[Flashback] A Season's Reward (Solo)

[Oluse]

511 AV Summer, 32

Overwhelming excitement gripped him, as it had for almost an entire week prior. His body literally ached from the anticipation, and likely the constant battle against frost bite, which he had almost grown accustomed to in his travel north. Something he had been telling himself for almost a fort night now, but as always one gust of bone chilling wind was enough to disenchant his belief that he would ever grow accustomed to the cold!

One season of his life, alone, or at least that's how it felt since he had his falling out with his guide. He felt grateful the women didn't just leave him to freeze in the mountains. He wouldn't have been surprised after what he did. But that was behind him now, a whole new world of wonders, and people awaited him in Avanthal.

He had passed the point of lying to himself long before then. Had he known the trek would be so trying, and death defying, he would have never undertaken the journey. But, he had made that choice in Spring, and since earned his reward, Avanthal. He wondered how many citizens of Denval had ever actually seen Avanthal, so close was their culture. Or at least that's what he foolishly believed before seeing the frozen city. In his mind, those that shared a language, shared everything. Soon his path of disillusion, of exploration and knowledge would continue into the next Chapter. He would learn to breath the crisp air of yet another foreign city, and see that there is really no place like home.

------

His eyes burned with cold, as he strained them peering through the low clouds, dropping a light layer of drifting snow onto the fatigued travelers. He had been instructed to keep his eyes shut as much as possible, to offer what protection from the cold his eyelids could offer, but the excitement had dominated his common sense, as it often did. He wanted to see it first, before his Guide had to point it out. He wanted to see that legendary glimmer, coming from the magical gates to Avanthal!

"Ok," Her flawless Vani words travel softly to his ears carried aloft on the slight breeze of the morning air,"I have business I must attend to, you can find your own way from here." Her voice was cold, but not angry so much as dismissive. He couldn't help but think he would prefer anger. An entire season together, and she was going to just leave him, with no goodbyes, no sentiment what so ever. His mood shifted quickly into the melancholy, and sorrow. How he wished she could know his regret.

The harsh crunching of snow bit away at his heart, as she walked on. He wanted to say something, something meaningful, something that would stick wish her memory forever. But, nothing left his lips save a slight chatter as his young body struggled to keep his blood pumping against the cold. He just stood there, giving her the time she needed to pull ahead.

Another harsh gust of wind, this one long and freezing down to the void he felt his soul once inhabited before undertaking this mission to Avanthal. His eyes clamped shut against the pain, and his shoulders rolled up to offer what protection they could to his fur covered neck. His pink with cold nose presses down to the collar, and the smell overtakes him again, his stench. He couldn't wait to get to the city, to bathe and be warm and clean again.

A smile found his lips again after several long minutes of the deadly flood of icy air, the wind began to die down. He knew these gusts by now, enough to blow the clouds apart, his suspicions were reenforced by the drifting snow lightening, then coming to a peaceful stillness. He knew the path before him would be clear when his eyes opened, and the excitement returned. How close he must be to the gate!

A grin finally stretched across his face, exposing his chattering teeth as he flung his eyes wide to see the gates! The grin remained tentative upon his face as his eyes scanned the bright morning tundra ahead. First he saw his guide, who had already put an impressive distance between them. Then he looked further... nothing. Then further... still nothing. Then finally, a glimmer, more a slight shimmer on the horizon. Horizon?! The grin fell instantly to a displeased frown. He couldn't be sure, but it seemed almost a half a days walk away still!

Disgruntled he continued his trek, following solemnly behind his guide, who seemed to effortlessly travel at least twice his speed through the thick snow.

------

In his excitement, and slight determination to not fall too far behind his guide the final stretch only consumed the remaining morning, leaving the sun hung high in the sky as he reached the gate itself.

A smile rest in disbelief upon his lips, his eyes caught in wonder and awe. How beautiful the gate was. He wanted to touch it. But, was too impressed, and frightened by the mighty white bears at the entrance to do so, for fear they might take insult to the action. So, not lingering on disappointment, he gave a short greeting in his best Vani, which he had been practicing quite a bit since meeting his guide, at least that beginning. Then, slipped inside the city proper, not dropping his awe inspired smile for a moment.

He could barley believe it, he had moments during his journey were he doubted he would ever make it to Avanthal, but here it was. And he was. His eyes caught first on the castle, reigning with great majesty over the city. He wondered what type of government was here, what foreign rules he might need to worry about. His mind let go of any caution quickly, however, as his eyes drift over the people, and sights of the bold city. Yes, bold would be the word he would describe such a place with. Every building fashioned from strong heavy wood, and impressive stones of a queer quality to the Danvali's eyes. He admired the city, the obvious strength of it's citizens, yet like the castle itself a majestic form of elegance that coursed through the hot blooded pulse of the city.

His ambition to warm up dissipated, for the warmth of his heart, and the excitement in his mind upon entering the city was suddenly enough for him. Feeling the people around fueled his spirit, and he decided to walk through the city before finding a place of shelter and bath. He made a point to not engage anybody in conversation, or get within smelling distance of them though, not until he had a time to recuperate from his long journey.

He transversed the sculpture garden, with awe; drifted along the windward boardwalk at peace; and after hours of wondering found himself before the library. He was truly impressed, he wanted to go in, but was ashamed of himself. He hoped every surface of the building was overflowing with books. He never took a huge interest in books prior to that moment, but the selection in the Denval Academy was awfully limited. This haven of knowledge impressed him.

It was on his way back to the Savintar Warrens, which he had spotted earlier in the day, that he saw a unique building. At least four stories high, it captured his attention. Something about it, a smell. That's what it was, a smell. He walked to the front, looking for a sign, stating the purpose of the building. But, his nose told everything before he found one. Herbs! Not just cooking, but for healing. The smell of herbs to hide the smell of slight decay, and infection. He peered into the front door for just a moment, filling his nose with the rich scent. The main floor of the building sure didn't look like the Opal Clinic back home. But still, he was sure of it, this was a healing centre! His heart leaped as he rediscovered a lost passion his journey has forced him to set aside. He would need to come here later, and see if there was any tutelage or jobs to be had.

A smug almost victorious smile adorned his young face as he returned to the Warrens. He knew letting the fierce heat of pride into his heart might be a sin, but he couldn't deny the feeling that he had done good for himself. He had made it here, and was going to love it. Almost as much as he was going to love a bath. A very hot bath.

[Cheshire]

Character: Oluse Experience: Observation +2 Additional Note: Good thread. PM me with concerns.