With his paw draped over her small frame, they had dozed off to sleep. His eyes finally drew to a close as exhaustion settled over him. Not only from slaying the beast that had attacked her but from taking her back to the isle and caring for her wounds. Across the isle, silence had also settled. Even as dawn neared the horizon, not a sound echoed across. It allowed him to sleep as soundly as he could. Waking every hour or so to ensure she was still there, wrapped in his legs, close to his chest.

To feel so protective, so... possessive over someone in such a short amount of time. It's as if he is... no, this is different. He can't explain it. The way he looks at her makes his chest tighten. The images of that murderer striking a paw against her. It boils his blood and turns his vision red. Never again.

Finally, he stirs and blinks the sleep away. At the door, Urtur has shifted the makeshift doorway to the side. Within the wolverine's mouth is a bundle of bandages and he is looking between Gil and the girl. Gil's response is only a raised brow before he noses at Jael to wake. "Your bandages. We need to change them," his voice is hushed as he puts his lips close to her ear. As he pulls away, he motions for Urtur to enter and stoke the fire. Spring is on its way, but the mornings are still chilly. If Jael got cold, it could mean dire straits for her.


"speech"

CODE BY SHELBY

Almost dying had taken a lot of Jael, admittedly. She hadn't been sleeping well either, not after what happened. Not after what she'd seen back home and then yesterday... that was a new layer of nightmare. Somewhere between sleep and waking, Jael wondered if she had died after all. If she'd crumpled on that beach, never to wake back up. Maybe part of her had died. What was left was pulled up off the sand by Gilgamesh, and she knows she owes him.

But it's not that. In a world where her options have been be self sufficient and die... there he is. When Jael awakes in the middle of the night quivering, trembling, there he is. Asleep beside her, grip on her comforting and achingly tender. It's that way for several hours, until she can feel a shift in bed beside her. A whimper slips away before she can stifle it. Is it because the bruising has really begun to rear its ugly head? Maybe. Is it because she knows that they will perhaps need to get up soon, and she'll have to leave this dream? Maybe.

But the words are tender, and the day flickers to life around her. Burying her face in the man's neck... she's awake, yes. Awake but not quite ready to move, even if it's in her best interest.

Her face curling into his chest has him... chuckling? When had he grown soft? It doesn't disturb him as much as he thought it would. Actually, he enjoys it. The way she feels. Just small enough that she fits nearly perfectly into his embrace. As much as he wants to lay there, to sleep the day away, he knows she must be cared for. Thankful that Urtur is there and not anyone else, he lifts his head to slowly remove the bandages off of her hip and her head.

His movements are tender, yes, but also methodical. He lays the soiled bandages to the side and with Urtur's help, he repositions the new bandages over her hip and then around her head. From what he can see, the gash is still particularly nasty. The sight doesn't make him squeamish, but it does worry him. How is she feeling? He needs to know. Nudging her with his nose, he tries to wake her as gently as possible.

"Drink. Eat." Gil directs her with no room to argue.

"speech"

CODE BY SHELBY

Jael can feel the chuckle more than hear it, radiating from his chest. The warmth washes over her, more than even the warmth from the fire that stirred to life. It's as if his embrace was made for her, the fit seamless. Comfortable. But still, he did promise to give her the grand tour today. Reluctant to let go, but she understands. His movements are a sort of tender that she can't describe, her heart near-aching. It's not enough to drown out the pain, though. The hip was sore, but the bruising was all normal and in... typical fashion, frankly.

But the wound to her head... Jael whimpered. Though she did her best to hold still, she could feel the burning of angry flesh. Though she did her best to conceal the pain, it was hard not to let the discomfort slip out around the edges. As the wound was repacked, cleaned, Jael does her best to steady herself. Tough girl, you can handle this. Gilgamesh offered her food, and just as before, he doesn't leave room to argue. She knows it's in her best interest. She takes a small bite at first, looking up to him with her still-sleepy gaze. "I am, you also have to." It's a gentle demand, Jael isn't contrary. Instead, the girl near-dares him to argue. A little smile around the edges, a little smirk. Just a bit of spice in her this morning.

His muscles tighten at the sound of her whimper. Had he hurt her while he changed the bandage? The bleeding had stopped, but he was sure the pain wouldn't go away for a while. Maybe she needed more herbs to help dull the ache. Looking to Urtur, he motions silently, the companion understanding without so much as a word. Then his attention turns back to her as she takes a few slow and easy bites. A pleased sound rumbles in his chest until her wry comment has his ears flicking back momentarily. Even the smile that prickles at the side of her lips has some sass to it that makes him want to roll his eyes. Women, always giving him a run for his money. He would not give in to her demands.

"Once you are okay," Gil agrees, a fine compromise. He doesn't need to eat at that moment. His stomach is fine unlike her. He doesn't know when she last ate and she would need the sustenance to survive. "After you are done, we can go see the isle," his words again, as they had been before, are final and leave little room for argument. While he knows that she should stay here to rest and recover, he also doesn't want to keep her cooped up in her. Plus, his own personal responsibilities needed to be tended to. The pack couldn't have their king just up and disappearing on them.

"speech"

CODE BY SHELBY

She doesn’t want to bask in his attention this way and yet? Jael can’t help it. She can’t help but look up at him with big, soft eyes. A little twitch and wag to her tail as he dotes, even though the attention flusters her. To let someone else take care of her… maybe it’s startling. But she is at ease, even at ease letting him see her this way.

He turns down her request to eat, leaving her giving maybe a bit more of the pleading, pouting look. She does give in, finishing the meal or at least, as much of it as she can get down. Gil wasn’t wrong when he’d guessed that she didn’t eat much.

At the mention of going outside, Jael’s tail begins to wag. Thumping beside her, and flopping over Gilgamesh if he stays in range. He has the final word, and that feels… as it should. “I want to see it all,” that little glimmer is back. She’s excited, already forgetting her condition and trying to stagger to her feet upon finishing her meal. Trying to get up and then… ope there she went. back down in bed again.

Those big pouting eyes have him freezing once more. Damn her. He wants to give in, but he won't. Not yet, not this time. He would be the one to make the demands. But she doesn't make it any easier. Not when her tail thumps against the pelts and she flops against his side. Looking down at her with that ghost of a smile embracing his lips, he can't help but let out a chuckle. So she wanted to see it all. Then see it all she would.

Before he could get up to assist her, Jael was trying herself. Gil's fur bristles as he lets out a grumble as soon as she plops back down onto the bed. "Don't," he says sternly, shooting her a look that showed he meant business. Then before she can do anything else that could further damage her injuries, he reaches down to grab her by the scruff once more and places her gently between his shoulders. Pulling up to stand, moves to the doorway before stopping a moment. "As long as you are with me, no one will bother you," Gil says almost... in warning? He wasn't sure what it is, but he would rather be safe than sorry.

"speech"

CODE BY SHELBY

He remains resolute… well, she supposed he could maintain his resolve a little longer. The smile doesn’t escape her notice, nor does the warmth that washes over her with his notice. The chuckle, the sheer warmth of him, she’s reveling in it. In him.

He doesn’t want her getting up on her own. As much as Jael hated to admit it… it was probably for the best. A little whimper as she crumbles beside him, but he has her. No more harm can come to her, Gil has her. His words are protective, and she Jael nodded against his shoulder. She sinks down, clinging to his back, mindful of the crystals and holding tightly to the spot. She believes him… he really will keep her safe. He’s done it before and he’d do it again.

Her words are quiet, and maybe she’s a bit more nervous than she lets on. “I trust you.” Soft, quiet words. Jael would be brave, she’s never been much else. They had pirates to see.