Flashback [The Icewall Gates] The longest days

[Tatiam]

15th day of Winter, 508 AV Despite the fact that the winter season of Taldera was considerably warmer than during the rest of the year, the travelers were shivering inside the small wooden caravan. From the Spires to Avanthal, Tatiam had joined the company of traders and fellow explorers. Every season she went farther away from Wind Reach, her new identity and deeds reinforced in that manner. She was someone else now, but she wanted to make sure that no one would put two and two together. With enough adventures, travelling and stories, she'd bury her past deep enough for no one to figure out. A new life. Tatiam should be excited, that was a chance never offered before, and it was the fruit of her will and courage, nothing less. But it was hard to leave and never look back. Still she had to. I didn't make that choice, she reminded herself. The situation was imposed on her, but her reaction... Survival instinct. Nothing would convince Tatiam otherwise. But if she ever had considered the alternative, the young woman knew that it would have been... devastating. I'd be dead inside. Survival, it was. Of body and mind. No compromise. They were a couple of days, a week at most from Avanthal, rolling on the small caravan, sitting next to each other with barely enough space to move. Earlier during the journey, Tatiam almost welcomed the situation; The warmth of many bodies close together contributed to keeping them impassive towards the weather. But by now, it had become a problem, they couldn't move, couldn't warm up. Crack. The company felt a high lump in the ride, buttocks lifted from their benches in the process, the ones that had been sleeping no longer were. Tatiam glanced towards the floor, and then towards the driver, who shushed their worries with a dull groan. Crack. Thump. The floor of the caravan ceded on one side, its rear wheel protruding suddenly into the left wall and tearing the roof partially as it kept rolling forward. The two horses pulling the travelers were distraught, caught in a panic as they galloped agitatedly while the driver tried to calm them, holding on to the right side in order not to fall down. As for the people inside, they all toppled one over the other, some thrown out the hole left by the wheel, which joint had broken by then and sent it rolling away on its own. Once the horses were released--the only thing the driver could do by then--, the caravan stopped in its snowy tracks, and most people got out of the messy wooden prison. Whoever was left standing helped pick up as much food and covers to help them make it to Avanthal's gates. But Tatiam wasn't one of them. Knocked out during the incident, she awoke many bells later, in almost complete darkness. After lifting a body off her leg and struggling to free herself from the weight of another wheel, the young woman understood why no one thought her alive. Her head had a throbbing lump, her legs were numb, and it was night. She put on a coat from one of the other two travelers that were abandoned and most likely dead, hoping the extra layer would help. But as she walked and fought the wind, all she could do was keep shivering. Her body wasn't warm enough, and the dulling cold menaced to overcome her senses too many times to count. The tan woman only rested to eat what little supplies of food she had found and carried. She wanted to stop, Gods, she wanted to sleep. Tatiam was pushed to her limits, no more adrenaline to drive her, just... The will to make it out alive, to live, despite how much it hurt. She was wounded in many ways, but still hopeful, her trials had just started, there was much left to find out. It was what made her place her feet one in front of the other, for what felt like forever. Tatiam had forgotten hunger, she had denied pain, and ignored her body's cry for rest. All that remained was her blurred vision, the slight contrasts in the snow where her previous companions had stepped before her, telling her that she, too, would reach the city. And she would. The mixed-blood followed the gates' shimmer in the distance, religiously, like a guiding Northern star. When the icestone wall was close enough to blind her golden eyes with the brightness of the sun, one of her feet gave up, the length of her body dropping heavily on the snow.

[Fallon]

I am busy Fallon. Go do some training Fallon. Some ‘big’ training Fallon. Make sure it’s outside the gates Fallon. Go freeze your ass off Fallon.
Fallon grumbled quietly as she marched herself through the cold, her boots crunching loudly as they pressed through the snow. She had wrapped herself up in layers upon layers, a heavy felt cape wrapped tightly around her, barely reaching her knees. It kept the worse of the chill off, but there was still the urge to not stay still for too long. She flexed her hands, pulling on her gloves as she bore against the cold. Why on earth her master insisted on visiting the city wrapped forever in snow was beyond a mystery, but alas she did not have much of a choice in the matter.

Dipping her hands into her coat pockets she stared out ahead, the great Icewall Gates looming before her, the strange shimmer coming from its surface. She remembered her first visit to Avanthal three years before, and the thousand questions that spouted from her lips, which the to the on looking guards at the time proved amusing. But the past was the past. Now she was older and a little bit wiser. Only a fraction though.

She gave a nod to the Icewatch as she passed through, a quick polite greeting in Vani, before she continued on her way. She waded through the deep snow, taking careful steps as she took a brief glance to the outside world. Snow stretched on for as far as the eye could see; a tundra of ice and death for the unwary. She inhaled the cold winter air, her eyes tracing the landscape as she turned briefly on her heel and looked back. In honesty she did not want to go outside, she wanted to lock herself away in her lodging, in the warmth of the Savintar Warrens, to read and write, not go outside and practice her projection. But, as always ‘master knows best’.

She positioned herself a slight distance away- barely a hundred yards away- but close enough so she could see the bright light of the city and should the need arise she could dash through the snow and back into the safe range of the guard and their polar bear, Kelvic... things. Taking in a deep breath, she drew out a small glass ball and held it between her fingers for a moment, her eyes focusing on the red sheen as she studied it and the world that existed beyond it. It was interesting watching the world from within the red glass, to see the snow turn from white to strange mixtures of reds and pinks, to see the tracks of people who had travelled to the city, to see the outline of a person walk towards the city gates before collapsing, to se-

Fallon back tracked for a moment and lowered the glass ball, her eyes squinting at what she thought she just saw. The ball was slipped away, and she waded her way through the snow. For a while the young Fallon was sceptical about what she saw, firstly believing it to be little more than her imagination. But as she grew closer it became clearer that it was far than simple tricks of the mind. Her speed picked up, dragging herself through the chill and snow, stumbling as she went forth. There before her, laid a woman in the snow, having landed heavily, the unforgiving cold having wrapped its fingers around her.

For an instant, Fallon simply stared, her mind trying to understand what was going on. But that instant did not last long. Quickly her hand dipped down and gave the woman a firm shake, an attempt to stir her from where she lay. After all sleeping in the snow was a dangerous position to be in. Leaping around the woman, Fallon knelt down to her level a second firm shake with words escaping this time.
“Wake up!” she gave a shout in common “You can’t lay here. Wake up!”
Fallon inhaled deeply, before trying to pull the woman up so she could at least try and drag her, “Come on!”

[Tatiam]

The soft sound of steps in the snow didn't reach Tatiam. In fact, she was gone, abandoned to slumber deep. Oblivious to the younger adolescent in a state of panic for her, Tatiam's brain had simply shut down, instantly, with the last of her might. The stranger shook her, the lethargic body heavy like a corpse, refusing to respond. The cold was progressively becoming part of her, and she accepted it, letting go of any fervent opposition she formerly held. It inched closer, biting through her flesh and bones with a crisp pain, the sensation almost akin to a strong burn. “Wake up!” shouted her rescuer, her voice sounding as if it was filtered through thick layers of cotton, muffled and distant. “You can’t-... here. Wake...!” Face planted into the myriad snowflakes, the traveler's consciousness weakly surfaced, letting out a low, raspy moan. “Come on!” she heard faintly, bothered by the new, vivid sensation in her ears. Her eyelids opened slightly, unwillingly, the reaction tenfold the usual effort as her eyes refused the light in a reflex. Another short, deep, plaintive moan escaped Tatiam's lips when her benefactor tried to lift her torso, limbs as languid as could be. But the girl's presence made the air a little less cold. Her breath reached the mixed-blood's cheek, pearls of water forming and gliding along her visage. Amber eyes opened, if only a little, feeling the contrasting shadow upon them. The obstinate young woman's sounding struggles to bring Tatiam up began to ring like a comforting call; The girl, in her naive and pure representation of life hailed in every possible way at Tatiam's being, commanding her to find and obey the spark of life that she, too, possessed. The only problem was that the tan woman's body wouldn't budge. She was limp, drained of vigor, her muscles still trembling with the strain of the past days. During long blinks, Tatiam stared unfocused, an arm raising slightly with untold intentions, and a blank, almost peaceful smile graced her frozen features.

[Fallon]

The quiet rasp barely hit the ears of Fallon, a sign that the woman was alive, though only just. Faded gold stared up, unfocused and clinging, devoid of any form of real thought. Fallon gave a swallow, before wrapping both of her arms around the limp cold body. There was no way the woman could walk, and so Fallon was left with little other choice. Straining Fallon began to pull, her feet digging in as every muscle rebelled, as her arms trembled. It was hard work to say the least, for carrying and dragging was something she was untrained to do. She staggered back, her breathing already becoming hard as she pulled. She could not however afford to waste a single moment.

Her head turned briefly to the guards at the gate, and she gave a loud shout as she continued to drag the dead weight body.
Are people really this heavy? her muscles gave a brief cry of pain, Or am I just weak?
Behind her she heard the heavy footsteps of a guard approaching having heard her cry, before quickly talking in Vani to her. For a moment she simply stared before giving fast nods, to which the guard simply took the woman from her hold.
”Help me get her back to mine,” Fallon spoke as clearly and as she could to the guard.
He nodded quickly, a series of questions sprouted from him as he waded through the snow, taking the load of the dead weight woman, whilst Fallon lead the way through the deep snow.
”She looks bad, you going to call for a doctor?”
”I am not sure,” Fallon frowned as she glanced back at the assisting guard ”I might need one if things turn bad.”

It was hard work to say the least, with the winter cold biting at her and the unconscious woman. Wading through the snow Fallon lead them on to the Savintar Warrens, her pace quickening where it could. Every now and again she glanced back, a flicker of concern before pushing herself on, her expression stayed like that even when she managed to stagger to the door to her temporary lodging during her stay in Avanthal. A brief wave of heat hit them, before Fallon simply ushered them into the small cabin. She gave thanks to the guard as he lowered the unconscious woman onto the bed before he left.

For a moment Fallon let out a long sigh, her eyes glancing around the cabin, her eyes listening for her Master. But upon hearing nothing it was clear he had left, leaving Fallon alone to tend to the woman. Her mind for a moment raced, trying to think of the best possible decision to make next. She hovered around the woman for a moment, a deep frown forming.
Shyke, what have I gotten myself into? she thought as she noted the damp coat that clung to the woman Think, think! First priority is to get the damp away.
And so Fallon began to work, casting aside her own coat and cloak, and removing the coat of the woman. After a struggle of dealing with a dead weight body she simply threw a series of blankets over her.

[Tatiam]

During her brief travel, dragged by the girl and then carried in the guard's arms, Tatiam faded in and out of consciousness, scarcely aware of anything. Weak senses told the tan young woman several hints that her mind didn't bother to gather, until she was placed down on an unmoving surface, warmth itching on her skin. Exhausted, the young traveller quickly drifted into deep sleep, the comfort of rest filling her with the vitality she had almost lost. She awoke bells later, when the sun had lent the sky to her brother the moon, and its light was but a reminder for the faded and dull colors that now painted the world. Tatiam began to tame her surroundings, her memories and senses, panic finding no reason to enwrap her... yet. She tried to push herself up on the bed, an elbow hardly succeeding to lean against the mattress and prop herself up, when Tatiam realized her legs refused to move. With a suddenly troubled curiosity, a slight frown curving her forehead, the exiled struggled with all her strength to sit up, pushing away the blankets in order to inspect her legs. Meanwhile, she slowly recalled the events from her journey towards Avanthal, from Denval to the snowy roads, and the accident. What... happened then? wondered the foreigner, a pure vision of whiteness, almost like a blank, forgotten memory was all she could remember. "Someone around?" her voice sounded faintly in the common tongue, wondering then where she had ended up after... everything. And especially, with whom.

[Fallon]

Fallon simply waited, sat before the hearth soaking up the warmth that filled the cabin. Next to her she had placed her writing book, a vial of ink next to it and ready to write as her young mind began to fill with the much needed muse to create fiction. For a while she simply sat, tapping the quill nib against the top of the page, occasionally scrawling out the odd phrase here and there. It was a feeble attempt to say the least, for after a while she ended up simply drawing shapes on the page that did not look like anything in particular.

But as the sun glided through the sky, and time marched on, the sluggish mind of Fallon forced her to move about. And so by the time night had enveloped the land Fallon had brought herself into a state of relaxing before the fire and bringing herself to try and drink tea. It was perhaps not the most favourable thing on her list, but she kept the pot with the warm liquid within nearby. But then the sound of movement reached her ears, the murmur of words in common.

The accent was not that of the Vantha, she could tell that much at least, and it sounded far from the ones of those from Sylira. A mystery no doubt that would be solved in time, besides the woman had asked a question. So quietly Fallon placed down the cup and stood.
“Well, I’m around,” she said giving a slightly awkward smile before slowly walking around to the bedside “You’ve been out for a few bells. And you’re lucky that you’re not a lump of ice. Be kind of chilly.”
Fallon gave a small frown, before letting it ease. People were never a strong point of hers, but she tried her best to communicate anyway. She just told herself to take it slow and not to rush things.
“Name’s Fallon,” she said before dragging up a chair “And try to take it easy.”

[Tatiam]

Tatiam's young features turned towards the adolescent who stood not far from her, watching her approach. She could not find it in her to laugh or even give a sign of agreement to the younger girl's words. Too many things were occupying her mind... Nodding, a hand went to her thigh, massaging it slowly, taming the muscular pain as she frowned. "Won't be hard if I can't even stand up," she complained weakly and sighed. The hand went to her forehead, both in gesture and purpose, finding a throbbing lump where her fingers touched, and removing them just as soon when she winced. "Fallon, I'm Tatiam, at least that I know. I-..." Pale eyes glanced askance, worried and bothered. "Thank you," she said bluntly, but honestly. The young woman wasn't looking to make it a habit to be in anyone's debt, and she wouldn't let a stranger's kindness left unpaid, but she preferred not to meddle with others' businesses. It was a troublesome situation. "I'll try not to be in your care for much longer, but, if you don't mind my asking... What happened? What do you know...?" Despite that the traveller was far from having fully recovered, her sudden confusion agitated her and motivated her to find out the missing pieces of her little adventure.

[Fallon]

Fallon watched the emotions change in her face, from the frown to the wince and finally turn into worry. But all she could do was give an awkward smile as her mind raced through the next process of interaction. She perched herself on the chair, twiddling and turning a glass ball between her fingers, a nervous habit she had formed when around people. For the most part however, she looked relatively calm and content, but her mind was set on playing on the defence, even when in her own territory. But before that, she had to bringing herself to answer.

“To be honest Tatiam I don’t know that much,” she rubbed her chin as she said this “The only thing I do know is that you were walking towards the city gates and collapsed. Looked like you’d been walking awhile. Where from? Well only you the Gods only know that. And that's your business, not mine.”
She gave a shrug, proof that she really did not know the answer before she continued on speaking, and the glass ball now being held firmly in her grasp, “Well where ever you were from, I guess it doesn't matter too much. Anyway, I made a racket, got the guard and well now you’re here. Does that help at all?”

[Tatiam]

Tatiam listened carefully, trying to summon all her calm as the younger woman answered. She seemed unusually distant, but perhaps it was the exiled's words that had provoked this... Nodding at every hint of information, the wounded woman frowned in concentration. At least there was no need for secrecy around that one, Fallon had absolutely no interest in her personal story. Tatiam felt a little more relaxed at that realization. "Yes, thank you, Fallon..." Her voice sounded more thoughtful than it meant to be, the foreigner's gratitude concealed by the other emotions that filled her at the time. She turned around and tried to look outside a window for a hint, then glanced back at the younger woman by her side. "The city gates..." she started pensively, "You're talking about Avanthal's,... right?" A hint of discomfort rang in her voice. What if it's not...? Shyke, where could I have ended up?! Pale golden eyes fell on the glass ball in Fallon's hand, her curiosity kept for another time. All that mattered then was that she'd be in Avanthal, she was even ready to explain what she remembered of her adventure, if Fallon dared ask.

[Fallon]

Fallon was silent, the ball for a moment being twisted once more between her fingers before abruptly stopping. She caught the uncertain glance the moment of worry in her voice.
“Avanthal? Oh no, this isn’t Avanthal,” she shook her head “We’re actually in what would be hot and sticky Taloba, but they had some freak weather happen,” her eyes were slightly widened, her back straightening as an air of seriousness consumed her. Her eyes locked with Tatiam and unwavering, before a glint of amusement formed there. Her lip curled before a low snigger escape “I jest. We are in Avanthal.”
It was an attempt to provide humour and to help break the ice, though this was most likely not the case. Clearing her throat she stood, and scratched the back of her head.

“So uh, how are you?” Fallon asked “Anything hurting at all? And uh… “ her eyes for a moment drifted to the tea that she had left by the fire “You want some tea? It’s good stuff, might help you calm and remember what happened.”
She went over to the fire at this point stooping to take up the warm pot and the cups that she had left there. It was another attempt at being friendly, a subtler approach this time to try and close a sense of distance that had formed. Communicating and socialising was healthy, but it was trying to do it that was the issue for Fallon. Just like asking questions was too, and so although the young woman did not ask questions, she was curious on the reason for Tatiam for travelling to Avanthal.