Strangers in the woods ( Nidae, Seliarus )

[Nehsmay]

48 of Fall, 510 AV A harsh wind was blowing through the woods, ruffling the leaves of the trees and making their branches stretch over the small path that crossed the Bronze Woods. Rays of sunlight pierced the thickness of the woods bringing a little warmth to those who dared venture in the forest. However the woods were not silent; winter was still far away and the forest was bustling with life: squirrels ran everywhere carrying nuts then hiding them in the trees, birds sang loudly in the trees and a herd of deer made a madly dash through the trees running from an unseen danger. A silver shadow was moving swiftly through the woods, unheard and unseen, using its natural grace to hide himself from view, knowing he did not belong in the woods. Another stranger as himself was walking freely through the path, humming to herself, leading a silver colt by its reins. She was petite, smaller than one her age would have been; her long dark hair streaked with purple was flowing freely around her with each step she made and her ruby red eyes were filled with joy and wonder trying to take everything into account. Next to her, the silver colt was restless and bored, being unable to run freely and carry his mistress in the thickness of the woods. Every now and then he would neigh sadly and nudge his mistress with his head begging attention. “Now, now silly colt, get a grip on yourself.” Nehsmay chided gently “We’ll arrive in Syliras soon enough and hopefully I’ll be able to ride you. Bear the boredom a little longer, will you?” Shade shook his head as a no and Nehsmay sighed pitifully. Of all the colts in Taldera she could have gotten, she got stuck with one who really had a mind of its own. Then again, his namesake was pretty stubborn as well. Perhaps it was Morwen’s will… The Vantha sighed again…

[Seliarus]

Fall. A beautiful sigh for those who liked bright colors. Trees colored themselves in colors unseen towards the other days of the year. It was not white, nor was it green. The leaves, dancing around in a graceful, yet silent manner swirled around the forest. It was a perfect day...For some.

The forest had many paths hidden in it's heart. Trade routes, or traveling paths. Not all were used. Others weren't known. Travelers liked to keep themselves safe, and trying to avoid any wildlife they could encounter. Hunters, on the other hand, avoided the traveling ones, just to make sure no accident happen.

Of course, there is also the third kind of path, that is the path of a freelancer. Mixing the crossroads from the previous two paths, and create a new one. One that is safe, and quick. And along side one of those paths, lied a small pond, not even the size of a hut.

On a stone, not too far away from the pond, rested a silhouette. Sitting calmly on a stone, and rocking back and forth with the wind. The sun illuminated the shade's back, on which long, yet temporary wet locks of hair, black like the coal, rested.

His slit-pupil shaped eyes rested relaxingly on the water, and stared in the reflection. Soon enough, the reflection stared back at the silhouette, and the endless game continued.

[Nehsmay]

Nehsmay frowned deeply and glared once again at the insufferable colt who kept neighing and whining begging to be left free. The Vantha kept looking left and right hoping to see Nidae, her Kelvic friend whom she had lost from sight trying to keep her horse in check. "Calm down, Shade." she said angrily using the horse's name rather the endearment she always used that of 'silly colt'. "I don't want you to get lost in these woods so you either calm down or we go back to Avanthal and I'll get Myra in your place." Nehsmay hissed, but Shade shook his head and reared making Nehsmay drop the reins. "Shade, SHADE!" She cried out seeing her horse launch himself in the woods, disappearing from sight. Nehsmay quickly bolted after him, ignoring the fact that her heart might not take the effort. Shade ran wildly scared by something known only to him, not knowing that he was hurting his mistress. He just had to get away, as far away as possible. He was still young and easily startled. The colt stopped only when he reached a small pond...

[Seliarus]

When nothing is around, someone can deepen his thoughts, and can fully relax. In that position, one is quite easily distracted. A ruffle sound that a leaf made, the rusting sound of an animal trying to drink from the pond. The wind blowing around branches.

But, none of those things actually happened. And Seliarus, the shadow sitting on the stone, continued to think. In front of his eyes, a scene was being played. In the deep reflection of the water, he could see himself, slowly leaving his home. He wondered, if that was even a good decision. Then, after all, he's practically nothing. Traveling from town to town, and trying to get enough resources to survive. it was a shame, but no one really wanted to hire a man who had a look you just couldn't trust.

He sighed, and for a moment, he observed a fish in the pond, which happily swum around. He lowered his head, and closed his eyes. A deep, drawn out sigh escaped his lips again. As he tried to recall a piece of his memory back...

And then it happened. His ears , and he could swear he wasn't imagining things, heard a violent sound of hooves stomping on the ground. it was to big for a wolf, and ..well, to hoove-y to be a bear. his first association was a horse, and, when he opened his eyes, and looked over his shoulder, his assumption was proven to be correct.

Suddenly, he realized, that this horse, didn't have a rider. Which was...more that just weird. He took the opportunity, and rose to the ground. His shoes collided with the soil underneath him, and he turned around on his heels. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and he was not giving away any emotions from that point forward. He looked at the horse, with his sickly green slit shaped eyes. And for a moment, he rested his glance on the animal. Trying to intimidate it at least so much, it wouldn't trample over him. He produced a low, hissing sound, to cover up his attempts.

Yet, he didn't stop wondering... There was something missing.

[Nehsmay]

Shade stopped suddenly sensing another kind of danger. He looked around and neighed not noticing his mistress nearby, rather seeing a dangerously looking man in front of him. His front hoof beat in the ground in a pattern like movement waiting for Nehsmay to come and bring him back. He needn't wait long... A few minutes later a worn out and weary Nehsmay ran through the woods and fell to her knees near the pond. She had ran too fast and too much thus her heart was acting up. She tried to ignore it... "S-s-shade..." She gasped out struggling for breath "Y-y-ou... I found you." She grasped the horse's reins struggling to take deep breaths and remain conscious, but it wasn't working very well. The air she was getting was barely enough to keep her from falling in the darkness. "I-idiot colt." She slumped next to him wheezing.

[Seliarus]

Seliarus, shifted a coupe of inches back, as soon as the horse started to move, just in case it got the urge to kick someone. Probably the only one in sight. Him. He realized that he wont be able to calm the animal down. He was already calculating the risks of simply doing what his race was known for, when he heard a yet another noise.

His eyes traveled towards a, what did seem a girl, running towards the quite confused and lost horse. Seliraus, not exactly talkative, shifted even more back, giving the duo some space. He guessed the horse belonged to the girl, and that she will find a way to calm it down, before it would manage to damage anything...or anyone, for that matter.

He stayed silent, observing the scene in front of him. He heard the female stuttering. Maybe she just ran too much, echoed in his head. But, he had a feeling, somewhere in his gut, that there is something more that just that. Yet, he decided not to make the first move. His right foot moved even further back, and his cautious eyes simply...Looked.

A few drops of water drifted down his still wet hair, and a soft breeze swirled around the pond. Unaware of what is happening.

[Nehsmay]

'In...out...' Nehsmay recalled a voice from long ago ordering her what to do in case of an attack, but this time it wasn't working. Her breathing became more and more labored as her heartbeat did not decrease its maddening rhythm. 'I'm gonna faint.' She thought wildly to herself as she clasped ever harder on the horse's reins. Shade brought his head down and chewed softly on Nehsmay's hair tried his best to calm the girl down. It had no effect... The Vantha glanced wildly around, her eyes turning either black in fright or brown in anxiety. She spotted the man near the pond and though he looked wild and perhaps dangerous she had no other chance than to ask him for help. She needed water and her salts from her pack, but was in no condition to go after them. "H-help... p-please." She gasped out as she looked at the man wondering yet again where Nidae was.

[Seliarus]

There was one word the Dhani tried to avoid as much as possible. And the same word was spoken by the girl who looked like she seen better. His eyes scoped over the pond for a moment.

He didn't like meeting new people. They tend to be selfish beings who just wanted the best for themselves. Or they were plain thieves. Rarely did he meet someone who didn't fall into that category.

Scam or not, Seliarus moved forward, with slow and caution, towards the fainting girl. if he knew one thing about first aid, is that in most cases, water would do the trick. He turned mid-way, and knelled down by the pond. Creating a bowl with the palms of his hands, he dipped them into the water, and then made his way towards the unknown female.

With one or two quick steps, he was already near her, with his left knee on the ground, and his palms close to her lips. He had no real idea on how to help people if they were in such condition, so he acted purely on instinct, and improvisation. He didn't say a word, but he hoped that she could at least tell him how to help.

[Nehsmay]

Nehsmay’s eyed widened in relief as she saw the water being brought to her and nodded to the unknown man letting him know what he was doing was all right. She sipped a few drops of water, unable to drink more, but as little as it was it did the trick. Her attack calmed down a bit and she was able to gasp out. “Salts… in my backpack… please…” Unable to say more she started taking deep breaths again hoping the man would help her out. He had no need to do so; she was a stranger. Next to her Shade grew worried and nibbled some more on her hair. He was unused to see her go through such a violent attack and did not know what to do. He nudged her gently with his head willing her to get up. Nehsmay placed a reassuring hand on the colt’s head and said.”Easy boy… I’ll be ok. Stay there…” She hoped that her colt would not scare away the man. She did not have enough energy to reach her salts alone.

[Seliarus]

He made the rest of the water in his hands drop on the ground, and wipe his hands into his vest, to get the rest of the water off. He started to look around for the backpack, just as she told him to.

Salt was a white, crystal alike substance, so he looked around the backpack for a some sort a bag containing it. His eyes traveled back to the girl, in hope of getting some more information on where it was kept safe. He tried to slowly remove the backpack from her back, and place it in front of the her. Opening it, and hoping she'd point out what thing to take from the bag.

He, for a moment, glanced over the animal companion. Yet, seeing as it wont be able to help, his eyes traveled back towards the still heavily breathing female.