#I found 3 different misspellings of haurchefant as I preview read this

[karoiseka]

In Need of a Friend

Wondrous Tails of FFXIV 2022

Prompt: Getting Sick/Hot Chocolate

(aka I am not immune to all the artwork floating around because of DSU)

Wintery gusts of wind slipped between the cracks in the stone in the room Karo had been given at Camp Dragonhead.  She had tried to make sure to dress warm enough when headed to the unnaturally frozen land, but the cold seeped into her bones the longer she stayed. There was something about the cold there that was more pervasive than the winters in the Shroud, even with winter moons away.  That wasn’t to say that the roaring fire didn’t keep her borrowed room warm, but she was most assuredly regretting not packing more changes of clothes.  The scant few heavier outfits she had were all soaked with snowmelt, so with a sigh she had donned one of the lighter outfits in her pack, and cuddled up under the blankets–not able to shake the chill that ran through her body.

A gentle calloused hand brushed hair away from her forehead, blessedly cool–which she half-aware realized was odd with how cold she felt everywhere else–shivering under the thick blankets.  The fire was banked much lower than she remembered, and no daylight shown through the thick window.  She must have been more tired than she thought, a small whimper escaping before she could hold it back at the dull ache that throbbed through her weary bones.

“Hush now,” Haurchefant’s voice was low and comforting.  “I’ve been a neglectful host it seems, and let you catch a chill.”  Karo cracked her eyes open to meet his worried expression, blue meeting blue, curling up under the covers further.  She must not have shown up for the evening meal to have him here by her side, and sick enough that she hadn’t even heard him enter the room–much less knock like she was sure he had.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to block out the voice in her head, the insistent nagging that she was already causing too much trouble for her host.  

She hadn’t slept well since walking through the door of the Waking Sands, now several moons ago.  The silent ruined halls haunted her steps, both waking and sleeping, a nightmare she had yet to wake from.  One foot in front of the other, Karo had gladly let young Alphinaud take the lead, his brash confidence a stark contrast to her quiet duty.  Perhaps, if he hadn’t shown up that day at the chapel, she would still be working side by side with the lost Cid, silently toiling in the Thanalan heat.  Heat sounded good right about now as another shiver shook her frame, ears folding back as she sneezed.

Karo could hear the Lord mutter an oath under his breath as he turned and stoked the fire, bringing the blaze back to life and setting more wood to the banked flames, sending a wave of warmth towards her.  Satisfied with his work, he sat down on the edge of the large bed she was tucked into.  Being a Miqo’te surrounded by Elezan, she felt child-sized, everything made for people two fulms taller than herself–the bed she was in being no exception.  The gentle cautious touch to her head brought a wave of emotion over her already depressed frame.  It was the touch of kindness, the calm of someone who was seeing her not as a tool, but a person in need of more sustenance than food and drink.  One that had not had a moment to sit and truly mourn those lost–having been numb to the world till the world had worn her down to naught. 

With the little strength left her, Karo flung herself towards Haurchefant, arms wrapping tightly around his waist as a sob ripped from her throat.  He didn’t hesitate to place comforting hands on her head and shoulders–all he could reach from his sitting position looking down at her.  She barely knew him–she barely knew anyone in this wide new world.  Those that she had finally gotten close to had been ripped from her side right as she was feeling closer to them, just starting to open up.  She knew several of them had been taken–her “gift” had told her that much.  Knowing they weren’t dead was promising, but how many were missing between the vision she had and the bodies she had buried?  How many were gone without a trace?

The tears didn’t stop for those that she had lost, and for herself just as much.  Haurchefant stayed still, his only movement being gentle circles on her head and shoulder as she cried herself out.  She could hear him murmuring, but nothing coherent broke through her grief, just quiet comforting words.  

Exhaustion must have claimed her once more, because next she knew, soft snoring awoke her.  The chills must have passed, being pleasantly warm instead of feverish, and realizing that she was curled around a warm body instead of being alone.  That feeling in itself had her snuggling closer to Haurchefant–who had somehow stayed propped up on the bed sitting, doing his best not to move her.  His hand was still tangled in her hair as she reveled in just the comfort of having someone close who actually cared. 

A noise from the open doorway pulled her attention away from her musings.  Lord Francel was standing there peering in shyly, three steaming mugs in his hands.  A smile blossomed on his face when he noticed Karo looking back at him and he edged into the room.  She could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks, as she both wanted to move, and didn’t want to disturb the sleeper she was leaning on.  The young Lord was staying the night in Camp Dragonhead after his ordeal at Witchdrop, only a couple of rooms over, and she realized her crying could probably have been heard throughout the entire keep with the door open as it was.  As he set the mugs down on the table, the slight noise brought Haurchefant out of his light sleep with a jerk–almost immediately followed by a good-natured chuckle.

“Ah, Francel, come to keep the gossips away?” The House Fortemps knight gave Karo’s head one last gentle scritch before taking his hand away allowing her to sit up easily, as Francel handed one of the mugs to her.

“I thought it might help, yes.  So I brought some hot chocolate to rouse you from your nap,”  he smiled shyly.  

“Good lad, it is much welcome!”  Haurchefant stood, stretching and claimed one of the mugs for himself, sipping at the hot liquid with a smile.  The three of them continued the small talk until the hot chocolate was but a lingering taste, punctuated with yawns.  Gathering the empty mugs, Haurchefant started to nudge Francel towards the still open door.  

“Goodnight, friend.  May you wake rested and hale for the morning!”  Francel waved sleepily as the gentlemen exited, closing the door behind them–Karo falling back into the oversized bed with a more content sigh.  She could still feel the edges of the fever threatening to come back, so she dutifully tucked herself in–warm in both body and mind–falling asleep quickly.  Perhaps there was a glimmer of hope in all of this after all.