The Mabari Whisperer - [Bethany & Sten]
sunshinehawke:
Bethanyās tired amber eyes watched as Sten shifted to get himself more comfortable for the stay. She couldnāt think of a response, so instead she just smiled lightly and nodded her head. There was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind that told her to go home if he was staying. Just being near Qunari put her on edge. How could she feel remotely safe falling asleep with one next to her?
Still, her body was exhausted. No sooner had she closed her eyes did she find herself within the fade.
Much like the sleep she had before arriving at the shelter to help Sten, her dreams continued to be fitful. She could barely control the distorted dream that the fade molded for her. Even being asleep she could feel the cold sweat that broke out across her forehead.
However, luckily, it was a short trip to the fade. The feeling of Hannahās tail smacking against one of her arms jolted her awake. She jumped, her eyes shooting open as she quickly pushed herself up off of the ground, having laid down at some point in her sleep. Still feeling disoriented she swayed as fast, shallow breaths filled her lungs. But her breathing caught in her throat for just a moment when she caught sight of the now awake Qunari, her eyes displaying fear for only a quick moment before shifting them away. She quickly moved her legs away from him and cleared her throat. āIām sorryā she mumbled groggily.
As the feeling of sleep and the fade slowly drifted away she could feel the irregular warmth that her body was radiating. Carefully, she shifted in the small area so that she was sitting comfortably. Then she lifted up a hand and touched the back side of it to her forehead. She had a fever. Well, that would definitely explain the heat she was feeling. Bethany was hoping that the sick feeling she had developed earlier would pass with some sleep, or develop into a mild cold. But she felt like she was burning up. And if she could feel the fever, she was sure that people would be able to see it.
Her eyes glanced down at Hannah who looked up at her with her head tilted before she licked one of her hands and let out a small whine. A tired smile pulled at Bethanyās lips as she gently pat the new motherās head. āIām okay, Hannahā she assured the mabari.
Taking her phone out of her pocket she glanced at the time. āMichael should be here soonā she told Sten before putting the device back into her jacket. Cautiously, she shifted her body so that she could stand up, using the wall of the kennel as an aid. Luckily, she made sure to slowly get up. Even with her being as careful as she was she still felt dizzy from the movement. She remained in place for a moment, checking that she had her balance before making her way out of the kennel. Every step she took was triple checked before she took it. The last thing she needed to do was to accidentally step on one of the puppies or trip over Stenās legs.
When she was out of the kennel and a safe distance away from the puppies, she let out a sigh. āOnce heās here weāll be good to goā she told Sten, an exhausted smile on her lips.
As soon as Sten opened his lavender eyes, his mind was quick to wake up. Years of practice had taught him to shove away what tiredness he still felt upon waking. The soreness of sleeping sitting upright on a hard floor and against a hard wall was a little harder to ignore. His eyes lifted from Hannah on his legs and up to Bethany in front of him as a hand reached up to rub at his stiff neck.
Ā The quick look of fear on the girlās face was not lost to him. It was a common enough reaction from people in Kirkwall, but it still sent a small twinge of annoyance through his thoughts. He supposed he couldnāt blame her for being uncomfortable around him, though. He wasnāt exactly comfortable around her either.
Ā His annoyance was quickly shelved when he noticed how she looked. Her skin was pale, save for where her cheeks flushed, and her eyes had an unfocused quality to them. She was obviously feeling the way she looked, judging by the hand that went up to feel her forehead. Sten was just about to inquire about her state of health when she told Hannah that she was okay. Doubtful, but Sten kept his silence. He watched almost painfully as the girl stood up, most of her weight relying on the wall for support.
Ā He got up as soon as she started picking her way through the puppies on the floor, her eyes trained downward in deliberate concentration. With each straightening limb, his body let out small pops. It was a common occurrence for him, since he slept with little to no movement. Once on his feet, he watched Bethany shuffle out of the room, listening as he followed, shutting the door to the room after he was fully out.
Ā Sten went straight to the water cooler just down the hall, taking one of the small paper cups from its dispenser and filling it up with cold water. In a few quick strides he was back in front of Bethany, holding the cup out to her. āDrink,ā he told her, the first word heād said to her since waking, āand go sit.ā He motioned to the plastic chairs near the front entrance to the shelter, just down the hall.
Ā The Qunari watched as the girl opened her mouth, perhaps to protest that it would be unnecessary, but he cut her off before she could say anything. āYou look unwell,ā he stated, a hand reaching out to the one of hers that was not holding the water cup. āBoth flushed and pale,ā he continued, turning her hand over, three callused fingers touching the underside of her wristāsoft skin, he noted silentlyāa rough thumb pressing to the skin on top of her wrist, āpulse seems normal, but you are definitely warm to the touch. More than likely just a small cold and should go away, if you do not ignore it.ā He dropped her hand and gestured again. āGo sit.ā
Ā He turned and walked back to the water cooler, filling a cup for himself. He downed three in quick succession before bringing Bethany another cup. He was just holding it out to her when Michael walked through the back door. āStay,ā he commanded her as he walked in to the back to fill in the shelterās owner of the nightās happenings.
Ā Michael made for the puppiesā room, spent a couple moments inside, and then exited, announcing that they appeared to be doing quite well. He thanked both Sten and Bethany for their help in watching them over night, and told them both to go home and get the rest they undoubtedly needed. Sten nodded silently, and waited for Bethany to gain her feet.
Ā āI will walk you home,ā he announced. Again, she looked like she was going to protest, and again he cut her off. āYouāre swaying on your feet, and you look like easy prey. It is still early, and the streets are not the friendliest of places even in broad daylight. It is my fault you are out and about. Let me make sure that you make it to your door, at the very least.ā Clearly the Qunari was not going to take no for an answer.
