said the king to the river
12-12-2015, 07:47 PM
He blinked the gathering droplets from his lashes and squinted through the rising mist as he looked down. A reply traveled up to him, assuring him that the stranger was fine. The voice, a little muffled through the sound of the rain, seemed… familiar. Nagendra’s brow crinkled as he dug through his brain. But before he could spend too long figuring out, the invitation came. He lifted his head, ears perking as his expression filled with curiosity and apprehension. ”Uhm…” They wouldn’t be able to hear his soft hesitation, but it was perceivable in that quiet and inaction that followed in the next few seconds.
Nagendra stared at the cliffside, assessing with all the yearning and fear of a teenager trying to decide whether or not to mimic the daring feat of a friend. On one hand… he was afraid. He wasn’t much for risky, athletic stunts or climbing. But… he very much wanted to meet the stranger at the bottom. What a lovely experience it would be, to wait out the rain nestled in the cliffside, talking with someone. His heart beat quickly. It seemed dangerous, and he wasn’t exactly a risk taker. But… ”Alright!” he called down.
One step. His foot was a little shaky. Slowly, slowly, he began to edge down the steep face of the cliffs, his claws gripping tightly in the moistening ground. He breathed shallowly, his heart pounding faster and faster. Oh, this was the scariest thing he’d done in a while. The rain was getting heavier, making it harder to see, making the ground slicker. After what seemed like forever of pausing, proceeding, and growing terror, he saw where he wanted to get off. He didn’t look for the wolf, only that one ledge he had identified where he knew the stranger was. He focused intensely on that patch of safe ground, and… He slipped. A horrified yelp left his jaws, shock coursing through his veins.
He didn’t see exactly what had happened, but some divine power must have been looking out for him. In the next second, he landed in heap at his destination (which thankfully hadn’t been more than a few feet below where he was) with a thud. ”Oof!” It hurt. Not... terribly, but... a lot. Or maybe he was just kind of a wuss. He opened his eyes, realizing they had squeezed shut, and noticed that he wasn’t dead. When he looked up, wincing and trying to ignore the blossoming pain in his breathless chest, he noticed something else. ”Aki?” Wide eyes focused upon the familiar face with surprise, both at his tumble and at finding Aki here.
Nagendra stared at the cliffside, assessing with all the yearning and fear of a teenager trying to decide whether or not to mimic the daring feat of a friend. On one hand… he was afraid. He wasn’t much for risky, athletic stunts or climbing. But… he very much wanted to meet the stranger at the bottom. What a lovely experience it would be, to wait out the rain nestled in the cliffside, talking with someone. His heart beat quickly. It seemed dangerous, and he wasn’t exactly a risk taker. But… ”Alright!” he called down.
One step. His foot was a little shaky. Slowly, slowly, he began to edge down the steep face of the cliffs, his claws gripping tightly in the moistening ground. He breathed shallowly, his heart pounding faster and faster. Oh, this was the scariest thing he’d done in a while. The rain was getting heavier, making it harder to see, making the ground slicker. After what seemed like forever of pausing, proceeding, and growing terror, he saw where he wanted to get off. He didn’t look for the wolf, only that one ledge he had identified where he knew the stranger was. He focused intensely on that patch of safe ground, and… He slipped. A horrified yelp left his jaws, shock coursing through his veins.
He didn’t see exactly what had happened, but some divine power must have been looking out for him. In the next second, he landed in heap at his destination (which thankfully hadn’t been more than a few feet below where he was) with a thud. ”Oof!” It hurt. Not... terribly, but... a lot. Or maybe he was just kind of a wuss. He opened his eyes, realizing they had squeezed shut, and noticed that he wasn’t dead. When he looked up, wincing and trying to ignore the blossoming pain in his breathless chest, he noticed something else. ”Aki?” Wide eyes focused upon the familiar face with surprise, both at his tumble and at finding Aki here.