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Post by Lion on Mar 7, 2018 5:15:56 GMT
A steady breeze stirred the long grass of the plains, sending ripples of silver like the crests of waves across the valley below. The sun hung low on the horizon, splashes of orange and glorious yellow stretching from it up into the pale blue sky, clear signs of the day’s descent beginning. Jorah sat beneath the shade of a few scraggly trees clinging to the hillside, his claws scraping against a flintstone as he tried to ignite a campfire. The grizzly’s huge shoulders rippled as he turned and glanced about, trying to get a glimpse of Kaidia. She had insisted on going off alone to the nearby stream, possibly to wash up and refresh herself, and though it made Jorah nervous to let her out of his sight, he’d permitted it, since she’d taken her protective pets with her. That left Jorah alone with their new companion, a scraggly wolf called Alex, whom they’d met on the plains during their travels. Jorah eyed the wolf without quite as much suspicion as he had initially. He’d grown used to the creature’s presence, and Jorah trusted Kaidia’s sense of Alex’s intentions. The wolf had also been honest about his reasons for traveling, which was more than might be expected from someone in the same circumstances as Jorah and Kaidia found themselves in. So Jorah had given him the benefit of the doubt, and now he found he could at least trust the wolf not to run off during a night’s watch or attack them in their sleep. Baby steps. As Jorah turned his attention back to the campfire, he listened to the sounds of the wolf’s movements, ever aware of his position, paranoid even in his acceptance of the creature’s presence. Finally, when the flames had been fanned to a decent strength, the grizzly turned back and blinked his dark eyes at Alex thoughtfully. “Bring that pack there, will you? We’d best get dinner cooking already.” He gestured to one of the bags which held some of the fresh meat he’d managed to get off a deer down on the plains. His hunting skills were nothing to be immensely proud of, but he’d managed to keep them supplied, which was in and of itself an accomplishment in these wastes. Janielove Word count: 379 |
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Post by Janielove on Mar 7, 2018 6:00:31 GMT
Alexon Alex kept one ear turned towards Jorah. They knew the bear didn't really trust them, which was understandable, and they were somewhat afraid of the bear. But being with the pair offered consistent food and protection, and companionship was a great bonus too. It was nice to know someone was looking out for you, if only to protect themselves as well. But both creature respected each other, and Kaidia seemed somewhat fond of them, which was nice. Their eyes were locked in her direction, and they couldn't help but pace a bit. The sunset was nice, but they wanted to make sure nothing happened to Kaidia. They flinched slightly when Jorah spoke, not really expecting it. Alex didn't speak, just nodded and lifted the sack up over their shoulder, then carried it over and set it beside Jorah. Bags wore out much more quickly when they were dragged across the ground. "Need anything else?" Always eager to please, Alex's attention was now on Jorah, but one ear was still tilted toward where Kaidia was. Alex told themself that she could protect herself, but they couldn't help but worry. Not that they doubted her ability to take care of herself, but they didn't know who they were running from, and if, by chance, Alex's old pack was after them, they would definitely go after her. Alex wouldn't forgive themself for that. Lion |
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Post by Lion on Mar 7, 2018 19:50:16 GMT
Watching as Alex brought the sack over, Jorah nodded with approval as it was set by his side. The bear rummaged about in the sack for the meat he would be cooking over the fire and carefully affixed it to a skewer, which he set over the fire and began to turn carefully. Glancing sideways at Alex, Jorah noticed how the wolf’s attention seemed split between the grizzly and the direction where Kaidia had left them to go down to the river. “Nothing for the moment. I can see your thoughts are occupied.” He tried to keep his voice level, but a tinge of amusement crept into his tone as he continued to turn the spit. The grizzly knew better than most what affect Kaidia had on others. They gravitated towards her kindness and her warmth like insects to a bright light, it was only natural. Still, Jorah wasn’t certain he could approve of Alex’s interest in his ward. Kaidia’s safety—and her happiness—were his chief concerns. He did not want either of those things threatened by the presence of this wanderer. But as long as their interests aligned, Jorah would allow Alex to stay without complaint. Jorah trusted that Kaidia, at least, knew her own mind enough to make that decision for the group. A grouchy, paranoid old bear wasn’t necessarily the best creature to ask about such things. “Won’t be long before we encounter a settlement, if my maps are to be believed,” the grizzly noted. He wasn’t sure what Alex would do when they did reach the settlement. It was possible the wolf would go his own way. Or he might not. At this point, his intentions were up in the air, and Jorah had decided to reserve his own feelings about that. But he was still interested, all the same. Janielove Word count: 307 |
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Post by Janielove on Mar 7, 2018 22:47:07 GMT
Alex Alex glanced up, then chuckled softly. "Can't help it. Pack animal, you know. I'm used to dividing my attention, though. There's plenty to go around." The wolf watched quietly as the meat roasted. Living with them was probably the first time Alex had experienced cooked meat. The old guild had believed that the blood and raw meat strengthened you and makes you a better assassin, and the coyotes, well, they are whatever the came across whenever they came across it. When Jorah remarked about the settlement, Alex nodded. "Settlements can be tricky. They're tough when you don't have money, or when you look like an outcast, but there's always a nice creature somewhere. And there's usually lots of food." Alex shrugged. "How do you know when the meat is done?"
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Post by Lion on Mar 8, 2018 2:29:43 GMT
Jorah huffed at the idea of living in a pack. Packs were wild, disorganized groups, usually, and better fit for Unmarked than for those with any true sense. Of course, Jorah had lived his life surrounded by education, had served the king of Evryll even before Kaidia’s father had led him down a darker path. Jorah supposed that any group, at its heart, had elements that could not be controlled, but he still would prefer even an assassin’s guild to a pack filled with creatures of the same species and same mindset. That seemed altogether too primal for Jorah’s tastes. Alex’s observations about settlements were valid, Jorah reflected, though they had little choice but to venture into some form of civilization in the hopes of finding supplies. “We’ll be careful. Small settlements can have more suspicious residents, but they’re far less likely to draw the kind of attention we don’t want.” Which would be any attention that would make it to the ears of those hunting them. Both Alex and Kaidia had assassins of sorts after them. It was Jorah’s duty to protect Kaidia—though he himself could probably expect little mercy from the assassins of his former guild, should they discover him alive. Alex could expect his protection while he traveled with them, but Jorah would rather avoid getting caught up in another creature’s problems, if at all possible. Considering Kaidia, it probably wasn’t. “Oh trust me, you’ll see it,” was Jorah’s only response to Alex’s inquiry about the meat. The bear carefully turned the spit and watched as the raw meat began to brown. He eyed Alex thoughtfully, pondering the question that stirred about in his mind before putting it into words. “Your pack were naturalists when it came to eating, I take it?” he asked, his voice too level and disinterested to appear at once condescending, though his words could be taken that way. He didn’t abhor the thought of eating raw meat, of course. It was natural and did no great harm. But there were many advantages to the eating of cooked meat, including the taste, which is why, he supposed, eating raw meat had fallen out of fashion among the Blessed. Janielove Word count: 373 |
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Post by Janielove on Mar 14, 2018 4:12:54 GMT
Alexon Skye Alex nodded. "It's also less likely that anyone is laying in wait there. And, just so you know, if we get anywhere near anyone from my father's Guild, I will know, and I'll warn you. My goddess Lestria have me the gift of enhanced senses. And I can fight, if it comes down to it. I don't want you thinking I'm helpless." Alex despised fighting, but if Jorah and Kaidia were threatened, they knew they would not hesitate to join the fray. Alex grew quiet again as they watched the meat turn on the spit. The smell was incredible, and only got stronger as the colors changed. Alex chuckled softly at the question. "Guild, technically. But yes, they definitely were. They believed that raw meat made the senses sharper and the body stronger than cooked meat ever could, and they believed that consuming blood made you a better fighter and assassin. Which is absurd. They coyotes I stayed with after didn't see the point in cooking meat before eating it, because they felt it was a waste of time, and were afraid that the drippings of the meat being lost would take away from the amount of meat left for them." One of Alex's ears was still pricked towards where Kaidia had left, but more of their attention was on Jorah now. Lion |
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Post by Lion on Mar 15, 2018 3:17:52 GMT
The grizzly nodded slightly at Alex’s words. He supposed it must be useful, having those enhanced senses. Wolves had keen senses to begin with, so that was something, at least. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Jorah said finally. And he meant that much. There had been a time in his life when he’d relished a good fight, when he’d felt powerful using his power. But that allure had long since faded. Since rescuing Kaidia and joining her in exile, Jorah had learned a new way to live. Mercy was his guide now. Though in a pinch he could still set his enemies ablaze in the blink of an eye or crack an elephant’s skull with a swipe of his paw. In a pinch.
As Alex described his “guild’s” mentality, Jorah listened and turned the spit. The meat was turning to just the right shade of brown. He could tell by the slightly seared quality it would be done cooking soon. Glancing up at the wolf, Jorah let out a laugh. “I suppose the coyotes make a good point. But anything worth eating takes time to prepare.”
Gingerly, the grizzly lifted the spit and broke it into three parts, each with a chunk of meat on it. Holding one out to Alex, he nodded towards it. ”Take a look. That’s what a properly cooked steak looks like.”
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Post by Janielove on Mar 30, 2018 4:53:11 GMT
Alexon "Coyotes are an interesting bunch, for sure," Alex agreed with a laugh. Their tail twitched happily when the bear laughed. It was good to hear, and Alex hoped it meant that they were getting on better terms with the bear. He was certainly a powerhouse, and not someone who you'd want to cross. But definitely not a bad character.
The wolf took the meat and poked it with a claw, then watched the juices that ran out onto their paw. Then they poked it again. It was certainly a very different color and texture from raw meat, and it smelled way better. The metallic tang of the meat was gone, but it didn't smell as sweet. Their tail wagged happily. "Looks great. Do we eat now, or wait for Kaidia?"
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