Nap Time
The base of the volcano was the perfect place to find the most recent object of his desires; dragon glass, a smooth black stone that could be shaped into knifes to make wickedly sharp edges that could cut through flesh with ease. He walked through the caves, tail waving as he looked as his warped reflection in the smooth black surface. Beautiful as ever, he grinned to himself before selecting an edge and biting it clear with the use of his metal fangs. With a soft hum he began to nap the stone with a stray flint, working it into a sharp edge.
speaking Thinking you |
Her mind was distracted as she walked, her uncle’s wife Vail was slowly dying. No one was completely sure the cause, but she would be gone before season’s end she was told. She was sad for her uncle and their children. She didn’t know her aunt by marriage very well, but that didn’t lessen the tragedy.
Delicate paws carried her forward, half hunting half exploring as she caught an unfamiliar scent. Twig followed it, curious and eager for a distraction when she appeared before the slender wolf. He had a bit of the black rock that collected here, but what he was doing she wasn’t sure. ”Hello,” she offered a bit timidly, not wanting to get into the way. ”I.. I was just curious what you’ve got going on there?” She asked as she waited for an invitation or dismissal.
He lifted his eyes slowly from his work, taking in the sight of the woman and grinning as she stepped toward him. She asked what he was working on and his smile widened. “A knife little flower.” He told her and slid his half shaped work toward her. “It’s made from a stone called Obsidian, when I’m done making an edge I’ll wrap this part in leather.” He explained, gesturing to half the stone which had been thinned to accommodate a handle. “Would you care to help me?” He offered. From his back Writhe and Ruin twitched their noses, and lifted onto their back legs, investigating the woman from a distance.
speaking Thinking you |
”Oh, I would!” She took his offer innocently before lowering her small frame to the ground in front of him. ”You may need to teach me.” She added. Twig liked making things, but she lacked the experience to consider herself a true crafter. ”I’m Autumn Memoire,” she liked this stranger so far, and offered her birth name. ”I like to go by Twig, but you can use either.” She added with a bright smile.
“It’s quite simple.” He began. “Choose a shard of glass and I will break it off for you.” He told her flashing his gilded fangs as a way of showing her how exactly he intended to do as he said. “Once you have chosen your shard you simply take a rock and beat the edge into shape like so.” He napped one or twice at his blade as an example, chipping away shards of stone and giving the shard of glass a sharp slightly serrated edge.
He worked at his blade while she chose her shard, pulling back to examine his work with hooded eyes before his keen peach pools slid over the girl’s feminine form again. Any children they had would be pale stripped beauties, kissed by brown earth and the black stains of the Klein lineage.
speaking Thinking you |
Her velvety tail swung leisurely at her striped hips as she turned away from the stranger to better decide on her own blade. She was excited to make something so useful, and his such a charming teacher. With caramel ears falling to her head at the thought she made her choice and turned back towards him. Twig felt a blush creep over her cheeks as she caught his eyes upon her. ”I’d like to work on this one, please.” She offered humbly as she pointed towards the shard with her delicate nose. ”What kind of leather do you use for the handle?” She asked curiously, something that would stand up to a bit of abuse. Especially if he was using those impressive teeth.
Without another word Rosemary stood and broke the shard off with ease, passing the broken stone to the girl before he returned to his work. “I use bison leather.” He explained, and pulled an undyed strip of thick leather from his harness to demonstrate. Slowly he began to wrap the blade in leather until it was thick enough to rival the blade itself in width. He held the blade up for her to inspect, a wide grin on his features before he realized he hadn’t given her his name.
“Forgive me lovely Autumn, I don’t believe I introduced myself.” He said almost aghast. “I am Rosemary Klein, although you can simply call me Rose if you like.” He purred, a wicked grin over his features as he settled onto his haunches to watch her work.
speaking Thinking you |
She took a couple of swings at her blade before he was finished and showed her the product. Autumn took ample time to observe his work before he spoke again. Her bright lavender eyes found his gentle purple gaze as he excused himself and offered her his name. ”No need to apologize, Rose.” She returned politely with a sweet grin. ”It’s been lovely to meet you.” Her ivory tail wagged pleasantly at her hips as her focus returned to the black blade. She sharpened it, with slightly less grace than Rosemary, and finished with a victorious grin. ”This will be perfect, I just need to gather some leather for myself.” She inspected her blade carefully. ”Are you a hunter, Rosemary?” She didn’t know how she might categorize him. She’d never met anyone like him before. Golden fangs and an impressive chained harness? Twig was fascinated by him.
Everything seems calm, but it quickly changes. Within seconds, the ground begins to shake violently. Rocks and debris tumble down from nearby heights. The tunnels themselves shed layers of rock as if they might collapse any moment! It's a rock slide and earthquake! The severity of the debris falling seems to slow, but the tremors seem to stick around forever, coming in one wave after another for the remainder of the day.
He opened his mouth to speak but before he could a soft rumble began to emanate from the seemingly the core of the earth.
“Treamor!” He cried, and sprang to his feet, grabbing his knife blade and jumping over Twig to shield her from the falling rocks. Even though they were strangers his protective instincts kicked in immediately, and he found himself on top of her, crouching low to protect her as loose stones began to hail down around them.
“We need to run!” He barked, as a plume of shale and dust filled the narrow tunnel, rocks falling from all sides and threatening to entomb them.
speaking |