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 Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:24 pm
“Spirits why is this place so far blasted north?” Zyphire shivered beneath the heavy fur cloak that he had taken along with him on his journey towards Zidel. Needless to say the Shifter was not quite fond of the colder areas of Zena and tried his best to only go past the central mountain range into the north on the rarest of occasions. The animal sanctuary was fine considering it was basically Sauti and even then it had taken years for him to get more accustomed to the fact that winter was actually a thing. It was most of the reason that he had taken up kitchen duties when he was younger so that he could avoid the outside and enjoy the blazing fire coming from the kitchen hearth. However with Katori and Taaru roaming outside of Zena it was his wonderful suggestion that he go up towards Zidel instead to exchange some goods for the sanctuary. Talisia had finally agreed to sell the land remaining from her mother’s old estate, the burned building no longer visible while other nobles offered gold to take the ideal spot near the Grand Council. Someone had to go collect the documents and the coin for the estate so why not go now even though the coldest season was right around the corner. So here Zyphire was - cold and miserable and chasing a parak out of all things on the outskirts of the city.
“Can you not be like this?” Zyphire groaned as the playful creature chittered at him before bounding away towards another snowpile, a bag his bag clutched tightly in its maw. It was already close to evening and he had hoped to get to an inn before nightfall but obviously that was too optimistic a thought for him. Already the stars were starting to shimmer along the horizon as the sun slowly sank from view and he could only imagine that if his hands weren’t covered in leather gloves that his fingers would be pale to mark the crescent moon rising in the sky. “Tiki, please!” He begged his rowdy familiar as she darted about his ankles once more.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 2:18 pm
Time was not on Sylvirah's side. The longer night's were starting to consume Zena and soon enough Winter would set in full force. She and Gunnar may have been preparing for their trip, but since they hadn't yet set off she felt a never ending sense of anxiety. What if they didn't make it in time? What if they were already too late? What if-?
Ada dipped so fast Sylvirah barely had time to clutch the reigns. The large chiavi was dead set on freefalling at alarming speeds towards the ground and no matter how much Sylvirah tried to pull up she seemed intent on chasing her 'prey'. What do you even see? Even if she squinted Sylvirah wouldn't be able to see anything. The winds were too fast, too sharp and all she could do at this point that whatever she was chasing would be worth it.
All at once they were close enough for her to see something bouncing around the snow and - a person!. With a sharp, hard pull Sylvirah yanked Ada's reigns so hard the chiavi cried out. She was close enough that her large wings whipped up a snowstorm while the avian threw a confused fit. Ada cried out once again, this time at being held so tightly, but Sylvirah knew it was the only way to get her down off the high of a hunt. The avian lifted once again, but just to land not a few feet away.
Her feathers were a fluffed up, ruffled mess and if looks could kill Sylvirah would be a body in the snow. For her part the iceling didn't look much better; her hood had fallen away in the descent and her hair was a messy crown around her face. For a moment she sat stiffly in the saddle, just trying to get her breathing under control.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:26 pm
And just like that their fun was ruined. Zyphire barely felt the gust of wind before the piercing claws of his parak quickly diverted his attention to his legs. Wincing at the sudden pain, a curse flying from his lips, Zyphire held still as the slender creature crawled up his legs and launched herself into his arms. Clutching her tightly to his chest, his annoyance at her earlier antics gone, Zyphire shifted backwards almost landing on his a** in the snow whenever the Chiavi and her rider reached the ground. Close one! Why the hell was a rider landing here out of all places? "See if you had just behaved we could already be in a nice warm room with a bed." He chastised under his breath to the parak who chirped quietly at him almost as if giving an apology.
"Oiy! Just so you know we aren't food over here!" He called out loudly towards the rider as he finally took a few strides forward so that he could both reclaim his dropped satchel and see the mystery rider. As the satchel's strap fell back around his shoulders, Zyphire found himself pausing as he studied the chiavi and rider. Something....something seemed strangely familiar here. A memory nagged at the back of his mind about a similar encounter before....but surely it wasn't possible, right? "Sylvirah?" He found himself whispering the name almost as if in disbelief. There wouldn't be any reason for her to be near the city so why would he even make such an assumption? Zyphire shook his head against the thought before adjusting his arms to help settle the parak would was trying to burrow into his jacket.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:42 pm
"If I thought you were you'd be dead!" Sylvirah snapped, adrenaline making her jumpy and brittle. Ada flexed her wings as if meaning to take off once more, but another sharp pull from Sylvirah calmed her. The chiavi took a few steps backward, causing the rider to nearly stand up in the saddle, but it wasn't as if she wasn't used to it. If she'd just taken her out for hunts more often then Ada wouldn't be this pent up and attacking everything she saw. A few well meaning words and non-sensical coos calmed the chiavi enough that she settled.
When Sylvirah was sure that Ada was no longer a threat she let the reigns drop from her hands. There was an ache there now that made even her shoulders throb, but at least the problem had been avoided. With a deep sigh Sylvirah ran a hand through her hair and looked over towards....
"Zyphire?"
You just think it's him because he has white hair. But no, she wasn't wrong; she knew it was him. He just looked...off, but maybe it was the setting night playing tricks on her?
"I'm sorry - Ada's been in the city for too long. I thought a long fly would help her, but she saw something. Thought it was a snack."
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:01 pm
"Oh really?" Quipped back Zyphire at the response, his brow raising in snarky defiance of the assumption that he would make such easy prey. Tiki chittered against him, her gaze darting between the chiavi and rider while Zyphire kept her close. It seemed that even in the city he shouldn't lower his guard against natural predators. The thought made his gaze narrow towards the chiavi though his expression did soften ever so slightly when the rider did reveal herself to be Sylvirah. The voice had sounded familiar and then actually hearing her name from his lips confirmed his suspicions. Still it did nothing to dampen the surprise that he felt whenever he realized that it was indeed Sylvirah speaking to him on the outskirts of Zidel. "Ah, that makes some sense though I promise your chiavi that Tiki wouldn't make the best of snacks." He chuckled as the parak seemingly growled low in her throat as a warning, whether to disagree with the tasty aspect or the whole idea of a snack he didn't know. After reaching a hand up to rub light circles against the parak's forehead, Zyphire found himself studying Sylvirah. "I'm not going to lie I would never expect to see you staying in Zidel. You're actually living in the city now?" This woman? The same one he had first met while she was slaughtering a mamu like some huntress spirit of the mountains?
Zyphire took a few steps closer to really look over Sylvirah. Now that they were so close it was almost like he could see a bit of civilization in her appearance. Or at least in his mind she looked a little bit less wild and more....put together? Maybe that was a fact that they often ran into each other after some sort of trouble whether bandits or messy hunts it seemed. Honestly just the thought made him glance around warily. Was there something he was missing from this picture? Some sort of danger that would jump out at them in a few seconds? All there seemed to be was a lot of snow and a cold wind that made the shifter shiver ever so slightly as it brushed around him, the cold seeping in through his furs and leathers.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:12 pm
She reached forward to rub a gloved hand along Ada's thick, feathered neck. The chiavi made a much quieter chirp this time in protest as if she would at least like to try to eat the smaller creature. When Ada finally lowered herself Sylvirah started to undo the protective strapping that kept her legs secured to the saddle.
Hearing the growling, though, made her lift her head up for the briefest of moments and smile. The little parak was probably scarred and angry, rightfully so!, but even if Sylvirah couldn't see it she still thought it sounded cute. "Well, it's...complicated." She finished with one leg and shifted to the other. "I came south to find my father so he could help my tribe. All I wanted was supplies and a few men to take them north." When she was free Sylvirah hiked one leg over the side of the mighty avian and slipped down to land in the snow with a solid 'plop'. "Turns out he slept with my mother while his wife was home grieving the loss of their son. That son was a twin and it's-" Waving her hand around, "-it's a mess. I wasn't planning on staying this long, but finding people willing to go that far north has been...harder than I expected."
Of course she could tell him about Gunnar. And her engagement. She'd told him enough as it was, but what was the point? It still didn't solve anything.
Truth be told she'd put on a bit of weight since last they saw each other, but it wasn't a bad thing. Instead of being strictly muscle and gaunt cheeks she'd filled out. Her hair was a little shinier, definitely better kept, and her clothes were tailor made to fit her instead of being hand me downs stolen from corpses.
"Are you living here? It's getting late and you shouldn't be wandering around on your own. You already don't look well." He was so pale that she wondered if he'd come down with something. Or had he gotten lost? There was a possibility that he'd gotten turned around in the tundra and was starting to catch frost bite.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:42 pm
Zyphire tilted his head in curiosity, a small smirk tilting up the corners of his lips ever so slightly. "And to think I thought that I thrived on drama? I never expected your family to be one of the more convoluted ones." Who knew that someone who seemed to enjoy the simple life of a huntress in the northern mountains would actually have such a past? He supposed that he truly shouldn't judge a book....err a woman by her appearance. Even if she did almost murder me once over a mamu. Admittedly while he did jest about her life there was a knot of some emotion nagging at the back of his spirit. It must have been some shock to come looking for help and to find out that she was some forgotten b*****d child instead. Zyphire's smirk slipped at the thought before he shook his head and forced his gaze back away from Sylvirah and towards the city.
"Honestly it may be easier if your village eventually relocated closer to the cities. Trading has increased and there's been less need for others to live on their own with all of the wars calming down into peace. I wouldn't imagine that many would be thrilled to go and live in such dangerous area, especially near winter like this." Maybe in the warmer countries he could imagine farmers wanting their space or even nomadic hunters still holding onto some sort of older, traditional lifestyle but Zyphire couldn't fathom how anyone could enjoy struggling to survive in the frozen north. Maybe Sylvirah could better understand that now that she had been living in the city for a bit? He honestly felt sorry for her. After all it would be hard to leave the only home you knew to relocate in a very different place. Even if not the city the smaller towns were still more connected by trade and surely differed from the life in the northern mountains. Still there had to be someplace for her village where they could try to start over again. Zyphire bit the inside of his cheek as he kept his words at bay. What did he know after all? It wasn't like he ever had a village that he supported or cared so desperately about that he would go off seeking help in a foreign place.
"Actually I was looking for an inn." He replied quickly glad for the diversion in topic that prevented his mouth from spewing more potentially offensive thoughts. "Do I look that bad?" The Shifter blinked in surprise at her comment and reached a gloved hand to touch his face. "I feel fine, maybe battered from a certain chiavi, but other than that I don't think there's anything wrong." Zyphire shrugged his shoulders, "I am fairly ready to crash someplace for the night though so if you know of any good place to stay I'm willing to give it a shot."
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:58 pm
[4/10]
"Surprise surprise." Sylvirah exhaled on a huff. She'd certainly never thought her family was all that dramatic either before coming to Zidel. Learning about infidelity, a dead brother, a woman who thought she was her own child, among other things...She'd honestly never been this exhausted in her life and considering all she'd already lived through that was quite an accomplishment.
All at once her hackles raised. "Just because it's easier doesn't mean it's right. The Ild'vann are part of the mountain; if we leave then everything is lost." Was it because he was right that she got so defensive? Or was it because these were facts she'd already mulled over for weeks? Gunnar had said as much as well; that they would be better off taking the survivors, loading up as much as they could and coming back to Zidel permanently. She just...couldn't accept it.
She had a firm set in her jaw, but her hands shook and not from the cold. Her eyes had a wet tint to them, as if all of the upheaval of the past few months was hitting her all at once but she refused to allow it to win. "I have to at least try." She answered at last.
The fate of an entire tribe rested solely on the shoulders of one twenty year old girl, and she didn't know how to make him understand that.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Sylvirah picked her shoulders up and did her best to keep a straight face. "You..." You look like a walking corpse. It was almost like he was getting paler by the minute and while it wasn't that obvious when she'd first seen him being this close it was unmistakable. The fact he wasn't shivering was the scariest part of all.
"The inn I've been staying at is close. If we take Ada we should be there quick enough." She didn't trust him to walk, not in this snow drift. Turning back to her Chiavi, Sylvirah picked up the reigns and encouraged the great avian to fully lower herself down. "You've ridden before, right?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:52 pm
"I see." Replied Zyphire quietly, his gaze quickly losing its mirth as he took in her reaction to his suggestions. "If they're anything like you then surely they'll be able to survive in their mountains." He mused finally after a moment, his fingers almost twitching as if wanting to touch her to offer some form of comfort other than his words. He may not completely understand her feelings but he was no fool. It was fairly easy enough to realize how deeply she felt about the topic and how torn up she was about her people. Was that what it meant to have a home? What if the animal sanctuary was in danger? The place had become his home in a sense when he wasn't traveling and the people there were dear to him indeed - even if he did give them hell on plenty of occasions.
"I've found myself doing things that I never imagined before so who knows? Surely there's got to be someone willing to explore more." Zyphire quickly added as his stray hand retreated back under his cloak and towards the soft fur of the parak nestled in the crook of one arm. As Sylvirah offered her chiavi the Shifter found himself looking towards the city. It would be quicker to ride Ada but was it necessary? He truly didn't understand why she seemed so....worried? disturbed? whenever she glanced towards him. "I've ridden plenty before." Zyphire finally replied with a faint sigh. "I can walk if it's easier but I suppose it is getting late.....shall we?" After making certain his familiar was secured and not going to wiggle out towards freedom, Zyphire took a step closer to the chiavi so that he could mount whenever Sylvirah was ready.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:10 pm
[5/10]
She would have knocked him out if she had to. His face was starting to look as pale as his hair and she knew that after so long the tips of his ears would be lost. The best possible solution she had would have been to wrap them, but she doubted Zyphire would appreciate that. Surely if they got to the inn quick enough then it would be alright? He still had a healthy shine to his eyes and his words weren't slurred so that gave her confidence.
She motioned him forward and once the man was settled on Ada's back she hopped up herself. Without the added strapping of Ada's saddle Sylvirah knew she wouldn't be able to go as fast as she usually did, nor as high, but that was fine. Anything was better than walking. So long as they stayed above the tree line they would be fine.
With a clear goal in mind she urged the chiavi into flight and without any provocation Ada took off. The flight itself gave her something to focus on besides what she'd left behind. It was hard not to get wrapped back into her thoughts; not when they were always just under the surface. Just hang on. I'll be back soon. With the city swiftly approaching Sylvirah urged Ada lower and lower until the chiavi finally landed in the stable yard of a tidy little inn. It was on the edge of the grand Capital, far from prying eyes, and clearly meant for travelers. A young stable hand stepped forward to take Ada's reigns and while Sylvirah dismounted he was already offering the avian bits of fresh meat. As much as she disliked her birth father he'd done well by paying them; Ada was always kept stocked in fresh meat and had grown a little fat off the payout.
"Late travels, Miss." Seeing Zyphire made the boy's brow raise. "Bringing a friend?"
"Yes. Do you think you could ask one of the maids to have hot water sent up to my room? And two servings of...whatever is on the menu?" Instead of slipping the boy a coin or something equally useless she handed him a soft grey pelt that had been strapped to Ada's side.
His face...looked equal parts confused and excited. "T-thank you, Miss. I'll take care of it." It was almost as if he'd been expecting that sweet feel of a solid coin and now he had something that was still vaguely warm from whatever it was she'd killed.
Satisfied, Sylvirah turned her attention back to Zyphire and grimaced. He didn't look any better now that they were closer to the light coming from the inn. "Do you think you can climb stairs? I'm on the top floor."
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:23 pm
Faint amusement flickered across Zyphire's expression as he watched the exchange between Sylvirah and the stable hand. He would be tempted to toss the lad a coin but it was far more entertaining to see how he would handle the more unique payment. Unfortunately Sylvirah didn't give Zyphire much time to relish in the fact as he found himself quickly ushered inside. Seriously what is the rush? Confusion made him frown once more as she questioned his ability to walk up the stairs. Did he look that dainty to her? Obviously Zyphire knew that he had some delicate features, adding to his own beauty of course, but he wasn't that petite. As if checking himself the shifter flexed his arms once or twice before glancing back towards Sylvirah, his frown only deepening. "I'm pretty certain I can handle it." He finally replied before moving in front of her, "Top floor? Just let me know which room once we get there." And as if to prove a point, Zyphire clutched at the parak nestled beneath his cloak and darted up the stairs two at a time before finally stopping once he reached the hallway that stretched along the final flight of stairs. Turning around with a flourish, Zyphire sought out his companion who he had left behind. "Is that good? I can run up and down a few more times if you'd like to give you a really good view as I move." He teased lightly with a grin.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:33 pm
[6/10]
She felt her heart nearly seize when he started showboating his way up the stairs. What if he fell?! The steps were narrow, made of stone and clearly worn from years of use. One false step and his head would split open! He's an idiot! A real idiot! Sylvirah kept pace with him as best she could and braced for the worst when he finally came to a stop. "No, please, no." Her heart didn't think it could take anymore. After nearly killing him...then seeing his attempts to kill himself...the young woman was already breathing hard and it wasn't because of the physical exertion.
She let the comment about the 'good view' pass. No matter how generous the sight had been his health was more concerning to her and honestly, more confusing. How could he act like this when his skin looked like that? He'd been the darkest man she'd ever seen the last time they met and he looked like he'd been dunked in a frozen river right now!
By the time they got to her room she hastily ushered him in and closed the door behind them. "Take off your clothes and put them on the bed." She tossed her hunting gear in the corner of the room where several other bags resided. Once she'd done that she stepped over to the fireplace and tossed a few extra logs on, just to be safe.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:06 pm
Seriously what was wrong with her? It was almost as if she had spotted a ghost or something! Zyphire pursed his lips in protest before following her into the room. "Normally I'm eager to do that but can I ask why the rush?" He found himself teasing before finally releasing the clasp of his cloak and letting it fall to the floor. A series of chirps from Tiki noted her protest as she freed herself from his arms and darted around the room a few times, her movements stopping only momentarily so that she could study the stranger with her piercing blue eyes before she darted under the nearest piece of furniture with only the white tip of her fluffy tail sticking out.
Shaking his head at the parak's antics, Zyphire pulled off his outer tunic and sat on the bed so that he could unlace his boots and toss them towards the doorway. "That good enough or do I need to remove more?" He questioned as he lounged there in his leggings and the open tunic that revealed his arms and part of his chest, the paler skin and gemstones standing out in comparison to the darker material.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:19 pm
[7/10]
As he was working on stripping down Sylvirah set about doing the same. She took off her outer cloak, then the several layers underneath until all that was left was a thin tunic that clung to her frame. Before she could do much else there was a knock at the door. When she stepped over to answer a pert little windling offered her a bucket of warm water and a tray of food with a curious little look. One stern look from Sylvirah had the girl moving though, and one the door was shut behind her the real work began.
Because the moment she looked back at Zyphire Sylvirah's breath caught in her throat. "Chi help me..." He was as white as his hair! It wasn't just the cold getting to his face the chill had already spread to his body! She sat the tray down on a nearby table and walked the bucket over towards the bed almost cautiously, as if she expected him to fall over at any second.
Taking a deep, steadying breath Sylvirah stepped closer to straddle one of his legs and slowly move to place her hand on his chest...only to frown. "Why are you warm?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:48 pm
Zyphire just blinked and then blinked some more once Sylvirah started towards him. It wasn't as if he were unaccustomed to having encounters behind closed doors but it definitely had not been the first thing on his mind when they met again tonight. Her exclamation made him even more confused and the next thing the shifter knew the woman was actually straddling a leg and touching his chest. Was she that excited? Talk about a surprising turn of events! "Look I know that you're upset and I'll gladly distract you from any worries but are you certain?" Zyphire asked softly, his hands hesitating as he actually considered who he was with. Normally he was more than eager but something was nagging at the back of his mind about this whole situation. As his words trailed off and her question registered Zyphire gave her an even more baffled look, "Why wouldn't I be warm? Sylvirah are you okay?" The Shifter tilted his head, his white hair falling across one shoulder as he studied the Iceling, "I have a woman straddling my leg and it's only natural that my body would be more excited....I'm still a vigorous and gorgeous man after all." Shifting slightly so that he could hold her weight on his legs, Zyphire propped up so that he could lean forward and placed his face right in front of her own. "What's got you so worried about me, hmm?" Truly he couldn't figure it out! It had been so long since anyone had reacted in such a way to his shifting skin that the thought honestly never crossed his mind and he was trying to put together all of the puzzle. Did he seemed injured in any way or was she just so inexperienced with these types of things in general that she wasn't certain how he was going to react to her body pressed up against his? I know she's from the far north but surely even they get heated at times, right?
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