Veiled Crest [Revali x Reader]

8

There wasn't as much bleeding as I thought there was going to be but I guess after having the arrow in for so long the blood managed to clot fairly well. Alora's head dropped as she whined in pain and I could tell she was trying to be as still as possible.

"It's almost out. Just a little more." I tried to keep my voice steady as I began pulling again. The sooner this thing is out the better. I gave it a little more force, applying more pressure to the wound and could feel it come free from where it sat. Sure enough, I managed to pull it entirely free, throwing it to the side and rapidly applying the bandages.

    A lot more blood had begun pouring out of the wound so both of my hands were pressing down on her shoulder attempting to stop it with the wraps. My hands were covered in blood by the time I was able to slow down the bleeding. Using one of the wraps from my arms, I tightly bandaged the punctured skin and quickly went back down the ladder.

I grabbed handfuls of snow and again held up my shirt to hold it all before climbing back up to Alora. From there, I threw it all into the pot that sat above the fire and watched it bubble and steam as it melted. I again went back down to grab more snow, stopping first to scrub the bloody wrap this time, trying to get as much off of it in the snow as possible.

I repeated this about three times and soon, the pot was full of boiling water and the cloth I held was moderately clean. I dipped one-half of it into the pot before pulling it back out and scrubbing again, watching all the stains come out effortlessly. My shoulders loosened in relief that it worked and Alora can have clean bandages. I washed the rest of the wrap and set it by the fire to dry after ringing it out with all my strength.

"You still ok?" I sat next to Alora once more.

She chuckled quietly as she spoke, "It could be worse." Alora went quiet and stared into the fire. She looked exhausted.

We sat there in comfortable silence with each other for a while. Alora finally managed to drift off for a little bit and I made sure the washed cloth was drying properly where it sat. It dried quickly due to how thin it was and I changed it out with the one wrapped around Alora's shoulder and washed that one as well. From there, I drifted off with her.

-

Maybe two more hours passed before I was coaxed awake to the sound of footsteps. I carefully opened my eyes in case it was a bokoblin or something of the sort but saw Revali instead, setting down a bag in the corner.

A sudden anger bubbled in my chest and quickly pushed me out of my sleepy haze, "Well, well. Look who decided to come back."

"I did not intend to be out that long." That was all he said as he began emptying the contents of the bag. It was all medical supplies and food.

I grumbled, agitated, "Then what took so long? It's kinda cold out here ya know." He wasn't saying anything and I honestly think he's flat-out ignoring me. He walked over to the pot that still has some steaming water in it.

"What happened here?" Revali turned to me with confusion in his eyes.

"You left Alora here with an arrow still in her. I couldn't just wrap her wound with dirty bandages..." My words faded as realization hit me. My eyes shot down to my bare arms. I brought my knees up to my chest and tucked them behind my legs.

"I see." The blue Rito picked up the pot and emptied the water. While he did that, I grabbed the dry bandage on the ground and wrapped my dominant arm when he was looking away. When he returned he put some dry wood into the fire and set the pot back over it, throwing in some fruits and peppers.

I could smell the pepper's spice and my nose almost thawed out from the smell alone. It sent tickles throughout my face and I sneezed loudly. Revali snickered to himself, loud enough for me to hear and I huffed, irritated.

"You didn't answer my previous question," I muttered to him.

The champion began organizing the medical supplies he brought, "There were just a little more monsters than the single bokoblin you saw. I found about three camps in the area of that hot spring."

I could feel a dull rush of dread run from my chest to my feet. We could have easily been killed, "D-Did you take care of all of them?!" My mouth was agape.

"Well, I couldn't just leave them there. You got very lucky only one of them spotted you." He dished up what he was cooking and handed some to me, muttering he would give Alora a plate when she woke up, "I often scout the area for monsters though so I found it odd there were so many." I stared down at the food and felt my mouth water. Taking a bite, my whole body warmed from my toes to my ears.

"That should keep you warm for a few hours." Revali grabbed himself a plate and began eating as well.

"Thanks." I spoke firmly, unable to look at him as he sat on the other side of the pot directly across from me. We sat in a rather awkward silence, the only sound being the draft of the practice range. I could feel the champion's eyes on me from time to time. I kept the arm that wasn't wrapped to the side and out of sight from him.

The sun still hadn't risen yet but the snowfall had finally begun to let up. When I finished my food, I was almost a little too warm from its effects. Alora still hadn't woken up and we continued to sit in silence. I got lost in thought as I sat there with nothing else to do. My shoulders were killing me from trying to attempt to shoot the targets within the draft and I wanted to sleep in my bed more than anything.

"Why do you hide them?" I heard Revali speak suddenly. I finally looked at him.

"What?" That was all I could ask. I didn't understand.

"Those arms of yours. Why do you hide them?" He inquired again.

I could only look at him in dismay that he would ask that so randomly. My eyes forced themselves to look down at my arm that was wrapped and my mouth opened, looking for words to say. How does someone respond to a question with so much weight, asked by a person that's done so much to you already? I stuttered for a moment, panic-stricken and unsure of what to do until I stopped myself and took a deep breath.

I let the silence creep back in between us as I thought of how to respond. I want to tell him off, with all my heart but, I also just wanted to tell him and get it out. I'm sick of the way he treated me in the Divine Beast and I want him to know how much it hurt. I want him to know exactly why I hide my body and let him realize what he did that day. Just— how do I do it? Do I yell? Cry?

Revali stared at me intently, not hiding his anticipation for what I am preparing to say. My heart hammered in my chest as I could feel the words building in my throat and slowly making their way through my lips. When I could finally utter something, my voice shook slightly.

"It... It's extremely personal," I took another deep breath, "and I've got my reasons." I could feel my chest tighten, "I can't tell you any more than that."

    "I mean, it's not like your the next calamity. How bad could it possibly be?" He waved a wing around.

    I shrugged, unsure of how to respond, "Worse than you think. You wouldn't understand." I buried my face into my knees, averting my gaze to the fire.

    "I think I might. You don't exactly know me all too well either you know."

    I scoffed at his words, "Trust me. You do not understand my situation." When he heard those words, his eyes squinted shut and he shook his head with irritation.

    "I see how hard you try to hide whatever secret you have and there's always a cause for that. Never ending bullying, harassment— becoming an outcast even. Any of that ring a bell? Don't tell me what I can and can't understand." Revali spoke harshly while my eyes widened. I could only stare at him but now even he seemed uncomfortable. Like he had said too much accidentally.

    "Stop making that face." The Rito looked away in a hurry.

    "Sorry. I just wasn't expecting that." I rubbed the back of my neck, "So you seem to have some first-hand experience with that stuff?"

   "I know you have as well." He was visibly flustered.

    "I guess theres some common ground between us then." I shrugged again.

    Silence fell between the both of us for a while longer and Alora had begun to stir from her rest.