A Breath for Defeat [Damien?]

[Arianna Barrial]

The Titan guard might have sent her off to the river, but that was also a bathing spot and close enough. She didn't think he'd meant for her to come to harm.

The blonde shook her head.

"It wasn't the Titans, Damien. Or anyone here."

Not that she would ever say for him to actually take a life, either.

"Don't, okay? I just... I just don't know why. I could have helped the man with CPR. After the first minute I was going to call out for help after the first minute of compressions, but keeping his heart pumping blood was my first priority...and I didn't even get through the first."

[Damien Blaze]

Damien turned his eyes from the guards he was prepared to slaughter naked...and turned them back to her. His eyebrows furrowed.

"If I don't protect that which I love most in this world...what else is worth protecting? And...do you remember who it was? What he or she looked like?"

[Arianna Barrial]

Arianna's eyes widened. No. She shook her head. No, no, she wasn't a vengeful person. She wound her arms around him after sinking an inch or two into the water. Her ear pressed against his chest and again she shook her head.

"Damien, I need you more, right now."

[Damien Blaze]

He slowly let his breath out, and his anger fade....for now. He wrapped his arms around her, and cuddled with her...Quite naked...and kissed the top of her head.

"I know...I'm here. We can...talk later."

And oh boy, would they. There was no way he could let it slide. He planned to skin whoever did this. For now...holding her close would suffice.

[Arianna Barrial]

It was troubling she couldn't remember anything else from after aside from the eyes and her sense of despair. Maybe she had just had some weird dream before dying? Her brain and body had been starved for oxygen at that point, so maybe that was all it was.

Still, even though his words on later held promise, she relaxed when he agreed he wouldn't be going anywhere or doing anything for now. At the kiss to the top of her head, she looked up.

"I... I still need to talk about it. I just...the killing thing I can't. Would you be okay with that?"

[Damien Blaze]

He didn't say anything for a moment before nodding.

"Okay. I'll...try to listen objectively, without trying to force the issue. It's just my manly pride getting in the way."

A toothy smile he would offer up before letting her do her thing...whatever it might be.

[Arianna Barrial]

A flick to his back, first of all! But she was being understanding of him, too. Maybe she shouldn't be talking about this with him, then..? Her brow furrowed, but, to thank him she loosened her arms and slipped up to give him a kiss: slow and soft.

The water's warmth was relaxing. It was almost a world away, now that she was removed from it, even though it was really half a mile or less away.

"I was just getting dressed when I heard...chanting, I thought, by the pacing of the words. It was only one voice. I was curious, but...didn't mind it. I'd planned to just come back, quickly, because it was a bit creepy, honestly. But...then I heard gasping, so I thought maybe the person was injured. Or hunting, who knows."

She bit the corner of her lip and shook her head, bringing a hand up to brush against her wet hair and scalp.

"And then I heard the thud. And silence. No gasping, no chanting. So I dropped the towel and soap and rushed to the other side of the Titan thoroughfare. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find them, but I did. Or him, rather. He was laying where he fell, unmoving. Not conscious. Not breathing, I could see. So I started CPR. It's...it's brutal. I always cringed at the TV shows that mimicked it. Depending on the person, the survival rate isn't even that good. But...he looked healthy. And fit. And I knew what I was doing... So I had to try to save his life. I didn't see anyone else."

[Damien Blaze]

Damien pulled her in close. She was just...one of those types. No matter what was happening around her, she would jump at the chance to save someones life, no matter the possible consequences. He gave a soft smile, letting her finish the last sentence, before he cleared his throat.

"You are...a good person, Arianna. It was kind of you to try. Not many, including myself, would have done so."

And he meant that. It was one of the things he loved about her. She didn't judge, she wasn't harsh or cruel...she was his counterweight. He would stroke his thumb over her arm, allowing her to continue when she was ready.

[Arianna Barrial]

Pale gold eyes drew up as Damien cleared his throat. She listened to what he had to say but felt tears gather in her eyes. Of course the effort counted, but...

She shook her head just a little and her shoulders caved as she let herself be drawn in by his arms encircling her.

"Good or not...this person I hadn't seen - and, being so focused on technique and the count - came flying out of nowhere...with a spear. There was a flash of light, but, my jaw was broken, first, and I couldn't scream loud enough to be heard...and then...I think it was a dart that I was struck by? I wondered if it was the same or worse, over and above whatever happened to him." She didn't go into her other injuries she had sustained, nor did she want to. That wasn't what was weighing on her. And besides, he had seen the shape of her body when, she assumed, he found her. Her brow crumpled. "...I wasn't even afraid of dying at first...the only thing I was really upset about...was not being able to help. And why she wasn't letting me save him. I don't know why, Damien. I had the best chance of saving him. The right place, the right time...but I couldn't. I was afraid when I could o longer move, couldn't breathe... I was being dragged away, but I was still agonizing over him."

[Damien Blaze]

She was traumatized. Damien would try to keep himself composed for her. This was one situation that he couldn't control, even with all his age and knowledge. He wanted to try and fix it for her. Make her feel better about what happened to her and what she had seen and...what happened to the man. He would frown after a moment.

"It sounds like a pagan ritual. Did you see the man die?"

There could be others in this forest after all. Who knew if perhaps there were some who still tried to placate their old gods by killing one of their own?

[Arianna Barrial]

She shook her head.

"No... I was curious when I heard the chanting, but I wasn't going to investigate. No need to tempt fate, right..? I was concerned when I heard him start to gasp—and had to help when I heard his body fall through the flora. He could not breathe on his own. I couldn't see the rise and fall of his chest by the torchlight, and he had white paint or something similar on his skin—so I had to keep his blood pumping. Whatever oxygen he had in his blood would be enough to go around. I didn't even get through an entire set of thirty compressions.." She shook her head and then leaned against him. "I'm pretty sure I got stuck with whatever he had been. I couldn't breathe or move once whatever was in the dart took over after a few minutes. She let go of my ankle before I passed out."

She wasn't sure if she should mention the eyes.

[Damien Blaze]

Well. That confirmed it. He chewed his lip a moment.

"I just wonder why the locals are doing it. What they have to gain from it. Unless they are currently uncontaminated local tribes...that might make more sense. Perhaps...you can take me there to see what happened?"

And maybe he could find whoever did this. If needed, he'd wipe out the whole fucking village. He didn't care.

Nobody  hurt Arianna and got away with it.

[Arianna Barrial]

Arianna chewed her lip and shook her head. She would, however, clarify as she loosened her arms a tad to sink lower into the warmth. She was surprised her teeth weren't chattering together despite the warmth of the pools, but, her stomach was tied in knots.

"Not right now, okay? I'm not ready to go back." She tipped her head back a little, looking up. "...I'd want to revive him. And I'm not ready to die again."

Not so soon.

Not by burning herself alive again.

[Damien Blaze]

Damien nodded.

"Of course. Later. After the battle. Speaking of...Are you wanting to go to it?"

He eyed her, still standing and unabashed by his own nudity. He would watch her, quite comfortable but...trying to take her mind of the misery of her death. Of what happened. He wanted her to heal...then they could talk more.

[Arianna Barrial]

Arianna bit her lip and exhaled slowly.

"...we're coming back here, after? Maybe. Or maybe before. I'm not sure. I just—I need to settle down before going out. And I'd need clothes, either way. But...I want to help with the battle. Maybe not participate, but be there as aid."

She closed her eyes. One bad event couldn't ruin this place for her...but it would if she let it, all the same. She let go with a brush of her fingers over his skin and slowly turned to stroke her way over to the edge with the intent of searching for a ledge as she spoke.

"...I...can't really remember if it happened. But I think someone woke me. All I really remember are these intense blue eyes. And then being alone, conscious, and terrified when I died."

She glanced back over her shoulder before turning so she could sit and still have the water lap around her shoulders and collarbone.