Into Dust (Self-Mod)

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The Wilderness of Cyphrus is an endless sea of tall grass that rolls just like the oceans themselves. Geysers kiss the sky with their steamy breath, and mysterious craters create microworlds all their own. But above all danger lives here in the tall grass in the form of fierce wild creatures; elegant serpents that swim through the land like whales through the ocean and fierce packs of glassbeaks that hunt in packs which are only kept at bay by fires. Traverse it carefully, with a guide if possible, for those that venture alone endanger themselves in countless ways.

Into Dust (Self-Mod)

Postby Khiara on June 11th, 2010, 2:10 pm

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11th Day of Summer

Grassland filled the landscape as far as the eye could see, swishing gently in the midday breeze. Here are there, the ground rose in gentle hills and dipped in soft valleys. Closer to the city on the cliff, Riverfall, the terrain began to get more rocky and the hills more rough. Mostly, one could simply trek around them, but to reach Riverfall there was a ridge that couldn't be walked around. It had to be climbed. To a foreigner, the safest looking path might not be the wisest, but what were they to know?


"Come on Vsenri, up! You can do it!" Khiara urged the horse on up the steep rocky incline. They had already made it up halfway the treacherous slope, and now the last and steepest part slowed them down. It had been a long ten days since she left Endrykas, and the young vantha wasn't sure what she was doing any more. Ever since she left, she had contemplated going right back and begging Vanator to take her. To give her shelter and keep her with him. But it was silly and foolish. Kashik was his wife, and no wife would appreciate another woman so close to their husband.

The stallion nickered nervously, eyes rolling as his hooves clattered against hard granite. He wasn't built for climbing, and his heavy frame was putting too much weight on the large boulders. Slipping slightly, Vsenri whinnied and stood stock still, panting heavily. Khiara held tightly to his reigns, concerned about the horse, but knowing this was the only way to Riverfall. They were too far up to go backwards, it would only be harder. Soothing the horse in Vani, she pulled gently.

"It's alright love, its alright. Come on, here, come." Clicking her tongue, she guided the horse to a more sturdy ledge. Panting still, but trusting the woman, Vsenri stepped delicately onto the ledge, resting a moment with quivering muscles. Khiara moved to stroke his muzzle, speaking softly in a comforting voice. Looking down the way they had climbed, then upwards, she realised they had reached the peak of the ridge. There was a small flat, before it dropped not quite so steeply down the other side. Waiting for the horse to gain his breath, she pulled on the reigns, clicking to him again, urging him to the top of the rise. Ears flat to his head and eyes wide, Vsenri picked his way up, hooves kicking out loose chunks of rock the bounced and banged all the way to the bottom.

Quite suddenly, they reached the top, and Khiara breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it! Reaching up, she hugged the horse tightly around his arched neck and stroked his sweat soaked shoulder. Pulling back, she looked down the other side with a sigh. It was so much less intimidating than the first side, being more of an incline than a climb. Confidently, she urged Vsenri into a walk. Obidently, the stallion followed, stepping and sliding down the incline with a natural ease. It was more like thick snowfall that had come loose, smaller gravel rocks covering the side. As they walked and slid, the vantha began to feel a little less overwhelmed. Alone, with Vsenri, she had faced the sheer ridge, and together they had overcome it. She didn't need anyone, she could do everything alone.

Without warning, Vsenri whinnied loudly, his hooves slipping out to fast. Stepping to regain his footing, the stallion began to slide down the ridge too fast, pulling Khiara along by her hand. Unbalanced by the tugging, the vantha slipped, dropping the reigns and tumbling down the side. Her heart raced wildly as she tried to stop herself, rocks bruising her bare arms and cutting her hands. Landing on her side, the young woman looked down at the rapidly approaching ground, hands grabbing at anything to slow her decent. Glancing upwards, she saw the stallion still sliding and trying to gain his balance. Turning back to her own terrifying decline, the vantha gasped as she was faced with a high jutting boulder. There wasn't time to move, and in the blink of an eye she was smacked forcefully against it. A bright light filled her eyes, before everything went dark...

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It was late afternoon when Khiara opened her eyes slowly. She blinked in confusion, face down on the hard rocky ground. All she could see were rocks and her own hand. Moving to get up, she winced slightly, reaching up to touch a stinging cut on her forehead. Groaning, the young woman got to her knees, then slowly to her feet. She was disorientated, hurt. Everything hurt, especially her head. Looking at her fingers, she grimaced at the blood, trying to remember what happened. They were walking, then they had slipped. They had fallen. Glancing up the incline, she spotted the boulder she had cracked her head on. It was a long way up...she had slid the rest of the way and landed rather badly on the ground. A sudden image filled her mind, Vsenri struggling to regain his balance. Turning rapidly, she whistled for the horse. Again. And again. Where was he!?

"Vsenri!?" She called out in a high voice, tight with panic. Finally, she heard a nicker. Following the sound, she walked along the ridge till she finally spotted the horse. He sat at the base of the slope, quiet and still. There was blood on his coat, and something about the way he sat made Khiara's stomach drop. Running to the horse, the cry of despair was out of her mouth before she even reached him. Falling to her knees, she reached out to his foreleg. It was swollen at the top, and bent at a disturbing angle. Trembling, she screamed her anguish and her defeat. His leg was broken, and it was as good as him being dead.

"No, no, no!" Khiara cried, her own injuries forgotten as she wept over the horse. Vsenri whickered softly, too hurt and shocked to move. The girl shook her head.

"I will not leave you here to die, you hear me?! You will not give up here!" Standing up, she picked up the reigns and called to the horse, beckoning him. Vsenri didn't respond, allowing his head to tilt as she pulled angrily.

"Move you stupid horse! Get up! I won't leave you!" Walking around him, Khiara slapped the stallion on the flank hard. He jumped in shock, moving slightly. Crying hysterically, she slapped him again, and again...till the horse finally got up with a painful whinny. He bore no weight on the leg when he stood still, but taking a step proved too much, and the stallion faltered. Running to the front of him, Khiara cooed to the horse, soothing him even as her tears flowed. She had to be patient, to let him move. Guiding the horse, she slowly - very slowly - led him to the shade of a large tree. Stopping there, Khiara removed everything from him. Saddle placed beside him, she shouldered her travelling gear and took a drink of water, offering the rest to the injured horse. Shifting her golden eyes to the horizon, she could see the walls of Riverfall, its gates visible as two large watch towers. It was so close, maybe a day's travel on a good leg. But this was not a good leg. This was a broken leg. Today, they would rest. Tomorrow, she would try to make him walk. He would not be left here.

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13th of Summer.

The going was slow, slower than could be imagined. Vsenri hobbled less than a few feet at a time, and his leg burned with oncoming infection. Khiara was no doctor. No horse doctor. She didn't know what else to do but give the horse willow bark tea and urge him on. Riverfall was looming before them, all they had to do was get through the gates. Then she could find a stable and some help. Tired, and hurt herself, Khiara ignored her own needs for the horse. There was nothing else left for her if he died. Vsenri was her only tie to Eliac now, all she had.

"We're nearly there, nearly.." She cooed to the horse, walking slowly beside him. They rested often, more than they walked. But they were almost there. As the day wore on, the gates got closer and larger. Finally, as the sun began to set, the woman and the slowly fading horse stood at the bridge, resting. They would enter and everything would be alright.

It had to be.

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Khiara
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