Figured I'd get us a new one since our other one looks like it's wrapping <3 no rush!
Kel had managed to hunt and return before Erzulie woke, and felt lucky that he had, because she seemed in a hurry to leave. He had only watched her as she fussed and muttered over supplies, then fled. Part of him was relieved.
And part of him was filled with dread. He moved the raccoon he'd brought for
@Lestan nearer to where the man slept, hoping the scent might rouse him. It was making Kel want to throw up a little, which wasn't encouraging, but that was probably just him and his nerves. He hadn't even entertained the idea of hunting for himself. Eventually he would have to slow down and take care of himself, but Kel was in good health; he could afford to ignore his own needs for a few days to see Lestan through the worst of his sickness. That was exactly what he planned to do.
Maybe the raccoon was diseased or something. Kel eyed it suspiciously as he obliged Lestan's request. You need to eat at some point,
He said after the raccoon had been moved away, and returned to sit by his side.
Lestan seemed to think he would be okay. Kel shook his head a little. You need time,
He glanced up at the edges of the grotto and wondered how they would get him up there. Then back down. Lestan definitely needed more time. I'll take you to Riverclan. Can see if anyone knows the way to Swiftcurrent Creek from there. But you need another day to rest.
And you need to eat. Want something else?
Kel cast another suspicious look at the raccoon. They weren't pretty creatures, but they'd never been so repulsive in his experience. He still wasn't sure if it was really the raccoon, or if he and Lestan just made a mess of a pair. Two broken men. And Kel was supposedly the able one between them!
Silently, secretly, he wished for Erzulie to come back. They needed a woman's judgment here, no matter how uncomfortable it was for Kelsier.
Maybe Kel's initial assessment of the man had been right: maybe what he needed, more than anything, was home. Lestan seemed more present than he had before, but there was still something distinctly off about him. The only thing that seemed to focus him was Swiftcurrent Creek. So Kel decided to lean into that for now; it wouldn't help anything to argue with him.
We'll start for the valley when you're ready, then,
Kel offered quietly, a change from his first decision. He was still wary, and truthfully a little curious. The bone. What is it to you?
Pale eyes flicked over it briefly, over the recent marks of teeth left on it. It wasn't the most unusual thing he'd seen, but with this talk of a doe and a god — it was worrying.
for the sake of timelines, we can fastforward to wherever kel would take him in a new thread! <3
"a piece of — god."
his eyelids fluttered; lestan had seen things for which there was no word, and even if there had been a way to say them he would not have.
"i need to get back. quickly. we can go now."
Kel will prob let him direct once they get into the valley so they can go directly to Swiftcurrent <3 Should I start something there?
A piece of god. Kel wondered at that, wondered for a moment if Lestan was truly insane or if he was just... religious. It was hard to tell the difference sometimes. Still, he could not shake from his mind the ramblings about a doe and blood. He was uncertain.
Kel wanted to get him home as quickly as possible, and to get back to his own home. So despite his misgivings and his concerns for the man's health, he found himself agreeing.
Okay,
He said, and decided he would take the raccoon along just in case. If Lestan seemed too weak at any point, he would press the matter of eating real food. Otherwise he would live and let live, and allow this to be another person's problem. Swiftcurrent Creek's problem, ideally.