Cilas glanced back to see if Iona was picking up on that which he had shown her. She had managed to grab her bait and successfully hook it, but she did struggle for a bit trying to cast out her line. Thankfully the time that she had accidentally got the hook caught in the branches she was able to retrieve her line without losing the hook. Everyone starting out fishing though did exactly that, lose a hook to many things. He himself had even when first starting lost a hook to the strong stem of a lily, trying to wrestle with it the line had snapped. It happened to everyone, yet Iona picked up on how to cast pretty quickly and managed to successfully land her line in the water.

The form could use some work, but she got it into the water, all that matters

Time though did not seem to agree with the Dragon, as his stomach continued to rumble, and the fish in the lake did not seem to take to the bait that he had cast out to them. He did not know if it was because of his hunger, but he was getting impatient that nothing was biting. Little did he know during his concentration on his own pole that Iona was reeling in her first catch even before the dragon did. It was not until she called out to him that he had noticed what she was doing. He looked over and saw that she had a large fish in her arms pressed up against her body. The long jaw of the fish and the teeth in its jaw immediately gave away what type of fish it was to him.

Before he could tell her that was the incorrect way to hold such a fish, it was too late. It had flailed madly in her arms and she screamed out in audible pain. The smell of blood struck Cilas’ nose and he quickly reeled in his own line and set it down and rushed over to her. The fish had done a good number to her and he reached into the satchel to his side and pulled out a field dressing kit. He opened it and got the few items he needed out of it before setting it on the ground away from the water. ”Let me see the wounds.” He told her firmly. Modesty was out of the window for now as the Gar had cut up her chest as well and torn through the dress she was wearing.

”The scales on some fish are razor-sharp, along with the spines of the fins. A way for them to defend themselves. And they can do some very serious damage, luckily nothing major was cut as it flailed.” He said as he gently pulled her one arm out to him. He took the waterskin that he had and poured it gently over the cuts. ”Watch, and it may hurt more but the wounds need to be flushed and cleaned.” He then unfolded a small leaf that held a light green ointment. He covered the wounds on her arm and hands with it, keeping a firm but gentle grip on her arm just in case she tried to pull away from the stinging. After he put the cream on he wrapped her arm tightly with bandages. He did the same to her other arm.

He then handed her the field kit and looked away. ”You need to do the same for the rest of your wounds, if you need help with the bandages I will help you then. Then we got to figure out what we are going to do about your attire.” Even though he was just treating her wounds, it was still her body and there were areas that he just felt embarrassed about.

Cilas did not hesitate to run to her aid. She was frozen as he approached, her eyes locked on the blood that emerged from her flesh. And the pain, it was enough to keep her from making any unnecessary movements. Although she had never truly experienced pain, and never learned that movement worsens it, somehow she naturally believed that it would. Simply because a small voice spoke to her from the back of her mind, telling her “don’t move”. Her head slowly lifted when Cilas reached her. His expression seemed harder than she had expected. Whether from anger, or worry, or just from the seriousness of the situation, she could not tell. The difference between such emotions and how they appear has not yet become clear to her. His tone matched, and she fell completely silent. Iona allowed him to take her arm and listened while he explained what had happened and why. She was curious to know at first, but now her mind was on other things. All she did was give a light nod in response, a sorrowful gleam in her soft blue eyes.

Cilas pulled out a container of some kind and used his canteen to pour cool water over her wounds. She winced, her arms and hand twitching as she fought to keep from withdrawing. Attempting would have done no good, anyway. His grip on her was too strong. The blood was washed away with the water and the sting dulled moments after, instead becoming a painful throb. He proceeded to dress her wounds with a cream that came from some kind of leaf, then wound thin, white cloth all around her arm and hands. Cilas repeated the same process on her other arm before he handed her the kit. Then, he suddenly spun around. She blinked. Why wouldn’t he look at her? Perhaps he was upset with her… She could only imagine what an inconvenience this was for him. He had been trying to teach her how to fish, trying to be kind and helpful. But her witlessness made her go and do something foolish again. Her earlier excitement and pride had kept her from doing the proper thing during her situation. She should have left the fish alone, should not have laid her hands upon it.

She glanced back down at herself. Only then did she notice that most of her chest had been exposed, including her bosom. Intense heat spread from her cheeks to her ears, and she spun around to face her back to Cilas. She tried to wrap her arms over her chest to conceal it, but the pain was not making it very easy. Silently, she walked away, keeping her face down as she stepped behind a tree. He had told her the importance of wearing clothes to keep her body hidden from me, to protect herself from their lust. She still did not understand what that was or what it meant, but she was humiliated regardless. She trusted Cilas not to harm her, although it does not mean that he isn’t bothered by it. Perhaps she had offended him as well. Her chest ached at the notion, a feeling far worse than any of her wounds.

Placing her back against the tree, she slid down to sit by its roots. Iona began attempting to follow Cilas’ directions and cleansed the wounds on her chest, then she wrapped it. It was not as cleanly done as Cilas’ work, but her aching hands and arms made it difficult to do it properly, all on her own. She refused to ask Cilas for any more aid; she had caused him enough trouble already. Afterwards, she wrapped her arms over her chest once more, then pulled her knees up close and hid her face against them. How was she going to face him? After everything she had just done, from making a complete fool of herself and offending Cilas… Her face still burned. It was too embarrassing.

Minutes went by as she tried to see if the feeling would pass, but it never did. Iona knew she had to come out of hiding soon, despite how much she dreaded it. Once she finally brought herself to, she still kept her face down to hide her burning red cheeks. She kept her arms over her chest as best as she could. They would likely tire of the position soon enough, but she would try her hardest to fight through it if it would keep from offending Cilas again. Iona could not bring herself to look him in the eye, and she attempted to keep from looking at his face at all, fearful of seeing an emotion she never hoped to see on him. Still, she spoke not a single word as she walked over to her fishing rod, picked it up, and cast her line one handed. The other remained on her chest. She could not quit so easily, because then she would be leaving more work for Cilas to do. She simply could not cause him such trouble. Not again.

She walked away slowly from him, her back turned so that he would not see her exposed body from the gar’s razor-sharp scales. He sighed, she was obviously embarrassed just as he was even more so he was sure of it. Cilas gather the few things up that he had used to treat her wounds that were no longer needed. It was now silent besides to cries of the animals in the vicinity. He had hoped that she didn’t think that he was mad at her, as even beginner anglers have made the same mistake that she did.

I know she is just trying to show me that she can help as well, it is obvious that is what she is trying to do. She just doesn’t need to take it as fast as she is doing. Things will come in time. Things will be learned in time. This living mortal coil is new to her and that is what she needs to know more than anything.

Moments passed, and Cilas was starting to get worried about Iona. She had yet to come back from tending her wounds. He wanted to go see if she was alright but something told him in the back of his mind that that wasn’t the best thing to do at the current moment. He sighed and went back over to where he left his rod and line and cast it out again before sticking it in the ground to wait for a bite. A few more minutes went by and Iona finally emerged from where she ran off to. Her arm still hiding, even though she was bandaged up. She didn’t do a bad job, some bandages were sloppy, but it was hard to wrap one's body by themselves Cilas knew this much.

No words were spoken between the two though, as she went immediately back to trying to fish. Yet, all the same, she was still using one arm to do it. Her face from what he saw was full of disappointment, more so probably at her own self. This was learning though, this is how everyone learned and one did not need to fret over it so hard. He ignored his line for now and retrieved a spare robe, belt, and brooch from his supplies that he brought and walked over to where Iona was.

”Take these, they should be good enough to cover you until we stop by the next village to get you some more garments. It may not be as pretty as the dress once was, but it is better than nothing. Especially if you still wish to try and fish some more. Pulling in a fish with one arm is…extremely difficult.” He said and placed them on the dry ground next to her.

”If there is one thing you can take out of this, remember that mistakes happen. No one gets upset at another for a mistake, I was more worried about your wounds than anything…next time, try holding a larger fish through the gills and away from yourself.”

He made his final statement before turning away and going back to his rod. There was a bit of awkwardness in the air. Even he himself could tell that, he just hoped that it would fade away soon.