taking steps is easy; standing still is hard
08-08-2013, 08:25 PM
The little lady was lost. Completely and totally lost. She held no hope for getting out of the god-forsaken crypt, and despite the fact that she had only been submerged in the earth for a little over an hour, it felt like days had passed in her very short attention span. By the time she had realized she was too far in, it had been pitch black and her scent seemed to be everywhere, even in places she hadn't yet been. And so deep inside of the maze she was lost.
Defeated, Aegira plopped down against one of the stone walls, trying to seek comfort in the chill but finding only thoughts of pain and a concept she'd never bothered to think about before--death. Nobody had needed to tell her what it was or theorize with her what it would be like. It was as if she already knew. Not what it was called, but the concept. The idea of not existing. Because at this point, she didn't wish to exist. She hopelessly thought about her mother and her dad and Ananke and her beloved Twinkletoes. And uncle Mercury. And the usually strong-spirited adventurer found herself sobbing. I shouldn't have even left Ludi, she thought, curling up into a small ball with a quiet whimper that echoed through the caverns. Shouldn't mommy be looking for me soon...?
Defeated, Aegira plopped down against one of the stone walls, trying to seek comfort in the chill but finding only thoughts of pain and a concept she'd never bothered to think about before--death. Nobody had needed to tell her what it was or theorize with her what it would be like. It was as if she already knew. Not what it was called, but the concept. The idea of not existing. Because at this point, she didn't wish to exist. She hopelessly thought about her mother and her dad and Ananke and her beloved Twinkletoes. And uncle Mercury. And the usually strong-spirited adventurer found herself sobbing. I shouldn't have even left Ludi, she thought, curling up into a small ball with a quiet whimper that echoed through the caverns. Shouldn't mommy be looking for me soon...?
AEGIRA
![](http://i40.tinypic.com/5y6x37.png)
08-08-2013, 08:42 PM
As Basilisk slipped into the depths of the earth itself, all he found was darkness. It was a strange stone structure, one that made him both inquisitive and hesitant -- he pressed his nose to the stone wall of the crypt and followed the entrance downward, perching precariously on all fours as he walked, not willing to slip and injure himself. The stone was strangely smooth, and he found it hard for his pads to keep a perfect grip as he descended further.
It took some time for his sight to grow accustomed to the darkness, but even as it did, it was still so dark -- too dark to see ahead of him farther than a foot or so. He had wandered here, quite truthfully, to search for the woman that had slain his father. He did not yet know her name, but her scent remained firmly implanted in his mind, refusing to loosen its grip on him. It had led him nearby, but the darkness here had stolen his attention. Though he was now a yearling, he was still very much a child in some ways, finding it difficult to stifle his curiosity when it was roused.
And so he went, slipping into the crypts and soon finding himself rather lost. He was not afraid, for the concept of death meant nothing to him. He had little to live for, anyway, except to avenge his father; his mother was all but gone, his siblings both vanished without a trace. Not that he had tried terribly hard to look for them. As he took a sharp turn left, feeling along the walls with his snout, his perked ears heard something, a soft sound bouncing off the solid stone walls. Was that the sound of a child crying? A look of distaste immediately crossed his features, his nose wrinkling as he drew himself nearer to it, his interest piqued.
He was somewhat startled when he caught a flash of white and orange fur, in the distance -- he had to squint to see the form of a girl, quivering and curled against a stone wall. "Someone take you here to die? Or were you so stupid to back yourself into this corner?" It was hard for him to imagine being so helpless, so vulnerable, and he eyed her warily, no emotion gleaming in his purple gaze. He snorted softly, wondering who she was, and why her scent was vaguely familiar to him.
08-08-2013, 09:01 PM
So awfully dark with his mostly-midnight fur and so quiet was he that Aegira didn't even realize his presence until his voice echoed around her, wallowing in her own self-pity too much to bother to scent the air around her. She jumped immediately at the unexpected noise, a little growl slipping from her chest as she lurched to her paws, springing from the ball she was curled in with what felt to her like record speed. Her heart thudded in her chest and she raised her short hackles, baring her teeth at the stranger, half-glaring at him as she squinted to try and make out his features. The runt set her jaw and cleared her features with anything but anger as she realized his size, lifting her chin a little and pushing out her chest. I may be small, but I'm not a weakling! she thought, seeming to have completely forgotten that only seconds ago she'd been in a whimpering ball, wishing silently for her mother. The male absolutely dwarfed her but it did not put too much of a damper on her attitude--she'd grown up around big wolves so far, and he was only about as big as her mother.
It took a moment for her to remember his words, but when she did she answered immediately, not wanting to be thought as a dummy for waiting to respond. "It was a dare and it was dark," she lied boldly, voice unwavering, to her surprise. Every muscle in her minute body was tensed and coiled, prepared to try and jump away should he try to do something to her. Her mother had told her to not trust everyone and she'd definitely taken it to heart. "B'sides, I can get outta here whenever, I, want." She put stubborn pause and emphasis on the last three words, frowning deeply at him. Her eyes were a little adjusted and she could sort of see the lighter parts of him. "...I just... dun wanna."
It took a moment for her to remember his words, but when she did she answered immediately, not wanting to be thought as a dummy for waiting to respond. "It was a dare and it was dark," she lied boldly, voice unwavering, to her surprise. Every muscle in her minute body was tensed and coiled, prepared to try and jump away should he try to do something to her. Her mother had told her to not trust everyone and she'd definitely taken it to heart. "B'sides, I can get outta here whenever, I, want." She put stubborn pause and emphasis on the last three words, frowning deeply at him. Her eyes were a little adjusted and she could sort of see the lighter parts of him. "...I just... dun wanna."
AEGIRA
![](http://i40.tinypic.com/5y6x37.png)
08-08-2013, 09:23 PM
If he had passed this child in any other setting, he would've likely passed her by; it was not generally he was the one to initiate conversation. No, he preferred to silently suffer with the fate that had been bestowed upon him. But this girl seemed so utterly helpless that he felt himself drawn to her. Ears pricked forward as she physically jumped at the sound of his voice, a soft rumble of laughter falling from his lips. Her fear amused him, albeit briefly, and yet he did not feel compelled to make her suffer any further. Eyes narrowed, concealing his purple gaze ever so slightly, as she sprung to all fours and attempted to appear threatening.
Even for a yearling, he was rather large, just a few inches shorter than his mother ... already weighing over a hundred pounds, this girl seemed like nothing but skin and bones, no threat to him. Lips curled in the slightest smirk as she claimed she was not lost ... that she could leave whenever she wanted to. "I suppose that's why you have tears in your eyes," he retorted, his voice taking on the slightly taunting voice of a child -- but only for a moment. It was strangely reminiscent of teasing his brother, but he withdrew slightly, growing silent for a long moment as he eyed her. It was difficult, in the darkness, and so he crept forward a few steps closer. Normally on guard, he was slightly more relaxed now, not at all afraid of this girl. Nostrils flared again as he lowered his head, shoulders drooping as he inhaled her scent. Too familiar ... his mind wandered, gaze sweeping over her, empty save for a small spark of curiosity that lingered there.