Private Tales Lost In the Woods

[Fraeya]

The elven girl felt a sharp tug on her wrist as his human fingers dug in. Teeth grit as the water's current tried to pull, tug, and snatch her away - determined to take a sacrifice.

"No!" She yelled, knowing he wouldn't understand. She tried to keep the water from forcing its way into her mouth, eyes squinting to look up at Talus. "Let go. It's okay!"

Her grip tightened on her pack.

"Let go."

 

[Talus]

Talus considered for a moment.

He knew that if he let her go she would go over the falls and they would be separated, but without her there was no telling if he would be able to make it out of the forest alive. Lips thinned, he glanced at the pack, at Fraeya.

Then he made a decision.

The iron grip that he had seized her with relaxed, and his fingers sprawled as he let go of Fraeya's arm.

In the end she was an elf, and he was an Anirian. She had taken him this far, but if she took him with her over the falls then it would all be for naught. Death wasn't worth it, not when he still had a chance to live himself, not when he needed to survive.

So he let her go.

It was a decision that struck him harder than it should have, his face contorting slightly in an unrecognizable emotion as he watched her slip away in the water.

 

[Fraeya]

Relief flickered across her face as he actually listened.

Humans rarely did.

Attention changed to the river. She'd only have once chance at this. Looking ahead, she realized she' dlost site of the weaver's body a long time ago. Must've plunged down the falls. Fingers of one fist curled beneath the waters. The energy from the river began to draw into herself.

She could see the mists of the falls.

"Hang on Ember," she whispered, the little shape in her pack moving frantically.

As the drop of the falls came upon her, she released her palm and a shelf of water pushed her free from the sharp rocks belong and she fell, cradled by the water - lowering her with some amount of control to the calmer pool below.

Talus would be able to see the feat right before she dipped from view.

Coughing and sputtering, she dragged herself to the sandy-shore. Head spun and she felt the black-spots begin to spread across her vision just as she managed to drag herself onto dry ground to collapse. The pack was safely ashore as well, a little shape moving within.

 

[Talus]

Talus saw it, though he didn't quite understand what it was that he did see. Magic of some sort he supposed, but the truth of it was that he could hardly concentrate on trying to figure it out.

Under any other circumstance he would have been amazed, but he found himself too focused on not drowning to focus much at all on it. Both hands wrapped tightly around the branch that had hung over head, grappling it as he used it to slowly pull himself to shore.

Without his armor, or an Elf clinging to him, the feat was much easier than it had been.

Still, by the time he reached the shore Talus found his arms burning. His muscles were fatigued, and as he clattered onto the rocky shore he couldn't help but let out a deep and exasperated breath, fingers burning with the strain they had just endured.

"Fuck." He breathed quietly.

 

[Fraeya]

A little dragon head popped free from the pack. It grunted and wiggled the rest of its body. Fraeya muttered in her half-conscious state. The sound of the falls pounded behind her. She lay prone on a beach in the area the water had cut a small, natural pool before the river continued to flow downstream.

Sand pressed against her cheek and hair.

Ember padded feet made little marks in the sand as he shook out his wet scales and climbed onto Fraeyay's back. The dragon spread its little wings and curled up on the girl's wet clothes, keeping a watchful set of eyes on the woods around them.

 

[Talus]

Talus could feel his breaths slow down, his eyes falling half lidded as he lay on the small shore besides the waterfall.

The rune in his thigh was still glowing, it's magic coursing through him and still providing small bursts of energy. The magic he'd used against the Weavers had worn on him, his body beginning to want rest even through the magic of the Rune.

He had to get up.

Eventually everyone reached their limits, and Talus was afraid that he had reached his. Fingers tightened, and slowly he pulled himself up from the ground. I'm not going to die here.

The Apprentice thought to himself as his legs slid beneath him and pushed him to his feet.

As soon as he stood Talus looked around himself, seeing the forest behind him and the waterfall in front. Lips thinned as he scanned the cliffside, noting a small notch within the rocks. Slowly he wobbled over, seeing rocky outcroppings that he could use to climb down.

Below he could not see Fraeya, the mist of the falling water too thick to see through.

 

[Fraeya]

A small puff of steam left the dragon's mouth as it pointed it at Fraeya's wet clothes. A squeak came from its mouth toward her ear. Front paws tapped against her impatiently.

Another squeak.

Ember was working on his roar.

Tail thumped against her back as he let out another puff of warm steam.

Fraeya groaned. The blackness that had taken her was slowly starting to recede. The little dragon on top of her making it hard to stay unconscious. "Ember," she muttered, lips brushing sand. The little dragon continued to beat his tail against the elf's back.

Another squeak and burst of steam.

 

[Talus]

Talus landed on the ground with a muted thud as his boots hit the surprisingly sandy shores surrounding the base of the waterfall.

It reminded him of the beaches near Vel Luin, his home.

Lips thinned for a moment, and unconsciously Talus grabbed the hilt of his sword at the memory of being there. A breath filled him, and then he began to slowly step forward away from the cliff that he'd just climbed down.

His hands felt practically raw, the sharp rocks of the cliff face having dug into them. "Fraeya?"

Talus attempted pronouncing the name.

It held none of the same elegance as it did when she'd said it.

 

[Fraeya]

Head shook and the girl moved beneath the weight of the small dragon. Hands pushed upon the ground beneath her and she slowly sat up. Ember’s wings drew in and he hopped onto her shoulder, tail curling around her neck. Head nuzzled against her hair and ear.

“I’m okay,” she whispered, eyes slowly refocusing as a figure came out of the mist with a sword.

“Talus!” Surprise mixed with alarm filled her voice. Had he followed her to see if she’d made it? Or had he come because he’d had no other direction to go?

She eyed that sword.

“What’re you doing?”

Probably the latter.

Fraeya stood quickly, a little too quickly. Head spun and she wobbled. Body turned protectively, pointing the shoulder with amber perched on top away from him.

 

[Talus]

"Looking for you." He answered simply.

That wasn't exactly the truth, but close enough to it. He'd known that entering the Weavers nest again was not a choice he could make, crossing the River backwards had also not seemed a good idea, so this was the only way to go.

A part of him had figured that maybe he would see her corpse, but finding her alive was a pleasant enough surprise.

"I still need to get out of here." He said plainly. "Plus I'm guessing you're not in the best shape either."

Talus himself was practically run ragged by now.

 

[Fraeya]

Ember let out a puff of steam. Funny. He hadn’t reacted to the dragon. Maybe he was too tired or couldn’t see?

Didn’t care?

With a silent hand gesture behind her back, she signaled ember to get back into her pack. A disgruntled sound left the dragon’s mouth by he obliged.

“I could use a rest,” she replied warily. This is a good place as any for camp. Fresh water and fish. “You can put your sword away.”

Fraeya eases herself back in the sand.

 

[Talus]

He blinked for a second as he finally realized what he saw. Lips thinning for just a second as he opened his mouth to speak only to close it a few seconds later.

Dragons had not been seen in this part of the world for nearly Five Hundred years. There were reports of them every now and again, but mostly they were few and far in between. Most of the Great Houses would quite literally kill to get their hands on a Dragon.

Their blood alone was worth a small castle. "Are we safe?"

Talus did not object the Dragon.

If he acknowledged it, it was real, and if it was real he would have to betray her. There was no way he could keep knowledge of a Dragon away from the Proctors. Half of them would torture him just to get information about it.

A single drop of Dragon blood alone could fuel ones magic for an entire day if used in the right way.

His sword slipped back into it's scabbard.

 

[Fraeya]

She relaxed a little as he put the sword away. Pack remained between her and him. It was clear she didn’t trust him. Probably for good reason. All humans were greedy.Arms circled her drawn up knees as she looked tiredly into the pool.

“Safer here than where we came from,” she commented quietly.

He looked different without the armor. Younger. More alone and less sure than he put on.

“I can take first watch if you want to sleep.” A hand brushed sand off the side of her face.

 

[Talus]

He glanced around the open beach. "Need cover."

That was one of the first things they taught at the Academy. Never sleep out in the open and never let yourself be caught unaware. It was a stupid move, and out here where monsters lurked everywhere?

Even worse.

"There's some caves in the cliffside." He offered. "Can you climb?"

At the very least there they would be tucked away from whatever was running around here.

Talus was sick of monsters.

 

[Fraeya]

The girl stared out blankly across the river wondering how she got here? How she got so far from Falwood? How she became so alone and bitter? How she'd gotten a dragon.

Humans were to blame.

And she had to wonder if it would ever change. As much as she wanted to be left alone, she didn't want to be alone. Gods, she was thankful for Ember.

She wouldn't have survived being a mage slave for so long without that little dragon. Or the escape to follow. Lavender circlets flickered to Talus.

"Yes." It wasn't a bad idea. The beach would likely draw more monsters or animals seeking a fresh water source. "Show me the way." Palms pushed off the sand as she stood wearily, shouldering the pack and the precious cargo inside.

 

[Talus]

Talus motioned towards the misty cliffs that he had climbed down earlier. His hands still hurt, but he'd rather some pain in his fingers than getting stabbed in the middle of the night by some sort of monster with massive claws.

Quickly the young Apprentice made his way towards the section of cliffs he'd seen the caves at.

His gaze quickly checked for the best path, finding small outcroppings to clamber up and motioning for Fraeya to follow him. As he began to climb he wondered about the Elf he was traveling with, the contents of her pack.

Who the fuck was she?

Even the Falwood did not have Dragons. Talus was almost sure of that.

With a grunt he pulled himself into the opening of a large cavern, his fingers letting loose as he let out a loud and tired breath.

 

[Fraeya]

Fraeya scrambled after him. With her graceful and light strides, she made anything look easy. Fluid like a dance.

She quickly pulled herself in after the apprentice. Hands brushed off on the fabric on her pants. Rocking back on her heels, she stood and peered into the darkness of the cavern, her eyes almost glowing with that purple hue. As far as she could tell, they were alone.

“At least there are no beasts in here.” Still, she found herself whispering. Easing down against one wall, she sat, swinging off her pack and settling it carefully next to her. She dug some berries and nuts from her pocket.

After a slight hesitation, she held out her hand to Talus.

“Want some?”

 

[Talus]

He wanted to say no, after all what kind of Dreadlord would accept good from an elf? But by now his stomach was churning and he was running of fumes. The last time he'd eaten was two days ago, and while the rune was still working, even it needed him to be alive to still function.

With a grimace he nodded his head. "Please."

Talus found it difficult not to be polite at least. Part of his upbringing at the Academy had been all about deference. The Proctor struck out harshly if you did not speak respectfully. It was a lesson taught to many of the children early on, him Included. A few never caught on, but more often than not they were worse off for it.

He wondered briefly how he would be treated on his return.

Those back at the camp probably already thought he was dead. There was no way they would send out a search party or anything of the like. Not for just an Apprentice. If he couldn't make it in this Grove then he simply wasn't worthy.

He could picture the Commandant of the Camp and Proctor Felwith having that conversation.

It made him ill. "How much longer until the edge?"

Talus asked quietly.

 

[Fraeya]

She offered the nuts and berries freely to the human, then drew her hand back. Gaze settled over his shoulder as she gaze at the tops of the trees from their vantage point.

"Should be one more night and one more day."

Head tipped back as she allowed her eyes to close for a moment.

--------------------------------------------------------

Against all odds, the elf and the apprentice made it to the edge. True to her word, she pointed him in the right direction. She would never forget how he'd helped her with the monsters and she hoped he...heeded her warning about the war in the woods.

She and Ember continued on their journey without a backward glance even though the boy's face and name would not be easily forgotten.