The Land In Between

C H A P T E R 1 9

Author's Note: *slides in this as an apology lol*

Amihan and Banawag walked back to their camp and Amihan was incredibly dead set on making sure Banawag gets proper medical treatment. Once he made sure that Banawag would stay put, he went to Hiwaga. The Divinity was watching Ligid playing with Likha, the younger boy's features finally relaxed and open with a small smile. Amihan clears his throat to alert his presence as Hiwaga looks away from the children, "Amihan, yes?" She asks.

He gestures to Banawag, who still felt the need in him to throw a bright grin. Hiwaga sees the minor wounds and sighs. She reaches into her skirts for some blood-clotting herbs, "Here, make sure you get some water to clean the wound." Amihan takes them gratefully and walks back to Banawag. The other man lets him look over his body for any wounds, and thankfully they were all very minor. Amihan lets out an impressed exclaim, "You're very skilled with your whip." Banawag shrugs which makes him hiss. He grumbles, "Yeah, well...You get used to it."

Amihan continues his work in silence until he asks, "Can you remove your shirt, you might have some wounds on your shoulder." Banawag goes still but slowly shrugs off his barong. On his shoulder blade was a large bruise that was starting to form. Luckily, Hiwaga seemed to have given Amihan some cold enough water to help stop swelling. Amihan warns, "It's about to get cold, hope you don't mind." Banawag grunts in reply. Steadily, some of the water gets applied to the forming bruise and Banawag lets out a small moan.

Amihan's hands nearly let go of the water canteen at the sound but he thanks whatever deity or ancestor that watches him for the fact that he didn't. 'Although to be honest, I'd rather not have such important entities watching over me go through this...interesting turn of events.' He repeats this for every other bruise he finds on Banawag's back, though his eyes sharpen at the sight of older bruises. Those were not from a whip. Amihan asks, trying his best to keep the anger out of his voice, "The ones who did these...they're gone?" Banawag turns his head around to where Amihan was gesturing before going "Ah, these. Yes, I think Hiwaga got rid of them." The relief that rushes in Amihan feels so overwhelming. "Good." He mutters. If he was still a member of Fourth House, he would've dismissed the guards who dare beat innocent prisoners.

He feels another inkling of hate go to himself because he too did that to his friend. Amihan's fingertips slowly brush over other wounds that Banawag had been inflicted with during his time in the prison chambers and Banawag shivers at the sensation. Amihan lets out a small huff of laughter at that though there was nothing humorous going on in his thoughts. He mutters the words, "I'm sorry."

Banawag clicks his tongue but Amihan feels no annoyance beneath it. "This again?" He asks incredulously. Amihan keeps applying whatever herb in needed areas of Banawag's back and torso as he says, "I don't think I could ever stop apologizing to you about this. We could be wandering spirits or souls in Hiwaga's Quietus Keep and I'd still be saying sorry." Amihan stops to move in front of Banawag and his eyes are drawn to Banawag's collar bones with tiny scars on them. He pointedly does not look at Banawag and is instead focusing on healing him. He reconnects to his last thought, "I've hurt you. Brought you pain, emotional and physical. I don't think there's anything I can do to fix that." He finally finishes on the last little scar by the side of Banawag's chin. Amihan helps Banawag put his shirt back on.

They sit facing each other, with Amihan's hands on his lap. It's almost as if he was younger, still stuttering and wanting nothing more to do with the outside world. "I..." says Amihan. Banawag sits patiently and does not interrupt him at all. His eyes are now clearer, and had a shine to them. 'Better', Amihan regards, 'Anything over the emptiness you once had.'

It is enough to power him through and Amihan finally gathers himself. "Once all of this...mess is over...and we live, where will you go?" Banawag actually seems to consider giving it thought before shrugging, "Wherever the road takes me." He flexes his hands a bit, trying to let the tingling sensation of his hands fade while explaining further. "I mean, once I finally get my family and Adhika justice, there is not much for me to want in this world. Free of my burdens, for once." He hums, "Not to say I dislike travelling but I've been looking to try and find a place to stay. More permanently, I guess. After settling, then maybe I'll travel more." Banawag throws the question back at Amihan, "How about you?"