The Encounter with Alynia

Veil slowly opens his eyes. The flickering glow of a fire dances along the walls of the cave, casting shifting shadows. The air is warmer than the biting cold of the forest outside. A silhouette sits beside the fire. His vision remains blurred for a few seconds as the shapes gradually come into focus. He rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands, his muscles still sluggish. A faint crackle of burning wood fills the air. His gaze moves slowly across the contours of the cave before stopping on two piercing blue eyes staring back at him, unmoving. A wolf's tail sways gently at her side. ???? (calmly): "You're lucky to be alive." Veil (startled): "What... who... who are you?" She watches him silently for a moment, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. Her tail stills briefly. Her face remains expressionless, but her wolf ears twitch slightly. ???? (calm and direct): "My name is Alynia. Stay still, human." Silence. The fire crackles softly. Shadows on the walls shift to the rhythm of the flames. Veil freezes, the gravity of the situation hitting him like a wave. Veil (hesitant): "Why... why did you save me?" Alynia doesn't answer immediately. She turns her gaze toward the fire, watching the embers dance. The silence stretches on, heavy and tense. Veil (more firmly): "Why did you save me?!" Alynia slowly turns her head toward him, her blue eyes piercing him with a calculated coldness. Alynia (coolly): "You want a reason? Let's just say I don't like seeing useless corpses in my forest." Her words drop like stones. She rises slowly, stretching slightly, her tail swaying gently in the air behind her. Alynia (calmly): "Show me your leg. The wound." Veil frowns but complies. He slowly rolls up his pant leg, revealing the gash. Blood has dried around the cut, but the wound is red and swollen. His breathing becomes more anxious at the sight. Alynia (examining the wound): "Hmph. Not pretty. You can walk on it, but it'll get worse if you try anything stupid." She kneels beside him, rummages through a small leather pouch at her belt, and pulls out a tiny glass vial filled with a bluish liquid. She pours some of the liquid onto a scrap of fabric torn from her clothing. Alynia (locking eyes with Veil): "This is going to sting." She presses the cloth to the wound without waiting for his response. Veil (groaning): "Grrr... ARGH! You warned me, but come on, that's not fair!" Alynia doesn't react to his complaints. She methodically cleans the wound with cold precision. Alynia (focused): "Complain all you want, but don't move. I'm not doing this twice." She finishes cleaning the wound, then pulls out a bandage and wraps it tightly around his leg. Her movements are quick and practiced, showing experience with this kind of field care. Veil (exasperated): "You're not exactly gentle, are you..." Alynia raises an eyebrow and lets out a faint chuckle. Alynia (smirking): "I'm here to heal, not coddle." She stands, crossing her arms, and looks down at Veil. Her tail sways gently behind her. Alynia (seriously): "If you plan on surviving here, you'd better toughen up. This forest doesn't forgive. Make a mistake, and you're dead." Silence. She fixes Veil with an intense stare, waiting for a reaction. He lowers his gaze to his bandaged leg, takes a deep breath, then looks back up at her. Veil (defiantly): "I don't plan on dying here." Their gazes lock for a moment, a silent exchange passing between them. Then, Alynia narrows her eyes, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips. Alynia (smiling): "We'll see." She turns and sits back down by the fire, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames. The fire crackles softly, filling the space with a comforting warmth. Veil exhales a long sigh, his body heavy against the cave wall. The night drags on slowly, the flames casting flickering shadows on the rocky walls. Veil's breathing grows lighter, his eyelids slowly closing. He casts one last glance toward Alynia, still seated by the fire, her silhouette illuminated by the orange glow. Veil (internal monologue): This time... I can sleep.