#fail ram

You arrive in the Azim Steppe with a flash of violet teleportation magic. Zenos falling face forward to land at your feet, dead weight.

He grunts, rolling over to the best of his ability. Still weak from near death. He struggles to merely roll to the side. There was only so much healing magic could do for such a mortal wound. He should be dead. He would have.

You stare down at your hands, feeling the brunt of your magic denying your will. Your lip curls, fingers digging into your palms. Fate. Mayhap he had been fated to die. He surely deserved it.

Yet you could not allow it. Be it your enemy or your friend. You couldn't let him die.

Foolish sentiment. You question your own decisions. Why had you done it? He was not like Haurchefant. Their eyes different shades of blue. And yet...

And yet when he looked at you, blood spilling from his lips. Calling you his friend. Your face twists, heart aching with old festering wounds.

Haurchefant.

Haurchefant.... If only you had tried harder. If only you had saved him. Damn the consequences. You would give anything to have him by your side.

Instead...

You stare down at your feet where Zenos lay, panting and glaring at you.

Instead you have him.

"You would dare to take mine choice? Such a noble hero you are. Sparing the life of your enemy." Zenos rasps with a half healed throat, leaning back against the wall of the cave you had teleported them to. Blood coats the curve of his neck, disappearing under the collar of his bulky armour.

Your lips quirk, head tilting. "No longer your friend, am I?"

Zenos's laugh sounds more like a cough, hair slipping from behind his ear to cover his face. His eyes are closed, head tilted forward. "You would consider me as one of your companions?"

He chuckles roughly. "What would you have us do? Embrace and let bygones be bygones? No." Zenos shakes his head, hair like spun silk in the fading light. "You live for violence. Just as I do."

Your hands curl into fists. Teeth grinding. "You know nothing of me."

Zenos looks at you, smoky blue eyes vibrant under the fan of his eyelashes. Staring like he could see through you. His smile all knowing. Predatory as if you were still prey to him.

But no. You take a step forward, towering over him in his lazy recline. You were the hunter now.

Zenos looks up at you, head tilting back to bare his throat. "What now, hero? What would you have of me? Hmm? I am at your mercy." He raises his arms, shrugging his shoulders.

You swallow, biting at your lip. You really aren't sure. Why had you done this?

Zenos chuckles, eyes half lidded as he regards you lazily. "Will you kill me now? Feel the warmth of my blood on your tongue?"

You make a face, turning to leave the cave.

Zenos calls after your retreating back, "Gather some provisions, won't you. I'd hate starvation to be the way I truly die."

You huff out a breath, not looking back.

- - -

You bring him food.

He inclines his head, smirking. "Ah, the mighty hunter returns. Am I to be next on your list? How... exciting."

Did he really need to talk like that? Purring at you like some kind of big jungle cat?

To make matters even more unnerving...

Zenos watches you.

Every move you make.

Every time you glance up, he is staring back at you. Well, two can play that game.

You meet his eyes every time. Waiting for him to say something. To earn your ire. But he says nothing. Only watching you. Smiling in that satisfied lazy way.