Crossing the divide

[Arla Ordo]

Morning.

Arla lay sprawled across the bed taking up every inch she took a breath, and yawned. She blinked several times and then remembered she was at Verz' house. Her internal clock said it was time to get up, a glance towards the window told her that it was still dark.

How far off was dawn? She nodded and slowly pushed herself out of bed. Hunting 101 today she thought. She felt groggy something strong to drink, there should be something in the kitchen.

Dragging herself out, her nightshirt go her knees she wandered down the stairs. Mirdala sat waiting she wanted to go too. Arla smiled, "ok, you can go to, but we get the kill shot ok.." She talked as if Mirdala would understand.

Arla began looking for stimcaf did Verz drink stimcaf? She remembered they drank a lot of water.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz awoke in the bedroll, not for the first time that night. He checked a nearby clock, finding that it was almost morning. The Mandalorian sat up, wiping sleep from his eyes, allowing consciousness return to him fully. He still wore his bodysuit, having figured that he was going to reattach the armor plates in the morning anyway.

As he got up, he looked out of the window. It was still dark. As Verz started stretching, he could hear something walking around excitedly in the other room. Probably Mirdala. Verz hoped that it wasn't bothering Arla. He walked into the kitchen, surprised to find Arla already there. She must've woken up before he did.

"Good morning Arl'ika. Would you like some caf?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

Arla turned a bit surprised that he was up so early, "yes please, I can't seem to find it and I can't remember if you drink it" She stood still looking, pulling her shirt down. Not that ther wasn't anything that she had that he had not seen before. But still, there was a time and place she shook her head,

"Where can I find it?"

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz stretched, yawning a bit. He then walked over to a cabinet, pulling out a container of instant caf. "Don't worry Arl'ika. I'll make the caf." Verz turned to make the caf, putting some water into the caf maker.

"Did you sleep well?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

She turned and the jumped up to sit on the counter as she watched Verz, "I slept ok, but then I don't think I've ever slept real well. Dreams and things." She half smiled, as he would well remember.

"How about you, how was the floor?"

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz finished with the caf maker, leaving it to do its job. "I slept alright. The floor was about as comfortable as you would expect." Verz smiled when Arla mentioned dreams. He remembered well enough hat she was alluding to. "Same here Arl'ika. Dreams and memories rolled into one."

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

She knew very well the floor was hard and uncomfortable no matter how thick the sleeping bag. She looked over at him knowing this so when he said it was alright, it was just that alright.

Dreams and memories some of them dark and forbidding others happier, but they were still dreams. Some of the memories she could live without. "Ok it's early I don't recommend showering soap and things tend to give us away. Being sweaty from sleep will work better for us. We need weapons, clothes, and then we are ready." Arla could small stimcaf her shoulders dropped down relaxing.

"You want to take Mirdala?" Arla would always welcome the strill on a hunt but sometimes it was best to just be alone.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz got some mugs from the cabinet to hold the caf when it was ready. Verz smiled as Arla described what they needed to do. It seemed like she always wanted to try and teach him something new. Maybe it was the redhead's way of repaying him for teaching her how to be a Mandalorian.

"Arl'ika, I've been hunting before. I know what to do. And of course I will bring Mirdala. If it knows we are hunting without it, it will sulk for a week."

The caf maker beeped, announcing that the caf was done. Verz poured it into the two mugs, handing one to Arla.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla laughed, "yes you do know what to do. I wanted to show you that I know now to. We are becoming equal" She took the cup, "aren't we?"

It was important that he know to her it meant a lot. As much as knowing he loved her,, it was important.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Of course we are equals ner cyar'ika. We are Mando'ade, remember? All are equal, as long as they are true to the Resol'nare."

Verz took a sip of his caf. The strong bitter taste helped him wake up a bit. And the feeling of hot caf in his stomach didn't feel too bad either.

 

[Arla Ordo]

"I remember Ver'ika, all you taught me. I just." She looked at him. " I have terrible abandonment issues,, and a desire too prove I belong"

The cafe was good, she missed this house. She missed the ease between them. "I've been thinking about children. I'm not sure I'd be a good parent. " She looked at Verz

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz sipped his caf as Arla spoke. He had known that she wanted to belong, but not about the abandonment issues. He set his mug down.

"Arl'ika, you will always have a place among the Mando'ade. As for a parent, I'm sure you will make a wonderful mother."

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

"I'm unsure. My baggage. I don't want to damage a little one with my insecurities" Arla looked over at Verz this was most definitely a conversation to have between them. There were some things that they did not ever discuss. It was always assumed.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Arl'ika, don't forget that you are not alone. You have me, as well as both of our clans. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. You are not alone, and I will never leave you again Arl'ika. This I swear."

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]


"Ok Ver'ika, are you ready to go hunting?" Arla put her cup down she understood what Verz was saying, she guessed this was something that she would have to look inside herself for. She closed her eyes for a minute.

"We don't want to go too late now do we?" She looked up and smiled at him. She knew they needed days like this.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"I'm ready whenever you are Arl'ika. I'll just get my slugthrower and we can be on our way."

Verz finished the last of his caf, then set down the cup in the sink for later. He then left the room, heading for his bedroom. When he got there, he opened one of the wooden trunks, carefully pulling out an old slug-scatterer, carefully oiled and maintained. Verz packed up some shells and returned to the kitchen.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla had not brought the weapons she needed they would need to go to her place and then to the forest. Unless, "do you have anotherr ?" She smiled again looking at him. So much of him was still ingrained in her memory.

He without saying much or doing much was awakening her feelings. It was her doubts that were itching.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz set down the slugthrower on the table and thought for a second. "I believe I do, Arl'ika. Let me look.".

Verz walked back into his bedroom, looking through his stuff for another slugthrower. After about 10 minutes of searching, he found it. Antother well preserved slug rifle, one that his mother had used. He grabbed the bullets for it and walked back into the kitchen, carefully handing it to Arla.

"This was my mother's rifle. She used it to hunt shatual in the forest with my father."

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla nodded as Verz headed off it wouldn't be unusual for him to have another weapon it was something of a habit it seemed with them always a weapon on hand. When he emerged he had in his hand a slugthrower.

As she reached for it and Verz said it was his mothers, she realized that there was a great deal of sentimental value to this weapon, "I'll be sure to take care of it Ver'ika thank you for letting me use it" Now both armed, and Mirdala ready, they were ready as a group to head off

Arla slung the weapon onto her shoulder, "We are ready now" She headed for the door, the forest was not far from Verz house it was one reason why Mirdala enjoyed hunting to much she got to do a lot of it.

"Have you talked to Az much since your return?"

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"You're welcome Arl'ika. You are family to me, and it is only fitting that I share this with you."

Verz followed Arla to the door, which lead to the forest path. He whistled, an Mirdala bounded out of the door and into the woods ahead of them, joy clearly visible on its face.

"I have been waiting to talk with Azrael more. We were only able to speak for a little bit, and as I am well familiar with, his schedule is very busy. However, I am content to enjoy the simple things, for now anyway. I missed Manda'yaim, and I missed you Arl'ika."