Ask Mired Beliefs

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale had been expecting a quip. A brush off. A topic change. A flip of the same question to put her on the spot in turn. Instead of any of that, he abruptly revealed far more than she ever expected. Her eyes were wide behind the helmet and he would see the shift in her posture. Shale stared at him for a long moment, her head reeling and her chest pounding in ways that had nothing to do with the injuries. He would see her fingers flexing or shifting, and she was very visibly fidgeting. How could he say such things so easily and effortlessly?

The Vizsla looked away, unable to keep looking at him. For a moment it felt as if she didn’t have her armor on her, that he was seeing right through her and seeing how tense she was. Seeing how red her face was, hearing the ringing in her ears. Seeing every little twitch and subtle move.

“How can you say those things knowing we’ll probably die tomorrow?” Shale said quietly, keeping her gaze towards the rain, “When we almost died just hours ago?”

She turned to look at him again, “How can you say such things when you are likely to become Solus Alor?” It was no secret their clans had a bitter history, Vizsla being the reason Solus branched off and became their own thing. Regardless of the sincerity in his words, Shale couldn’t help but allow her own stubborn mind to interject and plant doubts.

“I need some air,” She said quietly, grunting softly as she slowly rose to her feet. Without another word, she half stumbled away and out in the rain and frigid chill. Her head was spinning, and her mind was reeling. It was a sliver of fear that crept into her, one that wouldn’t have manifested if she didn’t have an investment in this that had happened without her even realizing it.

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox could spot the effect his words had on her, the way she fidgeted and just stared right back at him. Even with the helmet covering her, he could practically sense the disbelief. It made him sit up slightly on one elbow and by that point, she had already looked away and stared out to the rain to avoid him. It was the first time he had ever seen her like this and he wondered if his words had crossed a boundary that he had blindly missed. Usually, she was always ready with a remark but this time was different.

To his surprise, she questioned his words and how they could die the next day or after that. She then asked in reference to him becoming Solus Alor. Shale appeared deadset that he was going to be elected and while a part of him still disagreed, he knew that it wouldn't have mattered anyway to him if he was. With his way of thinking, he didn't understand that line of questioning at all.

Before he could even answer her questions, she abruptly stated that she needed some air and got up to leave the warmth of the fire. Instead of venturing deeper into the building, she went back outside into the rain and Nox just silently watched her. At first, he didn't move, not knowing whether to follow her or not and give her space. Was it because of him or because of something else entirely? But in the end, he couldn't help himself, especially when they just sought shelter from the very rain.

The Solus would step outside a moment later and found Shale just standing by herself in the open as she got soaked. Nox couldn't help but just stare at her for a moment before he finally walked towards her, the sounds of him almost drowned out by the pouring rain. When he would be a couple of feet behind her, his feet would stop and keep him there as he stared at the back of her head. Even though the rain, the sound of his heart echoed in his mind as he couldn't deny what he felt, despite the colors he bore, That's exactly why I say those things. We can die tomorrow and I want you to know before if we do. I am not afraid to say you are important to me but I am afraid to not have it said before it's too late.

Then Shale would feel Nox's helmet lightly press against the back of her own as he stepped forward, allowing her to be able to hear him clearly, You said so yourself, times are changing and I'm accepting it. I share no bad blood against you. You are not my enemy or ever will be. Alor or not, I am Solus and I follow after what I want, whether it is right or wrong. With that, he would let the contact linger between their helmets if she permitted before he would separate to give her space and let her think over his words.

Don't stay out here too long. He would finally turn and start to slowly walk back towards the tower.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

It was freezing cold, not even her armor and weave able to ward it all off. Her breath came out in wisps through the vents on her helm, anxiety shooting through the roof. She felt ridiculous for shuffling away like that. Since when did Vizsla turn tail and run? In the end, Nox lived up to his clan name. He didn’t back down, he said what he said and he was unapologetic. But like a Solus, he didn’t think through the complicated logic behind it all. Their clans had a long, bloody history. Even if everyone set aside their grievances for now under Mand’alor, it was only a matter of time before rivalries crept up again.

Was that the reason or was she falling into her usual habits of self sabotage? Was this coming from her own insecurities? Shale didn’t feel like herself as she stood out there in the rain, staring at the ground. The storm raged on above, thick drops of rain coating her fully. She glanced down at her jumbled reflection in a puddle below. She could only see her own terrified expression and face as she looked.

After a moment, she could hear Nox approaching, but she didn’t budge from where she was. There was nothing but silence for a moment before he spoke. When he did, Shale kept facing forward, almost too afraid to face him. It was almost as if he would be able to see every expression on her face. Her self sabotage thoughts interjected with every point he made, reminding her that he spoke of brotherhood, camaraderie and loyalty. He was speaking to her as he would to anyone else, because he was groomed to be a leader. She was the one overthinking.

All of her thoughts crashed when she felt his helmet touch against the back of hers. A jolt ran down her spine and there was a sharp intake of breath. She was frozen where she stood, yet she felt as if she had been on the receiving end of her own flamethrower. Every bit of her was ignited, her shoulders stiffening and her body tensing slightly once more. And yet she didn’t move away from him.

Shale listened to every word, knowing he truly was Solus in every way they were fabled to be. And in some ways even more. She felt like a coward in comparison. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, everything clashing with one another. A part of her wanted nothing more than to turn around and show him that she was the same girl that he knew never to back down. Most of her was frozen and anchored to that damn puddle.

She felt him draw back and step back. Before she could stop herself, her hand abruptly reached back behind her to grasp his wrist. She gripped it firmly, but she never looked away from the ground. Never turned to face him. Never said a word. She simply stood there holding his wrist, the only sound being the rain pelting their armors. A thousand scenarios played in her head with a thousand outcomes. A thousand conversations and unspoken words echoed, but all inside her head. Not a single one could make it past her lips.

After a long moment of silence, her grip slowly loosened. She never looked back. Her arm slowly returned to her side. She stood there staring at her reflection in silence. And she stood there even as he walked away and for a while after he was long gone.

 

[Nox Solus]

---
(After the conquering of Lothal.)​

Events had transpired quickly after the successful crusade on Lothal. Once the planet felt secured enough, Nox had made his return trip home in order to call council with the fellow Solus. The meeting had gone extremely well as there had been no distractions or direct conflicting opinions about their plan of operations. All of the Badgers had been on the same page and they all had also decided to smoothly elect him as their Solus'alor.

There were those that had believed it before and called it despite his resistance, mostly Shale, and he still could barely wrap his head around it. The change had been unique. From once checking crates and measuring out rations to return home to his clan to making decisions that could affect the fate of his clan and the future generations after. It was a responsibility he was acclimating to but one that he donned proudly and carried with stride more each day. Nox would honor his clan and ancestors but more importantly those alive and their support, not fail them.

One of his first steps as Alor was to help rebuild their home and that led to the construction and repair site of MandalMotors. With his clan specializing in metalworking and forging, Nox had a keen interest in making sure the completion of the factories went over smoothly as he offered his clan's services to help. He flew towards the site with his jetpack, appreciating the sensation of the air hitting against his armor and brushing through his fingers, a time to think to himself.

Despite the responsibilities that continued to occupy his mind, it would still drift to Shale sporadically and the specific moment she had seized his wrist. No words had been spoken, none needed to at the time when it happened, the simple gesture enough for him. Unfortunately, that was the last time he had seen her, a Mando party had arrived to clean the camp and take them back. They had never gotten the chance to speak after and before he knew it, he found himself back on Mand'alore for his clan. With how they left off, it bugged him he didn't get the chance to say goodbye and he wondered how she was doing.

Even with his thoughts of Shale plaguing him, he still had his duties as Solus'alor and to Mand'Alor. In the air, he could spot the formation of buildings, some burnt down completely, half-built, or just slightly past that process. When Nox landed on the site, one of the Solus on-site immediately rushed over before offering him a deep nod of respect as he stiffened up, Solus'alor.

With a graceful and practiced landing, Nox stood to his full height before just offering a nod back and a clasp of his hand, Easy. While he appreciated the title and respect it came with it, he still saw himself as one of his kin and liked when he was treated the same. Good to see you, how goes the construction?

 

[Shale Vizsla]

New life had been breathed into the Mandalorians since the victory at Lothal. If there was any doubt about Fenyang as Mand’alor, they were quickly brushed aside with this sweeping win across the board. Clans that had been preparing to leave changed their minds, many more staying back and rallying behind the man. Shale was among them, feeling a new fire bubbling within her. She wanted to be a part of the next attack, recalling what it meant to be Mandalorian once again.

She was in a great mood, at the construction site of some old ruins of what used to be a MandalMotors factory. Shale arrived on the planet originally because some Vizsla were gathering around later. In the meantime, she volunteered to help with some of the efforts to rebuild.

Shale was up on a ladder, using a servodriver to drill a few things in when she heard someone use an Alor title. She tilted her head to look curiously, though she paused when she spotted Nox. The Solus greeting him was practically fainting at the sight of him. Shale simply scoffed before returning to her work.

“Oh it’s great, alor!” The Solus all but squeaked. He looked back and muttered quietly under his breath, “Though I have to work with a Vizsla, ugh,” He said with a chuckle, casting another glance back at Shale at the top of the ladder. If Nox followed his glance, both men would see Shale happily posing with a rude gesture with her finger towards the young Solus. She didn’t have to hear the comment, the glances and quiet mutterings were enough.

"Come say it to my face, booboo."

Without another word, she returned to work, reaching over for some more screws.

 

[Nox Solus]

While Nox wished that he could be treated the same as his fellow clan members, sometimes it wasn't granted. Underneath his helmet, his eyebrows raised slightly at the Solus' high pitch but upon hearing Vizla, it had perked up his ears instead of the normal reaction. It could have been any one of them, Vizlas was one of the most numerous of them all and he realized that he was building the moment up for nothing.

When the young Solus' gaze cast to the side, he followed it and found the very Vizla staring back at them with a middle finger in their direction. Nope. It was definitely Shale alright. Nox was unable to control the gruff laugh that escaped from, one that she would be able to hear. It was a surprising sight for him but one he didn't mind at all.

As the builder turned around, Nox just gave him a light slap on the helmet with a shake of his head, I'll handle it for you. It wasn't shocking to find Shale return back to her task at hand as he approached. Instead of simply standing there and shouting up at her, he thought of something better. Turning on his heel, he spun around and activated his jetpack as he launched in the air. Nox would soar a few feet above her before he landed by sitting down on a ledge of an empty window, a couple of feet above her head.

Pulling one knee in, Nox rested his arm on top of that while the other rested on the thigh of the leg that dangled over the edge. I've been with the Vizla too, the teasing tone in his voice instantly recognizable, Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to work with you Mudpie. A cock of his head followed after his words with a grin too, his thoughts instantly going to her fondness for naps.

An upward nod was given to the Solus down below before he glanced at Shale, Pipsqueak isn't bothering you too much is he?

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale hummed to herself as she worked, screwing in another bolt. She didn’t miss Nox laughing, and that in turn brought a private grin to her face. She heard him activate his jetpack and casually take a seat on a ledge near her. Shale tilted her helmet to regard him, the visor staring into his.

“I’m flattered you trust my work enough to park your heavy ass on a ledge like that,” She said with amusement in her tone. If he moved around too much, there would be creaks and groans of protest from the ledge. Shale remained on the ladder, though she lowered the servodriver hand to her side.

“I thought Solus liked a challenge,” She quipped back without missing a beat, “Isn’t that your entire motto with the whole,” She waved the hand with the servodriver in it airily, “Badger pride thing?” Amusement clearly laced her tone. While she thought his nickname for her was ridiculous, it was beginning to sound like a term of endearment. Shale blinked a few times before quickly turning to face forward again. She set the servodriver down and picked up a new panel of wood to layer above what she was working on.

“He’s just a kid,” She said in reference to the younger Solus, “Still full of wonder and probably secretly wants me to notice him. Did you give him an autograph, Solus’alor?” She couldn’t help the hints of distaste that bled into her tone at the title. Rivalries were difficult to forget, and to be Alor meant to embrace all of it. At least it had been that way historically. Vizsla’s leaders still vehemently despised Solus.

 

[Nox Solus]

Both of them fell into the groove of each other without missing a beat, even with the days between their last time seeing each other. The Solus had missed the witty back and forth, it was a nice break from discussing supplies, movements, or anything else that required his attention.

Upon hearing her remark about his clan's whole "Badger pride thing" and it being their motto, Nox couldn't help but let out a humorous scoff with the display of her arm to put emphasis on her words. Been doing research into my clan? Thought even knowing our motto would be past you. He even knew Shale would be caught dead before she ever admitted something like that for him to easily use. And, I'm still here, aren't I? The rhetorical question came out swiftly after too to prove he still lived up to the name.

At the comment that he most likely wanted her to secretly notice him, Nox cast a quick glance over to her, Should I tell him to find the local mud pile to jump in? It seemed like a pretty effective lure for her and it was one she wouldn't live down anytime soon from him. But when it came to his title, the quickness of his remarks slowed down by a pause as he stared at her for a moment.

Even if she didn't mean it, she could sense the slight contempt in the fact that their families did hate each other. Nox had spent most of his time alone when he had been a bounty hunter, easing him off the rivalries and their weight, unlike some others. What alarmed him more was that he hadn't expected it from Shale, even slight. He didn't lie when he said she was someone he trusted and it bothered him that there was a chance their clan's history could come in between.

Still, he covered for himself a moment after as he gave a silent snap before saying, Yeah, something like that. The playful tone had disappeared slightly. Nox sat there silently a few moments after, his finger tapping against his leg plate before he looked over to Shale again, I know you desperately want to seduce pipsqueak but could I borrow you for a little? I promise we won't abandon him too long. After the short pause, it seemed his carefreeness had returned, and was able to push past what he thought about.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale stared vacantly at Nox when he made the mud joke, and he’d be able to tell her expression beneath the helmet was just as vacant, “You gonna get any new material soon?” She said dryly, though hints of amusement bled in nonetheless. She turned to fit the panel where it needed to go, drilling in a few more screws.

She didn’t miss the tone change when he spoke next. She pondered on her own words, realizing she came across briskly with how she addressed him. Shale couldn’t help but silently linger there for a moment. Did he truly set aside history so easily? Or was it that how he felt trumped any age old dispute? If so, why was she having a tough time? Was it because of the dispute or her own insecurities that she refused to face?

Nox changed the topic, but he had her curiosity. She finally set the servodriver aside and looked at him again, “Are you asking a Vizsla for help?” She grinned at him. Without a word, she stepped off the ladder and jumped down, activating her jetpack last minute to cushion the landing. She waited for him on the ground.

People only really needed to borrow her time for some sort of errand, and she assumed this would be no different. Despite how they parted ways, she didn’t want any rifts between them. If he had favors to ask, she would honor them.

“Where we going?”

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox couldn't help but grin too at her question as Shale had a way to easily draw it out of compared to others. His head tracked her as she hopped off the ladder. Putting both hands against the ledge, a simple push was required to shift his weight off as he free-fell too. Nearing the ground, he activated his jetpack and landed without barely a hitch in his step and picked up the conversation again, I hear they're good company, at least makes things interesting. A shrug followed his words as if he had no idea.

Walking towards the edge of the site with her, Nox would offer the Solus a two-finger salute before he glanced over, On a sort of hunt. Follow me. A cock of his head afterward, he activated his jetpack once more and flew off into the sky. It was obvious he wasn't going to spoil the surprise. Their flight time wouldn't be too extensive, the reports he had received a few miles off the site of MandalMotors actually. As they flew together, there would be a range of mountains and hills in the distance and their flight path was deadlocked on it.

Nox flew between a few of the peaks before he would suddenly dip and aimed for a massive valley below. There was a small stream of water in the middle of it, slicing through the rocks and barren ground. He would land right beside and wait for Shale. After she landed, he jutted his head forward, an undercurrent of excitement to his voice, This way.

After leading her down a small incline, they would discover the stream transformed into a water hole. But instead of pointing out the natural formation, he went to the bank and crouched down quietly. As she got closer with him, she would be able to see exactly what he was staring at, This is what we are here for.

There were tracks in the dirt, at least enough for each creature as the claw marks along the ground were stuck out like a sore thumb. The prints were iconic to not only his clan but his people but more importantly, who they belonged to haven't been seen in years. Badgers.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

A hunt? For a person? For a creature? He didn’t give her much time to answer questions before taking off. Shale activated her own jetpack, flying alongside him. She followed him when he abruptly swooped in lower, banking harshly to where she had to rapidly adjust trajectory. However, she was skilled enough with her jetpack to maneuver it easily.

Shale moved in closer to the ground, flying over where he was pointing as she heard his excitement. For a moment she was dumbly looking around, unsure of whether he was talking about the water. However, the footprints became clear as she recalled the badger sigil. Her eyes widened at the sight as she slowly moved to land on the ground beside the river.

“Dire badger?” She asked incredulously, “You know those things fuck up the hardiest of Mandos?” Shale asked as she turned to glare at Nox. He really brought her to catch a terrifying dire badger?! There was a reason Solus had a reputation and it came from one of the most vicious animals in the galaxy. She would rather face a krayt dragon than a full grown Dire Badger.

“Here I thought you were taking me somewhere nice,” She muttered quietly under her breath as she crouched down to inspect the footprints. Shale had done hunting and tracking in her bounty hunting days, but a lot of it also came from hunting her meals.

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox just nodded as she uttered out what could be the only thing that left the tracks. Dire Badger. He repeated, excitement and anticipation creeping into his tone again. It had so long since anybody had seen one. There were cave systems linked all the way throughout the mountain range and it wasn't hard to believe that somehow the animals had found a way to nest and survive.

When he turned to look at Shale glaring at him, he cocked his head slightly unfazed, Mhmm, if they were weak then we wouldn't have made them our sigil. There was a reason that the Badger was the sigil of his clan. They practically embodied everything a Solus did, their stubbornness, anger, and propensity for violence when something ventured too close. While there was a fear that blossomed within in Nox, it wouldn't be noticeable for Shale as he kept it locked away. The importance and significance of the creature were immeasurable to his clan. It had been one of the few times there had even been a spotting and he wasn't going to let the animals slip from his fingers.

Catching Shale's grumble, Nox couldn't help but let out a short laugh, I'll keep that in mind next time. Standing up, he glanced over at her with slight playfulness laced within his words, I thought you would love this. Best seat in the house to watch the Solus'alor get his ass beat. What could be better for you? A rhetorical question as he thought he knew the answer to that one. While that could have been a part of it, he invited her along because it was an extension of his trust.

This was most likely the first time a Vizla had ever in history been taken on one of these hunts but he felt comfortable beside her. Nox believed he could count on her and paid no heed to what her last name was. As he began to follow the tracks and trek up the mountain, Nox glanced over to her, How have you been? The Solus hadn't properly caught up with her before he snatched her away.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale scoffed at him, “As much as I’d love to watch you get your teeth kicked in, it ain’t happening on my watch,” She stated flatly, "Your clan would kill me," Shale added quickly for a smooth recovery. She rose up from the tracks, watching where it led. They disappeared into a forest and they would have to go through some dense woods that grew along the side of the mountain. In truth, she almost didn’t believe what they were seeing. Dire Badgers were thought to be extinct based on the very rare sightings anytime recently.

She glanced over at Nox, “I….didn’t think anyone outside of Solus could go on these hunts,” Shale mentioned curiously. She didn’t know much about Solus lore, but she knew their ridiculous rituals and traditions around badgers, mostly because everyone else thought it was absurd.

Shale shrugged vaguely at his question, “I’ve been okay. Happy to help with some of the rebuilding,” She kept walking with him, pausing every now and then to study the markings, “Did you want to be Alor?” Shale asked flatly. She didn’t ask how it was being alor or what his plans were. She wanted to know if it was something he truly had gone in wanting.

 

[Nox Solus]

Because of the mountains, there were massive portions of vegetation that had been shielded from the glassing. It was still nothing compared to old but at least it was there. The sight seemed almost like a sign to Nox, that if life such as trees and the small forest as a whole could still live on Mandalore, it meant there was still a chance for their people as well to take what back their rightful place in the galaxy.

Shale's curiosity drew the Solus back from his thoughts as he glanced back to her and gave a shrug, Nothing is mentioned specifically that forbids other clans from coming with and spectating. Traditionally, it has been only Solus. It was true but there were limitations, his tone becoming more serious, However, if we do find this Badger, you cannot interfere. I must face it myself, if you help, it is the loss of my honor and my place as a Solus. There were certain ways someone could read through the lines of their traditions but others were sacred. Nox wouldn't dare break them, even with Shale. If he did, the weight of shame that would be placed on him would make his ancestors spite him themselves.

Nox was glad to hear that she was okay. The last time they had met, both of them had been struggling at first with their new era. Thankfully, they each seemed to have found their groove over the past few days. Her next question hit him like a truck as it immediately made his attention snap to her. His reaction was to say no but instead, the silence would pass by them a handful of moments as he thought to himself.

Eventually, he answered, Yes and no, I just wanted to be able to help my clan and Mand'Alor. Once again, he just told the truth to Shale, for the better or the worst. If I wasn't Alor, it wouldn't have changed me or my feelings about anything. But I was elected by my clan and I accepted the responsibility knowing full well the consequences. There are parts me of that cannot accept certain aspects of our situation, being Alor gives me a chance to have a say in our future. There was a certain steel and fire to his voice, the passion carrying his words but knowing he could be towing a line too.

Then Nox turned his gaze toward her, remembering the contempt from earlier as he asked bluntly, Do you view me differently because I am Solus'alor now?

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Can’t interfere? Now that was something she hadn’t heard before, but it made sense. She also began to recall how Solus couldn’t use any weapons or armor during the fight. They could only keep their helmets on, but everything else had to go and they had to be down to their armorweave. She noticed he took his time answering her next question. She wondered if it was too personal and was about to retract it when he began to speak. While most of it made sense, she was caught off guard by his question back to her.

It was Shale’s turn to pause and stare at him for a moment in silence, weighing the question carefully. In the end she went back to what she was doing, brushing aside some sediment that hid more of the tracks, “It doesn’t matter how I view you,” She said after a moment before standing up again, “Only matters that Solus has a dedicated Alor now.”

In truth, it certainly was a factor in how she saw him. It was difficult to brush aside rivalries and perceptions. Shale couldn’t help but think to her own clan, one which desperately lacked true leadership. Who would fill that role? Gett’se? Merek? It was certainly not going to be her.

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox didn't know what to expect her answer to be. Whatever it would be, he at least wanted the truth. When she told him it didn't matter what she thought, her answer was practically in the one she used to deflect with. The Solus couldn't help it and he scoffed as he gazed out and in the opposite direction of her, shaking his head with disbelief.

He had let the disdain earlier in her voice slip by him but this time he couldn't. Nox had always been truthful to her, from the very moment they met. He's done what he could to attempt to bridge any gap that their clan rivalries could have put but it was obvious they were futile. Even inviting her on this, a tradition as sacred to the Solus as one could be, and a window into how he perceived her, she wouldn't answer his question.

Nox only took it as she either didn't respect him enough to tell him how she felt, or she didn't have the courage to say it to his face even though she basically did. The Solus was starting to become aware of the differences between their clans. His mind couldn't help but drift back to the tower, when he told her what she meant to him and Shale decided to just walk away.

When his visor returned to her, he just replied in a warmthless tone, It does to me but I can tell what your answer is. I won't give you the trouble of saying it. At least they had gotten it out of the way and spared her the embarrassment. After Shale brushed off the sediment, it was easy to tell the tracks led deeper into the forest.

When he heard it only mattered that his clan had a dedicated Alor, Nox gave a sort of hmmph with a slight nod of his head before he just turned and followed the tracks. Yeah, Vizla can now just put a bullseye on my head instead of hunting us all down. I'm sure that makes you ecstatic. It would be the first time ever between them that he mentioned their clan rivalries in such a way, the teasing tone replaced with a serious one as he more just stated it like it was a fact. He couldn't control his anger and it resulted in him lashing out.

Whatever, Shale's reaction was, he would just follow the tracks with his gaze aimed toward the ground in case they went in a new direction.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale was focusing on finding the badger, but she was completely caught off guard by what Nox said. She was frozen in place by the sudden tone shift, and it was clear in the way she was standing and looking as if she had been socked in the face. The Vizsla let the words strike her like several daggers at once, and she could hear the rage and pain that laced them. However, she wasn’t the type to just let people steamroll over her. Her jaw tightened and she began to see red.

Without warning, Shale stepped towards Nox, grabbing him by the shoulder. She abruptly pinned him against the side of the mountain to ensure she had his full attention. Shale didn’t need to take the helmet off for him to know she was glaring at him, “You’re just fucking confusing me and it’s getting on my last nerve,” She spat out, anger bleeding into her tone.

“You keep acting like you give a fuck what I say, you fret over whether I’m in enemy territory, you bring me out on a hunt that’s supposed to be exclusive and sacred,” She rattled off quickly, “I don’t know what the fuck you’re playing at. So yes, either it’s you trying real hard and obvious to soften up clan relationships or…” She paused for a moment, finally releasing her grip on his shoulder, “...Or you want me and this has nothing to do with Vizsla,” She blurted the latter out much quieter, stepping back as she looked down at the ground.

“I just don’t like being yanked around by the jetpack, Nox. And that’s exactly what this feels like.”

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox had walked alongside the tracks until he felt a hand grip onto his shoulder. Within the blink of an eye, he had been pulled back and slammed against the mountain as he grunted softly. His visor instantly glared back at her and his arms went underneath hers before shooting them outward, pushing her hands off his shoulders. A half step-forward would be taken, their helmets inches away from touching with their gazes locking intensely.

I'm the one confusing you?! Nox asked rhetorically as he spat back, almost unable to believe this angle was being taken by her. If anything, he had been the clearest.

As he listened to her reasons, he didn't know how he could spell it out any better for her. That was exactly his point. When she finished and took a quieter tone, so did his but the sentiment remained the same as he was charged from their conversation. Have you ever gotten it through your helmet it's been about you, always you? I have never cared you were a Vizla, you have. That's what the fuck I'm playing at, I have made it obvious Shale. Nox just shook his head slightly at her, the words slipping out now without his control, I practically told you at the tower. You walked away without saying anything and left without a word. I ask you a simple question about me and what you feel, you offer nothing except that it's good for my clan. His words were filled with a quiet passion, the care obvious he held for her but mutated into anger that had built up.

Nox's head would just tilt down as well as he stared at the ground, his eyes closing as the sound would just be them for them breathing. It would last only for a few seconds before he returned his attention to her, Who's being the one yanked by their jetpack? He asked simply, no anger or contempt as it appeared to have evaporated in those quiet moments in between them, almost like she had finally been able to rip off his jetpack and get him.

The trees just waved and groaned in the wind, leaves rustling gently beside the pair as their silent audience spectated.

 

[Shale Vizsla]

Shale was stunned into silence when Nox confirmed her suspicions. She had fully expected him to admit it was just about bridging the gap between clans, that he was trying to do right by Solus, that he was being an Alor. However, even though she put it out there, she was completely blindsided by his words and admission. Shale stood there quietly, hearing nothing but the sounds of nature every now and then around them.

For a moment she didn’t respond, but it was a warzone in her mind. There was a fullblown panic. Despite whatever she may have felt for him in turn, the biggest hurdles had more to do with what she had been born as and who she was now. Only those in her clan knew, but it was never the business of anyone else. Now that this was staring her right in the face, she wasn’t even sure how to approach it. Would he turn from her if he knew everything about her? It was so easy to judge only based on a helmet and nothing more.

“You…you don’t know me..” She muttered quietly, keeping her gaze lowered. Her voice faltered a bit, and it was clear she was grappling quite a bit with this. Her face was burning hot and she wanted nothing more than to jetpack away. This took an abrupt turn she hadn’t expected and she didn’t even know where to begin.

“I’m not trying to jerk you around, Nox,” She shook her head, “I…I’m very bad at this..”

 

[Nox Solus]

All Nox could do was simply stare as she uttered that he didn't know her. It was obvious that something plagued her, an aspect about her that she had never shared with him. At first, he didn't know what to say or act as a reply. But when he heard Shale state that she wasn't trying to jerk him around, an apology in her own form; all the anger that lingered inside him, the frustration, they simply vanished. He knew her well enough to know she wasn't lying.

By the time she had finished telling him that she was bad at this, Nox had stepped forward to close the distance between them. His right hand went to her bicep as he gripped in between her plates. She would be able to feel his touch and reassuring squeeze through the fabric, an actual physical connection between them. The other hand would come to the cheek of her helm, tilting her head up gently so she peered at him. His head would come down after and press their foreheads together lightly.

Nox's voice came out softly, No, not all. But I have seen enough to know I want and care for you deeply. I don't give a shit what clan you are, what is underneath the armor. My only concern is you. Even though he had just been livid moments prior, he once again spoke with sincerity when it came to how he actually felt about her. It was a pull towards her he couldn't deny, no matter how red his vision got.

I will always be here, Nox murmured, ready to listen when she was ready to reveal whatever stopped her from reaching back, Just... He paused for a moment before he exhaled softly and simply lifted his head up to tap his forehead against hers again. I'm on your team Mudpie. Just remember that for me.

After he finished, his grasp would drop from her as he stepped back. Nox knew she had been uncomfortable when it turned on her and he tried to offer up a suitable distraction. Come on, we shouldn't be too far out. Still prime seats to see my ass whooped. The playfulness had edged back into his voice.