He ain't seen me crazy yet

Tola Dara · 02-24-2012, 06:17 PM

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Date: 24 February

Setting: Northern Tides, Amherst

Time: Early morning, just after dawn.

Character Form: Optime

Requested Participants: I'd like only one or two to join, please! I'm not very good at group threads.

Participant Preferences: Anyone's welcome, although someone from Salsola would be great!

Ideal Participant Speed: No need to rush to reply to this thread, whatever speed you're comfortable with is fine.

Word Count → 691 :: Sorry for the length. >>; You can pretty much ignore the first couple of paragraphs. ^^

The sun was only just beginning to rise, but Tola had been up far longer, smoking a cigarette and watching the shadows dart between the large buildings. The new moon had been only a few days prior, and though the power was slowly returning to the land, she still felt drained. She hadn't even gone hunting in the last week, preferring to let Aleksei dig up their meals, as good as he was at it. He didn't mind, despite all the grumbling and snapping he did whenever he went out; he understood she was in no condition to chase after rabbits.

There had been no meal last night, and she doubted there would be this morning; the city they were in was too large for Aleksei's slingshot, and he disliked chasing after things with his club in such a winding maze. Tola didn't rightly care; she could always dig up his weasels and eat them if she got hungry. And then she'd most likely be eaten herself, as the male disliked anyone even looking at his trade fodder.

The sun pulled itself a bit more over the horizon, and Tola's ears perked a bit as she listened intently for any remaining night sounds. She'd been watching people raid the town before them all night, but there was no scent or sound to go with them; as the light touched the city, she suspected it had all been in her head. The far-off hooting of an owl was the only thing she'd listened to all night, and even that had gone now. She stood in front of the open second-story window in the mansion-like house they'd chosen to stay in, her eyes dropping to look at Chant where they'd left her at the door. Such a good horse, her Moonlight; she'd barely moved all night. That reassured her that there was no one down there; Chantrea would have run off or fought if there were.

Her contemplation was interrupted as the groan of bedsprings came from behind her, and she turned her head to look as Aleksei got off it, rubbing a hand through his mane before coming up behind her. He peered out the window, looking, perhaps, for whatever she'd been watching, and then snorted and stole her cigarette, inhaling nearly half of it before he gave it back. "You shouldn't be up this early. Can't you sleep?" He sounded annoyed, but really too tired to put any more emotion in his voice. Tola shrugged delicately, and pulled the flannel tighter over her shoulders, finishing off her smoke and flicking it out of the window.

Aleksei didn't even grumble at her silence; he was used to it by now. Instead he set about gathering their things, and Tola picked up what little she'd brought up with her, glancing about the room for Aljan. He was still curled up on the bed, breathing deeply. Aleksei, already headed out the door, didn't bother to wait as she went over and prodded him awake, lifting him to wrap around her shoulders. He took a moment to orient himself, and then began purring, slowly falling back to sleep. Tola shook her head, petting him gently, and then walked down the stairs after Aleksei's thumping steps, moving far more quietly as they headed out to Chantrea.

By the time they'd gotten outside, the sun had risen fully, and Tola shot a glare up at the burning star before she moved over to her dear and began checking her things. Everything was there, as it should be, and after reassuring herself, she held out a hand for Aleksei's things. Chant snorted softly, but allowed Tola to sling his things over her back, giving the young woman a glare that was probably meant to tell her Chant didn't appreciate being a pack animal.

Aleksei fished out a cigarette of his own, and stood smoking it as Tola made her last adjustments, glancing over at Aleksei with a question in her eyes. The male didn't seem ready to leave yet, however, so Tola continued making the horse more comfortable, brushing her hands gently down its neck.

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