#kalitha

Kalitha sighed heavily as she packed an intricately woven Ostron basket. A small variety of fresh fruit and vegetables from the Cetus market, a couple of boxes of food straight from the Business in Fortuna, and in a separate little sealed pouch, freshly grilled and cooked goopalla. “I think that’s all he should need for the time being…” Kali commented to herself quietly. She gently leaned inside of the door separating the kitchen of her Dormizone to the rest of her apartment aboard the Zariman. “Hey Teshin, do you need anything else!” She called out, expecting a gruff response, but surprised when she received no response. She tilted her head slightly, a brow rising as she lifted the basket from the counter and carefully moved towards the door that separated the reality of the Origin System, to that of the world from which she had escaped, Duviri. 

She entered the door, Acrithis’ hologram generated from the station she had inside the room.  “And who’s business are you about today, Drifter?”  Kali peered up to the hologram, gently adjusting the basket to a more resting position on her hip as she grasped a small golden thermos from the tablet in front of Acrithis. “Teshin’s, you haven’t heard anything have you?”  Kali responded softly, the concern evident in her voice. “Can’t say that I have, Drifter. Old thingy-bob does not talk to me very much.”  Kali shrugged the comment off, balancing the thermos on top of the basket and reforming her grip. “Worth asking, see you on the flip side.” Acrithis gently nodded her head to the Drifter, watching closely as the Drifter based by her, before vanishing from the display entirely. 

An emptiness filled her stomach as she approached the door, watching as the barely functional thing opened widely revealing the entrance to a cave in front of her, barred by a strange haziness. Kali gently crossed the fold, passing through the entrance to Duviri and shuddering as she felt the emptiness in her stomach grow and churn. Illuminated by the light from her Dormizone behind her, Kali slowly made her way through the rocky corridor. “Teshin?” She called out again as she confidently strode down the long winding tunnel until she eventually came to the opening of his cave. The cool blue light of the dormizone had faded away, giving to the warmer tones of the candles strewn about the cave. Kali looked around the cave, not seeing any sign of Teshin. As she continued to scan the cave, her eyes caught sight of her kaithe Acheron gently nibbling on some fresh hay. She shifted the basket in her hands,  Well that was not there yesterday, so he has to still be here,  she thought to herself. 

Kali gently turned around the wall that obscured a gently rolling flame in an golden fire pit. On the other side of the flame, the scarred ebony facade of Teshin was staring into the fire ahead of him in a sort of daze. Kali gently sat the basket down on a small stool beside her, “Teshin, are you alright?” She questioned, as she slowly made her way up the small slope that separated the two. Teshin glanced up, seeming to snap out of his trance, the bright cyans of his eyes softening as he laid eyes on Kali. “It is good to see you, Kali. My dreams were not wholesome.” A heavy sigh left his chest as he pulled the blue and gold robe from on top of his head to gently fall on his shoulders. Kali approached his right side, gently kneeling down beside the fire. “Didn’t sleep well did you?”  Her voice was soft and comforting to the old Dax, and he nodded his head in response to her question, gently grunting in agreement.

A small chirping noise caught her attention, and Kali shifted her gaze to her side. “Hey Lua.” She chuckled softly as the small rablit approached her and gently rubbed her head against her thigh. “Brought you something,” Kali reached into her pocket, pulling out a half peeled maprico fruit and presenting it to the small creature. “It’s called a maprico, just let me know if you don’t like it and I won’t bring any more.” The small rablit chirped in response, gently biting the fruit and taking it from her hand. Kali turned her attention back to Teshin, she could see the exhaustion in his face as his gray hair loosely fell to either side of his face. “It’s Sythel again isn’t it, when she’s out you never get any sleep.” Kali gritted her teeth, she should have known that Thrax was in the midst of a fear spiral based on that empty feeling in her stomach alone. “I do what I can to try and rest, but Sythel does make it difficult.”  Teshin responded gruffly, gently fixing some of the loose strands of his hair that had got caught in his beard. Kali’s look softened, looking back to the edge of the small basket she had brought with her. 

Teshin’s gaze shifted from Kali to the fire before him, watching as the flames gently flickered in front of him. He watched as Kali stood from her place beside him at the fire, moving down from the small ledge. The Dax would be lying if he tried to deny that he feared her sudden movements was to leave the cave completely. “I must confess,” His gruff voice began to speak until his attention was briefly caught by Kali, who had returned to his side. He saw that she was extending his hand to her, and in the palm was another maprico fruit. He gently chuckled, taking the fruit into his hands and taking a bite of the ripe fruit.  “I’m listening, Teshin. What’s going on?” Kalitha asked as she returned to his right side, sitting comfortably. “I confess that everytime you leave this cave,” He paused, a heavy sigh leaving his chest. “I fear it will be the last time.” 

Kali’s gaze immediately went straight to the old Dax’s as the words sank into her mind. That pit feeling of emptiness in her stomach fluttered, an almost nauseous sensation. She watched as Teshin’s gaze remained stationary on the fire in front of him. He wore an expression of dread and distress on his face. She did not know what to say in response, simply shrinking her shoulders and head slightly downward. It was true that for so long, she had tried so hard to escape the confines of Duviri. Yet, now that she had taken control back, and been granted her freedom, did she realize that she had one good reason to not leave Duviri entirely. A short sigh left her chest, before she gently scooted closer to Teshin’s side. 

The once fearless Dax was definitely not the same as he was before his literal landing in Duviri. The emotions of Thrax had affected him, even from the first day he spent in Duviri, and yet for some reason now those emotions were stronger than ever. He was once so stoic, so ungiving in his presence, yet here he was. A retired Dax, actually expressing fear. He was not sure if Duviri had changed him for the better, or for the worse. Teshin had hardly noticed the posture change in Kali, so stuck in these pensive thoughts that the only thing that finally pulled him back was the gentle tugging of a hand pulling against his bearded cheek. He directed his gaze to the Drifter at his side, his bright ocean like eyes softening in their gaze.

“Teshin,” Kali started softly, her voice almost cracking as she felt her eyelids flutter uncontrollably. She was struggling to find the right words to say, but she had to say something. “I would never leave you like that. Not in a thousand years…” Her voice trailed off as she gently stroked her thumb along the void scarring on his cheekbone. She watched as closed his eyes with relief, gently leaning into the stroke of her finger. “That is… good to know.” He spoke softly, almost a whisper. Kali gently pulled her hand from the side of his face, gently shifting her body to be right beside his and leaning her head gently on his shoulder. The Dax remained stoic in his position, his left hand gently holding onto the maprico fruit as Kali leaned against him. He slowly raised the fruit, taking another bite and savoring the flavor of the rich fruit. A small smile crossed his face. 

She could feel the tension in his shoulders ease, and she saw the gentle smile out of the corner of his eyes. A sigh of relief left Kali’s chest as she gazed out to the rest of the cave ahead of her, noticing Lua slowly chewing on the maprico fruit she had given the small creature a few minutes ago. She let a small smile form along the edge of her lips too, it was such a peaceful moment. She felt the emptiness of her stomach slowly fading away, and as she continued to relax in this moment of peace, she began to gently hum a soft melody. Teshin’s shoulders relaxed under her head, as the Dax closed his eyes and focused on the soft hums. Feeling the tension in his shoulders fade, Kali took in a deep breath, before parting her lips and beginning to softly sing a song. 

Just one more moment, that’s all that’s needed

Like a wounded soldier, in need of healing

Time to be honest, this time I’m pleading 

Please don’t dwell on it, because I didn’t mean it 

I can’t believe I said I’d lay our love on the ground

But it doesn’t matter because I made it up, forgive me now

Everyday I spend away, my soul’s inside out 

Gotta be some way that I can make it up, to you now, somehow 

You know I’d come, for you

No one, but you.

Yes I’d come, for you, but only if you told me to

And I’d fight, for you, 

I’d lie, it’s true. 

Give my life for you

You know I’ll always come for you 

Teshin sighed heavily, her soft voice piercing the depths of those pensive thoughts of his, and washing them away like a spring rain. Gently he moved his left hand from his lap, moving it behind Kali and wrapping firmly around her waist. A soft tug pulled her in closer to him, as he gently placed the maprico fruit on the edge of the gilded fire pit before falling back into his lap calmy. A soft hum of approval left his throat as he closed his eyes once more.

Kalitha settled herself right next to Teshin after he had pulled her into that half hug. She lifted her head from his shoulder and softly grasped the side of his face with her hand once more. She gently stroked his scarred cheekbone once more, the soft ebb and flow of the void energy hidden in those scars pulsing in a soft tone. Her ivy green eyes locked with Teshin’s, and the smallest hint of pink flushed to her cheeks. She realized just how tender of a moment this really was, but she did not stop her song, she wanted Teshin to feel at peace, if even for a few fleeting moments. 

I was blindfolded, but now I’m seeing

My mind was closing, now I’m believing I finally know what it means, to let someone in Just see the side of me that no one does, or ever will

So if you’re ever lost and find yourself, all alone

I’ll search forever just to bring you home

Here and now, this I vow 

No matter what gets in my way, as long as there’s still life in me

No matter what remember You know I’ll always come for you

I’ll crawl across this world for you, no matter what, remember