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 Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:55 pm
So the gossip in town had been true. Epsilon wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen things for himself. Truthfully though, maybe he hadn't seen anything at all. The edge of the Wardwood had been dark. Those flickering yellow eyes in the misty depths could be anything. The hour was late and any number of night wandering creatures could be lurking around. At least, that's what Epsilon desperately tried to tell himself while ignoring the spine freezing howls that chased him up the snowy roads and back into Palisades.
Epsilon hadn't run so quickly in his life. His heart was threatening to burst from his chest, his ears pounding with the beating of it. He'd lost the sole of one ragged shoe halfway into town, though barely felt the biting cold during his panicked fleeing. It surely couldn't have been those creatures, could it? Mind not wanting to comprehend what had potentially happened, Epsilon continued to run, not caring that his chest was beginning to burn. He needed to find Mimas and hole away for the night. For once, he was glad he'd had the young fawn hide away while he'd gone outside the city to forage. He had sorely missed Mimas' company, but now, Epsilon didn't even want to comprehend what a meeting between potential wolves and a young guardian might be.
The city was quiet as Epsilon slowed to a jog, coming to the place where Mimas was, hidden behind the mess of an abandoned merchant's stand. "Come, Mimas," Epsilon's teeth chattered harshly together, his words barely coherent. The fawn seemed to understand though and fell into step beside his choosen. For a time, the two walked, Epsilon trying not to think and Mimas the constant, silent companion. When Eppi grew too cold, he finally had to stop.
Not sure where exactly he'd dragged them too, he looked around, blinking blearily through the softly falling snow. There wasn't much to look at, just the cobblestone walls to his left and right, broken up only by ornate gates, all of them locked and closed for the night. Too tried to continue one, Epsilon hobbled to the nearest gate, the wall and wrought iron covered with thick curls of ivy. Without blinking, Epsilon burrowed into the stuff and curled against the wall. When he was settled, Mimas settled in his lap, offering warmth against the chilling night.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:22 pm
 The sound of the horses' hooves on the cobblestone streets was all that Elizabeth Redgrave could hear as she rode in the ornate carriage through the outer streets of Palisade. Her soft gray eyes were half-lidded as she watched the streets go by outside the little window, and she twirled a piece of her grayed hair around a long, slightly bony finger. Tonight had been a rather uneventful night, aside from the party she'd gone to. But even that had been rather dull, full of stuffy old geezers and their demure, shut-in wives. Elizabeth was disgusted with how the women behaved, but perhaps that was simply because she had been forced to take over her husband's duties when he died. She supposed that she could easily have ended up just like them: quiet, subservient, and much like a hermit. But she hadn't.
They were nearing her manor when another glance out the window let her catch sight of a clump of something tangled in the ivy on the brick wall lining the street. "Terrence, stop the carriage," she called, carefully climbing out of the little box when it came to a stop. Terrence was there to help her, as always, which was quite appreciated at this stage in her life. She was not as spry as she once had been, and her joints ached occasionally from the cold and general stiffness.
She drew her fur coat tighter around her as she neared the wall, crouching over slightly and peering into the darkness. There, huddled in the ivy, underneath a small deer, was a young man. She let out a little gasp and reached out to him, hoping that he was not dead. "Young man? Are you alright?" She asked, glancing at Terrence. The soft sound of hooves on cobblestones sounded again, and Elizabeth was soon joined by a small fawn of her own, this one a very light cream with dark, plum-colored eyes. Titan had sensed the little surges of distress in Elizabeth and had roused himself from his place in the carriage to join her. He peered at the strange lump of a person and a fawn in the ivy, his little ears perked up tall.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:42 pm
The sounds of carriages passing by were distant to Epsilon, so one stopping before his miserable hiding spot didn't even register. Epsilon only roused when he felt Mimas' starting to fuss atop his lap. He felt a pang of apprehension and knew it wasn't his own.
Cracking open his eyes, Epsilon tried hard to comprehend what the woman had just said. His brain felt mired in a fog and he didn't even had enough presence of mind to scold Mimas for nipping at the woman's fingers. And the fawn had in fact tried to get a bite out of those reaching fingers. It was just a warning, but Mimas would do more as long as it meant that he kept Epsilon safe. The presence of another deer disturbed him greatly at the moment and he made sure all saw the flat, displeased tilt of his ears.
"Madam?" Epsilon finally croaked, nudging Mimas off his lap. With the warm deer gone, Epsilon startled to tremble from the cold all over again. Hesitantly, he got to his feet though remained buried in the thick ivy leaves. He glanced at the white fawn and wondered if this woman had guardian business to discuss or something. That hadn't ever happened though and no one had ever stop their carriage to say anything to him either.
Hesitance filled his voice as he asked, "Can I help you?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:52 pm
When the dark fawn tried to n** at her fingers, Elizabeth let out a gasp and stood up straight, frowning down at the little thing. Titan, feeling his Chosen to be in danger, stomped his front hooves angrily on the cobblestones and put his own ears back, frowning deeply at the darkly-colored fawn. He let out an angry huff and placed himself between the other fawn and Elizabeth, which received a small cluck of the tongue from the old woman. "Oh, Titan, mind your manners. He's just frightened, the poor thing," Elizabeth murmured, reaching down to pat Titan's head soothingly. The fawn's ears flicked in enjoyment of the gently touch, but he continued to watch the other deer with wary eyes and stood up as tall as he could on his little dark hooves, looking rather regal.
Meanwhile, Lady Redgrave was regarding the young man with interest and a small amount of pity. "Young man, what are you doing out on the street in this weather? Have you no home to go to? No mother?" She looked him over as he stood up, noting his haggard appearance and dirty clothing. She supposed that, most likely, he did not have a home to go to for warmth and a meal. She worried her lip, effectively wiping off a bit of the red stain she'd put on earlier that night, and crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to keep warm. The way this young man was trembling from the cold tugged at her heartstrings; what would she do if he were her own child? Sure she would want someone to take him in for the night.
She let out a heavy sigh and gestured to the carriage. "Come. Let's get you warm and give you a good meal. A little thing like you shouldn't be out in the cold like this," she chirped, heading back over to the carriage. Terrence took her hand and helped her into it again, and once she'd settled down, Titan hopped in as well. Elizabeth peeked around the edge of the door way at the young vagabond, raising her eyebrows. "Are you coming or not?" She asked, eyeing the dark fawn that stood beside him.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 11:10 pm
Mimas postured against the other fawn, his little tail flicking in agitation. He gnashed his teeth a bit and stomped his hooves, looking far from regal and more like a young brawler. He agitation was only soothed when Epsilon placed a hand heavily across Mimas' back. It wasn't really a smacked, but more like Epsilon needed Mimas' sturdy body to help him stay on his feet. Indeed, Epsilon was slowly swaying and Mimas hurriedly pressed back against his chosen to support him. The fawn still glared at the other one though, clearly not fooled by the woman's kind words.
Unsure of what to think, Epsilon regarded the wealthy madam before him. He opened his mouth to speak, but ended up only licking his cracked lips. What was he to say? It was obvious he was without. The clothes he wore were threadbare and his pale skin was awash with soot and dirt. He had a feeling his hair was a mess as well, but his cap hid most of the dark strands.
"I'm not so little," Epsilon replied, trying to look a little bigger. It was hard though when you were underfed and beneath six feet tall. Why this woman wanted to help him was beyond him. What did she want from him? Epsilon's curiosity curled into suspicion as he looked the Madam over once again. While he stood there dallying in the cold though, the woman had already stepped into her carriage and was beckoning to him. Epsilon nearly refused her, but when the wind pick up, bringing with it memories of distant howls, he easily capitulated.
Growing ashen from the sudden reminder of what had occurred earlier in the evening, Epsilon half stumbled and half ran to the woman's carriage. He ignored the footman and tried to step up by himself. He slipped the first time and banged his shin on the lip of the opening, but ignored the pain and scrambled inelegantly into the dark, warm space. It was only when he was huddled away into the furthest corner that Mimas joined him. The fawn situated himself between Epsilon and everyone else, clearing not about to put up with any more near touching business.
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