Post by Helix Alexius on Oct 16, 2010 7:38:25 GMT -5
A heavy, late-summer storm gripped Mossflower woods relentlessly. Having started as a mere drizzle at dawn, the storm had progressed through the morning to a violent downpour and by the afternoon turned to a savage tempest which only the bravest or most foolhardy of beasts would have been caught in.
Helix never liked to consider himself stupid, and knew deep in his heart that bravery had little to do with his situation: he was merely out of luck once again. The usually clean, pearly-grey sheen of the tom's shaggy coat was, for the most part, an unflattering shade of gritty brown as the result of dirt and dust from the path having gotten itself glued to damp fur (he would ever admit to anybeast enquiring about the filth on his face abut tripping as often as he had on the muddy tracks), with the singular exception being a crimson stain under his nose where he had slid directly into a particularly sturdy sycamore. Indeed, tufts of his fur not plastered flat stuck up in odd little peaks, shaped into wavelike patterns by the winds and making him look more like a frowzy kitten than a skilled mercenary. Shaking a footpaw with distaste at the water that squelched so annoyingly in his boots, Helix Alexius sighed to himself and wandered on with a walking mannerism more likened to dogs than cats.
Turning a corner to find himself, joy of joys, confronted by yet more trees that dripped water steadily through to the forest floor, the tomcat instinctively raised his right arm to welcome the familiar weight of his only companion, preceded by the ruffling of feathers. Raife the kestrel, a sodden and irritable mess of waterlogged feathers, perched upon the slick leather guard on his master's forearm and regarded the cat with unblinking amber eyes as he carried on with a monotone voice.
"And where, pray, have you been hiding, rascal? You have any idea how long I've been waiting for you in these 'gates forsaken woods? My nose is as good a broken and if you've not found anything, there's not much chance for you to fly again by the looks of things."
"Kreahh!" the bird hopped awkwardly on Helix' arm and clacked her beak sharply before battering his face lightly with a flapping wing, causing the cat so sneeze violently, an act which only made his aching, bloody nose sting more.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry! I thought as much. Apologies for sendin' you so high, but if we don' find someplace soonish, we're back to tryin' to recall how it is we make good shelter out here. We're losing the light fast and I don't have a lantern since that incident with the otters an' the paintbox..."
It wasn't a thought he relished. Being a beast of the seas, this forest life was still difficult to adjust to after several months ashore and, despite his lack of interest in the rain itself, the cold was seeping through to his bones and he didn't trust his own abilities to make shelter, let alone in the dark. Blinking raindrops from his eyelashes as he plodded onwards, Helix could only hope that other unlucky creatures would be nearby.
Helix never liked to consider himself stupid, and knew deep in his heart that bravery had little to do with his situation: he was merely out of luck once again. The usually clean, pearly-grey sheen of the tom's shaggy coat was, for the most part, an unflattering shade of gritty brown as the result of dirt and dust from the path having gotten itself glued to damp fur (he would ever admit to anybeast enquiring about the filth on his face abut tripping as often as he had on the muddy tracks), with the singular exception being a crimson stain under his nose where he had slid directly into a particularly sturdy sycamore. Indeed, tufts of his fur not plastered flat stuck up in odd little peaks, shaped into wavelike patterns by the winds and making him look more like a frowzy kitten than a skilled mercenary. Shaking a footpaw with distaste at the water that squelched so annoyingly in his boots, Helix Alexius sighed to himself and wandered on with a walking mannerism more likened to dogs than cats.
Turning a corner to find himself, joy of joys, confronted by yet more trees that dripped water steadily through to the forest floor, the tomcat instinctively raised his right arm to welcome the familiar weight of his only companion, preceded by the ruffling of feathers. Raife the kestrel, a sodden and irritable mess of waterlogged feathers, perched upon the slick leather guard on his master's forearm and regarded the cat with unblinking amber eyes as he carried on with a monotone voice.
"And where, pray, have you been hiding, rascal? You have any idea how long I've been waiting for you in these 'gates forsaken woods? My nose is as good a broken and if you've not found anything, there's not much chance for you to fly again by the looks of things."
"Kreahh!" the bird hopped awkwardly on Helix' arm and clacked her beak sharply before battering his face lightly with a flapping wing, causing the cat so sneeze violently, an act which only made his aching, bloody nose sting more.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry! I thought as much. Apologies for sendin' you so high, but if we don' find someplace soonish, we're back to tryin' to recall how it is we make good shelter out here. We're losing the light fast and I don't have a lantern since that incident with the otters an' the paintbox..."
It wasn't a thought he relished. Being a beast of the seas, this forest life was still difficult to adjust to after several months ashore and, despite his lack of interest in the rain itself, the cold was seeping through to his bones and he didn't trust his own abilities to make shelter, let alone in the dark. Blinking raindrops from his eyelashes as he plodded onwards, Helix could only hope that other unlucky creatures would be nearby.
