Welcome to Gaia! ::

The morning air was cold enough to paint the grass blades a paler shade of green, crisp with the solidified dew. While not frozen enough for the blades to snap underfoot, Endymion tested the theory a few times with a boot all the same. The open space of the field made him slightly uncomfortable, vulnerable, but waiting around all day for Terpsichore to return from the city didn't really sound all that appealing. Neither did staying anywhere near the city...

Despite the lack of anything to really conceal himself from view out here, it still made him feel less unease than if he had been so close to civilization. Sure, out in the bordering countryside there were a few scattered cottages here and there, but they could be avoided easily enough. In fact, those that occupied such areas tended to keep to themselves anyway, if they were even around. Didn't Nix say once that he had one? That was a daunting thought.

Lowering his head a bit, the scyther partially buried his nose in his collar. It was chilly, and the air was already affecting his ability to move. He almost toyed with the notion of grabbing the scarf Nix had given him when they had first met to stave off the cold a bit. The teen didn't even know why he brought it... maybe he had done so accidentally out of haste when he left the camp. It wasn't as though he had a lot to his name, so it was entirely possible.

He brushed the wandering thoughts off. If he kept moving, he would be in less danger of his chitin limbs locking up on him. Besides, Endymion had never really given this area much thought before, when he had traveled through the land in the past. It might prove to be interesting... or at least a decent time-waster.

His eyes were mostly downcast as he trudged through the sea of icy green, kicking a few times at a thick lock of grass to see if it might shatter. Or maybe it was just to cut through the monotony, that was also very likely. Attention would flick back upward if something seemed to catch at the corner of his eyes, but for the most part, the landscape was rather bland. Even the cottages and small buildings off in the distance seemed to meld into the repetitional scenery.

At least, it seemed that way until he noticed the striking magenta amongst the offset wintergreen. Endymion's steps were soundly halted, but although it was a similar reaction to that of fear, he was far enough away from the individual that such negative connotations did not set root in the action. Instead, it was the familiarity of the color that struck him the most. The scyther frowned, fairly certain but not a hundred percent positive as to who he was seeing. They had both been but children the last time End had seen Carwyn, so that alone was enough to cast doubt, but to run into the drapion way out here, in the middle of nowhere, on such a cold morning..?

He flinched when Carwyn pitched forward after trying to stand, taking that moment to close the distance. He also may have used an Agility move, in the off-chance this really was the person he thought it was before actually confirming it... "You alright?" he asked once he was within earshot, able to be heard without having to raise his voice above conversational levels. Briefly, his frown deepened, noting aspects of the drapion he hadn't been able to see further across the field, before they softened more toward worry. "Carwyn?" he verified, crouching close enough to offer to help him back to his feet, "You're not looking so good... Here, let me help you up." Endymion held his arm out and offered a shoulder for the support. He was fully capable of physically helping the other teen up with more of a grip, but if Carwyn had the strength enough for it, it might prove easier this way. His words couldn't completely conceal the concern he felt, "What are you doing, way out here?" It was almost as though he were lightly scolding Carwyn for it.

Before Carwyn even found his voice enough to speak Endymion's nickname, the scyther was sure he hadn't been mistaken. The quiet gasp, however, was enough to lock off any further suspicion otherwise, for doubt was always a thickly-rooted concern. He wanted to help out better, to reach out and help steady the drapion, but he figured he would probably be overstepping his bounds that way. He still wasn't sure how in danger Carwyn was, at the moment, but actions often happened in accordance with predicament, and they weren't always under jurisdiction of his normally -- and preferred -- distant self.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment as his name was spoken aloud, immediately pinpointing onto the effort it sounded like it took Carwyn to say it. Regardless of the worry, a small, sheepish smile became evident, even while partially obscured by his collar. "Yeah, you look pretty bad," he teased a bit, making sure Carwyn's hold was secure enough, "But don't worry. M-Maybe I can help, somehow." Not that he had any idea how to, aside from getting him someplace warmer... but he'd shudder to think of having to head any nearer to civilization.

The scyther attempted to help the banded teen to his feet, but as Carwyn leaned further into him, he found it became a bit more difficult to do so without readjusting his hold. "Maybe sitting here for a bit isn't a bad idea..." he considered under his breath. After all, it might help Carwyn warm up a bit more, at least enough to move, as long as it wasn't more than a few moments, and it gave him opportunity to stabilize the drapion-teen with an arm around the back and to the opposite side of Carwyn's torso. "There's nothing to apologize for. Even if you didn't mean to be out so long, we all make mistakes. I'm just glad someone found you, that could have been dangerous!" Endymion said, steadfast in his statements, "When you think you are ready to stand, let me know and I can help you up. Maybe we can get you some place warmer, okay?"

Well this was... definitely not how he had imagined his day going, or of meeting an old friend. He sighed, trying to relax a bit and watching his breath become as smoke on the air, "It's... good to see you again. E-Even if it's not under the best of circumstances."

As obnoxious of a temperament as Endymion tended to possess, when situations grew dire, he had the capability to temporarily cease any shyness that may interfere. So far, it had only been in the face of a perceived life-or-death situation when it hadn't been from warming up to an individual -- that second part took time, something that neither of them had the luxury of at present. Many times, insects merely went into a state of hibernation when exposed to freezing weather, but the scyther hadn't any idea if it would do the same to one half-human... or what might happen should one find themselves so vulnerable. Instead of glancing to the potentially optimistic side, his mind dove darker in an attempt to avoid the negative possibilities: for all End knew, Carwyn could have been dying. He had no reason to automatically assume the opposite. So the worry continued as his thoughts scrambled for an answer to help his friend warm up, for body heat could only do so much, especially when they both had the misfortune of being moderately precluded by an exoskeletal structure towards that extent.

His expression knit at the question, and he took the opportunity to look around at the surrounding cottages in the distance. "I don't... recognize any of these houses," the teen concluded, already having known full well he wouldn't have been able to identify any, "I'm sure someone would be home, though, so maybe we could try knocking at the closest one?" As much aversion as he would have to the idea, this was a little more important than his own personal comfort levels. If only he had a blanket back at camp... but then, for one that tore up most fabrics, there wasn't much of a point in keeping one around. Until now, at least, curse it.

At the mention of how he looked, Endymion tried to stave off the blush, still a bit irritated with his own changes. They brought back memories he didn't want. Carwyn didn't mean anything by it, though, he couldn't have known... Instead, the mantis-pokémon focused on the problems currently at hand, attempting to block the sudden, chill breeze with an extended set of wings. This was bad, the wind was starting to pick up... He nodded his head when Carwyn stated that he was good to get going, prompted by the outstretched hand to help the drapion to his feet with the arm that wasn't already working to steady the other teen. "C-Careful, now. We'll take it as slow as you need," he instructed, though knew it was preferable that they get out of the morning air as soon as was possible. However, hesitation caught up with his movements when Carwyn had asked about his current living arrangements; he couldn't very well lie about it, to a friend... but the worry made him uncomfortable. How was he supposed to side-step that question? It seemed so insignificant a problem, especially at present, and the silence as Endymion led Carwyn forth may have attested to that fact. It likely also spoke louder than anything that came from the scyther's mouth afterwards, "I, um... w-well... don't live out here?" In this particular field, at least... While he wasn't exactly lying, he still couldn't look at Carwyn when he spoke of it.

Especially when, at that point, he remembered the promise he had made with the young drapion the last they met, silently cursing under his breath. You idiot! You broke that promise without a second thought, didn't you?

This entire scenario was not one that Endymion had ever found himself faced with before, always the one that seemed to prefer to keep his distance from others and avoid contact if at all possible. However, it had also been proven in the past that, despite being reluctant to do much more than hide, his 'fight or flight' responses always defaulted to fight when situations turned dire. It was easy to ignore his own well-being when someone else's life might be on the line, especially when it was one he held in especially high regards, whether he'd admit to such feelings or not. To bring attention to himself during such incident left him a little more unsure, his usual shyness creeping into his actions and making him teeter a bit. He was a cowardly string bean after all.

Regardless, he kept careful attention to Carwyn's posture, to make sure he wasn't in danger of slipping. Huffing a sigh, End trudged on forth the closest cottage, "Don't apologize, it's not your fault." Of course, he was assuming, but even if this had all been planned by the drapion, Endymion was pretty sure he couldn't lay blame. "I'm not going to leave a friend anywhere unfamiliar," he insisted, "We'll just get you warmed up, and we can leave once the sun does the same out here." Oh he reeeeally wasn't looking forward to being so close to a human again... this was going to be tough.

Carwyn's apology was not something that Endymion had expected, mostly because he hadn't understood the underlying context. What did Carwyn feel he had to apologize for? The scyther was startled, and perhaps it was due in part to that as much as his insistence on his personal stance that he abruptly admitted to it, "W-What do you mean? You are a great friend! You're a great person... that's why I don't want to be a burden to anyone anymore, least of all to you!" It didn't matter that he didn't really hold himself in very high regards, and was utterly lost out here. It wasn't about pride at all, for he already knew he was much lower on the societal scale than that: his pride was projected more to those around him, and he didn't want to sully others' lives.

Despite his standings, it was still difficult to acknowledge aloud; he was still too insecure. So he pushed past it, as though his words weren't any big deal. No use stressing over that now. The house hadn't been too far away, luckily enough, but as soon as his boots touched the door step, his breath caught in his chest. He was going to have to consciously behave. Hesitantly, he rapped on the door with his free arm, the exoskeleton-clad wrist allowing Endymion to place less force behind the knock than he would have otherwise.

Endymion grew slightly flustered as Carwyn insisted that the drapion was not a good friend. No, that wasn't what he had meant at all with his actions! Or, in this case, lack thereof. "N-No, no, don't say that, you had nothing to do with it at all," his attempts to correct misunderstandings through words were never on the surest of footing, but he was willing to try, "It... it's more that I'm not the good friend. I don't even... I don't even think I'm..." ...worth the friendship. He couldn't finish the sentence, but he felt that it was obvious what he meant to say.

He could feel a slight flush tint his face at the compliments despite the biting temperatures outside. He wasn't... How could he be considered great or brave if he wasn't even smart enough to realize when he was hurting someone like Carwyn? He flinched a little despite the cold-numbed nerves and, once the emptiness of the cottage was more or less confirmed, Endymion went about to kicking the door open. It wasn't like they had a key, and this was kind of an emergency... but he couldn't deny that he wasn't glad about the results.

Fluttering his wings a little as he leaned forward, Endymion helped the drapion to a seat before attempting to close the front door. The lock had busted part of the doorway; it might make it a little drafty, but nothing they couldn't handle. Next, he turned to locate the bedrooms and strip them of their sheets, carrying them to Carwyn as they were found. Perhaps the busywork was good for him, for the scyther had given himself extra time to collect himself.

As he gathered what all he was able to find, the next task was to light the stove. The evils of the campfire, so they met again... He turned back to Carwyn, a soft yet sheepish smile on his face, "Uhm... d'you know how to light these?" The last time he tried, there was a matchbox available, and he wasn't the one that had tried to clasp and work something so small with blades for hands...

He fidgeted slightly in place, letting the place fall silent for a moment before he chanced to say a thing. "Carwyn?" he finally said, treading carefully, "I-I'm sorry, I... didn't mean to make you worry." His attention slid to the floor, "I guess I'm just... I'm really self-centered. I didn't think anyone would care. It's stupid... I mean, why wouldn't you care? I knew better, I really knew better, but I somehow was able to convince myself that nobody...--" He really wasn't any good at this, not with explaining things and not with friendship, not at all.