01-25-2010, 12:52 AM
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817.
When Snake had been greeted by Hezekiah and accepted into Inferni by Kaena Lykoi, he had been a skinny kid whom he was personally amazed they had allowed in. He had even told the Centurion that he had no real talents (for during this point in time, he thought that fighting was something everyone knew how to do, so he didn't even consider it) but that he was willing to learn and work as hard as they needed of him. Perhaps the woman had merely taken pity on him, but here he was now. And it seemed that her risk and her gamble had paid off in spades. Snake had taken to having a home to return to and a steady food supply well—he had begun to train tirelessly one he was given the chance in the way of a Hastati position. Within three months he had transformed from a half-emaciated teenager into a powerful young man that had managed to earn one of the coveted Hydra positions. He was satisfied with the progress he had made, but there was still plenty to do. There was a war on the horizon, and that just meant that there was more work for him. That was good. He liked the work; idle hands were the devil's workshop, after all.
The pace was slower, as Snake had realized earlier, but he had no problems nor qualms with that. They were making good time on the distance, and he was sure that they were nearing something. Eventually they got to a place where the slope sharpened considerably, and narrowed to where a group might have to go single-file to continue up. Gabriel tried to continue on, but then slid on the scree of the slope. He began to scramble, and Snake rushed to his side, ready to help him regain his balance if things went more awry. Luckily the Aquila regained himself enough to even pose a small joke—it was too bad that Snake didn't have much of a sense of humor.
Though I think I implied Snake was in Optime form to begin with, I'm going to use the magic of plot power and say that he was in Lupus form now—pretend that, somewhere along the way, he shifted to make travel easier. He began to climb the same slope that had proved too much for Gabriel, testing each step before placing his entire weight on it. Though he slipped once or twice, he caught himself and eventually made it over the hill that they had been climbing. What he saw then showed that everything had been worth it.
It was not what he was standing on now, but what was before him. The snowy slope had led up to a wide ridge that wound around the side of a mountain for many yards before leveling out onto a broad plateau that was situated between two low mountains. On the other side seemed to be another path that led down to a valley that was out of Inferni territory. Snake take another good look before turning to speak back down to Gabriel,
It was a vast space covered in snow and almost completely barren of plant life, though there were several boulders and mounds of snow undulating the surface. Snake walked along the ridge for a little while, drawing closer so he could get a better look. The mountains it sat between were on the east and west, so it looked down to the south on the Inferni ground. Snake could see the ocean and the coast, and where the forest began, and the rocky area where he knew the caves were. He could see a dark smudge on the distance that was the landfill, his home. He could see clouds of steam coming off of the hot springs that had recently appeared. He could see everything—and that was a very good thing.
Because of Inferni's great size, Snake thought that they might be able to fit up here, but just so. If they were being pursued, he would personally set traps or a diversion here that would cause confusion while the rest went down to the valley below, where they could ambush the pursuers. But that would be explained later, perhaps... if Gabriel could haul his fatty ass up the hill.
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817.
When Snake had been greeted by Hezekiah and accepted into Inferni by Kaena Lykoi, he had been a skinny kid whom he was personally amazed they had allowed in. He had even told the Centurion that he had no real talents (for during this point in time, he thought that fighting was something everyone knew how to do, so he didn't even consider it) but that he was willing to learn and work as hard as they needed of him. Perhaps the woman had merely taken pity on him, but here he was now. And it seemed that her risk and her gamble had paid off in spades. Snake had taken to having a home to return to and a steady food supply well—he had begun to train tirelessly one he was given the chance in the way of a Hastati position. Within three months he had transformed from a half-emaciated teenager into a powerful young man that had managed to earn one of the coveted Hydra positions. He was satisfied with the progress he had made, but there was still plenty to do. There was a war on the horizon, and that just meant that there was more work for him. That was good. He liked the work; idle hands were the devil's workshop, after all.
The pace was slower, as Snake had realized earlier, but he had no problems nor qualms with that. They were making good time on the distance, and he was sure that they were nearing something. Eventually they got to a place where the slope sharpened considerably, and narrowed to where a group might have to go single-file to continue up. Gabriel tried to continue on, but then slid on the scree of the slope. He began to scramble, and Snake rushed to his side, ready to help him regain his balance if things went more awry. Luckily the Aquila regained himself enough to even pose a small joke—it was too bad that Snake didn't have much of a sense of humor.
That is true,he said in deadpan agreement, though he was concerned that if he found anything up there, it wouldn't be any use if half the members of Inferni could not scale up to it. Regardless, he nodded when Gabriel suggested he go on ahead. This was just the sort of thing that the light-footed coyote was good at, of course.
Though I think I implied Snake was in Optime form to begin with, I'm going to use the magic of plot power and say that he was in Lupus form now—pretend that, somewhere along the way, he shifted to make travel easier. He began to climb the same slope that had proved too much for Gabriel, testing each step before placing his entire weight on it. Though he slipped once or twice, he caught himself and eventually made it over the hill that they had been climbing. What he saw then showed that everything had been worth it.
It was not what he was standing on now, but what was before him. The snowy slope had led up to a wide ridge that wound around the side of a mountain for many yards before leveling out onto a broad plateau that was situated between two low mountains. On the other side seemed to be another path that led down to a valley that was out of Inferni territory. Snake take another good look before turning to speak back down to Gabriel,
Try to come up the slope again, more careful this time. You'll want to see this. The ridge leads up to a plateau that I think we might be able to use.
It was a vast space covered in snow and almost completely barren of plant life, though there were several boulders and mounds of snow undulating the surface. Snake walked along the ridge for a little while, drawing closer so he could get a better look. The mountains it sat between were on the east and west, so it looked down to the south on the Inferni ground. Snake could see the ocean and the coast, and where the forest began, and the rocky area where he knew the caves were. He could see a dark smudge on the distance that was the landfill, his home. He could see clouds of steam coming off of the hot springs that had recently appeared. He could see everything—and that was a very good thing.
Because of Inferni's great size, Snake thought that they might be able to fit up here, but just so. If they were being pursued, he would personally set traps or a diversion here that would cause confusion while the rest went down to the valley below, where they could ambush the pursuers. But that would be explained later, perhaps... if Gabriel could haul his fatty ass up the hill.