Secret Falls I was scared of a heart I couldn't silence

April 7th; Nightfall; Few Clouds; 35.6 ° F, 2 ° C.

After five days of cutting an east-bound path through Relic Lore, Kieron found herself over a Plateau and down into a Vale. The light of the half-moon shone at her back until she wove her way through the forest. The trees here were not unfamiliar but they were definitely new; she had not gotten lost and made a turn-around, and she certainly hadn't found her way back home. Once deep within the copse, she started leaving small, nose-level marks on certain trees - just in case she thought over her decision and changed her mind over entering this part of the Lore. She had just pressed her right paw on a tree with ripped bark for mark twenty-something when she heard it over the dialogue in her mind. Water. Running water.

Her tail came up in a wag and, immediately, she started towards the sound. She had not been more than maybe ten wolf-lengths away from the rippling pool. She had to shake her head at her reflection as she dipped down for a drink. Getting stuck in her head had always been a terrible habit of hers. Once through, she gave her neck and shoulders a good shake, stepping back to take in the sight of the Secret Falls. The mist gathered in the fur about her face, sparkling at the tips of her ears and guard hairs. Her homelands' Basin might have had a number of ponds and a decent creek to enjoy on Summer evenings, but never something as magnificent as this.

really reminded me of kana's skin, so i had to hop in
dont feel obliged to match wc, i had a bit of catch up to do with kana

Though he'd never admit it, Askan had grown fond of Secret Falls. He still wasn't a big fan of water nor was he going to dive headfirst into the Shallows anytime soon, but moving water always provided a spectacle, didn't it? The Edge was inspiring in it's own way, but the grand falls were in a league of it's own. The constant rush of water helped drown out the fuzzy noise in the back of his head, all those 'what ifs' and 'maybes' that haunted him like ghosts. Would things have turned out different if he and Reyes had stayed in the Lowlands? Probably. In part, there was no one but the Old Man to blame. He'd brought upon his own demise, if only Drestig had listened to anyone, it didn't matter who. Askan had no doubt that other's had tried to talk some sense into him, but he hadn't. Drestig had pushed and pushed till his strength gave out, he deserved better and yet it was a fitting end, in a sense. Stubborn to the very end.

Askan heaved a sigh, as he allowed his eyes to flit closed. There was all so much going on, with the recent snow storms and loss, that Askan hadn't even had a moment to consider Lenae, another sister he thought he'd lost. Another Selwyn he'd tried-and failed- to forget. Guilt nipped at his heels as he curled his tail around his hind legs, his nails digging into the moss covered bolder upon which he sat. What was he to do? His mind felt as misty as the air surrounding him, he blinked slowly as he stared up at the tower of rock, watched the water hurl itself over the edge, no fear or inhibitions, it was just doing what needed to be done.

Askan soon decided that he would stay. There was no use in chasing after his sister's shadow, not when the trail had no doubt run cold. Perhaps in the warmer months he could send a scout or two to see if they could pick up her scent. But for now it was yet another burden to bare, a weight upon his shoulders he couldn't shift, not until he knew that she was safe and well.

From high atop his perch-Selwyns were always good climbers- his ears twitched at the sound of paws against weather rock. For a long moment he debated in ignoring them, as they hadn't yet noticed him but...they weren't so far from the Shallows. This was neutral ground, anyone was welcome here, technically, but what if it was someone he knew? He had been running into a lot of familiar faces as of late and not all were welcome. So with a grunt he pushed to his paws and padded to the edge of his bolder, his nails digging into the stone for better traction. They,whoever they were, seemed content, in awe of the Falls. Not that he could blame him.

Perhaps on another day he would have called out, demanded to know what they were doing, who they were etc etc. But that day, he merely watched, scrutinised their actions with his sharp, Selwyn yellow eyes. Whatever happened, happened, he didn't care.

Askan & Reyes

Her face haloed in the moonlight, framed by water drops that sparkled like the stars above her, rendered her into something akin to the definition of beautiful if she chose to glance down at her reflection in the pool at the base of the falls. The illusion of it all, however, shattered the moment she thought she saw something moving in the darkness above the cascade of rushing water. Her moon-glazed eyes blinked but not matter how hard she focused, she couldn't particularly pick out the shadow from the night.

Kieron didn't want to imagine what fear or uncertainty would run away with her if she acknowledged the way her heart had leapt into her throat. She had come this far after all and she had no reason to be scared. Most especially when she was no longer vulnerable to the heat of the season that had passed her by.

She took a deep breath, collecting herself before finally pulling her eyes from the Falls and turning fully around. Her ears cupped forward and she scanned the forest that had been at her back. "Hello?" she called out, but it was not the unseen watcher she was addressing.

Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

Hello? Huh, so they'd noticed him then? Not quite, he watched them glance around in the dark, looking this way and that, anywhere but up. Perhaps they sensed the weight of his gaze upon them, a heavy, judgemental force baring down like torrential rain. An airy sigh passed from his lips, should he announce himself? It was evident enough that they realised they weren't alone. He didn't care for company, but he wasn't some lecherous creep who spied on ladies from the shadows. Besides, he'd been here first, for hours in fact.

"Up here." Askan rumbled, peering a little further over the edge so she could see the shadow of his face.

So now what? Askan's nose wrinkled at the thought of making small talk, he wasn't the sort for than and the prospect seemed even more unsavoury than usual. He'd come out there seeking solitude and that had been spoiled, it was bound to have put him in a bad mood but...he was tired, he supposed. Frustrated too, at a loss at what to do both with himself in that moment and in the grand scheme of things.

"How did you find this place?" Was the first question, or rather demand that tumbled from his lips. Perhaps more would follow, maybe not.

Askan & Reyes

She waited for something - a sight, a sound, anything - to emerge from the forest. Just the idea of it, set her fur on edge and she released a raspy breath in anticipation, trying hard to not let her limbs become rooted to the rocky ground beneath her. Seconds passed but nothing came. Her tail lowered, a signal that part of her guard was starting to fall away.

"Up here."

Kieron was caught off-guard. She inwardly scolded herself for it as she spun around, her eyes traveling up from the glistening pool to the cascades. She focused, squinting and staring as hard as she could, until she spied the lupine shape in the dark. "How did you find this place?"

Her jaw fell slack, the tip of her tongue slightly curling while she mulled over the words in her head. It hadn't been her intention to find this hidden gem of a place and a part of her was almost certain that she might never find it again unless she was close enough to hear its characteristic splash and soft, constant roar. "By accident," she called up to him, choosing her words somewhat carefully. At this point, she wasn't even sure if she was just passing through or not. She was simply following her own four feet and letting the wilderness take her wherever it wanted to. "Just happened to come by."

There was a small smile that managed to form along her maw, a little wag moving her all-black tail, "How's the view from up there?"

Hmm, as cynical as Askan was he could believe that. Had they been anywhere else in the Lore, he would have squinted in disbelief but...the forest surrounding the Falls were unlike anything he'd seen before. No doubt all sorts of secret places hid amongst the dense foliage, just waiting to be found. But not tonight, Askan had no intention of wandering off into the darkness- though the loner was more than welcome to, he wouldn't stop her.

At her question he glanced back up to the skyline, to the blurred shape of the distant tree tops and then over his shoulder to the shadow of the falls.

"Dark." He told her, his tone as dry as a parched riverbed. He had no interest in spelling it out for her, if she wanted to see what it was like...well, she had legs."If you want to know so bad, climb. Go around that side,"he told her, gesturing with a point of his snout. "It's steep, try not to fall."

He wondered if she had the nerve for it, or if she would prefer to keep her paws firmly on the ground. Either way, he cared little. If he was the only one to reach this spot it was fine by him.

Askan & Reyes

"Dark," he answered, "If you want to know so bad, climb." He then instructed her to come around along the side of the heights where it was indeed steep and hard in places to get that first foot up. Kieron, however, had always been one for a challenge. Looking up at him from the pool's edge, she gave him a smirk and a wave of her tail.

As she rounded the near-vertical slope, she raised herself onto her back legs and planted her forepaws on the rock. Then, as luck would have it, little by little, she scaled the uneven crag. Halfway up, she fixated her gaze on the perch from where the dark man stood. She could feel the gravity weigh down her shoulders and her legs stiffen up from the difficulty of the climb. The wolves of Blackroot Basin were not known for their abilities in rock climbing, being well-settled and comfortably cradled in their little valley of plenty and all. Kieron felt that she ought to have been the first.

Her head popped up over the ledge after a while and, again, she smirked at him between attempts at catching her breath. She quirked her brow upward, a wordless gesture that told him that she was not to be underestimated - if he saw it, that is. "Well," she muscled the rest of her strength into her shoulders and heaved herself up back onto even ground. A quick look around did prove that he was right. It was dark up here...

"Guess there isn't much to look at," she gave a half-laugh before tilting her gaze skyward. "But, the stars seem closer."

It wasn't an easy climb, even Askan (who had lived atop a mountain for most of his life) had found it to be quite the challenge. Not that he had any intentions of admitting that, he had arrived here quite a while before the stranger had showed her face. His breathing was slow, rhythmic and his footing was firm, adding credence to his little display of effortlessness. Whether she even noticed his posturing was irrelevant, sometimes Askan's facades were for his own sake, to help him sleep a little better at night.

Still, Askan would give the woman credit where it was due. She scrambled to the top, sides heaving as his bright eyes took in the sight of her proud little smirk. Any other time he'd want to wipe it off her face, teach her some humility but...she'd earnt this. Sure enough she agreed with his previous statement. The view during the daytime would likely be quite the treat, but as things stood all there was to see was darkness and the occasional shadowy outline of a tree or something equally as inane.

The Selwyn followed her line of sight as she cast her gaze skywards. The land did little to hold his attention but the same couldn't be said for the night sky. It was a black canvas, speckled and dotted with hundreds upon thousands of lights, all bright and gleaming, like childhood hopes and dreams. Tangents of blue and grey intertwined and mingled, like some sort of tear in the sky. A gateway to another world perhaps- as if he believed in such things, ttccch.

"It's certainly...nighttime, yes." Was all Askan could muster. He'd never been a stargazer, nor did he have any intentions to start now.

Askan & Reyes

(This post was last modified: Jun 01, 2018, 08:41 PM by Askan.)

Kieron openly smiled at him now, at how... blunt and observant his next statement had been. Her tail gave a slow wave in the air With her breath caught up, she gave a small peal of laughter, "You don't miss anything, do you?" She turned to look at him, amused to say the least. "What're you doing up here anyway? Seems an awfully high perch for checking some perimeter." It was the slightest of verbal jabs, as if to tease him for, say, looking at the stars.

"Would rather use the energy climbing up here for something else," she gave a cant of her head, her green eyes peering at him through the dark. "Leave the near-blind climbing for the Day Sentries." She was quick to hold her tongue with speaking anymore on the matter; after all, she had just attempted the perilous feat of scaling the cascades at nightfall.