Private Tales Forgotten but Not Broken

[Thren]

"Better." Thren said truthfully, a hand reaching up to touch his chest for a few seconds as though in memory of the wound that had been there.

The ache of it still bothered him some mornings, sat within the center of his chest, but most days he forgot that the wound had been there at all. It healed well enough, leaving a small scar that equated to little less than a line.

He suspected his magic had helped with the healing, at least his flesh, but it was difficult to say.

A part of him still felt like something was...missing, but Thren was not entirely sure what. He could not have put it into words, just as though a piece of him were not quite there. The mountains helped, made him feel more at home, but even that he did not know the reason for. "Another week and I think I'll be okay."

The Barbarian said as he added another log to the fire.

"Though we'll need to make a shelter." He told her. "Or find a cave, Blizzard is coming."

He pointed to stormclouds to the north, they would be there in a day or two.

 

[Vesper]

A frown touched Vesper's features when the barbarian gestured off towards the horizon. Her head canted slightly to the side and then she looked back at Thren with a puzzled expression. "What is a blizzard?"

Being from the jungles of the Wilds, Vesper had never encountered such a storm before. There were monsoons and thunderstorms in the Wilds, but the concept of snow was still entirely new to her.

She held her hands out towards the flickering flames, savoring their warmth.

 

[Thren]

Thren's brow furrowed for a moment. The word had come to him so naturally, and with him a memory touched his mind as well. Fingers closed to a fist for a moment, and he thought about how to best explain it.

"It is a storm." He told her. "But instead of rain it's..."

How did he put this? "Frozen."

Decidedly uncomfortable. They should have had thick furs and better cloaks, but right now a cave would have to do for their protection. Perhaps they would find a town before heading into the Spine itself.

"We'll be okay with a fire and shelter." Thren said with a smile.

 

[Vesper]

She nodded a little in understanding, leaning into his arm for a brief moment. The fire they had would have to be enough for tonight. They had enough furs to keep them warm, but it was clear to her now that they would not be enough in the frigid mountaintops.

"So, first thing's first, in the morning we'll start looking for proper shelter to wait out the storm." She murmured quietly, watching the flames dance about in front of them.

"Food will be harder to come by now too since we're on our own." She added quietly, wrapping her arms around her small frame.

 

[Thren]

He nodded his head. "It will, but I don't think it will be much of a problem."

Though again, he did not really know why.

Most of his memories were still absent from his mind. He could not think of a thousand things he wanted to but certain others just...came to him. Grasping at something was completely worthless, but sometimes it was just...there.

"There are ways to find game even in the mountain." He told her softly. "But Shelter first."

That was most important.

His arm slowly wrapped around her, shielding her from the cold as the night passed on.

 

[Vesper]

The next morning, Vesper woke before the sun had fully risen. If Thren was concerned about shelter, then she wanted to find a place for them where he could rest. For a few hours, Vesper wandered the foothills, gathering edible and medicinal plants as she went.

Eventually, she found what she was looking for: a raven. She crouched down at the base of the tree, holding out her hand with a variety of seeds held in her palm as she softly cooed to the bird.

The raven tilted its head from side to side and then fluttered down to her, landing on the outstretched arm. It squawked at her, pecking eagerly at the free breakfast.

"There's a good boy." She whispered, brushing her free hand along the bird's back.

Remarkably, the bird seemed entirely at ease with the woman. When she spoke to it, the bird turned its head towards her. For a moment, the world around them held its breath and time seemed to teeter in hesitation. Vesper's eyes dilated and then quickly changed color. Her eyes shifted to a deep black, the same color the Raven's had been.

The bird shivered and then squawked at her, flapping its wings. Vesper lifted her arm upwards and the raven took flight. As it soared over the landscape, Vesper saw the world through the raven's eyes. What would have taken them hours to search on foot, was soon scoured in a matter of minutes.

There was a village closer to the mountains. Shortly after, the settlement was discovered the raven returned to land on Vesper's shoulder.

A shiver ran through Vesper's form and she chuckled softly, scritching the bird beneath its beak. "You did well, my little friend."

As she rose back to her feet, the raven squawked and ruffled his wings but did not fly away. She chuckled, raising her palm up to the bird, letting him eat some more seeds as she made her way back to the campsite.

"Obsidian, I found somewhere for us to hunker down for the uh..." She paused, trying to remember the name of the frozen storm. "Bleezard."

 

[Thren]

Thren was cleaning up camp.

He knew that no one was following them, knew that the thought alone was foolish, but for some reason he could not break away from it. There was a paranoia embedded into him, something that stuck beneath his skin that made him do this.

It was almost a ritual. Cleaning, ensuring that even the best tracker would not be able to hunt them down if they tried. The skill to do so was embedded in him, and he had long since given up in trying to understand where he'd learned it.

That knowledge would come eventually. "You did?"

He asked with a frown.

"How?" She could not have wandered that far, at least he was pretty sure that she couldn't have. They had only woken up a little while ago. Unless his mind was failing him again and time was missing. "Well, no matter."

He decided with a shake of his head. "What is it?"

 

[Vesper]

She grinned and gestured to the crow that was perched on her shoulder when asked how she managed to find a place so quickly, as if that should be all the answer Thren needed.

The bird loudly squawked, rummaging his beak around in Vesper's braided hair.

"Well, it's like a village but... bigger." She explained, walking up to him to help him finish cleaning the campsite.

"Not far from here. We should be able to get there by midday."

 

[Thren]

"A town?" He knew that there weren't any cities out here, or rather, he felt like there weren't any.

It was just one of those things.

Lips thinned for a brief moment and he shook his head, deciding that it probably was one of those things that would again just come to him later. Pulling himself up Thren shifted his weight and looked over to Vesper. "We'll go then."

He said with a smile.

"Bed beats a cave floor any day." Even if it was the crappiest bed in the back of a tavern.

That he knew himself.

 

[Vesper]

As they set off, the large raven perched on Vesper's shoulders leapt into the air and swirled over head. The woman of the Wilds seemed to follow the bird as it soared through the sky.

Without the Raven's guidance, Vesper and Thren could have easily missed the township. It was nestled between the rolling foothills of the Spine. If one wasn't following the winding road, odds were they wouldn't even notice the sleepy settlement.

By the time Thren and Vesper arrived in the outskirts of the town, the sun was already high in the sky. There was a chill in the air as the wind started to pick up, ushering in the blizzard. Little snowflakes were already dusting the ground.

Vesper grinned at the sight, holding out her hand to catch the flurries in her palm. "They are so cold! And delicate!" She exclaimed with delight, a bright smile lighting up her face.

 

[Thren]

Thren smiled. "Now they are, yeah."

Not in the middle of a blizzard though. When it got to that point...well it was best to just be away from the snow in general. Freezing to death was a harsh way to go, and Thren had absolutely no intent of letting either of them suffer that particular fate.

Still, he smiled at her fascination with the world. "It'll blanket the ground tomorrow."

He told her.

"You'll see." The morning snow was always his favorite thing about the Spine. Before people walked through it, before nature disturbed it. The crisp and serene silence brought on by the snow that had just fallen. "Let's find an Inn first though."

The Mercenary told her with a smile.

 

[Vesper]

It wasn't just the snow that captured Vesper's fascination. The buildings of the town were themselves an incredible discovery. She'd never seen such architecture before. Everything looked so sturdy. There were so many people meandering the muddy streets, more than Vesper had ever seen in once place.

The woman of the wilds took an instinctive step closer to Thren as they walked into the village. In just a few minutes, they had crossed the threshold between her world and his. She understood how to survive in the wilderness, people frightened her far more than the beasts that roamed the jungles of her homeland.

All of the buildings looked entirely the same to her.

"An In?" She asked with a perplexed expression, furrowing her brow. "You mean like, find an entrance?"

 

[Thren]

He frowned a moment. "It's the name of a slightly larger building."

The town was fairly small, but large enough that they would have an Inn. He was confident of that, even though his memories were too clouded to actually say why. That part of him was beginning to frustrate him, though he tried not to let it show.

As they walked through the village they garnered a few glances.

Most of the people didn't seem to look twice, though a few stopped to almost 'inspect' the pair that had wandered into their town. Thren offered those he saw looking a wide smile, never allowing himself to show a hint of discomfort or nerves. "They rent out rooms of their own for travelers."

He said, spotting the Inn across the way.

A sign hung outside with a tree half hanging over, it read; "The Sleepy Willow".

"There." Thren told her as he lead them over towards the tavern. It was slightly larger than the other buildings, newer looking too. Smoke rose from the chimney, and warm lights came from the windows.

 

[Vesper]

Vesper missed the social cues that they were blatantly being regarded as outsiders by some of the locals. All she could tell was that there were some people who looked at them, and others who didn't. Since Thren seemed perfectly at ease, it didn't even cross her mind that the barbarian was just putting on airs. She grinned back at the villagers who made eye contact, a warm and friendly expression on her face.

As they stepped into the Sleepy Willow, it was clear that this particular building had undergone renovations somewhat recently.

No one inside looked up at the pair when they entered. It was as if they had stepped into a moment in time and were utterly irrelevant to the events that unfolded around them.

The Innkeeper was the only one to approach the pair, a twisted scar on his face made his smile more of a grimace. "What can I do y'for?"

Vesper's attention quickly turned to the man before them and she smiled. "Oh, we were just hoping to use a room for the night."

A quiet grunt was the man's response and he moved behind the counter to collect a ring of keys. "Oh aye. Let me take you right up then."

He didn't ask for payment, though that didn't raise any alarms for Vesper. Money was as strange a concept to her as an Inn was. Grumbling, the old man continued as he led them up the stairs, "Don't mind the other patrons, they're all a bit stranger shy after the last pair we had stop through. Caused all sorts of a ruckus, they did. To avoid any trouble, best you just stay in your room though."

"What sort of ruckus?" Vesper asked innocently, perhaps not realizing that it would be rude to pry on such a matter.

The older Innkeeper scowled as he shuffled through the corridor at the top of the stairs, "Elven woman, none the likes we've ever seen around here, white hair and these piercin' blue eyes. Thought most of their kind were more... natural lookin'. Her companion was some rogueish bard." There was a pregnant pause, the man's scowl only deepening in thought.

"Didn't play us a single song. " He muttered irritably as he opened the door to their room. "The both of them went mad in the night. Slaughtered three of the villagers... tore the place up in a fit of magic. Was horrendous. Folk 'round these parts are a bit wary of strangers these days."

 

[Thren]

Thren shifted his weight suddenly as the man spoke of the rampage that had happened around them. "Doesn't seem to be much damage."

The Mercenary said as they walked through the hall and towards the room.

"Aye, well we've always been good at fixin' what's broke."

He looked over towards the stranger for a moment, then just shrugged. Thren felt a trickle of something in the back of his mind, a small nudge that he couldn't quite get right. Lips thinned for a moment, but he didn't say anything out loud. No point in getting mixed up in something when he wasn't quite sure what he would even be bringing up.

Not when they were here only for a day or two. They walked for a few more steps, then the man pulled out a key and slipped it into the lock. There was a rattle of metal and a shift, then the door fell open.

The room beyond was, to say the least, underwhelming. There was a double bed, a dresser, and a desk with a single chair. Thren looked around for a moment and then looked at the man. "Thank you."

He told the man.

"We won't be here long." Thren assured him. "Just waiting out the blizzard."

 

[Vesper]

The old innkeeper nodded a few times, then promptly shut the door behind him on his way out. There was a distinct 'click' as he locked the door, and then his footsteps echoed off towards the stairwell. Vesper's brow furrowed slightly when she realized that they'd been locked in the room and then she glanced to Thren.

"Is it normal for you to be locked in your room in an Inn?" She asked with a puzzled expression.

 

[Thren]

"No." Thren said calmly, looking towards Vesper for a moment but shrugging his shoulders.

A window still presented itself on the left side of the room, and from what he could see it lead directly into a field just beyond. They were on the second floor, but he wasn't really worried about a drop that high. Lips thinned for a moment, but he shrugged.

His hand extended and he softly caressed Vesper's back. "Not to worry."

Thren said softly.

"I'll protect you." It was only half a joke.

 

[Vesper]

She smirked at him and stood up onto the balls of her feet to press a quick kiss to his cheek. If he wasn't particularly concerned, then she didn't see any reason for her to be worried. "You're cute when you say stuff like that." She teased.

Stepping away from him, she started to explore their small living space. It was simple, but more than enough space, she reasoned. The bed was large enough for the both of them and there was even a fireplace to keep them warm. She didn't think there was anything else they could have asked for.

She paused by the window, leaning forward with a bright smile. Snow had started to properly fall over the town now, white flurries dancing through the wind and slowly sticking to the ground. "Oh wow! Look it!"

 

[Thren]

He watched for a few moments, glancing around the room as a small spell of paranoia slipped over him. A part of him still felt like he was missing something, and his fingers reached for blades that were not there.

Lips thinned, his head shaking as he stepped up behind Vesper. "Yes."

The Mercenary agreed with a smile, looking down at her as he stepped up behind. The snow was beginning to fall quickly now, holding against the grass and telling the story of what was to come in the night before them.

"It'll do that all night." He told her softly. "Perhaps into the morning too."

Meaning it would be cold, but something told him he would not feel a bit of it.

 

[Vesper]

She glanced over her shoulder at him as he stepped up behind her, smiling brightly. "Should I get us a fire going?"

The chill from outside was already starting to creep through the thin glass of the window. Cold was not an element Vesper was accustomed to and goosebumps were starting to form on the exposed flesh of her arms.

 

[Thren]

Thren did not mind the frigid air as much as Vesper did, though he would not deny her an ounce of warmth, a smile touched his face as he looked down at her.

"Depends on how much you wriggle while you light it." The mercenary joked quietly, though he of course did not mean it. Knowing Vesper she would likely freeze to death if they did not light a fire.

Offering her another smile Thren stepped over to the desk, taking the chair there and moving it to jam it beneath the door handle. "Just a precaution."

He told her smile, abating some of the paranoia in the back of his mind.

 

[Vesper]

Vesper smirked at Thren, kneeling down to light the logs that were resting inside the hearth. It didn't take her long to stoke the flames to life, the warmth and golden light flooding the small room in a matter of seconds. Long shadows danced along the floor and walls as the flames spread over the wood.

For a few moments, Vesper stayed knelt in front of the hearth with her hands extended towards the flames. The night was far from frigid just yet, but that did little to warm the woman.

She glanced over to the small chair that was now propped against the door, then turned her gaze to Thren. "Is... something wrong?"

 

[Thren]

"No." Thren said truthfully. There was no evidence of anything aside from his own small suspicions, and there was no way he was going to worry her if he didn't have to. Better to just be honest.

"It's best to be prepared." Thren told her as he walked over to the bed and pulled off the massive fur blanket that was there. Making his way over to Vesper a few seconds later and gently draping it over her shoulders. "Something that's stuck on my mind."

He said with a shrug.

It was good to follow those instincts, even if he wants quite sure where they came from or why. A smile pulled at his lips, and he let out a sigh as he pulled his pack close to them. From it he produced a few bits of dried meat, offering some to Vesper.

"I don't remember many things, but the impulses are still there." He told her softly.

 

[Vesper]

She smiled warmly at him as the blanket was draped over her shoulders, and then she scooted a little closer to him to share the warmth. Her head came to rest again his broad shoulder while she nibbled on the jerky he'd given her.

As the two of them lounged about the small room, the wind outside grew louder by the minute. The wooden walls creaked as the building shifted in the brunt of the storm. With the fire going and the blanket wrapped around them, the setting was rather cozy in a strange way.

Darkness had settled over the small village and the blizzard arrived in full force. The snow came down thick enough that Vesper couldn't see more than a few feet out the window when she looked outside.

"I'm sure it'll be okay, Obi." She murmured, nudging her shoulder against his own. "Don't worry."

 

[Thren]

"No worries here." Thren said softly.

There were few things that really concerned him nowadays, save for the idea of being useless. That had mostly gone away over the last few weeks as they had traveled. The wound healing made him feel at least physically fit, and that was something.

Without a weapon though things were still somewhat antsy for him.

His fingers drifted over her. "Get some rest."

Thren told her softly.

"It is warm, and we have a bed." What more could they ask?