[PRP] A meeting of fate in the mountains (Erebus x Saga)

[Devil NightShade]

This is a private rp between my Erebus and Mewsings Saga

 

[Devil NightShade]

It had taken so much time, even more training, but mostly patience for this day to come. Erebus stood at the edge of a tall steep hill, his wings were flared ready to catch the breeze. He was a massive creature, not only tall but heavily muscled covered in shards of ice that grew right out of his body, and a long thick tail clubbed in the ice.

He had only really flown once before, many moons ago and barely out of his basket, but his body had quickly outgrown his wings to the point he had been left grounded ad angry.

But now that was all about to change, Erebus stood tall and proud letting the breeze rustle his short forelock and play with his thick braids. And suddenly he exploded into motion, a short run and he went over the edge, wings snapping out he was lifted gracefully into the air.

Powerfull muscles pumped, flapping the huge wings lifting him higher and higher away from the confines of the hard earth.

Erebus hadn't planned his flight, so on and on he flew, lifting himself as high as he could stand. The air here was cold, and his breath puffed from his nostrils like a dragon's smoke. Still on he flew, as the towering mountains capped in snow and ice loomed closer.

There! That's where he would go, he'd never seen the tops of the mountains before, never dared try, but now he would!

The flight was a long one, yet the adrenaline and excitement kept him going, going, going.

His destination was close now, he could almost smell the frozen ground and the air was even colder here, frost actually forming on his whiskers. Red eyes blazing with determination he pushed on, ignoring the cold.

He did not expect though the sudden change in the wind, a gust hit him hard and violent. The stallion gasped for the breath knocked out of him and plummeted toward the unforgiving ground, somehow instinct kicked in and he was able to right himself ... but not for long.

Another strong gust after gust battered into the stallion as dark clouds formed quickly without warning.

So young and cocky, the stallion couldn't keep himself steady and with the wind taken from his lungs again he plummeted like a boulder.

Erebus's mind awoke in a haze, and it hit him, pain like he'd never felt. His deep guttural roar ricocheted off the mountains. He thrashed churning blood and snow around his body into a slick soupy mess.

He tried to lift his head, eyes rolling in agony, most of the icy spikes were broken off and lay around him, some had even speared him in the crash. The main culprit though was his right win, bent backwards in a terrible mockery of being folded against his side.

He bellowed again in pain and defeat before his head dropped heavy into the crimson slush as darkness enveloped his mind in sweet sweet painless comfort.  

[Mewsings of An Angel]

A breeze rustled the old Dreng's hair as the sun beat down from above. He looked around him, at his warband. They were his family and his warriors - or rather, they were his queen's. Lovely Yrsa, vicious ice bear of the Northern Mountains, the pride of the Tribe - long may she reign on her stone throne.

A roar echoed through the mountain, causing the Dreng to toss his head, breaking his train of thought. His warriors were alert as well, eyes peering around in rapt attention. They were on patrol, after all. To be caught unawares was to be a laughing stock.

"Warriors, to attention!" He yelled, a snarl causing cold steam to pour from his snout. Large and small bodies gathered to their feet at their Dreng's call. They were not afraid - they lived for danger.

As a group, they stormed toward where the fallen creature had fallen. What they found caused some to bristle, while others gulped back bile. Poor thing. Blood pooled around it, painting snow and rock red. One of it's wings were bent at a terrible angle, and the Dreng knew it was likely broken, if not mangled beyond repair. But there was not fear here. He snorted, barking out names to make a litter. The larger of the warband's members gathered the large unconscious creature in one big heave onto the makeshift canvas of cloaks and blankets betwixt spears and sticks.

"We must get it to High Priestess, she will know how to care for it...."

----------

Saga breathed in deeply the scent of incense and burning herbs and flowers, creating a heady, somewhat stifling odor that permeated the entirety of the cavern known as Uppsala. It was a foreign area to outsiders, a strange realm of mysticism and magic, of rituals and prayers. And it was home to the Gods of the Tribe.

Slowly, the High Priestess opened her eyes and looked around her. To her left was the tall tree known as Yggdrasil, to her right the giant lake where the springs from above gathered, casting steam and warming the cavern.

Loud noises erupted from the tunnel as white-shawled priestesses rushed ahead of large warriors as they pulled a little behind them. The large mare gathered her paws beneath her and stood quickly. What was the fuss? Was a warrior injured?

The large warriors pulled the litter toward her, and Saga could finally make out what it was the litter held. Her heart shuddered in shock. A large creature was laid the litter, wings strewn around it as it lay unconscious.

"What has happened?!" She bellowed above the cacophony. Things grew quiet quickly and heads bowed as Saga strode toward them. "We found this injured creature on the mountainside.... it's terribly injured, milady." One of the warriors said, eyes lowered. Saga let out a soft breath and moved toward the creature. It's coat sparkled softly, and horns of ice covered it's forehead and brow. A controller of ice as she was?

"Priestesses, warriors... bring the creature to the pool edge and bring me herbs and the healing tinctures. Quickly now!" Her voice, though soft, held authority that no one could deny. They followed her instructions without hesitation.

Soon the stranger was carefully laid on a hay bed that had been covered in sewn goathide. The healers gathered, listening to the High Priestess, assisting her to carefully lay out the terrible-looking wing. Her paws gently dabbed blood from the dark fur with calfskin and cleansed the injuries with chilled water which she had cooled with her own Ice abilities. The cool water would ease the flow of blood.

She hummed softly, her head swaying softly as she worked.  

[Devil NightShade]

Time meant nothing to Erebus now, he floated in weightless darkness, was this the afterlife the two-legged meat bags always spoke of? Every so often a voice would permeate the darkness, it was usually humming or singing softly. He tried desperately to call out to it but he had no voice, he tried to search for it, but his body could not move. This place, it was torture, he wasn't resting in peace. His mind drifted to his mother .. his father ... Maeva .. his twin Rime, they would never find his body never know what befell him.

Erebus, didn't know how long he stewed, raging against everything, but finally he sunk into a thoughtless acceptance of his fate. At least, there was no pain here, no hunger no thirst .. just darkness.

Suddenly that voice was back, she was talking, but he couldn't make out the words it was a hum in his head. He listened, at least the voice was calming, almost like the voice he'd come to know as his mother when he was confined to his basket ... so soothing, caring.

The voice started to fade and his mind started to scream .. no .. no come back.. he wanted to move towards it .. he strained .. and suddenly there was light.

Red eyes snapped open, then shut tight in agony, the cave was dim but even the small amount of light hurt.

Suddenly he realized .. he was alive ... eyes snapped open again he tried to lift his heavy head to look around.

All he could make out though was a pool and a tree.

The voice was gone and there didn't seem to be anyone else in the room that he could see.

His body had a dull ache, far away in his mind, but he smelled of herbs, some he recognized from Ives teachings .. others were totally foreign to him. Someone had gone through the trouble of tending to him.

A deep groan escaped him, and it rumbled off the cave walls like the first booms of thunder from an approaching storm.

He let his head softly fall back down against the bed of furs he had been placed on and closed his eyes. Whomever had brought him here couldn't be that far.  

[Mewsings of An Angel]

Day in, day out.

The High Pritestess cared for the stranger. If she left his side, it was only for short spans, such as sleeping or caring for the spiritual needs of her Tribe. Everything else was moot - for there was someone who was lost in the sleeping void between the realm of mortals, and the realm of those who would pass on. As much as it was an honor to be killed as a warrior and venture to Valhalla, dying of an injury outside of that was a sadder point, where they were lost as angry spirits. Saga would not let that happen to someone who did not have the choice.

Sometimes the stranger wakened, but only for a short, fitful moment of slurred speech and fevered eyes. Those moments, she would just quietly croon to him and place a cooled bit of cloth upon his brow, mothering him until his fever and pain knocked him out once more.

During his slumbers, she would change the bandages that bound his wounds, cleansing them with spring water and the alcohol and herb slurry that had proved to disinfect and keep most injuries from becoming gangrenous and fester. His injured wing was bound to keep him from flapping it in his fevered sleeps and causing more damage.

She would gingerly feed him mashed meat and herbs to keep him resting and strong, washed down with small sips of melted snow and ice.

It was not a strange sight to see the High Priestess caring for an unknown ward, for it was not an uncommon thing to have the returning warbands return with those who were lost in the blizzards that plagued the mountains. But this gentle care was the epitome of why Saga was so highly regarded. She was a motherly, serene face amidst the sea of warriors and brigands - like a fire to warm the soul during the endless night.

Saga let out a soft yawn and shook her head, braids lightly slapping against her cheek as she crushed herbs into the stone bowl a priestess held full of meaty broth. It was for the sleeping stranger, whom had shown signs of waking soon from slumber now that his fever had finally subsided and he slept more peacefully. She hummed as she worked, making sure the gruel was a consistency easy to drink or eat with little chewing.

Suddenly a loud noise broke the quiet of the cavern, and the priestess beside her almost let go of the bowl. Saga growled quietly, and the priestess quickly stilled the bowl before it fell.

The High Priestess raised her head, blue eyes scanning about the cavern for the source of the sudden noise.

It was then they beheld the moving furs upon the bed of hay. The stranger was awake? A heavy thump of excitement shook Saga's heart. Yes! This was good news!

She smiled and allowed the younger priestess to hand off the bowl to a raccoon familiar, whom gingerly held the bowl and followed the Yakbear as she walked slowly toward the stranger's resting spot.

He had stilled his movements now, and laid quietly, eyes shut. Around him, but still staying a fair distance away were curious priestesses and visitors. She let out a loud steam-filled snort, her head tossing to and fro, and the throng took it as their sign to disperse.

Finally beside the stranger, she lowered herself to the ground a few feet away from the stranger's front, and the raccoon placed the bowl in Saga's waiting paw, before it too departed away from the source of possible danger.

Saga held the steaming bowl for a moment, sloshing the contents to mix it once more, before she set it on the edge of the hay bed.

In a soft voice, a mix of crooning and natural growl, she addressed him. "You've slept a long time... are you hungry? In pain?" She said, attention upon his face, watching for signs of violence or fear.  

[Devil NightShade]

He lay silent, and only then could he hear it. Somewhere far off there was the sound of shuffling, at first it seemed to come towards him and Erebus' mouth pulled in a frown but then it drifted away. The sounds had been soft, not like the hooves of most soquili, with a distinct tick noise .. he couldn't quit understand. He relaxed when it seemed that all the noises had stopped, but .. then there was more movement, closer to him. Life showed for a brief moment as his ear flicked towards the noise, but he didn't move just waited. He was in no shape to try and defend himself if this stranger decided now was the time to finish him.

'Whoever they are .. they tried to heal you not hurt you ... idiot..' the unbidden voice so much like his, that it almost caused him to growl out loud. Not a moment later, a sinister voice closer to a hiss replied 'So, just means they are weak and foolish, all the better to taste their blood when they make us better!' Erebus drowned out the sudden argument in time to hear a voice ... but not any voice .. THAT voice that had comforted him in the darkness.

His eyes snapped open, pupils blazing red against his black coat.

His gave was greeted by a strange looking mare, nearly rivaling him in size .. nearly. Her staggeringly blue eyes were watching him, and for a moment he nearly felt uncomfortable. Her head was crowned by large horns, adorned in ice crystals much like his but more jagged.

That reminded him for a moment, and his eyes rolled back, trying to see the state of the ice that grew from his head down to his tail. As he feared by the dull throbbing most of the shards we're broken. Well this would take a long time to heal indeed. Not to mention ...

He shifted his wing, and hissed. A vocalization of his agony and anger. Damnit this would really take a long time to heal, and put him at a great disadvantage for hunting.

He finally shifted his eyes back to the mare, and the bowl cupped in her ... uhm ... paws? An eyebrow quirked up of it's own accord. Finally he shifted, grimacing but otherwise ignoring the pain he rolled himself, tucking his legs more under his body to lay there upright.

He stared at her for the longest time. not saying a word, red eyes taking in what they could. He noted the food she held, and the question she asked, but he ignored both preferring not to show weakness.

Finally he spoke up, with a deep bass voice, silky and smooth with a semi-heavy accent. "You .... are the voice that lead me out of the darkness." The blunt statement hung in the air and he seemed inclined not to say more.  

[Mewsings of An Angel]

Saga watched the stranger - taking in his mannerisms. He was a large and muscular male, his girth near matching her own. But she had an advantage over him - paws.

She felt the corner of lips lift slightly, and stretched out dark claws to dig into the soil in front of her as she raised her eyes once more to look at the stranger once more.

His face was a turmoil of emotions. She watched him go from confusion to shock to frustration to strange realization - and she felt a small spark of pity.

When his voice sounded in the quiet, her ears perked up - it was not quite as she imagined. But then those red eyes met her and what he said made a small part of her heart flutter.

She smiled in response, eyes calmly watching him a moment longer before she responded.

"You have been sleeping for a little over a week... the warband who found you said you were a mangled mess... they worried you would not survive." She shook her head, braids lightly shaking, a frown deepening her dark face. "I feared you would not."

The priestess felt a surge of guilt at saying the words that she did not want to admit - it made her feel weak to think of losing someone in her care. Her claws dug into the soil, marring it's surface to loamy darkness.

"But! Your fever broke and you ARE mending. And in the meantime, I Saga, will care for you with all the power I have."

Reaching out with a paw, she used a claw to push at the bowl in front of him. "Please. Eat."  

[Devil NightShade]

His long thick tail slid around his body, the ice dragging and screeching against the floor. The heavy club thumped against the bowl she had nudge towards him and pulled it back towards him. Erebus lowered his large head, and his braids coiled on the ground like snakes, even the thick one that made up his beard coiled itself around the bowl like it had a mind of it's own.

The soft sounds of his gentle sniffing could be heard, for a moment he looked up as though he wasn't going to eat the offered meal.

Finally though he opened his maw, fangs gleaming pearly white in the dim light. Clamping his fangs around the bowl he lifted his head again and tilted it back. He swallowed most of the food in large gulps.

Gently he set the bowl back down, and nudged it in her direction again. "thank ... you" the words came out strangled and harsh, like the stallion struggled with them.

He went silent again, the only sound made by him was the dragging of his tail curling up beside him once more, and the occasional hiss of pain if he breathed to hard or jarred his wing in any manner.

He just studied her and the caves around him. Behind the stoic expression and cold red eyes was a calculating mind intent on knowing everything .. gathering information on strengths, weaknesses, and dangers of those that surrounded him and this world they seemed to call home.

Mewsings of An Angel

 

[Mewsings of An Angel]

A small smile alighted upon the grey-toned mare's face as she watched the large creature eat the proffered gruel. She knew it was not much, but at least it was something more than the broth that she had fed him to fill his stomach while he was in the void.

She nodded her head slightly and reached forward to snag the bowl with a claw, pulling it toward her. With a loud growling snort of a noise, she beckoned the raccoon who had brought the bowl earlier, and with a tested motion, she lifted the bowl and handed it to the raccoon. With a small chitter, the raccoon grabbed the bowl and hopped away, careful to avoid getting too close to the stranger.

With that done, she let out a soft tut-tut-ing noise, blue eyes narrowing as the large fellow moved about, but she did not stop him. Those ruby eyes held intelligence, so she doubted he would intentionally cause himself harm.

"You must feel like a bit like a fish out o' water." She said, musing over the appearance of the strange-looking male. "This cavern, the place around you, it's called Uppsala, where myself and other priestesses... err... holy people... reside." She tried to make it easy to understand what she said, and was uncertain of what this stranger would know or not know.

"That tunnel over there leads up to the rest of our hallowed Hjordheim... herd-home. Where my Tribe reside." She beckoned with a raised paw toward a dark hole in the cavern wall some 100 feet away from where they both laid. "When you are well enough, there is much to explore, and you are welcome anywhere here." Saga smiled lightly, flicking her tail lightly, causing the long hair to brush the water's edge, making the surface ripple. "But for now, just take in one hoofstep at a time. I am here to make your healing as easy as possible. If you feel in too much pain, please don't hesitate to tell me. My healers have concoctions that ease pain, though it tends to make one a little sleepy. And we have been testing the use of a new herb which some desert traders brought with them called Ginger. It's lovely!" Her words seemed to pick up pace as she began to babble a bit on the different herbs and plants that could be used for pain - clearly enthusiastic.

Devil NightShade

 

[Devil NightShade]

Red eyes flowed across the cavernous area as she pointed out every feature. Each bit of information was absorbed, processed, and stored away for what purpose only he would know. His sharp eyes caught the far off silhouettes of others watching them, studying him with fear 'GOOD!' the voice was angry then shifted into a low hiss 'they should have to learn your not as weak as you have let them believe! You've let them dance around doing who knows what to you! It's unacceptable!!'. The voice continued to rage, as the stallion just looked around as if nothing was amiss in his world.

Suddenly she was speaking, her voice high and excited. He tilted his ears in her direction the angry voice protesting as he tuned it out. The female was talking excitedly about herbs, some of them he recognized and nodded in agreement at her statements. Some of the herbs he didn't recognize and again he listened closely.

After a moment when she trailed off, he spoke again, recounting some of the herbs he hadn't herd her mention.

He grumbled low in his throat "Most of our prized herbs are not for ... healing.

He twitched an ear back, as Diablo .. yes that is what he would call his inner rage .. Diablo .. was back berating him 'Why would you give out family secrets! You're a disgrace to your blood!' Erebus held back the low growl as his ears pinned flat.

Suddenly, in a fluid motion Erebus was on his hooves. "I tire of lying here ... show me this ... Hjordheim.." he was starting to feel claustrophobic and like the stubborn mule he was the stallion turned, though he was careful not to let his wing move, and started towards where she had indicated the exit of the caves to be.

His hooves rang, heavy and dull on the stone floor, he would not be talked out of the plan, and just plowed ahead, watching the shadows of other soquili dart out of his path. None of them seeming to want to be seen by the hulking black behemoth hell bent on getting out a space.

Mewsings of An Angel

 

[Mewsings of An Angel]

As Saga rambled, she noted his ears pin, as well as a relatively constricted expression come across his face. Oh no... was she irritating him? Her voice trailed off to a halt as he suddenly stood and began making his way toward the tunnel up to the higher level. She held back the urge to chastise him on moving so soon after just awakening, as it was very clear he would not have listened to it even if it were of dire need. Letting out a cool snort of air, the mare rose to her paws, dark claws digging into the dirt with practiced ease.

She padded after him, her movements quieter on the rocks than his cloven hooves. Around the stranger, others parted like a wind against grass - some afraid, others curious but all avoiding him. The opposite occurred when she passed, as they bowed their heads and murmured greetings to their High Priestess. Saga held her head upright, a soft, matronly smile playing upon her pale muzzle as she returned their words in kind.

Finally reaching the stern stranger, before his body passed the threshold of the tunnel. Being a relatively narrow space, she could do nothing but walk behind him as they plodded upward, surrounded on all sides by darkness. The only sound was one's own body and to some it might have been a bit disconcerting, silence on all sides. To Saga, it was a strange comfort, hearing her own breath, her heartbeat in her ears like a drum. It was the noises of life.

After what felt an eternity, the darkness lightened slowly, and then bright light flooded one's eyes as they stepped from the tunnel into the expansive main cavern of the Tribe's home. Around the area life moved with loud gusto, and here and there some lazed by fires fueled by wood and animal fat. The smell of cooking meats and other warm foods meandered through the odors of bodies. Saga felt her stomach let out a soft growl unbidden as she inhaled the smell of some new catch stuck on a spit over a roaring fire in the Hub (the trade and general gathering area). Stepping up to stand beside the strange, she smiled, pride sparking in her eyes.

"Welcome. To Hjordheim, stranger."

Devil NightShade