Winds of Change

[pomelo]

Tag to @Lion !



It was a new life. The grassy expanse of the Sionad tundra stretched out before her, the endless blue of the sky above her. Small dwarf flowers dotted the landscape, taking advantage of their small window they had to bloom. It was beautiful, but it made her feel achingly small. A speck on the open never-ending sea of green.

And on the open tundra, she was indeed a slight figure. A woman not past her late twenties. Even under the old, oversized oiled men's coat wrapped around her, it was clear she was a petite woman, with a skinny, boyish build. Her dark, dirty blonde, honey coloured hair was braided into a thick plait that fell in front of her shoulder and over her breast. Her pale complexion was smattered with freckles, but also bore yellow-brown bruises, fading but not yet healed. She wrapped the coat tighter around her as she surveyed the land. She had little with her but the clothes on her back. She carried nothing, now, from her past life.

Almost nothing.

Though beautiful, however, the tundra was an unfamiliar landscape to her. It was not the shaded forests, rich with plants, fruits and animals that she knew how to collect or trap. Her stomach cramped. This was the way to freedom, there was no turning back. But she had to eat. She had to get to Hyolite. She had to survive. She had promises to keep.

So, with a sigh of resignation, she started heading towards the only option she could sight on the horizon. A lone traveler. She would have to take her chances.

[Lion]

Having stayed the night in Hyoite, Tchenko Sindri was well rested for his journey. Hyoite was a much larger village than Carlig and the long trek encouraged him to stay the night. He did not have dogs, but his friend Piero allowed him to use his sled for the journey. It also helped in bringing back supplies that he couldn't carry in his pack. The sled itself was custom-made, hand built and adjustable with wide slats to stay steady on uneven ground. The patches of thick grass would make for an easier flattened blanket once the dogs got up to speed.

In this case, it was necessary to bring back more wood slats for some reinforcements to the hull of his boat. It was a strong vessel, and it made his living livable, but it was time to put work into restructuring it. Perhaps if the catch was better in the upcoming months he could afford or even build something much better.

Tchenko pushed his hair back and fitted his fur lined hood over his head he stepped onto the sled, securing himself to it. The load had been prepped, secured to the load in the front, and soon they were off. The dogs had been barking madly, eager and excited to finally be on their way.

The huskies were mushing off into a frenzy and he guided them in the direction of Carlig. The dogs would be happy to be with their master, and for all their tolerance of Tchenko, he'd reward them with plenty of fish and a good brushing.  The tundra itself was a fast expanse and he knew the quickest route back home, even if that would still steal away most of the hours in the day.

He borrowed Piero's goggles, a small invention he'd tinkered with and kept the air from his eyes, his vision largely clear. The dogs pulled onward at breakneck speed and the route was flat enough to avoid major spills where it mattered most.

"Tsaji!" he called up to the lead dog, a young pup that was still learning the ropes at being in the front. Beside her was Gojo, an older female husky that tried to guide the younger one along. After hearing her name, the young dog corrected herself, ran forward.

What he hadn't heard with the wind wailing around his ears was the rattling of the hooks that secured Tsaji to the rest of the dogs. And the weakness in its link. Something had intrigued her and she was desperate to run off, and bark at it. As they began to reach a crest in the hillside in their route, Tsaji fixated to what caught her attention and tugged in that direction. The tug was enough to break the line and off she ran in the distance.

"TSAJI!" Tchenko wailed again and by instinct Gojo directed the dogs after the younger pup. 

[pomelo]

The figure was cutting a fast course across the landscape, and at first she feared she would not be able to intercept it. And if she couldn't... Her insides twisted in discomfort. She was growing weak, insides twisted with hunger. Her body, busy knitting new strands together, felt hollow and exhausted. She set her jaw, trying to determine the figure's speed and direction, and set off rapidly to where she thought she might be able to catch it if the figure's course stayed true. She hurried forward, legs tumbling in a mix of a feeble walk and shaky run. She stumbled once or twice, but the mossy tundra ground was spongey beneath her, and she scrambled back to her feet and drove forward.

How could she be sure it was a friend? Or, if not a friend, at least not a foe. Were there people searching, even here? How far over the border had she traveled, she wondered vaguely. It had been... a week, perhaps, since she'd broken away? Ten days, twelve? since she'd made her promise to the man who had been her husband. Now, she figured numbly, her late husband? But that gave her all the more reason to go forward. She didn't like to break promises.

But how were they moving so fast? She was sure she wouldn't get there in time. She was aiming for a bend in a swiftly bubbling stream where she thought she'd be able to reach as the figure approached it. She gritted her teeth, but then she heard the answer: a joyful bark rang over the tundra. Of course. Dogs. How had she not realized that? Stopping for just a moment, she put her fingers to her mouth and let out a long, high whistle. The figure, if it were human, might not even hear it. But she was sure the dogs would. And, as she expected, the lead dog turned and looked in her direction. Seeing one of the pack pause, she was filled with a new hope, and buoyed by that, quickened her pace. The figure on the sled, though, was no novice, and the dog redirected itself. She felt her stomach sink. She wouldn't make it.

In desperation, she whistled again, as loud and hard as she could while still rushing forward, stumbling through the grass and moss below her. What would she do if she missed this chance? Would she make it to the next village? Wherever that was? As she ran forward, though, she saw she was lucky: the lead dog responded to the whistle again and - she could just kiss it - broke away and came charging in her direction. She called out to it and, when it reached her, couldn't help but smile as the dog leapt happily at her.

The dog in its exuberance knocked the woman over, but she couldn't help but laugh as the dog whined happily and licked her face. It was always like this: dogs liked her. She liked dogs. She'd always had a dog. And, for a moment, her stomach sank, remembering another wet nose and wagging tail.No. You can't think about that. Your old life is over. Pushing herself up into a sitting position, she vigorously pet and ruffled the dog's fur and ears. And, for a moment, she forgot about the circumstances surrounding this moment. But then the rest of the dogs, and the figure they pulled, caught up with the runaway.

She looked up, her face clouded with doubt, uncertainty, and still marked with the yellow-brown of old bruises. Already petite, being found like this, half-sitting, half-toppled over on the ground beneath a husky leaping back and forth, she felt very small below the figure of the man on the sled. And, her form swimming in the oversized men's coat she wore, she looked small to. But her features set into a look that tampered fear with a fierceness, a determination.

"I think you lost your dog."

[Lion]

Tchenko had lost sight of Tsaji as she rounded the bend. And even with the extra speed of Gojo leading the pack and the dogs rushing him forth, his heart was pounding in his throat. There could be anything there and whatever it was could be dangerous and put himself and his pack at risk. Tsaji was young but Piero's dogs were his pride and joy and he'd never forgive Tchenko if something happened to them.

He pulled hard to the left as the sled slid over the tall thick grass. The layers bellowed over with the force of the contraption, him along with it. He frowned and when Tsaji came into view, knocking a figure down, his heart caught in his throat. Fear gripped him, racing thoughts taking over of a struggle ensuing.

Or what would have seemed to be a struggle as they pulled closer and Gojo headed straight for them.  Except Tsaji couldn't have been happier and Tchenko couldn't have bee more relieved. "Tsaji," he breathed, tone disappointed. The young pup barked and panted before coming up to him and reaching up to nuzzle his hand.

He'd been fully prepared to pull one of the spears hanging from the side of the sled out of caution. But then the small person in the coat spoke and he saw that it was a woman. His sense of alarm decreased, although it was not because of her sex. But more due to her demeanor. She was a lot less alarmed than he was.

He wasn't quite distrustful as he otherwise seemed. Travelers between Carlig and Hyoite sometimes lost their way, it wasn't that uncommon. That was what he rationalized, but she wasn't any familiar face he knew, and her clothing wasn't quite made for the tundra. Her expression wasn't timid, and remained unthreatening. She had just as much to fear from him as he did her, he supposed.

Tchenko commanded the dogs to stay put as he reached down to grab Tsaji by the harness, who was very excited to have done a good and found a person. "This is not my dog. Tsaji is my friend's dog. She is learning to lead the pack, but she still has a long way to go," he replied, the common leaving his tongue in faint enough northern accent. He'd tempered his dialect enough to be understood by foreigners that came through Hyoite.

He supposed he ought to ask the obvious question but he held his tongue for a moment. Pushing the goggles from his face and revealing it to her, he then held his free hand out and pulled her to her feet. "Tchenko," he said simply. "You are lucky to have been found by a very happy dog. But your face says other wise. You've been walking long, yes?"

Tchenko pulled Tsaji forward and saw where the lead and broken from her harness, cursing slightly and seeing that the metal clip couldn't be repaired by hand. Maybe he had something in the gear he purchased to make a makeshift clip. "Are you good with your hands? Help me fix this, yes? I can give you a ride on the sled. Crossing on your feet is very slow. The sled is much faster."