(--)
Ithiel is by me!
The bird, wary of too much closeness with strangers, landed on an outcropping of bare rock nearby. He hunched down and continued murmuring, though nothing he said was intelligible to even Ithiel, who had trained his ears to hear what the animal said. The pale creature, wrapped in something resembling cloth, and holding a poor weapon, cringed and seemed afraid. The dusky hybrid therefore stopped his horse some distance away. The leather of his reins and gear creaked, but Ithiel was -- for a moment, anyway -- quiet. His horse, too, was quiet -- Lystra did not seem to be as concerned with the presence of women. Her demeanor was one of vague indifference.
Hello, he said, regarding her scarred face with his blood-colored eyes. You live nearby? His inquiry was one of strict business -- he did not inquire because he wanted to know anything about her, but it was easier to simply speak to a local and ascertain the population -- or lack thereof, in this case -- than it was to go cavorting all the way to the northlands. Surely one of the Anathema pack, or even one who frequented the burned northlands more often than Ithiel could give him the answer he sought. He sought to ignore her fear, neither acknowledging or attempting to increase it. Fear was useless, and fear might well make her run away -- though she could plainly see his steed, and might understand the futility of such actions.
@import url('http://sleepyglow.net/rp/post.css');
</style>[/html]