Solo Catching Up On Rest [The Cliffside Grotto]

[Septimus]

Fall 72nd, 512 AV

Tired. No, that wasn't the word. Tired was too soft a word to use for the Kelvic's condition. Exhausted? Possibly a better description. Overall, there was no way to sum it up in one word. After the battle, it had taken Septimus a full day to even be able shift comfortably a that drained her of energy as well! She had needed to relax and the beach might've been a good place to start if she felt like walking down all the way. However, she had heard of this place and was slowly making her way down the steps. Septimus had pulled muscles she didn't even know this form had. She wanted a quiet relaxing place to sleep rather than her own bed at the station. Just for a bit and just time to think.

Slowly making her way down a hidden pathway, she came across an open spot with grassy patches that overlooked the churning waves. The beautiful flaring autumn colors of the plants were an absolutely beautiful site. Septimus slowly sat down in peace, being sure not to pull any more muscles that certainly didn't need anymore pulling. She took all the more caution to avoid sitting on any bruises too hard. The cool air kissed Septimus' skin as she lifted up her left pant leg to examine a sore area on her ankle and she sucked in air with a slight wince to see a purple bruise beginning to turn a violet hued shade of blue. It made her cringe, yet she still found herself wanting to see the others.

She could definitely tell that there was one on the outside of her arm where her outer left front leg was when in combat. She did recall getting slammed into by a Yukman early in battle and only then did she realize that that's where the impact was hit. Luckily, the Yukman wasn't charging but rather stumbling over himself from another force somewhere along the lines. Turning over her arm extremely gently with her hand, she winced slightly as her gaze caught a glimpse of another blue but now more of a greenish colored bruise about the size of a good sized tea saucer. With a big sigh, she slowly sat her arm back where it was, trying not to show any signs of being hurt. She hated that feeling of weakness and her survival instincts took over preventing her from looking injured to the best of her abilities. But even then it hurt to move with her arm and leg muscles pulled.

Yes Septimus had trained and yes she had stretched beforehand. The battle was a wake up letter to show Septimus how much she needed to train still. When she had healed and recovered of course. Not now, in any such condition, would she dare try to even enter a small jog unless her life depended on it. And even then she wouldn't be able to keep it up long! Damn, she thought I am in pitiful shape. With a large sigh, she lifted up her pant leg once more to see the blossoming bruise then gently sat it back down, looking out at the slowly moving sea. Her mind was racing and thinking deep thoughts. Thoughts on all sorts of topics, but mostly those moments replaying in her head where she could've done things better. Where she could've hit harder, where she should've ran faster; it all was coming through her mind. So many emotions were inside her head with so many reasons.

A large one was hatred and anger bubbling into one. She now officially hated the word 'Yukmen' or anything with the word 'Yuk' in it. The screeches, the shrieks, the yells, the shouts, the murmuring, the battle cries, all the sounds that made Septimus grow animus has 'Yuuuk' in it. But she could mostly shove that away as the nearby waves crashing against the shore and the waterfall nearby were the only things she was focused on with the occasional gust of wind that sent the plants rattling. Another big one was relief. Even though the battle was bloody and painful in the short run, it wasn't nothing like her dreams had portrayed it. Secretly, minus the sky being red and it raining blood, she believed it to be around that degree.

The cool grass brushed against her mostly good arm as she lied down against it, watching the waves off in the distance. Her eyes would occasionally drift over to the pouring beautiful waterfall. Then she allowed her eyes to drift the beautiful and warm colors of the grotto with it's autumn mask. All was peaceful and in harmony and there was practically no one around. Slowly she found that her exhausted body was making sure her eyelids somehow grew heavier. She was tired and it was the perfect place for a nap. Surely a few minutes wouldn't hurt, would it? After all, it would only maybe be half a bell at the most. Slowly drifting away to the beautiful tones of nature, she found herself asleep within a few minutes.

[Septimus]

Once Septimus began dreaming, she instantly woke herself up by instinct. Another effect from her first battle, she needed to stay alert and prepared for anything. Needless to say, she could of course still relax and that's what she did. She slowly sat up with all the injuries, pulling the vial of the concoction Kavala had given her and rubbed it in the sore places being sure to save it in another time in which it would be needed. The Kelvic sat up against a sturdy tree and looked out into the ocean. Her eyes occasionally drifted out and examined the favored and beautiful colors of late autumn. It was a hard pill to swallow that it would be another year before the leaves grew red, orange, and yellow once more. Septimus then shoved the vial back into her pocket, then rested her head against the tree as well.

Then as she gazed off, she began to think. She began recalling everything she had gone through. The first memory was when she was shoved out the door for her own sake. Then she didn't understand she she chuckled as she remembered herself not understanding. Her mind was far too feeble then, considering where she was now. Haha, that little petching memory. She chuckled under her breath then remembered her parent's faces as they sent their daughter off to who knows where with all the danger about. But she survived. You're a survivor Septimus. You have survived so many things but you had to fight. You had to fight your way through it all. And that's how you know that you're no regular horse. You are a fighter.

Then the time when she returned to her home to see it all burnt down, the tears that streaked her face. Here she just swallowed hard but no large emotions rather than regret plagued her mind. She was harder now and she certainly wasn't going to get worked up over something like it again. All things aside, it was time to train and get to where she aimed for faster with more effort and concentration. The next memory that she thought of, was the reason she was is this awful but glorious and loved mess. It was a love hate kind of thing with being a Squire. You had your ups and your downs but for Septimus, it was almost always the ups. She remembered herself walking through the snow covered floor of the Wildlands only to find Xalet. Septimus smiled at the thought, then her conscience was soon back and kicked in once she heard a small pair of flapping wings go by and saw a blurred green figure.

Not feeling like there was a need to turn around, Septimus once again turned her gaze to the sea until she felt a set of eyes looking at her from somewhere. Septimus began to turn her head I could've sw- a medium sized parrot like bird landed beside her with a small pack carrying an extremely light cloak, shirt, and pants. It squawked "Untie it." Septimus' head sort of cocked so the side then she untied the straps that held the bundle of clothes together. Once the bundle was free from the birds legs, there was a light and then an all too familiar face.

"Calia!" The avian Kelvic instantly began getting her clothes on as to prevent any unwanted attention from an Akalak. After that, Calia instantly embraced Septimus in a quick hug. Septimus groaned and Calia remorsefully and quickly released "Oh dear! I am so sorry! I should've know that's why you looked half dead lying against the tree." Septimus sighed as Calia sat crisscrossed beside her "Neh, it's alright. Nothing to worry about, I'm completely fine! Those Yukmen hardly left a scratch!" Repositioning herself, Septimus slightly winced as she hit her bruised ankle on the ground trying to move and of course Calia saw it. She had a scornful look on her face as she looked at Septimus, then lifted up her pant leg to see only to slowly recoil "Septimus, you're sore and in terrible shape! Have you put anything on to help?" Septimus nodded then handed Calia the vial in which she handed back to her "Well I can honestly say, that bruise is pretty nasty."

Calia then sighed "I'm just glad you weren't skewered to death and you're alive! It worried me to be honest." Septimus smiled "No pain no gain, right? And I'm here. Thank the Gods. I just need to suck it up. It's my fault I never did any more extreme training exercises to get me ready. Especially those days where I was worried about my dream becoming a reality." Septimus chortled then watched Calia briefly smiled and a short gust of wind broke through from Calia that blew a strand of hair out of Septimus' face. "Well you sure as the Void don't need to be out here! You should've stayed inside! I could tell by your stubbornness when I read your future that you weren't one to lay in bed. You're stubborn as a mule when it comes down to it, Septimus. And that's not a good thing." This of course made Septimus chuckle "Not all the time. After all, that stubborn persistent self of mine kept me fighting." Calia rolled her eyes "Gah, you are a fighter, Septimus. Always have been. I assume that's part of the reason you're parents put you out. They didn't want you to die protecting them." Septimus looked at her "How did you know that's what I was thinking about?"

Calia just sat back and smiled "I was watching you, Septimus. You smiled with a chuckle, which meant a good or amusing memory, then you kind of grimaced your face. A bad memory that made you angry or confused. Then I remembered your past and another good memory came up. Plug it into the timeline of your life, boom. Gotcha didn't I?" Septimus smiled "Stalker, much?" Calia chortled "Just helping!" Septimus sighed then looked at her "Even though I feel like shyke, on the other hand I feel absolutely amazing." Calia nodded "That's what happens when you fight a battle. Then live."

[Septimus]

They both shared a friendly exchange of laughs then when it all piped down Septimus looked back out to the sea. Calia cocked her head to the side looking out at the ocean as well "What exactly are you looking at, Septimus?" Septimus smiled, all the while looking at the ocean "Nothing exactly in particular," she looked at Calia "Just got to thinking you know." With this Calia nodded, her eyebrows drew together "What was I going to tell you?" She put her finger on her cheek then snapped when it came to her "Oh yes! You're a brave one to be sleeping out here alone, I seriously wouldn't advise it. Stay awake at all times. Especially well, just be careful." Septimus shrugged her shoulders "Yeah I know, that's why I woke myself up."

Calia grabbed Septimus' hand then smiled "Let's see what's ahead for you, shall we?" Septimus nodded then watched as she stood up quickly then ran down the pathway in which Septimus had traveled to get there. Enjoying the now silent air, the equine looked out to the ocean again with a sigh. She then directed her eyes at the flaring red tree leaves above her examining as they moved with every blowing movement of the wind. After this caught her attention for several minutes, rapid footsteps broke the silence as Calia returned with her satchel with a smile, soon sitting crisscrossed beside her once more. After resuming her position, Calia pulled out the tea cup and tea leaves then repeated that ritual she had done previously to figure out her fortune.

A smaller gust of wind was whipped up around Calia and she let loose a stream of the crushed tea leaves. They circled around Calia for a bit and then they were returned to the cup and as the wind died down Calia spit inside it, then watched as the winds mixed it up a small bit more inside then it all stopped. Calia looked inside the cup with a bright smile "Ya are in pain and suffering now but the road does get better. I was right the first time. There will be good and bad. You have surpassed this round of bad and it 'orta be smooth sailin' for quite a while. I see quite a few good events soon to come for ya, my love. Enjoy them while they last as they will be good memories," here she tapped Septimus' blonde head "To replay in that little head of yours when your out here like 'tis."

Septimus nodded with a bright smile "That's exactly what I needed to hear." Calia put a finger up and stopped her "But there is more," she looked back into the tea cup "I see a small and short victory sometime around, and this upcoming season should be a very good time for you." Septimus smiled and Calia placed the teacup back into her satchel then adjusted it back to the side of her waist "Well, you certainly look quite a bit brighter than before." Septimus sighed then looked back at the bruise on her arm and then the bruise on her ankle "Well I feel reassured but not exactly better. So what about your future? Can you read it?"

Calia shook her head "Despite the fact I can read fortunes doesn't mean I want to know my own. I prefer to say the future is best left unknown for myself. Then I'll have surprises in store good or bad. I like gifts, I like surprises. I've never been one to exactly want to go sneaking around and try to find out." Septimus nodded for she respected that. It was apparent that her and Septimus had different beliefs about the topic. Septimus would much rather want to know what's coming to her so she can at least prepare for it. However, surprises were good and she never said anything about a surprise or not.

Either way, Septimus chuckled at the thought earning a confused and perplexed face from Calia who then spoke anyways "Well, it will be at least a few good days before you're back up and running so you need to rest. You'll heal faster. And then you'll pretty much be better than ever. But I'm just saying what I've heard around, not that I'm skilled in that area or anything near that." However Septimus nodded "Actually, you're right. But I'm not one to sit around like a weakling. I'm not in that bad of shape, shyke, I could be in a worse position considering the factors."

Calia sighed with a nod then looked out over the ocean "You'll be able to handle stronger currents when you swim, that's for sure." Then Calia stood up and held out an outstretched hand "Come on, we're taking you back for some rest. I certainly am not letting you fall asleep on this hand ground again." The equine grabbed her hand but the older Calia had extreme trouble getting her up. Septimus was a lot more heavier than the far more skinnier avian Kelvic. However, Septimus didn't leave her defenseless and helped push up with her far better arm. As a matter of fact, Septimus did most of the work using Calia as a small resource of support.

"My Gods, Septimus! How did you even get here on your own!" Calia wrapped Septimus' good arm around her own and once again, Septimus was only using her for extra support doing most of the work herself. Nevertheless, the equine still thanked her "Through a small bit of something called will power and persistence." They trekked back up the stairs to the top tier in which they soon found themselves headed towards the Syliran Station in which Septimus had been placed and once they got closer, Septimus removed her arm from Calia altogether.