April Rosevolt
April fell strangely silent as she listened to the implications of her condition, uncertain how to react at first. Nonetheless, what she felt in her arms did well for her mood and she confided that simple consolation. The sound of the door opening startled her and she turned around in time to witness entrance pave way for Touya. A draft of wind crept in, rustling through her unruly blonde hair as he stepped inside. She jerked to attention and looked at the pale therian who studied her in turn. "How is it? Can you feel again?" he asked urgently, desperate to hear her words of confirmation as he marched inside. She felt his fingers twine between hers and couldn’t suppress the jubilant smile that bloomed over her pink lips.
“I don’t know, maybe you’ll have to remind me what it’s like to feel again,” she muttered, grinning mischievously. Her blue eyes examined his form affectionately, debating which of his features she’d take the pleasure in touching next. Perhaps she’d toy with his elegant silver mane first. She wished she could indulge in everything like a normal couple and laugh without a breath of concern for their safety. That was not the way of their positions, however, not until the war was over and the prospect of peace was real.
Touya nodded approvingly and retrieved a stool to sit next to her before striking a conversation with Grashath. His thumb started to draw circles across the back of her hand, and that she could certainly feel as he posed a question to the aging technician. Grashath responded with his usual despondence, a grim expression of foreboding she could recognize every time the therian spoke about her condition.
"I... I'm sorry. For the other day," Sharye said, sneaking in an apology. April blinked at him in surprised, wondering how long the youth had languished over their meeting. The thought seemed almost trivial in retrospect, but she smiled appreciatively in reply.
“No, thank you for helping and guiding us here.”
Touya shifted positions as he waited politely for the conclusion of her sentence. Lingering in his posture she noticed the overbearing strain that typically accompanies the bearer of bad news. The tightened shoulders, a hard gaze and pursed lips, all the tell tale signs informing her she should brace herself for whatever he was about to say.
"April. I know that you probably wish to rest a bit more after having Grashath work on you, but we need to train you. You don't know your own strength right now, you're stronger than you used to be. Also, you have to learn how to use your weapons in your arms, calling them whenever you want and not just when a fight breaks out. It's uncontrolled that way. We'll be taking years and years of training that us Therian's go through, and putting you through it in a couple days. It's going to be tough, but I believe you can do it,” Touya encouraged.
Whilst digested his proposition in silence, April mentally chided her suspicions for expecting worse. Knowing Touya, posing the suggestion seemed invariably more painful for him than it did for her. He’d gone to great lengths to secure her safety, and now he was forced to jeopardize it once more because of circumstances outside of his control. She very briefly considered scolding the therian to assure him it wasn’t his fault, but knew the better solution in this case was to lead by example. Rather more, she was sick and tired of her own helplessness. Ever since her return she’d been wholly reliant on Touya, a burden, and if they were offering to change that, she would gladly accept it.
"This camp is getting ready for a fight and we all have to be ready in the next few days. The hybrid facility, we're going to launch an attack on it and destroy it as quickly as possible. One of the men here that will help us to train is Bordal, he is a very good warrior. I believe with his training you will become an even better warrior that what you were before. Are you ready?"
“I understand completely Touya,” she said, facing him staunchly, “Teach me everything you can.”
Twisted around, she lowered her feet from the table and touched the floor. There was still some ceaseless ache in her limbs, inevitable given the complex nature of the operation. And that would no doubt persist until everything had the chance to properly healed. Undeterred, she stood up alone and detached herself from Touya. Retrieving her clothes which lay folded in the corner, she slipped into her boots and jacket.
"Tell Grashath I'm grateful. But what does he want in return for helping me?" she asked, reattaching her weapons. Her hand's movements were fluid now that she could sense the objects between them. "People don't generally help others out the goodness of their heart. Pure benevolence profits no one."