Though greatly relieved to have had a helping hand, the girl couldn't help but feel a sense of shame as K'iara helped her up into the saddle. Biting her lip, K'nahli said nothing further as the lead huntress offered some parting words and signalled for the bird to bring her home with a distinct whistle. Responding with a pleasing chirp, the chocobo quickly set on it's way in the direction of their new camp as commanded by the miqo'te, naturally oblivious to the fragile state it's current rider was now in. K'nahli huffed a subdued breath as the chocobo's movements quickly began to agitate the growing pain in her hip, as she had predicted. Regardless, the girl tried to push her discomfort as far as she could to the back of her mind, choosing to distract herself by taking some solace in the knowledge that the bird was both mature and intelligent enough to do most of the work with bringing her home, with very little guiding required on her part.
~~~
Arriving back at the camp, K'nahli coaxed the bird into a walk with a soft whisper as she drew nearer to the inner circle of tents. The campfire in the centre continued to burn brilliantly, creating an enticing, orange glow that illuminated much of the area around it. Gazing into it's depths for a few moments, the girl found herself hesitating before then choosing to guide the bird out of the direct light, deliberately lingering within the shadows behind the first set of tents to avoid as much attention as possible from those who yet remained to tend to the many other tasks while the hunt was in progress. She didn't need travel far before the welcoming sight of K'zhumi's tent greeted her weary eyes. Slowly, the girl slung herself down from the bird, hoisting a lot of her nimble weight around the base of it's neck as she awkwardly dismounted the yellow-feathered creature in the least painful way that she could manage for herself. Stopping only to breath a soft sigh of relief, the girl commenced to take a few steps forward, moving to offer a thankful pat against the bird's plushy cheek before gliding her fingers down along and across it's beak as she continued forward toward K'zhumi's tent.
With a slide of her arm, the girl drew the tent flaps aside, calling out the healer's name softly as she did so.
"K'zhumi...?"
Her voice echoed silently within the cool interior of the tent with a tone that attempted to hide the weakness that sought to permeate itself through her voice.
~~~
Arriving back at the camp, K'nahli coaxed the bird into a walk with a soft whisper as she drew nearer to the inner circle of tents. The campfire in the centre continued to burn brilliantly, creating an enticing, orange glow that illuminated much of the area around it. Gazing into it's depths for a few moments, the girl found herself hesitating before then choosing to guide the bird out of the direct light, deliberately lingering within the shadows behind the first set of tents to avoid as much attention as possible from those who yet remained to tend to the many other tasks while the hunt was in progress. She didn't need travel far before the welcoming sight of K'zhumi's tent greeted her weary eyes. Slowly, the girl slung herself down from the bird, hoisting a lot of her nimble weight around the base of it's neck as she awkwardly dismounted the yellow-feathered creature in the least painful way that she could manage for herself. Stopping only to breath a soft sigh of relief, the girl commenced to take a few steps forward, moving to offer a thankful pat against the bird's plushy cheek before gliding her fingers down along and across it's beak as she continued forward toward K'zhumi's tent.
With a slide of her arm, the girl drew the tent flaps aside, calling out the healer's name softly as she did so.
"K'zhumi...?"
Her voice echoed silently within the cool interior of the tent with a tone that attempted to hide the weakness that sought to permeate itself through her voice.
![[Image: ecec20e41f.png]](https://puu.sh/xvMxb/ecec20e41f.png)
Characters: Andre Winter (Hy'ur) / K'nahli Yohko (Miqo'te)
