Glowing mists, glowing girl. Gods help us. (Closed)

[Gnaia]

Early Darkening
First Cycle of Ponutis
Era XV Post Fractum
Chronosynch: Ancient Veil Enshrouds Silrosia

Songstamp: Nobuo Uematsu - Cleyra's Trunk

It had been a long hard walk for Gnaia and Thom. From the frigid ice of the southern foothills of the Great Mountains to the frozen sands of the Arakmatan desert during the winter. From sands back to firm ground, but still all of it freezing cold. They made camp just outside the ancient forest which was now enshrouded in a think blanket of freezing mists. The damp weather clung to them and pierced through their layers of clothing. Accompanying the dampness was a chill wind that seemed to change direction at whim.

Thom eyed the forest warily. It almost appeared to be glowing. "Little girl." He said. Gnaia didn't seem to share Thom's wariness, in fact, she was still bursting with energy it'd appear. To be young, Thom thought. She'll learn some day. "Little girl," he repeated, he really didn't like having to repeat himself to this adolescent girl. "We set camp."

"But Thom!" Gnaia burst, bubbling with excitement. "We're here! Syl'rosia! Is that glowing mist stuff normal?" She asked.

"It wasn't here last time I came through." Thom replied, trying very hard to be patient.

"It must be that veil everyone's been talking about!" Gnaia exclaimed brightly. "Thom. What do you think we'll find?"

Hopefully nothing, thought Thom, but he chose not to speak, he just walked off to look for food. They'd depleted most of their stores on their way through the desert, they were now once again living off what Thom could find.

When Thom didn't answer her, Gnaia set to work on trying to build a fire. It was going to be a cold night.

[Amaranth]

The twin suns had just begun to set, their warm rays painting the sky in shimmering hues of pink and gold as Thom wandered off grumpily to forage, leaving Gnaia to her own devices. Off in the near distance, the ancient forests of Silrosia sat quietly, the oddly glowing mists dancing provocatively through the quivering tree branches, waving invitingly to the young girl.

Come to us, the Veil seemed to whisper as it throbbed with its mysterious light, pulsing in the quiet twilight of the Frontierlands.

Some time later -- too soon to have found anything truly worthwhile -- Thom returned to their camp, his face set into a sour line as he deposited his meager findings of some edible roots next to their growing pile of firewood. "Hard pickings," the man explained with a gruff shrug as he settled himself down onto his haunches, watching the girl as she tried to build a fire. "Here," Thom offered, nudging her out of the way as he pulled some flint and tinder from his pocket. "I can do it quicker."

As the flashing sparks caught into the dry wood and their little fire spread, the last rays from the twin suns lingered just at the line where horizon and land met. Forever the silent type, Thom held his tongue as he glanced towards the Veil once more with his one eye, though his lips did twitch uncomfortably as the sound of some beast howling in the near distance traveled towards their camp. It was going to be a long night.

Long and cold. Perfect.

[Gnaia]

"Thom." Gnaia said after their fire had begun to spread. "I want to learn to defend myself." She didn't like to admit it, but Gnaia was a hinderance. During their trip to the veil there were any number of times that they only made it forward because of Thom's resourcefulness and skill. In many ways, Gnaia only made things harder. She was excitable, rash, and her attempts at manipulation often just landed trouble.

"Could you teach me how to fight?" She asked the silent sentinel. "I know I'm just a little girl to you, but I want to not be so useless. You're right, I need to be stronger to survive in this world." She really just wanted to try to get some more interaction and respect out of this man. He treated her like he barely tolerated her, and she didn't appreciate that.

[Amaranth]

Thom eyed the young girl warily. "You want to learn to fight?" That was most definitely the last thing he had expected out of her mouth. "Listen, little girl..." the man's gruff voice softened slightly as he continued to eye her, taking in her lithe form. "If it came to trouble, you'd be much better with running and hiding. Waiting it out, ya know? I ain't saying you can't do it, I'm just saying..." his voice trailed off as he sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully on it for a few moments. He didn't necessarily like upsetting womenfolk. He had to choose his words carefully.

"It'd be safer for you if you just ran. No sense in ruining a pretty face, right?"

Sitting back on his heels, he stared into the crackling fire, avoiding Gnaia's gaze for all he was worth. If she was glaring at him, he didn't want to see it. "Besides, what you want to learn to fight for? You got me. I'll get you wherever you need to go safely enough. Strength isn't all about the physical. There's mental and emotional strength too, ya know." He might have been gruff and definitely rough around the edges, but there was no way Thom was going to teach Gnaia to fight. She was just a little girl!

He couldn't be teaching her such things. She might get some idea in her head to use it against him or something.