Lost In The Sea of Grass (Open)

[Flye]

Flye held back the smile that came with Erzotol's comment, keeping it down by distracting herself with a small big that was crawling across the ground. All the while, the man had taken to his own distraction, though she wasn't sure what he was doing. Flye watched him cut strips of cloth, and other things, before kneeling in front of her. He spoke softly to her, and wiped at her forehead and face, but he seemed so cautious, Flye could see the distance in his eyes.

He asked her to tell him when it hurt too much, and she answered him with a small smile and nod. The water was slightly cold against her skin, and it almost made her shiver as the droplets would roll down her body. Luckily it didn't last very long, but now there was another difficulty. He had handed her a washcloth, givingh her instruction to finish the rest of it herself, before turning a violent shade of pink, and retreating to his horse.

She couldn't help but let out a small laugh, but did not make it noticable. Then, rather than staying dirty she did what she was supposed to be doing. Slowly and thoroughly she ran the cloth over her skin, making sure to remove as much dirt as possible. Again she felt the coldness of the water wash over her skin. It wasn't too terribly bad this time, though.

When she had finished she kept quiet, watching Erzotol brush away at his horse. She didn't feel the need to stop him from doing something that made him seem so calm. So she watched him, with a a gentle smile on her face.

[Erzotol Silverden]

The brush glided against the horse's soft fur, as he ran it along its muscled legs. Little by little flecks of grass, and briars where dislodged by the bristled comb, as he finished up his cleaning of the horses fur with the meticulous care he always used. A small gust of wind caused his shoulder length hair to float in the breeze, the silver charms tinkling as they clinked together. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze, spreading his arms out wide so he could feel the gust all over his body. Soon it died down though, as unpredictable as ever and he lowered his arms and set the brush back in his pack, and picking out a small bag of oats he had brought from home to set down in front of Airaiet.

Satisfied that his trusty steed was taken care of he turned backwards to look at Flye sitting on the ground. He smiled at her, relieved that she was alright.

His stomach grumbled suddenly, and he looked down and realized he hadn't eaten all day. Suspecting that she hadn't either, he picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulder while walking over her. "Hungry?" he asked while plopping down beside her, producing a couple of apples, half a loaf of bread, and a chunk of salted meat from his pack, laying them on top of it. " Feel free to help yourself " he said with a welcoming smile before scooping up one of the apples, and sinking his teeth into the fruit.

[Flye]

Flye brought her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her legs. "No, I'm ok right now," She replied softly, shaking her head. She looked up at the sun, letting it's warmth wash over her. She stayed quiet for long moments, before finally bringing herself to speak, "So...tell me about Endrykas. What's it like there?" She rested her chin on the tops of her knees, and turned her head slightly so she could look at Erzotol while he spoke.

She couldn't wait to get there. The place she really wanted to be. The place she knew she would love. She could only imagine what it would be like when she got there. She could only imagine what the people were like. She eyed Erzotol. She wondered if they were all like him.

[Erzotol Silverden]

The silence between them was palpable, only occasionally interrupted by the crunching noise Erzotol made every time he bit into the crisp apple. Observing the beautiful horizon before him, while rubbing his cleanly shaven cheeks, he admired the beauty of his horse, determined to ignore the silence and just enjoy the moment of being alive. His eyes gazed briefly down at his half-eaten apple, before looking back over to his horse. Pursing his lips, he let out a sharp whistle to get the horse's attention, and wagged the apple before him to signal that he had a treat for him.

As he waited for the horse to trot on over to munch on the apple in his hand, he looked beside him at the woman, and cleared his throat. " Well for me it’s always been a great place of fellowship with friends, and people of like mind. It's like a gigantic marketplace, with each family having their own tent around the city, and you can find out information, and get what you need depending on the reliability of the information. Of course it all depends on what you are looking for " he said thoughtfully, his voice thick with reverence. " What spirits you to Endrykas may I ask? " and he couldn't help but sound curious to the woman. After all, he hadn't came across to many outsiders that so desired to go to the city. Maybe she had a loved one she wished to meet in the bustling city he thought as he watched her.

[Flye]

Flye smiled thoughtfully, turning her head to where her cheek rested atop her folded arms. It had taken her years to get to this point, and now she was almost there, already talking to one of the city's residents. "A life." She replied, and added after another moment, "I want a life. A family, or at least friends." Her eyes lazily roamed to the tall grass, swaying with the gentle breeze. "I've heard life is hard out here in Cyphrus, but...it's worth it." Her smile brightened even more, "I've always wanted to have a life of my own. Something that I could live for." She lifted her head, and met Erzotol's gaze, "You know?"

[Erzotol Silverden]

" Yes, I understand such wants all too well " he said as his eyes glazed over slightly as if caught in some flashback. With a brisk shake of his head the distant look in his eyes was gone and he once more looked towards the woman again. " I hope that Endrykas blesses you with that and more " he said with a smile, running his fingers through his hair. " We are all blessed here for the life on the grass sustains us, and helps us grow even stronger " he said even as his previous thoughts of leaving this place cross through his mind. He longed to see one of the cities he had heard other travelers speak of, most likely just as much as this woman longed to by in Endrykas. Maybe one day I will be able to venture beyond Cyphrus's borders to see the world beyond he thought as he gazed up at the sky.

" I’ll do my best to introduce you to the people there, and get you established he said with a hint of a smile. It’s hard in Endrykas, without a drykas guide, but as soon as she knew enough people he was sure she wouldn't need him anymore, and he could be off towards his families pavilion once more. As one of the diamond clan, certain things where expected after all, and he had many chores to get back to most likely. He offered a wide smile, and then lay on his back to stare up at the crystal blue sky, and crossed his arms around his chest.

[Flye]

Flye nodded, laying back too, "Thank you." Her heart felt lighter now that she knew that she would be there soon. It was just a matter of hours now. Her eyes began to feel heavier, as the sun began to fall. The world became darker, and she did all she could to resist falling asleep, but she knew she would need the rest. She had a long day ahead of her.

She wondered who she might meet in the city. What kind of animals dwelled there? What kind of habbits did the people possess? She wanted to know everything about them. Who knows, maybe she would learn something while she was there.

[Erzotol Silverden]

With the slightest movement of his fingers, he unfastened his white cloak and with absolute care for silence he sat up. Flye looked well into her sleep to him, and gingerly he pulled the cloak out from under him, before leaning over to drape it over her. The nights on the sea of grass can be brutally cold, and it wouldn't due to let the lady freeze to death he thought as he watched her. The rhythmic steps of his horse approached him from the side and he looked up and smiled at Airaiet, raising his hand to pet its snout. No bond was greater than that between him and his strider he thought warmly as the horse lowered itself to the ground to lie beside him.

Erzotol turned on his side in response, his back against the warm horse’s body, and he could feel Airaiet's deep breathing. He smiled truly settled and even more so in fact when Laeon decided to pop out of hiding within his pack. The silent white fox padded over to him and crawled up beside him to curl up against his chest. He felt safe indeed in the company of such fine friends, but he would not sleep this night. Someone needed to take the watch, and he was the most able to stand vigilant over his sleeping friends, to protect them from danger. Once the fox was fast asleep, and his horse as well, he slowly stood up, and walked up to the top of hill that ringed their campsite to have a better vantage point to better survey the area around them. It be too dark to see soon he knew, but he would stand guard their even then, and would do routine patrols around their camp to make sure none where trying to sneak up on them.

[Flye]

That night, Flye dreamed of swirling figures and the sounds of child's sweet laughter. It seemed she was a swirling figure herself amongst them, and in the middle of the people she stood with a strangely sweet twisted smile on her face.

When Flye had opened her eyes, she found the sun had yet to make it's way over the horizion. It's light barely made a mark in the beyond skies. It was very earlier, she thought. She was still tired, but knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. Her head still had a dull pain about it, and her body was only the least bit sore. Luckily, it was bareable.

Slowly bring herself to a sitting position, she searched her surroundings for the missing Erzotol, whom has been beside her when she had fallen asleep. Her eyes darted around, but found him leaning back against his horse, resting quietly.

Flye smiled at him, "Good morning."

[Erzotol Silverden]

After hours of vigilant watch, Erzotol finally succumbed to rest, satisfied that there was only a few more bells till the sun would rise, and decided it would be ok for him to get a little rest.

Blindly stumbling through the darkness, he came back to where horse laid, and sat against it, leaning his head back to rest against it's warm side.

For several moments he rested there, but then he heard some slight shuffling, and a feminene voice say "Good morning". His eyes shot open, and he offered her a tired grin. "Good morning, did you rest easy?"