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The others looked up, and while Bernon smiled in wonder and appreciation of the elk's beauty, Mike stared at it without moving, his expression reserved and wary.
"I think we should keep moving," he said very quietly after a moment. "We don't belong here."
“Just… watch.” She said quietly, bracing her hands on the ground. She watched for a moment, the elk staring right back at her. It inclined it’s head them disappeared, she stood up when it left.
(Ops, gotta go. Seeya later^^)
Bernon looked from her to Mike and back. "What was that all about?"
(Okay seeya ^^)
“No clue…” She said, still looking in the direction it went.
Mike straightened and put away his canteen. "I got a gut feeling about this dell. It feels like a place that's really important to somebody. Or something. We should keep moving."
Tanrial nodded, “Let’s go then.” She cautiously jumped over the pot holes n the path they had come from, using the sides to steady herself at times.
"Maybe it was some kind of burial ground," Bernon speculated as they walked. "Seemed pretty peaceful, but there was nothing alive there except the grass."
Tanrial shrugged, “It’s possible, the elk could have been it’s guardian.” She said as she used the walls to leaver herself over a particular large tree trunk.
"Might have been," Mike agreed. "Either way, I've learned not to mess with any animal that's almost normal but not quite, especially if it acts extra smart. I once saw a giant golden dog in the mountains that I swear had human eyes. I couldn't move until it left. Anyway, yeah, I get the feeling they'd have no trouble destroying us if we made the wrong move."
"Still, that elk didn't seem evil," Bernon said. "Just watchful. I like the idea that it might be a protector of something."
(brb, not sure when I'm coming back)
“Generally elks are recruited when they need to protect and guard a burial ground, like you said Bernon, some ancient temple or building, or it’s a shifter and they are protecting their home.”
(Okay)
(I'm back for like a half-hour and then I gotta leave for bed)
"Cool," Bernon remarked. "Remind me to make a note about it when we make camp tonight."
They came to the end off the hills and the trees abruptly ended. Mike scanned the horizon and checked the position of the sun, then changed their course by a few degrees. "I've passed through this next area before. There's absolutely no trees, hills, or any kind of cover for about ten miles in every direction. We'll have to be careful–those Nayla or whatever you called them love it here. Let's pick up the pace, I don't want to have to spend the night out here. If we can make it across before dark, I know a good place to stay."
“Got it, let’s hurry then.” Tanrial followed Mike as he led them through the open plain, absolutely nothing in sight anywhere.
Walking suddenly became a lot more mind-numbing. It seemed as if they never made any progress, no matter how far they went. The hills and trees behind them soon vanished from view, and they trudged through an endless waste of tall golden grass with only the occasional cactus or startled bird to break the monotony.
Only the sky was pleasant to look at. It spread like a giant blue bowl overhead, and huge white clouds drifted like floating castles on the warm, steady wind. Their shadows made the land into a patchwork of light and dark, constantly shifting and changing shape. After a while, it almost seemed as if they were walking right in the sky, and could have flown up to join the clouds any time they pleased.
“It’s a nice day.” Tanrial spoke after walking in silence for a while, enjoying the look of the sky. The ground on the other hand… not so much. She sighed and she scanned the horizon, still nothing but gold grass.
Bernon came to walk beside her. "It's kind of gorgeous, isn't it? Not as rich or alive as a forest, but it has a really nice, clean simplicity to it, I think. If it weren't so hard to survive in places like this, I'd visit them a lot more often."
"Normally I'd follow a stream or something out here," Mike said over his shoulder. "But I know the area and this is faster. We just have to ration our water a little and make sure not to get turned around."
“Yeah, how much longer till we find shelter for the night? It feels like this plain goes on forever.” She gestured to the surrounding area.
"Best-case scenario, we get there in roughly three hours, as long as we can keep up this pace."
Bernon sighed. "Great. Ever played I Spy, Tanrial?"
“Nope.” She shook her head, “How’d you play?”
"It's kind of a dumb game, honestly, but it's the only one I remember." He looked around. "I spy with my little eye, something…..brown. Now, you have to look around and guess what I'm looking at."
“The ground?” She guessed.
"Nope. Guess again."
“Um…I don’t know…”
(sorry I‘ve gotta go out, seeya later^^)
"Want me to give you a hint?"