Tadi looked back at him and stopped in place, her smile falling. "Oh..." She gave him an understanding, though disappointed, nod. "I thought you wanted...It- it doesn't matter. Heh." Shaking her head reassuringly, Tadi added, "I just wanted you to meet them."
She took a few steps back from him, fidgeting with her mask. Her concerns of who he was ever so slightly weaseling their way back into her thoughts. "You've got to be careful wandering the border next time, Dom. Where do you live?"
He insisted, slowly moving in towards her, closing the distance between them. His face held a bittersweet smile, as if it pained him of what she assumed.
"Ah'm ah wahnderor. Ah'm stehn en tha thouth with ah bahdeh, but ah'm frum tha north."
Not a single lie in his sentence, nor has there been one in all of his talk with her. He'd been brutally honest from the start, and it quickly became a liability. The moment he became too comfortable, confessing his name, she was now a liability. Regardless how cute her giggles were.
Closer he snaked, keeping his arms and hands where she could see them. Play it up to the emotions, to their connection. Round 2 began sometime ago.
"Baht... if yah famileh eth ath witteh, cahmehcol, hardwerkeng, or thenthere, of corth ah wud."
She watched him approach, her smile returning and her hands leaving her mask to hang. The tension clear in her body relaxed. Tadi beamed and took his hand again, excitedly leading him forward. "It'll be an interesting thing, coming up with an excuse for your tongue." She laughed.
The wanderer relaxed as she once again grabbed his hand, starting off in the direction of the clan's camp, like before. He was quick to try and voice his concerns, however, acting a bit self-conscious to gain her sympathy.
"Cud ah cuhva it fur naho? Tung thcereh, thame with thpeech. Mehbeh ah thirt, too? Thumthin ah bet leth reveling."
Dryly chucking at how ironic it was, he proposed one more idea:
"Ah'd prehfer ta go bah Dom-- or yehr boifrend, beb."
Looking over her shoulder at him with a scrunched smile, Tadi said, "Bit quick for that, love. Dom it is." And yet, her heart fluttered that he'd even consider it. What a strange night this had been. As they walked, Tadi frequently checked over her shoulder to confirm that he was still there, giving him a smile each time she did- even though of course she hadn't let go of his hand. As they neared the village the lights became more defined, casting firey shapes through the trees around them. Voices were separating into individual people, and figures could be seen running to and fro in the little streets. Tadi lead Dom to a cluster of trees, the entrance visible from there. "I'll go grab something for you, alright?" She said, squeezing his hand before hurrying to the entrance.
Following merely a step behind, Dominic shot her a smug, yet cocky grin each time she peered back. She avoided releasing his hand as much as he had-- if just to make sure the two wouldn't get separated. He hadn't a clue if the jail was anywhere around the entrance to the clan itself, but considering all he saw were a couple ordinary buildings through the trees and passageways, he doubted it.
Music and voices grew louder as the two approached camp, competing with volume from the forest cicadas. Dominic stared off into clan territory before being brought back to his senses, his hands squeezed by his date.
A simple nod sufficed as a reply to her reassurance, the stranger finding refuge around a tree trunk while he waited and surveyed the front area. Alone again.
It wasn't too difficult of a camp to find, compared to some. He'd heard that the Eastern clan's entrances were extremely intricate, as was Infernoclan's mysterious territory. Given the time to remain in his own thoughts, he waited, hoping she didn't think too deeply about the stranger within the territory.
Squinting into the branches above him, he hoisted himself onto the trunk and climbed upwards, sliding into the leaves as he gazed down. He'd only wait there until she returned to immediately reveal himself, although he was careful and quiet should anyone else accidentally approach where he lied.
With a brisk walk through the entrance, Tadi was soon enveloped in the warmth of the clan again. A few children, up far past their bedtime, ran by her calling, "Hi Tadi!" to which she smiled and waved, though keeping her focus on the matter at hand. There was a little house in the village that she shared with a few other women. It had a red terracotta roof and an abundance of flowers in the windowsills. Hurrying to the front steps, she slipped inside. Opening the door to her bedroom next, Tadi looked about. "A shirt..? Shoot." Picking up one of her own from the floor, she laughed at the tiny size and threw it away.
The next few minutes consisted of the girl slinking into one of the men's houses and stealing the most average, unrecognizable shirt she could find. Slipping out carefully, somehow coming away undetected, she eagerly made her way back to the entrance. The darkness of the forest overlapped her like a gaping mouth as she left the glow of the village once more. "Got something for you to cover up those horrendously offensive features of yours." Tadi jested, returning to where she left him and looking around curiously. "I mean damn, put something on, there's children around here." Quickly realizing how that could have been interpreted, she stammered in apologies. "I-I meant your chest, of course. Not your face. I was.." Her voice lowered to an embarrassed mumble, "joking."
Surveying for anyone who might have tailed Tadi, Dominic only dropped down from the branches once deemed completely safe. After brushing himself off, he graciously took the shirt in hand, scoffing at her accidental accusation. He ducked into the shirt which fit a little too tightly, but he made do.
Suddenly, he reached a hand out to Tadi's head and ruffled her hair, chuckling to himself all the while. He didn't take offense to the comment, rather, took it as a compliment. He knew how sexy he was and reveled in it. What an oversized ego.
"Thenks, beb. Nuh whey ah ken thow theth aff to the peblek."
He was rolling with it, the humor clearly captured and quickly returned towards her.
"Thame with yewh, tho. Thoth cerves? tho fine, they thud be elegul."
Tadi smiled, not as wide as she wanted to, and looked down at herself, giving a little curtsy. "Why, thank you." She said, before waving his opinion out of the air. Her body was just as a young, fit woman's would be. It's natural for him to be attracted, it didn't mean anything. Or so she firmly reassured herself.
"C'mon." Turning away and heading towards the entrance, she added, "You can tear a piece off of that shirt for a mask if you want. I couldn't really...find anything better." As the pair approached, the warrior stopped for a moment and looked back at him. "Why don't I take you to our medic first? You really need to have that looked at." Tadi said, though still not regretting giving him such a wound. She took his hand and pulled him in through the front archways. "Our master healer Venge can fix anything!"
As the warrior suggested, Dominic forcefully tore off part of the sleeve to his shirt, large in size as to cover his nose and mouth. He figured that as long as the blood was covered, as well as his features, he'd be fine. Until Tadi mentioned Venge-- a name which rang a bell in terms of familiarity.
He hardly resisted from being dragged through the archway, and instead, matched her speed to walk beside her. He might not have known the layout of the area any longer, but he took her lead. Sharp yet curious gaze scanned around cobblestone paths and buildings, committing it to memory, but also searching for past's traces.
"Nah, thenks. Ah'd ratha hav mah frend gev et ah luk. Heh duth all mah tattuth."
Intertwining their fingers, he brought her hand up to his lips, imitating a kiss through the mask before dropping it. If she undid the hold, he wouldn't have minded.
Tadi smiled shyly, keeping her hand in his. "Let's." As they entered the village, the two were engulfed in music and energy. Young men were drunk and showing off in front of their ladies, children were crying as their mothers reluctantly toddled them off to bed, sweethearts and friends alike were holding hands in dancing circles, and the fire pits swarmed with story tellers and laughter. A happy group was playing music on the platform, a contagious beating of drums and strumming of strings, and food was faithfully replenished on the tables. Looking around in excitement, Tadi eagerly led him to the biggest fire pit, where Insignious was sitting. The leader's face was lit from the pipe he held below, his eyes glazed over in deep thought as everyone around him talked.
Knowing it was only appropriate for Sig to immediately know of a stranger's presence, Tadi pulled Dom through the crowd of seated clansfolk and stood him before everyone- mindfully, her leader. Eyes and heads gradually turned towards them, a few men eyeing the couple's hands suspiciously. "Sir!" Tadi started, waiting for Insignious to see them- and when he did, he frowned in alarm. "Sir, this is Domi-, eh, Dom. I met him in the woods just now, he's a traveler."
Insignious instantly stood, giving Tadi a very serious look. Clanmembers around them were murmuring in discomfort, looking upset at the girl.
"Tadi, sit down. I need to talk to him." Sig said firmly, quickly stepping around the fire towards them. Tadi immediately shrunk back a little as he approached them, her face turning to concern. "I-" "Sit down. Now." The girl gave Dom a worried, apologetic look before letting him go and slowly sitting down. Insignious eyed the man over with cold eyes, "This way, Dom." He said, walking past him.
Dom might've had an idea what he was walking into when he agreed to meeting her family. He may have known those risks, stepping closer to the brutal heat of the fire pits, and given his final warning. Of all the family to meet outright, it should've been obvious Insignious was the first "family" he'd greet. And yet he hoped otherwise, down to the last second.
Golden irises circled the disapproving stares of gossipers while Tadi sat down. Had Dominic not have already been standing up straight, he certainly would've fixed his posture as leader walked past him. He could only smile through his eyes towards Tadi, shrugging his shoulders as if it was no big deal. On the contrary, he felt like a mouse trapped in a lion's den; his circumstances changed the moment the whole clan got involved.
Turning his back towards his interest, he followed Insignious silently, yet closely. Not too close, of course, but not very distant, either. They walked into an empty alleyway, alone, just the two of them. Not the most ideal place if his foe thought himself a predator, but who was he to complain.
He needed no instruction to remove his mask, however much he'd rather kept it. Surely it'd reveal dried blood he missed removing, as he hadn't a mirror nearby to properly clean himself up. He felt as naked as the street, but would comply-- temporarily. Whether Insignious recalled his face or not wouldn't sway his answers. The last time he'd been there, he was only a kid at the time. Well, as far as thinking a 16 year old still a minor.
So, whatever it was Insignious wanted to know. If he wasn't arrested on the spot.
Warriors watched the two of them go with high alert in their eyes, some of them already holding the hilts of their swords. Tadi was immediately immersed in interrogative questions.
Nearing the alley, Insignious glanced over to see the stranger already removing his facial covering- a gesture of which he appreciated. "So, Dom." He started, turning and facing the man with folded arms as they came to a stop in the little street. Sig's next words, however, caught in his throat as he took in the features of his face altogether. It wasn't the blood that snagged his attention, it was Dom's eyes. His mouth. A sarcastic sneer suddenly flashed into Insignious' brain, one from memories. That bloody mouth he'd seen before, usually crimped in a vicious little smile. Those eyes he'd seen, aglow with entertainment and cruelty.
But who was he.
Having met enough bloodthirsty bastards to last two lifetimes, he couldn't remember exactly which one this guy was. But it didn't matter.
Clearing his throat and putting on an apologetic smile, Insignious finally continued. "I'm sorry about the harsh welcome, but we've had some tragic events occur recently and I have to be as careful as possible when letting outside folk join us. Can you tell me what you're doing here on our territory, Dom? Tadi said you're a traveler? You may have noticed she's a bit quick to welcome in...strays." He said, giving a little uncomfortable chuckle.
"But what exactly are you doing here. Why are you traveling, and why here."
The gears turning in Insignious' mind, pulling forward memories of the old warrior wouldn't go unnoticed. It was subtle, caught in his throat for a moment, but it didn't let on everything he knew. What a shame, given how Dominic could play his cards. At least he was given a chance, he figured, as Insignious asked him to explain. Before he could, however, he opened his mouth to reveal the gnarly injury. A hint at his irregular speech pattern.
"Ahv ben ah traveleng nomad fur yeurs. Theth eth purt uf the root."
Perhaps the territory itself wasn't part of his normal venture, but it'd become such the moment Cain remained trapped behind stone walls. His real purpose for residing so closely to enemy territory, pacing around, and bored. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he spoke, gradually explaining his story through injury.
"Ahv ben wehtin fur ah frend fur uhwal naw. Thenth he hathent thown up, ah went lukin, end fownd Tadi."
"I see. And what's your friend's name?" Insignious asked simply with no aggression or suspicious gestures, choosing to put his curiosity towards the man's horrible wound on the back burner.
