Daylight reached out over the rough landscape of the Giza Plains, slowly drying up further the land during its Dry season. In the distance, a Werewolf howled, vicious and hungry, waiting for the sun to warm up the ground further before hunting. Giza Rabbits scrabbled from their underground burrows to seek food before the Werewolves began to roam for theirs. In the small settlement of nomads, the inhabitants and the odd wanderers began their day, securing their borders from the creatures that roamed the Giza Plains and preparing breakfast as the Cockatrice chirped for food.
Fran was up long before anyone else, cleaning her bow and making sure her arrows were clear of sand and dust, things that could throw off the trajectory of her shots. In the tent behind her, Penelo slept soundly, even when morning light touched the Plains and the others were moving about. The others in their group had gone ahead two days prior, eager to hunt the Kaiser Wolf in the Westersand. Fran and Penelo stayed behind after a Hyena surprised Penelo as she was exploring a ditch in Warrior's Wash and tore into her leg with teeth and claws. If Balthier's quick hands hadn't gotten off a head shot at the Hyena, Penelo may have lost her leg. As it was, the wounds were easily healed with Cura, but it left Penelo completed drained and in dire need of rest. So she slept, on and off, mostly on, for the last two days. The others had wanted to wait here with her while she healed, but Penelo had urged them on, saying she was fine.
The viera stayed behind with the girl, sensing the extent of Penelo's fatigue. A fever had taken hold of Penelo last night, but Fran had herbs from Eruyt Village and mixed them with a potion to break it. Still, Penelo was wrapped up in blankets despite the heat, her body fighting off an infection that a healing spell couldn't get rid of. At noon, the sick girl finally awoke to Fran sitting beside her, a bowl of food at her side. Blushing, Penelo sat up, throwing off all the blankets but one - having been nude underneath it.
"How are you feeling?" Fran inquired, pressing her cool hand against Penelo's forehead.
"Better. Much better," the teen answered, stretching her previously injured leg out from under the blanket. "My leg's not itching anymore either."
Grasping a pale ankle carefully, Fran observed the spot on the side of Penelo's calf that had nearly been ripped out whole by sharp teeth. Small indentures were the only proof of what had happened and the viera traced them lightly with her finger, making Penelo blush even more. On various places on the leg were faint pinkish-white marks from where the Hyena's claws had scratched at flesh. With no hint of embarrassment, Fran also traced these with her fingers before withdrawing her hand and handing the bowl of food to the teen.
"Eat so your body will have the strength for travel tomorrow. We'll head back to Rabanastre in the morning and wait for the others to complete their hunt."
"Shouldn't we join up with them and help?"
"No, your leg may be better for travel, but fighting is something you should hold off from another few days."
Silence encompassed them as Penelo knew better than to argue with the viera woman and resided herself to the food which her stomach growled for hungrily. Red eyes watched Penelo, captivated by how far along Penelo had come during their adventures. Fran had met a child months ago, seventeen years old, orphaned, caring, and very willful despite her lot in life. Over the past months, as they drew closer to bringing down Vayne and his corrupted Judges, the viera watched the child become a woman of eighteen, strong and powerful in her magic, still caring, and still so very willful. Fran had observed similar humes in similar situations and had seen them grow twisted, corrupted by hate and pain. Those that did not become twisted, died before the seed could properly be planted. Even Vaan had fallen under the seductive allure of becoming a sky pirate, traveling the world and plundering everything he could, which while not necessarily wicked, could easily become so one day.
This teen hume before her was extraordinary in that she had grown better over time and through experience. Never letting her eyes be hid behind lies and keeping her morals in check when the others had forgotten theirs'. Fran was entranced by this woman before her as Penelo finished her meal and smiled in gratitude of all the viera had done for her, conveyed simply with her eyes. The day went on with little talk, Penelo getting up and stretching her body to keep herself limber as Fran went about preparing for their departure in the morning. When night fell, their meals eaten, Penelo yawned but showed no signs of sleepiness. Instead, Fran was aware from the blush that had not left the young woman's cheeks in the last hour, that Penelo was contemplating something that she wasn't completely sure of. Fran thought she had inkling of what it might be, having grown accustom to humes strange behaviors, and waited patiently.
Slipping off her armor to prepare for bed, undressing before shy blue eyes with no sense of shame for the viera were proud of their bodies, Fran sensed the slightest amount of tension fill the small tent. Sitting on her bedroll, naked, she locked eyes with the young woman.
"Is there something on your mind?" she asked, her hand pressing against Penelo's forehead to make sure that anything that was to come wasn't a result of a fever. There was none.
"You've helped me so much these last few days and I wanted to do something to thank you...," Penelo nibbled on her lip as she made up her mind, "and I was hoping if you would accept a kiss?"
"I will accept any gift you seek to present me with," the viera said, wondering if the young woman would further prove the strength of her character.
Gripping the end of her blanket to cover her nudity, Penelo crawled forward and kissed the viera on the lips softly. Pulling away but remaining where she was, Penelo opened her eyes and sought acceptance in red eyes. It was enough for Fran, who wrapped her hand around the back of Penelo's neck and urged their lips together again. Gentle was the kiss as Penelo's hand released her hold of her blanket, allowing herself to be exposed to the older woman and moving closer so their bodies touched. Chills ran along both their bodies as they slowly touched and kissed. Eventually, Penelo would straddle Fran's lap, growing bold the more comfortable she became with the situation. Taking charge and proving her womanhood to the viera.
Fran slipped fingers into the younger woman, growing more aroused by the sounds of their flesh together and Penelo's gentle pants into her mouth. Finally, Penelo's mouth moved away from hers, her torso and head thrown back as she rode fingers that knew how to please as well as they knew how to kill. Forever would the scene be etched into Fran's mind as she watched pale flesh, tanned only at the face and arms, move against her. Small perky breasts bouncing in rhythm with the thrusts and movements below.
Forever etched in Fran's memory would be the young woman in her lap, her own dark fingers buried deep within the young flower, who withered and moaned, before crying out in shock as she orgasmed. Forever would she remember the taste of eager lips, appreciative of everything Fran was and had done for her. Forever would Fran remember the young woman she watched grow from a child to woman, with only the slightest help of this moment.
In the morning, they would pretend nothing had happened, but they would always remember. Forever.