I have no witty title
Not my first time working with another Rook but it is a first in terms of a budding romance. Thank you @wickedadaar for working with me and letting these two met. Soooo....yea.
Zea meets Shok (@wickedadaar) and do I see sparks?
1.7k words
The Anderfels was home to the wardens. Blighted land devoid of life that not even corpses decay in the ravages. However, such heavily blighted terrain was nothing to Zea. As one of the senior wardens, she was tasked with tracking down a darkspawn. Antoine explained that the darkspawn was behaving abnormally and needed more information on it before putting it down.
Zea found herself deep in the barren land of the Anderfels. She had been wandering for a day with little trace of the darkspawn. In fact, she hadn't seen a single darkspawn since she began the journey. Continuing the trek, blight pus and boils littered the ground. Just then, the faint sound of grunts and flesh being torn was heard in the distance.
Her pace quickened to a small jog and then to a full on sprint when a shrill shriek echoed through the vast land. As she neared, sounds of fighting grew louder. A large cluster of tall rocks blocked her view, rounding one, the scene came into view.
A large, lone qunari dressed in warden gear, sword and shield in hand. Cutting down the small hoard of darkspawn with ease. An ogre came up from behind him.
"BEHIND YOU!" Zea shouted as she sprinted towards the fight. The qunari didn't hesitate as he swiftly turned and swung his sword up, cutting the ogre in the throat as he brought his shield up to block the ogres swing.
Zea, with her great ax took down multiple smaller ones with one solid swing. The two wardens were back to back having exchanged no words, they moved as if they had been fighting together for months. As the fight wore down, another ogre came charging in. Zea braced herself to either dodge or deflect, suddenly her fellow warden, who towered over her, flung his shield over her head towards the ogre. It connected with the gruesome creatures head, staggering it. The two wardens swiftly attacked it in unison.
A wide smile graced his bearded, darkspawn blood covered face. Which spurred Zea on to attack with more fury as her own grin widened.
Once the chaos of the fight was over and the two surrounded by the corpses of the fallen, they finally looked upon one another.
"No one other than, the stupid and wardens come this far out." The qunari began. "So either you're a very capable stupid person, or a warden?" Zea was taken aback. Yet, the smile that lingered on his face, made her feel at ease.
"Think I might be a stupid warden." Zea quipped back. "And which are you?"
"Also a stupid warden." The whistling wind blew as the two stared in silence. Finally broken by their shared laughter. "A fellow warden. Good to have another at my back. Name's Shokrakar but you can call me Shok."
"Good to meet ya, Shok" He took note that she didn't share her name, yet said nothing.
Soon it was revealed that the two wardens were on the trail of the same darkspawn.
"What do you say we work together to find this weird darkspawn?" Zea nodded in agreement.
They shared information pertaining to their orders and continued deeper into the barren lands.
As they ventured, they bonded in their shared hatred of the First Warden and a surprising ability to swim. Shok had no problem opening up as they swapped tales of favorite fights, foods, and preferred weapons. Gushing over his cooking and favorite dishes to make.
"So what's your favorite food?" He asked nudging her elbow playfully as they walked. Zea pondered the question for a bit.
"Grilled fish. I've only had it a few times but, fuck, is it good." Shok laughed softly.
"Grilled fish, noted." Zea couldn't help the side eye she shot him. Questioning his motives.
The two continued deep into the Anderfells near Hunterhorn mountain. The suns beating heat gave way to cool evening breeze and a multi-color sky. Making camp was the logical plan and so Zea and Shok settled in with a small camp.
A small fire was made and shok whipped up a simple stew using what little ingredients he had.
"So how long have you been out here?" Zea sat down on the rock near the fire as Shok stirred.
"About two days. You?"
"A day. Had no idea they sent another warden out here. Fucking typical." She spat.
"Typical? How?"
"They sent one warden out here, gave you less than a week before sending me." Shok could see rage flicker behind her violet-blue as the fire's light danced across her honey kissed skin. "And they didn't tell me they had already sent someone out here." Shok kept stirring as he listened to his new companion vent about her frustration.
"Well, regardless. I am glad to have someone out here with me to talk to." Scooping two big spoonfuls of the stew into a wooden bowl and handed it to Zea. Who accepted with a quick thanks. "So, you haven't told me your name." Scooping two spoons into his own bowl before sitting next to her. Dirty covered knees brushed against one another.
Zea was mid bite when he hit her with that statement. Savoring the thick broth of the stew and mushed vegetables in her mouth. Once she swallowed, she starred into her bowl. Unsure how to truly answer him.
"You're right. I didn't. I…it's not something I give out willingly." Her grip tightened around her bowl. "Maybe if you turn out to be a true friend, I'll share. For now, you can call me Throne."
"Well, Thorne." Shok moved in closer, her heart began to quicken as his large thigh touched hers. "Heres to new friends." He held his bowl out like a mug. Zea stared at his bowl and back at him. Sliver eyes tinged with a deep blue stared back at her, warm and inviting. She found herself wondering what his eyes looked like in daylight. Which caused a smile to creep upon her face.
"To new friends." She clanked her bowl against his and the two settled into a pleasant silence as the fire crackled around them.
Shok convinced Zea to let him take first watch. Despite informing the qunari that she too was a light sleeper as he was and there was no need for him to stay up alone. He would hear none of it.
"Trust me, Thorne. I got this. You get whatever sleep you can and in a few hours, we'll switch." Zea simply sighed, resigning herself to at least try.
As she rolled out her sleeping mate, she couldn't help glancing over to the tall qunari. Taking note of his large arms and how, with his coat off, she could see every muscle movement and tattoos. Unaware of how long she had been studying him as her eyes drifted to his side profile. The way he clenched his jaw as he focused on setting up his post.
"Like what you see?" Zea, though already unmoved, froze in place. A warmth traveled up her neck to her cheeks, embarrassed. Shok didn't stop fiddling with making his post more comfortable.
"I…" Clearing her throat. "Can appreciate when something looks…nice." He smiled wide, softening his eyes. Zea caught herself staring once more, very confused as to why her cheeks were still on fire.
Finally laying down, her back to him as she willed her mind to stop thinking about his sliver eyes burning into the back of her head. Soon her eye lids grew heavy and allowed sleep to embrace her.
꧁˚.⋆𓆩༺✧༻𓆪⋆.˚꧂
As the first signs of morning began to show, Zea awoke to the smell of something savory. Sitting up with a jolt as she realized she slept longer than intended.
"Hey, sunshine. Sleep well?" Zea tilted her head, confused. Did he just call her sunshine?
"Why didn't you wake me?" choosing to ignore his comment as she got to her feet. Making her way over to where he was making breakfast.
"Sorry, I wasn't tired and you looked so cute and peaceful sleeping. I couldn't disturb you." Shok casually said, scooping some oatmeal into a set of bowls.
Zea stopped mid-stride. That was twice; was he flirting with her? Choosing to ignore his comment once more, she sat down near him.
"Even so, you should have still got me up. It's dangerous to be up all night and expect to still hold your own and watch my back."
"It wouldn't be my first time. Plus, you looked like you needed the sleep more." Handing Zea a bowl, she didn't know what to say. As he sat next to her, he nudged her shoulder with his playfully. "Hey, you're sweet for worrying about me." Zea felt heat travel up from the base of her neck to her cheeks.
"Ok. What are you doing?" Shok cocked a brow up, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you flirting with me?" Shok laughed mightily. Leaning back, hand on his chest. Zea began to feel a little embarrassed by her question. Had she read the cues wrong? When he finally stopped laughing, he turned to her with a sly smirk.
"And if I was?" Zea was sure her honey skin turned a shade of red. She was not expecting him to admit it.
"Oh."
"Is that bad?"
"I…Why?"
"Why am I flirting with you?"
"Yes."
"Because I like you. You jumped in to help me during fight that had nothing to do with you. That alone tells me what kind of person you are." He put his half eaten bowl down and turned to her fully.
Zea turned to face him. Truly taking him in. His platinum eyes were bright, even in the dim morning sun. How gentle they appeared with the sly smirk gone. Replaced by a genuine smile.
"Plus something tell me you are not the type for casual hook ups. So, I would like to get to know you, Warden Thorne. Once we find and kill this darkspawn, will you have drinks with me?" Shok held his large hand out as Zea stared between his hand and his face.
Placing her bowl down, she turned to him, taking his hand.
"I think, I'd like that, Shok."
Bonus ferret version of them hehe.
Picrew here. Gently tagging @kogarashi-art @woundedsoul12 @apothe-cary @amoaliquis @sensitive-inferno @shadowknight19kay @serialsforbellara @davrinsleftpectoral @mushrooms-x-moss @onelooseskull @mageswithcats @wolfmoonwildflowers @master-of-the-elements @teamtakagi @lycheecatee @vishantikaffar @rooks-dagger @wickedadaar @sunny374940 @zennihilation
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