Saving Soul

"That explains the squirrels. Lack of large animals to prey on them because of the larger territorial ones." Anja stated.

"Yeah. Though those things don't have a lot of natural predators to start with. One bite and said predator is suddenly interested in a different kind of hunting," Voltaire answered, before leaning closer to Adair and lowering his voice. "By the way, pull up your collar some. The hickies are showing."

It took a moment for the words to fully register, and then Adair's face turned bright red. He quickly adjusted his collar. Then the full implication of what he said hit him. Voltaire knew. He wished he had a shell he could hide in.

"Most of the predators they do have are reptiles though." Anja stated. She entirely missed the exchange between Adair and Voltaire.

"Uh, yeah. Tough skin," Adair remarked absently, his face still about as bright as his hair. "They can't bite through it."

Voltaire appeared amused.

Anja looked at Adair with a raised brow, having caught his response to Voltaire. "What are you talking about?"

"Just the fact that it's not good walking around with visible hi-" Voltaire began, before he received a sharp elbow jab from a still-flushing Adair. "Ow! What? You want people to see it? She's got one too, you know."

"Stop fighting," Ava chided.

As if it were an absent movement, Anja brushed her hair over her shoulder to hide the mark. "I have no idea what you mean"

Voltaire quietly noted the casual gesture, and then lowered his voice. "Anyway, whatever. It was the Little Death, wasn't it? One or both of you got bit. I wouldn't fuss over it too much 'cause if you get bit, well you got to f-"

This time Adair aimed a light kick to Voltaire's injured leg. It was enough to make the Hunter yowl.

"Fiery! Be nice!" Ava scolded. "Volty's hurt."

"Sorry Ava" Anja apologized for Adair. "Voltaire's just having the small problem of not stopping while he's ahead."

Voltaire grumbled, leering at Anja, but decided not to say anything else.

Adair felt a little bad, though just a little. Giving Voltaire a jab on the ribs was one thing, but kicking his injured foot had been low. Still, it seemed to keep him quiet.

"So are you alright, Ava?" Anja asked

"Yeah, I'm okay," Ava replied. "I heal fast."

Now that Voltaire was being quiet, if sulky, Adair was beginning to take more notice of Anja. She was so pretty, he wanted to...he vigorously shook his head.

"That's good" Anja smiled slightly. "So about how long do you think it will take you to get to the next tournament by ground?"

"Couple days," Ava replied. "Shouldn't be too long. Tournament starts in five days."

Adair just stared and Anja. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but he wasn't about to do that in front of Voltaire and Ava. He wondered what was wrong with him. He didn't have the excuse of Little Death squirrels this time. But she was so pretty...

"There anywhere you can drop me off on the way?" Anja asked

"Um, I think there's a village a day or so from here," Ava answered. "They should be nice people, but we can't enter the town directly. I would spook them, being a demon and big and stuff."

Adair was both relieved and saddened to hear the news. It was good that they could drop her off somewhere, but at the same time he didn't want to leave her. Had last night really changed things that much? Unconsciously he leaned against her.

Anja frowned slightly. "I guess I'll have to stick around a little longer then. I still can't walk."

"I...I could probably take you there..." replied Adair, still resting against Anja. "If...If you really needed to..."

"Don't trouble yourself Adair" Anja replied. "Its not like I have anywhere better to go."

"I..." Adair began. "Whatever you want."

Voltaire watched the two of them quietly, and wondered if it was the squirrel bites after all.

Anja rolled her eyes. "Adair, if you don't feel comfortable leaving me alone, its that hero thing we discussed about being fake."

That stung Adair. "It's...it's not..." Of course, he wasn't sure what to call it exactly.

"Something the matter Hero?" Anja asked

"I...I don't know..." Adair admitted.

Anja rolled her eyes and they rode on in silence for a while.