"WHAT DO YOU TWO THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!?!"
They both froze at the sound of a certain pretty boy's fury.
Hak lost his grip on his glaive, and the bladed end fell to the ground, burying itself deep into the soft soil.
Calista slipped her daggers back in her sheaths discreetly as Yoon marched over to her. Hak tried to creep past him, attempting to leave her alone with a very upset, fuming fifteen-year-old boy.
He didn't get very far as Yoon's head whipped around so fast that Calista nearly got cut by his hair.
"I was seeing whether or not she was okay." Hak explained dryly, clearly picking up on the murderous energy filling the clearing, but choosing to ignore it.
Calista raised an eyebrow.
That probably wasn't the most advisable course of action.
Yoon's head nearly exploded at Hak's weak defense.
"WELL DON'T ATTACK HER TO FIGURE IT OUT, THUNDER BEAST!!!"
Calista pursed her lips together to stop herself from grinning at her brother being properly abashed. Hak didn't even flinch at his menacing tone.
But Yoon wasn't done with her either.
The pretty boy stomped over to her, dragging her back to campsite by her ear.
"And you!!" He lectured her the entire way there, with Hak trailing behind them, thoroughly amused. "You're in no shape to fight!"
"Yoon~" Calista whined childishly, almost tripping over her feet as she fought to keep up with his brisk pace.
"Shut up!!!"
He stormed into the camp, ignoring everyone's bewildered looks. Yona was thoroughly confused, wondering how Calista managed to get him so riled up in such a short period of time.
"You hardly eat, you never sleep and your wounds are still-"
"Yoon. I'm alright."
She tried to reassure him, but he wasn't having any of it.
"You can't push yourself so far! You'll die from being so stupidly stubborn!!" Yoon criticized sharply, and she caught a glimpse of the water sparkling from the corner of his eyes.
He started to shake, and Calista hugged the trembling boy carefully as he broke down into tears. It seemed the events in Seiryuu's village had taken more of a toll on him than anyone realized.
She was kicking herself for not seeing it sooner. After Yona had fainted, she had been too consumed with her condition to notice that something was off with the youngest of their group.
"I'm sorry, Yoon."
He swatted her away, sniffling as he harshly brushed away the teardrops that had rolled down his cheeks. He muttered something about beasts and their idiocy under his breath and he strode over to Kija to check his temperature.
Calista shuffled over Seiryuu, who was still dripping wet. Yona was trying to get him to take off his clothes so that they could dry by the fire, but he was refusing for some reason.
"You'll get sick if you stay in them." She advised him gently, pulling him to the side. Yona stared after them for a moment before helping Yoon with dinner.
"Is everything okay?" She asked him, once they were out of earshot of the others.
He didn't answer her.
Calista crossed her arms over her chest. "What's wrong?"
Nothing happened for a second.
Then, he placed Ao in her hands and she cracked a smile.
"That was it?!" She shook her head in bemused relief. He was worried about the well-being of his squirrel of all things. "Now will you go change?"
Calista turned her back as Seiryuu finally caved in, going into the tent to get out of his sopping clothes. Ao darted up to her shoulder and she smiled as the squirrel rubbed her face against her cheek. She joined Yona by the campfire, where Yoon was making miso soup.
"Oh no, Yoon! Bugs are drowning in the pan!!" Yona cried.
"Then save them." He instructed flatly.
Calista chuckled as a shadow fell over Kija's eyes at the mention of bugs.
"How did you figure it out? What was it?" Yona asked eagerly. Calista just gestured to the furry animal sitting on her shoulder and the princess went, "Ohhh, I see."
"I just hope it won't take too long to dry." She voiced in concern. She didn't want him to be cold longer than necessary, it made him more susceptible to ailment.
Yoon lifted his eyebrow. "Yeah... even so..."
As he trailed off, Calista looked behind her, clapping a hand over her mouth at the sight.
Seiryuu had bundled himself in his fur, with his feet peeking out from underneath him. She walked over, placing his squirrel on top of his head, giggling at the sight.
He looked like an adorable, fuzzy ball of fluff.
Calista took a bowl of soup from Yoon, and handed it to the spherical dragon.
Seiryuu took it hesitantly, as if he couldn't believe it was for him, and she squatted down to his level. Calista was unable to see his eyes due to his mask, but she could feel his gaze on her as she smiled brightly and said, "Eat up."
"What kind of demon is that?" Hak questioned and she hissed at him, nearly throwing another one of her knives at him. The sound caught Seiryuu's attention.
"This group is becoming more and more diverse." Yoon remarked, dishing out the portions for everyone else.
"Do not say that!" Kija wailed to Hak, still under the influence of his raging fever. "It is my fault that Seiryuu has become like that!"
Calista glanced at the blue dragon tentatively taking a spoonful of the food given to him. It didn't seem like he thought it was Kija's fault at all.
After a few bites, Seiryuu ate enthusiastically, smiling in delight. Calista felt her heart warm at the sight, and Yona lit up at the sight of him enjoying the food, complimenting Yoon for his cooking in the process. The genius pretty boy brushed her off, but the burning of his cheeks told her that he appreciated the princess' words.
Yona jumped up from her seat, catching Hak's attention as she made her way over to Seiryuu and Calista. "Aren't you cold?" She asked the furball. "Do you need my cloak?"
Seiryuu shook his head. His fur was keeping him comfortable. "Th-Thank you...Yona."
They all froze, except for Calista.
"H-H-H-He addressed the princess so informally..." Kija stammered in disbelief.
"Well, that was quick..." Hak noted, unimpressed.
Yoon stared at him in silence, speechless.
Calista was just glad that he seemed to be eager, even if a little shy, to befriend them. She couldn't remember the last time she had been carefree enough to refer to the princess by her given name.
Yona tapped a finger to her chin in thought. "It's been a while since I've been called by my name." Lavender eyes betrayed the depth of her joy. "I want to call you by name as well." She decided.
Seiryuu stared up at her.
The princess smiled. "You don't have a name, right? Is there a name you would like to be called by?"
The globe of fur veered to the side as Seiryuu suddenly plopped to the ground, hiding his face away from all of the others so they couldn't see the overwhelming happiness threatening to overtake his face.
"He turned into a ball..." Yona commented, not picking up on anything out of the ordinary.
"Does this mean he wants to be called a demon 'hairball'?" Hak drawled sarcastically.
This time, Calista didn't hold back as she sent another knife spiraling towards him. He dodged it easily, and she glared at him.
Yoon broke them up before she could dish out any more damage or the general could retaliate.
As Yona helped Yoon clean up, Kija had fallen asleep, and Hak scattered the area once chores were mentioned.
Yoon wasn't happy that she kept refusing to eat, so he had taken to packing setting some aside for her anyway, shooting down her protests with violent ones of his own.
She had given in, but she hadn't eaten any of them. It was given to one of the others, usually, in the morning.
Seiryuu's clothes finally dried. Calista lifted them up, handing it to him promptly. He took them with a nod of thanks.
She didn't think to take back her cloak.
Once he got dressed, he wandered around, first around the campsite and then further out until she lost sight of him.
Flames licked up into the night sky, as Yoon put away the leftovers, Yona took a seat next to him., gazing up at the stars. Calista climbed the nearest tree, smiling as the cotton wrapped around her back stretched with her as she lifted herself up.
She leaned against the trunk above the duo, one leg dangling, the other bent at the knee and drawn up to her chest. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes as her ears focused in on the indistinct sounds around them, scanning for anything out of the ordinary.
She was just starting to drift off when a call of her name jerked her awake. In an instant, a knife was in her hand, the other was curled into a tight fist, poised in front of her.
Blinking, she looked down and saw the princess and the youngest boy looking up at her in surprise.
Sheathing her blade quickly, Calista leaped down from the branch.
"Yes?" She prompted when the two just continued to stare at her.
"Oh!" Yona was the first to recover. "I just was wondering if you had any ideas what to name Seiryuu? Even though it seems like he trusts me a little, you were around him first. Does anything come to mind?"
A small smile graced her lips and her eyes softened as she remembered all that he did for her.
He protected her.
He helped her.
Even when he didn't know who she was, he wanted nothing else, but to keep her safe.
Calista took a deep breath. "He saved me."
The glow of the moon seemed to shine brighter than ever before on the grass before her, making it appear luscious as it swayed in the breeze.
Her gaze flickered back to the princess. "The moon's always held a calm tranquility for me, I find it peaceful and comforting, just like Seiryuu."
All those nights of fighting, of struggling to survive and make it out alive, the moon was always there at the end of it.
Its light.
Calista paused, before whispering softly,
"Shin-ah."
Yona's lavender eyes lit up. "It's perfect!"
"It means moonlight, right?" Yoon asked, rhetorically. He stored away the food before picking up and walking over to Kija to check on him. He gave a slight nod of approval. "It suits him."
Yona shimmied closer to Calista, who stayed in place, deep in thought.
"You should tell him."
Calista gaped at her doubtfully. "I think he wants you to name him, you should be the one to do it."
Red hair shook as the princess adamantly declined. "You came up with the perfect name for him. You should be the one to name him."
Calista visibly hesitated. "I don't know, Your Highness."
The glare Yona sent her way made her surrender. The gentle princess could be quite fearsome when she wanted to be, as she was finding out. Calista smiled, acknowledging her wishes.
"....Alright..." She mused as she got to her feet. Brushing the dirt off her clothes, she turned on her heel, and headed into the forest in search of Seiryuu.
Hak lumbered over to Yona, shooting her a knowing glance. The mischief in the princess' cheeky smile told him all that he needed to know. He took a seat next to her, chuckling to himself as Yona and Yoon got ready to sleep.
Calista found Seiryuu in a field filled with flowers, adorned with the warm glow of fireflies. The shining moon was high in the sky above him. The stars were sprinkled in the heavens, twinkling alongside the luminescence.
He looked ethereal.
Seiryuu turned to face her as she approached him.
Looking away, Calista closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, suddenly feeling shy.
"I know you probably expected Yona, but she thought I should be the one to name you. I only gave her one suggestion, but she seemed to run with it. Of course, if you'd rather have her name you, I can go get her and-"
She cut off her nervous rambling as he hesitantly took her hand in his.
Her silver eyes shot open as she stared down at their hands, trying not to react when he hastily pulled away.
Calista tilted her face up to gaze directly at his mask. "Alright then..."
She took a deep breath.
"Shin-ah."
She bit her lip nervously, wringing her hands. "It means 'moonlight'. You brought me comfort and peace. You led me through the dark, glowing softly, but still shining brightly."
Calista smiled fondly, spreading her arms up towards the expanse.
"You are my Shin-ah." She breathed.
After a beat of silence, he nodded, and she sighed as she felt the tension leave her body.
"P'ykuuu!!" Ao scampered down Shin-ah's arm, leaping onto Calista's shoulder. She let out a laugh at the fluffy squirrel's change of loyalty and he smiled slightly.
She turned to leave, assuming that he would want to be left alone, when a hand on her shoulder halted her.
His lips parted the faintest bit. "Your...hands."
Her eyes darted down, and noticed for the first time that the bandages were starting to come undone.
Calista shrugged her shoulders. "Oh... it's alright. I'll take care of it later."
She only had one roll of gauze left, and she didn't want to use Yoon's supplies. She was in no position to go back and get more, but maybe the weapons she had won before could be traded for money.
Shin-ah's mouth pressed in a thin line, but she disregarded it, not thinking anything of it.
He couldn't find the words that he wanted to say, the internal struggle overtaking his ability to speak, but she didn't mind as she just stood with him in silence.
It got considerably darker quickly.
"C'mon," She took his hand and tugged him gently along behind her. "You must be exhausted."
Shin-ah followed her lead all the way back to camp, eyes widening as he took in the already sleeping forms of Kija, Hak, Yoon and Yona.
Remembering how cold he was earlier, her tone was filled with concern as she asked, "Are you going to be okay sleeping outside?"
He nodded.
Calista gestured to an empty space near Yoon's head, and Shin-ah detached the fur from his head, spreading it out on the forest floor. Ao immediately jumped back down from Calista's shoulder and made her way over to Shin-ah's fur.
She tried not to laugh as Shin-ah shook his head at the squirrel affectionately. As he took his place on the floor, he looked up questioningly at the assassin. She smiled confidently down at him, gesturing to the tree. He frowned, but Calista didn't notice until he stopped her again when she moved to turn around.
Unclipping the cloak from his shoulders, he draped it over her form. Calista ran her fingers over the worn, but soft material.
"Thank you."
She went to the conifer, and heaved herself up to its lowest branch. Leaning against the trunk, her breath evened out in a matter of moments.
The masked man brought up a finger to pet the slumbering squirrel under her chin.
"Ao," He whispered, "She said... my name is Shin-ah."
He arranged himself comfortably on the ground, mask displacing as he turned on his side. Closing his eyes, he let the exuberance in his heart stir his being.
Thank you...
I will treasure it.