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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 25, 2012 18:58:03 GMT -1
Tersias' journey had been long. She was not sure where she was, but she knew she had gotten lost somewhere - her intention had been to stop at Mira's cave for food and rest, but the bleak mountains all seemed to merge into one. Looking this way and that, her eyes scoured her surroundings, desperate to find some sort of landmark or sign of life to help her get her bearings. The cold cut through her tiny form effortlessly, and as her body temperature plummeted and the blood in her veins seemed to run like liquid nitrogen she felt a heavy drowsiness grab a hold of her. Too tired to think about the fact she should fight it, she curled up on the ice, and as frost began to gather in the tips of her fur she wondered if she would ever find her way out of this bleak whiteness.
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 25, 2012 19:48:07 GMT -1
Hiruko had just left Mira's cave and was returning to his den when he noticed Tersias curled up, fighting for warmth. He would have easily walked past her as the white of her fur merged with the snow and ice. Luckily, he sensed her presence and wondered what on earth had happened for her to be left in the cold like this. He put a comforting paw on her and nudged her gently. "Tersias?" For a moment, she didn't even move. She definately resembled the ice that ran so thickly across the mountain. "Tersias, you must wake up. Come on now, on your feet." The cold wind didn't cut through Hiruko as much as it used to because he had grown an immunity to it from visiting Mira's cave so regularly. However, it was still bitterly cold and Tersias was so small, if she didn't get out quick, she could quickly catch hypothermia.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 25, 2012 20:00:12 GMT -1
She felt a nudge at her fur. Imagining it to be one of the cubs, she grumbled "Not now, Mummy's sleeping". But at that moment a huge gust of wind swept over the ice and made her realise she was not in the den. Opening her eyes, she saw a flash of orange and black. "Hiruko?" she mumbled, trying to wake herself up a little. Her eyes were so heavy.
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 25, 2012 20:24:05 GMT -1
Glad that she was awakening, Hiruko helped her to her feet. "It's okay," he said reassuringly. "What happened Tersias? Seema said you had to leave and now...now you're back." He was confused but he knew she couldn't be left in the cold for much longer so he pressed close to her to transfuse his body heat to hers. "We need to get you to lower grounds."
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 25, 2012 20:34:12 GMT -1
"They didn't want me there" she mumbled. "They sent me away." She couldn't really explain any further at that moment - the cold was just overwhelming her thought process. "I got lost... I thought I was going to go past Mira's den... I don't know where I ended up....". The trip had not been a pleasant one for Tersias and her exhaustion was not jus physical, but emotional.
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 25, 2012 21:04:05 GMT -1
"No need to explain in too much detail right now," Hiruko said. "As long as you are okay to move. Quickly now, let's get you into some warmth." Holding her close to him, he had to crouch since she was so small and stood on all fours whereas he towered on his hind legs. Helping her along gently but swiftly, they moved down the mountain. It was still bitterly cold but the wind was less harsh at least. Hiruko moved them into one of the mountain's many caves. It was dark and the cave was very small but it protected them from the cold outside. "Feeling any better?" Hiruko asked, beginning to shiver himself.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 25, 2012 21:18:09 GMT -1
Tersias nodded a little, but the cold still nipped at her toes and her hunger still clawed at the inside of her abdomen. She had lost weight noticeabley - her fur pulled tightly around her rib cage and at the end of her rib cage her abdomen disappeared. She looked haggard, her exhaustion evident. "Thank you, Hiruko. I don't know what I was thinking, just stopping like that... I was just so tired..."
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 25, 2012 21:34:17 GMT -1
"It's okay, there's no need to explain yourself," he said, smiling at her in a hope to calm her. "I would take you home but by the looks of it, you are in no fit condition to brave the journey." He couldn't help but notice her fragile frame. Her once youthful appearance was now reduced to a frail creature of merely fur, skin and bones. "Tersias...what has happened to you? You look as if you haven't eaten in months!" Hiruko was careful not to frown too much as he did not want to worry her any more than she was. However, he was deeply concerned with her well-being.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 26, 2012 11:02:59 GMT -1
"I wasn't wanted, so I left in a hurry" her voice was soft and mournful. "My people can be quite harsh sometimes - if you aren't with them, you are against them. So there was no time to gather food or supplies for the journey. And I'm not the best hunter or forager, so I've struggled, that's all." The explanation was simple, but sad - a long journey with few resources. "I just wanted to get home, I thought if I moved quickly enough I'd manage."
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 26, 2012 13:58:30 GMT -1
"I'm...I'm sorry things haven't turned out so well for you..." Hiruko said, sympathetically. "Perhaps the fact that you did move quickly saved your life. I'd say only a few more hours out there and you would have wasted away." He stopped before he began to sound too negative. "But you're safe and we shall get you back into shape in no time."
The wind outside wailed briskly and all that could be seen from inside the cave was an empty whiteness and a flurry of falling snow. As they sat and listened to the snow endlessly dropping, Hiruko wondered if Seirei knew what had happened to Tersias. "Why weren't you wanted, Tersias?" Hiruko asked. "Something doesn't seem right about all this...does Seirei know what has happened to you?"
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 26, 2012 17:23:17 GMT -1
Tersias sighed, and sat up a little. "My mother used to be on the counsel of elders that ruled over our people. When she passed, they asked me to take over. I went over and explained I couldn't take over my mother's job, that I couldn't leave the pups, and so on and so forth, and they were...." she shook her head "Let's just say they weren't very pleased. So I left. Seirei doesn't know yet. I don't want him worrying."
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 27, 2012 8:21:22 GMT -1
"I see," Hiruko said nodding his head in understanding. "I'm guessing they are very disciplined and strict when it comes to choosing the counsel. I know that from the world I came from myself. However, it is unreasonable to force someone to join no matter how desparate. An unwilling individual is just as bad as no individual at all. There would be no motivation. At least you are here now, that's the main thing. You are back where you belong." He smiled at her and then looked outside in hopes that the flurry of snow would calm down. It hadn't yet which was concerning Hiruko because they didn't really have time to spare waiting around.
Out of nowhere, a sudden flash of blue appeared in the cave and as quickly as it came, it disappeared and Mylar floated before them. "Hiruko!" Mylar said worried. "Are you okay?" He turned to Tersias and realised how tiny she looked, even to Mylar who was smaller still. "What's happened?"
"Tersias here has just had a bit of a rough journey," he said calmly. "She's very weak and needs some food and water." Mylar's mouth widened in horror when he noticed how thin Tersias was.
"If I could, I'd teleport us back but I can only teleport myself and small objects," Mylar explained. "You two are too large for me to take with me, I'm sorry." He stared apologetically at them both.
"It's okay, Mylar. All I need you to do is go back and bring something for Tersias to eat and something to drink. I don't think I have any meat left since I haven't been out for a hunt in a while but there may be some fresh fruit and nuts in the house." Mylar nodded and instantly vanished. He was only gone a short time before he had returned with a handful of fresh fruit, nuts and a clay bowl filled with fresh, gleaming water. Mylar placed it beside Tersias and then floated to the ground to rest on the floor.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Mar 28, 2012 7:01:19 GMT -1
"Thank you" Tersias smiled weakly at Mylar. She appreciated all of the help Hiruko and Mylar were offering, but couldn't help but feel a little foolish at needing it. How could she have let them pressure her to leave without stopping for supplies? She had behaved ridiculously.
Still, there was no use crying over spilt milk. Eyeing up the fruit and nuts ravenously, she decided to be sensible and start by having a drink - her mouth was dry and eating would have been difficult. As she lapped up the cool water eagerly, something suddenly struck her. "How are the pups?" she asked Hiruko. She had hoped that being left the responsibility of helping with the pups would make her sister step up to the mark, but she couldn't deny it had concerned her.
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Mar 28, 2012 10:14:20 GMT -1
Watching in relief as Tersias ate and knowing that she would recover given time, Hiruko let out a sigh. It was lucky Mylar had found them so quickly.
"The pups are their usual mischievous selves," Hiruko chuckled. "As much as I distrust Seema, she seems to have been looking after them well. The last I heard was that they were headed towards the Naviga Cliffs. I bet you miss them dearly, I know I miss my cubs even when I'm only gone for an hour or two."
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