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* Tarri and Temire and Ennis have been on the road for a few days. After the first day, Tarri's initial anger seemed to subside, and she is almost her usual cheerful self. The third evening, they camp by a stream, and Ennis tactfully takes himself and the horses downstream a ways so that Tarri and Temire can attend to the female necessity of bathing. * Temire is clearly pleased with being able to bathe, but keeps her rapier in easy reach since they are out in the open. It's also apparent that Temire has acquired a few momentoes from her adventures in the form of scars. "So are you feeling better now that you're on the road?" * Tarri peers upstream and down cautiously before wading in, then sighs in relief. "Oh, Blessed Mother, that feels good... I don't know about *better*, but at least I'll have an answer soon." She eyes Temire sidelong. "What about you? You haven't said much about Ilarion. How'd he take it?" * Temire sighs, sounding far more depressed than relieved. "The way he always takes everything. Very maturely. He let me go because he knows that trying to stop me would have just driven me away. But he also implied that he might be seeing someone else by the time we get back. And he didn't really seem that concerned about the prospect." <Tarri> ::looks surprised and worried:: Oh, Mira... Are you sure he meant it that way? <Temire> ::small voice:: No... And part of me just wants to run back to him and don an apron and be like my mother. But the other part of me hopes something does happen so I can go out and have fun without feeling guilty." <Temire> He said something about people growing apart, but I'm not really sure what he meant. I don't think he meant that he's grown up and I'm still a little girl, but I don't really know how else to think about it. <Tarri> ::bites her lip:: Well... Like what happened to San and me. I still loved him, you know. But it wasn't... I could tell that it just wasn't going to work, no matter how much I wanted it to. * Temire tilts her head, "Because he was gone for so long, or because he got possessed or both?" <Tarri> ::thinks:: I don't know. Maybe things wouldn't have changed, if he hadn't gone through that horrible- But maybe they would have, anyway. Maybe... maybe we would've gotten married, and only realized years later that we weren't happy together anymore. ::sighs:: I don't know. It just happened. I don't know why. * Temire scrubs her face, "I love him. Just thinking about him makes my toes curl. But I'm so bored in Marsember never doing anything. And he never says anything but I know he doesn't like it when I go and do something fun. And I don't want to upset him, but I don't want to be bored either and... I just wind up going in circles and never knowing what's going on." <Tarri> ::almost laughs, but glances at Temire again and swallows it:: See, you make it sound like "doing something fun" necessarily leaves him out. No wonder he doesn't care for it. Can't you find something to do that's fun, that he'd enjoy also? * Temire grins, "Well yes, but he has to work, and even I only have so much endurance." * Tarri *does* laugh. "I meant something *else*. Something he could go along with you, for. Sightseeing. Or--," she grimaces, "--horseback riding. Or swimming, or acting, or... something you could do together." * Temire gesticulates in frustration, "I just... The only time I really have fun anymore is when I'm doing something that most people insist on labelling dangerous, or insane, or something similar. I just... I can't seem to find anything calm that I enjoy." <Tarri> ::smiles a little:: Now I *do* feel sorry for Ilarion. ::more seriously:: Do you really mean that you're *only* happy when you're adventuring? Or just that you think you'd be unhappy if you had to give it up entirely? * Temire sighs and looks at her hands, "I don't know how to describe it. When I'm in the middle of a fight... It just feels so... It's like I come alive. Like I was only pretending to exist and then the fight starts and I finally do exist. And then of course, the fight ends, and I go back to not really seeming to exist." * Tarri gives Temire a worried look, then dunks under the water for a count of ten. When she comes back up, she looks at Temire seriously. "Mira, that's no way to live. It's bad for you. Not to mention how unfair it is to poor Ilarion. What would you do if you got hurt, and couldn't fight anymore?" * Temire sighs and hangs her head, her hair half hiding her face, "I don't know. Maybe concentrate on learning magic instead." <Tarri> ::frowns, but shakes her head as she climbs out of the stream and reaches for her clothes:: Are you sure you haven't lost some important bit of yourself in the Ether, Mira? ::shakes her head:: Hurry up and finish. If Master Ennis waters those horses any longer, they're going to slosh. * Temire dunks her head under the water, then gets out and starts dressing as well. Her movements are mechanical, but her expression is nothing short of horrified. "You don't think Bane did something to me when he kicked me out of the Ether. I mean, I haven't been able to go back since then." <Tarri> ::blinks at her friend:: I wasn't serious... I'm no priest, but... why would he bother? ::she shakes her head and starts climbing the bank:: I guess if it really bothers you, you could talk to a priest. * Temire sighs as she follows Tarri, "One more thing to add to my list of things to discuss with Loria." <Tarri> ::calling up the road:: Master Ennis? You can come back now! <Ennis> ::his voice amused as he calls over the jingle and stamp of the horses:: Are ye certain 'tis safe fer me tender eyes? <Temire> ::jokingly:: If they hurt too much I could pluck them out for you. <Tarri> ::matching his amusement:: Well, no, but we need a strong back to help set up the tents. <Ennis> ::dryly to Temire, as he returns from picketing out the horses, packed tents and bedrolls slung over his shoulder:: Yer a peach, lass, truly. * Temire looks at Ennis a bit bemusedly, "Thank you... I think." * Ennis surveys the ground, and then glances at Tarri. "Tents here, lass?" <Tarri> ::smiles:: If that seems reasonable to you. I can cook over a fire, but I haven't done much camping out. <Ennis> ::smiling back with a twinkle:: I bow t' th' dama's wisdom. And her cooking. ::eyeing the ground once more and clearing a space in the middle carefully for a fire before starting to set up the tents on the upwind side:: * Temire helps Ennis set the tents up. * Tarri starts the fire, and then goes into the trees to find the picketed horses and her cooking gear. <Narrator> ::a dim shape, far above, circles the small camp:: <Tarri> ::The horses whicker uneasily, and Tarri lays a hand over her mare's long nose.:: Hush, girl, be still. There's nothing in these woods to harm us. * Ennis looks up with a small frown in the direction of the horse picket. "Did ye hear aught, lass?" <Narrator> ::the speck circles lower:: * Temire shakes her head, "I thought I heard Tarri talking to the horses, but otherwise, no." * Tarri quiets her horse enough to open the saddlepack and retrieve her skillet and a knife. She sets them aside, and starts rummaging in the food bag. <Ennis> Hn. ::turns his attention to the tents again, staking down the lines, every so often glancing over his shoulder for Tarri's return.:: <Tarri> ::Temire's gelding dances in place, and Tarri looks up, amused:: Yes, yes, you'll get your share in a moment... * Temire continues preparing the camp, apparently unconcerned about Ennis or the horses. <Narrator> ::circles again, then can't seem to resist a hunting cry, not quite the full-chested squawk of an adult, but reveals itself as an immature griphon:: * Temire does look up at the sound of the cry, looking for the hawk that produced it. * Tarri looks up sharply at the cry, her eyes growing wide as she realizes the creature is more than a simple hawk. The horses shie and try to pull free of their pickets at the sound:: * Ennis looks from Temire towards the picket, and starts to run towards the horses. "Temire, lass... get yer blade. Summat's upsettin' 'em." <Tarri> ::trying desperately to calm the horses:: No, no, don't- You'll just-- Master Ennis! She snatches up her knife before a horse can stamp on it.:: * Temire grabs her sword and races for the horses, quickly overtaking Ennis. <Ennis> ::his voice tense, his attention seeming more on the horses than her. His accent is thicker:: Summat's no' righ'. What's upset ye puir creatures, then? ::the horses seem to settle a little as he pats their necks and bends to free them from the picket and gather in their reins, but they still whicker nervously:: Some manner o' predator above, summat big. ::he reaches for his staff, leaning by the tree:: Stay under cover. <Tarri> ::pointing up at the sky visible between the trees:: I saw it! It was *huge*! <Narrator> ::circles again this time low enough to be seen, its cry scaring the horses and forcing them to separate:: <Tarri> ::lets out a little shriek as they spot the griffon:: Oh, Blessed Mother, what do we *do*? <Ennis> Shh, shh... ::soothing the horses as best he can under the circumstances.:: Na, na, I'll protect ye as best I may, I'll not let th' great beastie get near ye... stay under cover, stay in safety, ye'll no outrun it... <Temire> Oh bloody lovely. Just absolutely marvellous. ::hangs her sword off the pommel of her saddle and starts rummaging in a saddle bag, coming up with a rolled bundle.:: * Tarri bites her lip and snatches up her skillet as well, then glances at the others. "Master Ennis, have you- Temire, what are you doing?" <Narrator> ::the griphon dives, snags a clawful of Tarri's horse's saddle. Fortunately, or perhaps not, the girth isn't as strong as it might have been, and subjected to several hundred pounds of panicked horseflesh, it gives way. The horse goes tumbling free and the griphon swoops off, taking great chunks of leather out of the saddlery:: * Tarri does not scream as the griffon dives through the clearing, but it's probably due to lack of air rather than bravery. She stares after it as it climbs into the air again, her emerald eyes wide. * Temire grabs her sword and moves out into the open where she has a clear view of the griphon, dropping her sword and bundle at her feet. <Ennis> ::warily:: Temire, what're ye aboot? An' that thing-- FAITH! ::releasing the other reins and diving for the captured horse, his staff whirling quickly over his head to strike at the grasping talons, missing as the girth snaps and the beast takes off with his booty.:: <Narrator> ::the griphon realizes it really hasn't obtained anything remotely edible yet and seems to almost sulk as it turns another circle:: * Temire begins casting a spell, watching the griphon, and waiting for it to dive again. <Narrator> ::circles again, lower this time, turning its beaky head to study Tarri's horse hungrily:: * Ennis shouts angrily, waving his arms and stamping in a desperate attempt to affright it away. <Tarri> ::as the griffon swoops by again, Tarri shouts angrily and swings her iron skillet at it, though it isn't nearly close enough for her to hit.:: * Temire continues to wait, tracking the griphon constantly. <Narrator> ::the griph doesn't seem remotely concerned about noisy humans, although it does swerve a bit away from Tarri's killer cookware:: * Temire completes her spell and a shimmering red bolt races from her hand to strike the griphon. <Narrator> ::the griphon shrieks in pain as it is singed a bit, then lands not far from Temire and pounces towards the woman, both angry at being hurt and viewing the skinny girl as a potentially less heavy meal:: <Tarri> MIRA! ::She starts toward her friend, then stops, and shifts to approach the griffon from its injured side.:: <Ennis> Oh, no, ye don'! ::running towards the griphon and using his staff as an aid to vault for the creature's back:: <Narrator> ::the griphon freezes in complete shock, Temire pinned under it, as Ennis lands squarely on its back:: * Temire mutters another spell and places her hands on either side of the griphon's chest. <Tarri> ::As the griffon freezes, Tarri jumps forward and swings her iron skillet with all her strength down on its wing.:: * Ennis uses the beast's brief startlement to settle his seat, hooking his heels firmly under the wings and sliding his staff under its chin, holding on either end with both hands. <Narrator> ::the griphon goes absolutely insane at being ridden, rearing and bucking, not caring about anything else, not Temire's shock, not its bruised and somewhat defeathered wing, its entire focus being on getting this ravening lunatic meal OFF its back:: * Tarri backs hurriedly away from the flailing creature, a scream hanging silently in her throat as she watches Ennis' wild ride. * Temire rolls out from under the griphon, snagging her sword as she does so and taking a talon across the back for her troubles. * Ennis holds on for dear life, fully aware that if he loses his hold on *this* bronc, he *will* be its next meal. He clings like a tick, hauling back on his staff to try to cut off the creature's wind. <Narrator> ::the griphon manages to duck its head far enough after an enthusiastic bucking spree, to take Ennis's staff in its beak. With a splintering *crunch*, the staff breaks in half:: * Temire draws her sword and lunges at the griphon's face since the beak is momentarily occupied. * Ennis curses and rears back as the staff is bit in twain, one half in each hand. He clings even more tightly with his knees, adjusting his grip of the half-staves and using them as clubs to drub on the unfortunate bird-monster's skull. * Tarri looks around desperately for some way to help, but finds nothing. <Narrator> ::the griphon leaps into the air, then twists, catlike, in mid-air in an attempt to dislodge its persistent rider:: * Tarri gasps, and darts forward to try to catch Ennis, if he should be shaken loose. * Temire races forward and retrieves her rolled bundle before jumping out of the griphon's immediate range. * Ennis cries out as the horizon suddenly bucks and twists crazily, diving backwards for the ground and going loose for the inevitable fall. <Narrator> ::the griphon, beset on all sides by some exceptionally hostile dinner, decides to go have a salad somewhere nice and calm, with a relaxing atmosphere:: * Tarri does not so much "catch" Ennis as "provide a soft landing spot", but both of them roll to the ground with little more serious than bruises. * Temire watches the griphon for several moments to ensure that it is in fact leaving before walking over to help Tarri and Ennis up. "Everyone all right?" * Tarri ignores Temire's hand for a moment, panting. "Blessed Mother, protect me... I thought this road was supposed to be *safe*!" * Ennis lies on his back, dazed and panting, still clutching the half-staves tightly in both hands. "Jes... let me be a mo', lass... least 'til th' ground stop spinnin'." * Temire smiles down at Tarri, "It is safe. If it wasn't we'd have to fight bandits AND wild animals." <Tarri> ::scowls at Temire:: Just for that, you can go find the horses by yourself. <Ennis> ::cracks an eye open to look around, groans, and thinks better of it, closing his eye again:: Th' horses... they're all righ'? <Tarri> I think so. They ran off. * Temire laughs, "All right, just tell me how bad my back is before I do." Temire turns showing the back of her shirt has been slit open with blood seeping from a shallow wound. * Tarri winces in sympathy, then pokes gently at Temire's back. "Not too bad. But my kit's in my pack, so I can't wrap you up until we get her back." She sighs and climbs slowly to her feet. <Ennis> Wiser beasts than their masters, aye. ::keeps his eyes closed, concentrating on air going in and out of his poor bruised lungs:: * Tarri straightens slowly, then sighs and starts walking after one set of horse tracks. |
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