Haldir:
The others went this way…
Haldir brushed a paw against the grass, his keen eyes narrowing. The blades were bent, some were broken where the full weight of the paw had fallen down upon them. They were bent towards the west, and the tracks continued on. Mavar… he knew the distance in the stride well enough. The overseer was never the type to keep strictly spiritual. On occasion the darker male would assist the sentinels in their watch and knew well the art of combat.
He was one of the pride’s best trackers and thus, he was an expert on covering his own tracks when it became necessary. He could easily fade into a haze or vanish up the trunk of a tree with minimal footprints to lead an enemy after him. He controlled his breathing so it was even and silent. Every movement was practiced and smooth. While he was small, even for his pride, he made up for his lack of brute strength in his tact and technique.
“They went west…three days ago I would guess.” He looked back to his pride mate, a middle aged lioness and one of their highest oracles. “Mavar… and Brid I believe. Brid was hurt- she has a limp in one paw, and Mavar was supporting her…”
La'seine:
La'seine's eyes were a little unfocused as she looked ahead. One might think she was having a vision, but if anyone knew better, Haldir would. As powerful a seer she was, she was limited in her visions by the wonder of her birth. Her mother had been the willing mate of the god of Smoke, and as an unfortunate result La'seine could only have visions within or when she inhaled smoke. There was a sling around her shoulder and neck, a large pouch on it containing special herbs and a tool she had to set fire to the herbs.
So, in this case she was just deep in thought.
"I hope she is well," she replied with a small, worried sigh. She worried about them, all of them. The king and queen, their siblings, all of the pride. It seemed so long, all she had seen of their pride had been Haldir. Not that she was complaining, she loved his company. But she hoped the rest of the pride was well.
She moved to his side and pressed her shoulder to his.
"Do you know what lands these are? I have a feeling we're getting close to something, something old."
Haldir:
"Very old." He confirmed as he lifted his eyes. The stones had crumbled where the water had run through them, seperating the cracks and sending smaller chunks to the earth. Those discarded fragments were already boasting a good layer of moss, one even had a small fern sprouting from it.
Very old indeed.
"The moisture in the air suggests a source of water nearby... a lot of it- but it smells fresh. Nothing like the sea. If Brid was injured, they would need to find a spring of some sort."
His maw twisted slightly as he turned to regard his companion. "And what of you? Can you continue?"
La'seine:
The veiled seer turned to her warrior companion, a glint in her eyes that belied her age.
"I have just as much fire in me that you do, Haldir. These paws aren't so soft that I can't press on for as long as you can," she replied, nipping playfully at his ear. She took a step forward, looking around at the area before she stopped.
"I hope they're still here. I'm worried about them, I really am. I tried Seeing, looking for them, anyone, but... I stretched too thin. I can't look for all of them and I can't just pick one." She was frowning, her head a little low. After a moment, she turned, her bright eyes sad, though clear.
Haldir:
"You stand on a stubborn heart alone." He turne dand gave a playful n** right back. It was good, hearty banter but it did little to drive off the worry for their companions and the grief in knowing that so few had escaped. There was no promise that they would find all the survivors and there certainly was no promise that they were as fortunate as they were.
He frowned, an expression that deepened as he pressed forward, careful to mind his pawsteps around those of their companions.
"We wouldn't know who to direct your sight towards. Though I've not been known to be wrong, there is a possibility that I track someone other than Mavar and his sister."
La'seine:
She shook her head.
"I don't think it was anyone else, you're too good at what you do," she replied, giving him a confident smile. As they walked together, she let her attention wander to the world around them. It was different from their old home, but something in it felt familiar. It must be the sense of age in this place. The power of the gods ran through these lands as had their old home. From just what she had seen, this felt like a good place to stop their search and rest, but neither of them would be comfortable without their pride. Well, at least La'seine wouldn't be. She needed to be the Mama again. She'd never had cubs of her own, all her time had been spent raising gods and young oracles and... And being the mother to everyone but cubs of her own flesh.
"We will find them... We have to." She was ignoring the obvious. Her body was telling her she was tired, that they both needed to rest, but she refused to lie down just yet.
Haldir:
He smirked a little but gave no spoken response. He had always been the prideful sort, confident in his abilities but he had the decency to keep his own praises off his lips. He'd neither confirm or deny her words. Afterall they had more important things on hand.
As the mists grew heavier, so did his paws. He pressed only only because the female at his side continued to keep up with him, presumably just as eager and hungry for the company of their fellows again. His eyes kept trained onto the tracks, taking note of every broken branch, every tuft of fur, and every pawprint stuck in the mud. It was tempting, very much so, to regard his surroundings in a larger scale but that's what his second pair of eyes was for.
"Such smells here... the mists grow thick. The ground is very soft... if they entered the river it may take a while to find their trail..."
La’seine:
La'seine pressed close again. Whether he liked or disliked the gesture, she cared not. This had been hard on her, and while she wouldn't say that this was hardest on her nor try to have a pity-party, she was tired and heartsick and needed comfort from the old warrior.
"If we find the river before we find them... I think we should rest. I'm stubborn, but I'm not stupid," she finally said with a sigh.
Haldir:
"A stubborn spirit and a wise head often keep the same company." He sighed as he lifted his head and, for the first time, really got a good look around himself. The lands were covered in a thick, ghostly fog. Every leaf had a good sprinkling of dew on it, many of the larger ones had collected small puddles in the cup of their leaves. Little wonder a Neled would find comfort in such a place.
"We'll continue the search after a rest...but not here. It's too open. Too damp, we'll leave imprints."
La’Seine:
"Lead on, I'm sure there's somewhere around here that would meet your satisfaction," La'seine replied, smiling at him with the light tease. It was so damp here, she wondered what that kind of thing would do to a lion's fur. Maybe sleeker, like the furred animals that lived in water for long periods of time.
"Do you think we'll find others?" she asked. For a moment there, she almost sounded young and inexperienced. With the others she had been mature and motherly, but even she could be insecure. Everyone needed someone to lean on, didn't they?
Haldir:
He scanned the area nearby and nodded his head to a small outcropping of stone. It was enough shelter from any rains that might come and down below it sat a small shelf of rock. Rock that would cover their bodies away from the soft earth and rock that could not absorb the body's scent well.
As he led the way to their small shelter he hid away a grimmace. "Eventually... I think we will. In what state, however, is the only doubt and fear in my mind."
La'Seine:
She followed him to the shelter. She knew where he was going after a moment, it was really an obvious place once you noticed it. Her head dipped a little, even if he hadn't hidden his grimace, she wouldn't have seen it.
"At least we have one another. I don't know what I would do without you, Haldir. Probably wander around aimlessly." She tried to lift the mood, but... it was difficult. How could it not be? Their pride was gone, scattered to the four winds or dead, their lands were corrupted, they had nowhere to go. But she did have her protector and friend. That meant so much to her.
Haldir:
"Probably." He said, a weak attempt at humor. He pawed at the rock, testing it and sniffing lightly at its surface. It was damp, surely everything this close to the river was, but it was close to their trail and out of the elements. Seating himself closer to the mouth of the shelter, he motioned to the more covered spot beside him.
"Lay down, old lady. Let's rest our stubborn paws."
La'Seine:
"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to call a lady old," La'seine replied, though she did lie down and snuggled close to his ow stubborn paws. It was cool in this land of water and mist and she felt that it would be best to stay near his warmth.
"You have to rest, too. You may not be as tired as I am, but you're certainly not rested." She glanced at him for a moment before dipping her head and rubbing it against his leg for a moment before settling it on her folded paws.
Haldir:
"I never claimed to be the expert on woman." he countered with the raising of a thin brow. His wit, sadly, was beginning to wane right along with the night time. Soon it would be day and they would have nothing to do but rest until the moon lit the lands again. Even Mavar and Brid wouldn't risk moving about during the daylit hours.
"I'll rest... once you have. We don't know this place. I'll keep watch."
La'Seine
She sighed, smiling a little bit.
"Stubborn male," she mumbled with a bit of a roll of her eyes, but she gave in, closing them.
"Wake me when the sun is halfway through the sky," La'seine added, her tone a little sleepy as she let a calmness roll over her. She was safe there, with her friend, and she had a feeling that this new land had a potential, as if it was just waiting for something.
