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Post by Da Pwny on Dec 19, 2008 2:26:17 GMT -5
*yeah, yeah, yeah... i know ~.~ ...*
Her face seemed to brighten up at the statement. "Why yes! That would be wonderful. Its rare for me to run into someone even remotely kind... and the roads do get lonely, even with Izuket nearby all the time." Holding out her hand, she awaited help to get on her feet again, as bracing herself was time consuming and difficult, even though she was used to doing so very often...
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Post by knightc3 on Dec 19, 2008 3:22:27 GMT -5
Cross smiled, he didn't know after how long. For once someone didn't run away. Maybe it was because she couldn't see him. But he had a purpose if only for now. He took her hand and raised her to her feet easily. He was actually surprised how light she was. He could probably carry her without much effort if he wanted.
He paused at that moment. He wasn't sure if she wanted him to lead on, holding her hand like that or just walk on her own. How should he ask. "Uh... do you want to hold on when we walk or..." No, he wasn't sure what to say.
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Post by Da Pwny on Dec 19, 2008 20:47:38 GMT -5
Her hand squeezed tighter in his grip. Nalti didn't want to let go and wander aimlessly around again, and the strength she felt through his grip made her feel stronger as well, even if it was only an illusion. Still holding his hand, she bent down to pick up her pack and staff, slinging the former over her opposite shoulder to keep it from slipping around too much. With Izuket still wrapped around her neck, Nalti looked up towards Cross, waiting for him to start before she took another step...
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Post by knightc3 on Dec 19, 2008 22:22:08 GMT -5
His grip of her hand was very loose, in case she wanted to pull it away. But she didn't. She held on as she got her stuff and then waited. He stood there watching the woman for a few moments, a bit surprised. How had she made it through the forest? He started walking really slowly. The ground was uneven so he kept an eye on her to make sure she didn't stumble and went slow enough that she could move at her own pace.
Once they were back on flatter ground, they walked faster. He could see a stream ahead before it went dark. He decided it was as good a place as any to rest for the night. He turned to Nalti and spoke, "There is a stream of some kind ahead. It would be a good place to rest. Can you walk for a while longer?"
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Post by The Mammoth on Dec 20, 2008 8:34:27 GMT -5
Galius was walking when all of a sudden a large roar caused him to halt. He reached for his one good blade, pulling it and turning, only to be faced with a massive black bear. Galius looked up at the creature and lowered his blade. The bear stood back on its hind legs, and roared out again, Galius looked the creature in the eyes, as typhon circled above. He waited as the bear finally struck, sweeping with its front claw toward him. The attack was slow, and Galius jumped into the air and onto its back. With a swift strike he drove his blade into the beasts neck and felt it fall limp. He stepped off of the creature and wiped his blade off on the grass.
He was confused why the nature here was so hostile, it must be exceedingly hungry. Lots of predators and very little prey. Galius shook his head, traveling here would be much like Varamen. He would have to be on guard constantly.
Putting his blade back in the sling on his hip, Galius continued walking down the riverbed. Eventually, the site of a long dead campfire caught his eye. The grass had overgrown a circle of stones. He knelt down beside it, wondering how long it had been since anyone had been here. He may yet be closer to getting his weapons fixed. He figured, as the sun was going down, that this would be a good spot to set up camp. He gathered up some wood and underbrush, and started a fire. Once he had a fire going, he sat there for a moment looking into the water. He wondered how long it had been since he had left his home. Judging from the length of his hair and beard, and the condition of his clothes, easily months...
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Post by Da Pwny on Dec 21, 2008 6:52:11 GMT -5
*i'm assuming you want us to meet up again...*
She nodded, gasping as she stumbled over another rock, gripping a bit harder again until she could walk upright again. Surely her toes were bleeding from how many stones she'd banged them on, but it wasn't like she was new to it all; frankly, she barely felt anything anymore, all nerves in her toes having been damaged permanently long before now.
She looked up. A brown trail, faint but still existent, moved off further down the river. Hunger... Turning, she abruptly fell to the ground clutching her head, barely able to hold back the scream she nearly let out as a wave of pain washed over her. And then, as suddenly as it'd come, it passed... Shaking it off, Nalti mumbled 'I'm alright...' as she righted herself, giving Cross's hand a squeeze to let him know that she was fine. Not like this was the episode of this nature she'd had...
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Post by knightc3 on Dec 21, 2008 9:23:29 GMT -5
Cross helped her up every time she fell, patiently. But when let go of his hand and fell to the ground, he knew she had not stumbled again. This was something else. But what? "Are you ok?" He wasn't convinced by her answer. He watched her all the way to the edge of the stream that took some time. It had been dark for quite some time already and the only thing guiding him once he reached the river was the fire in a distance.
He turned and spoke. "Someone has a fire going in a distance. We will go rest there." Soon enough, they were near the fire.
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Post by The Mammoth on Dec 26, 2008 6:05:07 GMT -5
Someone had stepped on a twig, and the snap caused Galius to jump to his feet, his blade drawn. He retreated into the shadows for a moment, waiting until whatever was coming was into view. It was the two from before, and they were together. They were... holding hands? Perhaps she couldn't see as well as it appeared before. She was moving just fine before, and now he had to guide her...
Galius wondered what exactly had happened since he saw, but nonetheless, he knew that these two were little threat, and looking for a place to camp. With a small, disapproving grunt, he returned to the light of the fire. No doubt, and unnerving sight as he quickly emerged from the shadows.
He stood there for a moment, contemplating cutting them down and ending their following of him, but eventually he decided he had no need to kill them, and no desire to waste the energy. Laying down with his back to them, he waved his hand in a manner meaning for them to use his fire, but not bother him...
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Post by Da Pwny on Dec 30, 2008 0:44:38 GMT -5
Nalti looked toward the direction indicated, and saw a familiar aura. Unsure about what to do, she squeezed Cross's hand after slowing down a bit, motioning with a nod of her head towards the other man. She didn't want to impose or instigate, nor had she seen the hand motion he'd given them due to her timing. Still... something about him just bugged the hell out of her, though what it was she did not know...
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Post by knightc3 on Dec 30, 2008 7:21:51 GMT -5
Cross looked back at the girl and reassured her. "It's alright." He had interpreted the hand signal. He had stopped for a moment as the man had emerged from the shadows. He could usually see well in the dark but the presence of the bright fire had made it hard for him to see the man standing there. He sat down on the opposite side of the camp as the man went back to sleep, or so he assumed.
That would save him the trouble of starting a fire so late at night. He helped Nalti settle down near the fire. He picked up some of the wood and tossed it into the fire. He looked down at her feet after a while and saw that there was some blood. He didn't ask for permission as he sat down cross legged in front of her and started cleaning them. He could understand the reason for the blood. After he was done cleaning her feet with some clean water and a strip of cloth, he got to work on her shoes.
Good thing they were a size or two larger than her feet. He looked around and saw what he was looking for. He laid down the strip of cloth. One of the whips emerged slowly from his back and shaved off the dried bark on one of the branches. He then crushed it and wrapped it in the cloth twice over to make a crude cushion. He did that once more for her other shoe. At least the thin material protecting her toes had some added cushioning in it now. He handed her the shoes and spoke, "Try them on now. See if they still fit."
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Post by Da Pwny on Jan 2, 2009 1:42:19 GMT -5
Nalti winced slightly as her shoes were taken off and cried, almost fighting back, when her feet were cleaned, very much unsure about what was going on. However, when she replaced the items that had been given back to her, she cooed in delight at finding that they fit perfectly; not only that, but when her feet touched the ground, the newly-modified shoes squished slightly, supporting her feet a bit more than they had before. Looking up towards Cross, she beamed "Thank you! Thank you! Now my feet don't hurt as much as they did before. Thank you sooo much!"
She wanted to cry, really. All the pain that had come from him removing her bloodied shoes and cleaning her mangled, disfigured feet disappeared as her heart was warmed by such kindness. This man... he was so nice to her, and she'd done nothing to deserve it... why was he doing this? That question made Nalti doubt suddenly, although she hid it behind a continuing smile, leaning against him. Now, she was watching him quietly, wondering truthfully what he wanted. It was just her way to be weary, even around the kindest of strangers; many wanted something in return for their 'services', at times more than she could afford to pay...
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Post by The Mammoth on Jan 2, 2009 22:39:35 GMT -5
Galius listened as the man and the girl interacted, and from the sounds of things, he was helping the girl's battered feet and shoes. From her claims afterward, Galius found out he was correct. Such a show of kindness was one he didn't hear, see, or even imagine in Varamen. He groaned as he listened to them, obviously annoyed at the loud nuisance that the girl was. Something about the kindness that the man showed the girl filled him with disgust.
He cracked his neck and rolled over, laying on his back staring at the sky. While every ounce of his being was telling him to kill the two of them, the kindness that the man had shown, and the happiness in the voice of the girl. It peaked his curiosity, and he resisted his urges to strike, if only to learn more about this different side to humanity...
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Post by knightc3 on Jan 2, 2009 22:55:38 GMT -5
Cross didn't respond to the woman. He just looked over to the man who had just rolled over. He was awake. He turned back towards Nalti and spoke very softly, "Don't need to thank me. I think the man wants to rest, so please not so loud ok? Would you like something to eat before you sleep?"
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Post by Da Pwny on Jan 3, 2009 9:46:55 GMT -5
Nalti hung her head when she was told to hush, but understood why. Something about him told her that the man could probably kill both of them with hardly any effort. When he asked her if she wanted food, the girl nodded quickly, obviously eager to savor more delicious food, even if it was spoiled slightly or dry as a bone. Being picky about her food and drink had never really been one of Nalti's strong points...
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Post by knightc3 on Jan 4, 2009 9:36:39 GMT -5
Cross waited for an answer then looked into his pouch and handed her some meat. Whatever they didn't eat now, he would throw away in the morning. It would go bad soon enough. For the rest of the journey, there was jerky. He looked up at the man lying on the other side of the fire, wondering if he should offer him any, then decided against it. He put the meat piece in the girl's hand. He then looked at the fire and decided it needed some more wood.
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