Traveling

[Azrek]

Azrek stopped in his tracks with an at ease expression on his sun burnt face and look to the sky, imaging the shapes of the clouds. He let out a drawn out sigh, thinking of the people who were not blind as he was, and still didn’t bother to go outside and watch the sun rise in the morning. Shaking his head, his long blonde hair flying around, he began to walk again. His left hand gripped the pommel of his sheathed blade, feeling the grooves that most wouldn’t even notice.

As he walked he thought back to the days before the men came to his home, taking his parents and his eyes. He regretted never taking the time to really enjoy what was around him such as the ocean or just the buildings in the villages, but now… he forgot what it all was. That day was so long ago, he had lived for such a long time, enhancing his other senses. He appreciated the fact that he could hear a pen drop from half way across the room, and that he could tell what any smell was. He especially loved to go out of town and smell the flowers. He even found beauty in the smells that most people thought were repulsive.

He sniffed the air, but only smelled the dirt path that led into the mountains and the trees surrounding that path. Song birds chirped all around the countryside along with the oh so noisy locusts. These sounds soothed him. Azrek knew at least that the sun was out, due to the heat, but all he knew about the weather was that it was not raining... or snowing for that matter.

Azrek shook his head to move away the thoughts that often flowed through his mind. Just as he began to wonder if he would come across someone else that was exploring, he heard footsteps from behind him. “Hello?” He asked as he turned around. His hand gripped the pommel even harder. There was no telling if someone was friendly or not.

[Slaner]

The mountain pass proved long and tiring to Tristran. He had been traveling for several days along the pass trying to reach Tamasha. He legs grew sore and his joints grew stiff. He would have to camp soon or he would collapse from exhaustion.

Further down the path, he saw another figure following the road. It had felt like centuries had passed since Tristran had seen any sign of human life. Still, Tristran knew better than to walk up to someone and decide to have a chit chat. The world isn’t all that sweet. He made his way closer to the figure, keeping as quiet as possible, so as not to let the man know he was here. He finally came close to the man when he suddenly turned around.
“Hello?” the man asked.
Shocked at the man’s acute hearing, Tristran straightened himself up and bowed his head.
“Hello fellow traveler. I am sorry if I disturbed you. My name is Tristran.”

Tristran examined the man and finally understood the man’s excellent hearing. He was blind, yet he seemed no less capable to fight or travel than Tristran. Tristran was amazed to see such a man traveling, no less alone.
“ May I ask what your name is?” asked Tristran.

[Azrek]

The man spoke. “Hello fellow traveler. I am sorry if I disturbed you. My name is Tristran. May I ask what your name is?”

Azrek let out a silent sigh of relief and loosened his grip on the blade. He quickly tore the band from around his head, stuffing it into his belt. He looked slightly to the ground, hoping that Tristran had not noticed he was a blind man. With a warm smile, he spoke. “Why would a stranger want my name?” He crossed his arms and took a few steps toward the other man. “Oh, it wouldn’t hurt to share. My name is Azrek.” He paused for a moment to take a breath. “Would you by any chance be headed to Tamasha? If so, maybe you could accompany me there? I am kind of lost.”

[Slaner]

Tristran was glad to find a traveling companion. It had been some time since he had traveled with anyone but Arnon.
“I would be happy to travel with you,” replied Tristran.
“But first, why don’t we set up camp. The sun will set soon and I’m sure we do not want to travel in the dark.”
Tristran walked on the path to find a suitable campsite. It was an open field with some toppled trees scattered around. Perfect for making a shelter. He called to Azrek to come and help out.

Tristran pulled his scimitar from its sheath and cut the tree into moveable pieces. As he worked on building the shelter, he began to wonder how Azrek had survived this long while being blind. He truly mst have been trained well in overcoming his disadvantage and turning into an advantage. It was amazing to Tristran to see such an obstacle overcome.

After some time, a sturdy shelter was built to withstand the night. Tristran pulled the remaining wood pieces into a pile and began a fire.
“Come sit next to the fire,” called Tristran as he pulled some pieces of meat and a pan from his bag. He put the pan with the meat over the fire.
“So, what brings you to the mountains, friend?” asked Tristran.
“Surely there must be more to your story than just going to Tamasha.”

[Azrek]

After the completion of the shelter, Azrek crossed his arms and walked away from the camp. He listened to the bird’s last song’s of the day, as night crept upon the land. “Come sit next to the fire,” He turned to the voice of his new companion, and coughed as the smoke of the fire blew into his face. Azrek nodded and walked toward Tristran, sitting on the opposite side of the fire. “So, what brings you to the mountains, friend? Surely there must be more to your story than just going to Tamasha.”

“Well, I don’t even know why I am here,” He responded. “This is just where my journey’s have brought me. You see, I have been traveling for many years now. Just letting the road take me where it pleases. And I am very happy that it has brought me here.” Azrek paused and took a deep breath, stroking a hand through his greasy hair.

“So… why are you here?

[Slaner]

Tristran chuckled as he heard Azrek’s story.
“You sound a lot like me. I’ve been traveling these roads for a long time. My only true friend I have now is Arnon.”
Tristran brought his hand up to his mouth and whistled a strange tune into the air. The cry of a hawk echoed across the landscape. Arnon, his hawk companion, was as beautiful as he was deadly. His elegant motions through the sky made it seem as though he was swimming through the air. He flew to Tristran’s extended arm and perched himself on it, nibbling at his Tristran’s fingers.
“We have been together for many years and we follow the roads until we can’t any longer.”
Arnon continued to nibble his fingers, as though he was asking for food. Tristran pulled some pieces of meat off of the pan and held them up for Arnon to enjoy.
“We have a long ways to go before we reach the village,” explained Tristran.
“First we have to get to the other side of the mountains and then continue through the Selkia Forest. At this rate, it will most likely take us a week or two to reach it.”
After finishing the last few pieces of meat, Arnon took off into the sky to patrol the area around.

The meat began to simmer over the fire, signaling to Tristran that it was ready. He pulled out two small plates and put the meat on the two. He handed one bowl to Azrek and the other he left on his side.
“Go ahead dig in. I’m not that bad of a cook, trust me.”
Tristran ate several pieces of the meat and turned his head to the sky. The moon was high now and the sky was covered with stars. Tristran admired it’s beauty and watched the stars flicker and shine.
“Well I should probably head off to bed. Tomorrow we start off once again. Goodnight.”
Tristran headed for the shelter and quickly fell into a deep slumber.

[lust]

It was going to happen at any second. She could feel it. Her stomach was going to betray and eat her. Cesaria cringed at the thought. She cringed mentally anyway. She was currently in the form of a white kitten. That stupid bird! It should have just died! She thought to herself. Food hasn't come around in quite awhile. I cannot believe this. Of all the birds, the one I find had to be a retired war hero or something. She winced recalling the wounds she received from it. She could feel herself growing weaker as she walked. Her wounds were still open and bleeding since she hasn't yet tended to them. Her coat must certainly be red by now.

Ah! A bug! Cesaria charged at the large grasshopper, and missed. Miscalculating her distance, she was off by a good foot. Wow, this loss of blood must be really getting to me. Shame I'm not the type to do anything about it. It's not like I have anything to cover it with... The grasshopper disappeared into some tall grass. "Next time you'll be-- What's that..." She whispered softly to herself. A dying fire. Meat! She started running the direction her nose took her.

Minutes later she was outside of the camp of two strange looking men. She could sense that one was asleep and the other still awake. UGH SLEEP NOW! She screamed at him mentally. Sitting down, she waited. He would sleep sometimes. She would get in, get out and be on her way.

[Azrek]

((Meh… Sorry it took so long for me to post. I’ve had school stuff. Oh, and it’s a tiny post…))

It had been about an hour after Tristran had fallen asleep, and it was very dark on the mountain path. Azrek jumped at the occasional hooting of an at first, but as the night went on he became more and more used to it. Yawning, Azrek faced Tristran, wondering what he looked like. He yawned once again, then decided it was time for him to go to sleep too.

As he walked to where he would sleep for the night he heard feet slapping against the ground. Something small was coming toward the camp sight. Food maybe? He sniffed, smelling blood, and shrank into the shadows. He listened for any sign of the creature. Maybe it would go for the little amount of leftovers that sat over the fire. Slowly, silently, he unsheathed the blade at his waist.

“Come on…” He mumbled.

[lust]

Ah he's walking away! Cesa nearly tripped over her paws as she dashed towards the leftovers, quietly of course. She did end up tripping over her paws, and did a sort of roll, landing in front of the dying fire and remaining meat. Shaking away the dirt that gathered on her coat, she slowly walked around the fire. Mmmm. She pulled down the plate with the leftovers and it crashed onto the floor. She began eating up immediately savoring each bite. She had completely forgotten about the man that was still awake and still in the area.

[Azrek]

As the cat messed around with the food Azrek narrowed his brows, confused. A cat? Out in the middle of nowhere? He looked closer and saw that blood was slowly seeping from a wound. Seeing that it was focused solely on the food, he moved slowly around the camp in the shadows. As he came behind the furry creature he went to quickly sheath his blade, but missed, striking his own hand. Immediately, he yelped dropping the sword to the ground and holding his left hand with his right. His mouth was wide open in pain. Not seeing what the cat was doing, he picked up the blade and cut off a slice of his clothes. He rapped the black cloth around the wound and tied it tightly. Slowly now, he sheathed the blade and looked up to see what the cat was up to, now that it knew he was there.

[lust]

Cesaria practically jumped out of her skin when she heard the yelp of pain. She was to much into her food to hear him creep up behind her. She bounced over the fire and ran into tall grass and darkness. Taking a quick glance back, she saw a strange man holding his left hand. He was also looking up. Ah he's blind. She didn't move. She knew that most blind made up for it with hearing. She even steadied her panting to match his own pattern of breathing. Thankfully he was blind, if he could see, all he would have to do is follow the trail of her blood. Then again, she could easily follow the scent, maybe he could too. Cesa was ready to dash at any sudden movements. Yet, she waited.

[Azrek]

He pulled the hood around his head to hide his bright blonde hair, which might give him away in the dark… Wait, wait! Cesa wasn’t by the fire. Why does it matter if this doesn’t see me? What could it possibly do to me? Might as well just let it eat our leftovers and be on its way. Well… I don’t know what it is. But, by the sound of it it was a very small animal. Like a squirrel or even a cat. Why would a cat be out here? And why would a squirrel be eating meat. Shaking his head, he listened for any more foot steps. He sniffed, smelling blood mixed with the dirt.

Azrek walked slowly into the light of the camp fire, smelling for the blood. He listened to all of the sounds of the night and finding out the distinct sound of his soft foot steps, he would know if the creature moved. For a split second he thought that he heard breathing, but it stopped, so he ignored it. He stood still and held his breath. He had learned that if he eliminated the noises coming from his body, he could more easily find what he was seeking. Hearing another soft breath, he faced it. Azrek smiled and walked toward the noise.

[lust]

Cesaria didn't like people. Men, even worse. He turned to her direction. His sense of smell or hearing must be really advanced to have detected her. He smiled and began to walk towards her. She let out a low growl, a warning. She wasn't in the mood for fighting. She could barely stand as is. Worse, she was still . Decisions, decisions. Another step closer and she would hightail it.

[Azrek]

As Azrek walked toward the previous noise, he knew that the creature was where he was headed because it let out a growl. He jumped and stumbled backwards. Losing his balance, he slipped, falling to the ground. As he fell, he turned his head to his left hearing the crackling fire that he was in fact falling toward. Azrek yelped, turning his head to his front. The back of his head collided with the metal pan above the fire that he and his companion had not used while cooking their meat. As the rest of his body hit the ground, he rolled to the left, away from the heat. He reached a hand behind his head as he lay on the grass, feeling warm blood. His eyes blind eyes rolled back into his head and their lids covered them. He passed out.