Dragon Trapper AU - Gentle Touch

Cuts and bruises are a part of a drago trapper's life. And Eret's father taught him that pain is a sign of weakness he doesn't have time for. If he lets his men see any sign of weakness, it will compromise his position as leader. So Eret tends to his own injuries, and leaves the others to tend theirs as they choose. 

Merida, he's pleased to see, handles pain as well - if not better - than some of his men. But her first serious injury comes while pushing him out of the way of a Snafflefang's claws. That's a debt he feels honor bound to repay. And that's why he tends the wound. 

As he does, her foot cradled in his hand while he cleans the gashes, he realizes... this is the first time he's ever really touched a woman. And he's not really sure how to do so. Outside of training her, he's never been as rough with Merida as he would with his men. There's an instinct that keeps him from doing so. But this is different. So as he wraps the bandage around her calf, he finds himself trying to figure out exactly how to be gentle. 

I have been working on this for WEEKS!! Coloring alone took four or five days, since I would be so tired at night I couldn't do much. But I'm kind of glad, because when I spend hours coloring a picture in one go, I usually get tired/lazy the further I go, and don't put the effort needed into it. 

Lighting is something I really need to work on. And I was really nervous about how this one came out. But my mom came into my room this morning, took one look at it, and said "oh, it's lit by a candle". So... I guess I did okay?