Private Tales Any Hearth In A Storm

[Calla of Nuastone]

This far north, even the summer’s grasp was tenuous at best.

The weather had been… decent. It was never truly warm, though grass had grown up along every available patch of sunlight-soaked land, and most of the trees bore leaves of varying hues of green. It might have even fooled most into thinking that summer was well and truly there to stay… except those who had lived here would be unsurprised when the temperature dropped suddenly, dark clouds rolling in from the hills ominously, born on a wind that was as icy as anything in the depths of winter.

The storm didn’t drop a ton of snow, but it was enough to dust everything in a thin coating of sparkling white, the cold keeping the snow around even as the sun peeked through the clouds. It was only a temporary lull in the storm -- a late-coming gift from the mountains and caught by warm currents coming up from the north -- and something that those in this area were well-used to. It would be three days of off-and-on snowfall, battening down everything underneath the heavy white stuff, before the sun finally could fight its way through the heavy clouds and bring summer back for good.

The sunlight was a brief break in the crouching snowstorm, affording the smallest of chances to make it to shelter, though most roads were all but invisible underneath the layer of snow that had already found its way to the ground.

So there was no real traffic on the road, even though it was a theoretically well-travelled one, the snow stretching unbroken up and down its wandering path. Only the burdened trees hunkered low with snow on their branches and the occasional sound of animals moving in the brush, seeking respite from the oncoming onslaught. And, there, hunkered up against one of the trees, a snow-draped form.

She almost blended in, with her white hair and her off-grey scales, only the dark blue cloth of her cloak breaking up the monochromatic span that covered almost everything visible as far as the eye could see. It was rare to see a Komodo this far north, for she was certainly that, from the sweeping double set of horns visible under the drape of her hood, to the clawed hands that gripped the cloak to her, her tail just barely visible from where the cloak had fallen away from it. Strapped to her back was a glittering crystal-headed hammer, impressively large and gleaming in the sunlight like there was additional light trapped within its head.

A pack sat half-buried near the side of the road, abandoned, almost as if it had been dropped without realizing it, and the Komodo slumped up against the tree, her head down. She didn’t seem to be asleep, at least, she wasn’t relaxed or peaceful looking -- her expression was pained, but distant, too, unresponsive, and her scales, instead of being a nice flush silver-white color, were ashen grey and torpid looking.

Unexpected cold snap? Not exactly the greatest thing for a cold-blooded creature like the white-haired female.

Karl von Stehlen

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
-John Quincy Adams

Through the blizzard, the rapidly falling snow...a faint light could be spotted from the distance, if one were looking. It was hard to really spot the details, only the light shiny through the thick snowfall...and it was being held up high, illuminating the path forward...closing in on the Komodo's position...the figure was dark, darker then the grey shades of snow falling all around....it was even clearer, given how the light shined off the figure....

Said figure would continue forward, through the harsh winds, almost unimpeded...except for the snow he had to plow forward in...more focused on moving forward then anything else...it might have even moved passed the Komodo...had it not been for somthing that caught it's eye...as it suddenly stopped, as if to observe the pile...before it reached for it's side...where it's weapon rested....
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When the Komodo would finally awaken, she'd find herself enveloped by quite a bit of warmth...least, compared to the temperatures she had previously endured. She would find herself with a merrid of blankets covering her, attempting to cover her entire body. She had been resting upon a soft and comfy cushion surface, to which if she were to look closely, was actually a pretty sizable bed...yet even so, it was barely fitting an individual of her statue.

Were to Komodo to further look, she would observe herself within what one might call the "master bed room". It was a well decorated bedroom, with what you'd expect to find in such a place: Bookshelf, writing desk and chair, armor rack, etc. The windows to the side of the room had their drapes down, but one could hear the harsh wind blowing outside... But perhaps the most notable thing about the room was the warm glow, the fireplace, not to far from the bed, a stack of logs resting besides the placement. The fire itself was burning nice and toasty, but it seemed that fresh logs had been recently placed into the fire to fuel's it's bright light.

Everything would be rather...quiet...other then the crackling of the blaze and the blowing of the outside wind...a wonder how she'd gotten here from the outside...

She was about to find out.

As a muffled clanking sound would come from the nearby door, no doubt someone whereing armor. The clanking would grow louder by the secound...

....clank...clank...clank...clank....

Then suddenly...The door would creek open slowly....revealing what almost looked like a piece of armor moving into the room...face plate covering the face, and it's plume brushing against the door way as he moved...I would've added massive as well, but he was almost certainly shorter then the Komodo...but that didn't take away from his exterior almost appeared soulless...and he was armored...given his blade in his sheath....but perhaps the more noticeable part of him...in his hands...he held a tray...containing a bowl and a mug...both appeared to be steaming....​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

Calla came awake slowly, painfully. Her entire body hurt, the effects of the sudden torpor that had set upon her not wearing off even in the warmer ambient temperatures. It was just enough to wake her up, not enough for her to feel right again, and she struggled to focus on the fire, on her surroundings. The last thing she remembered… she could barely think of it. She’d been walking. No, hurrying. Somewhere… there was somewhere important she had to be, and then the sky had gone grey, and everything had just… gone dark. Shadows creeping in from the edge of her vision as her body shut down around her.

It was not a sensation the Komodo found she liked.

The fire beckoned to her, promising warmth that she desperately needed and desperately couldn’t find for herself… but her body. It was betraying her. Her legs weak and unsteady, her arms leaden, her mind fuzzy and disconnected from what was around her. She meant to climb from the bed, move swaddled in a blanket to crouch closer to the fire, where more of its life-giving heat could reach her… However, that’s not what happened.

Not so much ‘climbing’ as ‘tumbling’ from the bed, she found the ground unwelcomingly cold stone, and immediately regretted leaving the warmth of the bed. But it was only so much warmth, none generated by herself, and she needed the fire…

… so by the time the clanging reached her ears, she’d already spent the last of her energy just getting closer to the fire, propped up against the wall next to it for she didn’t dare attempt to sit up on her own.

Crimson eyes watched the -- man? Man, it smelled like a man in here, human, not orc or elf as far as she could tell -- as he entered the room, her scales still dull and grey and her head resting against the wall. It certainly wasn’t a comfortable position, her tail sort of half-pinned underneath her, but it was as close as to the fire as she could get, and she didn’t know where else to find the warmth that she so desperately needed. Her gaze drifted to the tray that he held in his hands, then back to the faceplate that obscured the face of her savior.

“... thank.. you,” she managed, her voice slurred, indistinct to her ears. The tip of her tail twitched dissatisfaction at her own inability, her eyes closing as she leaned closer to the fire. Dangerously close, now, enough that burns were a distinct possibility, but she didn’t seem to register that, at least not enough to do anything about it.

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

Karl had came into the kitchen to find that this...women, he had dragged in from the snow, was sprawled across the cold hard floor. The knight had no idea how long she had been like this, as he had left her in the room to warm up for quite sometime...while he prepared somthing warm for himself and his new guest.

It had been quite the freak snowstorm that had occurred, which in of itself might have been too strange...had this not been the middle of summer. Indeed, this far from natural...there had to be some external factor causing this weather now. Too bad Karl couldn't really investigate, given that he had been snowed in. Well...he probably would have been fine...his armor could have been quite insulating, allowing him some resistance to this kind of weather...but Karl didn't want to put his companion, Daisy, through the cold...and Karl really didn't know how far the source really was...all that could have been done was to wait out the storm...or at least, wait for it to subside a bit.

Now, where were they? The knight had decided to stay a day at his mentor's manor, given that he had been close by because of his last assignment and at the moment he was to in-between assignments. Karl's mentor himself was out, no doubt carrying out an assignment for the Order, so that left the entire manor to himself. Of course, Karl spent the day tiding up the place, doing various chores, etc...until the snow storm hit out of nowhere. This was quite startling, yet more importantly, Karl had to get the manor ready for the sudden snow. By the time he had finished these preparations, the snow storm had picked up to a point where it had been very difficult to see five feet in front of oneself.

Luckily, his mentor kept surplus supplies in case of emergencies...or rather, Karl had stocked up surplus supplies in case his mentor needed it...a good thing now, considering the freak circumstance. The knight could only hope the surrounding village and towns fared the same...but at the moment, it was probably not a good idea to venture out into the snow alone.

And, Karl probably would have stayed in the manor and even fallen asleep...if he hadn't been looking outside when he did. Somehow, Karl had spotted somthing in the distance...which is pretty impressive, given how the manor was actually a bit far from the main road, and at that moment one could barely see that far ahead...but the figure was big and it...kinda disappeared into the snow...

Could it been a monster? Lurking around in the snow? Probably? Probably would have been safer to stay in doors but...somthing urged the knight out in the cold...weather it be sheer instinct that somthing was amiss...a sense of responsibility to investigate trouble...or just sheer boredom.

Either way, he had found a body in the snow...a big, female looking body, covered in snow...but more importantly, she was breathing when he got to her.

Now?...she was lying on the stone cold floor...but it didn't escape the knights attention that she was closer to the fire...no doubt to garner more warmth. The "thank you" practically flew over the knights head, he was too concern in the state of this...being, on the floor...she certainly couldn't stay like that; she'd probably be colder on the floor then in the bed...least that's what the knight reasoned.

The knight would take a moment to sigh, before taking steps forward into the room. He'd reach over towards the nightstand next to the bed, making sure the tray was tucked in on the table. Next, the knight would flip his faceplate up, as perhaps not to startle this being too much. Might have helped if she saw that he was human? Not just some magically moving armor? To further prove that point, the lad began to undo his metal gauntlets, placing them on the same night stand the tray on, before stepping back over to the women and kneeling down.

Karl looked at the women, sighing once more as he began to think about how to move her. What was he going to do with her? Really only one thing he could: Karl gingerly reached around the women, trying to get a good grip on her so he could lift/guide her back to the bed.

Karl's armor, it should be noted, was not as cold as it would seem; the lad had been near a fire for a while, so his plate was, while not burning hot, was at least at room temperature...which is a long way of saying that the knight's armor was not compltely freezing....​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

Calla wasn’t sure how much time had passed between the man entering the room and when he knelt by her side to reach out towards her -- one moment her head was lolling against the stone wall and the next bare hands were touching her. Her crimson eyes opened once more, focusing on him with obvious effort… Human, indeed, revealed by the lack of helmet now, his hands rough and warm enough to almost be uncomfortable on her chilled skin, and not one that she recognized, though that wasn’t unusual.

He’d find that she’d only warmed to the ambient temperature of the room, only the parts of her nearest the fire showing any sort of degree higher. She wasn’t freezing anymore, but the grey cast to her scales didn’t seem to be going away or getting any better. She also wasn’t shivering, which would have been unusual for a human, but not so much a Komodo…

He was trying to move her. She registered that, and dimly thought about how heavy she was and how strong he was that he’d gotten her this far. It was only after a moment that she thought she should help, best she could… at least, until it became obvious that he was taking her away from the fire, back towards the bed. While the bed was warmer than the floor and potentially much more comfortable, it was also further from the fire, and the Komodo let out a low, rumbling hiss, focusing on him.

“... heat,” she rumbled. “... need…”

By the time she’d gotten that out, he’d already half carried, half-dragged her to the bed, the soft mattress sinking underneath her weight. Her hands slid up, wrapping around his neck for just a second as she pulled him towards her, her face nuzzling into his, her cool cheek against his own.

“Can’t… warm…” Her hold on him was tenuous at best, and she found herself sinking away from him, back into the bed, curling up on her side as if that would help her conserve heat, whatever little bit she’d gleaned from the fire. “Can’t warm .. myself,” she sighed, her eyes closing. She was just… so tired. The darkness wanted to drag her back down and she couldn’t find the strength in her to fight it... She wasn't looking so good, either. The small amount of color she'd gotten into her scales was already fading, her coloration dulling even as she sank back into torpor...

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

This wasn't the first time Karl had to drag someone heavier then him onto a bed, and perhaps this might not be the last time. Something like this was certainly not foreign to him, as he focused on utilizing his strength to bring her about as gently as he can. Perhaps it was the effort that had him distracted, hardly noticing a difference when she had brought herself up to him...assuming that she had simply been brushing up on him in the moving process. Quite a bit of effort later, Karl had gotten the first half of the women onto the bed...moments later, the rest of her body followed, as the knight heaved her lower half upwards...then down onto the bed...taking care to place her in a manner that allowed her tail some free reign.

The women's pleas for warmth never escaped the lad's attention...but this was a step-by-step process, least in the knight's mind. The first step was getting her off the cold floor, the secound would be to insulate her in the blankets so that no further heat could escape from her body...which was exactly what Karl did, as he began to cover the women once again in layers and layers of blankets. She was no doubt cold, but she was warmer when Karl had first brought her in...haphazardly laying her on his mentor's bed, before going to retrieve nearly every blanket in the house...quite the effort, but the lad didn't mind....but she needed more then to retain her current temperature; she needed more heat.

Obviously, the knight couldn't leave her next to the fire, where there was a threat of her subconscious literally rolling herself into it. The knight had plenty of stories as a squire of forest bite and the lot numbing the senses, stories where campaigning soldiers being so cold during the winter they'd stick they're entire frozen foot into the fire without even realizing it.

Burn wounds were really the last thing that Karl wanted to deal with right now...though...there was one thing he could do in his current state...
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Karl exited his room, a room that had been the same room the knight had used during his days as a page and then squire. However, what was absent was the signature clanking of Karl's armor, which seemed synonymous to his presence. Indeed, the knight had shed his armor, forgoing it in favor of a light tunic and pants that seemed to fit his large, muscled frame well.

It was a bit odd for Karl to be out of his armor, everything seemed lighter wen he was out of it. The knight wore it so much it had practically become a second skin, so much so that even he had a hard time recognizing himself without it. But even Karl had to admit that sleeping in armor can be uncomfortable...it would be a particular shame if there was a comfy bed too, which was the case with the bed in his room.

Sighing, Karl looked over to his side at the kitchen fire, which had been burning steadily. Resting right next to the fire was a bronze pan-like object, Which Karl would soon grab from the fire pit, and proceeded back to his mentor's room.

Now what was this object Karl had been carrying? Why, this was a simple bed warmer, utilizing a slowing burning smolder to keep up the heat, which no doubt would come in handy in warming up the stranger in his mentor's bed. Karl had figured that he'd wrap the bed warmer should do the trick...remedy her temperature until perhaps the morning...where hopefully things would warm up. In the meantime. Karl probably should get some sleep...it had been a long day after all.

Karl would enter his mentor’s room, gently opening the door as he did and peered in. Karl only saw the women’s body in bed, as at first glance he couldn’t tell if she was awake or what...she was probably asleep...so Karl quietly entered the room...reaching his mentor’s bed, he placed the bed warmer onto the nightstand...before lifting off one of the blankets off of the women....laying it out in a bit of free space on the bed, before grabbing the pan and proceeded to wrap it up in the blanket. Now the bed warmer was padded, and it was still radiating heat. The lad would then slide the wrapped bed warmer towards the women, putting it close to her blanketed body...leaning in the process to make sure it was in a snug position...
​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

Calla was aware of the man tucking the blankets around her once again, the Komodo’s crimson eyes focusing on his face with obvious effort before closing as she surrendered to the heavy solemnance that wore down on her. It was just too much work to get fully awake, like struggling upriver against a mighty current that just wanted to pull her down, down, down…

She was only dimly aware when he returned, having lost a substantial chunk of time, it seemed, for he was no longer in his armor. The only reason she even realized it was him was because of his smell -- still tinged in metal like even now he wore a bit of his armor still on him, a second skin that he’d only reluctantly removed. There was the smell of fire, too, contained in his hand, and heat that stirred the large Komodo with a soft rumbling in her chest. He was moving the covers around her, and she could feel the promise of heat…

… but not from the metal.. Thing that he carried. From him.

Even as he leaned over her, she reacted almost without even thinking, her arms sliding up around him and pulling him down towards her. The ‘attack’ was surprisingly swift, considering how little movement she’d displayed before then, but decisive, instantly pulling him into her with another of those low rumbles… less a hiss and more a sound of satisfaction now, her cool body pressing against his as she practically curled around him. For such a large, strong woman in such a poor state of being, she was still surprisingly gentle, ever so mindful of not hurting him.

“Warm,” she breathed, her face nuzzling into the curve of his neck as she cuddled him closer to her. He smelled good, too, all metal and leather, the distant tinge of oil and sweat layered underneath, the light fabric of his top doing little to obscure the heat of his muscles. Another contented sigh slid from her as she relaxed, not seeming to pay any heed to any objections he had. Truthfully, she’d be embarrassed by her actions, certainly, but she was acting on baser instincts, and those instincts needed what he had, unintentionally, proffered…

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

To say Karl was caught off guard was an understatement, the lad hardly ever had his guard down...and he maybe he should of had his guard up, he had a stranger in his house after all...granted, she seem to be slipping in and out of conscious, but you never know...she wasn't exactly human, so predictability was a bit more challenging here...

Still, Karl should have been more careful, in fact the knight had immediately assumed she was going to choke him or somthing...hostile intent, after all...when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail...same thing goes for being a knight...your always on edge of the dangers lurking around the corner.

Karl might have very well jawlined the women too, were it not for the fact that he felt her face press against his neck, causing to freeze...as the knight felt his face heating up, which was an incredibly rare sight for the likes of him...had anyone been there to see it. Too bad...least no one was here to see the big hunking knight flustered...It also didn't help that she was now wrapping around him...and albeit it her skin was cold...this might very well be the first time the big knight had been held.

Sure, he had embraced people in the past before when usually the other wanted such things. But it had always been him embracing them...it was hard to do the other way around because of how big Karl was...it wasn't as easy...even as a child, Karl couldn't remember one time being carried around by his caretaker...he was too heavy for most of them to lift him...an envy towards his siblings that went unsaid.

You might have not even known that Karl had...thought this was nice...his expression remained the same, with only the light streak of red across his face betraying his feelings...and it was not like Karl fooled around all that much, not that there were any restrictions in regards to either of his status...his younger sister did it all the time, and the Order could care less about personal intimacies...it was just...most of the "courting" that Karl ever did was either formal or fun; Formal, as in noble families or some other upstart tried to arrange marry into the family...which both Karl and his family had very little interest in...and the fun, well...let's put it this way, a women once told him that a block of wood had more personality then him.

Which Karl could careless about what people thought...but it didn't really do much favor for his "social" life...not that he took part in much of it, he was always focused more on responsibility. Protecting his family, his people, and his realm took a higher priority.

But in a state like this?...Well...okay, it didn't feel like a bad thing...felt nice...having someone else wrapped around you...almost like a protective feel...maybe Karl should have stood up, he was more then strong enough if he could drag her back in full plate armor...but her word, "warmth", remained echoing in his head...and it became clear why she was latched onto him

Warmth...he was warm for her...as the knight tried tilting her head to look back...and seeing her much relaxed face.

Sighing, Karl could only lay his head down...as he felt her steady breath against the back of his neck. Perhaps he'll wait for her to relax a bit, before he'll slip out, just so he didn't disturb her...and in the meantime, maybe he should get a little shut eye...but only for a bit!....
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The blizzard would continue all through the night, the wind hollering like a ghost with a vengeance...but as the hours went by, the blizzard began to subside.

By the crack of dawn, the snow fall had almost completely ceased...for now...as morning arrive, rays of light began to shine through the cracks within the master bedroom...the Komodo would see this, if she were to stir...that, and feel a warm, breathing body...right underneath her.​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

Once the Komodo had her arms settled around him, that seemed to be what she had been looking for; another soft sigh slid from her throat and puffed against the back of the man’s neck. Enough of the covers had tumbled back around them in her shifting that between him and the bed warmer and the blankets, the bed rapidly turned into a cocoon of warmth that the Komodo just soaked in eagerly. It was a deep sort of relaxation that sank into her bones, there with the Knight held in her arms and the fire crackling away merrily in the hearth.

It wasn’t the sunlight that woke her, as much as it was tiny slivers through the latched windows, but rather her own internal sense of time. She had a finely tuned sense of rhythm and habit, after all, from years of living out underneath the sun and according to its timings. So her eyes batted open in response to some internal voice telling her it was that time, even if the room wasn’t markedly brighter than it had been…

She found herself in the most curious position, a slumbering body still in her arms, her tail wrapped loosely around his lower leg like she had needed to be as close as possible to him. He smelled familiar, but in a distant way that she couldn’t quite place, because it was certainly a he, from the strong line of his jaw and the wide breadth of his shoulders, squared with the strength contained therein to the firm, body pressed up against her own. The clothing he wore was loose and comfortable, but he still smelled faintly of metal and oil, of leather and steel…

Calla considered for a moment; she knew she had been cold, cold to the point of not functioning. She remembered him towering over her, in metal armor that shined with its care, frowning down at her in an expression of concern… and then here he was.

She propped herself up on her elbow, trying not to disturb him while he slept as she craned her head to get a look at the rest of the room. She didn’t recognize where she was, but that wasn’t surprising. The last thing she remembered was hurrying along the road, only to have the temperature plummet around her and her body begin to give out, succumbing to the cold that ravaged it. Now, however, she was much more warm, so that even the cooler temperature of the room, since the fire had died down, didn’t bother her unduly. She could stay warm fairly well, provided it didn’t start snowing on top of her as it had.

“... kind Knight,” she prompted, leaning over him and lightly brushing some hair out of his face. Trying to wake him up gently, because she knew how humans normally reacted to her -- not usually kindly -- and now he was waking up in bed with her practically over top of him. Which… she didn’t recall how that had happened, exactly… Still, gently, the waking. So she wouldn’t scare him. Hopefully.

“Little warrior, I do not mean to wake you… but my arm… it is quite uncomfortable.” He was laying on it and it had gone almost painfully numb at this point.

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

"Little" was not a word that was used to describe Karl in, well, almost forever. Yeah sure, there were the occasional monster that towered over the likes of him...and, well, Karl wouldn't consider this the same case as the other incidents....far from it actually.

The knight just saw someone in danger, and it really was natural impulse that got him moving to help.

But again, small was not somthing Karl was used to being called. So when the bigger women whispered "little warrior", somthing from within the knight stirred...as if it wanted to say "who are you calling little!?"...but of course, no real words came out...instead, the consciousness of the man began to return to him...as he felt the gentle movements moving his hair...which caused him to continue to stir..

She had said somthing about her arm...which took a moment for the knight to process, as Karl continue to stir...at some point realizing that his head was not on a pillow...and his eyes began to flutter open...taking in what had been said to him...and finally taking action, as he pushed himself up from her hand...blinking a bit, no doubt still sleepy...but his eyes at first were not on her...instead staring forward...as the knight murmured a word of apologize..."sorry"...as he gave a quiet yawn...before looking towards the windows.

What time was it? Probably early...and the snow storm had died down...good...

Karl seemed unconcerned with the fact that, not even a minute ago, he had been sleeping in the embrace of some larger, lizard women...not somthing that Karl did ever day, but hey...everyday was a new adventure...seemed that o'l Karl was more intreasted at looking at the window...seemed like he was in a bit of a thought...​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

Calla watched the human come awake, roused slowly -- gently, thankfully -- by the Komodo’s urgings. She was ready to spring into action to stop any flailing or attacks if he came awake angry or frightened or any other state that would honestly be quite understandable finding oneself wrapped up with someone such as herself, but after a moment it seemed that that wouldn’t be necessary and he shifted just enough for her to free her arm from underneath him.

She stretched her arms up overhead, shaking the one to get feeling back into it, but the air outside of the bed was cold and she was suddenly loathe to remove herself from what had, up until that point, been a little slice of heaven.

He would stare at the window undisturbed for all of a couple quiet minutes before his view would be interrupted by the broad woman, propped up and leaning over him curiously. “There is something on your mind, little Knight?” she prompted, twisting to look over her shoulder towards the window before shifting to look back at him. He had a handsome face, thoughtful and contemplative, though his hair was mussed and she rather thought there weren’t many that saw him looking quite this … uncomposed. It certainly didn’t seem as if there were any others to join them in this very large bed in what seemed like a very nice house.

There was also the question of him saving her. And laying with her to warm her. Not even attacking her… He had most certainly saved her life, for there was no way she wouldn’t have frozen if left for much longer in those piling drifts.

“I am Calla. Calla of Nuastone. And I believe my life is owed to you, sir Knight. What may I call you?”

She had this genuine effervescence to how she spoke, this straight-forward energy to her words that might have labelled her ‘simple’ in a less kind person’s eyes. Perhaps they would have been right, she was no scholar or learned bard of any repute, but there was a sharp glimmer to those crimson eyes of hers that would make a fool of anyone who dared relegate her to the role of ‘simpleton.’

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

Something on his mind? Perhaps there was...then she came into view...it had been clear to Karl that the women wasn't exactly human, her tail gave that much away...that, and the horns that stuck out of her head...perhaps somthing that would have caused weaker willed men to shout "demon"...put to Karl...she actually looked more like a dragon...what with her horns and her scales...and of course her tail too...maybe a stereotype, but Karl only had stories to reference about dragons...he had never faced one before...but this one indeed fit the description of one, although...she was much more human...her snow white hair would have fooled anyone into thinking she had some sort of resistance or affinity to the cold...but her brilliantly scarlet eyes seem to speak otherwise... perhaps it was somthing within her that caused her to shift towards the fire...as she perhaps shifted towards him...and her smell...there was somthing about her fragrance that caused the knight to want to lean into her...but where the body felt obliged, the mind was had a stronger pull...thus Karl swayed forward...only to stop himself.

There was only really one word to describe her at the moment, but Karl's indifferent expression and silence would trap that word within the knight, perhaps to be freed on a later date.

Instead, the knight would blink, as he looked into the Komodo's scarlet eyes...nodding a little as he did, before turning away.

"Karl..." Was the first word the knight said, shifting his body in a attempt to move to the side of the bed. "...do not feel obliged of anything...it is my duty to help those indeed...I would have done it for anyone whom was in your situation...."

It was at this point Karl sat up on the bed, taking a moment to stretch out himself...bring a hand onto his neck, as he pulled it to his side, allowing a cracking sound to escape his bones. The night prior had been actually...rather comfortable...perhaps even surprisingly so...despite having a cold body drapped over him...but with her drapped over him, it seemed like it hardly mattered...as if she was just another layer that insulated his heat.

Regardless...it was now morning...and he couldn't spend the entire day in her, er, embrace...and she was right...

"Indeed somthing is..." Karl looked out towards the window again, his expression hardly changing. "...it is the middle of the summer...yet it is snowing...which seems rather...out of place...no doubt, this is not a work of simple natural...but an act, but one who exercises control over the arcane...and judging by the effect, it must has some considerable power...to cover such vast distance..."
​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

The Komodo watched quietly as he moved to the edge of the bed, a part of her keenly disappointed to lose the heat of him from against her. Only because the air outside of the bedcovers was substantially cooler than the little nest she’d just come out of. Obviously. It had been a lovely, deeply restful night because she’d been so tired and worn down from nearly freezing to death. Any other warm body would have been nice against her…

She watched as he cracked his neck, quietly sitting up behind him and pushing his hand away from his neck -- only because a moment later she put her own hands on his shoulders and neck, deftly manipulating his shoulder and neck in two swift but careful movements. She’d grown up around healers and warriors, people who were trained to both heal and fight and know how to handle the strain of both armor and fighting on the body. So it was an easy thing for her to do, and a small thing, comparatively.

Plus, he was warm under her hands, and she couldn’t resist the urge to cuddle up against his back, resting her chin on his shoulder with a low rumble. Her crimson eyes were on the window as well, not seeming to mind her companion’s unflappable composure.

“It was warm and lovely yesterday as I ventured forth. The snow came quickly, the temperature dropping rapidly, otherwise I would have sought shelter much earlier. I did see, however, it came from the east of here, down the slope of that mountain with the deep cliff in the middle.” Her tail curled idly, just the tip off of the mattress. “Whomever is to blame for this unpleasant turn of events is there, I am quite sure of it.”

A pause, then she sort of furrowed her brow, as if bothered by something she'd said. “Unpleasant in the regard of almost freezing to death, Little Knight. Not you at all. You are quite nice to sleep with.”

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

The moment the Komodo placed her hands upon his shoulder, the knight quickly, perhaps almost instinctively, tensed up...as if he was about to be under attack or somthing. But as her hands moved to make their magic, his shoulders would slowly relent; seemed like she really did know what she was doing...between her movement and her rather...soothing fragrance...it seemed like Karl's muscles were able to relax and unwound.

A rather unfamiliar feeling...at least for the knight...to be rather...at easy...physically at the very least...for he normally always ready to draw his sword at a moments notice...

Then, she draped herself upon him...and he once more tensed up as part of his natural reaction...and once more, he felt his body relax...as her soothing aroma once again washed over him. At this point, he could feel himself supporting the larger women on his back...not that he minded, he was certainly more then capable of holding her weight...especially without his armor...but the scenario itself was rather...while far from unpleasant, it was situation that Karl was just not used to. When her head came upon his shoulder, tickling the side of his neck, Karl looked away...or tried to.

The knight was able to keep up his composure, that much was for sure, but his face may have betrayed him a little; another small streak of red had spread across his face...a matter that was nearly impossible to solicit outside of this context.

"T-Thank you..." The stutter was very subtly, very difficult to pick up considering how cohesive and monotone everything came out as, but it did occur. Furthermore...seemed like Karl wanted to say more...yet instead he said nothing, as he continued to look in the direction he had turned his head to...staying quiet for a moment, as the both of them simply...sat like this.​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

If the white-haired woman noticed the warrior’s tensing when she touched him or drew close to him, she didn’t make any mention of it. Regardless, he didn’t say anything to deter her and only a moment later was relaxed against her once more; he seemed, to her, someone unused to the sort of gentle physical contact she was seeking. It made her inclined to simply allow it to happen without making a fuss of it.

Still, he’d turned away from her, staring at the far side of the room, and it was hard for her to decipher what he meant by it. She had her thoughts… but perhaps he was being kind. She knew what she was like to humans not prepared for who -- what -- she was. It would not be the first time she’d incorrectly interpreted a human’s comfort levels with her simply because of her own comfort levels with herself, and a hard lesson she had had to learn.

So, carefully, she scooched back away from him, to give him his space as she imagined a warrior like him might desire. Into the space, however, settled the chill, and she drew herself a bit closer to try and conserve what little heat she had. She hadn’t been wearing clothing for this sort of weather, either, only the light leather chestplate and simple pants she favored for the vast majority of situations.

Now that she wasn’t up against him, she was keenly aware of how cold it was.

“Perhaps, then, an investigation is in order?” she prompted. “I would gladly repay you in assistance in uncovering the source of this malady… It cannot be healthy for the townspeople to endure such bitter chill either.” She sounded confident, sure of herself, and genuine… but also there was just the slightest slur to her words, and if he turned to look at her he might see that her beautiful white scales were already dulling slightly towards that more flat grey that they had been before. It was subtle, hardly noticeable, unless one had already seen it before.

“Little Knight, I hate to trouble you more,” she continued, into the dark and the cold, with just the broad line of his shoulders against the slight light from the window in front of her. “Might… we stoke the fire a bit more? I am... “ Her eyes slid half-shut, swaying ever so slightly. “... would… greatly… appreciate some heat… please….”

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

There was a slight...tinge, that came from within Karl...maybe...disappointment? It hadn't haven't even registered itself into the knights mind, but the body was already feeling it. Perhaps being encased within a steel shell for a good majority of the time left a lot to be desired.

But once again, consciously Karl thought of little more then the weight being lifted off his body...and the words that the larger women had said to him.

"Indeed, such were my thoughts as of last night...but the storm provided to be much more challenging then anticipated...no doubt this anomaly has suspended the daily activities of the realm...and the local garrisons and patrols are now isolated...the quicker this storm is brought to a close the better..." Karl's attention shifted away from where he had turned his head, glancing back first at the women sitting behind him, expression as indifferent as ever, before turning his head to face forward...almost looking at the ground...as he breathed a small sigh. ".....but I would not bring that burden onto you, if you do not wish to...like I said, there's no debt to be paid to one of my vow....it is my duty to lend aid where I can...and...by your reaction last night...I think it's best that..."

It wasn't even that Karl thought she couldn't handle herself; given her size and the weapon that was presumably hers, there was no doubt in the knights mind that she could do some damage. But during the previous night...she had seemed...more then uncomfortable in the cold. Whereas Karl had his armor to keep him warm, she didn't have that luxury...and if another snow storm were to hit, they might end up isolated somewhere bad....

But Karl didn't really get a chance to finish along those thoughts, as he heard the women speak again; this time her words were...sleepy, and slower, to say the least. Oh dear, what a fool he was...it must have been freezing at this point in the morning...Karl really should have been up and attending to the morning preparations...his own perceived drowsiness, to himself, was a sign of carelessness...or rather, somthing rather unfamiliar.

"Of course...I'll put on the fire again..." Karl may or may have not missed her point, seemed more keen at the more direct meaning of the term. "...perhaps I should get breakfast started...get somthing warm into our bellies...it might restore some of our strength after last night..."

It was as if he had forgotten what had occurred in the previous night...but perhaps he'd be reminded soon...​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

To be perfectly honest, it took the Komodo a bit by surprise, how quickly the cold set in and sort of slowed her down. She blinked those crimson eyes of hers, trying to focus on the sturdy man in front of her as he turned his attention to her and spoke; it was difficult, the sort of heaviness that settled in her limbs that bogged down her mind as well. Still, he spoke of food, and of fire, and he looked so warm and really she was regretting letting him get up and take his precious warmth away from her…

… but she smiled. Food and fire would be good, even if they were not what her instincts demanded. She had to be better than her people’s reputation, after all.

“Thank you, small Knight,” she managed, then sank back down into the cocoon that had been where they’d cuddled all night. It wasn’t nearly as warm without him in it, but it was still markedly warmer than the air that filled the room, so she curled up on her side, pulling the blankets up around her and letting herself relax. There wasn’t much to be done until he had returned from whatever errands he had set in front of himself, and even though she was cold and sluggish, she was at the very least not in danger of freezing to death anymore.

Hopefully.

Her mind travelled to his words, however -- the storm had come on fast and she couldn’t help but remember how it’d seemed to well out from the side of the mountain, like smoke at first until the flurries had occurred. She had dealt with snow and ice before, though not without some serious winter garb and care paid to her refuges each nice and keeping them extra warm and toasty. She didn’t have those clothing articles here, but already she was considering what she could do instead -- the idea that Karl would go without her wasn’t even one she considered for long before brushing it aside.

As long as she could get her heat back up, she thought, low shivers settling into her limbs as her body fought to warm itself the only way it could…

Pulling the blankets more tightly around herself, she closed her eyes, letting herself simply… be, for the time, only distantly cognisant of what was going on around her. Perhaps it was stupid to be so trusting, but something in her gut said that she was … safe.

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

Even if she could no longer see him...she could hear his movements.

First, the knight got up from the bed...shuffling over to somthing, as the sound of some items being stacked into a pile could be heard...in between, Karl was busy murmuring to himself, walking here...then there...After the few moments, the sound of the solids striking each other could be heard...before long, the crackling of the fire could be heard...along with the faint heat could be felt radiating from nearby. It was only after this fire was lit...did Karl's presence leave the room.

Karl was gone for sometime, quite a bit of time actually...perhaps the Komodo had fallen asleep during the process...however long he was gone, the door to the room could be heard creaking open...followed by footsteps...and somthing rather heavy being placed on the stand nearby. Following these noises, a mix of delicious scent would follow, delicious in the way it would fill ones stomach...as the smell of eggs and meat danced about the room...perhaps distracting one from the footsteps, leaving the room...allowing the door to gently close behind it.

Were the Komodo to open her eyes, she'd find a tray resting on a nearby nightstand. There was quite a bit of food there, no doubt anticipated as a result of her size. Must of been a huge veggie omelette resting upon dish that looked more fit for a ham leg...on the side, were number of pieces of toast...most were lightly glazed with butter, some even had slice of ham resting on top...then, there was a large bowl of macaroni...floated within some sort of clear soup...and finally, a number of muffins, although not as fresh, was antiquate enough. All the food present was warm, at least at the time Karl had put the tray down.

Weather or not Calla choice to eat...or go back to resting, Karl would still be gone for a good while...a bit longer then his last absence. However, wouldn't belong before he returned. announce by the clanking noise, only muffled by the walls and doors. It would only be moments later, before the door creaked open once more...revealing Karl...now in his suit of armor, the only articles still left undone ere his helmet and gauntlets...the former held under his armpits, and the latter held in his left hand.

The knight would clank over to the nearby writing desk, laying down first his pair of gauntlets, then his plumed helmet. After ensuring the rest of his equipment strewn over the desk, he'd turn around and lumber back to the big women...nodding as he did.

"Feeling better?" The knight would ask...one would think him to be concerning, while although...doubtful, given his neutral expression and his indifferent tone.​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

The Komodo tried to stay awake while he moved in the room around her -- in part because it was the safe thing to do, being in a stranger’s home, but more so because he had been kind to her and it was only polite to try and repay his kindness without just slumbering away… But the cold made her tired, and even as she felt the warmth of the fire begin to trickle through the room, she sank back into sleep.

At least, until he reappeared, delivering a tray of food. It wasn’t so much the noise but it was the smell that finally roused her; though she couldn’t warm herself the same way as the more heated-creatures like humans could, she could benefit from the heat of food to warm her from the insides out.

With more than a bit of effort, she got herself back up into a sitting position, rather looking like a funny mimicry of the snow outside as she left most of the blankets piled on top of her, even draped over her horns the way they were. Turning more fully towards the fire, she enjoyed the feeling of its warmth on her scales as she tucked into the feast in front of her. Every bit of it was absolutely delicious, and she was rather glad to be long while she ate, because she wasn’t interested in propriety or delicacy. Just in getting that sustenance into her stomach as quickly as possible.

By the time that Karl returned to the room, the Komodo was actually out of the bed, sitting on the edge closest to the fire with the top blanket loosely wrapped around herself. Her crimson eyes took note of his armor, paying attention to it for the first time as her eyes swept over his form. She didn’t seem cowed or concerned about the picture he presented, her smile warm as he moved over to the writing desk and set his items down before approaching him.

“Much, thank you,” she said. “The food helped quite a bit. I do not mean to have monopolized your bedroom, little Knight, my apologies for that.”

She tugged the blanket a bit more firmly around herself, her tail having escaped and curling on the bed behind her. “I know this is unlikely, sir Knight, considering the size that I am… but it would help greatly to have more clothing than what I was wearing in order to stay warm. I do not find the cold as agreeable as some others.” She offered a small smile. “Perhaps one of your old coats? It does not need to be anything particularly expensive or nice…”

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

"No...problem..." Karl slowly said, still taken back by her size. Wasn't intimidating for the knight, it just was very unusual for him. She was big, there was no doubt about that, as Karl had to shift his neck upwards as she stood just to get a good look at her. Not many people or beings tended to oversize Karl of all people, so this was kinda new to him...was a bit further odd to the knight...given her, semi-human appearance. .

"The bed is not mine...it is my mentors...who, luckily, is not here at the moment...but in regarding to outerwear...I'm afraid not even my biggest size will be able to fit you...much less be able to warm you..." Plus Karl didn't have anything that expensive he wore...not counting his armor, of course. For a few moments, Karl kept his gaze upon the women, dropping down to her body and form...seemed as if he was analysis somthing, as you could see the imaginary gears turning in his head as he muttered to himself. "...though...I've an idea...take a seat on the bed...I'll be right back."

Karl quickly turned, his expression still suggested that he was pondering somthing, as he swiftly exited the room. A few more moments later, the knight would return, in his hands was a massive piece of folded fur...resting on top of that, was a small box...as Karl came over to the bed and placing the fur onto the bed...before taking a step back to look over Calla once more.

Wouldn't be his most amazing work, but given the circumstance. it would have to do.

Taking the box off the skin and placing it onto the bed, Karl would retrieve the skin and quickly draping it over the Komodo. The skin itself had been taken from a dire wolf, a lone wolf that had wandered away from it's pack, no doubt, and had decided to wander onto the main road. At the time, Karl hadn't the faintest thing what to do with such a big piece of fur...he might have made it into a blanket...but now, a big cloak was an order.

After Karl was satisfied with how Calla wore the fur, he would move back towards the box, opening the lid to reveal some manner of sewing kit. The knight retrieved a couple of things from the box, before moving back to Calla and getting to work, making the necessary additions. The main adjustments was located at the neck of the cloak, which meant that Karl had to lean in a bit close to Calla in order to get a good look at what he was working with. For a knight whom lumbered about in plate armor, there was an impressive amount of finesse that the lad had...at least, when it came to the rudimentary of basics of cloth making.

"Give me a few moment...and this will be done..." Karl muttered under his breath, his focus not wavering for a secound as he continued. "...Hopefully...this should keep you warm...until the source of the matter is found..."

​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

The Komodo didn’t seem to notice the surprise (awe? fascination?) with which the man regarded her size; it was, to be perfectly honest, a reaction she garnered regularly. And his reaction seemed genuine and not tinged with fear or anger, so she was happy enough with that. He’d been kind enough to pull her from a snowbank and let her sleep (with him in her arms) in order to warm up. Though, the news about not having something large enough for her did take a bit of the wind out of her sails, her expression a bit disheartened. How was she to repay him, to aid him, if she was stuck inside because of some snow?

Before she could express that, he had stated his plan to look into something else… and left the room.

By the time he returned she’d dared to shed her blanket, standing near the fire and stretching her great height out experimentally. There was a chill in the air, but this near the fire and with a stomach full of food, she didn’t feel that deadening slumber leech into her limbs and mind. Though, the room wasn’t really designed for one of her height, and she had to be careful not to stretch her arms up overhead, for she was knocking her hands into the ceiling when she did so. At the very least it wasn’t as bad as some of the houses in the human towns, where she couldn’t even stand straight up. Humans and their very small selves…

“Ah, wonderful Little Knight,” she exclaimed as she realized his plan; carefully, she hunkered down so he could have a bit of an easier access to her as he draped and adjusted the fur. Her crimson eyes watched him as he worked, this delighted expression on her face, but keeping herself quiet and as attentive to his needs as possible.

He leaned in close to her and she kept very still, only the tip of her tail curling as she regarded him.

“Thank you,” she said, a low rumble accenting her words as she smiled at him. Closed-lips, because she knew her teeth were sharp and intimidating and she did not wish that. Not when he was being so kind to her. Seemed rude to be threatening in any way. “I would be loathe to be unable to help you get to the bottom of this matter. Not to mention, it seems to me I have a … what is that phrase? Bone? Yes, bone to pick with whomever cast that spell, for without your generosity I am not sure I could have survived.”

She kept that patient, steady air until he had finished with his work. Only then did she straighten up -- not quite to her full height, since the ceiling, while not being low, still had things hanging from it that she was concerned about smacking into. Still, the fur was tucked nicely about herself, and nearly long enough to reach her knees, which would keep the main part of her body warm.

Another low rumble slid from her throat as she leaned in towards him, putting a hand on his cheek and beaming at him warmly.

“This is the nicest cloak I have ever had,” she said, with this utter sincerity that made it impossible to doubt the genuine nature of those words.

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

It did help that she had leaned down for him, it did also help that he was tall enough to reach around her in this state. Either way, Karl's attention at the moment was mainly focused on Komoto in front of him. His handy work was by no means a mastercrafted piece of work, as it was very basic. But, it was just enough to ensure that the wolf skin would stay on the wearer. Would have been effective at least for keeping an individual warm for a while...

As Karl worked, he listened to the what larger women had to say. Again she said thank you, but...it was somthing that Karl almost shrugged off. A thank you almost seemed unnecessary to the young man...it was almost an instinct of his to lend his hand to those in need. Only natural that he did so, perhaps a result of his time with his order.

Still, Karl said nothing as he continued to work...and wondered if it was truly a good idea for her to accompany him. It was never a question of combat poweress, her hammer saw that that wasn't a problem, but it was a cold...and if they were caught in a blizzard in the mountains...things might not go as well as the last time.

After a few more moments, Karl was able to finish up the cloak. It would have to do for now, as the knight took a step back to examine his handy work. Karl took in the cloak, but he didn't expect his eyes to land on her face...the she smiled...affected him in a strange way.

"...It's nothing..." The knight almost grunted, his expression was idle...doing nothing but allowed her hands on his cheeks. It was a foreign sensation for sure...but his expression said nothing...though his eyes might have betrayed him. Was it surprise?...maybe even embarrassment. Karl moved his hands onto hers...but his eyes moved away, "...It...could be better...had I more time, I could make a proper cloak for you...but given the circumstances...I think time is a bit of a luxury for us...perhaps when this is all over...I..."

After a moment, he'd gently pry her hand off of his cheeks, bring it down to her center, letting go...his expression still remained idle as he lifted his hands away. "We should make ready to head out, it may be a bit of a trek to get to the mountains in these conditions...we don't want to be caught in another blizzard...come, your hammer is this way..." ​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

Calla willingly dropped her hands away when he removed them, having no wish to make him uncomfortable in any way. There was something about his face, too, especially when she had touched him… Just a bit of… uncertainty, was it? Perhaps shyness? She certainly wouldn’t have pegged that specific emotion in such a handsome and distinguished human. It was, the Komodo decided, rather… cute.

She smiled again, nodding once. “Of course! Lead the way Little Knight. Let us get to the bottom of this egregious weather!”

The Komodo was as eager to help as her words would have led one to believe; she was also not nearly as simple as her enthusiasm may have lulled one into thinking. She happily set to the task of packing foodstuffs fit for a several day journey, especially those that were rich in protein and energy to keep them warm even if the weather was not fully permitting. The pack ended up being heavier than would be comfortable for a man to carry, especially over rough terrain and for several days… but the Komodo swung it up onto her shoulders without so much as waiting for Karl to question it. Her hammer went on the other shoulder, and the Komodo was ready to go.

The sun was back out, shining overhead, by the time they set about on their trek to the mountain. The snow had been mostly blown about the wind, meaning that it was much shallower on the roads and in the flats, piled high in the corners and against walls and trees. It worked out for them, meaning that it was much easier for them to make their way along the road towards the mountain, then cutting across one of the wide fields.

All around them was evidence of the oddity of the snow -- flowers frozen over, crops in the fields knee-high and poking out from the drifts, blackened and withered, even only the thinnest of veneers of ice across the river, which still flowed rapidly.

Calla kept pace with Karl easily enough, even though the Komodo tugged the cloak more tightly about herself the further they went. They had just reached the base of the mountain, finding the trail that lead to the spire, when the Komodo called out to the Knight.

“Sir Knight. That…. That does not seem promising.” She freed one hand, pointing towards the peak above them. There were dark, almost black, clouds forming around its tip, the temperature around them dropping noticeably….

 

[Karl von Stehlen]

The packing was a bit more cheerful then Karl would have expected things to be, perhaps it was thanks to the Komodo next to him at all times. The larger women seemed to know exactly what she was doing, which was nice for a change; most of time, it fell to Karl to make sure that provisions were acquired for journey ahead, so it was always nice to be able to have a hand to help him. It also helped that she was very, very strong. Having a surplus was always good. It was more then Karl would have normally taken, but she probably would needed more then him, given the environment they were about to embark upon. While she indeed carried a good deal of the supplies in her pack, Karl also carried a pack of his own on his back. Yes, there were also provisions, but Karl carried with him mostly other utilities that one would need on a quest or mission, with his shield dangling off of the pack.

So they would set off, leaving the comfort of the warm home to journey on to find the cold source that had brought the sudden snow storm. Karl had put on the remains of his armor, covering himself head to toe in black. On his back was the pack and shield, on his side were his two sheathes, a sword in each. It was what the young man normally wore, although one oddity did stand out; the knight wore a scarf around his armored neck. Now the color matched the knight's red plume, but it seemed more for decoration then warmth, since the armored neck already provided insulation.

Regardless of what either was wearing, they were prepared. The journey only really concerned what the two had been thinking, but it was the arrival at the base of the mountain that the real challenge would begin.

The mountains was a steady source of iron ore for the realm, and it was where the Von Stehlen earned their name sake. The lone mountain is actually part of a moderately larger mountain range. Long ago, it used to be a territory of the neighboring dwarven hold, but it was gifted to the first of the Von Stehlen family name sake and the founders of Strojland, after aiding the dwarfs in some heroic feat or another. It was such that there were indeed communities living up in the mountains whom were no doubt prepared to survive the cold...although at this point, not indefinitely.

It was why in Karl's mind, as they arrived at the base of the mountains, this mission became ever vital to fulfill. People not just in the heartland counted on this, but the people in the mountains especially.

At the sight of the storm, however, Karl took a deep breath, perhaps bracing for the trek ahead. The knight knew that his armor would be able to keep him relatively warm in the march ahead, but he was more concerned with the women next to him, to which he glanced at. Judging by her expression, perhaps she was wondering about the same thing...

"It will not be easy journey from here on upwards..." Karl grunted, keeping his gaze upon the Komodo. "...many great armies in history have been sacked not by the blade...but by the cold...so...I would not fault you for wanting to turn back...or find somewhere warmer to wait this out...I can carrying out the mission on my own...if need be..."

It was against his better judgment and order protocol to do such a thing, especially journey up a mountain and espically considering that Karl hadn't told anyone but the Komodo of their intent, a habit that the knight had been getting into a bit frequently as of late.

Regardless, the concern was still there...and really, it was only given Karl's nature, given his standing as a Stahlspitze, that he'd even considered going along. Karl always expected to get in the way of impending harm, but he did it for the sake of everyone else...including, by default, the Komdo next to him....​

 

[Calla of Nuastone]

The tall Komodo swept her gaze to the top of the mountain in front of them and the dark swirling clouds circling its tip. She didn’t know what this mountain was called -- humans did love to name most things so she was sure it had a name -- only that there were signs of habitation on its slopes. And, more pressingly, signs of magic looming overhead. Whatever was causing the freak snow storms, it was almost certainly very close to the peak of the mountain. It wouldn’t be an easy climb even if it was sunny and pleasant; in a snowstorm, the hike would most certainly be… difficult, at best.

A moment of contemplation, however, and she turned her attention to the armored man standing next to her. The wind tugged at her hair, blowing her long white braids askew but doing little more than that; the cloak he’d made for her was rough, perhaps, but the fur was thick and the movement had kept her warm. So she smiled.

“You are very used to protecting those around you, aren’t you, Little Knight.” She chuckled, shifting the pack on her shoulder. “I’m afraid if you leave me behind, however, you won’t have nearly the suppleis that you require. Please, I would not see you journey up further unaccompanied. I will be fine, but I would not leave you to go without someone watching your back.” She nodded in affirmation of her words and how certain she was of what she was saying. She was not a silly child or an untrained warrior… she knew what she was getting herself into.

She also knew that he would go, without her, if she showed the least bit of hesitation or second-thoughts. And that was… that was endearing.

“Let us get as far as we can up the mountain, Little Knight, before the snow. We should keep an eye out for a suitable place to seek refuge as we go. Come then, let us go!”

She didn’t wait around to continue the conversation, but readjusted her giant mace on her shoulder and began up the path of the mountain once more. The air got colder as they climbed, but there was no snow… at least, at first. Just that swirling, tugging, angry wind, which she shrugged her cloak further around herself to avoid.

They had made it quite a ways up the mountain when the first flickering white specks appeared on the wind. Calla paused, looking over her shoulder at Karl as if to make sure that he had seen the development as well, before turning back towards the path at hand.

The first flakes of snow were rapidly followed by a whole flurry, more and more snowflakes borne on the wind until the mountain and their surroundings entirely faded from view, masked by the encroaching storm. Any plan of pushing through the snow to the peak before it got too bad was rapidly removed from the realm of possibility -- with the wind howling so, they could barely see their feet in front of them, much less keep their footing with the gusting howls.

They’d made it only a bit further than that before Calla ducked to the side abruptly, disappearing from view…

… into a cave she had spotted. She murmured something and the hammer on her shoulder lit up with the radiance of a sunny day, giving them more than enough light to navigate into the back of the cave. It wasn’t very big, only barely comfortable for the two of them… but the curve of the entrance meantt that there was no snow inside because the wind couldn’t squeeze in either.

The Komodo shook the snow off of herself, dumping the pack on the ground and stomping her feet.

“Are you all right, Little Knight?” she asked, her red eyes finding him to reassure herself.