Juni flinches and looks at her daggers, now regretting leaving them aside. “Uh— I-“ she could barely get any words out. She stayed rooted to the spot, petrified with fear. “I- I wasn’t-“
Resh growls and unsheathes his sword, stalking closer to them. If he tries anything, he’s dead.
(ohohooho)
(what a disaster 😀)
(i think everybody will be dead by the end of this except caladium and maria because they are destined to be together)
(heehee)
Naveil wasn't exactly in a striking position, but he hadn't expected this. He dragged himself further up the half-green rock and stood tall – relatively – over Salmook and… someone else. They looked like the stranger he'd shoved aside earlier, but smaller. A kinsfolk, maybe?
Regardless, he brandished his dagger at them, somewhat proud he had the foresight to make a detour for it. The metal glinted a bit in the sunlight, and he spun it in his hand. Maybe he was in mood for a fight, after all.
"I said 'the kid was fine.' And yet, here you are."
His eyes drifted down to Salmook. Scared stiff as always, but scared of what, exactly?
Juni flares out her wings and backs away, glancing at her daggers again. “I was only talking to him. What’s so wrong about that?” Her voice is shaking, and so is she. Something about Naveil reminds her a lot of Cedar, and it scares her. A lot.
(Gonna stop narrating Resh for now so google maps has a chance to actually uh. Say things. So he’s just stalking around for now)
(By the way if y’all are wondering who tf Cedar is uh)
(Cedar is Juni’s former caretaker who was very emotionally and mentally abusive so yeah)
Only talking…? Yeah, right. When the Everchill melts, maybe.
She appeared to be unarmed, but Naveil didn't let his guard down for a heartbeat. It'd be a nice trick, if he hadn't seen it a couple hundred times by now. A bow and arrow, maybe? That'd explain the nervousness.
Salmook tried to splutter something… in Common-tongue? Whatever it was, though he didn't seem to know the right words. It sounded like someone had grabbed a sentence and smashed it under a rock a few times. Naveil leaned in, almost daring him to keep trying.
"Don't hurt! Uh, please..?" Salmook finally blurted.
It took a moment or so to fully set in.
(Navigation pls)
Juni stares at Naveil, her breaths shallow. She was obviously scared of him. “I- I didn’t mean any harm-“ She stammers. She starts to reach for one of her daggers, hoping she’d have time to defend herself. Tears already threaten to fall, and her hands are shaking so badly she’d probably drop her dagger if she got hold of it.
Salmook grabbed the stranger's arm, shaking his head "no." Well, if you added his facial expression, it'd be more like a "NO!"
Naveil might left her go with a loud yelling-at if she stayed unarmed. It's happened before… twice.
But armed..? He didn't want to think about that possibility.
Salmook got to his feet shakily. Maybe Naveil could be reasoned with. He listens… sometimes.
"Uh, uh… Not… danger. We… um, we- relax! Safe, yeah!"
Naveil quirked an eyebrow at him, and Salmook couldn't tell whether it was intrigued or incredulous.
Juni risks looking back at her dagger. So close… but it’s too far to get to in time. She’s unarmed. She drops her hand and looks back at Naveil. “Please don’t hurt me…” Her tone is desperate.
Resh stalks nearby, staring at Naveil. The tip of his sword drags on the ground, leaving thin cuts in the ground. He’s close enough to run over and decapitate Naveil if he tried to hurt Juni, but not close enough to be noticed by Naveil.
(Sorry for the short responses 💀)
Harper had been watching the commotion for… a while now. It was getting out of hand. She didn’t know any of the people involved, but the shorter one was becoming aggravating. She grips her spear, and starts to walk towards Naveil. She would only hurt him if it became necessary. She barely makes a sound, and accompanied by the ruckus of the wind, less so.
Juni risks looking back at her dagger. So close… but it’s too far to get to in time. She’s unarmed. She drops her hand and looks back at Naveil. “Please don’t hurt me…” Her tone is desperate.
Resh stalks nearby, staring at Naveil. The tip of his sword drags on the ground, leaving thin cuts in the ground. He’s close enough to run over and decapitate Naveil if he tried to hurt Juni, but not close enough to be noticed by Naveil.
This was an… interesting decision. One that Naveil wasn't exactly too sure how to deal with.
If this stranger had had the audacity to do this in the Everchill? He'd send them back to their clan-camp.
In a few more pieces than usual, though.
But this wasn't the Everchill, and with every plant-dander-infested breath, Naveil was becoming more anxious to return. Besides, the stranger's kinsfolk here probably wouldn't be too happy about that, either.
He settled back down on the rock, sitting cross-legged.
"Alright then. Keep talking. Here."
(Navigation can jump off a cliff fr)
(“The audacity” Google maps pls)
(Casually changes my writing tense bc it’s hard to stay in the present tense when no one else is)
Juni blinked a few times. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t say any of the things she wanted to say, not with Naveil here. “I… I’ll just leave you alone.” She stood up quickly and reached for her daggers again.
Resh stared at Naveil, practically staring into his soul by this point. If he even had a soul. His grip on his sword tightened as he watched Juni stand up. If he tries to stop her, I’ll just slit his throat. I’m close enough to do it.
It felt like there was a hole in Salmook's chest as he watched Juni get up and leave. He turned to Naveil, and, in his more fluent Native-tongue, tried to plead with him.
"Naveil, couldn't we–"
"No."
He shuddered. He's angry, don't push him. That's not what he'd want.
Salmook cast another glance Juni's way. She was crouching, now, picking up her daggers. A look crossed Naveil's face, like he had just fit two pieces of a particularly annoying puzzle together. Salmook caught the muscles in Naveil's arm tense. Bad sign.
"Naveil, please. It's–"
"Quiet."
Yikes. That was his "I'm-actively-threatening-you-now-so-you'd-better-listen" voice. Salmook had never been on the receiving end of it before. For a heartbeat, it felt like his soul had left his body.
(I’m throwing google maps into oncoming traffic. Final.)
(I feel like I'm way overdoing it with these replies, but MAN formatting is neat.)
(Anyways, yeah, just tell me if I am, I'll try to cut it down, lol.)
Juni picked up her daggers and put them away, pausing for a moment as she listened to Salmook and Naveil. She wanted to say something, she really did, but it might be dangerous. For both me and the child. She looked back towards Salmook. “I’m sorry, little one.” Her apology seemed to not have any meaning, but she knew what it meant. I’m sorry you have a Cedar of your own to deal with.
Naveil kept his eyes on Juni until he was comfortable with their distance. He let out a deep breath he hadn't even known he was holding.
He was still pissed, obviously, but this was a step in the right direction. He leaned forward on the rock to get a better view of Salmook in all of his terrified glory. He didn't sheathe his weapon. He kept it in plain sight, the threat of its very presence enough for right now.
"Tell me, Salmo. What did you two talk about, hhmm?"
Naveil knew he'd hit something when Salmook hesitated, panicked, and shook his head.
(Feral screeching)
(Google maps more like Cedar 2 electric boogaloo)
(stg if google maps threatens the child he’s getting threatened with a spear 😃)
Juni sprinted towards Resh, all the panic and worry she was trying to hide showing on her face now. She clung to his arm like her life depended on it. “I- I’m scared for the child…” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “His caretaker… he’s like Cedar. I don’t think he’s safe around him…” She looked down, trying to hide her tears. “I… I wanted to help… but it was dangerous…”
Resh lightly shushed Juni, sheathing his sword and kneeling down next to her. He cupped her face and wiped the tears from her face. “It’s okay, Junebug… look, I’ll watch them for you, okay? You go calm down.” He smiled gently at her. “I’ll keep the kid safe.”