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Post by NightshadeVII on Oct 11, 2022 15:18:12 GMT -6
(OOC: Edge asks Kail if the cookbook says anything about where the herb they’re looking for grows, and suggests they check out the nearest pit first.)
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Post by Vaitris on Oct 11, 2022 16:01:47 GMT -6
[OOC: Kazan takes the rabbit from the spit to see if the skewer would make a suitable weapon and asks the old woman about her dinner.] [Holding: heart, bone whistle]
The whistle’s call pierced his ears, almost painful in its tone. A gust of wind, a whoosh of noise, and the huge bird alighted on the stone tower behind him. It lingered for a moment, then leapt to hover over him as he made his way back to the opposite end of the field. Kazan watched it with a pleased smile. An adequate replacement - for the time being.
The woods funneled him back to the campsite but now the area was dark. The fire had guttered, the meat was left uneaten, the other strangers had long departed. There was a crunching noise that vaguely reminded the centaur of snapping bones from the darkness at one edge of the clearing. The old woman spoke to him as she noticed his presence.
He didn’t answer immediately. The male halfling was nowhere to be seen and Kazan had a strong suspicion where he might have gone. He gave the old woman a wide berth as he moved across the clearing. “I have found your token. It longs for a true owner.” He said casually, picking up the spitted rabbit and giving it a cursory examination, wondering more about the skewer’s use as a weapon than the actual meat. “Is there something wrong with your dinner?”
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Post by MP on Oct 11, 2022 16:25:27 GMT -6
[Kazan]
The old woman stands, revealing a half eaten carcass behind her. There isn't much left of it, but Kazan can make out torn scraps of fabric in amongst the flesh. The woman beams at him. Her teeth are too long. Her eyes are bright through her wild hair. She raises something in her palm, and you glimpse the curl of a human finger before she pops it into her mouth. Bones crunch. The woman hums a pleased note to herself.
"Why, nothing at all, love. It just took awhile by the fire."
She turns to Kazan and holds out a hand. Her long nails are bloodstained.
"And now you've found another. Bring it here. I'll need that and more to rouse the Hunt."
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Post by Pearl Dragon on Oct 11, 2022 17:26:36 GMT -6
[Bruse still doesn't see the thing, but turns away from the cabin. He offers Jed a ride, and then heads back towards the campfire to look for the older couple and hopefully get some answers.]
Bruse turned from the cabin window at the sound of his name. He watched the giant hurrying over to him and had vaguely heard him say something about spotting a figure. But...there was no one there.
"Perhaps you can see this unseen thing?" Bruse said, looking out into the forest. The giant looked tense, gripping the torch as if it were a lifeline. The spirit felt some empathy. "It will be ok" he offered, but was unsure if it would help. "Let us head back towards the camp, perhaps the old couple can offer us some insight on this place."
He had no other ideas, aside. Bruse walked past Jedidiah, offering a reassuring nudge of his head as he passed. The scratches on Bruse's form cast a soft green glow on Jedidiah's skin. Then, an idea crossed his mind.
".....Climb onto my back." Bruse offered, lowering his front half to the ground, and then settling into a resting position. He was big enough for even Jedidiah, and it would seem only here could the two interact in this manner. Once he was on, Bruse lifted back to his feet and would begin lumbering back towards the camp. At least this way the giant might feel safer.
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Post by okami1reeka333 on Oct 11, 2022 17:27:22 GMT -6
[OOC: Jedidiah is having a no thought, empty head kinda panic and is in the middle of staring contest, will just willingly go with Bruse. no im totally not laughing at Jed]
Jedidiah:
The more he stared at this unmoving figure, the more his stomach churned and he felt the anxious thruming of panic swell. . .
He can't take his eyes off this thing, he feared doing so will loose him sight of where it went and it will charge, attack and kill him. . . and if the unseen figure was as strong as to be able to shove Bruse aside. Assuming that and this creature are not two in the same.
He did not want to test this theory. Any attempt to think of a solution to do in this predicament faltered and fell apart.
All becoming replaced with fear.
His leg and stump felt like they were being clogged up with an thick ichor, heavy and slowed- but not for the reasons of anything physical or magical. He was just freezing up.
He could feel his breath shortening yet he knows his lungs are fine. The logical part of his brain trying to diagnose his conditions like a computer, yet it did not compute nor follow through, as if someone unplugged that portion of the brain.
If it was strong as or stronger than the invisible being, what kind of damage could it do to Edge? Or Bruse?
He felt small for once. . . Weak. . .Bruses words barely registered as he spoke and attempted to reassure him. .
Now he was suggesting they head back towards camp. . ". . .y-yeah. . .lets. . do that." he replied.
The offer- well, no, statement to climb onto his back threw him off guard. . .He quietly nodded, getting onto his ghostly friend's back. trying his best to keep an eye on the figure.
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Post by Vaitris on Oct 11, 2022 20:29:06 GMT -6
So she was the one that called the Hunt. Turn it to his side? Or stop it here before it could even begin?
"Well, let me not keep you from your task." He said nonchalantly. "This was, after all, what you requested me to bring back to you." Kazan held out the heart but didn't close the distance between them. If she wanted it she would have to come to him and take it, though he had no intention of allowing her to do so. In his other hand he clutched the skewer, holding it casually down by his side. As soon as she was close, he was prepared to thrust it through her just as it had been speared through the poor, unfortunate rabbit.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Oct 11, 2022 21:09:25 GMT -6
[Kail reads the note, re-reads the cookbook for any information on where the herb grows and descends to the three-tree pit alongside Edge]
Kail’s heartbeat and pace slowed as the campsite faded from view. Nothing had pursued them, and their swift escape now felt a touch dramatic. His ego and pride were bruised, and he suppressed a snarling sigh at Edges request to read - a task that was almost as painful as the loss of his eye. He angled the book towards Edge so he could read over it at the same time, slowly scanning the page for any information on where it grew. There were trees below, different from the forest behind them. If the soil could support them then there would be other plant-life to be found. Hopefully.
“Yeah, let’s go.” He sighed, taking a step forward towards the narrow path. He was vaguely wary that they couldn’t see the connecting paths, but he’d rather fight a beast than be subjected to any more puzzles. There was a crunch beneath his foot, and he scowled as he stopped to pick up the note.
“Maybe you’ll end up being useful here, huh?” He commented to the lizard on his shoulder as he unfurled the note and began to read. Once he finished, he began the wary descent down the carved-out stairs to the three tree pit below.
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Post by MP on Oct 11, 2022 22:02:41 GMT -6
[Kazan]
The old woman shuffles forward, extending one claw-like hand. In close proximity, her rags are more tattered, more matted than you remember them.
"Very good, very good. Soon -"
Her words break off with a wet choke as the spit thunks between her ribs. She looks down at it in astonishment, hand lifting as if to pry it out. Black ichor spills from her lips as she chuckles.
"You're a bold one," With one hand, she wipes the stains from her lips. The other hand clamps down on the spit, reaching over the rabbit to overlap overlap Kazan's fingers. Her grip is like iron. "But I'm afraid I don't have a heart to give yet, love."
It's a grip as inevitable as that of the shrine. Kazan finds himself drawn closer. Bright eyes size him up, a reflective gleam passing through their depths as in the eyes of an animal.
"There-" She smiles. "There is a hunter's heart. I could use such a one. I can almost taste it. But -" Her fingers relax their hold, and she allows Kazan to recoil if he so chooses. "Perhaps we can make better use of it elsewhere."
Some of the ichor still oozes from her chest. She gathers it up in her hand and casts it away. Where it falls, the earth blackens and seethes in unnatural shapes. A bestial shape pushes up from the soil, large and lithe as a tiger, its legs and shaggy coat formed by the unceasing drip of tar. It turns a formless head to Kazan, attentive and alert.
"If you would seize such a thing, then I offer you the strength to do so." The old woman waves a hand at the beast. "Become my Hunter. Bring me the hearts of the red-marked, the would-be hunters, the most dangerous of the Woods. Bring me another offering fit for my hunger, as this one," She waves a hand at the remains of the Woodsman behind her. "And you will have my claws and teeth at your call."
[Bruse, Jed]
The figure doesn't move as Bruse carries Jed away. There is no soft echo of footsteps behind him. But every time Jed glances over his shoulder, it is standing at the same distance, a black silhouette at the end of his shadow. There is something intent in its frame, for all its stillness.
They arrive to a dark campsite. The fire is dead, the coals long since gone cold, and they find no sign of their companions. But just ahead, something tattered and bloodied lies on the ground. There are scraps of fabric amid the flesh. The bones have been cracked for the marrow. And by the remains of the firepit, they hear voices, see outlines in the dark.
The old woman is speaking to their centaur companion. But she stands strangely, her garb too ragged, her nails too long and stained with something dark. The ichorous shape of a beast stands at her side, large as a tiger, its limbs and coat formed by the steady drip of tar. The beast watches the centaur as intently as the crone.
"Become my Hunter," she is saying. "Bring me the hearts of the red-marked, the would-be hunters, the most dangerous of the Woods. Bring me another offering fit for my hunger, as this one," She waves a hand at the remains of the Woodsman behind her. "And you will have my claws and teeth at your call."
[Kail and Edge]
The cookbook depicts a cluster of thin-leafed herbs with a white spray of flowers at the top. These herbs are apparently known for a sweet, pungent scent that can help disguise the gaminess of wild venison. On closer inspection, a small subscript notes that these are not to be confused with a similar herb, sporting a spray of pale yellow flowers, that is both incredibly bitter and deadly poisonous when consumed. The two see no sign of herbs in the southernmost pit as they descend.
The note is written in the same black scrawl as earlier:
The hunter loves his trophies more than anything. Liza tried to take one of the antlers as a weapon, but he finally caught up to her by the lake. We never found her head.
Thankfully, the two see no sign of this grisly sight either. Descending into the southernmost pit of the canyon, they find that the three trees are a smooth-barked variety they haven't seen before.
The middle tree is tallest, branchless save for the uppermost boughs. Looking up, they can see a skeletal figure wedged in the branches. The rags hang sadly around its decayed form. Something long and metallic is clutched in its arms, and has been used to brace the body there long after death.
The rightmost tree has branches lower down, laden with small green fruits. While it looks easily climbable, it is both too short and too far from the central tree to help reach the skeleton and whatever loot it might hold.
The leftmost tree looks sickly, its leaves withered and browning at the edges, its branches strung with heavy layers of silk. While these branches are lower down and provide easy handholds for climbing, it still doesn't seem tall enough to jump to the center tree from there.
A stream runs in from the northeast, bordered by a narrow bank on either side, and disappears into a narrow channel in the earth. It does not surface again. Aside from this, the only other features of the canyon are the northwest path, leading to the gravelly pit, or the northeast path, leading to the lake.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Oct 11, 2022 23:37:20 GMT -6
[Kail inspects the fruit and then the webs, before ripping his robe into two long strips of material so that Edge can try to climb up the middle tree to retrieve the metal item]
Kail gave a cursory glance over the webs of the sickly tree and then the fruit of the other, inspecting both closely but quickly. He was much more interested in the central tree, and he tilted his head back to stare upwards at the skeleton. The bleached bones held what looked to be a weapon, and the mouthy supernatural was silent as he considered how to retrieve it. If they’d had the axe, or the torch, they could have felled it, and he felt a flash of irritation for not stealing either.
Smooth, branchless trunks like this could be climbed though, and surprisingly they had the tools to do so. The skill, maybe not so. He visibly eyed up Edge’s toned arms and broad shoulders, considering. The man looked strong enough to do it.
“Too bad y’aint got both wings! Look, I reckon ya could climb it, knock that metal thing down. I would, but hooves make it hard.” The wendigo flashed an encouraging, toothy grin at the Darai. “Ya might wanna turn around for a moment.”
He pulled his robe off once Edge averted his eyes, and began to carefully tear the robe into strips, removing as much material as was needed to adequately reinforce the makeshift ropes.
He tied the first into a loop with a expertly tied knot, and for the second longer strip he tied two hand-sized loops at either end. He fashioned the remaining material into a loin cloth, and then stalked over to the tree, his bare torso thin and emaciated.
He slung the long strip around the wide, smooth trunk of the tree, and beckoned Edge over.
“Put ya hands in the loops.” He crouched down, and slipped the loop beneath Edges feet and around his ankles, adjusting it as necessary. “You’re gonna grip the trunk with the soles of ya feet, this loop will keep ‘em together. Lean back and use this one to shimmy ya self up. Might be easier to just hug the trunk and hold on tight - give it a try.”
He wasn’t sure if it would work, but it was worth a try. The man was missing fingers which would make it harder, and he was willing to try to climb the tree if Edge couldn’t.
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Post by NightshadeVII on Oct 12, 2022 15:37:32 GMT -6
(OOC: Edge reads the note over Kail’s shoulder. He then tries to climb the tree, and will attempt to remove the metal item if possible. Asks Kail to keep watch, should anything approach or change.)
Another note, another mental image Edge would rather be without. The Darai shuddered, his unease not at all dispelled by the strange trees. This place was sick, there was no doubt about it. He was beginning to question whether anything in this place would be truly useful, or if everything here was just looking to drag them further into this nightmare.
Then, the wendigo commented on his wing, how useful it would have been, had he had two, both. Edge grimaced. “Yeahhh, sorry about that, bud”, he tried to sound casual, waving it off, “haven’t exactly been in a situation where it’s been necessary.” For a brief moment he was confused by Kail’s following words, but soon, realizing what the young man was doing, Edge turned around, giving him some privacy. The notion was laughably out of place here.
Then, as Kail formulated a plan, wrapping the strips of cloth around the trunk, explaining how Edge could use them to climb the tree, the Darai nodded quietly. He knew this method, had seen it used in other settlements. It was effective when done right. Though he had never actually done it himself, at least he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with what the young man was suggesting. Though the tought of getting close to the skeleton unsettled him, remembering how other things assumed dead had acted in this place, he agreed with the young man that it was worth a shot. It was better than doing nothing.
“Right. I’ll give it a go”, the Darai tugged experimentally at the strips of cloth, hoping that they could support his weight, then looked to Kail, “keep a lookout meanwhile, could you? We don’t want that woman or something worse sneaking up on us.”
The Darai took a deep, steadying breath, whispering something in a foreign tongue, a request to the land, even if it couldn’t hear him. But if this was how he got out of here, how he got home, it had to be worth a shot, hadn’t it? Slowly, he began his climb, testing at first, getting used to the movements, prioritizing stability over speed. He should have offered to help with gathering and preparation more when he was younger.
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Post by Vaitris on Oct 12, 2022 16:14:51 GMT -6
[OOC: Kazan agrees to help the old woman, then sees Jed and Bruse on the northern path and asks them what they have accomplished.] [Holding: heart, bone whistle, spitted rabbit]
She did not die. He’d felt the yielding of flesh through the skewer and yet she seemed unaffected by it. She bled black and still looked him in the eye and called him ‘love.’
Kazan pulled his hand away, withdrawing his improvised weapon at the same time, but didn’t recoil from the old woman altogether. And he didn’t shy away as her blood splattered to the ground where it writhed and bubbled, forming the shape of a beast as black as the kankai that waited somewhere out of sight. This one dripped ichor and watched him through no visible eyes, but if the appearance was off putting Kazan didn’t show it.
The centaur considered things for a moment. “Your offer is acceptable, ashika.” He said, turning to face the witch once more and giving her a short, sharp nod. “I will bring you your offering.”
Stepping away, he spied two of the red-marked strangers standing at the mouth of the northern path. There were multiple ways to supply the woman her sacrifice, they needn't be at the top of his list. Yet, at least. “What did you find? Did you complete a trial?” His mismatched eyes pierced into first one then the other as he waited for an answer.
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Post by Pearl Dragon on Oct 12, 2022 17:29:17 GMT -6
[Bruse doesn't trust Kazan after overhearing the witch's words, and demands that he leave. He stands his ground, unwilling to turn back or run.]
Bruse stopped at the sight of the darkened coals, the old woman and the centaur. She was conversing with him, and her words carried across to Jedidiah and the spirit.
Hearts of the red-marked. The would-be hunters. The most dangerous of the Woods.
All of it pointed to himself and Jed, and possibly the others. As if to confirm this, the centaur accepted her terms and then turned his head towards them. As he approached, speaking his question, Bruse bristled towards the other.
"That is close enough." he replied, holding his ground. Ghostly claws dug firmly into the barren ground, a tensed and imposing posture. Making a pact with a witch was beyond what Bruse would tolerate, and running would only turn their backs to the other. His voice had grown deeper, a distant roll of a growl under each word. He no longer trusted this being. "Leave." He demanded, willing to take no risk. This particular word held the deepest note of thunder. Whether the centaur complied or denied, was up to them.
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Post by okami1reeka333 on Oct 12, 2022 19:04:36 GMT -6
[OOC: memories. Jedidiah overhears the tail end of the conversion between the old lady and the centaur. Upset that centaur is the type to readily accept. Quietly suggests to Bruse they try to find the others and warn them. Tries to muster up strength to take a deep breath and calm down so he can help Bruse.] Jedediah:
"Jedidiah. . . . Do you know why I disallow you children to leave so easily?" He quietly tried to pull himself together. . . .he felt like he was an unnecessary burden to Bruse. Try as much Bruse does to try and reassure him. . . To comfort him. Reminiscing to a conversation he had with his mother when he was much younger and smaller. The last time he froze so heavily as he had in the woods. "no. . . It saddens me. "
She seemed to quietly consider his response. " tis far too dangerous to venture past this wilderness unprepared. " she replied. "How come?" He asked. " Is it because of the sky orca?" he gestured to the corpse that had caused the landslide. . . .the one that startled him and nearly took him too. "Father can teach me to become stronger!"
" . . . There are dangers that are far more pressing than a dire predator. . . Some people, and very few animals will gladly hunt you down for the mere thrill of it. You must be strong enough to fight them, and if need, end them. "
"But. . . I don't want to end them, or fight them. I want to help people, make them feel better! surely they are just hurting too?" he asked. "Like old man Xander! He was nicer when you and father mended his wounds!" A long cold stare could be felt from her. . callous and indifferent. . .though now that he thinks about it, perhaps it was battered and pained, in itself to some extent. The change of scenery pulled him out of this memory. . .his ear catching the tail-end of the conversation between the old lady and the centaur. . . Hearts of the red- marked? . . Them? Would be hunters? Wait. . His hands were marred with a strange red ink, as was the others. . .he felt his stomach drop to his gut. . . "Bruse, I think we need to find the others and warn them. before-" he quietly warned before the centaur turned around and spotted them. "Bruse, we need to go. . ." he quietly pleaded, almost voicelessly. "Some people will hurt others because they, themselves have been hurt. But this does not excuse them to then turn and continue to spread harm to others as the monster before them hath done to them. Some people will harm or kill just simply because they can. . . Like a mere game. . . or perhaps indifferently as scratching. " she stated.
“What did you find? Did you complete a trial?” the centaur questioned. It felt like the guy was sizing the two of them up, as short as he was, he knew better than to underestimate someone due to such. . . and he had a weapon, to boot. . . His hand subconsciously gripped the torch, he hoped that the woodsman was alright, though he doesnt see where the guy was. . . .was he dead?
". . . .Does that mean I have to be just like them to stop the bad people?" he asked. " That is close enough." Bruse's voice rumbled like a bellowing thunderstorm. . he felt the ghost's body shift and tense into a more readied stance. . . as if he was prepared to fight. "No. Son, I warn that you must be willing to take life not as a wanting, but a last resort to protect yourself, others, or to sustain yourself in reguard of animals. If you take a life, do not do so with the ideas or wantings of the act as they do; but with the purpose to end theirs. . . . To protect others, and or yourself, to stop the ones whom hunt for thrill. "
"But why can't everyone just get along and be friends?" he asked. " Leave" his friend continued. . . ". . .I know not. . .such is not an easy conclusion to reach either. No practice of such can be held, and I can only prey you never have to experience anything remotely close to this horror. All I hope, is should another force your hand in the attempt to harm or kill you, Kill them or not, that you forgive yourself. . . .You are not bad nor evil for merely wanting to live. "
Right. . he needs to calm himself, center himself and control his emotions. . . Bruse needs him to get his head out of his ass and fight by his side if this guy tries to attack and hurt them. . .
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Post by MP on Oct 13, 2022 0:52:14 GMT -6
[Kazan, Bruse, and Jed]
The old woman watches it all, a shadow behind the ashes of the campfire. She smiles at Bruse and Jed, as sweetly as a grandmother watching children at play. Ichor drips steadily from her chest, the stain steadily spreading along her ragged clothing.
But she doesn't stop the two from backing away; doesn't defend Kazan from Bruse's rumbling threats. She steps back from the clearing, giving the former companions space. And despite the lack of light, you'd swear a faint animal gleam shines in her eyes.
[Kail and Edge]
With the unfortunate sacrifice of Kail's clothing, Edge finds that climbing the middle tree is now possible with careful progress. The bark is smooth to the point of being almost slippery, and the climb is more taxing than it should be. But as it takes him farther and farther from the nude wendigo, even this is likely a mercy.
Edge reaches the first of the branches. The skeleton is above him, several branches to the side. Its decayed arms are wrapped around what turns out to be a rusty metal crowbar, which has been used to wedge its owner firmly against the tree even in death. One side of the claw has been chipped, and Edge can make out something iridescent wedged in what remains of the nail slot. By stretching precariously over the drop, he may be able to reach the corpse's leg from where he is. To climb up to the corpse's perch, he risks adding his weight to the already slender branches.
Down on the ground, the canyon is quiet. To Kail's predatory ears, it brings to mind the hush of the forest when some large creature - often himself, in better times - lurks nearby. If there was danger about, it would be impossible to see it coming until it was nearly in the room with them. The northeast and northwest passages are jagged and winding, offering no clear line of sight to the areas beyond. Their former vantage point atop the canyon would allow Kail to scan other areas of the canyon, but it would leave Edge with no support should the wendigo step away.
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Post by NightshadeVII on Oct 13, 2022 12:54:43 GMT -6
(OOC: though worried about the implications, Edge attempts to get closer and study the way the corpse is stuck in the tree, to see if he missed anything or get further clues. He hopes he might be able to dislodge the corpse from the tree or remove the crowbar from the corpses grip. He also asks Kail if there are any branches of a similar size to the crowbar lying around.)
The Darai couldn’t believe what he was doing, a thin thread of disgust worming it’s way around his heart. Dealing with his own dismemberment had been nauseating enough, and now, dealing with the deaths of others, disturbing that, it was a line that should not be crossed. He had known that all his life, and now, here he was, ignoring those teachings. He felt like puking every time he accidentally looked up and met those hollow eye-sockets. At this point, all he could ever reallt hope for was that this poor soul could forgive him, even in their death. That hope was a stretch in a place like this.
“Ra’ssh…”, Edge cursed quietly, directing his attention to the climb. One movement at a time. When finally he got close enough, something iridescent caught his gaze, out of place in the gloom around him. Something was hidden or lodged in the crowbar, though he couldn’t quite tell what it was. Considering how the corpse was clutching it, it had to have been important to them in life, meaning it maybe would be important to the Darai and wendigo too. Or perhaps the poor soul had just used the crowbar to wedge themselves up in the tree in order to get away from… something. A chill ran down Edge’s spine at the thought. What a horrible way to go.
Slowly, he inched closer, careful, stopping every time the tree gave too much beneath him. His breath was shallow. But maybe, just maybe, he could reach the crowbar now. “I’m so sorry, Ei’yan…”, he muttered apologies in vain, eyes focused on the task rather than the hollow sockets scrutinizing him from above.
Then, an idea struck. Usually when you took, it was best to give in return. Something for something. “Hey, Kail?”, the Darai called out, “there wouldn’t happen to be any crowbar-sized branches lying around down there, would there?” He allowed himself a glance over his shoulder, the height almost more comforting to him than it was frightening, despite the fall it promised. In the dark, his amethyst eyes seemed almost luminescent, otherworldly, like strange stars looking down to the pale-eyed wendigo.
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