|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2024 8:19 pm
This was awful. Anahita let out a loud sigh as she watched the storm rolling in, the dark clouds on the horizon trapping her in the small cave that she had taken shelter in along the edge of the forest. It was higher ground than where she had been at first, the stream already ready to burst and flood the forest below, and the first drops of rain were more than ready to push it over the banks. Normally she would enjoy some time to watch the rain, but this time she wasn't alone thanks to the trainee that she had picked up along patrol today.
"How did you even get so lost?" Anahita asked, glancing back towards the slightly younger ranger who was scrambling about the cave to set up a small camp while they waited on the storm together. She hadn't talked to Lautaro much, but she had seen him around since both of them grew up in the forest together. They were only divided by a couple of years, Anahita joining the rangers a lot sooner than others her age. If anything it was mostly her fault for focusing on the rangers instead of hanging out with others her age to build up friendships, the girl more determined to learn her craft than establish anything else.
[Anahita 1]
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:32 pm
"Well, the path forked and it looked like the right option was the best pick." Replied Lautaro with a flush, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to avoid looking directly at Anahita. Somehow he had managed to get lost while exploring the paths around the village, Lautaro picking a completely different option which led to him being saved by Anahita from a ranger's trap. And by the time she had gotten him down? Well, the storm clouds were on the horizon and now they were stuck together in this cave. But! He was doing his best to make it up to her by organizing the little supplies he had with what she carried to make a temporary camp for them.
"I can make a fire too, if you'd like. The rain is starting to feel pretty cold, right?" It was definitely a colder wind, the clashing heat and cold making the loud thunder that boomed in the distance. Lautaro had the feeling that they would be here for a while, especially if that lightning and thunder kept up like that.
[Lautaro 1]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:15 pm
“Well obviously it wasn’t the right decision.” Replied Anahita, wincing as she realized her own pun that slipped out despite the sharpness of her tone. Normally she would have a brighter attitude about everything but considering how the last few days had been going her mood had soured after so much rotten luck. Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong and if anything this storm was probably her fault, not Lautaro’s fault. She had bare minimum belongings, her supplies being halfway down the stream by now, and her leggings were torn to shreds from tumbling down the cliffside. Though the reason she had made the tumble in the first place was looking directly at her like some sort of damp laotao with that pitiful gaze. It was enough to soften her expression ever so slightly as she looked away with a sigh. “A fire would be nice, if you could.”
[Anahita 2]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:15 pm
Lautaro had only heard the stories about why others didn’t mess around with Anahita. While she was a great ranger and reliable when others were in danger, the archer had a menacing aura when it came to being challenged and did not back down easily. She also was a bit more bloodthirsty than others, always eager to run into a fight instead of away from it despite the risks. Maybe that would only be bad for ruffians, but on top of all that the ranger was known to hold a grudge which meant anyone who got on her bad side should be wary. Needless to say the klutzy apprentice was more than nervous as he simply swallowed and nodded instead of openly reacting to her sharp words. Stay positive. Perhaps the sharpness of her tone wasn’t directed at him and was more directed towards the storm. Normally he would have called out the pun, but Lautaro avoided conversation as Anahita looked towards the outside again and he began pulling out pieces of kindling that he had in his bag. He had picked up a few pieces along the way once he noticed the darker clouds, just in case, and Lautaro was thankful for that since it gave them some dry wood to work with.
“I’ll need to set the fire up next to you, if that’s alright.” He spoke quietly as he nodded towards the opening where the smoke could hopefully escape instead of choking them in the cave.
[Lautaro 2]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:15 pm
If you’d like, if that’s alright… Anahita frowned. Others might have thought it was considerate of Lautaro to speak like that but she found it more passive than anything. It was like he didn’t want to make any decisions for himself. Though after finding him trapped like that…maybe it was for the best that he didn’t make any more decisions tonight. “Go for it.” She replied, crossing her arms as she only took a couple of steps back to give him room to work. “It looks like we’ll be here for a bit so at least it can pass some time.” Anahita looked outside where the rain was still pouring down like a waterfall around the cave entrance. Everything was blurred from view, the whole forest disappearing into the downpour as thunder crashed above them. Part of her wished that she could just slip into the rain and fade away from this whole situation as well, but here she was.
[Anahita 3]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:15 pm
That frown made him so nervous! Lautaro fumbled a bit at the sight of it, the wind earthling nearly dropping the stack of kindling that he was carrying over towards Anahita. “This looks fine, right?” He asked quietly, his shoulders tense even as he tried to look relaxed while placing all the kindling together for the fire. The apprentice brought out a piece of flint to strike it for the fire, working on making a spark and blowing it so that it turned into an actual fire for them. “Thank you again for getting me out of that trap. I would have drowned in this rainstorm if I was still hanging out there.”
[Lautaro 3]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:16 pm
“It’s fine, you’re fine. Stop asking questions and just take charge for once.” Replied Anahita as she settled down on the ground, crossing her legs and keeping closer to the fire so that her damp clothing could finally dry. Ideally she would have taken everything off to let it dry more, but it was better to do it this way else Lautaro would have run out into the storm from panic. “I just can’t believe you got trapped like that. Are you truly from the same place as me?” How was this kid training to be a ranger? She knew that she could be considered a prodigy by some, but this guy wasn’t that much younger than her. How had he not been trained to recognize the traps by now that most were taught as younglings?
[Anahita 4]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:16 pm
A flush decorated Lautaro’s cheeks as he settled down on the opposite side of the fire, the earthling bringing out some dried jerky and sliding a piece towards Anahita. “I am from the village.” He reassured her. “I just haven’t been outside of the main area or training grounds as often. I got startled and accidentally walked into it.” Not that his excuse was any better. To be startled by some small creature scurrying around in the bushes? How embarrassing!
[Lautaro 4]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:16 pm
“I see.” Anahita accepted the offering and chewed on it while she gathered her thoughts. “What do you want to do in the future?” She finally asked after swallowing her bite of jerky. “Not everyone becomes a ranger, after all.” She had siblings who chose different paths, only Cyrus picking up a bow like her while one became a seamstress and another a beekeeper. She didn’t even follow along with the youngest pair, knowing the girls would have their own mayhem to cause in life elsewhere as they traveled closer to relatives in Oba and Matori. Usually she didn’t do a lot of casual talk like this, but they were stuck in the cave and she was honestly curious to see what Lautaro was planning on doing.
[Anahita 5]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:16 pm
Lautaro was quiet as he contemplated his answer. “I’m not certain. I would like to be a ranger like my sister and father, but I know they tend to worry about me. They would probably be happier if I did something, anything else really.” He admitted after a moment, his expression falling at the realization. Most saw him as a hopeless situation, a klutz who could never truly excel where others did. Just like Anahita who was always praised for her fighting skills and ability to navigate more dangerous situations with the rangers.
[Lautaro 5]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:16 pm
Anahita pursed her lips and then shrugged. “So what? If you want to do something then just keep working at it, right?” She took another bite of jerky and allowed her words to sink in with her companion. “Nothing wrong with pushing for a dream as long as you’re doing your best and not harming anyone else. Maybe just don’t take any dangerous missions until you become more capable, that’s all.”
[Anahita 6]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:16 pm
Even if Anahita hadn’t intended on it, her words brought tears to Lautaro’s eyes. “You…you really think so?” He managed after a moment, his voice wavering with emotion. He had always faced awkward stares and silence every time he mentioned his dreams around others, none wanting to tell him to quit but at the same time not wanting to openly support him either. This was the closest thing to encouragement that he had heard in a while from anyone who was actually a ranger, and it touched his heart. “I guess I could keep trying for a bit more…as long as I’m not harming anyone and doing my best.” He repeated quietly, a small smile gracing his lips as he thought about it.
[Lautaro 6]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:17 pm
“Mmhmm. Just don’t get too emotional on me, we still have to get through this storm and back to camp.” Replied Anahita, watching as lightning flashed in the distance and the rain continued drowning the forest around them. “But if you really need it, I suppose I could also help with training when I’m home. I don’t have an escort mission for a few days so I’ll be around.” She finished off the piece of jerky and held her hand up, the girl finally looking towards Lautaro. “As long as you pay me in that jerky, that is.”
[Anahita 7]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2024 1:17 pm
"Sounds like a deal to me!” Lautaro beamed towards Anahita, the boy not even bothered by the storm raging around them now that he had some encouragement again. He passed over another piece of jerky and the pair fell into comfortable silence as they simply shared snacks and watched as the storm continued on throughout the rest of the afternoon.
[Lautaro 7]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
