World's Horniest Iron Lords

Dark clouds covered the sky like a blanket, shielding the planet's surface from any possible light from the sun. On the horizon a looming sphere could be made out from the small encampment; the Traveler. While she certainly couldn't tell anyone exactly what it was, or why it was there, she knew that was why she was alive. From what she understood, not every Risen could remember what came before they were revived. She happened to be one of the fortunate (or unfortunate?) ones who could, flashes of a brighter, greener planet interrupted her sight and dreams on a semi-regular basis.

The exo pulls the cloak around her neck tighter to her body, looking back to the man tending to the fire. ”How much longer do you think until we get to the Traveler?” Rubi asked, turning to sit back at the fire. She looked to Saladin, her bright white optics watching him. She had met him on her way to the Traveler, before she had even seen it with her own eyes. He was as confused as she was, brought back from the dead in a dark and unfamiliar world. ”I mean, we don’t even know what we’ll find there. More like...us, or whatever remains of humanity?” Her Ghost bobbed around the fire, following the other Ghost around like it was a game. ”We haven’t seen anything either.” Her smooth voice came from her little frame, her path stopping to circle around Saladin’s head before returning to Follow-the-Leader with Hati.

Rubi stretched her legs before the fire, feeling the heat that matched the Light that was in her body… at least from what her Ghost told her. Neither her or Saladin have figured out what they were truly capable of, but didn’t want to draw attention to themselves. Creatures called the Fallen crawled between the expanse of trees, scavenging for any parts and attacking anything that moved. Or didn’t move either: they had found a group picking apart bodies that were similar to her own. The pair barely had any weapons to themselves either; all the exo had was a barely-functioning hand cannon and any ammo she had left on her person.

The faint crack of a branch caused the man’s head to snap to attention. Alert eyes scanned the bushes and tree line for any movement, only to catch the fleeting skitter of a rabbit attempting to escape unnoticed. Saladin allowed himself to breath, easing back onto the thick fallen tree trunk he had propped himself up against. They had been traveling for days now, he was sure the little ghosts had been keeping track for them, he couldn’t quite remember himself. Their meeting hadn’t been perfect, nearly attacking one another on the spot until their ghosts had to intervene. Since then they had been close traveling companions, he wasn't sure if he would have even made it this far without her keen eyes and warm company.

Her voice broke his thoughts, heavy eyes looking towards the exo as she spoke, he simply nodded. “we can see it, that's a start” Saladin grunted as he stood, taking a moment to stretch his arms before walking over to where Rubi sat. The large grey sphere on the distant horizon seemed dull in their surroundings, no great symbol of hope or shining beacon that will answer all. He was skeptical but it was all they had. “it will do us good to be on guard the closer we get. The Ghosts implied there are others like us, and with those creatures crawling everywhere, its bound to have gotten attention from anything in its radius.”  A small whirr caught his attention, glancing to see Rubi’s ghost flutter around his head for a moment, he gave her a quick smirk. Another little voice spoke up “I could scout ahead if you like, make sure the path is clear?” Saladin’s own ghost Hati spoke in a low and careful tone, both of the small beings had attempted to stay uplifting this whole journey, but their fear wasn’t hard to read. “no we all stay together, it's safer that way. come little ones, let's wrap you up for the night, the colder air is fast approaching” He grabbed the blanket that was resting near the warmth of the fire, molding it to become a nice warm spot for the ghosts. They each flew in nestling together, Hati let out a small appreciative whirr as he settled against Kitten. “Are you hungry?” Saladin asks, turning to glance at Rubi as he carefully wrapped their ghosts up in the fire warmed blanket.

She leaned forward to place another small log onto the fire, watching the hot flames lick at the dry wood before turning her attention back to Saladin. "I've had...some flashes of the Traveler, I think from before... the Collapse?" She almost asked; even their Ghosts didn't know what to call it, and she only knew from odd, misplaced memories. "I think it was alive, back then. I'm not sure. It's very vague and foggy, whatever I get." A lot of what she saw didn't make a lot of sense, memories she couldn't quite piece together yet.

Shaking her head, she held out a hand for Hati to float above. "I agree with Saladin. It's safer this way." She lifted her hand to send him off to the warm blanket Saladin offered them. Her own Ghost floating over to bop her on the head, she bobbed over to snuggle into the soft cloth, her beeping pleased against the other Ghost.

Exos didn't react too well with the cold, Rubi was quick to discover early on in their adventure. Both had discovered her joints would lock up, hindering her movement. Her staying close to the fire was a saving grace and a comfort for them. She nodded, looking down at herself. "I mean... I think I am? I'm not 100% sure how this works quite yet." Rubi chuckled, shaking her head. It had seemed that she also retained human necessities, such as sleep and the need to eat. "Or...how any of this works. How did it feel, when Hati revived you?" She tucked her legs against herself, her head turning to Saladin.

Saladin carried the two wrapped ghosts with great care over to where Rubi sat, placing the secure bundle between them both before sitting down himself. He reached for a bag the two of them shared, it had a variety of small tools they had collected along the way, some had been rusted over by the weather but still able to be used. He found what he was looking for in a carefully secured package before setting their bag aside. Saladin quickly unraveled the leathered meat they had saved, preserving what little they could hunt for their journey ahead. It was an unsettling feeling having the knowledge of certain things but other information was just lost to him. It frustrated him knowing he should remember who he had been, or where they should go. But he didn’t.

“Eat some anyway, Safer that way and we still have a long way to travel” he offered the dry meat to his companion before taking one himself. It was tasteless and chewy but it would fill them. He took another hardy bite of the tough meat when Rubi asked her next question, he glanced at her for a moment before looking back at the fire. “It was like he woke me up from a long rest...the world was foggy but also...warm” he offered another piece of meat to Rubi before he continued “the warmth came after I could see straight, it was like a sudden wave, Hati told me that was the Light….from the Traveler” Saladin nodded in the direction the floating sphere hung motionless in the sky far on the horizon, watching it as he spoke “Hati told me I was chosen, I had a duty to fullfill that he was my ghost and I was his wielder of the Light.” His hand found its way to the bundled ghosts next to them, gently petting the two softly beeping lumps. “I met you two soon after...you know the rest from there.” He paused giving Rubi a quick glance “I’m still not sure what this all means but I do know two things...We are going to get to that….Traveler, dead or not there has to be some answers for us. Two, We’re going to do it together.” He looked back down at the crackling fire, the warmth was appreciated as the night air was starting the creep against their backs. “You seem to remember more then me, what was it like when Kitten found you?”

The two Ghosts bundled together beeped out a smooth tune to each other, the sound was soothing until it slowly faded into silence. The exo moved her hand to gently rub the plates that made up their little beings, another hand reaching for the meat Saladin offered her. Tried as she might, she couldn’t help the grimace on her face as she bit into it. It was dry and held no flavor, but it was all they had and it was food that took almost an entire day to obtain.

She listened to what her companion told her, almost envying him. In one breath, she almost wished she didn’t have even small visions into who she was or what she did before she was revived. On another, she couldn’t imagine being completely clueless, unable to know or learn about themselves. And Rubi knew that Saladin didn’t remember anything about himself even before he was revived; even that name was something he gave himself, a name to forge his new self with.

The exo looked down at herself, shrugging. ”Similar to how you described it but... I had one definitive thought that I knew about myself. Rubi-12. I don’t know what the number means...something about resets.” Even Kitten couldn’t figure it out, not even how reviving an exo even worked. ”I don’t remember too much either, it comes in...flashes and dreams, when I can sleep. Bits and pieces of...the golden age, the beginning of the collapse. It plays out like a war, something evil descending on Earth and the Traveler and then...nothing.” She turned her body to better face Saladin and their ghosts, the blue lights that acted as their eyes blinking back and forth at each other as if it was a game. ”I don’t know if the Traveler will give either of us more answers. I just hope there’s more than just...us.”Her voice was quiet now, keeping her eyes on the tree line and Saladin.

Saladin listened quietly to her words, reaching to stoke the fire a bit to keep it satisfied against the cold air. He couldn’t imagine what constant visions would be like, especially of a life that was yours but with no attachment. Saladin was the name that came to him when Hati had asked, it was one that felt right on his tongue. It might not have been his name before he died but it was his now and thats all that mattered to him. But to see who you were before death...snapshots of a time before all of...this. It unsettled him. Rubi had a burden to bare that was greater than his own, he hoped time spent in this life would ease it.

The Traveler that hung low in the sky was now becoming harder to see as the sun faded away behind it on the horizon. The air began to nip at the back of his neck causing the hair to stand up on ends. He noted the way Rubi had sat, curled into herself as they spoke. From their travels he knew how her body would lock up against the biting cold, it caused the exo pain. Watching the fire he spoke carefully, hoping he was not out of line“As the night goes on it's only going to get colder, by morning you won’t be able to move again.” He turned his attention to her, the glow of the fire beginning to dance against his face “You should sleep against me, between the warmth your light produces and my own it should prevent you from locking up”  he gave a small nod, biting into the last salvageable piece of the meat before tossing away the end, it had become far too hard to chew. He took in their campsite for a moment, it was fairly open despite  large rock jutting out of the ground, they had picked the site specifically for the rock, it would be what they would sleep against to buffet the cold wind.

The exo scooted herself closer to the fire; the cold wind seemed to pass through her clothes and right into her joints, the chill settling in. She couldn't help but laugh at what he said. "We should be thankful we aren't in a desert. From what I can remember, the nights there are much worse than what we've experienced." But she paused and thought about what else he suggested, looking at the large rock at their chosen campsite. "Good idea. Hopefully this time we can get an earlier start than waiting until almost noon because of my legs." Rubi chuckled, stretching out her body before scooping up the Ghosts in their warm blanket, the small robots beeping in excitement at their sudden lift. She couldn't help the smile as she stood.

"You're both more excited about that than I thought possible." Standing on one leg momentarily, she used her balance to kick her leg to loosen the joint somewhat. "There's no Fallen in the area tonight at least." She almost shuddered at the thought; maybe a week ago they were awoken by a Fallen scavenging party patrolling too close to their camp. The pair had to make a quick but silent getaway from they were found and possibly killed again, permanently. Their Ghosts had mentioned before that the creatures had no sympathy for the small drones; whether or not they knew that they came from the Traveler was a mystery... but it was best to keep their much smaller companions safe.

Saladin quickly got to work with preparing their spot. They each carried a pack, Saladin`s held their resources, their dried meat stayed secure at the bottom, ontop of that was the pan they had been using to collect rainwater. A good length of rope rested at the top along with smaller tools such as knives and a hammer they had found on their trip. Rubi’s carried the blankets and stretches of cloth, they tended to grab what they could if it was salvageable. The Ghosts also enjoyed taking breaks within Rubi’s bag, being the softest nest for them. Saladin laid the found cloth out first, they both had taken turns cleaning it in a river but it was still best to use it as the foundation of their bedding. Their sleeping bags were next though he only unfolded his own, laying it out against the cloth. Each end was held down with a decent sized rock, preventing the corners from being tossed by the wind.

He stood back to admire his work, the bedding nestled firm against the rock would keep the wind off of them for the night. Saladin turned towards Rubi “What do you think?” he smirked slightly, stretching before turning back towards the bedding. Saladin began to situate himself in the sleeping bag, leaving plenty of room for his exo companion when she decided to join him. “this will help us keep a low profile...less open” Night always left him on edge, there was never any telling what crawled around in the dark

Rubi stood as Saladin prepared their bed for the night, holding the two Ghosts in their blanket like they were the most precious things in the world. "You remember the drill, right little ones? If there's something skulking around, be sure to wake us up if we don't notice it." The little bundled beeped their agreement, Kitten's little blue eye blinking. "Yeah! Then we can come back later and beat them up, right?" Her tone was excitable and the visible plates on her seemed to puff out.

The exo chuckled, reaching to give the small Ghost a little rub on her head. "Maybe when we're better suited to deal with them, deal?" Kitten beeped in response, wriggling her little form to better cuddle with Hati.

Looking down at Saladin as the bed was finished, she nudged him gently, shaking her head. "Probably your best bed yet." She leaned down to place the little bundle by her companion's head, removing the cloak she used to keep herself warm before joining Saladin in their makeshift bed. Her internal lights dimmed automatically as she made herself comfortable, the Light in her metal frame flaring itself momentarily when she looked up at Saladin. "I hope you're prepared to defend me if something sneaks up on us tonight." Rubi joked, reaching a hand up to pinch Saladin's nose playfully.

The ghosts whirred and coo’d with one another as they were placed close to him, he could hear their quiet chattering and soft song. Saladin was beginning to recognize it now, the two sung it together often, ever since he and Rubi had started traveling. He wondered what the significance of it was, or how the little beings even worked. They had seemed like tiny robots to him, mechanical in their movements but, like Rubi, was so much more. Their feelings were organic, the night they narrowly escaped a fallen raiding party he could feel Hati shivering in fear against his neck. He could see now how the two nuzzled against eachother, he watched as Hati attempted to push more blanket onto Kitten to help keep her warm. They were so much more than just machine.

His attention moved back to Rubi as she moved to lay next to him, something deep in his chest reacting to her presence, a warmth briefly pooled in his stomach. He chuckled at what she said, reaching to wrap his arms around her smaller frame. “I would, I don’t think I would have made it this far without you.” though the look in his eye turned mischievous, pulling the corner of their blankets tighter around Rubi to make sure she was covered “though if one of those creatures offered me a nice steak in exchange for you I might...think about it” he teased, giving her back a little rub. The warmth in his chest pulsed again when he watched her, it bubbled at every breath she would take, threatening to spill over. He couldn't pin point what the feeling even was but he didn’t stop it. Saladin shifted some, gently resting his head atop of her’s the feeling in hes chest beginning to spread down to his fingers, warmth prickly warmth gathered at the tips. He wondered if Rubi felt this too, could she feel the light sparks at her back too? They danced against her until the feeling was met with a new one, heat, scorching heat wrapped around his fingers and up his arm from where he was touching Rubi. The blazing feeling was like a wildfire, but there was no pain, only a fire that didn’t burn. Saladin inhaled deeply, bringing Rubi closer to him

Rubi gasped, pinching harder on Saladin's nose before moving her hand. "Oh please, for all we remember steak could have been the worst food to have in the golden age." She laughed, tucking herself comfortably against him. She felt safe with him and already she felt warmer than in previous nights traveling with him. Her Light flared up again as she pressed closer to him, warmth enveloping her body along with oddly comforting static weaving its way between her circuits and plates.

The Light settled in the pit of her stomach, the exo shifting her body and adjusting her legs before settling back in again. "I hope you know what you're doing." Rubi heard a small voice in the back of her head, her eyes shifting upwards into the single blue eye of her Ghost, the small robot turning her attention back to Hati. The peanut-gallery response almost made the exo hesitate, but she couldn't help herself as she moved her arm around Saladin as well. Her eyes closed, shaking her head slightly. "Not a clue."

The fire Rubi emanated burned stronger against him, he held her close against his chest. Their bodies naturally molded together and after countless of nights fearing for their newly found lives, it was this night he felt at ease in a way that transcended physical comfort. He welcomed the painless fire to envelop him, just as his own sparks jumped and crackled into every crevice of Rubi. He said nothing, whatever they were doing certainly spoke for itself.

~x~

The wet mist of morning tickled at his nose, the wet drips easing him awake. It was a cold morning but he felt no effects from it as he pulled the still resting body closer to him. His cheek pressing against the top of Rubi’s head. He felt rested, rejuvenated and ready for what the day had to bring. A little light flashed above them, Hati looking very chipper as well as he twirled about in the air after Kitten. Saladin adjusted where he lay before sitting up on one arm, he used his other hand to gently rub Rubi’s shoulder, hoping to wake her. “We better get moving” he spoke gently when he noticed her shift slightly “With a days worth of walking we can make it to the Traveler” he continued to rub her arm as he allowed her to wake up, watching their ghosts zip playfully around their campsite

Her internal lights switched on, daily processes in her mechanical body beginning for the day. Rubi grumbled in response to Saladin, her eyes opening to look at him from her spot. ”The most restful sleep I’ve gotten this whole time and you want to take it from me.” She joked, sitting up slowly to watch their Ghosts zip around the campsite. Ever since being revived, she hadn’t had the most restful sleep. Most nights were plagued with visions manifesting as dreams and nightmares, but sleeping against Saladin allowed her to stay asleep for the entire night.

-*-

The sun was just about to set beyond the horizon when they had arrived at the Traveler. A small settlement had sprung up from whatever remained of the Collapse and just by looking around, no other Risen or Ghosts were present. ”This...this isn’t all that’s left of humanity, is it?” Rubi spoke quietly, pulling her hood closer to her face. She wasn’t sure if there were any other exos like her around, or if there were even any left. Her optics peeked from behind her hood up to Saladin, lifting her arm to link with his. ”Maybe he’s important, though.” She pointed out a man at the head of the settlement, other humans and blue-people gathering around him.

Turning to peek into the small pack she held, Rubi pushed the little Ghosts down. ”Stay down for now, little ones.” Realisitically she knew they were safe now, but she was still on edge. Right now, the only one she felt she could trust was Saladin and their Ghosts.

The little settlement bustled about as they walked through, vendors selling their wares others working hard on expanding their homes or erecting new ones. Children played about on the lone main road weaving in and out of carts and up to certain stalls. smaller roads stretched out from the main, curving off around bends that Saladin couldn’t see around. He felt Rubi’s arm around his own and his opposite hand reached to rub her arm. “I would hope not, we should just observe for now” he nodded his eyes kept a constant scan of their surroundings, lingering on those who may have held a stare for just a little too long. He looked to the man Rubi mentioned, watching as he spoke passionately about the hanging Traveler above him. He held the group’s attention like an iron fist with his words, the whole crowd staying silent as he spoke. “He talks of the Traveler, it's a symbol of hope for these people.” He sighed as they continued. The orb in the sky had been hope for them as well. Hoping at the end of their long journey they would find answers, instead only finding a weary settlement held together by faith in a silent sphere. “The Traveler created us, so we could find you both, we are here for a reason, don’t dismiss her yet” Saladin glanced down at Hati who spoke, his small eye peeking out of the pack as he looked between Rubi and Saladin. He reached his hand in to gently pet the ghost, rubbing his shell to comfort him before closing up the pack once more.

“At the very least it looks like this would be a safe place to--” he was cut off by a loud clatter, followed by a woman’s surprised gasp. The crowd suddenly grew eerily silent at the abrupt commotion. Saladin instinctively pulled Rubi closer as he too turned to see what was unfolding. A tall woman gripped the other by the wrist, twisting it in a painful way as she stood above the stall. Saladin gripped Rubi tighter when he noticed a ghost buzzing around the tall woman’s head as she spoke. There were three others with her, no other ghosts from what he could see, but all similarly dressed and keeping an eye out on the crowd. The tall woman barked how the vendor had over charged her for a bad product, the women in her clutches simply begged to be forgiven. The tall women expressed herself being a warlord, an ugly word that struck Saladin. “Warlord?” he repeated quietly to Rubi, never once taking his eyes off the scene before them.

Her eyes turned up to look at the large sphere in the sky. The Traveler was a sign of hope for the remainder of humanity, something to live and look for. ”Do you think he could give us better insight?” Rubi questioned, still referring to the one preaching about the Traveler. She paused, nearly jumping at the sudden commotion only feet from them. Warlords? The only enemies they’ve come across have been the Fallen; she never expected to find humanity turning against each other, after practically being on the brink of extinction.

Huffing a breath of air, Rubi wiggled herself out of Saladin’s grasp, reaching for the hand cannon holstered at her hip. She wasn’t even sure if the rusty gun would fire properly. It had several days ago, but she hadnt had a reason to need to use it. ”I got this.” She held the gun up and facing the so-called Warlord, the barrel glinting in the sunlight. ”Let her go.” Her voice was clear over the silence that fell over the settlement, taking note of the three followers that cowered back. They weren’t risen, like her and Saladin. The larger woman was quiet as well, before her laugh echoed out. ”Or what, scrap? You gonna shoot me with that piece of junk?”

Rubi could hear an angry rattle of plates from her pack, little Kitten bursting out to show herself. The little Ghost bopped Rubi on her head and the exo could feel painless fire envelope her body, and notably, her gun. Her eyes went from the gun and to the warlord, a coy smile on her face before pulling the trigger three times in rapid succession. Each round lodged into the warlord’s chest, releasing the woman she had a grip on before dissipating into Solar Light. The three followers bolted almost as fast as the group had shown up, leaving the fallen warlord behind. The Ghost that had belonged to the warlord looked between the fiery remains of the human and Rubi, his blue eye unblinking. Blue light surrounded the small drone, the action piecing his Risen back to life and together. The pair barely said another word before following the path her followers had gone.

Rubi watched them run away and out of the settlement, turning over her gun to examine it. ”Was... that the Light?” She asked quietly to Kitten, who twirled around her head excitedly. ”Yes! You picked that up fast!” The small being bounced her way back to Saladin, nuzzling herself into his neck.

Saladin felt his muscles tense, he too felt the call to action against this other risen, who had clearly been using her power to throw her weight around against these people. Rubi’s movement caught his attention, he shifted to let her go only nodding as she stepped towards the scene. If she wouldn’t have stepped forward he would have, it's why they made a good pair. He watched the other stooges, his hand on his own weapon incase they happened to intervene but he realized they were harmless. What had been a gang of inflated egos quickly turned into scared children, helpless and unsure. It all happened in a brilliant blaze, Rubi’s body erupting in fire, her small rusted pistol unloading molten rounds into the brazen Warlord. it was over in seconds and Saladin found it hard not to stand with his mouth open.

The crowd stayed completely silent as the beaten Warlord scurried away after her resurrection, her eyes wouldn’t meet anyone's but the little ghost in her hands. Saladin watched until she rounded a far corner and out of sight. A few claps started, then several more until the crowd that had gathered erupted into applause. Saladin greeted Rubi’s little Ghost as she nestled herself into his neck. “That was impressive” he told her, gently rubbing her shell.  Making his way over to Rubi, he gently squeezed her shoulder not wanting her to be over run by her sudden influx of fans. The woman who had been terrorized was thankful, rushing the two of them as soon as she could “thank you Warlord! please if there is anything I can do to repay you?” she asked, looking between the two of them. Hati had startled her, finally popping out of the bag he had been so nestled in, doing a quick spin before bobbing in between them both. “oh! you both...you both have little lights, two kind Warlords? thank the Traveler!” she gently took Rubi’s hand to shake. Saladin chuckled “We are no Warlords if Warlords act like that, we have only come here seeking shelter and perhaps answers…” Saladin gently squeezed Rubi’s shoulder once more, rubbing it absently with his thumb as his eyes wandered to the large sphere above them.

Her gun holstered, she barely noticed the large crowd that had gathered around the scene that just ended. The surprising amount of people that gathered staggered her; it seemed like it was a common occurrence for a Warlord to visit and take whatever they pleased. It sent people hiding in fear, the last thing the small settlement needed. They wouldn't grow and thrive without their hard-earned resources.

Rubi turned her eyes to Saladin when he stood next to her, reaching her hands to hold his. A little exo-smile crossed her features, moving against him and putting his arm around her shoulders. Her smile stayed when the woman ran to them to thank her for her actions, nudging Saladin. "Well, a tent might be nice." She joked, although the word Warlord struck her again. They had been conditioned to associate Ghosts with Warlords, selfish monsters. She nodded to agree with her companion, rubbing his arm. "No, we are not Warlords. We came here to find what remained of humanity and the Traveler. Although..." She looked up to the Traveler as well, then back to Saladin. "They need protection, Saladin." She spoke quietly between only them, only wondering how often the settlement was attacked. "And who knows how many more of these Warlords there are. Our Ghosts... they chose us for a reason."

Saladin returned the smile  Rubi gave him, enjoying their new closeness. He felt the spark in his stomach again, used to the warm feeling he allowed it to travel to Rubi, tingling against the back of her shoulders where his arm rested against. The grateful shopkeeper listen carefully to her request, nodding eagerly. “A tent? of course! my family owns several you can choose from, as a thank you” she beamed. Saladin pulled Rubi closer to him at the thought of finally having a safe night alone with her, not having to worry about what watched them beyond the treeline. It warmed him in a way that was different from the warmth his Light gave him, but one that was equally welcome.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Rubi spoke softly to him, leaning into her to hear. “I agree...Perhaps this is what the Traveler called to us for.” he nodded, glancing to the preacher who had stopped his speech to see the commotion. He looked right at Saladin. He felt the hairs on his neck stand on end as the other man gently nodded to him before walking off. Saladin cleared his throat before he spoke, turning his attention back to Rubi “Making a home under the Traveler seems fitting, perhaps we will learn more about what happened to your gun” he gave her a squeeze, referencing the impressive Light display Rubi had done earlier. “Why don’t you two have dinner with my family this evening, I feel like only a tent is the least I could do for my savior” The kind Vender spoke up again, eyes hopeful. Saladin left the answer up to Rubi, though he did mutter for only her to hear “Maybe we will finally have a steak…”

The tent they were given was much larger than she could have hoped; it was tall enough to stand in and was spacious enough for more than just the small cots they were also given. Rubi found herself bundled in new soft blankets, warm and full from the well-prepared dinner made special by the woman she had saved earlier and her wife. Kitten and Hati whizzed around the tent at top speeds, both of the Ghosts obviously happy that they were safe under the dormant Traveler. Rubi looked up to Saladin, her white optics blinking. "I'm glad we made it in one piece." She spoke quiet, the only sound in the tent was the gentle beeps and whirrs of their little lights.

Her arm stuck out from her bundle of blankets, offering her hand for Saladin to hold. "And... together. I don't think I would have made it very far without you or Hati. The Fallen probably would have picked me to pieces." She shuddered at the thought, the memory of those creatures picking apart bodies like her own rushing over her. "Tomorrow when we're more rested, we should probably seek out that man that was preaching about the Traveler to the other settlers. He would probably have more answers for our questions, and we could establish that we are here to protect." Rubi wondered if there were other Risen about, others that would heed a message to help humanity rather than subjugate it, thinking back to the woman from earlier who had made a habit of stealing with her powers. And if on top of it all, if they would also mistreat their Ghosts. Kitten and Rubi hadn't been together for more than two months, but already they had a strong bond as if they had been for years. The Ghost was an important part of Rubi already and she couldn't imagine ever mistreating her... or Hati for that matter.

Saladin gave his stomach a hearty pat before reaching down to move their bags over to the center of the tent. It was a very spacious space, and private but he still prefered to keep their things away from the edges. He turned to look at Rubi, who looked incredibly comfortable in the blankets they had piled on one of the cots. It filled him with a sense of ease seeing her in such a warm bundle rather than on the cold ground. He took her hand when she offered it, moving to kneel next to her as she lay. he squeezed her hand gently in his, rubbing lightly over her fingers. “Your sense of direction is far greater than mine, Hati and I would have been surely lost without you..” he looked down at their hands, those very hands had started so many fires for them, helped search for supplies those hands were so important to him along with who they belonged to.

It went without saying they would stay together, Saladin had a feeling their journey was long from over and he would continue to travel it with Rubi. He looked back to her when she spoke, giving a nod “I agree, he would know above all others he was watching us after you scared off that Warlord, perhaps he wants to talk to us as much as we want to talk to him” he gave a small nod. He felt the gentle sparks of light from his hand and the dance of fire from Rubi’s mix in their hands for a moment. Looking back up at her he met her optics for a moment, his chest tightening for the moment “Would you like to sleep together again tonight?” he knew the answer but he always asked anyways, he loved to hear her response. Saladin waited, hesitating for a moment before bringing her hand to his lips to place a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

She visibly relaxed further when he took her hand, returning the squeeze in kind. It had been a long two months of them traveling together, keeping an eye out for the other and ensuring their safety. The bond they formed was strong and unbreakable now. Rubi felt the sparks of Saladin's Light travel up her arm, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. "Hopefully he doesn't come knocking early in the morning." There was a mischievous glint in her white eyes and even Kitten made an excited whirr from across the tent.

Her second hand came out from under the blankets, her bundle coming loose as she reached her other hand to cup Saladin's face. "I hope you're not acting like I'm going to say no. After last night..." She paused, thinking about how their Light had mixed. Kitten had to inform her Risen what she had done that night, but Rubi didn't regret it. She squeezed her legs together under the blankets remembering the sparks and tingles Saladin's Light had brought her. Her optics returned to look at Saladin, rubbing his cheek with her thumb. "I would love to." Her voice was quiet again, scooting herself to allow room for her companion to join her.

A smile spread across Saladin’s face as he watched Rubi, he could feel her burnless fire tug and pull at where they touched. After last night her light had been seared into him, when they were close he felt her movements. It was subtle of course, Hati had attempted to explain to him what it was they did, perhaps warn him how...intimate it was for Risen to do. Saladin trusted Rubi, there was no need for such precautions. He turned his face into her palm, placing a kiss or two there before looking at her again, her optics conveyed so much emotion that matched his it sent sparks down to his fingertips then back up again.

Saladin stood allowing himself a quick stretch before removing the heavier material off of his shoulders. The two always wore extra padding with how cold the days and definitely the nights could be but the tent held heat well and he had a feeling soon, warmth wouldn’t be an issue. The thick wool hit the ground with a heavy thunk, followed by the thin shirt he wore under, leaving his bare chest open. He could hear Hati whirring and chattering along with Kitten, the small ghost’s excitement filled the tent, mixing well with the thick eagerness of their Risin. Saladin slid into the cot with Rubi immediately pulling her flush against him. There was a comfort to holding her like this, his light washed over her like a fresh storm, lightning striking at any bit of surface it could. Shooting down the arch in her back, nipping at the valley between her legs.

Saladin allowed himself a pleased sigh, running his fingertips along the length of her spine, sending another wave of sparks. “You’re Beautiful” he whispered, pressing his lips softly against one of the plates that would be considered her cheek “I could never find the words to say it until now” he admitted, biting the inside of his cheek as he felt her fire licking at the base of his groin. He strained inside of his pants, shifting slightly against her as he attempted to have patience.

She turned momentarily to push the heavy blankets to the end of the cot as Saladin joined her, a little surprised they were both able to fit. Now she could only hope it would be enough to withstand their combined weight and activities. Rubi rubbed up his side, her Solar light focused in her hands to burn painlessly.

Her laugh filled the tent, the hand on Saladin slapping him lightly. "Oh please.." Rubi leaned forward to return the kiss he gave, a burst of warm Light coming from her mouth. "You're handsome yourself." The exo's back arched suddenly, another wave of arc coursing through her body, a satisfying sound deep in her throat. The tip of her member was peeking out of its sheath; it was somewhat uncomfortable against the fabric of her clothes. She leaned in to give Saladin another kiss before sitting up, working to remove the warm clothes from her body.

Her torso was made up of even and symmetrical plates, a tough silicon-like material in between to allow for movement instead of stiffness. Rounded plates acted as small breasts; now she couldn't fathom exactly why they were needed, but it was likely related to why she had such a need for Saladin. She hesitated on removing the remainder of her clothes momentarily, but her pants soon joined the rest of her clothes on the floor, laying back down and against Saladin.

Saladin shifted against Rubi to allow her space to move, his eyes never once going off of her as she removed the remainder of her clothes. They had been through so much together, trying to survive in such a harsh and dead environment. They deserved this moment, one he had craved, just a long night with just the two of them. For a moment he wondered where their Ghosts had gone, the little balls of light had been incredibly quiet. His thoughts were immediately dragged back to Rubi as she pressed against him. His body sparked at her bare touch again, his hand began to roam, dipping into any crevice, feeling over the body he so cherished. Saladin noticed the sweet area between her legs where her light emanated heavily. His chest tightened at the sight, her legs were squeezed together sweetly, he allowed his hand to dip over her metal thighs briefly then between them.

It was so soft, softer then he could have ever imagined. His fingers rubbed gently against the damp folds parting them to slide two fingers in, just for a moment. The heat that surrounded his fingers was immense, pumping them slowly in and out of her. The sensation left him breathless, needing more. Though he paused when he noticed something just above her where he had buried his fingers. The glistening head of her member had emerged more as he continued to slide into her with his fingers. soft lights aligned the shy appendage as it slowly reached towards Saladin. He was absolutely enthralled. He took a moment to kiss her deeply, kissing came naturally, allowing his lips to form into hers. His light eager to enter opening it was allowed to mix deeply with the fire that was her own. Saladin removed his fingers slowly from inside her, instead trailing up to the sweet bulb that begged for his attention. Brushing his thumb over the head, he began gentle circles with his fingers around what had showed itself. His light nipped and sparked at the member, enveloping it completely with static the more she grew out of her sheath.

Electricity darted its way between her plates and inner workings, never lingering too long in one place. She held a strong grip on Saladin's arm, not hard enough to bruise but enough to restrain herself. Knowing soon a large amount of the settlers here would be getting into their beds for the night, Rubi almost wished for the uncertainty of the wilds again. At least there they wouldn't have to restrain themselves.

Looking down she parted her legs to allow Saladin to explore further, unable to stop herself from the moan that came from her mouth. The arc energy wasn't nearly as strong, but it still pulsed through her to her core as he pumped his fingers inside of her. She slowly rocked her hips against his hand, such contact she didn't know she needed, though it was something she had craved early on in their adventures. Making a sound of protest when he had stopped his movements, it was silenced with the kiss he gave her. Rubi cupped his face gently to return it but it was interrupted by what he now found. His attention had been caught by her still-emerging length, his hand and arc light making quick work of coaxing it out.

She wanted to have patience, to savor this moment she now had with Saladin...but they had the entire night to themselves. Rubi looked to Saladin but another wave of arc energy went through her, a sound of pleasure finding its way out of her. "Mmmm... come on, what about you?" She cooed gently, rubbing her thumb along his cheekbone before her hand slid down to the pants he still wore. "These possibly can't be comfortable anymore." Her thumb played at the hem of his pants before pushing them down just enough to expose him. The lights in her eyes brightened momentarily at the sight of his length, a warm pulse of light bursting from herself in eagerness. She focused warm light into her hand, gripping his member gently with slow strokes, her hand occasionally stopping to rub the tip with her thumb. "Feel better?" She joked, leaning in for another small kiss.