Before The Walk

When morning arrived, the storm had, thankfully, died down. Klaire was up and the shower could be heard running. Its curtain was closed and the shadow of her shape could be seen as she rinsed soap out of her hair and off her body. Every now and then her tail would smack against the curtain without her intention and she would let out a frustrated sigh.

Mee perched on the back of a chair in the opposite end of the cabin. He glared towards the shower with disapproval, giving a hiss of his own whenever Klaire’s tail hit the curtain. He had been busy this morning, since Klaire made it impossible for him to stuff any bugs in her mouth last night he had fixed her breakfast! At Klaire’s spot at the table he had arranged no less than 23 bugs in two neat lines. He was very proud of himself, and was annoyed that the bugs were growing stiff while she half drowned herself in that torture contraption.

Altus woke up taking in his surroundings for once he was glad to not have to sleep in a cave or tomb to hide from those hunting him. Plenty of times he had been awoken due to the undead not happy with him squatting there. Standing up he could hear several pops from his back and debated taking another shower. Looking over to it and seeing the form of Klaire on the other side left a blush on his face. “On second thought perhaps I should make breakfast,” he thought to himself before moving towards the kitchen. Digging into his bags he soon began cooking bacon and eggs.

Mee climbed up the counter and watched Altus make breakfast with three critical eyes. He thought the eggs were boring and lacking protein so he quickly caught a few dozen tiny ant-like bugs and sprinkled them into the eggs.

“I appreciate wanting to help but I got it” Altus replied, having caught the ants in a magic orb before they could touch the eggs. “If you’d like I can set some aside for you to add some in when I am finished.”

Mee lashed his forked tail angrily. He had been trying to get Klaire to eat bugs and nine times out of ten he had failed so far. He took an angry little bite out of the handle of the spatula and skittered away.

The water to the shower finally stopped and one of Klaire’s hands reached out and grabbed the nearby towel hanging from a hook embedded into the wall. Pulling it in, she wrapped up and pulled the curtain aside, taking notice of Mee and Atlus. “Stop arguing, Mee.” She warned in a stern tone. “I don’t eat bugs or eggs like that and you know it. Stop it. Just stop trying to make me be like you.” She sounded annoyed, even stressed. “We have a long walk to make today and I am in no mood for your antics.”

Stepping to her bed area, she pulled another curtain around to hide behind before dropping the towel and getting dressed.

Altus blushed as he took in the sight of Klaire wearing nothing but a towel which distracted him enough to slightly burn his hand. Holding his breath he whispered quick healing spell. Looking back up he did see the silhouette of her getting dressed through the curtain. Blushing quite noticeably he decided to focus back on making breakfast.

“Klaire wouldn’t shed so much if Klaire ate the right bugs!” Mee shouted, giving Klaire’s discarded clothes a pointed look. Yes, Mee saw clothes as skins and Klaire changing them so often was alarming. She shed hair too. The dog-eared woman was falling apart and was not taking care of herself at all as far as Mee was concerned.

“They’re clothes, Mee! Shut up!” Klaire shouted before pulling the curtain aside. Fully dressed, she walked over to Atlus and settled her hands on her hips. “You burned yourself.” She commented, glancing at his hand. “Yet you have no burns…”

“Water is bad for Klaire’s skin too.” Mee muttered under his breath which of course was more than loud enough for Klaire to hear as he climbed onto the table.

“Healing magic” Altus answered “ more draining than the other types of magic but extremely useful when you're being hunted.”

“Water is good for me, Mee! I said shut up!” Klaire shouted, growing angry. Turning her attention back to Atlus, she nodded slowly. “Understood. Let's just eat and get going…”

Altus nodded and grabbed his bags “ if you need any healing let me know my mana reserves have recovered.”

“Don’t push yourself,” Klaire replied and patted his arm. “Focus on walking today. Once we’re done eating we can head out. Getting to the city might take all day, honestly…”

Mee did not think Klaire looked healthy. She was always changing her skins and despite being of breeding age she did not have a single egg, much less some hatchlings. He started eating his food, giving the bugs he neatly lined up by Klaire’s spot at the table a pointed look.

Klaire ate her meal and refused to even give the bugs a look.