Loyalty - Tokas/Rugan/Nyra

Next morning, Varrick had the whole group up bright and early to continue the journey ahead. Nyra had kept watch for a start of the night, but the Haedian had woken some hours later to keep his turn of the watch. Sleep was light in his older age and his companion needed rest before another long trek. Nyra didn’t say anything as shifts were exchanged, only resting her head down and closing her eyes. What a closed off individual, was all Varrick could think. Private, silent and observing. 

The sun hadn’t risen above the horizon when the four were packing up and leaving the spring. Rugan seemed reluctant to leave the relief of the water and shade behind, but the journey must be made if he wanted out of the desert. One paw before the other, he lugged his weight up the first dune with lingering soreness already stinging his muscles. Tokas and Nyra weren’t immune to the same discomforts, but all three made no mention.

Varrick was back at the head of the group, returning them to the designated path with a healthy pace to start the journey with a start. Tokas was trotting alongside him, with Rugan and Nyra following along quietly, the male yawning and blinking sleep from his eyes. 

“How many times have you been through the desert?” The runner inquired, long ears bouncing with his step. “Are you from around here?” 

The Haedian chuckled at the Vayron’s curiosity. “I’m a well-traveled soul, my friend. Not only here, but elsewhere on Reos as well. This particular oasis is a recent favorite of mine, however.” Tokas nodded along, eyes glancing to the glittering gold on his neck. 

Scaling the long peak of a high dune, the side was almost dizzying as it cascaded down under their steps. Some old runes were poking out of the side, the depths beneath them probably housing some grand treasures. Maybe the ruin they stayed at was the beginning on a buried city. Tokas could only imagine.

“Are you a wealthy merchant? Traveling the world selling wares?” The many bags and pockets were a fairly good giveaway for either a traveler or merchant or both, and with Varrick’s eccentric style, Tokas would assume the latter. 

“Keen eye. I am indeed a merchant. As for wealth, I am content.” Varrick smiled. 

Rugan rolled his eyes. How humble, dressing in gold and avoiding verbal flaunting. “Content is one way to put it. You’re practically covered in said wealth.” Varrick looked back at the puller, curious of his interjection, yet again wholly unaffected. It was a bit unnerving how easygoing and unbothered he was. 

Rugan’s tired self might have grown too comfortable to care, but his rested mind was back to speculating who the stranger was, and why he’d picked this unusual bunch to accompany him. Maybe Tokas seemed an easy target for theft or swindling. Maybe he thought he could take Nyra and Rugen in a fight. He is a big guy. Still strange looking, but… Strong, probably.

“Argh!” A yelp pulled Rugan, Nyra, and Varrick to look at the empty spot of their fourth companion. Down along the dune, Tokas was rolling down the hill with thuds and flying sand.  

“Tokas!” Rugan shouted out as the three began to scale down the sand with long steps and slides. Varrick took a long leap and spread his wings to glide down swiftly, mildly catching Rugan and Nyra’s attention. 

Tokas was laying at the bottom, curled into himself. With a light thud, Varrick landed beside him. 

“Oh dear, let me see,” Varrick reached out to check him over. Covered in sand and shaking, the runner whimpered with a trembling paw. Inspecting with a careful hand, Varrick felt the length of his bone and the ball of his wrist, at which Tokas whined out.
“Bent rather poorly on your fall, it’s starting to swell.” The Haedian clicked his tongue as he lowered the limb. “Anything else hurt?” 

Tokas shook his head, pushing with his other, albeit sore, leg. “No… I’m sorry, I should have been more careful. I didn’t watch my step.” His long ears drooped down onto his shoulders, blue eyes wet with pain. 

Rugan hissed through his teeth at his battered leg, and looked up the dunes. “We still have a long way to go…” Nyra looked from Tokas to Rugan, following his gaze. Tokas whimpered at the situation. 

Pushing up on his feet, the runner’s legs gave out, one of his back legs shaking. “Ahh,” Tokas groaned. “No, I can make it. We can’t stop out here, I can do it.”

Nyra sighed at the sight. “Unbelievable…” She shook her head as Tokas tried to get up on his feet with shaky limbs barely supporting him. A nasty fall to topple onto his own legs like that. “Don’t push it, you’ll make it worse.” Tokas shrinked at the puller’s words, flopping back down on the sand.

“I will carry you the way back,” Varrick chimed up. When Tokas looped up at him with those big round eyes, the Haedian was quick to smile his usual kind smile. “You’re as light as my most merchandise. I’ve carried heavier for longer, I assure you.” 

Rugan felt his neck bristle as the thought of Varrick buttering the runner up so much throughout the journey. What an example he’d been the whole way through, and here Rugan was debating how to have someone get Tokas back. 

“Ill- I’ll take turns if you need it.” He spoke up, with Nyra watching him step up. “If he gets heavy. It’s gonna be really hot real soon.” 

Varrick nodded without a word, appreciation in his smile. Rugan nodded in turn, mostly to mirror the reaction. 

Varrick spent little time dawdling, as he picked Tokas gently and adjusted him over his back. The length of his body made it easy for the runner to lay over him, resting his injured legs. He muttered thank yous and words of repayment as Varrick scaled up the dunes again, with Rugan and Nyra in tow. The fluffy puller was quiet, his eyes hanging low in the sand. He could have shrugged it off. Did he come off too eager? Nyra was so stoic, and nonchalant. He could have let Varrick play hero and leave it at that. 

Sighing, the duve shook his head and forged ahead, taking the lead of the company again. He started this journey to bring the three of them to their destination, and he’ll finish playing his part. He won’t be found trailing behind when they reach the next city. He’s got at least a sliver of dignity to maintain and he was gripping onto it with great intensity.

In the silence of the walk, Varrick took notice of Nyra again. The only one of the group the Haedian might have a sliver of understanding towards. She wasn’t young, like the other two. Not shy and skittish, not playing tough to make appearances. She was hardened by life and had the demeanor to show for it. A presence of someone who once held greatness on a pedestal, perhaps. Her mane was tasseled over her forehead and down along her back, with signs of battle not invisible to the eyes. How her yellow eyes flicked at the Haedian’s studying gaze was all the more proof Varrick enjoyed gathering. 

“How come you’ve found yourself amongst these young ones?” Varrick found a pace beside her, gold eyes glancing to her, then off to the horizon. “ Showing the ropes, or wrapping up unfinished business of the past?”

Nyra grunted, then hummed. “Don’t see me mentoring the lot. Not like you.” She nudged her head at the Haedian.

“Perhaps not,” Varrick cocked his head. “Put they’ve no doubt taken to watching you. How you act, react. The youth tends to.” 

“Mm,” she replied with a light raise of her brows.

“Haven’t had any pupils, learning the ways of a warrior from a master?” Varrick’s tone lilted with curiosity. Nyra glanced at him, before shaking her head. 

“None anymore.” 

Humming, content with the insight, Varrick checked on his young companion who laid huddled under his pale shawl. It was a nice cover from the boiling sun for Varrick’s back, but the lad mustn’t be too comfortable. Lifting his wings, Tokas raised his head in question, until the sun was suddenly blocked from view. By proxy, Nyra received shelter from the hot rays. 

“Rugan, come take advantage of the moment while I can muster it.” Varrick beckoned the duve to the shade of his wings. “It won’t be a long lived luxury, but it’ll make some of the journey more bearable for you.” He gave that smile again. Kind, relaxed, yet knowing. It nagged at the back of Rugan’s mind, but he didn’t refuse the respite from the sun if he could get it. After the journey was done, he’d get to never see this strange Tyrian again, and he’ll be all the more content for it.