Slacking Off [Lynda]

[shokyo]

“I appreciate your help. Sorry if I’m slowing you down or anything.”Mamoru said, as she bent down to pick up a few dryed twigs and peices of bark from a fallen tree."No... you're not" she said as she picked up a large stick and broke it in half, making a loud snapping noise.

“We probably won’t be needing too much. Let’s try and keep it light, ‘kay?”

"Dont worry, I wont"Lynda said, standin up from her crouched position, holding a many dryed twigs in her arms, cradled.

She began to walk fast back to the camp, to put the wood into the fire before it estingued completly. She'd known that it's hard to start a fire in this kind of terrain. It's parrtly damp to a spark will most likly not start eaisly here. At the camp, she threw in a few of the twigs, all the length of her hand, into the fire causing it to spark just a bit before it settled. Sitting down, she grabbed her pouch and pulled out a small peice of dryed meet and took a bite of it.

[thes]

Having collected enough wood to hopefully last until tomorrow afternoon, Mamoru pulled the corners of his cloak over the pile, tied it off, and pulled it up over his shoulder. It took him a moment to balance himself, having it all slung over one shoulder made it difficult to walk straight. Snatching his staff away from the tree he sighed, following after Lynda. Why did she always get things done so much quicker than he did?

“You’re not very talkative are you?”

Mamoru let his collection of firewood fall to the ground, pulling a stick from the top and poking at the fire with it to try and liven it up a bit.

“Sorry, I’m just not used to being around people so quiet.”

The fire caught on, growing quickly to an unimpressive, but still greatly improved size. Yanking one of his lizard-cooking twigs from the ground, he forced the meat into the fire. Folding his legs beneath him, he fell to the ground and sat there cross-legged, resting his cheek in his palm after setting his staff across his lap. He turned the lizard slowly, watching it with bored eyes as it quickly changed color. He hadn’t been traveling all that long, but he was already used to eating things even if they tasted disgusting or burnt.

“Hey, Lynda,”

he started, speaking to her rather informally. He probably should have been showing a bit more respect, she was a samurai after all.

“are there are lot of female samurai? I’ve never met one before.”

[shokyo]

“Hey, Lynda,” She looked up at him as he said her name.“are there are lot of female samurai? I’ve never met one before.”This wasn't a question she was usually asked. Most of the time her employers were too busy wanting a person dead to realize that she was a female doing a male's work. She gave him a blank stare for a while, but was broken when she slowly closed her eyes, partly out of annoyance but her head hurt too. Did he have to ask so many questions?

"No"she began, remembering why she became a samurai in the first place. It really started when her mother couldn't produce any more children right after she gave birth to her, Lynda. "It's always men who are, but in my case it was different" she ended taking another bite of her dryed meat. She didn't want to say muc, but if he asked she might as well tell him, but for now she wanted it to stay unspoken. Even back when she was a child, when her father died, no one spoke of it because they knew how much he ment to her.

[thes]

Focus slowly drifted over to Lynda, was she upset with him? She looked pretty annoyed. If she wanted complete silence she shouldn’t have come with him. Lips hung in a frown as he twisted the lizard in the flames, preparing to pull it back out. “No. It’s always men who are, but in my case it was different.” Mamoru gave a thoughtful nod, taking the now partially charred meat from the fire and holding it up to his mouth, more than ready to take a bite. He blinked, waiting for her to continue. As she failed to do so his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Oh. I see.”

His voice had managed to put more distance between them, its lack of interest making it clear such an answer just wouldn’t suffice. Well, if he didn’t want to talk about it he couldn’t force her to. If she wanted to act like a grumpy old lady, then good for her. Seemed like a waste though, for something so unusual to happen to someone who would refuse to ever tell anyone about it. Eyes softened as he lost himself in thought. The lizard inched its way toward his mouth as his mind wandered, however the strong smell of the strange food forced the boy back into reality. He straightened, eyes growing wide as he came to the realization that he’d failed to offer her the first lizard.

“I’m sorry! Where are my manners?”

He leaned back a bit, hoping to loosen himself up. An embarrassed, shaky laugh escaped his lips as his cheeks reddened slightly. He held the lizard out to her.

“You can have the first one if you'd like.”

[shokyo]

“You can have the first one if you'd like.”He said as he held out the cooked lizard. In shock, she leaned back a bit, and due to her insticts ,her hand was already in the position to grab her sword. Bringing her hand back by her side, her face lit up into a bright red, almost a dark pink. She leaned a bit forward, putting herself back into her relaxed sitting position she was once in.

"N-no thanks" Lynda said as she looked at Mamoru "Im already full. Really" the blushing on her face seemed to dim down as she spoke. She kept quiet for a bit longer, trying to keep up not saying much, but she felt like she had to. Soon ,if not tommarrow morning, she would leave and she probably would have someone to talk to for another two-three days.

"So. Do you want to know why Im a samurai?"It was the least she could tell him. He provided the fire and offered her food. This one detail of her past cold probably surfice his hunger for conversation.

[thes]

As she jerked back, her hand ready by her sword, Mamoru managed to hold his position. He doubted she’d actually draw the blade, he must have just surprised her. As she realized what was happening her face went red, bringing a broad grin to his face. “N-no thanks. I’m already full. Really.” Her answer made him wonder if it was the smell of the lizard that had brought that look on her face. Oh well, if she didn’t want it, more for him. He pulled the food back and took a bite, returning his attention to the fire. “So. Do you want to know why I’m a samurai?” Mamoru blinked. She wanted to tell him? Maybe she wanted him to ask before. That didn’t make any sense, she seemed annoyed when he’d asked questions before.

“You mean you would tell me?”

Well that was nice of her. He had been wondering that for a while. He’d pretty much given up hope on that subject.

“Yes, I’d like to know. Thank you.”

He looked back at her, sitting up as he waited for the story to start. His warm expression had returned, the lizard and stick caught in his hand’s firm grip forgotten as he gave her his full attention.

[/size]

[shokyo]

"Well. It began when my mom couldn't bear anymore children"Lynda began as she looked into the fire, throwing in another stick. It made a crackle and a popping sound as it began to burn intently. "Soon after, she died. My father began to train me even more, since I was the only heir to rule ,or comand, the clan" she said, taking in the beauty of the fire's flames.

"Finally my dad died too, and I ruled the clan. We even-" she cut herself off by clamping her hand over her mouth. She had almost said too much. Mabey it was just talking that kept her going, or just plain talking about it. Well whatever it was, she wasn't intending on going on unless he wanted her to.