An Unforgiving Travel (Hayl, Karc, Ago)

[Hayl]

Season of spring-13 days
511AV

‘Deciding to walk through the night was a stupid idea.’ Hayl thought as he parted the trees and finally hit the clearing with the pink morning sun beaming on him. His feet ached with the pulsating sensation of overuse. His breath deep and tiresome, still he refused to admit he was tired by gasping through his mouth, even if it meant struggling with the lack of oxygen through his nose. A decently experienced man at staying quiet and subtle, flustered by the long night of exertion, his subtly was gone some hours ago. He closed his eyes and allowed himself the deep breath through his mouth as the setting in front of him was the sole requirement for his ease of stress.

“Finally…” he muttered. His aching pace continued till he mounted the hill in front of him and saw the city on the lake. Never having traveled this far in his life made this journey quite the experience. The native of Sunberth was long past due for his departure from that despicable place and heard stories of the unique city before him that he grew so fond of just from imagining. After the hellish night he had put himself through, and from what he could see now, he decided it was even better.

Hayl was still young, he could talk like an experienced grown man, but still suffered from certain childish tendencies that he would never admit to. The very thing that pushed him to not rest was a strange sensation. The open road is a dangerous place, and any child knows that, but if you find a decent place to rest that appears to be safe and secure, you should take it. Hayl was faced with the decision to rest or keep moving three times in the night, but he could not bring himself to stop. He was no master of silence, but he did see himself a student. One of the things he understood was that silence is almost like an entity, or perhaps a song. It has its consistencies and anything out of place should be recognized. He could not tell if it was due to the new environment, or if his senses really perceived something, at any rate he could not sleep if he wanted to.

The last boot finally off, he inspected his feet. Terrible blisters on the bottom of his left heel, and a popped one that began to callous on the ball of his right foot. He popped the ones on his heel, not really caring if it was a bad idea or not, then took two shreds of his already too long tunic and shoved them in the appropriate places in his boots to help stop the blood and puss seeping from his open sores, when he was ready to head out again. His feet now in the cool muddy water he finally allowed himself to lay down to close his eyes and catch his breath. The sky still streaking its colors of a night losing its battle to the day was appealing, and he took note of how much the clouds looked like butter spread on bread. His stomach grumbled and he winced as he realized how hungry he was and decided that food was more important to him than his feet.

‘Alright, as soon as I get up, I’m going to buy something to eat from wherever my nose takes me, then to a doctor’s for my petch’-

Snap

His eyes opened and widened as the sound broke his thoughts. Suddenly this moment of paradise, wasn’t so perfect after all. Maybe he was borderline hallucinating from lack of sleep, or he was still reading too much into the foreignness of his surrounding, either way his heartbeat escalated and he jumped up yanking his feet out of the water and sloshing loudly around. He drew his dagger from his concealed sheath in his left sleeve, stomping his exposed left foot on the muddy ground on top of a small but hard reed shoot. The soft tissue could not contain the impact and Hayl yelped loudly accidently flinging his dagger in mid draw a good three feet from him, sticking straight in the ground. He then held his foot in both hands and fell straight on his back, into the water, half floating and moving with the displaced water; now looking up at the same sky.

“Horse shyke…” he growled, thinking that perhaps leaving home was a bad idea after all.

[Karc]

Karc smiled as he let, Mist have the reins, leaning down resting his head on Mists neck. He hadn't been able to sleep so, heading for the stables after getting dressed, he put his Yvas on Mist, and took her for a ride around the country side, but now he was just letting her take him where she wished. He fell asleep, as he let Mist carry him where she would. He had always been able to sleep when riding (more Mist carrying him)it was one of his more odder talents. Suddenly Mist started to slowed, and made a slight whinny. Karc shot up his head, wondering what the matter was why was she she making those noises. Not seeing a large branch in front of him, he saw it to late as his face collided with the branch, and it swept him backwards of Mist. He came crashing to the ground. "Petch." He got up slowly, rubbing his arse, but as he attempted to mount Mist, he heard a splash and some noise. He stopped, crouching down he walked towards where the sound had come from, but as he stepped out of the bushes, the site that greeted him made a smile break out on his face. "Took a nasty tumble there, mate? Need any help?" Laughter in his eyes, he approached Hayl reaching out a hand. "Names, Karc."

[Hayl]

Hayl shot up and fixated his eyes on the man in front of him. He then let his body language speak as he rotated his head and looked at his dagger, which was well out of his reach. The gesture of kindness given from the smiling man was reluctantly accepted and Hayl would have been more pensive towards it had he not injured his foot. Hayl then began to analyze the features of the man, who was uncomfortably close, but interrupted his process as he absent-mindedly replaced the wrong amount of pressure on his foot, sending a shock of pain through his body and a grimace to his face.

“Karc, huh… Well your not exactly flawless yourself.” He said nodding to the mark left upon Karc’s face from whatever recently struck it. His retort being in defense for Karc’s rightful grin given to Hayl for his own pathetic situation. He thought about telling Karc his name, but decided not to freely give it unless pressed. Hayl left his old town to try and take advantage of a more peaceful and less competitive town. Ravok was certainly not peaceful, but it was a step up from Sunberth.

He hopped on one foot by his dagger and sat down, retracting it from the ground. “Are you alone?” he said padding himself down, feeling all the necessities that he had on him before he gave himself to the lake. He did this as he looked around seeing if there were any other’s to take advantage of him in this moment of weakness. Being from Sunberth, and no where else, Hayl has learned to be nothing but cautious, so much so, the lack of evidence for any altercations (dead bodies, random pools of blood, that sort of thing…) actually made him feel foreign and nervous.

[Ago]

Ago had fallen asleep sitting on a branch, of all places. She had been hunting, waiting for unsuspecting prey to prance to their death. What had roused her awake, was a soft, hushed voice, accompanied by the slight rustle of leaves. Dazed, Ago rolled over, seeming to forget her current location and causing her face to rush to meet the ground. The sense of falling is what brought her back to reality. She gasped, instinctively reaching out her hand, groping for something to grab onto. She sighed with relief when her outstretched palm connected with the familiar feeling of dense wood. That relief, however, was short lived, as the sudden loss of momentum caused her to slip, face up. As she connected with the ground, she felt sharp pain everywhere. If it weren't for the light armor, and the fact that she wasn't far from the ground to begin with, she'd be dead. But of course, that didn't stop it from hurting like hell. She blinked a few times, disoriented, staring up at the sky for a moment, as if she had forgotten what she was doing. She slowly sat up, taking in her surroundings, but not really making any connections until most of the pain dulled to a slow pulsing. She noticed two men. Now were those the Azo who caused me to fall?

[Hayl]

oocHey glad to see the number of people! This is my first thread like this, and I believe the same applys for others. So the establish posting order is Hayl, Karc, Cora, and Ago. Since Karc hasn't been able to post for a minute, we should continue the order with his post next.

Im also glad to see that everyone is as much a klutz as Hayl is

[Karc]

Karc hoisted Hayl up,his face wincing as he saw Hayl's foot. His face then showed confusion at Hayl's remark, then remembering his fall he grinned. "Guess not. As Hayl hopped over to his dagger, his eyes traced over the man trying to seize him up. He seemed to be wary, though friendly all the same, very much like Karc, but he wasn't going to take any chances. "Alone?" He paused for a minute a strange expression on his face, he then stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled, then cupping his ear to listen, and sure enough there came a crashing sound, and out of the trees trotted Mist. "Just me and Mist." Mist walked towards Hayl, nudging and sniffing him with her nose, she snorted and made a slight neigh. "Seems she likes you." She then walked over towards a particularly juicy looking clump of grass, and started to crop at it. Karc sat himself down, pulling his cloak around him. "So what you doing out here at this time of day? Oh, and I don't think I caught your name." He then heard the sound of crashing leaves, and half turned, as well as Mist lifted her head to inspect the source. He got up slowly glanceing at Hayl slowly, his eyes narrowed scrutinizing him. This could be a trap. Lure me in then mug me. Though if it is they really are failing with both of them falling over. He then tried glanced at the women, peering closely. something then occurred to him, he turned to Hayl "She's not with me." Half getting up he turned and walked towards the women. "Erm, Miss are you ok? what where you doing up there?" OOCFirst thing is that I advise you make this a closed thread now Hayl we have enough people. Second, I'm sorry for not posting sooner my internets being weird >.>

[Ago]

oocI'm so sorry it took so long. I've been having internet problems. I didn't even expect to get my internet back this soon.

Ago rubbed the back of her head before wincing. Was I ok? She hesitated before slowly nodding. If ok means not missing any limbs, than I'm just peachy. As for the man's second question, she pointed up, toward her bow and arrows sitting smugly where she had been only moments ago. She stood up bending her knees slightly before effortlessly attaching herself to the tree, and just as easily clawing her way up. It was graceful, really, only expected of much from a person who had been climbing only thin fabrics to reach almost 30ft into the air since she could walk. She considered throwing down her bow but winced at the thought of it cracking, almost able to hear it in her mind. Instead she tossed down her backpack, which barely missed the man's head. Oops. She shrugged, hopping from branch to lower branch, each time landing in a crouch, almost like a lion getting ready to pounce. The hop that let her meet the ground caused her to land on all fours. Better to absorb half the shock in four limbs than double the shock in two. As she reached for her backpack, she gave the man a nod of acknowledgement, it was more of a thanks for actually caring, though, and she eyed him, as well as the other man, with mild interest.

[Hayl]

Hayl replaced the dagger in its sheath as he saw the horse approaching him. When the beast past the comfort threshold, Hayl began to second guess his decision of securing his blade, until it showed its affection… then it was just annoying. “Alright, alright…” he grumbled pushing its head away. Not so much out of dislike, but more the fact that any living thing that was larger than Hayl, scared him. He had never gotten the opportunity to ride a horse, nor has he had the compulsion.

Hayl caved under the pressure about his name and admitted, “Hayl… I’m not partial to being known though, and I’m here, pretty much, just to get away.” He disciplined himself on the inside for being so honest. “Look… if you know of a healer or something I would be mu-“

The crash interrupted his words as Hayl noticed the female laying on the ground. “Who are you people, really…” he said looking around at the other trees, expecting a platoon of bandits to jump out any second. He was about to speak again when a bag went flying past his view, just an inch by Karc’s head, then the thud of the female landing within their company, with her grace and amazing power in her recoiling joints. “Hmm... there is a fairly dramatic difference in your ability to climb, unless you intentionally just fell out of that tree." He said to the newcomer.

[Karc]

Karc glanced upward as she pointed upwards, seeing the bow and pack he surmised ether she really had an odd way of sleeping or she was hunting, most likely the latter. He watched her clamber up the tree, watching as she seemed to cling on without anything to hold her on. He glanced at her curiously. as she dropped her bag, he had turned to glance at Hayl so he did not see it coming, he only felt a rush of wind and as he spun around he sighted the pack on the ground. His eyes reach upward a mixture of caution, curiosity, and readiness etched into his frame. As she landed he said simply his arms crossing, "Your not human."

[Ago]

Ago stared at the blonde man, before rolling her eyes. Of course I fell out of the tree on purpose, for I’m clearly suicidal and, of all things, decide to die by falling out of a tree. It’s not like I’m some circus’s freak show who brings joy in planned pain. Yeah, it was pretty rude, but she wasn't in the best mood and he will never hear her. But what the other man said made her look at him with disbelief. She began to laugh. Not a giggle, nor chuckle, but full out, rolling on the floor, laughing. Of all the things she’s been called, it was never human. Illiterate, Azo, Stupid, unteachable, but never human, maybe unnatural, not normal. Maybe it’s the unnaturally long arms? The climbing? The pale skin? The fangs that showed as she laughed? Or maybe that the only sound that had come from her lips during her fit was the intake or air? She sobered up really fast. I can’t talk. I can’t laugh. I can’t make a single sound. And whose fault was that? She didn’t know, but her face became colder somehow. Her eyes hardened as she glared at them. Can’t I take a simple break, (a hunt, a stroll?) without those ugly thoughts resurfacing. She straightened, stared head on with a slight smirk. The Ice Queen. Lips frozen shut, never to make a sound. Of course that was just a nickname she grew up with but, seeing an ice sculpture for the first time in Aventhal as a little girl got to her. So cold, never being able to sing with the Snowsong children for her short visit to the city of ice. A distant look was on her face, and if the two men had said anything, she didn’t hear it. She looked back up at them, a tight lipped smile, hoping they didn’t notice a change or that she wasn’t listening, hoping she wouldn’t be called names. Get a grip, I’m not a selfish baby anymore, she thought, as she came back to her senses.