Fresh snow crunched under Teidra's hooves as she moved over the tundra, heading up a hill where a special flower was said to grow. It was called the Yyndris which, in the old language of her people, roughly translated to "blood in the snow".
It was called that because of its dark red petals that stood out stark against the white of snow, making it look like blood splatters from afar, especially when they grew in little clumps--and especially since it bore sharp, prickly thorns. A little ironic, considering the plant was used to heal--and heal it did, for it was a hearty plant with some strange qualities. It grew in the snow and thrived in winter, and died during the thaw. Still, it favored sunny hills, though Teidra knew there would be a lot of digging involved. After the recent snow, any flowers would be buried.
And with the way those dark approaching clouds looked, they would be buried even deeper soon.
Clutching her thick cloak to her body, Teidra pushed onward against the wind that had begun to pick up. The storm was going to be a big one, no doubt, but she had to find the flowers fast, and she wanted to kick herself for putting her assignment off for so long. She had had a week to do it! A week! But instead, she had procrastinated until she'd realized those clouds meant bad news, and that if she waited any longer, she would have missed her window at least until the thaw.
And then it might be too late, at least until next winter.
The snow began to come down harder as Teidra reached the hill's top, but she ignored it, shaking her head and flicking her ears to keep the snow off of her. Crouching down, she began to dig.
Matra had said she should look on this hill, but so far, no luck. With a grimace, Teidra tried another spot, cursing her stupidity, and then--
"Ow!"
Her hands found the thorns before she found the flower and she popped her torn finger in her mouth with a glower down at the snow. But there it was, the little frozen flower, and, moving more carefully, she started to dig around it so she could uproot it instead of pluck it.
By the time she'd gotten it up by the roots, the snow was coming down in earnest, a white wall she couldn't see through, the wind pulling at her cloak and threatening to grow stronger. The storm had come on faster than she'd estimated.
And now, she was stuck.
((May I? :3))
Sapphire ducked low, as if the snow only started three feet above the ground, and it would be better to be low. She fastened her hood tighter around her head, shielding her icy blonde hair from the cold blast. It wouldn't be long before this whole place was like a tundra. If she wanted to get back to her cabin, she needed to be fast.
As she trudged through the snow, her usual agile frame now sturdy and slow, she caught the smell of blood in the air before it whipped away from her again. Turning sharply at the smell, she scanned the white landscape around her, trying to determine which way it came from before the blizzard changed the wind again. She spotted a dark shape not too far from her. Prey, out here? It would be unusual. She drew her pair of daggers from their sheaths and dashed forwards towards the shape. She had food at home, but more always helped. But as she drew closer, the figure looked humanoid, and she paused. 'You there!' she called after a moment. 'Who are you, and why are you here?'
[Of course! 8D]
It was the crunching of snow that first warned her she wasn't alone.
Heart leaping into her throat, Teidra put the flower between her teeth and jerked her head up, ears perked and eyes wide as she searched for the sound. But it was hard to make out much in the snowstorm, and her pulse quickened when she could see nothing. While she had been debating digging out a hollow and waiting out the storm, now she knew she had to keep moving and fast. It could be anything, and she feared it might be an Iannu.
Dropping down low again and flattening her ears, she started to back up, keeping her eyes fixed in the sound's direction, and that was when a voice came over the wind and a shape loomed in the distance.
Erk! She'd been seen!
"U-uh...I'm...no one?" she called back, voice a little muffled since she held a flower between her teeth. She took another retreating step. "Who are you? What do you want?"
She heard the hesitant voice float back to her and had to suppress a laugh. Of all the things she expected the stranger to say, "no one" was not high on the list. She moved forward as fast as the snow would allow, lower her daggers slightly, but not by much. 'Sapphire. I'm Sapphire,' she said, nearly shouting to be heard over the wind. 'I don't want anything. If you stay here, the cold will get you.' She jabbed a dagger up at the sky to emphasise her point. She was disappointed that it hadn't been food, but she wasn't going to hurt this person. So she started to back away, getting ready to leave. 'You should get inside!' she called.
Oh, it was a human. (Or so she thought, unable to see fine details like ears at this distance.) That was a bit of a relief...she thought. Teidra didn't much like the look of those daggers, and had to wonder why the woman had them unsheathed. The thought unnerved her, and she pulled her cloak in tighter as though that would protect her.
On the other hand, why would the woman be waving her weapons around if she intended harm? That might seem like backwards logic, but if she were a predator, she wouldn't have let herself be seen--and she would have been more careful with her weapons so as not to spook potential prey. Predators tended to be a bit more...sneaky than that. That, and she'd never heard of a human eating her kind.
Relaxing a little, Teidra relented. Besides, the woman had a point.
Straightening up, Teidra started after her. "Inside?" she called after her, squinting against the snow. "Inside where? I've not seen a structure for miles."
She heard the woman speak again and paused, looking behind her. There was no structure for miles that the stranger knew of, but there was one. Sapphire didn't feel like sharing. People in general were a thing to be avoided, and inviting this person back to where she sometimes slept broke almost every rule in her survival book. But technically, the place didn't even belong to her. She growled at herself under breath, already predicting what she was going to do. Sheathing her daggers, she waved the person over. 'If you want to die, stay out here. If you want to live, come with me. I know a place. But keep up!' she said, promising herself that if the stranger was too slow, she would leave her behind.
Carlyle trudged through the blizzard with his creation Cecil close behind. He was looking for a rare red flower with incredible healing properties. Healing concoctions sold extremely well, especially when such a fine ingredient such as that flower was in it. It also allowed him to mark the price very high. Cecil gurgled behind.
"What is it," Carlyle asked the creature.
Cecil pointed at two figures a short distance away.
"Yes, excellent idea. Let's see if they know something. Make yourself scarce, my friend. We don't wish to frighten them."
Cecil gurgled another reply before vanishing into the snowstorm. Carlyle began approaching the two figures. He was hoping to find that flower fast. It was too cold to be all the way out in the middle of nowhere.
After some hesitation, Teidra took a deep breath and followed after the woman. What choice did she have? She could try to brave the elements, sure, for she had been taught what to do should she ever find herself in this situation. But knowing and doing were different things. Either way, she was taking a risk--risking her safety on this woman, or risking her safety on the elements.
She decided to try the woman. She could fight a human if it came down to it, but she couldn't fight nature.
Picking up her pace, she adjusted the flower in her teeth so as to avoid the thorns threatening to dig into her lips. Before long, she had caught up to the woman, falling into stride beside her.
"Thank you," she said with a small smile, peering up at her.
And she might have said more if the wind hadn't brought a new scent her way. Sure enough, when she turned to look, she saw a blurry shape in the distance--and it was growing larger, meaning it was headed their way. And to think, she had thought she was alone when she had come out here! Turned out this place was more popular than she'd thought.
Drawing closer to the woman, she reached out and tugged at her sleeve. "Excuse me," she said, still throwing glances behind her as she tried to make out the steadily approaching figure. "I think we're being followed. Did you...were you traveling with someone?"
Sapphire sensed another two presences near her, but as she turned to look for them, following her new companion's words, she saw only one other figure. Frowning, she evaluated the possibility of danger. If this new stranger wanted to hurt her, they weren't doing a very good job of trying. She was in her element here. Turning to judge the distance of her hidden cabin, she carried on trudging forward, waving an arm at the new figure, beckoning them to follow. They weren't far now. 'No, I wasn't. And I am not going to get caught in this blizzard waiting for either of you. Whatever they want, they can ask in the warm.'
She moved through the snow in silence then, using the subtle rises in the landscape to gauge where the door would be. Finally she stopped, looking around to make sure. Yes, her cabin was here. She waited for her two followers to catch up to her.
Carlyle was a bit shocked to see one of the figures beckon him to follow. This was going to be easier than he thought. He pressed on until he caught up with the two of them.
"Much appreciated, stranger," he said cheerfully.
He should have one of those flowers in no time.
Sapphire inspected her two companions critically. She didn't trust either of them. They both seemed too innocent. Innocence in any but children was always an act. But she couldn't turn them away now. The horizons around them could not be seen through the white wind. She flexed her fingers, her hands bursting into flames, then knelt down, pushing her hands into the snow, the fire growing rather than becoming extinguished. A large chunk of snow melted away, revealing deep underneath one single, heavy wooden door flat against the ground. She yanked it open, snow already beginning to pile up again, then reached in and grabbed a long stick just inside the entrance way. She thrust it upright into the ground next to the door, signalling to any other strays, if they were still alive, that there was a door there, even if it was going to be buried under drifts of snow again. Then she hopped inside, expecting the strangers to follow. Inside was a short corridor, or tunnel, leading to another, more homely door into the cabin. She walked forward and let herself in, calling back to the strangers. 'Shut both the doors behind you, and make sure they're secure.'
She wondered what the strangers wanted, then recalled seeing an Yyndris flower with her first companion. They wouldn't come all the way out here, now, for that, would they? Before the others followed her in, she reached over to the counter where she had six of them growing in the soil she had found them in nearby. She had taken them not long ago, aware of their healing properties, and nurtured them using her elemental magic. Picking them up, she quickly hid them in the draw below, locking it. Sapphire was already sharing this cabin that she had claimed. She wasn't going to give everything away.
A door in the ground! Well, that was clever! If a little...worrisome.
Teidra paused at the entrance, sniffing cautiously. Once she was down there, she would be down there a long time. At least until the blizzard passed, so a day, maybe more...which wasn't long, but it would be a long time if these two strangers proved bad. But, standing there with the wind tearing at her cloak and numbing her limbs, she knew she didn't have much of a choice.
She turned, found a space to the left of the door, and dug a shallow hole. She dropped the Yyndris there and buried it in snow just as fast. There. Even uprooted, the flower would survive so long as it was frozen in the snow. With one last fleeting look at the spot, Teidra dropped down through the door and landed with a soft thud on her hooves, then headed down the tunnel to the cabin, marveling at the ingenuity.
Teidra left the doors open behind her as she stepped inside the cabin, knowing the other stranger was close behind. Then, awkwardly, she stood in the room, rubbing her cold hands together and looking for the woman...Sapphire? Was that her name? She spotted her near a counter.
"Thank you for having me, miss," she said, and gave a little bow from the waist. "I, um, I might've been in trouble if you hadn't come by!"
'Don't mention it,' Sapphire said, moving to grab some provisions. She threw some blankets on a chair next to the small table, then laid out some cooked meat and bread. It was hardly welcoming, and hardly a feast, but it was better than nothing. She knew how bad she was with people, so this, for her, was trying. 'Eat and get warm. Stay as long as you want. It's anyone's cabin, really.'
Carlyle dug up what the one before him had buried. It was a small red flower, undoubtedly the kind he was looking for. Carlyle buried it back up and went inside, shutting the door behind him. He would just have to leave before the one who buried it, and it would be his. Carlyle took a look around.
"Nice place you got here. Very cozy, and cleverly hidden. I should get one."
The sight and smell of food made Teidra's belly gurgle, reminding her that she had been out all day. With a nod at Sapphire, she started for the table and paused, remembering her cloak and the coat beneath. It was covered in snow, and soon that would melt in the warmth and make a mess.
"Oh, ah, just one second." Pausing, she removed her cloak and the thick, furred coat beneath, under which she wore a long-sleeved tunic and buckskin breeches. She shook the snow from her cloak and coat and headed for the door, figuring she could hang them to dry where they were out of the way.
She was halfway there when the other figure entered--a tall, dark-haired man. With a small squeak of surprise, since she came very close to running into him, she took a couple steps back and cleared her throat, ears laid back sheepishly.
"Sorry! Pardon. I didn't see you there. Uh, I'm just gonna..." She pointed behind him, indicating she wanted to get passed him, and then stepped to the side to let him by.
Carlyle had still been admiring the place when one of the strangers nearly bumped into him. This one was clearly not human, more closely resembling a tiger-human hybrid.
"My apologies, young lady," Carlyle said, moving aside. "I have never seen anything like you before. May I ask what you are?"
She sat in one of the chairs and put her feet up, resting her boots on the thicken wooden table. She wanted to ask the man who his companion had been. Her senses had never let her down before, so she knew he hadn't been alone. But instead she listened in silence, taking a bread roll from the plate in front of her with one hand. With her other, she flexed her fingers in the direction of the cosy fireplace opposite the door, lighting it and warming the cabin.
Teidra stared up at him.
"Wha...? What am I? What kind of question is...?"
It wasn't everyday you were asked what you were and, to be honest, the question was rather rude! For a second, her lips twitched as she stared up at him, brow furrowing a bit, but then she swallowed down the wave of indignation. Okay. It wasn't too terrible of a question, and he was obviously trying to be delicate about it, and it was true that her kind and humans didn't have much contact, only with some of the local tribes, so...
Smoothing her expression out, she smiled and stepped past him, placing her things by the door. "I'm tuathi, sir," she said, turning back toward him when she was done. She ran a hand through her hair, untangling some of the strands from around her horns. "I'm sorry, it's just...I understand our people don't interact much. As for who I am, my name's Teidra. And you are?"
"Forgive me. I didn't mean to be rude," Carlyle said politely. "Tuathi, how exotic. Very interesting. My name is Carlyle. I'm a chemist and scientist from Connlaoth. I'm sure you haven't heard of me."
Exotic? Teidra raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, she simply shook her head at his question and turned, starting to head back for the table where the food and blankets were.
"I'm afraid I haven't. I don't even know what those things you mentioned are," she said, meaning "scientist", "chemist", and "Connlaoth". "But 'Connlaoth' is...a place?"
She rubbed her nose. "I think I may have heard of that before..."
Sapphire stood and moved to lock the door behind the strangers. 'Don't mean to break up this blind date or anything,' she said, looking at neither of them, 'But why the hell are you both here?'
Carlyle ignored Sapphire because he wasn't finished talking.
"Yes, Connlaoth is indeed a place. It is my home city. Now a chemist is someone who mixes different things together to create something with a desired affect, like maybe something to help you fall asleep, or something to dull pain. Things like that."
Carlyle thought it strange that this girl was not aware of what a chemist was, but he didn't mind explaining. He loved his job, and was glad to share it.
Carlyle then turned to Sapphire.
"I am here to procure an ingredient for one of my best sellers. It is a small red flower with thorns on it. Do you know where I may find one?"
Sapphire narrowed her eyes at him, considering making him leave, even though in her anger she would probably burn the whole cabin down, which wouldn't help her either. She smiled at his question, in no mind to help him more than she already had. 'No, I don't know of it. Perhaps you should go digging.' Since she had seen Teidra with one, she considered adding Or maybe ask your new friend here. But she held her tongue, the effort of company wearing her down already.
He was there for the same reason as she was! Erk. Inside, Teidra squirmed, and outside, she began to fidget with her hands. It would be horribly rude to lie, and horribly selfish as well, but she needed that flower to complete part of her training and this might be her last chance to get it this year. And she'd worked so hard to find it!
And then Sapphire mentioned that Carlyle should go digging, and Teidra's shoulders jerked. Did she know?! Did she know about the one she'd buried just outside? She stared at the woman in wide-eyed alarm, but a second later and she realized...no. That was silly. All Yyndris flowers were found by digging. Ahaha...hah. Yikes. Talk about being paranoid. With a deep breath, Teidra relaxed again and smiled.
"That hill we passed coming here, they can be found there," she said. "That's where I found mi--" She stopped, flushed red. Oh gods. She was not good at lying! She felt guilty for even trying. "That's where I found mine. Uhm. When I found one. A while ago and not today."
Nailed it.
"I always thought honesty was the best policy," Carlyle said, seemingly randomly.
He then turned to Teidra.
"So, what do you need the flower for?"
That made Teidra twitch a little, the comment eerily out of place, but she just shuffled her hooves and pretended not to notice. She scratched at the side of her nose.
"I'm studying to become an herbalist," she said, looking up at Carlyle. "Retrieving the flower was one of the tasks I was given--a while ago. You have to be able to identify and find a lot of different plants, and do it quickly, if you want to be one. After all, it could be the difference between life and death."
"An herbalist," Carlyle said stroking his chin and nodding. "That's not too far from being a chemist. Perhaps we could compare notes."
"It's not?" Teidra said, head tilting curiously. Then she smiled and lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I don't have any notes with me, and I'm still learning, but I would be open to that! I'm still kind of a beginner, so...my knowledge probably isn't as great as yours! Oh!"
Looking back to Sapphire, realizing she'd been rude and hadn't answered her question (a question she had the right to know the answer to, being the host and all and trusting to let her into her home!), she decided to correct that. "I'm sorry miss, I never answered you. I was out here collecting herbs. Plants for my trade."
And then, looking between the both of them, asked, "Do you both live around here?"
She had at first assumed this was Sapphire's home, but Sapphire had mentioned it was "anyone's cabin".
Sapphire shrugged, taking her seat again and stretching out her boots on the table. 'I don't really belong anywhere. This cabin was owned by a man who hunted here regularly. He died,' she said bluntly. 'So I've been staying here a while. It's only this kitchen type area and one bedroom.' She jabbed her thumb towards the only other door in the room. 'But it's better than nothing. Stay as long as you want, sleep and have some food. Blizzard will probably stay for a couple days at least, from past experience.' She smiled at Teidra and stretched lazily.
"Days? I can't have such a delay. I have a business to run and deadlines to meet," Carlyle said.
He sighed a pinched the bridge of his nose as he began pacing and mumbling to himself. This was not part of the plan. He could always just leave and take the flower that was buried out there, but he wasn't sure if he would survive the blizzard. Such an inconvenience this was.
'Blizzard doesn't care about your business, or any inconvenience it might cause you,' Sapphire said, disliking his manner and gratitude. She should have left him outside.'But if you'd rather not stay, be my guest.' She waved a hand to the door, eyeing him carefully.
"You are not a very good hostess," Carlyle said matter-of-factly. "It takes quite a bit to make me angry, but even so, I wouldn't push your luck. I'm very unpleasant to be around."
Carlyle almost said it too politely and calmly to be a threat, but he was quite serious. He did not enjoy her attitude, but it was not in his nature to be inherently violent.
Sapphire stood sharply, quickly unsheathing one of her daggers and slamming it into the table. 'I am not your hostess,' she said, her voice also containing no anger, but clear and authoritative. 'You are not my guest. This is not your inn. Right now all you are is the stray I dragged in from the cold, and don't you forget it. And I don't like hidden threats.' She pulled her blade up from the table, sheathing it again. 'As I'm sure you know, appearances can be deceiving. You think I'm some random traveler who just decided to take a break from the whole world? You aren't the only dangerous person around here, so I wouldn't push your luck, because I'm no picnic either.' Sapphire watched him for a moment longer, then looked to Teidra. 'You can sleep in the bed tonight, if you want,' Sapphire said, her voice softer. 'Sleeping isn't really in my nature, anyway.' She touched the groove in the table that she had made with her blade. She found it extremely difficult to deal with people, especially without, you know, hurting them. So she considered her letting these two in to be quite an achievement, or break through, for her, and she didn't like people pointing out her social flaws. She was trying, after all. Well, with Teidra at least.
Carlyle simply smiled in response to Sapphire's threat.
"I don't need luck."
With that Carlyle pulled up a chair and sat down with a sigh. Poor Cecil was still out there, possibly for days. He should be smart enough to find shelter though. He should be fine. Cecil had also been carrying Carlyle's suitcase, which was also disappointing because he couldn't go and get it. It just wasn't his day.
Sapphire gave him a wary glance, and considered bringing up the topic of the second presence she felt near him earlier, but decided against it. She sat down with a sigh as well, and nudged the plate of cooked meat towards him in silence. If he did have bad intentions, she decided she didn't care. She just had to wait out the blizzard then get them on their way, and she would be alone again. It was for the best, really.
Yikes, that escalated quickly!
Teidra flinched when Sapphire stabbed the table and watched the exchange anxiously. About the worst thing that could possibly happen would be to get snowed in here in the middle of a fight, especially should it turn violent--and when it came right down to it, she didn't know about the tendencies of either of these people. Fortunately, it looked like they both dropped it, and Sapphire even offered her the bed!
Letting out a slow breath, she relaxed again. For a second there, when that knife came out, she had seriously been considering bolting and digging herself out.
Following Carlyle's lead, she took a seat at the table as well and cleared her throat awkwardly. It looked like what everyone needed was a serious subject change. Hopefully something that wouldn't set everyone off bickering again.
"So, uh...we're going to be stuck here for a few days at least," she started slowly, glancing between the two of them. "It's going to get boring fast, stuck in one spot--I mean! No offense! I've just been snowed in before!" she added quickly, holding up her hands. "All I mean is...so...does anyone know any fun games? Or have any good stories?"
"How about we have a little meet and greet? We can all share a few things about ourselves in order to understand each other better and not start performing involuntary amputations."
Sure, it was a cheesy idea, but it's not like they had anything better to do. Maybe they could even find common interests that they could discuss or something.
That didn't sound like a bad idea! Teidra nodded at that and picked up a piece of bread. "I like the sound of that. The meet and greet, I mean, not the...amputations." Anything to keep those two from each others' throats! Otherwise this was going to be a long blizzard.
"Um, so we just...say anything?" she asked, scratching again at her ear. "Okay, I guess I'll go first! Though I'm not really sure what to...bah! Okay. So, my name is Teidra...which you already know, so...starting over! I've seen eighteen summers, I...well, you know I'm studying to be an herbalist. Oh, I have six siblings! I'm neither the oldest nor the youngest, and...hmm..." It was so hard thinking of things on the spot!
"My...favorite color is violet?"
"Excellent! Very good," Carlyle said. "Now you," he said, indicating Sapphire. "I'm sure you'll have some interesting things to say about yourself."
Sapphire couldn't help but smile down at the table as she listened to Teidra's nervous introduction. There was something rather endearing about this girl that put her at ease, which was a nice balance to the unsettling feeling Carlyle gave off. She looked up at him, not liking his snarky side-comment. If he was trying not to come across as threatening, he was doing a poor job, but Sapphire kept the thought to herself. She felt like by asking about them, he was trying to suss them out, and she didn't like it, but instead she kept her composure. 'Please,' she said politely, looking back to the table. 'After you.'
"Ladies first," Carlyle replied. "I'm sure your life is much more exciting than that of a chemist. Besides, you know why we are out here, but why are you? We're just dying to know."
'My name is Sapphire,' she said slowly, debating how much to say. She didn't trust people in general enough to talk to them, so she felt extremely defensive. 'I don't do much, really. I'm here because it's quiet, and I like the cold. My favourite colour is white,' she said, mimicking Teidra's introduction, 'Because it's the colour of snow and lightning, two things I like.' She looked to Carlyle, eager to take the spotlight off of her. 'Now, please, I'd just love to hear what your life is like.'
"You flatter me," Carlyle said in response to Sapphire's comment.
"Now, let's see. My name is Carlyle. I am from Connlaoth where I work mainly as a chemist, but do some other scientific work and dabble in enchantments in my spare time. I don't particularly have a favorite color, and......That's about it. I don't really do much."
Teidra couldn't help but laugh, amused that they had both copied her favorite color deal--which she had only said because she felt put on the spot and needed some filler! Realizing, however, that laughter might be rude, she covered her mouth to cut off the sound and cleared her throat.
"Sorry. Ah! Nice to meet you both. And I bet that's untrue, that you don't do much! It's just hard to think of things off the top of your head..." She tilted her head and looked at Carlyle. "Like, what is 'Connlaoth'? I've heard it mentioned, but, ah, I'm afraid I don't know much about it."
"I have had my fair share of adventures," Carlyle mused. "Anyway, Connlaoth is a country located in a big valley. It's very windy all the time, and use of magic is prohibited. All Connlaothian men must serve in the military for a time. The people in Connlaoth are a very hardy bunch that do everything by hand and don't believe in using magic as a shortcut, it is viewed as laziness."
Carlyle thought for a moment and then shrugged.
"I think that's just about everything."
Teidra's brow crinkled at his description. "That seems...strange," she said, ears forward. "Magic is hardly a shortcut. It can be really difficult to do! And save lives, even."
She frowned. "Not that I have any. It just seems like a nice thing to have, and life is hard enough that I can't say I'd say no to a shortcut! That's just silly."
"It is rather silly," Carlyle agreed. "That's why I practice magic in secret. It opens up so many possibilities. I think they're just afraid of what they don't understand."
"Why do you go there if they don't like you?" Teidra asked, head tilted. "I mean...that seems safer...right? What even happens if they catch you?"
Carlyle shrugged.
"It's my home. All of my stuff is there. My lab, my research, everything. If I get caught, I have a good friend that will protect me. Not to mention that I'm no slouch when push comes to shove. What about you? What's your home like?"
"It's, well..." Teidra laughed and motioned around them. "It's a lot like this! This is my home. Er, I mean, this isn't my home, obviously," she said with a gesture that encompassed the little underground home. "But out there? That's where I live."
She leaned her arms on the table and tapped her chin. "But you probably mean like...my home, not the literal tundra, huh? Oh, well, that's...hm. My people are mostly travelers. We follow the herds we hunt so we kinda live all over, so my home is all over! And my people are like me, and we live in tents and..." She pursed her lips, then shrugged and smiled.
"Yeah!"
Carlyle hung on every word, a victim of his desire for knowledge.
"A nomadic people," he said nodding his head. "That is very interesting. Much more exciting than my home, especially with the war going on."
"War?" Teidra repeated, expression sobering.
"Oh, right. You're not from around here," Carlyle said. "There is a civil war going on in Connlaoth. It's the Grand Duke and his forces against mages. After the murder of the last Grand Duke at the hands of a mage, all mages are being locked up in death camps. Those who have not been captured are fighting back. I do not do any fighting myself, but I help the mages whenever I can."
Teidra's eyebrows climbed as she fixed him with an incredulous, unblinking look.
"And, uh...you call that place your home? And like living there? Even though you're a mage and if they caught you, they'd put you in a--what did you call it? A death camp?"
Carlyle couldn't help but chuckle. She did have a point.
"It wasn't always the hell on earth that it is now. It was a very nice place to live before the war happened. I guess that's what's keeping me there. Memories of what it was like before the war."
Carlyle suddenly found himself struck with a small bout of nostalgia. He remembered back to when he didn't have to be as secretive as he was now, and when military personnel seeking healing potions and salves weren't his most common customers.
Piquano lingered under the bed, listening intently at the conversation around him.
He had stumbled across the girl named Sapphire while wandering. The merman had become stuck in the recent overload of snow. When the girl left, he snuck to the location of the door, and entered. He had lounged on the bed, and had nearly fallen asleep when he heard conversation above. He quickly hid under the bed, and 3 warmly dressed people, one a tiger-girl hybrid, enter the cabin. He concealed himself in the shadows, letting a sneaker, rebellious version of himself.
He was curious as to what this plant was. He had noticed a strange plant in the cabin, but it had disappeared from its spot. Obviously they all wanted this healing plant. Piquano wanted nothing of the sort. He eavesdropped on the conversation of the civil war in Connlaoth - he was the but years ago, and no such event raged. Still, it was possible - war erupting at any moment.
This conversation was intriguing. The girl Sapphire had a look of discomfort. The merman was curious as to where this would go.
Teidra shook her head, completely perplexed. "I...I can't say I understand that," she said at last, scratching at an ear. "But it also sounds like our people are very different. Mine move. We never stay in one place long."
She picked at some of the food on the table. "I can't really wrap my mind around the idea of getting attached to a place. But I suppose that's because we've never stayed anywhere long enough for that to happen--oh.'
Her ears went up suddenly and she tensed, a worried look crossing her face.
"Do you think this storm will last long?"
"Hard to say," Carlyle replied scratching his chin. "Storms like this could last anywhere between a few hours and several days. Possibly even a week."
Carlyle could see the worried expression on the poor girl's face and put two and two together.
"You're afraid that they'll leave without you."
Up to a week? If Teidra's skin hadn't already been stark white, she would have paled. As it was, her ears slowly lowered, her shoulders hunching. A week was bad. But even a couple days were bad. The hunting hadn't been good lately, and they had been talking about leaving--they just hadn't said where.
And though the storm was bad, storms didn't always ground them. They often had to move, because if they stayed, they could starve.
Lowering her eyes to the table as his question hit the nail on the head, Teidra only nodded numbly. She didn't want to admit she was afraid of being left, but...they might not have a choice.
Carlyle couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl. She was in danger of being left behind and possibly never seeing her family again. Carlyle went and sat down next to her.
"I'll tell you," he began softly. "After this storm is over, I'll walk you home. If they left without you, I'll help you track them down. I am a mage, you know. I know a trick or two that could help us find them. What do you say?"
Surprised at his answer, Teidra looked up at him with hopeful eyes, the fear that had started to swell in her breast dissipating a little.
"Really?" she said, blinking. "You'd...you'd do that? You don't mind? I-I don't want you to burden yourself, or go out of your way, because that could be a lot to ask, but..."
"Out of my way," Carlyle chuckled. "I'm already miles away from Connlaoth. What's a few more? It's no burden to me at all. I'd be happy help and do something noble for a change."
Carlyle gave Teidra a smile. He couldn't just stand around while all of this girls family, possessions, and loved ones got up and left her behind. Carlyle didn't have any family of his own, so he knew what it was like to be lonely. Sometimes one just needs to give in to altruistic temptation.
Though Teidra was trying to be polite and give him an out in case he was just offering out of obligation, she was hoping beyond hope that he'd still agree, practically squirming as she willed him to say 'yes'. And then, when he did, she broke out into a wide, relieved smile and couldn't help herself--she released all that pent up, nervous energy in the form of a hug, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him lightly.
"Thank you!" she said. "Thank you so much! I mean, hopefully it won't come to that! Hopefully they won't leave and you won't have to! But...really...thanks."
Carlyle returned the hug a bit awkwardly. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had ever hugged him, or shown any kind of affection for that matter. Not that this hug was out of affection. She was just grateful.
"You're very welcome," Carlyle replied. "Um....Teidra. You may let go now."
Thanire let a laugh out as he heard the two conversing. "First time i have seen a man make such a thing look so odd..." Thanire stood arms crossed as he leaned against a tree. Having no shirt on showing off his muscles and tattooed skin as well as a multitude of long deep scars across his arms and chest. Holding a horn of ale in his right hand Thanire brought it up and began to gulp the drink down. Shaking his head after he was done his tail of his mohawk flailed around and then rested on his shoulder. Thanire looked at the two hugging paused with a smile then called out again. "What are you two doing?"
Obviously amused at the situation Thanire chuckled again to himself.
"Hm?" Teidra peered up at Carlyle, and then, realizing she was indeed still clinging to him, she let out a laugh and pulled back.
"Oh...heh. Sorry," she said sheepishly, and might have said more, but a masculine voice cut in then and she froze, turned, and gave a surprised gasp.
Because a large, fierce-looking man was in the room with them now. The door to the shelter must have been exposed after they'd used it! Jumping in alarm, Teidra scrambled out of her seat and went to Carlyle's other side, effectively putting the man between her and the newcomer.
Thanire laughed aloud not hiding his amusement in her obvious in being startled by him and also her fear. Indeed the door had been open and closed slowly Thanire slid in because he was curious and wanted to talk to them, he was bored in honesty. Something Thanire was often. "Believe me child if i wanted you dead you would have my Ax in your side by now." Thanire jabbed a thumb in the air towards his back to where a handle jetted out from behind him. rubbing his hands together Thanire blew in them as if he were cold. He wasn't it was a tick in his character something he just did out of boredom. Thanire face was now more visible to the two he had a heavy brow and thick beard beneath his nose and it traveled down the sides if his face in to two long braids. But that was the only hair on his head aside from that. Scars littered his body deep and minor as well did tattoos ad a permanent war paint type tattoo, surprisingly though no scars were on his face. Not a single hint of a blade or arrow being remotely near his face could be found, something Thanire was proud of.
As for his attire. Thanire had a pair of leather leggings and fur hide boots as well as a kilt and a simple shirt wrapped around his waist. With two daggers on the back of a thick belt that covered also most his entire belly, and a loop ring where hung his ax bearded the blade had a simple elegance about it. Not much could be seen of the great ax on his back though it was much larger then most ax's.
"Pay him no mind," Carlyle told Teidra. "He's just some uncivilized brute with a fetish for body art. Nothing serious."
Carlyle was not at all fond of men like this. All brawn and no brain, thinking they can do whatever they want, because of their big muscles and numerous scars. This man had no business butting in on their conversation, and Carlyle would be sure to let him know that.
"Watch your tongue! I may look like a brute but after traveling for months on end would you not look a little dirty? Plus I assure you my brain works at a capacity far greater then yours. For even thinking i am a mere brute is infantile and foolish, to assume that by my body type and scars even my tattooing and to think i am a mere brute. That sir is folly and only someone with minimal to no skills as a strategist. And these tattoos are from my families own line of designs and they speak and tell of my families history!" Thanire pounded his chest as he spoke quite proud of the fact his family war paint was permanently etched on his body. "Now if you are still thinking i am some dumb brute then you would only be half right good sire." Thanire spoke with an intelligence about him that was quite surprising for how he was dressed.
"Now if you would kindly take your knighted pompous ass and let me talk to the other young woman in the room then i would appreciate it..." Thanire was jesting but also serious he was not impressed thus far. To have this man insult him and call him a mindless brute, and to just pass him off as an ordinary warrior. Thanire was trained for his entire childhood strategy, battle, and the ins and outs of war were his passion. If need be he would show the proud knight. Thanire ahted people as this too dumb and believing the fact they had Royal blood in them that it made them in a higher skill rate then other lower class people.
"I do plenty of traveling," Carlyle replied. "I still find time to look presentable and be hygienic. You, sir, are talking to one of the most brilliant minds in Connlaoth. I am a master chemist and enchanter, and I have traveled to all corners of the globe for my trade. The main difference between us is that I was smart enough to let myself be cut up like you with all your scars. To be honest, I don't know why having scars is seen as a desirable trait. Wouldn't a great warrior know how NOT to get hit?"
"Ah your a scroll writer that makes sense now, and Connlaoth? Say you are one of the brightest minds there is like saying you are a racist pompous ass who thinks himself better for not having magic in his blood. Or that you are a magic user and you should be cut down as you are announcing your curse. And you are right in the sense that a warrior would know how to dodge and not receive a wound against mere poultry ranks, but each of these scars was given to me as a lesson in blood to not redo and mistake. Also they serve as a nostalgic sense remembering each great battle, with every enemy and grand opponent i have fought against." Thanire rubs his arms feeling the most pronoun scars.
Looking up he continued. "And as for hygiene i am not riddled with disease, or infection and my clothes are unique i do not merely throw them away when they are done." Thanire was right his kilt was obvious a family tie. and his leggings were as well. "Careful how you react chemist, You caught me i a good mood." Thanire truly hated the type of man who thought him better then his fellow humans and as far as this chemist was reacting he was one of them so far.
"You threaten me as if it means something," Carlyle replied cooly. "And my place of origin does not determine my character. Any intelligent individual would know that. I also do not write scrolls. If you were as smart as you claim you would know that we use books nowadays. As for magic, it is a very useful tool. It's just that most Connlaothians fear what they do not understand."
Finally, Teidra had had enough. After reading the situation long enough to see this new man was not of immediate danger, she spoke up, ears flattened and sharp teeth bared in a low growl. "Stop it! Stop fighting!"
With a slight huff, she sidestepped out from behind Carlyle and glowered up at the new man. Though she stood a mere five feet tall so the man dwarfed her by far, she stood there with her chest puffed up and her fists clenched. She hadn't known Carlyle long, but what she did know of him was that he was kind and selfless enough to offer her, a complete stranger, help unprompted. And for that alone she would defend him.
Which, maybe he didn't need defending, but from Teidra's perspective, he looked like he needed it! After all, he didn't have sharp teeth or claws to fight with.
"Now just...leave him alone, okay? If you need something here, you should just say it! But don't come in here and try to pick a fight!"
Thanire scoffed at what this lab rat must have thought a witty remark when it came to scrolls and books. As well as the intelligence remark, again he insinuated that he was a fool. This simple scribe and chemist was starting to weather on Thanire's nerve. "Think you are a smart one hmm? then tell me ..." Thanire was cut short by the furry little beast yelling at them. She seemed to defend him ... Odd thing was she was quite furious in her own way.
"As you wish, but you know that it was her that stayed my blade from drinking your blood." Thanire knew he was about to get a smart ass remark that this nobleblood would think superior and intellectual. He hoped for an excuse to deck this rich untested child square in the nose. Thanire looked to the man waiting for the excuse he would unleash his fury on him. Letting him know that he was not to be taken lightly. Thanire knew there had t be a reason this arrogant fool was so cocky aside from his station and blood line. He mentioned magic he must be a caster dangerous person to fight although getting them close enough so they were reduced to more target based magics. not a area based or more massive damaging attacks. But Thanire had some tricks of his own. He had magics even his great ax had magic fused to it...
"Well then, I'm afraid your blade will just have to settle with being thirsty," Carlyle said with a smug grin.
He hadn't needed Teidra to intervene for him, but she just wanted to help. This brute was quite irritating. Carlyle hated men like that. Those men who flaunted their muscles and scars as if they should automatically be respected for it. Carlyle feared no man, and this one was no exception.
Teidra let out a breath, some of the tension draining out of her when the large man conceded. Shoulders relaxing and hands unclenching, Teidra looked over at Carlyle and gave him a smile (for she was quite proud of having "protected" him against this larger one!) before looking back to the larger man.
"Okay...so that's settled," she said, and brushed some hair from her eyes. "Was there, ah, some reason you came here?" Aside from barging in to put Carlyle down, that is!
Piquano thought, as another person was now in the room, he would reveal himself. In the darkness of his corner, from under the bed the merman crawled. He snuck up behind the group, and simply stood there, silent.
"You are making my ears ache. Anyway, do any of you have some mead?" Piquano laughed, going crazy after so long in uunfamiliar weather condidtions.
That was all Thanire needed to make his blood boil enough for a reaction taking three massive strides for the chemist he drew back his fist! Just as he did though he saw something slink out of the shadow drawing his ax in flash and being at the ready. Thanire watched as this fish man asked for mead... "Aye i do..." Thanire took his free hand pulling a skin behind him and tossing it to the creature. Standing up still his side ax in hand walked over to the creature purposely shoving the scrawny chemist out of his way trying to knock him against something just to be annoying.
"Where did you come from creature?" Thanire now completely ignored the others he was interested in the new being. "You have my curiosity, I have never seen one of your people... alive for very long." Thanire said finally with almost a child like state of amazement.
Teidra went to Carlyle's side to help him when the brute shoved the man aside. Apparently, there was someone else in the little hovel, too! How many people had had the same idea about this place today? And why had she never known about it when so many apparently did?
Well. Probably because her people were nomadic.
"Are you okay?" she asked Carlyle, and shot a glare at the larger man's back. "That was so rude."
"I am perfectly alright, my dear," Carlyle assured her. "That brute couldn't hurt me if he tried."
Carlyle examined the newly revealed fourth occupant of the small house. It was a merman. Carlyle couldn't help but chuckle when the brute didn't know what a merman was even though he had been going on about how knowledgeable he was just moments before. This was turning out to be a very interesting expedition. All well, they couldn't all go on without a hitch. He would just have to make do.
((OOC: Re read my post please i never seen one ALIVE for long. like i killed them before but never talked with one that didn't die in seconds :P))
"And him insulting me without prompting is no better? how about continually calling me a brute a mindless barbarian? Judging me by my mere body type and ancestral war ink? Is he more civilized then i to be able to pass me off as mere poultry to him, only because i place my lots with physical endurance and strength more so then the ways of magic, to his knowledge anyway? For all you know i could be a war magi, or a battle priest one adept with magics and physical strengths. Nay i say it is he that is so rude to pass judgement on a man by his build!" Thanire spoke with a fierce tone but was calm. He was used to being judged and in this he had mastered this conversation long before this one. So he knew what to say how to say it, with accurate points and words that would open the mind to his side in a way that was intelligibly accurate.
"Would it not be wise for a man to know both magic and also know the psychical side of battle for when it grows fierce? How foolish wold a man be to know only one side of of the spectrum, to know even a little of both is better then master only one. My people know this so i trained in battle and magics true i side to physical but do not think i am a mindless brute... even though i may be savage." Thanire thought back to the intense training as a child he had undergone both magical learning and also physical. from casting spells and holding them for as long as possible to dodging attacks while also doing this he had a hybrid technique of training in both at the same time. Making Thanire almost an expert in duel fighting in both magics and melee combat at the same time.
Turning back to the merman before Thanire he spoke in a curious tone once again as if he had not been the same person a second ago. "Why do you dwell here, why do you come to our attention willingly?" Thanire thought about what had happened it would make sense he meant no harm for he would have stayed hidden and struck from the shadows. And yet he could also be trying to win them over for he was out numbered significantly at this point.
Thanire had merely come here because of his curiosity and that was it. Thanire let that bit of him run wild he was always looking into things as a child, or wandering exploring the world. Which was partly why he was not in his homelands of Fjletland he was curious of the world that lay beyond. Looking out and exploring letting his Curious spirit run wild and sore as a bir would in the winds and clouds.
"I was travelling in the Tundra when the snow storm arrived. This dwelling was the only place I could find after a whole day in the blizzards." Piquano spoke with a watery tone. "And for my reasoning of showing myself there is two. First, It was getting cramped under that bed, and two, I like making new friends. So... Hi!" Piquano waved, his bare human arm shaking in the air. "I heard you all arguing. I thought if I showed myself, it would cease." Piquano sighed. "That failed. You had best not threaten me, 'Thanire'. I am equal to any man, elf or any other race. I understand not why you hint the fact you think I'm about to pass away."
The merman looked to the tiger-like being. "And you, I have the same curiosity. What are you? My apologies if that sounds rude."
"i have no intent to kill you only the merpeople i have met up with in past have either been in the after math of a battle that has transpired or they met my ax before words could be exchanged i have no intent on ending your life. you are not a contract nor in my way." Thanire spoke bluntly and bold.
Teidra didn't know what to say in response to the lecture, so she wound up doing nothing at all. She edged closer to Carlyle, a little intimidated and not quite sure what to say. It was true Carlyle had been initially rude, but the man had surprised her, too! And that was still no reason for him to make threats!
Of course, she was a little biased here.
Fortunately, before she could be put on the spot, the man turned away to their newest addition that had apparently always been there, unbeknownst to them! A man with...
Fins?
She looked at Carlyle in confusion, and then at the newcomer, shifting from hoof to hoof awkwardly. "Me? Oh, uh...I'm tuathi," she said slowly, for she did find the question a little rude, being asked what you were. "But my name is Teidra. What's yours?"
She stared rather pointedly at his tail, trying to find a way to ask what he was without sounding similarly rude, for she'd never seen a person with a fish tail before!
Carlyle could tell that Teidra was nervous, so he patted her on the shoulder assuredly. He would keep her safe if necessary. It was only proper. Carlyle did not react to the merman's reaction in any way. He just sat and listened patiently. The merman's question did seem rather rude, even though he had asked Teidra the same question when they had first met. Carlyle decided to make them even when he saw Teidra's confusion. Carlyle leaned over and whispered into Teidra's ear.
"He's a merman. Half man, half fish."
Piquano knew not what the man whispered after the tiger girl he'd her name and race.
"I am Piquano, merman wanderer and food taster extraordinaire." You may have just been whispered that, but I cannot be sure.
Piquano sipped the beer, and threw it back to his offerer, smiled, and thanked him.
"Ohhhh..." Teidra said, relieved that Carlyle had caught on and saved her from a little social awkwardness.
But perhaps not from all of it.
Still eying his tail curiously, she blinked in confusion. "How do you...how are you out here, and not in the sea?"
"I am an evolved species of merfolk", explained Piquano. "My people started in the water, but through generations we learned to walk as man does. We control or fins just as you would your legs, using our brain to keep us balanced. I know this is new for you, and I won't hurt you. Did I answer your question?" Piquano smiled.
"So you..." Teidra really hoped all these questions weren't coming across as rude! She peered down at his fins. "You walk on your fins? Oh! Do you live in these waters? You won't dry up if you're not in them?"
Piquano's smile dropped into a frown. "I haven't returned to the ocean, nor the streams ever since I was thirteen. My last memory of delving beyond the shore was when I witness my mother be raped and murdered by sea marauders. I wish not to return to the coast so soon. I have learned to live on land, taught to me by a... Deceased friend." Piquano explained this, almost shedding a tear.