Riverfall Bound (Nehsmay)

[Alistair Trevon]

73rd day of Winter, 511

Alistair looked back at Endrykas as he strapped the last bag to Bay. She looked to be ready to leave but he still had a few things to do before they left the city. He tied Bay to a nearby tree as he jogged back into the city. People were already starting to pack up the items they did not need to survive. They were preparing for the migration in a couple of weeks.

He jogged into his mother's pavilion. Most of her possessions were in boxes in the corner. His mother was sitting at a small table near the back of the room, she looked up as he entered.

"You're leaving again, aren't you Alistair?" She asked, he could see the sorrow in her wise eyes. He walked over to her and put her hand in his.

"You know I can never stay in one place too long." Alistair told her. A tear fell from her cheek. The look on her face almost made him want to stay and help with the migration.

"Sometimes, I wish you were not so much like your father..." She stated. She looked up into his eyes. They were both staring into the same image, Alistair had inherited her eyes, but everything else about him was more like his father. He knew what she was seeing, what she was feeling. She was staring into the face of her husband once more, telling him good-bye as he left on another of his adventures.

"Mum, I have to leave this time." He explained. "At least this time I will not be on my own this time." He was traveling with Nehsmay. He knew she would have been much happier if he had found a Drykas to travel with. She painted a small smile on her wizened lips and hugged him.

"I know, I will still worry about you as I always do." She whispered in his ear. He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her as well. "I will miss you, my son."

"And I will miss you, Mum." He broke her grasp on him. Reluctantly, he walked out of the pavilion. A debate went on in his mind as he made his way back to where Bay was standing with his gear. She bowed her head at him in a way that it looked like an approving nod.

[Nehsmay]

Nehsmay stepped in her tent frowning at the disarray that was already grating on her nerves. She had to pack and leave as soon as possible and nothing was where it was supposed to be. Probably that was payback for staying awake all night and counting grass blades. She had wanted to stargaze and fell prey to her dreams and memories. In order to shake herself out of the state she had started counting grass blades... it was such a soothing thing. But now she had a whole tent to wrap up and few minutes to spare. Grabbing her toiletries she stuffed them in her bag, together with the glass shard she owned and her older clothes. She frowned at them understanding that she needed to purchase at least another set of clothes in Riverfall. She wrapped her old, tattered blouse around the medical kit her mother had given her and put her smelling salts in a saddlebag, near at reach. She stuffed her double bladed dagger in her boot and started with the rest of the stuff. Her fur coat from home, her crimson cloak and her other winter clothes were already put in one saddlebag. The sleeping bag and the blanket joined them soon after. The lantern was the last to be put in the saddlebag. The Vantha turned to the other bag and made sure everything was there: rope, fishing rod and hooks, flint and steel, everything is in place. She paced around the tent once more and gathered everything that she had forgotten before being satisfied that the tent was completely empty. Leaving it, she started taking it down and stuffing it in the second saddlebag. She wondered what use did she have of the four person tent now when it was only herself on the road. Wouldn't it be better to cash it in for some mizas and get a smaller one? No, the Vantha decided... it was from home. She was not going to throw away anything from home. Looking around her, Nehsmay spotted a round rock that had a greenish color, reminding her of the grass that surrounded her everywhere. She grinned and added it in her bag before tying everything to Shade's saddle. She already had clothes from Syliras and a glass shard from Zeltiva. Now she was able to add a round rock she had found in Endrykas. They were weird reminders of her journey, but they belonged to her. The Vantha gazed at herself and nodded... her black boots were finally free of all the dirt that had gathered on them, her dark blue tunic was enough for the road and her black trousers were in perfect shape. Next to her saddle was her waterskin which was full of water. Content that her preparations were over, Nehsmay mounted on Shade and started nudging him towards the extreme outskirts of the city. She hoped she wasn't incredibly late...

[Alistair Trevon]

Alistair heard the sound of a horse coming closer. He finished tying the last of the bags to Bay, who turned her head toward the grass as if anticipating the adventure ahead. He patted her neck as he turned. He leaned against her side and waited for a moment until he saw the horse coming over the rise.

He smiled when he saw that it was Nehsmay. They could finally leave. He had been getting anxious for days being in one place for too long. It seemed as if he were vulnerable, easy to find. He had been wanting to leave for days. He waved, knowing she would probably be able to see him already. He was standing in the middle of the grass, far from the nearby trees. The only thing surrounding him was the tall grass whose tops reached his knees. The sun was shining bright, but was barely above the horizon.

He turned to do a final check to make sure he had everything he needed before settling into the saddle on Bay's back and turned and waited for Nehsmay to reach them.

[Nehsmay]

Nehsmay sighed in relief understanding she wasn't as late as she believed herself to be. As she approached the outskirts of the city she saw Alistair fiddling with the saddlebags of his horse. She could finally leave the city... no more waiting, no more sitting idle, no more memories of darkness, disappearance and lost friends. She could smell the illusion of freedom in the air. She left brave and reckless. She actually felt there was no stopping her wherever she went. She knew it was foolish... she was small and lithe, not much of an archer and not much of a hunter. One mistake and she was meal for the wild animals or merchandise for slavers. As soon as Shade reached Alistair's horse the Vantha smiled and greeted him: "Hi! Sorry I kept you waiting. I lost track of time."