(no subject)
Flavor of the Day - 06/14/08 - Fortitude with Sprinkles
Rating : PG-13
Timeframe : late summer/early fall (Septemberish) 1260
Kairn cinched the bag that held the remains of their provisions. It would not belong before he would be forced to venture into civilization to restock, perhaps just a few more days.
His companion sat huddled near the dying embers of last night’s fire, too weak to aid him in the preparations to move on. Her skin was pale and drawn and grew more so with each passing day, as if the growth at her midsection fueled itself on the destruction of the rest of her body.
Kairn kicked dust acorss the trembling flames and they were quick to dissapate. He offered Shasa a hand, which she gripped with fingers that were little more than bone. More by his strength than her own, she raised herself to her feet, bobbing and swaying under the weight of her swollen belly. The eyes that met his lacked all signs of the carefree soul that once resided in them. There was an odd mix of fear and gratitude, rimmed by the dark lines that too many sleepless nights had etched into her face.
Still holding her hand, he slid an arm around her waist and, with gentle force, brought her staggering to the horse. He lifted her brittle form with no more effort than if she were a small child, and placed her on the animal’s back. Shasa made a grab for the saddle horn, wrapping white-knuckled hands about it as she teetered on the horse’s back. Kairn took a seat behind her and gripped the reins, positioning his arms to her sides.
She released her hold and settled back against him with a sigh. “How much longer?” she asked, her voice a heavy whisper.
“As far as we must,” he answered, settling his chin against her head. There was a moment of silence as he held her.
“He let us go, you know,” she said at last.
His brow furrowed. She no longer spoke the man’s name, but any mention of Sethan was still unwelcome. “Even if he did, we can hardly count on him for protection now.” Kairn gave the horse a nudge and the weary trio set off into the brush.
Rating : PG-13
Timeframe : late summer/early fall (Septemberish) 1260
Kairn cinched the bag that held the remains of their provisions. It would not belong before he would be forced to venture into civilization to restock, perhaps just a few more days.
His companion sat huddled near the dying embers of last night’s fire, too weak to aid him in the preparations to move on. Her skin was pale and drawn and grew more so with each passing day, as if the growth at her midsection fueled itself on the destruction of the rest of her body.
Kairn kicked dust acorss the trembling flames and they were quick to dissapate. He offered Shasa a hand, which she gripped with fingers that were little more than bone. More by his strength than her own, she raised herself to her feet, bobbing and swaying under the weight of her swollen belly. The eyes that met his lacked all signs of the carefree soul that once resided in them. There was an odd mix of fear and gratitude, rimmed by the dark lines that too many sleepless nights had etched into her face.
Still holding her hand, he slid an arm around her waist and, with gentle force, brought her staggering to the horse. He lifted her brittle form with no more effort than if she were a small child, and placed her on the animal’s back. Shasa made a grab for the saddle horn, wrapping white-knuckled hands about it as she teetered on the horse’s back. Kairn took a seat behind her and gripped the reins, positioning his arms to her sides.
She released her hold and settled back against him with a sigh. “How much longer?” she asked, her voice a heavy whisper.
“As far as we must,” he answered, settling his chin against her head. There was a moment of silence as he held her.
“He let us go, you know,” she said at last.
His brow furrowed. She no longer spoke the man’s name, but any mention of Sethan was still unwelcome. “Even if he did, we can hardly count on him for protection now.” Kairn gave the horse a nudge and the weary trio set off into the brush.