all the wounds my tears will mend
#1
300+ (318)
[html]
<style type="text/css">.viei b {color:#6B3827;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/viera3.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:118px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

Vieira was thrown into a turmoil the last few days. Kaena had taken the first step of cruelty when she took advantage of her slave in ways the woman had been hoping to avoid. It had been her first sexual abuse with a woman and the first since she left the power of Eris. The time in transit between Eterne and Inferni was the longest she had gone (and could remember) without any abuse. It had been a scary time to be on her own but it had been nice not to have to worry about any sort of punishment. After Kaena's first punishment on Vieira, she felt she was walking a thin line every day now that a fear had been further placed in her heart.


On top of Kaena, just the other day, was a former nightmare she had thought she would never seen again. Sabin, the son of Sivaro, showed up at Kaena's doorstep. He was there for her and it made her uncomfortable. His sadism, as well as the memory of Sivaro, was enough to send her running into Kaena's arms. While Kaena had hurt her severely, she wasn't sure she could reach the level either of the males had taken on her.


Today, as cold as it was, she was sent back to the city. She needed to pick up extra blankets for the cave and whatever else the woman felt was necessary for the upcoming winter. It was the first time she was feeling a real winter. Mexico never really got all that cold, anyway, and these last few days in this area were the coldest she'd ever been. Vieira had the satchel she brought the last time slung over her shoulder, a small list of two items and then some in her head, as she moved toward the borders in the direction she had taken the last time to the city.

[/html]
#2
[html]
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x242 ... ssnake.png); background-color:#000000; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; text-align:justify;">


This morning Snake had woken up early. Not because he wanted to—it was the cold. It crept in through the windows that were busted and the cracks in the general shell of the automobile den. He had piled in all the softer materials he could find in the Landfill and what he could pilfer from some of the rooms in the mansion. But it was very sparse. He had ripped the less-nasty side off of an old mattress and slept on it, but he didn’t have much else besides that and a few torn, thin blankets. It was very inadequate for the winter that was rolling in, and Snake was unhappy. But he did not want to go to Halifax to scavenge alone. He had tried that once, and he had nearly gotten his brain beat in by a guy with a baseball bat.


He rose and began to walk towards the borders, then along them in a general northward direction. It was mostly a patrol, to see if anyone (especially Daisuke) thought it a good idea to go wandering across the borders onto coyote land. He didn’t notice anything amiss until he spied, from a distance, a figure that was familiar to him. He had met the woman a few days ago by the fire outside Kaena’s den, and remembered her as a timid girl enslaved to the Centurion. Curious as to what she was doing away from her master, he approached her.


Knowing how skittish she may be, he kept his head down and his disposition generally relaxed. He didn’t want to appear a threat. “Hello again, Vieira,” he greeted in his usual tone. “Where are you going?” Light curiosity—there was no threat in his voice whatsoever. Snake made sure that his voice was just as calm, flat, and impassive as ever.

table credit goes to jacoby
[/html]
#3
[html]
<style type="text/css">.viei b {color:#6B3827;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/viera3.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:118px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

The voice behind her gave her a shake, regardless of how it sounded. Her head turned to look at Snake as he approached and she slowed her walking down and stood still so he could catch up to her. Her expression was lacking anything decent and so she forced a bit of a smile on her face when he spoke and stopped near, her feet moving again so she did not have to waste time. "Hello, sir," she murmured and lifted her hand, tugging on the strap of the satchel. It made her feel better when she had something to grip, a nervous habit she was never able to kick (not that she was trying to).


"Miss Kaena is sending me to the city again," she explained and her tail swept behind her, tickling the backs of her thighs lightly. "She wants some things for the winter," she added. She did not list the things she wanted but would if he asked. She didn't expect the conversation to go much further, really, and so she made a slight tug on the strap as she walked. Her mind was heavily occupied anyway and she did not feel very inviting.

[/html]
#4
[html]
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x242 ... ssnake.png); background-color:#000000; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; text-align:justify;">


She slowed, but did not stop—she was probably on some sort of mission then. He jogged to catch up, then began to walk with her past the borders and away from Inferni. While doing so, they conversed. She greeted him cordially, and he noticed the bag that she was carrying. He was able to guess what she was doing before she told him, so he nodded at her response. This seemed like a perfect opportunity—he would be able to find something to keep himself warm in the winter. Plus, he couldn’t on his right conscience send her to the city alone, especially if he—armed with weapons and knowledge on how to fight—wouldn’t go alone himself.


“Would you mind if I went with you?” he asked, even though he was already walking with her towards their destination. “I’m in need of similar things, and it’s dangerous in Halifax. There are wolves about, and they are unpredictable.” He remembered is brief encounter with the strange purple-eyed werewolf, and gave a light shake of his head. He had narrowly avoided a confrontation on that, but only because that wolf had let him go. He wasn’t so sure anyone would have the same good graces for a woman like Vie—they were much more tantalizing targets for predators than he was.

table credit goes to jacoby
[/html]
#5
[html]
<style type="text/css">.vieich b {color:#6B3827;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/viera3.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:118px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

Snake's question surprised her and she turned her head slightly to look at his torso, then his feet. She did not make it to see his expression and she vaguely wondered if Kaena was sending him to watch her. She had been out of touch lately but it was to be expected. Her molestation, even if she'd been through it hundreds of times, plagued her mind on a daily basis, constantly, and she had to fight her mind to keep it away. She'd taken to announcing the things she was doing, as long as Kaena were not home, in order to fill her mind with something other than silence.


When Snake said it was dangerous, she did not tell him about the encounter with the strange wolf she met. He helped her but she supposed it could be dangerous. She was not able to protect herself and perhaps he was genuine after all. "I do not mind," she said and her ears angled forward. "What do... what do you need?" she asked and turned her head forward and faced the way they were walking, her feet quiet as they moved, his form overshadowing hers significantly.

[/html]
#6
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


He waited anxiously for her answer. He wasn’t sure if she would deny his request, on account of that she was afraid Kaena would not approve or something in that vein. But eventually, after some thought on her part, she said that he was allowed to come. The tiniest amount of relief slipped across Snake’s impassive features, and then disappeared just as quickly. Though he often seemed to feel nothing at all, he had an indestructible will to want and protect those who seemingly had no way to protect themselves. His methods were not pure-hearted, but his motives were. Snake was a being whose instincts of right and wrong were blurred and crossed slightly, but he was not dangerous to those like Vieira, whom he had the smallest amount of fondness for.


When she asked what he needed, he thought that there was perhaps a gallimaufry of things that he could say he needed to find, but he settled on the most obvious, “Blankets and the like, for my den. It’s getting colder.” He paused, still thinking. He had been thinking recently of digging a fire-pit outside of his den. It would be nice in the cold nights, and it wasn’t very dangerous because the grass was low and there wasn’t much vegetation to burn if things got out of hand. “And some matches.” They continued walking, and Snake kept his path to where he knew Halifax was. He didn’t know if Vieira knew, but he was going to guide nonetheless. “And you?” He wasn’t sure what Kaena could be sending the small girl out into the city to be doing, but he was briefly displeased with the leader, thinking that it was perfectly safe to go sending the girl out alone. She might get lost or attacked or something. He would think that their Centurion would have the foresight enough to send someone along with her, as Snake was doing now.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]
#7
[html]
<style type="text/css">.viei b {color:#B46D94;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/vieira_stars2.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:255px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

The things Snake needed were simply and easy, things she was looking for, and she wondered if there were other odd things he was looking for. She felt as if she saw something useful, she would pack it up and bring it with her, hoping it would please Kaena that she went above and beyond in order to be prepared. Pleasing Kaena prevented her from being punished, from being tortured, and most of all, from being touched where she didn't want to. She wondered if Kaena would resort to that every time the slave did something wrong, Vieira could not object and she had to take what the elder woman would do, regardless of what she wanted.


"I have to get some blankets, too, for Kaena," she murmured softly and gripped the bag strap a little tighter, pulling it against her form. "Candles and matches, too," she added and glanced in his direction. There were two other items she had get and with Snake coming along, she felt pressure she did not want to feel, humiliation coursing her veins but she did not announce them. She would have to break away from his side sometime at the city to look for them because she didn't want him to see. Vieira knew, however, if Kaena decided to use them that someone would see her. Somehow, and she would be judged and humiliated even more.

[/html]
#8
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


It didn’t surprise him that Kaena had asked much the same things for Vieira to pick up. It was getting cold, and such things were necessary. They walked in silence, and Snake noticed that the small woman seemed upset about something. She grasped at the bag that Snake had, once a moment ago, thought about offering to carry for her. He didn’t think he would offer that now. It looked as though she were clutching the thing to her as if her life depended on it. He did not question it. When he found quirks of others such as these, he never did. Just as he liked it when others did not bring his own oddities to light.


After a moment he said, “I’ve been to Halifax a few times before, and looked through many of the shops. I think I know where to go get these things.” More walking, more silence, and then he added, “And if anything else comes to mind that you need, ask, and I think I might be able to find it.” He had been identifying many of the abandoned shops and stores in Halifax, and he had found music stores, general stores, pawn shops, fabric stores, and many other such things. At the moment, he had the general store in mind. He was sure they’d keep essentials like blankets and matches there.


It was in this span of time that they had crossed the forests between the Wastes and Halifax. They came upon the city suddenly, as the forest pressed close to its border as it had grown in the humans’ absence. Snake didn’t need to be told—he started leading the way through the debris-strewn streets. After a few more blocks, he found the general store that he had come across on his first visit to Halifax, before he had encountered the strange-eyed wolf that had threatened him. It was an old-style kind of place, with wooden walls that had rotted in places. The doors were barely hanging onto their hinges. “We should be able to find something in here,” he said to Vieira. A thought occurred to him, and he continued, “Maybe, if we find extra things, we could bring them back for whomever might need them in Inferni?” Might as well help out a few more souls, right? Everyone would be needing warmth in these winter months.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]
#9
[html]
<style type="text/css">.viei b {color:#B46D94;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/vieira_stars2.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:255px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

"Yes, sir," she murmured softly when he gave the information about Halifax and if she needed anything. It was nice of him to come along, whatever his purpose, and it was nice of him to help if she would need it. She even smiled a little but it faded, and her fingers remained tight on the strap while the walked, silent for the majority of the time. They came upon the familiarity of the line between forest and city and her eyes scanned the area. She did not recognize this portion of the city but she had no idea how large it really was.


Vieira followed behind him in the store and looked around, her ears angled upward. The idea was not a bad one but she knew she had to think of Kaena first. Whatever she did, Kaena was first on her mind. The members of Inferni came second, and then whatever else there was. Vieira always came in last. "It is a good idea," she concurred with a nod of her head. Slowly, she began to leave his side, not exactly wanted to speak further on the topic. As a servant, she had priorities, and she had things to do first before she thought of anyone else. As she moved a little ways from him, she looked at shelves of items and words she did not know or recognize. Some of the things she didn't know what she was looking at and felt dependent on Snake for the moment if she needed something other than the blankets and candles and matches.

[/html]
#10
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


He glanced at her at the continual use of the word ‘sir’ and, thinking he might not be able to stand it for much longer (he didn’t see himself on any elevated level over her, though this was false), he said in a quiet voice, “You don’t have to call me sir.” And that was all he said, and they continued on.


She remarked that his idea was a good one in the doorway to the store, and he nodded and allowed her in first. He followed silently, moving to the front desk and beginning his search. The counter was wooden, not a glass display case, so he began to rifle around on the taller shelves. A lot of the things he, like Vieira, did not understand the use for. He continued rifling around until he came upon the back wall of the store. He found a door there that was still intact, and tried the doorknob. It wouldn’t budge—still locked after so many years. Without conference with Vieira, he put his shoulder to the door and, taking a few short steps back and then lurching at the door, shoulder-first, the lock merely broke from the door. He was in.


He didn’t say anything, just continued inside. The dust was even thicker here than it was in the store, and probably because it hadn’t been looked at in scores of years. He coughed from the dust that he had stirred up, and then looked around with watering eyes. He saw something that caught his eye immediately—a cardboard box, about the size of a small package, that was full to the brim with small packages full of matches. He grabbed the box and took it outside, placing it on the floor. “Matches,” he said in his usual gruff voice, then went back into the storage room. After some rifling around in boxes, he brought out another box. This one was much larger, one that might have housed a medium-sized TV. He reached in and brought out the first item—a thin blanket, a pale green color that had grayed over time, and was covered in dust. He looked it over, his eye scrutinizing. “We’re in luck.” He put it back. “The moths haven’t gotten to this one. That’s been my problem—I’ve found all kinds of blankets, but they’ve been eaten through by bugs.”


Well, that was easy. Almost too easy, Snake thought.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]
#11
300+
[html]
<style type="text/css">.viei b {color:#B46D94;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/vieira_stars2.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:255px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

Rikka had tried to get Vieira to call her by her name and be less formal. It worked for a little while but Vieira would always resort back to it. It was ingrained into her mind. It was impolite and rude and went against her way of life not to be formal with those higher than her. It would just not be dropped so easily because it was second nature to her and it would be unlikely for it to go away.


After looking through the shelves, she heard Snake break open a door. The woman flinched at the sound and turned to look but within seconds, he pulled out a box and announced what was inside. It was easier than she thought and she was glad. She didn't really want to spend all of her day searching the city and getting back too late and Kaena being upset. She just could not risk it. Vieira hummed softly as she approached the box, grabbing one pack, and then another and finally just grabbed a handful. She dumped them into her empty satchel and was thankful they did not weight her down.


Snake came back out with a box and dragged out a blanket, in one piece, and she smiled. She did not advance or take it from him. He found it, he'd taken action and she watched as he examined it. Silence remained between them after he finished speaking, giving him a slight nod as she stepped back. Her bright golden eyes scanned the store, clueless about where other things would be but she did not move. After another moment of consideration, she grabbed another handful of packet of matches and dropped them inside her bag.


When she dropped the second handful, Vieria turned and moved toward the shelves of things again to try and decide what they were and if they were useful. When she reached the end of the line, she found a couple of small white candles, sitting in a thin metal. She examined them before dropping them into her bag, turning to look at Snake. "Do you want some candles, too?" she asked, leaving about half on the shelf if he wanted them.

[/html]
#12
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


Vieira put several handfuls of the small packs of matches into her bag. Snake thought he’d just take the whole box—as well as the whole box full of blankets—and keep them in the Landfill. He knew of places where the water couldn’t get to them, and then maybe someone else could find them and help themselves. She didn’t advance and take one of the blankets from the box, though, and he said, “There are maybe a dozen of them in this box, so you can definitely have some. I’m not going to be using them all.” He paused, looking at the box, and then got the container of matches and put it inside. There was enough room. “I’ll carry them until we get to Inferni,” he said, not picking it up yet though. There still might be something left in this store.


He glanced around but didn’t really find anything. He could hear Vieira looking around for things too, and, with a general clatter of discovery, he looked over to find that she had found the candles she’d been set out to get. When she asked, he shook his head. “No, I live aboveground, so it doesn’t get dark enough for candles.” He gave the store one last look—still nothing useful—and then looked to Vieira. “You done here?” he asked before moving over to the box full of cloth and matches. He picked it up and, since it wasn’t such a heavy load to carry, he shifted it to hold in one arm, with one edge of the box resting on his hip. It wasn’t a terrible burden at all—it’d be easy to carry back home.


At her word, he exited the store, and checked the location of the sun in the sky. It had progressed further than he had thought, and the journey home with such a burden to carry would be more difficult than coming here. They’d probably need to start back. “Our luck has run dry. We need to start heading back, or it will be dark.” And with that, he started to walk back up the street.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]
#13
500+
[html]
<style type="text/css">.viei b {color:#B46D94;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/vieira_stars2.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:255px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

Vieira had not caught on to Snake's intention. Her expression changed and she felt silly but his kindness was a little overwhelming. Her smile was awkward and she put the rest of the candles in her bag. They were small and she felt she might need more. He adjusted himself with the box of matches and blankets and she turned away. "I just... I got something else to find," she said as he exited the store. The store, by herself, was a little scary, and she moved down the aisle. She felt under pressure since he was ready to go and she blew a long sigh, turning down an aisle. It wasn't what she was looking for but she found several jars of herbs and spices. She remembered the fish she had with Kaena the other day and how bland it had been. Kaena enjoyed it, as did she, but she had much more to work with under Astaroth's rule.


She selected a few of the containers that she recognized by their look and a few she had to smell. Next to them were packets of seeds and, as if she hit the jackpot, she picked them up and tucked them in the bag. If she grew them, like some of the coyotes at Eterne, then she would not have to come back all the time. Fresh herbs were delicious on food. After she picked the things she recognized, and a few she didn't, she moved toward the back of the store. She hated this part. Even if Snake was not around and not looking at her, she felt humiliated. She was reminded of Eris and the chain she had been forced to wear, the one that kept her tied up. She felt a little surprised Kaena was going to do the same to her.


Vieira moved in the aisle and she touched the items, bags of old dog food and toys and collars. Her ears fell back against her head and she selected one that was more chain than anything. It looked like a weird necklace. She pulled it off the shelf and dropped it in her bag. Next to it, however, was a back yard chain and with a hesitant and heavy sigh, she dropped it in her bag, as well. Quickly, after finding what she needed, she rushed out of the store while gripping her back and finding Snake. "I'm sorry, I'm done now," she murmured and stared at the ground, letting them walk and head out of the store now that they had what they needed.


She fell silent and even though Snake could not see what she had in her bag, her cheeks felt hot and she imagined him being able to see through her bag or perhaps read her mind.


Her head turned and she looked into a store window of a toy store, her pace slowing but she did not stop. It captivated her, things she had never seen before. She had not realized she had stopped as she gazed inside. When she did, however, she shook her head and glanced toward Snake apologetically and moved back to his side.

[/html]
#14
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


She smiled gently at his assurance, seemingly embarrassed, before Snake made his way out of the store. She remained in there for a little while longer, though, murmuring something about having something else to find. Snake didn’t intrude into whatever else she was on the lookout for—it didn’t concern him. He simply went into the streets and waited, looking about and scanning for any malevolent wolves that decided to crash the mission. Fortunately for them, they had decided to stay within their packs today.


It took a little while, but the girl eventually rushed out of the store as if something was chasing her. Snake gave her a wary eye, but nothing seemed to be overtly wrong—on the surface at least. Never one to pry, the impassive coyote merely gave her a nod and continued along the way, saying, “Don’t apologize; we’re here so you can get whatever you need to get.” He pointedly didn’t ask what that was. He didn’t want people going into his business, so he did the same for everyone else he met.


They were continuing on the way back, as Snake thought they’d gotten everything they needed, but he soon found Vieira lagging behind a little. Her golden eyes were riveted on the façade of a store, very colorful. He could read “Toys” somewhere in the title, so it was obviously a toy store. He felt a little strange, seeing this captivation in the older woman and having none of the same in himself (and he was far closer to being a kid, age-wise), but couldn’t let it slide. “Let’s go in,” he said, as if he were interested (and so she couldn’t refuse). He then went inside, as there was no door—it had been torn down long ago.


It had been hit hard by other lycanthrope raiders, probably looking for things for themselves or for their kids. There were empty shelves and bins and baskets everywhere, but there were still many other toys. Snake left Vieira to look for himself, disappearing into the isles. There he found a canister of little, rectangular objects of many colors and indentations that proved they could be used to build with. An idea appearing to him, he put them in the box with the blankets, covering it with one. He continued along until something else caught its eye. The fur of the plush animal was in good shape, and its red nose and the bonhomie on its face made Snake intrigued. As he had with the building blocks, he put it under the blankets. Neither were for him.


He went back to the front of the store, looking around for Vieira. “Vieira? You ready to go, or need some more time to look around?” he called, as she wasn’t in sight. “No rush,” he called again after a moment’s hesitation—knowing her, she’d probably see his words as a command to get going. He looked around again but found nothing else of use. This place was pretty empty from the start, but he felt as if he had been successful in scavenging.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]
#15
300+
[html]
<style type="text/css">.vieich b {color:#6B3827;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/viera3.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:118px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

Regardless of being told not to apologize, not to use the proper extension for them, or not to submit, it would not easily be possible or at all. Rikka enforced it somehow and Snake was trying. If she thought about, she could correct herself, but on the whim it would slip from her mouth as it had been Rikka because to scare Vieira.


Her mind on something else, she turned when Snake suggested to go inside the toy store. She didn't know what it intrigued her about it but she moved and was glad to be able to get her mind off something, even if it were temporary. Snake parted from his side then and moved but she remained somewhat close to the front. There was a small display in the front, a little race track of matchbox cars and to the other side was something a little more relevantly feminine and younger. Building blocks with letters had originally been set up neatly were thrown about and there were only a few around. Her hand carefully picked them up and examined them, sitting one on top of the other but found little purpose.


Behind them was a small kitten-size light blue teddy bear. He captivated her for a moment and she picked it up. It was covered in dust and Vieira softly wiped it's head and gave it a little shake. It was cute and she felt the urge to put it in her backpack but she didn't. It was not something she needed and she worried Kaena would become upset, and she knew she could not sneak it in, that was lying. That was grounds for punishment. The woman slipped forward with it still in hand and she looked at the shelves just as Snake called. Her gaze turned to find him with a down look on her face and she glanced toward the bear she had been holding. After her hesitation, she set the bear on the shelf and came up to Snake. "I'm ready," she said quietly and nodded.

[/html]
#16
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


Snake stood near the doorway to the toy store, the cardboard box still resting on his hip as he waited for the older woman to appear from the depths of the store. He wasn’t paying enough attention to see what she had been doing, looking at the blue stuffed bear, but he probably would have understood her trepidation for taking it with her, causing her to leave it behind. Something told him that Kaena’s moods were fickle, and she might find Vieira having any personal property offensive. A fatuous reason to become angry, but the Hastati did not question his Centurion nor how she decided to treat her slave.


The other coyote trotted out of the gloomy depths of the store, mentioning that she was ready to go. Snake nodded solemnly and left the store, beginning along the broken road towards Inferni. The trip back went much the same as the trip towards Halifax had—they met no one, and it was generally quiet. Snake could feel in the air, though, the bite of winter that remained all the time now. He was much happier for the blankets that he carried with him now. The thought of nestling up in the warm cloth tonight was enough to make him smile… almost.


They were at the borders, lined with their bony and grinning sentinels on their wooden posts, before the sun reached the western horizon. Snake looked to Vieira, making sure she was doing alright, and then asked, “May I walk you to the Caves? It’d be easier, as some of the stuff in this is yours,” he said, lifting the box under his arm to show what he meant. Regardless of her answer he would accompany her, as he had his own plan. Kaena might not want her taking things for herself, but could she refuse the girl a winter’s-time gift? Snake hoped Kaena liked him enough to let her receive the present.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]
#17
[html]
<style type="text/css">.vieich b {color:#6B3827;}</style>
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/viera3.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:118px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">

The trip was quiet, Vieira clutched on the strap of the satchel as she recollected everything she had. She had to make sure she had everything and the items repeated in her head several times. Blankets, candles, matches, collar, and chain. In addition to that were the herbs and the seeds. She felt they were ingrained into her mind when they got to the border and as she looked at Snake, she smiled and nodded her head. "That will be good," she said and resisted calling him sir for fear it would upset him.


The trip to the caves were not far away and she saw the entrance of Kaena's den. Her heart skipped a beat as they moved and hoped everything she had gotten would please the woman. She came to a stop near the cave and looked expectantly toward Snake, waiting for him to give her her share of blankets and whatever matches he didn't want.

[/html]
#18
[html]
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x242 ... ssnake.png); background-color:#000000; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; text-align:justify;">


She accepted his offer to escort her back to the Caves, and the two began the trek across the harsh landscape of the Waste that Inferni owned. Sometimes Snake wondered why they had chosen this land out of all that they could have, but then he thought that it suited the coyote clan. There was a kind of reckless abandon about it that fit the canines, and that was the end of that thought. After about ten minutes of careful walking, they were outside Kaena’s den. Snake noticed that Vieira looked a little nervous as there was a vague flicker of movement within the cave, and he wasn’t sure how his next action would go about helping that. He went straight towards where the older woman was in her den and, after a few words, he returned to Vieira. There was the faintest hint of a smile on his usually impassive features.


“I asked and she gave me permission, so don’t think you can refuse,” he said firstly, totally oblivious to any connotation one might put with his vague words. He placed the cardboard box on the ground and got out about five blankets—leaving him with a decent amount, and then placed them near her. He also took a handful of matchbooks and placed them on the blankets. But, lastly, he took out the brightly-colored box of Legos (the stuffed reindeer was still hidden; a gift for later) and offered it out to Vieira. “These are like little building blocks—you can make things out of them, and take the things apart and make more things. I thought maybe you’d want something to do when you don’t have any work.” He wasn’t sure how often that was (he didn’t know how busy Kaena kept her), but he was pleased in his gift anyway. He hoped that she would at least get some joy out of it, even if she couldn’t play with them too often.

table credit goes to jacoby
[/html]
#19
[html]

http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/vieitable.jpg); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px dotted #000000; padding: 0px 0px 120px 0px; font-family: verdana, serif; font-size:11px; color:#A48058; line-height:16px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;">


Vieira lingered a little longer outside but Snake didn't. He moved inside the cave before she had a chance to speak and she stood there, dumbfounded, as he spoke to Kaena. Her eyes watched them and she felt a worry inside her. The only thing she could thing of was that she had done wrong and he was telling her owner. Her jaw tightened and she thought back to their trip, trying to pinpoint what she had done. Before she was able to find what happened, Snake returned and without Kaena behind him. Her gaze traveled inside to look at her but Snake spoke and her attention was back on him.

She watched as he pulled out the blankets and more matches, she jerked to pick them up but he pulled something else out and handed it to her. Her golden eyes focused on the box and he explained what they were for and slowly, she reached out and grabbed it. Her heart thumped heavily inside her chest and she still had a bit of worry about what Kaena had said, but apparently she said it was all right for to have them then she could not object. Slowly, a smile crept on her face and she wagged her tail behind her. "Th-thank you, Snake," she said and pulled the box close to her. She flipped the thin lid and looked at the small box, clipable by force. They were all sorts of colors and similar size and shapes. She could not wait to try them out.

The woman felt an urge to hug him but she didn't. She remained still and looked in his direction, a hint of happiness inside her being.



by sie!

<style type="text/css">
.viei-22 b{font-weight:bold; color:#C69A6D; }
.viei-22 p{text-indent:25px; padding:0px 10px 10px 15px; margin:0px;}
</style>
[/html]
#20
[html]
http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/snake.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:130px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;">


Kaena had seemed somewhat indifferent—and equally amused—at what Snake had asked of her, but he didn’t really mind what she thought in the slightest. As long as she agreed, which she did. He thanked the Centurion and continued back to Vieira, who was looking all kinds of nervous. If he had more properly used his ratiocination, he would have figured that she was worrying that he was telling something that she had done wrong to get her in trouble. Snake, not thinking nearly that far ahead, presented her the gift and stood, a sense of distant anticipation on his stoic features.


It took a while for any hint of joy to creep onto Vieira’s features (perhaps she was making sure it wasn’t a trap, Snake thought), but, when it did, she genuinely seemed happy. Her bushy coyote tail wagged behind her, and a smile appeared on a face that seemed nervous or afraid most of the time regardless. It was enough for the tiniest amount of a smile to remain on Snake’s face—a monumental occasion, in truth. Snake smiled sometimes, but only for brief periods of time. To keep such an expression on his face was something unusual for him.


She flipped the box open, looking at the Legos with excitement in her eyes and a grateful message in her voice. Snake shrugged his shoulders sheepishly, looking away briefly as he said, “Don’t mention it—I’m just glad that you like it.” He paused a moment, his tail flicking, before he continued, “I should probably be getting on, though. Thanks for letting me accompany you. What we found there will certainly be useful.” He stooped over again and picked up the cardboard box, looking over it to Vieira. “See you around later, I suppose?” he asked with a vague smile before turning and heading off west, towards the Landfill and his quiet home.

table credit goes to sie
[/html]


Forum Jump: