The Zealot regained consciousness. As he woke, he seemed to be confused. His arms, face and torso were all wrapped in bandages, his Sword hand handcuffed to a nearby shelf. He began looking around trying to get his Bearings. He then noticed, the Deer that he was facing, before he passed out. The Zealot he didn't understand all the circumstances that lead to his current situation. The Sangheili seeing that the deer was asleep, tried to use his strength to break the handcuffs. But as he did so, a massive shot of pain pulsed in his arm, causing him to scream in pain; and waking up the Deer. Dyn jumped out of his skin knocking the can of beans, that he had finished before his sleep, crashing onto the floor. "WHAT THE-!" Dyn gasped. He then saw the Zealot, who was shaking in agony, and cautiously approached. "Well, Big fellow. Welcome to the land of the living." Dyn said as he approached. "I wouldn't recommend moving your arms too much. It hasn't even been a full-day since I bandaged them, so." Dyn shrugged as he knelt by the Sangheili. The Zealot glared at him as he began to calm down, allowing the pain to seep away. "W-Why, did you save me Dohmoh? I...I was going to kill you." The Zealot muttered through the pain. Dyn, frowned and shrugged. "To be honest. I am not entirely sure. When, you collapsed on top of me, I couldn't really pushed you off, without being consumed by the explosion above ground. So-" "Explosion? What Explosion?" The Sangheili interrupted. "Weeelll! Your quite talkative. I expected you to be insulting or at least, make me regret saving you and... Well, making me want to put you out of your misery... To answer your question. I am not sure. I heard over the Radio that a Shiva strike was immanent. and I guess it must've caused a chain reaction." Dyn answered. The Elite gave a gesture that seemed suggested that he understood. "But, yeah. When I crawled in here with you crushing me. I saw you lying their helplessly. I...I just didn't think I could let someone, anyone, just bleed to death. I just couldn't." Dyn finished. The Elite, looked down and then looked back up, staring Dyn in the eyes. "Thank you, Dohmoh." The Zealot said in sincerity. "Uh-P-Pardon?" Dyn stuttered, taken aback by the Zealots words. "I said Thank you. For Saving me." The Sangheili reiterated. This highly confused Dyn, as he remembered that during his combat awareness training. Zealots were the most devoted to the Covenants Faith. Hence their nickname. Only Field Marshals, and the High Prophets themselves were known to be more dedicated to the religion. The Religion that has pronounced all Humanity as an Insult to their faith, to their gods. "W-What?" Dyn stuttered. He couldn't understand why the Sangheili was being so, respectful. The last time he remembered encountering a Sangheili, during a counter-attack on an Occupied UNSC Colony. The Sangheili was wounded, so easy to capture. But the hatred that the warrior had for Humanity, and the insults he spat as the Military Police Medic was tending to his wounds. Showed the underline hatred that the Covenant had for the entirety of Humanity. It was somewhat of a sobering moment. Giving the enemy a sense of unhuman animosity that made the slaughter of them not give you that sense of regret, as would the death of an insurrectionist would. This Zealots sincerity was unnerving. "What is your name?" Dyn asked clumsily. He didn't know why he asked. But he just did. "Field Master Roha 'Zogram." The Elite replied. "and yours?" Roha asked. Catching Dyn back once again. "Uhm, Corporal Dyn. Dyn Fyrinda." Dyn stumbled. "Uh, I am sorry. But why are you not... Well cursing me or, acting aggressive? You are a Zealot or whatever you call yourself. You are a warrior of your faith, so I kinda expected animosity." Dyn asked. The Sangheili thought about it for a second and shrugged slightly. "You are correct. I should be threatening you, for many reasons. The fact that your kind is an insult to the gods, that fact that you didn't slay me when you had the chance, and for even taking care of my wounds. These acts would be insults to my kin, equally so to my Subordinates and superiors alike. Seen as cowardice, treachery... But, I don't see it as so." Roha confessed. Dyn, intrigued by this anomalous Elite, decided to dig further. "How come you don't see it as so?" The Sangheili looked Dyn straight in the eye, "As I have been completely taken away from my peoples heritage and traditions. I have never been on Sangheilios. I have not gone through the same traditions as my kin. I have been given privilege by the Hierarchs because of my Birth right, not despite it. I have been a pawn, to the will of the Hierarchs. And thanks to you, I am no longer a pawn to be used." Dyn, wasn't entirely sure of what the Sangheili meant by any of it. "Well, could you simplify everything?" Roha nodded and simplified his meaning. "When we are born, we are not told who our fathers are and are treated as equals. We live as brothers, whether our fathers were the rulers of States in Sangheilios, or of the Lowest Caste among our people. That is our Heritage. My Father was a close servant to the Hierarchs and turned away from my peoples traditions, ensuring I had nothing but fortune and privilege. Of which I did not earn. Something that is deemed lower than the lowest of Unggoy. I became a Field Master, not because of my own worth but because of my heritage." "Hmm. So you are grateful because?" Dyn still not getting the full picture. "I am in gratitude to you for, giving me the chance of being free from the Hierarchs. If I was saved by one of my own kin. I would surely be punished for my failures. But now, I am no longer bound by that anymore. So, Thank you Dyn... For Saving me." Roha explained causing Dyn to blush, slightly. As they smiled a sudden growling sound groaned. It was the Sangheili's stomach. "I guess that sound mean you're hungry." Dyn joked. The Sangheili nodded in agreement. So Dyn fetched Roha a can of Provisions, and helped him eat it. They spent a few days talking. Learning about one another. As they talked, they found each other to be good company. Seeing him as no longer a threat, but a companion, Dyn released Roha from his handcuffs. Getting close enough to see each others beauty. - The fourth image in my Zealously Together series.
