn't really dawn on her what her eyes were seeing, but as the cloth was placed on one sting then another, it dawned on her.

Tattoos, or that was the closest thing, the young woman could say they were. However, they were unlike any tattoos her eyes had seen before.

They seemed to be words? Maybe? The markings were quite beautiful, actually. With the whiteness of the lettering, so, perfectly done that it looked like Gonyaul was born with it. That wasn't possible though, was it?

Islana continued to put the mixture on his chest, then moved to his back. The markings were on his back, actually they seemed to be on a majority of what her eyes could see of his body.

Should she ask him about them? Would it be rude or the question not wanted?

The redhead continued to treat his back, not quite sure how to ask him about the tattoos.

The tension he was keeping at bay was releasing little by little as the balm’s effects felt soothing wherever it touched. It was not instant, but it was making a difference. He let out a soft sigh of relief.

Using his senses, other than sight, Gonyaul had a general idea of where she was and could speculate what spot was going to get dealt with next. On occasion, he was taken by surprise, by the tail of the cloth brushing lightly against the skin lower than the sting. In those instances it elicited an involuntary acute jerking motion; he was very ticklish. His gasps were followed by a muffled groan. One of the reasons he had been keeping so still was not just for meditation purposes, but also because it didn’t feel pleasant to move.

Islana would see that the calligraphic vauxian text artistically adorning his body covered more than just his front, side, and back torso. It also decorated his shoulders and arms down to the elbows. And she could speculate, as the words dipped out of sight beneath the waistband of his pants, that they probably covered everything below down to the knees.

Gonyaul broke the silence, “How are you and others doing?”

Islana heard the sigh and hoped that meant it was working for him. She did remember it might take just a short time for relief to be felt but glad it seemed to be.

Green eyes were having a hard time not paying attention to the tattoos. They were just so interesting and they seemed to just keep going.

She, of course, had no way to know he was that ticklish. But apparently it was a day to learn new things about Gonyaul.

"We're doing well." Everyone was still recovering from more minor stings than his but other than that. "I was thinking about following the river a little ways and seeing if I could find a good place to fish."

Just making conversation, but the questions still lingered in her mind.

Gonyaul was glad to hear everyone was doing well. He grinned. “Good idea. Same river go to my forest home. I know fishing spot there.”

He winced as the sting spot on his right shoulder blade felt a little more angry then the others on his back.

“Better spots to be found still.”

It was the same river that went right by his secret camp. He had not explored it on Alexis’s property yet, nor ever ventured along the river past his campsite.

Gonyaul was glad to hear everyone was doing well. He grinned. “Good idea. Same river go to my forest home. I know fishing spot there.”

He winced as the sting spot on his right shoulder blade felt a little more angry then the others on his back.

“Better spots to be found still.”

It was the same river that went right by his secret camp. He had not explored it on Alexis’s property yet, nor ever ventured along the river past his campsite.

"I hope so, but, I try to not go too far away from camp. So, I'm not sure how successful I'll be."

Islana hadn't forgotten what land they were on or that not all the cult members had been eliminated. She didn't want to be caught off guard, again. So, she tended to stay within screaming distance when on the property, for lack of a better term. The farthest she had ventured, on her own, had been to the clearing when she tried her powers. Even that, loud enough, and anyone at camp could hear her.

"Maybe, I will find some place that's good though. Have you done much fishing in the river?"

Gonyaul raised his hands a few inches. “I go with you, as far like when better.”

He had not been to his campsite in quite some time now. It would be nice to follow the river all the way there.

“Yes, with net trap I catch fish some. When you find good spot, you can give it name.” He playfully incentivized the future expedition.

“How are new beginnings and flower friend?” His tone, more serious. He had been meaning to check in with her since she shared the personal struggles.

"We'll go when your better, then. "

She smiled at him, "Well, I've never named a spot in the river before."

Nets were the most logical thing to use and they'd catch the most fish so it made sense that's what he had used. It was likely what would mostly be used.

"Our flower friend seems to be thriving." As for herself. "I'm doing better. Not to say fully there but a great deal better."

Which was the truth, she had healed a lot since coming here. Being around Alexis and Gonyaul had helped greatly. The change was noticable. Even so, a month isn't that long and she wasn't just healing from the cult.

"I think I've come to realize that sometimes breaking is the only way to truly start to fix something."

It had taken her a while to figure out that the break right after cult wasn't just because of the cult but everything that had happened to her piled up until it all just crashed.

Islana dapped another sting and looked at the tattoos, again. "Can I ask you something?"

Gonyaul listened. He understood well that trials, tribulations, and failures were necessary to make a complete work in a person. As unwanted and unmerited as they could be, they could be counted as growth. The only way to learn resilience, persistence, how to get back up etc. was to have to go through opportunities to practice them.

“Is tough.” He said gently, almost like a whisper.

“You tougher.” He followed up with a little more pep in his tone.

“You can ask any question.”

Islana nodded, it was nice to hear someone call her tougher than what she had been through.

"The markings on you. What are they?" It was asked with a respectful curiosity.

She was honestly curious, but was being cautious to try to not overstep.

Gonyaul knew this question might be asked and had already equipped himself with a response that was honest and that wouldn’t jeopardize Islana or his people.

“They are many things. History and teachings to be a light onto feet and guide my path. Protect choices and mark my life purpose and meaning.”

So, it was writing. Islana wasn't surprised by that and what Gonyaul said was fascinating though she guessed he wasn't going to go much into depth.

"It is part of your culture then? Do you get them as children?" She was still trying not to overstep but her curiosity had been peeked even more.

“Yes. wait until time to go from child to adult. Stop growing first. “

“Ink come from a plant. Spiked into skin?” He wasn’t sure what words adequately explained the process of injecting the ink.

“Not leave ink in body. It absorb away, but make skin lose all color once there.”

The amount of text and careful attention to how the designs formed uniquely to his body meant it probably took a long time to have it all done.