[PRP] In the Shadow of Giants [Ithil & Nithralith]

[medigel]

Teepee

Not two days before, she had been attacked by a 'ksher, a cursed being in the guise of a large cat, and had barely escaped the entanglement in tact, though she had been delivered several gashes to her thigh and flank in her escape. The time between then and now had been spent running day and night inspite of the bleeding, with short periods of rest that lasted as long as her panicked heart allowed her and as long as she could find what she hoped were medicinal herbs; the lay of the land was still strange to her, and very few of the plants she had learned of grew in these lands.

Given this and Ithil's naturally frayed constitution, it was hardly surprising that, at the sight of the growing hills before her, she despaired. But in both directions she looked, and in both directions the hills became mountains, and the river which had sustained her for so long wound its way up - and in the end, Ithil felt she had no other choice but to climb.

Her limbs protested and shook as she did, the exertion and the sun having done little to assuage her tired body. To keep her mind off the pain and exhaustion, Ithil began to hum a song under her breath in snatches, trying her best to keep her head high even as she longed to simply lay down and sleep for days. Paranoia still left its residual marks on her just as the large cat had - the mountains would be cooler, she told herself, and safer as well. Surely there was a cave or some sort of refuge there she would find.

And if not, well, then she would keep walking until she found one.

Her body trembled all the more at the thought.  

[Nyhility]

The wind was somber today, hardly casting a breeze along the heights of the mountainous terrain. And given the time of day, with the sun nearly at it's peak and the temperatures rising as high as the mountains themselves, one could use a comforting caress of air in this moment. And Nithralith just happened to be one of those individuals. While he was a creature adapted to warmer weather, the strain of mountain climbing was another variable he wasn't used to handling often. Between the steep and often loose stones beneath his hooves and the thinner air, the large equine found it to be enough to fray his normally placid temperament. That along with the fact that this was a new land and trail for him, thus often causing him to backtrack carefully when the mountain denied him a safe passage. Needless to say, it was going to be a long day of traveling before the stallion found a worn path by natives of this land. From there, he could only hope to cover more ground...

With a heavy step and his weight leaning into the mountain that nearly plastered to his side, the foreign male took a moment of pause to scan his surroundings. It was inaccurate to say he was following a path thus far, instead treading on the safest and widest carvings into the mountains that he could find. And to his utmost luck, it seemed that this turn around the mountain offered more flat stones for his hooves to rely on. Weather-worn and smooth edged, Nithralith credited the mountains changed features to the soft wind he could now feel, combing wonderfully against his heated form and heavy mane. It was an opportunity of rest that Nithralith would not deny.

Shifting forward, the stallion happily approached the wider edges of the mountain face while carefully shouldering his thin sash against his neck. No need for the wind to take off with any of his items now. Before Nithralith could travel far, his eyes slid down as he noticed movement below. Not too far down the mountainside was another Soquili, like a speck of stubborn snow surviving the heat. Her movements looked fatigued, though from this angle it was too difficult for the stallion to pinpoint any other details. Did she know where she was going?

So as not to startle her (or pelt her with tumbling rocks), Nith walked at a casual and quiet pace until he was aligned above her predicted route. Leaning precariously over, he gave a soft cough before speaking lowly. "Curve to your left. That is, if you're looking for a more manageable route upward."

Ol-j-man

 

[medigel]

There was a most bothersome itch growing on the wound, and without thinking she turned her head to scratch it with her horn because she was tired and aching and didn't need more bothering her. But the scab was still tender and broke under pressure, and another small tab of pain greeted her for her effort. How it niggled at Ithil that she could have just healed it had she more energy and the mind to concentrate, but no: her willpower had been allocated to putting one hoof in front of the other and to keep an ear out for suspicious noises.

Thus the cough might as well have been in her ear with how startled the mare reacted to it.

She whipped her head up to view the stranger through her unkempt mane, found it too bothersome to do so, and tossed her head back before fixating him with a suspicious but tired stare. While not one to ignore advice, his appearance felt a little too convenient in her exhausted mind . . . But Ithil was in no state to be judging really. So she kept silent and trudged along, angling left as the stallion had recommended and doing her best not to show how she favored one hind leg - which was to say she only allowed small skips rather than visible jumps.

Normally she would have struck up conversation, but the mare's throat was as parched and dry as desert sand and refused to allow anything other than air in or out. So as she rose, Ithil turned her head to view him, finding that even in the company of strangers she still had to raise her head imperiously and affect a more regal stance. Well, as regal as one could get in her condition at any rate. But even in the stiff quality of nobility, she cold not hide the silent plea in her eyes for more aid, even something as small as "go here". At this point she was willing to give anything a go.

Though Ithil couldn't help but notice how the stallion appeared . . . And that alone planted a new seed of doubt within her. She was going to her death anyway, wasn't she.

Nyhility

Sorry about the wait!

 

[Nyhility]

Please that she wasn't out to bark back stubbornly and cause a landslide, Nithralith could only nod in somber encouragement as she followed his advice. Not that his action mattered from this angle, and so he continued his own path a few feet above the mare. While his was a horizontal path with few options, her route would eventually fork before her. Whether she joined him on his path or chose the other unmarked route would be up to her. But at this point, they would likely have to trade positions, if she still endeavored to climb up while he sought to reach the valley below.

Judging by her pace, however, he might not be recommended to go down the path she just completed.

Perking an ear as the mare turned the bend onto his path, the stallion paused quietly while she gained her bearings. Well then, he hadn't expected to engage in more interactions with this individual beyond a simple direction. But that now seemed to be inevitable. His own bearings were lost too once he realized the intricate garb and fabrics the other Soquili was wearing. Now why would someone with such formal wear be hiking in this terrain? Unless she belonged to a regal two-legged and was returning to them, or fleeing from them. While Nithralith was not one to openly engage in eye contact, the others lack of communication forced him to do so. Raising his chin in response to her own posture, it was then when he realized the more important details.

Her mane was more a mess than the trinkets allowed one to think, and it was hard to think a climb could fray it to such a state. Adorning the top of her curved horn was a color tint that the stallion was none too fond of. Whether it was fresh or belonged to her was another story all together. And with the lift of his chin, the breeze had caught his nostrils. The mare smelled slightly infectious...although he highly doubted that was any way to start a conversation with anyone. Especially if their appearance demanded only the finer things in life.

But she things were not to be found in the mountains.

Keeping his distance to avoid tension, Nith spoke strongly in the open air. "Ma'am, are you in need of assistance? You seem...slightly worse for wear."

Ol-j-man

no worries!

 

[medigel]

A first, she simply gave a soft snort in response to his clear cut observation, which was unlike her; normally Ithil would have been relieved at the idea of getting assistance when in this condition. But as luck would have it, fate seemed determined to drive her from one fire to the next: first a ''ksher, and now this rauko, this demon, was to beset her and feign friendliness as she inched closer to collapsing. And on a mountain no less! She was inclined to give him a curt nod and nothing more to be on her way, but as she neared the crossroads at the top of this particular plateau her injured leg nearly gave out on her.

"Lle lakwenien?" she hissed under her breath as she steadied herself, face twitching with a spasm of pain. This wasn't giving her much of a choice. A slow death later or a quick death now? Ithil turned to face the stranger, irritated at how he mimicked her raised posture.

Uncertainty niggled at her. Surely he was a demon given his horns and the unnatural glow to his eyes, yet he lacked the wings and the tail of one. A halfbreed then? Diluted blood didn't mean he didn't have the vicious tendencies of his lineage though . . . And the presence of dangling teeth around his neck and tail did little to assuage her. But the sting of her wound and the weight on her body made the decision for her in spite of her doubt and suspicion.

"Yes," she answered after a moment, her voice raspy. "...Please." Gods, but that stung as much as the gash did.

Nyhility

 

[Nyhility]

Behind his horns, Nith allowed an ear to shift at the subtle sigh of the other Soquili. Whether it was impatience or fatigue that motivated such a reply, he couldn't tell, and so remained standing firm in his location. Until there was a clearly spoken reaction from either of them, the stallion had no intention of moving forward or back, lest it cause agitation amongst them. Time was of no urgency to his travels, although he would be sorely placed to remain on the mountain edge by nightfall. More so for this mare, if she hoped to navigate with such injuries.

Suddenly the mare faltered, and her frame skirted dangerously with nothing but the wind and rocks to break her balance. Nith's jaw locked as he took a step forward, ready to bolt should the need arise. She caught herself, however, and the traveling stallion held his breath tensely. All it would take is one wobble to end everything, and any assistance placed would have to be swift and careful against such slopes. As much as this regal mare's lineage of Kirin grace may help her footing, it was no shield against a rocky tumble. And so Nithralith decided to edge closer, removing eye contact so as to not appear challenging and instead glancing at the plains beyond the mountain range.

"Your strength bears you far. However, there are no treasures or paradise beyond these stones worth risking your life for." He paused as a muttering voice whispered against the cold air, and his long mane slid from his shoulder as he peered in her direction. Whatever had been spoken was beyond his understanding, and his eyes shaded over with this new detail. Did she speak under a different tongue, and not understand any of his previous statements? What an unbearable compromise.

Releasing a sigh with flared nostrils, he turned back to fully face the mare. Urgent matters never did help to sooth his patience. Deciding body language was the clearest form of communication they could muster, the stallion motioned with formalities. A half bow with his front leg extended forward, paused long enough to express a benign presence before he balanced himself upright once more. While he had waited to see a physical reply, whether it be a nod or a shake of her head, he couldn't help but let surprise etch in his features as she replied in voice.

Mares. Sometimes as prideful and frustrating as their male counterparts.

"As you wish then." Her permission granted, the stallion moved forward at a wary pace, not full understanding her reservations against his bloodline. All the same, a stranger was a stranger and he was sure to keep himself at a respectable distance as he came to her side. Using his own mass as a railing near the mountain edge, he peered down at her flank as the metallic scent continued to assault his nose. From here, it was easy to see the long gashes and the ribbons of red that streamed from their openings.

"Alright then, let us move you further in. They may be late, but your blessings are bright that you've made it to a flat stone..." Using his shoulder as a support, he leaned back from the ridge, pushing both himself and the injured stranger to a slightly safer area. The plateau was wide enough to allow her to settle or lie down, but he'd leave that decision up to her...granted if she was willing to negotiate from the start.

Ol-j-man