You all settle down as the daylight strengthens. After a long night of avoiding guards and stumbling through the forest, you quickly drift off to sleep. You are far enough beyond the borders of Yrna to avoid being found and your rest is uninterrupted. That is until the sun begins to dip towards the horizon. A rustling comes from a thicket of bushes nearby. The sound rouses you from your slumber but the leaves are too dense to see what it is.
Arabella jerked awake. Whatever woke her up would pay. In her dream she was talking to Alex. She missed him so much. He was the only reason she wanted to go on. If they made it to Craisio, she might see him. But in he mean time, she had to see what cruel thing woke her from her slumber. She looked to the bushes but saw nothing. what was it?
Waking slowly, Azriel blinked for a moment before fluttering up into the nearest tree. Being above the ground made her feel more secure. She wanted to go back to sleep, but instead looked around warily, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Arabella pulled out her dagger, if Azriel wanted to sit in a tree, fine by her, but could she wake Iris, she was scared to wake after the incident last time, she wasn’t in the mood to be frozen. “Azriel!” She then motioned towards the angels girlfriend in hopes that she would get the gist.
Eyelids snapped open as Iris's hand latched onto her sword. The fine habits of light sleeping ingrained into every Yrnan elf. Her grey eyes distinctly noted the delineation of a… creature? Human? Obstacle? The brush was too thick. Her vision jerked between the group, realizing two were already awake. Good.
Bella slowly stood up and walked towards the bush. She was wide awake and ready to investigate. She glanced at the girls behind her and kept talking one step after the other, her dagger raised.
Azriel lightly jumped to the ground, using the air to make a cushion beneath her feet. She went over to where Iris was, trying to get a better look at… whatever had made the noise. Probably just a deer. Or a wolf. Either way.
It was only through convenience that she placed herself in a position between Azriel and the bushes, right? Just a coincidence. Iris let the thought flutter away as she followed Arabella's lead. Her mind was ready to exhaust it's powers, her hand ready to whip out a sword.
Bella walked towards the bush not noticing as tendrils of the bush itself began to slither her way as they snaked between her feet. Bella noticed to late as the bush ensnared her legs and began dragging her in its direction.
(eh not exactly what was going to happen. hope you don't mind if I redirect slightly)
As you approach the bushes you notice thick fur sticking to the branches. Then, sensing you, the creature moves again and lifts its head to peer over the brush. Most of you, except perhaps Azriel, will recognise the long, horned face of a way-beast. It's drooping ears twitch as it studies you with a calm curiosity before it steps around the underbrush and into sight. The beast has three horns and long, coarse hair that hangs from its body. Its legs are powerful and sturdy with clawed feet. Given the state of it, you can safely assume that it's wild. Despite these creatures having been domesticated as beasts of burden, they also provide resources such as pelts, milk, meat and fat. But, even the wild way-beasts are easily won over. It could make a fine companion. It's your choice to make.
Clare put away her staff when the beast showed no Ill intent, "Hey there." She said soothingly slowly inching her way towards the beast. She was familiar with their easy to befriend nature. "It's alright, we wont hurt you, come on over, you'll be fine, I bet you could use A nice brushing couldn't you." Clare pointedly looked at the elf when she said this signalling to 'don't you dare hurt it' with her eye's. "Come on won't it be nice to have a nice flowing coat and get rid of all those leaves?" she continued to talk soothingly inching closer and closer to the animal.
Azriel backed away quickly, terror in her face. "What. In god's name. Is that?" She asked tightly. What was that thing? And why was Clare being so friendly with it? She shook her head, unable to comprehend.
(visual…https://sta.sh/0jilhqghd90 they're like……snow camels)
A smile graced Arabella’s lips as she held her hand out towards the friendly beast. “Hey there! Iris, can you tell your girlfriend that it’s safe?” Her Medien switched to Craision as the creature lowered its head, “Hello. Your safe here!”
A smirk toyed on Iris's lips as she explained, "It's a way-beast. Powerful creatures, but simple enough to tame. A few elves back in Yrna kept them as pets, companions." Her eyes drifted to behind the beast, back into the brush. Nothing else, the beast came alone. The elf sheathed her sword and held her hands out, showing that she possessed no threat or intent to harm the animal.
Clare being the closest to the animal, gently brushed her finger tips along it's forehead around the base of it's horns, "See we wont hurt you fella." She had also switched to Craision instinctively and was murmuring encouragingly at the animal. "Now just why did you come here, do you need help with something ?" She scanned the animals body searching for an injury.
Walking next to Clare, Bella began to stroke the way-beast. It was so cute! But why didn’t Azriel recognize it?
(oh yeah. For Emmy's knowledge: Alteira has completely different wildlife than the lowlands of Medeis. Because angels rarely leave they don't encounter them very much)
Iris wasn't really one for stroking or petting or… her silver orbs glanced at the humans. Cuddling. She shuddered. But a somewhat encouraging nod was thrown at Azriel and the elf slid a step aside, allowing her angel passage if she so desired to… buddy up with the way-beast. The sunlight was seeping into the clearing, pooling ever so slowly over the grass. They would have to depart in about an hour, no doubt.
Bella noticed the rays hitting her face and looked towards the sun. They would have to leave soon. The human began to look for anything eatable, she doubted that Clare would share her precious crackers again. She began to search the land around them for who knows how long, until she found a pool of water. She suddenly realized how thirsty she was, Arabella fell to the ground and began to cup the liquid in her hands, causing the glassy pool to shimmer with ripples in the morning light. She drank to her hearts content and then looked at her reflection. She looked awful. Her red hair was all tangled and she was covered in dirt. She washed the dirt off herself and then began to brush her fingers through her hair. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she jogged over to the others to tell them about the water.
Clare began combing her fingers through the way-beasts fur unsnarling the snags and twigs, "We should be off soon, we have lots of ground to cover." she gave up on using her hands and pulled a brush from her bag.
She eyed the beast from a distance, wondering why it appeared alone. They didn't have food and couldn't afford to spare any if they did. Layers of clothing would be ideal, and an emergency kit could be compiled. Iris prepped her mental list of supplies, eyes tugging back to the way-beast every so often. "We have an hour, at most," the elf approximated, calculating. As if finally being enlightened, she declared in Medein, "Comb, feed, care for the creature. A companion will be helpful. And welcome."
Arabella began to run back towards the ground loving the way her ginger (and now deranged) locks flew behind her. When she made it back to the group and managed one word between her pants. “water!”
Clare glarred at Iris, "What do you think I'm doing Elf." She continued to brush the way-beast till it's fur shone. She pulled a cracker from her bag and fed it to the creature, she was giving the beast another one when Arabella stormed into the clearing. She looked at Arabella like she was a crazy person, "Uh, did you need some?."