Completed [Bronze Woods] Lost Souls

[Asher Claveson]

Asher felt tears brimming his eyes as Moxie spoke to him softly. Would Meyarra be proud of him? He may not have ended up a drunkard, but he was going through the motions. He only hunted because he had to keep up appearances, and because it allowed him some reprieve from the city and the myriad of memories. He had yet to find someone to help him translate the Book of Letters, had barely given thought to heading for Mey's birthplace, Lhavit. It had been three years now, and what did he have to show for it?

He cleared his throat, looked over to Moxie as she asked for his forgiveness and gave her a watery smile. "It's alright," he replied. "You're forgiven." He took in a deep breath, blinked back the tears, and calmed himself so that he could focus on helping to find food. No good ever came from being emotional for too long. Meyarra would rave against him for thinking such a thing, but some things you grow up hearing can never be forgotten. He glanced back at Moxie when she coughed softly, worry slightly creasing his brow.

"Are you alright?" He asked. "Do we need to take a break? We have been walking for some time." Not giving Moxie a chance to insist against it, Asher stopped and took in their surroundings. There were a few bushes dotted here and there with what looked like berries. But they could be poisonous. He strained his hearing, hoping he could hear some running water, signs of civilization, anything. He did hear some hissing, distant and barely there, and that was more than Asher could have hoped for. But he didn't move towards the sound yet. Instead, he turned his focus back to Moxie, checking her over to make sure she was alright.

[Moxie]

She was glad that she was forgiven for intruding upon the man's personal issues, it was not her intention on doing so. Moxie felt terrible about it still though, even if she was forgiven, she never intended on making this awkward between them. Even if her past made her wary of men, Asher held a soft demeanor about him and held the same bright eyes that the man who helped her did. Whether he wanted to accept it or not, Moxie did believe him strong and full of kindness.

His worry over her, asking if she was alright, had taken her by surprise. She knew he was kind by the brightness in his eyes, but it was still a shock. She nodded her head to that question and quickly tried to say that she was alright they could keep moving, not wanting to delay their leave of the dreaded woods and be a burden. His eyes roamed her body and it made her feel slightly awkward, but it was not a gaze like the foul men she saw in the tavern, who looked at the scantily clad women, but one of concern so she relaxed. "Thank you for the concern, but I am alright, we can continue. Not use to..walking so much." Moxie admitted with a blush and a soft laugh that wrapped itself on the breeze that faintly shuffled her hair. The breeze carried a sound with it, it was barely audible but she heard it. Her eyes lit with excitement, "Asher that could be water!" She exclaimed excitedly, clasping her hands together in excitement.

Moxie was so thirsty that all reason left her as she giggled like a small girl, running towards the sound. She was full of joy, it spread all over her features, the smile making her purple eyes brighter as they twinkled with glee, before she ran off towards the sound. If she was thinking clearly and not in such a need of water, she probably would not of ran. Though she could not help it, she did not notice her surroundings though as she took off and barely made that much ground before she tripped over a tree limb on the ground, crashing fast first on the forest floor.

She seemed to be alright, all though the mouthful of dirt was not pleasant. She sputtered and spit the earth from her mouth, as she pushed up with her hands into a sitting position. She was a bit embarrassed, she was not that graceful and slightly clumsy, she stood up taking the leaves and twigs from her hair, brushing the dirt from her clothing. Moxe was preoccupied with primping herself, that she barely heard a rustling and low growl in the bushes. The sound made her stop what she was doing and look over at Asher, "A...Asher.." The Konti stuttered in a whisper as the growl was louder. Her body trembled in fear, hoping that it was perhaps just a wild cat that did not like the presence of people in it's woods, though she could not be sure and she was too frightened to turn around to check. She was frozen in her place from the fear that enveloped her, looking at Asher with wide frightened eyes, pleading him to help.

[Asher Claveson]

It all happened so fast that Asher wasn't really able to react until Moxie stared up at him with fear. He barely heard the growling itself before he pulled out his bow and arrow. He had to move quickly, so the animal, whatever beast it was, would not attempt to go after Moxie like prey. He rushed to Moxie's side and turned his back away from the source of the growling just as the beast - it was a puma, a blasted puma - prowled through the bushes.

Asher cursed underneath his breath, notching his arrow in preparation. The hissing sound seemed closer, behind them and to his right, when he bothered to hear it over his racing heart. He doubted they would be able to survive if the puma decided to pounce. "Moxie," he said lowly, keeping his voice from catching more of the puma's attention. "Get behind me. We're going to walk very slowly back towards the hissing sound. Do not run, and do not turn your back on the beast."

For the first few steps, the puma made no move towards them, but as Asher stumbled slightly over his own feet, the beast started stalking it's way forward again. Asher immediately stopped, and did what his mother once told him when he was a teen: he stood at his full height, making himself look larger, stared the puma in the eye and growled loudly. He needed to make himself look less like prey and more like a predator. It seemed to work, as the puma stopped in its tracks right when he stood at his full height. It gave another growl, challenging him once again. Asher knew that if he tried to move them backwards again, they would surely be attacked. So he tried to make himself more intimidating. As more time passed at a standstill, Asher took in a deep breath, calling on all his strength, and yelled at the wild cat as loudly as he could.

The beast seemed to startle at that and though it never looked away, it did begin to take a step away, followed by another. Asher yelled again, kicking one of the smaller rocks by his feet towards the puma, yet never lowering his bow just in case. Slowly, so slowly that it felt like an eternity, the cat finally started backing away more and more, until it finally turned and made its retreat.

Asher stared out as the ambient sounds of the forest came back to surround them. He sighed shakily, finally easing the tension on the bow and lowering it. They'd nearly died. That puma nearly pounced on them, made them its dinner. He cleared his throat to ease his heaving breaths, wobbling on his feet as he stumbled over to a large rock and used it as a seat. He'd been close to death before, he'd nearly been attacked by wild animals even. But something about this encounter, something struck him that this wasn't right. He couldn't die, something deep within him absolutely refused, even though nearly every other instinct had been muddled and convinced it would make things easier.

But who would it be easier for? If he was born again, he'd forget everything about Meyarra, would forget this life and only come to know of Asher Claveson as another poor soul who was not strong enough to stay alive. If he wasn't born again, if he became a ghost or, somehow, a Nuit, then he'd still be kept from his wife and her memory, and everything would be more difficult than it already was. He couldn't die. Not while Meyarra's Book of Letters was still left untranslated. He sighed shakily once again, and glanced up at Moxie. "A-are you alright?" he finally managed, his voice rough from the yelling and growling earlier.

[Moxie]

She was too shocked to move, Asher instructed her to get behind him and she complied and did so. They walked very slowly back, Asher telling her not to run. She did not think she could if she had to, her legs wobbled slightly, her body trembling with fright. Asher and the Puma had a stand off, his voice was terrifying and she had to clamp a hand over her mouth to not scream out in fright. Finally though Asher intimidated to Puma and it ran off.

Moxie's heart was racing, beating a harsh rhythm on her chest as the fright still coursed through her veins. She watched as Asher seemed to be scared as well, sitting down on a rock. She still could not move as the man was in some sort of silent thought at the moment, catching his own breath. Her whole body shook from head to toe, as he asked if she was alright slightly stammering the words, his voice husky sounding from the yelling he had to do.

Tears moistened her eyes and she rushed over giving the big man a hug, [color=white "Oh thank you.. thank you!" [/color] She said still in a panic voice, then she leaned back from the hug looking at him thoroughly to make sure he was not hurt in any way, I so sorry.. Please.. Sorry. You okay Asher?!" She asked resting her small hands on the man's shoulders, her voice shaky from the anxiety of what just happened. She blinked back her tears, scrubbing her eyes with her hands. Glancing up at Asher with a watery smile.

[Asher Claveson]

Moxie startled Asher as she rushed over to hug him tightly. He didn't mean to stiffen from the contact, but it had been quite a while since he'd touched anyone for any longer than a handshake. But he quickly relaxed so that Moxie wouldn't think her contact unwelcome. They had been through a pretty traumatic event, he wasn't going to begrudge her this. If he wasn't still in some state of shock, he probably would have found her attention, her concern and her crying to all be uncomfortable, but he merely shook his head and said, "It's alright, Moxie, I'm fine. We're both fine."

A shaky breath escaped him before he started laughing, first silently and then louder, more desperate. He swiped a hand over his forehead, clearing away the sweat that had beaded up from the encounter, and laughed a bit more. He saw the look of concern on Moxie's face, and he probably looked rather crazy, sitting there and laughing while she was still trying to pull herself together. "W-we," he started as he tried and failed to calm down, "we just met a puma. And... and survived." The laughing roared back up, to the point he had to hold onto his sides. "Oh... oh, how embarrassing would it have been, to get eaten after yelling like a madman." He took some breaths, wiping some tears from his face, and presented Moxie with a smile. "We're alive. I dunno how, but we're alive."

He leaned back against the rock, getting his breath back to normal, before he focused again on the hissing sound. It sort of sounded like water, but not like a stream or a river. Was he hearing the Geysers? How far out were they? If he was right, then further than they ever expected. He stood, stowing away his arrow and settling the bow against his back, and turned to Moxie. "You ready?" He asked, hitching a thumb in the direction of the hissing water.

[Moxie]

Asher reassured her that they were okay, it helped her compose herself a bit better at his words. She hoped he did not think she meant anything by the hug, it was a hug she would give her father if she ever had known the man, or perhaps a brother. Either way it was a friendly gesture, though her talent seemed to be making awkward situations more awkward with this man.

The big man let out a shaky breath then started laughing, she was not sure what to say to this reaction though she supposed everyone handled trauma differently. Then the laughter became louder and a look of concern crossed upon her young face. Asher said between laughs that they had faced a puma and survived, she nodded as he roared with laughter once again. She was unsure how to react to this, then he explained that it would of been embarrassing to have died after screaming like a madman, this made her give a soft laugh. It was true, that would of not been a heroic way to go out. After he was done laughing he wiped some tears from his face, smiling at her explaining that they were alive. She nodded still a bit shaken from the previous situation to really talk.

The man leaned back against the rock, finally getting his breath under control. "If it wasn't for you.. I would be dead. I owe you." Moxie said still trembling but not as badly as she was before. She was in debt to this man, whether or not he would think so, she was. He stood up, stowing away the arrow and putting the bow on his back, asking if she was ready. "Yes. Maybe not run this time and make noise. Best to stay quiet?" She asked a bit tentatively as they walked towards the sound of the water. She could already feel the cool liquid on her lips. She hoped the hissing was indeed water, she was so thirsty.

As they walked she turned to Asher and spoke quietly, afraid to make much noise now, "You fierce, like a warrior. Very strong. I glad I found you." She said supplying him a beautiful smile, looking at him with pride in her violet eyes. He was indeed strong, though she was not sure he believed it himself. "Staring death in eye, living to tell the tale." She chuckled softly as her feet hit the ground as faint as she could make them.

[Asher Claveson]

Asher shook his head but didn't see to it to correct Moxie. She had a determined look in her eyes when she said that she owed him. He didn't think so, but the way she said it? He didn't think he'd be successful in convincing her otherwise. She went back to nervousness though as they set out to follow the sound of the hissing. Her steps were light, and she tried to be as quiet as possible. It made sense, after that encounter they had, and he was moving similarly.

She turned to him and spoke softly, "You fierce, like a warrior. Very strong. I glad I found you." She smiled wide, looking up at him with pride. He was shocked, no one ever looked at him like he was good for something. Well, no one who was still alive. "Staring death in eye," she continued, "living to tell the tale." She chuckled, but Asher didn't feel any less surprised than before. He knew he had skills, skills that helped him do his part to help the city, but outside of Syliras, he would be useless.

Moxie was saying he wasn't. It was peculiar, and Asher didn't know what to make of it. Where was he useful outside of hunting for food? Well, he supposed he kept them alive. But that was a puma. They were lucky they weren't attacked by yukmen or worse, because Asher didn't know how he'd be able to combat that. And they were still lost. Unless they were heading towards the geysers. From there, he knew mountains could be seen without trees obstructing the view, and that would give them a definite direction. They could find their way out from there easily. Huh. So maybe he wasn't so useless after all? Asher slowly smiled back at Moxie, feeling a bit of the weight that had always lingered with him lift. He wasn't so useless, and he could work to make himself more useful.

The trees were thinning out, and the view in front of them was becoming more clear. Just as Asher assumed, they were making their way towards the Sukina Geysers. The mountains were to their right, occasionally obscured by the fountains of water that spewed from the ground. Asher sighed, relaxing further and smiling wider. "Sukina Geysers," he provided to Moxie, unsure if she'd seen them herself before. "Oh, you ugly snake, I've never been so glad to see you." He glanced over to Moxie and saw she was looking at the water longingly, and warned, "This water his extremely hot. Hotter than the hot springs by the city. Best not to drink it."

He glanced at the small ponds - or puddles, he doubted they were that deep - dotting the clearing. He tilted his head in consideration before adding, "Those puddles might have some water that's cool enough. You could try those." Now that he was looking the still pools over, he found he was quite thirsty himself. He tried the nearest one, holding his hand just above the water, before dipping a finger in. Seemed cool enough. He cupped a hand to scoop up some water and quickly drink it, and relaxed when it tasted clean and cool. "Yup, this one should be good."

[Moxie]

They walked in silence for a short while, trying to be as quiet as possible so they did not run into another creature that lived inside the mysterious but beautiful Bronze Woods. As the trees began to thin out, the view became more clear. It was indeed water ahead and it made Moxie filled with happiness as her throat was so parched from traversing the woods with out the proper supplies needed for the journey. To the right the great mountains could be seen, it was an awe inspiring vista as she watched the fountains of water shoot towards the sky. It was warm near this place, she was not sure what it was but soon Asher supplied the answer to her questioning mind, "Sukina Geysers." The Konti nodded looking around at this beautiful place.

He spoke in a language unknown to her making her frown slightly but not questioning it, perhaps it was something he wanted to keep to himself so she did not pry, though she did not like not knowing what someone was saying she shrugged it off. Heat came from the water around them, she thought this would be a nice place to come to in the cooler seasons, but at the moment it did not help the sweat beading down her body. Although the air felt more clear and easier to breath, perhaps from the steam that rose up from the geysers, Moxie was unsure. Asher explained that the water was exteremely hot and was not drinkable, Moxie's lower lip cam into a pouty expression. She was so thirsty and all her hopes of quenching her thirst was dashed.

As Asher started to scan their surroundings he spoke once more that the puddles could possibly be cool enough to drink from. Her hope was ignited once more, as she glanced around at the puddles as well. Not sure which to drink from, she preferred not to burn her skin or drink dirty water. Asher leaned down checking the temparture of a puddle, then he scooped some water and drink it, saying it was okay to drink from. Moxie rushed over cupping her hands in the cool clean water and taking a large sip. She glanced over as Asher was bringing his hands to his lips, spying a small gash on his arms. Moxie gasped and reached out to his arm, stilling his movements. "You are hurt.." The wound was shallow but it was still bleeding, she was not sure where he got it from but it could of came from anywhere in the Bronze Woods. "Let me help." She offered standing up from the pool she searched the edge of the forest.

Finding what she was looking for she leaned down and examined it a bit closer to make sure, it was erect with a small stem, that had long lance shaped leaves formed of tons of tinier leaves that had small white flowers that grew in flat combs and clusters atop the herb. It was indeed Vyfox and was a antiseptic and coagulant, it would do for now until Asher could get back to Syliras any ways. She picked the herb at the stem, needing the leaves and flowers, and came back to Asher. She showed him the Vyfox, "This help, may I?" the small Konti said in a faint and soft voice, holding out her dainty hand for his larger arm. She did not want to do it against his will, she was only trying to help. Her violet eyes looked into his, with a caring need in their depths as she waited for his answer.

[Asher Claveson]

Moxie's eyes were filled with concern for Asher and his bleeding arm. It hadn't hurt, given he couldn't remember when it happened, but he supposed infection would not be all that pleasant. He didn't know much about plants, but he guessed it was something Moxie was good at. If it would help, then he wouldn't stop her. He nodded, extending his arm for her, "Sure go ahead."

As she set to work, Asher took a look around them once more. "If the mountains are to the right," he said absently, "then East is that way. That must also mean the moss can point us in a general Northerly direction." He looked the other way, away from the mountains and towards what had to be, past the thick forest, the road that would lead them back to Syliras. "We want to head West, which has to be that way. It'll be more obvious when it gets later, since the sun sets in the West. I don't know how we managed to get this far into the forest, but it means that our trip back is going to be a couple hours, at least." His lips thinned at the prospect. His hunger was coming back with a vengeance, and they'd previously been moving loud enough to not only scare off the smaller animals, but also attract the bigger ones. Maybe they could find berries and things, as Moxie had suggested a while ago.

He hissed when he felt a sudden sting from whatever Moxie was doing. Couldn't have been a slip of her hands; more likely his arm twitched and caused the skin to pull. He glanced at her work, and though he didn't understand how what she was doing would help, he could at least appreciate it. He certainly couldn't do it. And now that they were looking at a couple hours of walking, it was probably a good thing she was tending to it now. Who knows what other things could've dropped into the cut and make it worse? It was not the best thought to have.

He sighed, looked back to the view they had. The geyser definitely made the air in this clearing more hot and humid, and Asher was beginning to feel that stickiness on his skin. But all that didn't detract from the picture it painted with the mountains as its backdrop. There were no other sights like this one in all of Sylira, he was fairly sure. He couldn't say that he'd traveled far enough to know such things. He only ever ventured out of the city to hunt, and to occasionally visit the outposts.

"You've traveled, Moxie," he said. "Is there anything like this beyond Syliras? Are their geysers where you're from?"

[Moxie]

At his nod she set to work on the herb, taking the petals she rubbed them between her fingers and placed them on the wound. It was not bad at all, probably would not even leave a scar, but the herb would stop the bleeding fast and act as a antiseptic to keep it from being infected. As she placed the squished flowers on his wound he described the direction they would be heading based on their surroundings she nodded her head to let him know she was listening. He was unsure how they managed to get so far into the fast and she herself was shocked to hear that they were a couple of hours away. She gasped at that and looked up, "Still have a journey ahead of us then." She commented in a whisper as she gently tended to his arm with her small and soft hands.

He hissed out in pain as she placed a flower in a deeper portion of the wound making her pause, "So sorry I trying to be careful." She gave him a look with innocence in her eyes, it was true that she was tending to it as softly as she could. Once she was down with the flowers, she started placing the leaves of the herbs over the wound, pressing them lightly so they could make contact with it. She blew on it softly leaning close to his arm, hoping the stinging would fade away if she did so. Her breath was slightly cooler then the air around them, as she blew softly on it. Once she was done, she leaned back and smiled up at him, "The herb is called Vyfox, it is very common around here in the forest. It antiseptic and stop bleeding. Good to know if you in woods..and get hurt." She explained giving him a wink, dipping her hands into the water cupping them and guiding her hands away from the puddle, she spread the water over her hands to rinse away the residue and blood from tending to his wound.

She sat back inhaling and exhaling deeply, happy to be sitting instead of walking for a minute. Her legs were tired and were happy for the break she provided, as she glanced around at the beautiful view that they had. Asher's voice come through asking about her travels and where she came from, she bite on her lower lip and glanced away looking at the mountains, "Traveling more dangerous then think. Shows the darkness inside humans..How they hurt you in way you never expect." Her face contorted in pain at the memories of what happened to her in her travels, then she glanced back at Asher, "I come from Mura the Isle of Konti, known by some as Pearl of the White Isle. It beautiful and peaceful, the place a work of art. Much better then Syliras. Mura built half on land, half on water in Silver Lake." She paused for a moment a grin forming on her face, "There diverse decorations and gardens, Konti live in peace, live in peace with nature. They white trees, meadows with brilliantly colored flowers, buildings made of white stone that sparkle in the light. Silver Lake is embued with vision, it is called vision water granting us visions into the past and future. We live in peace and for peace. It a lovely place really." She sighed a bit dreamily, memories of her home filling her mind. It was a beautiful city that no other city could ever live up to.

The happy thoughts left though as she felt like she needed to warn Asher the dangers of traveling once again, "Traveling not meant for the peace keepers. For the ones who soft and kind hearted. So many fowl people live out there..They hurt you in the worse ways." Her eyes filled with tears and she brushed them away before they could fall. She felt dumb for thinking she could handle traveling alone, she was naive and still considered a child among her people since her race lived so long they do not reach adulthood until in their thirties. She held a naive, child like appearance, and innocence about her. Though she could be fierce and protective over those she loved and cared for.