"Oriel," Koleyn called, scanning the area for the blue skinned one. It wasn't far, and if it had possessed sight, Koleyn would have thought it was staring into the fire. Since he had killed his leader, Oriel had stayed near his side or stayed where it was left. Koleyn didn't understand it, but he wasn't going to question anything that made his self imposed burdon easier.

"I brought your breakfast," he said.

The sightless eyes turned to him. "You do this for a reason, yes?"

"Feed you? Well, if you want to get back to those depths you go on about, I'd not question it."

"You killed. And not to eat. You killed one you didn't want to. I saw your heart then. You killed for me. Why?"

Koleyn shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I strayed from my darkness to be brought to a different darkness. But you are bringing me through light," the blue-skinned creature said. "You needn't, but your light burns ever brighter in my heart. Why?"

Koleyn sat, shoving the food into Oriel's hands. "None should be with them."

"And yet others were," Oriel prompted.

The elf glared at it briefly, knowing that the effort was wasted. "Others know where they are. You acted as though you were still in water."

The sea creature sighed, seeming to grow smaller. "I should be. The coldness on the ground is something, but the deep calls me, always. To be able to answer it...." It's voice petered out, but the longing was clear on it's face. It made Koleyn content that he was helping it home.

He was brought out of his thoughts by a slender hand covering his own. "Thank you, gentle one," Oriel said in its musical voice. "Your heart keeps me whole."

The touch was cool, Koleyn thought randomly. Not cold, like any other would be in the middle of a mountain winter. Like any sane being would be walking around naked. He shook his head to clear it of those thoughts. "My name is Koleyn," he said, "And I'm not gentle."

A small smile graced the mournful face. "Thank you, Koleyn," it corrected. "Your heart is gentle."

"So do I keep calling you Oriel now? You've my name," the elf said beligerently, pulling his hand away. He wasn't gentle, not after all he'd done. Not after killing his captain.

"You couldn't hear my name," the sea creature said. "My name is for the deep and for those tied to it. You are fire. Fire and ice. Fire like the warmth you build, ice like the land we travel. Perhaps someday you will be mine."

"Yours?" Koleyn asked sharply, hand going to his sword. He quivered as the pale hand reached out and touched his face. Oriel stroked his cheek, smoothing the tension away without trying.

"What are fire and ice but water that has lost itself? Perhaps in time you will see. Then you may have my name."

Koleyn stared a long moment, then pulled himself away. "Eat," he said gruffly. "We should move out soon." He rose, fleeing slowly. The one turn to look back that he permitted himself showed only a small, naked blue figure huddled near a fire that threw reddish highlights over its skin. Oriel looked like the fire and ice it had spoken of, Koleyn reflected. He went to get his own breakfast.