Small Steps

Christopher and Xiao rest by the dimly lit campfire after this long and eventful day. Xiao makes her first attempts towards opening up to Christopher. "What's your family like?" She asks, trying to take interest in her teammate. Christopher scoffs at her, "what are you, Chance?"

"What's wrong with being like Chance?" Xiao says, teasing him, a smile on her face. "Nothing!" he looks down at the slop in his lap, "It's just my sister and I," He says in a muted smile. Xiao nods, she felt as though they had something in common. Despite his Blood red eyes, and unnerving stoicism, she found solace in knowing there was someone who's background had similar undertones; however twisted these feelings were, they were a part of her.

"Well, calling her a sister in your terms is wrong, she isn't related to me. She became a part of my family through the tribe hierarchy. It would be complicated to explain. Anyways, it doesn't matter anymore we're just strangers now."

"Do you have any family?" he asks. Xiao ponders for a few moments, "Hm… yes, there's this really old spunky lady where I come from. She nags like you but in a more cryptic way."

"No wonder you're like this," Xiao stares at him, unamused at his comment.

Nel approaches the fire, crossing his leg over the wooden bench and sitting with them. "What's gotten Xiao to talk this much?" He says, smiling at her. "One of Chances icebreakers," Christopher replies. Nel gets right back up from the bench. "oh no, not these again," He says flustered.

"Why? They're not so bad if even he's participating this time," Christopher nods to xiao. Nel sits back down cautiously, composing himself as if this were a job interview. Xiao glances at him and snorts, "oh my god he's worse than me!" The two boys look at her alarmed at her sudden outburst, "Come on, you always have something to say," she says, her charming eyes wet from tears brought about by tired eyes.

"I just," he pauses, "there isn't much to say about that particular topic. They're all fine. To be honest I'm not close with them." "Hmmm," Xiao hums in understanding. "Nel, I realized I never really thanked you for helping me with my injury at that time." She stares unwaveringly into his eyes, trying to express her emotions as best she can. "It's nothing, that's what teammates are for. How is it? If you need more wraps I can get them for you."

"No, no, no, it's healing fine, another week and it should be completely healed over. Thanks to you it didn't get infected," she smiles at him. Christopher looks unphased by the conversation, as though he had already known about her injury.

"Oh right! Christopher, I've been meaning to ask you. How did you get those runes on your arms?" He looks at her puzzled. "What do you mean?" She explains to him how dunder had told her that runes could increase the amount of mana you can absorb but wouldn't elaborate on them. At the end of her story, Christopher laughs, Nel's face looks shocked and exasperated at her words, "The only way you can be runed is through being acknowledged by a tribe. Dunder must have history with a tribe, for them to mark him." Nel facepalms, Xiao had unknowingly treaded on thin ice. "The runes are what keep the tribes folk powerful enough to defend their people. Well, most of the time. So it isn't something a tribe will give away thoughtlessly."

Xiao thinks she might have gotten duller since arriving here. She can't help but feel like she should investigate more, but wants to avoid the topic of the tribes in front of Christopher. As every time the topic had been brought up around Christopher prior, his resolute expression had sullen; he'd try and maintain the slight curve of his lips but Xiao could see them tremble, trying desperately to maintain his facade.