#muriby

The stars fade one by one, as if the sky absorbed them to let space for the sun to rise, hiding them till the night fell upon the earth again; Muriel felt the gentle warm breath on his chest, Darcy went to the land of dreams after a while, he didn’t noticed when, not like he minded, he liked the silence and the sound of Inanna’s steps on the way, however, he couldn’t relax at all, his body at moments went rigid when he felt her body moving in his arms, fearing that she could fall down. From time to time, his eyes wandered over her face; her cheek against his wide chest while her arms were crossed over her bust, hair swinging gently at the rhythm of Inanna’s steps, gently fingers brushed her forelock aside fearing to wake her up, frowning his eyebrows, averted his gaze when Inanna abruptly stopped on her track.

Darcy slowly opened her eyes, the first thing her eyes caught was Muriel’s face, pouting, he was looking at the distance, probably missing his time alone, the sunlight passing through his mane under his leather hat.  The moment Muriel felt her moving again his shoulders jolted by the unexpected touch of her hands onto his body; he looked at her from the corner of his eyes taking a deep breath.

‘’you are awake.’’ He said as he closed his eyes, his hands took her small body and took her down of Inanna.

‘’we are walking’’ he got down, walking at the other side of Inanna, using her as some kind of wall between Darcy and him.

‘’good morning, you had a good sleep?’’ she asked to him, searching his face but his hat and hair worked as a barrier from wondering eyes, Her eyes fluttering around, trying to see on what to lay her curious eyes.

‘’I didn’t slept. Had enough rest when I fell unconscious’’ he in another hand, could easily see her, his height together with his hat gave a way to him to not be caught by her, at his eyes, she was no more than a simple hyperactive young woman, her face flashing different sights before him, whatever she was thinking it reflexed on her face, the corner of his mouths slid upward closing his eyes.

Once he noticed the sun getting more high in the sky, his fingers grasped onto the cloth around his shoulders taking it off, without a warning he placed it over her head covering half of her body.

‘’don’t take that off of you.’’ she could feel her cheeks get warmer, her heartbeat reaching her ears making her mind go blank; her small hands fixed the cloth on her to resemble a hood and cape. Her feet had a hard time trying to keep the same pace as Muriel and Inanna. Muriel saw at the distance a defile, he recognized that place, it was popular to be exactly like a labyrinth, he always went in to hide and rest enough time in a cave. He was the only one that knew about it, he really wanted to hide in there for a week or more, but this time he could not do that, he had to take Darcy to the nearest Town. “We are going in” his finger pointed at it, Inanna turned her face to his hand and started nibbling on it, he took the mare’s nose in his hand and pet her back. Darcy smiled, he was not a bad guy at all, she knew it, her heart gently throbbed; even if he didn’t admitted that he wanted to save her, she was deeply grateful to him, she felt the need to repay him somehow.

The rocky walls welcomed them, a cozy and cool air caressed their cheeks, shrubbery coming out from cracks of the walls, some of them with different kinds of small flowers, and it was so strange to see those in a desert. Darcy’s eyes went from bush to bush confused as for what those were doing there until she heard Muriel’s voice echoing, directing her attention to his voice.

“Those ones were brought by some birds. They rest here while they migrate to the south.” he said as he stood next to a big rock, placing his hands on it, his muscles twitching by the force he was applying to the rock in order to move it.

A sudden pain spread on his left shoulder making him stop in the act, Darcy rushed to his side and stood next to him, keeping distance and kneeling in front of him.

“Muriel! Are you okay? Where does it hurt?” Her eyes fixed on his shoulder, near to his right hand that was pressing as he growled. His face clearly tried to not show any sign of pain.

“I’m fine” he said “it’s nothing” he stood up again ignoring the persistent pain on his shoulder, he was for sure confused, why did it hurt? That he knew he didn’t get stabbed or something on the short fight of the past day. Closing his eyes, he lay his hands on the rock yet again, pushing it as the pain on his shoulder assault him one more time, threatening to make him desist to move it aside, he feel something on his side, Darcy stood next to him and started pushing together with Muriel.

“Move. I can do this.” He growled as the rock slowly slid aside; ignoring what he said, Darcy kept pushing with all she got. “You can’t do this alone, not with your shoulder injured… let me… help you” Her arms were shaking, she kept on pushing without a break, sweat coming down from her face until the rock gave a way, revealing a big gap on the wall. Breathing hardly, Muriel looked at Darcy’s hands, blood coming out from small scratches on her palms, he was angry, he told her to just move aside and wait, and now she was hurt.

‘’we did it!’’ her voice denoting happiness, taking Muriel out of his thoughts, the sound of her boots stamping on the ground as she was hopping around for the victory. Inanna started nudging her softly getting Darcy’s attention, nuzzling her cheeks then her hands. ‘’Oh, are you worried? I’m fine Inanna don’t wo-’’

‘’It’s not. Come here.’’ Taking her left wrist, he walked into the gap on the wall, being followed close for Inanna’s steps behind them. At the end of the path, light was coming from a big breach on the highest part of the cave, a small lake surrounded by grass even though it didn’t covered all the ground, a dry tree laying on the floor next to the water body; different kind of small plants with blossoms decorated the place; Muriel kneeled near to it, ripping off a piece of cloth from his right arm, submerging it in the water until it was completely wet.

‘’w-what are you doing?’’ Muriel drawing the cloth in her hands as he holding them, cleaning gently the blood, barely touching her scratches, clenching his teeth, eyebrows furrowed; Darcy just stood there, biting her lips for the bittersweet sensation running inside of her; the pain coming from the wounds mixing with the soft touch of his hands against hers.

‘’my scratches are not a big deal, but we should do something about your shoulder, when you fainted, your shoulder hit a rock, it’s probably that. But I don’t get it, why it did hurt right now but not when you lifted me yesterday?’’ she said, eyes searching his face between his hair. ‘’let me check your shoulder please’’

‘’are you a doctor?’’ he said questioning her abilities, even if she was unable to see his expressions, it was not so hard for him to see her through his locks; crossing her arms over her chest, sulking by Muriel’s comment on the matter.

‘’I may not be a doctor but I may or may not know how to treat a few things’’ she said as she walk towards him, taking him off guard, he retreat until his back encounter with a wall. ‘’let me check your shoulder’’

Finally, she could see his face, small drops of sweet were on his forehead, his eyes clearly evading her as she silently kept waiting for a reply, whatever it was she would take it, but honestly wishing for him to accept her help.

‘’Fine…’’ he said as he closes his eyes, a loud sigh escaped from his lips at the same time he relaxed his shoulders, he sat down on a rock, pointing with his chin the trunk in front of him for Darcy to sit there. Once she sat down there, her hands gently massaging his shoulder, “ does it hurt if I press it like that? ”

‘’…Not so much.’’ His face turned at her but his eyes on Inanna’s that was behind Darcy, her head down, grazing as she waited for news.

Sighing, she looked in a small bag that she had with her from the beginning, taking a small bottle out of it with a crystalline liquid; glaring at her, he just kept silence waiting for her to explain what that was.

‘’don’t worry this is just lavender oil, it help to heal your muscle, probably you tore your muscle while pushing the rock’’ Without thinking she started unbuttoning his waistcoat; as a reflex, his hands held hers, stopping it in the act a small gasp escaped from her lips; Inanna lifted her head the moment tension fell upon them, her hears directed to the front waiting for any of them to speak.

‘’I’m…sorry, I just…you took me by surprise’’ slowly, he let her hands go, hanging his head down. Inanna relaxed and kept grazing. Darcy looked at him, her cheeks dyed on a pure red; she was embarrassed for acting so bold towards him.

‘’y-you can take them off by yourself then’’ her trembling hands holding the flask, with clumsy fingers tried to take the cork off as Muriel started taking off his waistcoat and shirt, exposing his upper body; his broad shoulders, rock hard chest and rippling abs, aside from his powerfully built physic a scar got Darcy attention he could feel her strong glare on his scar. The moment he cleared his throat, Darcy got back to her senses making her feel flustered and her head boiling, she had never seen a man without shirt, so it made her mind go blank. ‘’o-okay I will, apply it now, just stay still’’

Once her hands were oiled enough, she started rubbing it on his muscles, she could feel how he loosened under her touch, stealing a glance of his face, she could see his face, eyelids closed now that she had a good look at his face, she could see some few scars on it, one on going from his jaw to his eyes, turning to the left before it passed his cheek; the other one were his right eyebrow started. When his eyes attempted to open she looked away in a rush. Sleepily he looked at her, there was the same sweet scent, maybe she used that regularly, his eyes slowly traveled over her shape, until he reached her skirt; her boots were a little torn, the skirt of her blue toned dress was ripped on the bottom edge, knees exposed with small marks.

‘’what happened to your dress?’’ the instant he pointed out this, a small squeal left her mouth, with her right hand, she tried to pull down her skirt to hide it a little, without success; his face turned away as his hand hided his mouth, he was shaking? No, a soft snort left his body until he cleared his throat. Turning his face towards her, emerald eyes opening lazily in front of her as his mouth attempted to let a word out his index raised asking to wait him to speak, replaced by a soft smile on his snorting softly again.

Her eyes glowed as her cheeks went redder than before, the tips of her ears in a vibrant redish tone; heart ringing up till her head.

‘’how does it feel now?’’ all she could do in that moment was to let her eyes wander on his face as he looked at her, finally making eye contact with her for few seconds before his or her eyes turned away slightly.

‘’it feels better…thank you.’’ he stood up walking to the exit; on his way out he took a rope and a dagger from Inanna’s saddle. ‘’I’ll be back. Will hunt something for us to eat, probably I come back at night. Inanna have some fruits on one of her bags; take some if you feel hungry.’’

‘’p-please be careful!’’ she shout to him as he walked away, his body being covered by the darkness of the long trail to the exit.

When he arrived he saw as Darcy was brushing Inanna’s hair with her fingers, the mare snuggling with her in front of a bonfire. Inanna’s ear twitched as his friend came back, whining to him welcoming him back.

‘’welcome back, Muriel’’ she smiled at him as she stood up, shaking powder from her skirt. ‘’I see you got some hares…how does it feel your shoulder?’’  Her cheerful voice cracked with worry as she tried to get closer to him to inspect him.

‘’it doesn’t hurt. You don’t have to worry’’ he said as he got closer to her, still keeping some distance between them, all the anxiety he had of leaving her and Inanna alone fade away when he saw them there, enjoying some themselves of the warm fire. ‘’I will cook this…let’s wait till it’s ready’’

He sat down next to her, an arm of distance between them, at moments he would take a look at her, to make sure she didn’t fell asleep, this time they both were silently sitting next to the other without being awkward or a moment of tension, just, peaceful silence.

‘’hey…could I ask you something? About yesterday…when you res- went to take those men downs for the bullets.’’ Correcting herself, she just waited for his answer, looking at his profile covered on fiery tones by the fire.

‘’you can…’’ once the hare was well-cooked, he handed it to her. Taking a bite onto the one of his, he waited for her to open her mouth again, he had an idea on about what she could ask, and he was not sure if to actually answer it or not.

‘’that man…he said that the chief won’t be happy…with you being alive? What did he mean by that? You knew them?’’ he did a pause from eating before answer, passing down his throat what he already chewed.

‘’I know their leader.’’ Dead air fell upon them, he didn’t really wanted to talk about something like that, especially to someone he barely knew; however he could feel her strong gaze over his face, expecting a more detailed answer from him, with a deep sigh he gave up, letting his memory wander in the past as he spoke.

‘’when I was a child…he assaulted my family, killed them all… I lost everything, I put on a fight and he wanted me in his squad, he spared my life out of fun…’’ he felt how her breath got slower and deeper, maybe she was feeling fear towards him? He couldn’t quite tell, he didn’t want to face her.

‘’few years ago I got tired of it; I never liked to ambush people or steal from banks… I never wanted my hands to be dyed on blood or take innocents life… I kept doing it selfishly … snatching innocent lives just for his enjoyment … to keep mine… one day I tried to sneak away, he spotted me and chased me down alone…he believed he got me down with one bullet on my chest. Inanna escaped from him and looked out for me… since then I swore not to approach any town… I can’t go near to any town because I don’t want to be behind some bars…even though maybe I should be’’ Once the words spoken leave ones mouth, there’s never a turning back, no a way to redo what one just said. He knew he did a lot of bad things in the past, he won’t blame her if she started booing him or if she decided to go away from him or maybe even make her think he was a horrible; these thoughts started filling him, hurting his mind. He doesn’t want it to be like that, for some reason; from all the people of the world, he really was pleading for her to not do it.

He took a deep breath, clenching his fists, he couldn’t hold it anymore, he was feeling uneasy by not getting a reaction from her for what it went out of his mouth; the moment he felt a small hand on his back he turned to face her abruptly, searching her calm bright eyes, to find a storm in them, he felt his heart as if it stopped beating.

‘’…it… have been so hard for you, isn’t?’’ she bit her lips as she slowly reached for his face, eyes connected to hers unable to process what he was seeing, she was, crying, in front of him, he couldn’t tell the reason for her to shed a tear. His body tensed up the moment he felt her hands on his face; squinting his eyes, het let her touch him, holding his face as her thumbs gently caressed his cheeks. Feeling as if her tears and gently touches were healing him, erasing all his sins and burying them away. Her voice cracking was enough to make him feel weak. ‘’I’m glad you got to escape from him, you was forced by him… those weren’t acts you did on your behalf, he forced you to commit them…you are not like him I know you are really a kind person…it’s not fair that you have to be… you shouldn’t be living isolated… you don’t deserve it, it’s not fair.’’

He took her face between his hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs, closing his eyes, he hold her hind in his tight. ‘’its fine…I never liked being surrounded by a lot of people…I like how peaceful is my life right now…’’ ‘it’s even good having you around'… he kept those words for himself, as he tried to process the meaning of them in his mind. ‘’it’s time to sleep…we have a long way tomorrow…we can’t keep the fire on if we want to stay safe until we get you to the Vesuvia…’’

‘’a-ah yes! I understand but it will get cold-’’ she said the moment the fire was drowned down with some water that Muriel threw on it. Soon enough, the cave fell in a deep coldness after the flames went off. Inanna was lying on the floor, already snoozing. Muriel approached her, leaning against her side.

‘’come here…’’ he said as he stretched his right arm as she stood there stunned, the ray of the moon that were filtered from the ceiling, made her hair look ghostly like on a silver glow, her blue eyes shimmering as she look at him, slowly she get in his arms, he pass his cloth over them and push her head gently on his right shoulder.