The Friendly Stranger (2009-09-14)

CD5K > FU > DWB > fab > stranger

A tale of downfall, friendship, and recovery.

The Lizard and The Rabbit

Ruined. The one word that described me in my present state. I had been struck down by those formerly loyal to me, stripped of power and status, wounded fatally, and left in a forest to die and rot. I was Xel, once a powerful warlock and benevolent ruler, now nothing but a nameless, scarred cerulean stain upon the earth.

I am fortunate the rabbit found me. At first, I thought he was a girl due to his appearance and long hair, but the way he acted and his body language slowly taught me otherwise. He brought me to his home, in a quiet village in the middle of the forest that nobody knows is here. For days on end he cared for me and catered to me, ready to act if I so much as felt the slightest discomfort.

My welcome seemed to never stretched thin, but this was probably because I never sought to abuse it. Then, one peaceful morning, he was redressing my wounds and I said more than "Thank you" or "No, it's fine" to him for the first time.
"Nnh.. Y--You're very friendly, strange one."

My host suddenly became depressed, and sat on the bed beside me, hands folded and head lowered.
"..Friendship is paramount. Without it we are nothing."

He noticed I had nocked a brow. It was his shift in mood I was suprised at, but he mistook it for incredulousness.

"N-No, I mean it. After losing our possessions, our homes, our lives, our families, even.."
He paused to cringe at a bad memory.
"..Without friendship, we are nothing, because our friends are all we have left."

Normally I don't touch people at all unless I am told to, but my sympathy was in control. I reached over and sort of half-hugged him, sitting beside the saddened creature. He wrapped an arm around me as well, and we sat there a while in silence, just holding eachother. I found it within myself to nuzzle him. And then he started crying, his hands fleeing to his eyes.

I immediately withdrew, thinking I had done something wrong.
"..Have I upset you?"
But he wouldn't answer, and he slapped my hand away when I attempted to comfort him.

I sighed, and spoke again when the bawling stopped.
"I'm sorry if I triggered some deep-rooted memory. I've a few of my own, as well."

He looked up at me with a wet face and a quivering voice, "It--It's okay.."
He took a moment to calm himself, then stood up again.
"Would you like to accompany me to the reflection pool?"

I was surprised at the question.
"..Y--you mean you won't mind being seen with me.. like this?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

Okay, now he's just playing dumb.
"Oh, come off it, man! I still look like I've been beaten half to death! Surely th--"

I was silenced by two fingers pressed to my lips.
"We'll be okay. Come on."

All I could do was laugh, and get up to follow.

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