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 Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 5:51 pm
  Before the Summer Festivals, two very different icelings face a trial that they never expected to be a trial, and a decision that they never thought would be so hard to make...
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:41 pm
Ruelash perched on the edge of the rocky Sauti cliff and stared out over the slope at the vista before him. It was a fluffy white void – clouded nothingness. He squinted into it for a moment. ”Gonna storm.” he said gravely, as he ran his hands through his thick, unwashed hair. ”Gonna storm hard.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:42 pm
”Aye.” said Votzhem, turning to his unlikely travelling companion and nodding, ”That it will.” He watched Ruelash warily, as he had throughout their trip. ”But we've oiled canvas and furs. We'll be fine.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:43 pm
Ruelash nodded and pulled away from the edge. ”Gonna set up camp.” he grunted, barely looking at Votzhem at all. He had long ago accepted that he wasn't going to know what to make of his cousin, that Iroia and the part-alkidike man were a thing, and that that fact made him as much pack as she was. He opened the pack containing the camping equipment and squinted suspiciously at the new items. ”... You sure these are oiled?” he said, prodding them with a grubby finger. They felt that way, but there were hides that could feel oiled, but not be. ”We're gonna be wet if not.”
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:44 pm
”Very sure.” Said Votzhem. He watched Ruelash move, taking note of every smooth step, every moment of predatory grace. Ruelash was his cousin, and Votzhem could see the family resemblance... however, he asserted that they had nothing in common, save for Iroia's favor. His eyes narrowed. ”We'll be fine.” he said, his eyes never leaving the Ice man.
He had promised Iroia never to leave her side again. He was breaking his promise right now because his mother, Lakishmi, wanted to go to Chibale for the festival – the first time she had gone in decades. Her letter to him had been written with her usual energy, but something about it had seemed off, and like any good son, he'd had to go.
When he'd asked if anyone wanted to go with him, he'd expected Iroia, or one of his children, or one of the Shifters who had become a part of their extended family. (He would have preferred Kaalnia – his Sister looked after him so well – but she was already in Sauti for their festival)
He had not been expecting the wild man to offer himself. He didn't know what to make of that... or of the oppurtunity at hand.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:45 pm
”All right.” Ruelash began to shake out the canvas and set up camp. ”We got something to eat?” He grunted.
When Votzhem had asked for help, Ruelash had offered to go with him into the snowy lands, because that was what packmates did. He didn't understand this man, this man with a face like his who called himself his 'cousin'. But he accepted him, and that was... that. Pack was pack.
And Votzhem was smart – cunning smart, born of ice and snow and wild places like Ruelash was. He was an easy guy to respect, though guy he was. But he was Iroia's mate and Volka's father. He was pack.
Ruelash set down the canvas 'floor' and the tent spikes and began to expertly set up their shelter.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:47 pm
”Aye. I sent Seri hunting, and we've got supplies.” he said, assessing Ruelash's tent making skills and finding them... very good. He had found no fault with Ruelash's abilities as a traveller and huntsman. The man was very good at what he did.
Votzhem wished he could find a fault.
Ruelash was his wife's friend, but he was also his Sister's nemesis – Ruelash had nearly murdered Kaalnia at least three times, possibly four. He had traumatized their daughter (and maybe he was to blame for how that girl turned out, who knew) and her friends and Kaalnia herself. To say that Votzhem's feelings were conflicted was an understatement.
By all rights, Votzhem should take his vengeance on him...
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:48 pm
”A'rright.” That was good – Seri was a sailscale and he'd not failed them yet in bringing in a tasty bit of game. And they did indeed have supplies.
The tent went up with practiced alacrity, and as he worked, Ruelash found, indeed, that the canvas was oiled. That was good. That would keep water out. That would keep them dry and warm.
He raised the tent roof and grinned – this was good. No rips, no tears, nothing to repair.
He set about stocking the tent with furs and their gear, unaware of the turmoil in his traveling companion.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:50 pm
Votzhem turned away from Ruelash and peered into the grey wall of clouds that obscured the void below. It would be so easy to kill his cousin. Yes, Ruelash was wily and strong, but he suspected nothing. All it would take is a 'sighting' of Seri flying – his cousin seemed to like that – and a single push.
Votzhem licked his lips, contemplatively.
And vengeance would be served...
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:51 pm
Ruelash set about making a second, smaller shelter, calling Direk in to make sure it fit her. If it fit her, he figured, it would also fit Seri and all their food.
Sheltering their pets was important to Ruelash – those two were companions, valued members of their pack. He took care of them, and they took care of him.
Direk sniffed disdainfully at the shelter, and then fixed her intense yellow glare on Votzhem, whickering loudly.
”Hush.” Ruelash murmured, stroking her coarse-furred neck, ”You won't have to share with us this time. Got you your own space, didn't I?”
She huffed, uneasy.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:52 pm
Votzhem glanced over, startled at the sound. Ah, yes, Direk the Aldabuck. He'd have to deal with that beast, and he'd rather not deal with her specifically on the edge of a chasm.
He did his best to give off 'calm' and harmless body language and looked back at the clouds, his heart pounding with a strange anticipation. This was nearly perfect. They were far from everybody, from witnesses and from collateral damage. He could claim it was an accident, and he would be believed. He could just throw Ruelash off of the cliff and be done with him and the terror he inflicted on Kaalnia, the ferocity he inspired in his wife, and the wildness he'd given to his daughter. Ruelash was, in a way, the root of so many problems. He would be doing the world a great good if he got rid of him.
Off the edge. Just once. Off the edge. And he'd be gone. Votzhem licked his lips.
He could do it now.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:59 pm
Ruelash finished his set up and brushed lint and residual oil off of his hands before laying out some of Direks feed. ”It's all up.” he remarked, turning to Votzhem. There was a moment of silence as Ruelash puzzled over the man. Things were set up, so what now? Did they talk? Ruelash wasn't much for talking – they'd found that out at various campsites through the Tale and Sauti. Did they sit in silence? That suited Ruelash fine, but he was bored right now. They would be spending a lot of time huddled in shelter, and he wanted to do something interesting before he would be cooped up.
Finally, he had an answer. He grinned. ”Hey, you wanna spar?” he asked Votzhem, lazily drawing his blades an inch out of their sheathes.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 8:00 pm
No one else would miss the man.
No one would cry for him.
What made Ruelash different from the bandits that Votzhem had slaughtered during those years after the avalanche? Nothing.
He was dangerous. He was close to his family. Too close.
He had to be dealt with.
”Huh?” Votzhem turned and blinked at the Ice man, perplexed. A spar? He thought about it for a moment, and almost laughed out loud. A sparring match! What a perfect way to make this happen! It would be even easier if they were fighting to push Ruelash off of the edge! He wouldn't suspect Votzhem's motives! It would be so easy. So perfect.
”Sure.” he drawled, drawing his swords free of their sheathes.
Fate was handing him chance on a silver platter. Of course he would accept!
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 8:12 pm
Ruelash freed his blades, his grin growing wider. ”Good.” A sparring match would be just the thing to get his blood going, and he'd always wanted to spar Votzhem. The man was big – bigger than big – and Ruelash knew a challenge when he saw it.
He wasted no time in attacking head, dashing forward and bringing his blades down like the fangs of a beast before kicking away.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 8:45 pm
Votzhem had watched 'Lash fight before, so he was expecting the attack. He called upon the sense of Aisha's life force inside him and felt himself almost twirl out of the way. The blades grazed his side and he hissed in pain as he slashed forward in a counter attack.
It was hard, he realized, to keep his goal in mind.
Towards the cliff. he reminded himself, I need to get him towards the cliff.
He shifted stances, putting Ruelash between himself and the ledge, and attacked. And attacked. And attacked.
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