|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 2, 2007 21:23:03 GMT -5
She accepted the dirk, inspecting it for any damage. Satisfied that it was still unscratched, she tucked it into her belt. At his first comment, she looked up at him cooly. "Were I you, I would not assume that you are one who had experienced hardship. Especially when it comes to dreams." Her brow furrowed in concentration as she struggled with her makeshift sling. When he offered to help her and took her arm, she looked up at him with wide eyes. His brown hair was slightly unkempt, a few strands shadowing his forehead. For being such a powerful warrior, his hand on her arm was gentle. His blue eyes looked at her almost pleadingly. Something stirred in her. She chalked it down to surprise. Few people nowadays seemed to care, and yet this elf honestly seemed to want to help her. Slowly, her eyes still on his, she relinquished the bandage.
Sentinel watched this exchange with growing interest. So maybe this stranger was not as bad as he first seemed. He had obviously done something right, since Kayla was letting him help her. Stubborn, she was. Proud, too. He didn't think she was going to let him even get near her, yet here she was letting him bandage her wounds. Still, he mused, stranger things had happened.
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 2, 2007 21:51:56 GMT -5
There was an interesting moment that passed between the two before Kayla let him help her with the bandage. He gave a thankful smile when as he carefully began to wrap the bandage twice around her forearm so that it was stop the bleeding. Granted there wasn’t much bleeding now, but pressure still needed to be applied. He made sure to apply enough pressure for its purpose but not too much pressure so that it hurt her. He didn’t want to hurt her any more than he had already done. He wanted to everything possible to make what he had done earlier right. After he had wrapped the bandage around her arm, he gently placed it behind her neck on the opposite shoulder and tied a knot and then backed away a bit. “ At least that should hold for a while.” Cristin said with a smile and then moved back over to stoke the fire again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 2, 2007 22:00:09 GMT -5
Leaning back against the tree, her arm now immobilized and throbbing slightly less, she watched him build the fire up. She stretched out her leg in front of her, hoping that it would soon stop bleeding. What she really needed was to be back home, where all of her healing stuff was and where she could recoup. However, at this moment her small house had never seemed so far away. Watching Cristin move around the fire, she noticed he was slightly uneasy. He had already scanned the undergrowth several times, and his body looked tense, as if ready for something to come and attack them any minute. Her blue eyes gazed at him curiously, now free of malice. "What are you so afraid of?" she queried.
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 2, 2007 22:06:25 GMT -5
Cristin hardly even heard her when she asked him what he was afraid of. He was mumbling to himself in a hushed tone. If Kayla wasn’t half elf she would never have heard what he was saying, “ They should have come. Why haven’t they? They are getting smarter…I hate smarter.” Cristin kept moving about and finally sat in front of Kayla, the fire separating them. “ Oh nothing, I am just cautious.” Cristin said in reply to her statement. At this time it would be nice if she didn’t know what was the problem. Of course, he had to experiment something as well. He hoped that such actions would not hurt her. They had hurt everyone else.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 2, 2007 22:19:12 GMT -5
Silver scales gleaming dully in the moonlight, Sentinel followed the uneasy movements of the elf with his eyes. His keen hearing picked up the mutterings of the male. Who should have come? So someone was following him, eh? Strange, most strange. His tail twitched slightly. He couldn't hear anyone sneaking up on them. All the noises of the night were completely normal. If there was someone in that forest, they were not moving around.
"Right," she said skeptically, "cautious. Sentinel says he can't hear anything, and he doesn't think anything is out there. Being shot didn't affect his hearing any. And I know that something is following you. You told me that much last night." She cocked her head, still looking at him across the fire. "Why are you so worried about it? All of us are awake, we all have good hearing and survival skills, and as you demonstrated so clearly today, you are very quick on the draw."
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 2, 2007 22:25:43 GMT -5
Cristin sighed looked blankly at Kayla when she spoke. If only she knew what was really following him. Then she would be so less sure of her survival. Cristin looked behind him at Sentinel when he was mentioned and then returned his gaze to Kayla. When she finished he spoke, “ I can’t describe it, I won’t try. But they are not of this world. They are seen or heard by us. Even though we are all awake, I am the only one that can fight. You know that. “ Cristin said and his voice dropped. His voice had risen when he spoke more than he intended. It was just that everyone he met always said that what was chasing him couldn’t be that big of a deal. They always ended up dead. Cristin hated that fact and now he didn’t want to loose someone else. Not this one, she was special.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 2, 2007 22:37:25 GMT -5
All this talk of unseen pursuers was making Sentinel a little nervous. He lifted his head from Kayla's uninjured leg and looked around. He didn't like the ground. It was too easy to be attacked. Uncurling his sinuous form, he crawled clumisily up the tree Kayla leaned against, finally reaching an overhanging branch. Ahhh, that was better. He watched the firelight lazily, and his eyes began to drift shut. A quick nap wouldn't hurt. It had been a very long day, after all.
She was slightly surprised at how worked up he seemed to be about these pursuers. He really was worried about then. Slowly, she nodded her head. "Fine. Caution, then. If they are as bad as you say they are, then I believe you." Her vision randomly blurred slightly, and her eyes lost their focus. Snapping out of it, she shook her tousled curls against the momentary lightheadedness. Just a side effect from being drugged. Turning her attention back to Cristin, she decided not to discuss it anymore. He seemed uptight enough as it was without her reminding him of it. "Sooo......where exactly do you live?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 3, 2007 9:23:19 GMT -5
Cristin moved his hand to his forehead and brushed away one of his bangs that had fallen in front of his eyes. “ I live in the North mostly. Away in Northern Waste. No one bothers me there. From what I have seen, they are not even any one up there to bother me. Of course, there are the occasional orc but nothing that I have not been able to handle. Perhaps there was that one occasion but…” Cristin stopped and stood up quickly and turned to Kayla’s right, his sword drawn halfway from his sheath immediately. He stopped halfway and smiled. Tyra, his tiger came through the forest. Cristin smiled and sat back down. “ Ahh, we are not alone after all.” He said and rubbed Tyra’s back and neck as she curled against him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 3, 2007 9:42:19 GMT -5
"The North, huh? I've been there. Very cold. Very....empty. It's a nice place to escape." She heard the rustling of underbrush and half turned as he rose. A large white tiger bounded into the clearing, stopping in front of the fire. A female, in her prime. She smiled and looked up where Sentinel lounged in the trees. He would not be pleased when he awoke. Kayla turned her attention back to Cristin, who now sat petting and rubbing the tiger while she sat next to him. A new respect for him grew in her mind. This tiger obviously trusted him. Animals had an uncanny sense of who was trustworthy and who was not, and if this predatory feline trusted this elf, he must be alright. "What's her name?" she inquired, thinking silently, ' She's beautiful'
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 3, 2007 9:53:57 GMT -5
Cristin smiled and looked at Kayla, “ You met her the other day. She was the tiger in the forest with me, the one that helped me find you.” Cristin said with a smile. He ran her his hands through her neck and the soft fur that covered it. The tiger reeled up a bit and licked at Cristin’s face. He smiled, “ Come now Tyra.” Cristin coaxed. He looked back at Kayla, “ Tyra, that is her name. I can’t remember if I told you that yesterday or not. Sometime my memory shorts out on me.” Cristin said and then looked back at Tyra. “ So, have you lived around her all of your life?” Cristin asked, looking back up at Kayla.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 3, 2007 10:06:33 GMT -5
She grinned at the sight of the scarred and mighty warrior getting his face licked by a playful tiger. "Tyra," she repeated, "Well, I am pleased to meet you, Tyra. And no, you didn't mention her name. That's why I asked." Sneaking another look at her own companion, she commented, "But don't expect Sentinel to give her a warm welcome. He doesn't exactly....get along well with other animals, especially other predators." For the moment, the silver dragon was sound asleep, exhausted by his day. Answering his question, she replied, "If by living you mean has my house always been here, yes. If you mean have I always stayed here, then no. As I said, I am a traveler. I have been away from the house for years at a time. However, this is the first time I have been away in about ten years."
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 3, 2007 10:20:13 GMT -5
“ Ten years?” Cristin said in more of an asking tone that a statement. “ You know, I don’t think I could ever stay in one place for ten years. That for me would be worse than death. Of course, my lifestyle and those that pursue me prevent me from staying in one place.” Cristin said and leaned backwards as Tyra stood on all fours and wandered off into the woods and disappeared into the moonlight forest. Cristin watched her go and then turned back to Kayla, “ She comes and goes. She is a wild animal and I won’t keep her with me if she doesn’t wish it. She will return again sometime. I have never seen her loose a fight, so I don’t think she will ever get killed so I know she will return. Most of the time it is when I need her most.” Cristin said and looked back in the direction that Tyra had gone.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 3, 2007 11:33:50 GMT -5
The fire was slowly dying down as they talked, a log occasionally falling and sending up a fountain of sparks. "It hasn't been easy," she slowly said, "because at times I longed to just leave. But I couldn't. I had to stay. You see, I found Sentinel about ten years ago. He had just hatched, and he was grieviously injured. Until now, he hasn't been large enough to leave alone, but I couldn't take him with me, either. I have a tendency to get into some....interesting situations." She motioned up at the sleeping dragon. "Although, he has bugged me for months to take a journey. I had started venturing out for a few weeks at a time, but not really too far. This was going to be a long journey, for maybe a few months, depending on where we wandered. That's part of the reason he's so upset with you. You kind of ruined that for him." She looked across the dying flames at him, her blue-gray eyes tired. No! She wouldn't fall asleep. She tried to convince her mind that it wasn't exhausted. That didn't work very well. She fought to stay awake.
|
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Aug 3, 2007 12:03:28 GMT -5
Cristin nodded his head and answered her, “ I see. Well, if Tyra comes back I am sure wouldn’t mind giving a ride on her back. She is strong and he wouldn’t weigh her down that much. She is far larger than him I would say. However, I don’t think that it would be as exciting for him that way. I can tell you though that traveling isn’t all that people think it is. Everyone thinks that it is an extraordinary life to live as a wanderer. They think you can do what you please and go where you wish. In truth though, there are places I can never go again, some people want my head. Traveling gets you in trouble, no matter who you are. You can’t be friends with everyone.” Cristin said calmly and watched as Kayla was beginning to dose off. “ You should get some sleep. It will be better for you. It will be morning soon anyway.” Cristin said and as he said morning his eyes wandered. They would come then.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Aug 3, 2007 12:23:00 GMT -5
She smirked. "Even if she offered, I doubt Sentinel would accept a ride. He is rather prideful. Sort of like me," she said with a half smile. Then her face grew serious and pensive. "Yes, there are places I am never welcome, people that would prefer it if I were not here. I live in a world where I am best forgotten." Her eyes gazed, unseeing, at the flickering embers as her mind wandered to another place. Slowly, her muscles relaxed and her eyes drifted shut as she fell asleep.
|
|
