The longest range in Lambastia, the Tuun Mountains cover up much of the northwest. Unlike the harsh Fe'gan Mountains, the Tuun Mountains have varying temperatures, from very mild to slightly colder depending on where you go and which sections you explore. (+3 Offense)

Moderator: Retired Staff

Return to Tuun Mountains

A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 3:39 AM

ImageImage


"Young master, might I ask why we've come to such a place? If you've a wish to see the sights, I have other less strenuous suggestions," said Rhodes. He had made several quips to the same effect on the way up, all of which Sivain had ignored out of hand. Rhodes could say what he wanted, but as he was merely a passenger, his words didn't hold much weight right now. Besides, it had been Rhodes' decision to accompany Sivain, not the other way around. If the cat had any protests about how Sivain spent his time, he could leave. They were both well aware of this, so it wasn't worth his time to respond. He half suspected that Rhodes was merely giving vent to his feelings, and if that was the case, then he could do as he wished; Sivain had no trouble tuning him out, after all this time.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 3:52 AM

Of course, it was also possible that the cat was genuinely curious about the nature of this trip, but if that was the case, Sivain was ill inclined to tell him. It was better that the cat attribute it to some peculiarity of Sivain's character. If he knew the real reason that Sivain had come out here, Rhodes would almost certainly try to talk him out of it, with more fervor and perhaps with more just cause, too, than he had thus far.

Rhodes watched him a while, but when it became apparent that Sivain wasn't going to say anything, the cat sighed and turned his attentions to trying to find a more comfortable position. The movement was a little distracting, but not enough for Sivain to mind it. He had grown increasingly used to carrying his passenger over the last few months.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 3:56 AM

Once the cat had quieted down again, the hike up became quite pleasant. Sivain was no stranger to physical exertion. The bulk of his youth had been spent in training, and he'd quickly learned that the physical aspect was much easier than the mental one. Even if he had been an uncoordinated, awkward boy, he could drum that out of his muscles with enough practice. It was the dealing with people--- their needs, their motives, the weight of their hopes and their deaths--- that troubled him. Soon enough, the dull aches of his body were a reprieve from thought, rather than the punishment they had once been. It had been one of the smaller detriments of godhood, taking that away from him.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:00 AM

Now he was just weak enough again that he could feel weariness, and he could feel the comfortable burn in his legs as he walked. The mountain air was cool, still chill from winter but bringing with it a hint of spring. It would have been better if he had made the trip in spring proper, when the land's awakening was well under way, but he would take what he could get. Occasionally, when they crested a particularly scenic rise or the trees opened up to offer a view, he would stop and take it in. He walked at a brisk pace, but in reality there was no rush. That only added to the impression of leisure, and better suited his purpose of misleading Rhodes as to his purpose.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:06 AM

They came to one such rise now. Sivain allowed himself to strain a few steps, eager to reach the stopping point, and Rhodes stirred, sensing the change in pace. If he thought they had arrived at anything special, however, he was going to be disappointed. Rhodes, as Sivain was learning, had no great appreciation for the wonder offered by a mountain view.

However, something about this particular spot caught the cat's attention. As soon as Sivain reached the small plateau, Rhodes hopped down from his perch, casting about for something. Sivain stood where he was, not wanting to interfere. If there was something the matter, Rhodes would let him know.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:09 AM

For his own part, he couldn't detect anything amiss. That didn't mean anything conclusive though. Sivain had been trained to look out for certain things, when it came to foes of a supernatural or magical nature, but that had been ages ago. Many of those were also exclusive to his realm, as far as he could tell. Rhodes, who was at least more of a native than Sivain, had a better frame of reference for these things. He also had a much greater degree of magical training. If it was something to do with magic, Sivain trusted the cat's judgement over his own without a doubt.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:12 AM

And it must have been magical in nature, must it not? Otherwise, Sivain couldn't think of anything that would catch Rhodes' attention so abruptly, while at the same time escaping his own detection altogether. He watched on as Rhodes picked his way through the thin, short grass, ears swivelling. His tails weren't up, but held behind him. One or the other would twitch now and then, at some sign that Sivain couldn't see.

At length, he looked back up at Sivain. "There has been a... disturbance of some sort here," he said. There was a pause, in which he considered his next words. "It is magical in nature, certainly, but not one I am familiar with."
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:26 AM

He paused again, and a thought suddenly occurred to Sivain. "You think I knew about this," he said. It wasn't a question. Rhodes' expression confirmed it, though he still didn't commit anything to words. "Unfortunately, I haven't the slightest idea what you might be detecting." As far as he could tell, this was merely a scenic spot on the mountains, though he doubted people came here very often. The way up had been more of a deer path than a well-trodden trail, and sometimes he had to wade through patches of underbrush that were trying to reclaim it.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:30 AM

Still, he hardly blamed Rhodes for the idea. The fact that this was such an out of the way place made it more suspicious that Sivain had happened to come here. He had dug his own grave by not telling Rhodes why he had made the trip, though in retrospect formulating an excuse wouldn't have worked either. They were practiced hands at telling whether the other was lying. Such was the inconvenience of long acquaintance.

It did also mean, however, that Rhodes knew more or less when he was telling the truth too. The cat watched him a moment longer, but even then, it wasn't with the same degree of suppressed suspicion. "Very well, I suppose I'll take your word for it," he said.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/09/2016 4:33 AM

"What happened here? Can you tell?" he asked. If there was a magical altercation, there might still be lingering danger. Normally Rhodes would have led with that, but he hadn't gotten very far into his explanation as of yet.

The cat's ears were turned back in distaste, or perhaps frustration. "I can't say for certain," he began, and took a ginger step forward before pausing again. "It seems as if the space here has been thrown amiss by something. Something was here, and then it... left in a hurry, and tried to rearrange everything so as to cover its tracks, but didn't do a very good job of it. This has a rushed feel to it," he mused.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/15/2016 1:09 AM

Rhodes generally considered himself the expert on anything magical, so the fact that he couldn't tell what this was was unusual. His explanation wasn't particularly enlightening either, but Sivain knew that magic worked in strange ways, even in his own home realm. “You've never seen the like before?” he asked. The cat swiped his tails, seemingly affirming what Sivain had said.

“And you really didn't come here to find this,” said Rhodes. It wasn't another accusation, but rather him musing on this turn of events.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/15/2016 1:10 AM

Sivain took a shot at guessing what was on his mind. “Do you think it's worth investigating?” he asked.

The cat took his time to answer that again, taking another few mincing steps back and forth. Whatever he sensed here, it must have made him uncomfortable. His pace was slow, and he occasionally shook his paws as if to rid himself of some residue, or perhaps as if the ground had stung him. “Is it dangerous?” Sivain asked, when the cat gave no answer. He had no doubt that Rhodes would have spoken in due time, but his new question was the more pressing one.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/15/2016 1:10 AM

“It wouldn't affect you much if you didn't stay for too long. I am smaller, and more magically sensitive, so the effect of the distortion on me is more severe. I daresay if someone of human size was merely passing through, they would never notice it at all.” That statement rang true enough. Even now, with Rhodes having alerted him of its existence, he still couldn't feel any disturbance in the space. However, he knew better than to doubt Rhodes' judgement on such things.

Still, he had said only 'just passing through'. “And if they camped here for a night?” he prompted.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/15/2016 1:11 AM

The cat's nose wrinkled up at that. “One would start to feel... uncomfortable, yes. Someone not well versed in magic wouldn't be able to ascertain the cause, but perhaps it would be enough to prompt them to leave before things became more severe.”

“And by 'more severe', you mean...”

Rhodes' fur was standing on end as he spoke. “Spatial distortions have a tendency to distort other things within their field, if left with enough time to do so. I hear cancer is a growing problem these days, yes? I suspect magic has something to do with that, at least, though I wouldn't count out the effect of the modern lifestyle either.”
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Re: A Detour [self]

Postby crow » 02/15/2016 2:07 AM

Having said that, the cat came immediately back out again, and reclaimed his former perch. He shook himself off furiously, and began to groom with vigor. Sivain had no idea if it was merely a regular grooming, or if he was performing some sort of magical ritual to rid himself of ill effects. He didn't ask, however. The cat was clearly riled up, and too many questions would likely only have attracted his annoyance.

“Should we leave this be, then?” said Sivain. By the cat's willingness to stay where he was, Sivain guessed that they were out of the reach of the field.
User avatar
crow
Globetrotter
Globetrotter
Pets | Items
Keystones: 3874
Donate
Joined: 09/04/2007 11:54 AM

Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


cron