Give You What I Have [ulrica]

[Felypsa]

The simple act of “guiding” Shadowfax, even in these safe circumstances, was a thrill enough to take Misty’s mind off of the drastic change in her life. With Assyrian’s encouragement, she really took to it. But before long, he was telling the horse to stop, and Misty looked down in surprise to see the dog, Della, limping beside them. Assyrian was already sliding off the horse to hold her up. Misty was about to try to dismount as well, but he told her to stay seated while they found a grassy clearing: their temporary quarters for the evening.

He apologized, and Misty shook her head with a small smile. “This is what adventure is about, isn’t it? I mean travel…it’s about taking what you have and making the most of it.” So she always imagined. And Assyrian was doing well enough for her, laying out a blanket for her like he was the innkeeper and she the patron. Misty’s smile widened as she dismounted. “Thank you. I hope she is okay,” she added, looking at Della. “Are you sure it’s all right for her to run alongside us all the time…?” It seemed like so much to ask of a dog, to keep up with a stallion.

While Assyrian was preoccupied with Della, though, Misty put down her sack. Making sure her host was distracted, she quietly and quickly moved her hands back and forth, her ring glowing brightly. Like in her room, the moisture in the air gathered to her fingers, which plucked here and there in a rapidfire motion. In a few minutes, Misty had woven an extra blanket, one made of soft, warm material. She held it up for Assyrian to see, pretending like she had just pulled it out of her bag. “I already have a blanket…so you don’t have to give me both of yours. Though it is very kind of you.”

[ulrica]

_{Misty was accepting of their less than adequate sleeping arrangements for which Assyrian was grateful. "Um, yes... Yes it is..." He replied, calling over his shoulder in a procupied manner. "You just had to get hurt didn't you..."}[/i] Della huffed, growling lowly. "I doubt she pays that much attention to your hands..."[/i][/color] The creature returned, irritation plain in her voice. Assyrian glanced down at his right hand to see a streak glowing dully across his wide palm in correspondence to the wound on her paw, simply another part of the magics which bound them together. "Just stay here alright, and don't let her see."[/i] 

Assyrian moved to one of the saddle bags, digging within it for a few seconds before returning to Della's side with a small roll of bandaging cloth. He unrolled a bit of it, tearing it with his teeth before taking Della's paw in his hands. The golden liquid which oozed from the slash across the pad of her small foot glowed in the moonlight and Assyrian quickly shifted to block Misty's view. "Well she usually-" Flys... Assyrian cut his words short before he said too much. "Yea it doesn't do her any harm." He edited his reply quickly, hoping she would ask about his sudden change of words. With deft hands, showing experience in their quickness and surety, he wrapped his soulmate's paw tightly in the cloth and then tied the ends together. "That should hold you until it heals..." The man said softly, patting her head gently. "Misae would have done it better..."[/i][/color] Assyrian bit back a groan, running a palm down his face. "You're horrible."[/i] He replied bitterly before standing with a stretch.

“I already have a blanket…" Assyrian turned at Misty's voice, his eyes looking over the thick covering with avid curiosity. Where had it come from? Had it been in her pack the whole time? His eyes compared the size of the bag to the blanket, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed the bulge such a thick material would have made. It's late, just forget it.. He decided, shaking his head and running a hand through his unruly hair. "I guess you're right, dove... How about you take that blanket I rolled at least. It isn't good to go without some sort of pillow." He said, before disappearing into the trees, it was already growing chilly and though he wasn't affected by such things the girl probably would be. They needed a fire. "I'll be right back though, I'm going to get some wood." The man called as the shadows swallowed him whole.

A few minutes later would find Assyrian returning with his arms full of dead branches and sticks. "This should do for a while." He said cheerfully, throwing a grin toward Misty before dropping the bundle in a pile and going to search through the second saddle bag for something to make it seem as if he wasn't starting the fire himself.[/sub][/color]

[Felypsa]

It seemed they both had secrets to keep. How long could they hide from one another the truth of their natures? For Misty, sneaking around her talent was only a habit. Growing up in Escavas, which hated anyone and everyone who was “different,” she learned fast that the strange ability she had was not something to flaunt.

It was still useful, though, and she did cultivate it in secret, against her father’s wishes. She had a feeling that being able to spin objects from the air would come in handy now, but since she did not want to ostracize the one person she had right now, she would try to be discreet about it. She did not know, after all, how Assyrian might react to such power.

Perhaps because of her own preoccupation, she did not notice that Assyrian and Della were trying to hide something as well. Misty gave a smile when he turned around and wrapped the blanket she had made around herself. “I’ll use it,” she assured. But right now she wanted to sit up a bit. Especially when Assyrian left to get firewood. Misty was tense, though he was not gone long, she was not sure when he might return, or if something might happen to him. Anything could happen in the darkness of those shadows, she thought.

She relaxed, though, when he returned, grinning as always. This was just so ordinary to him. She watched him put down the pile and then go fetch something to start the fire. He knew exactly what to do. Maybe she really was safe with him. “What do you do for food out here?” she questioned. “I’m not hungry,” she added quickly, not wanting to worry him. “I’m just curious…how one might survive, all alone, in a place like this.” It was such a mystery to her.

[ulrica]

<sub>There was nothing even remotely close to a fire starter in Assyrian's bags. Ah hell... Just happening to glance down, he noticed some rocks lying beside Shadow's hoof. She wouldn't be able to tell the difference.... "Oh look! Heh, heh..." He exclaimed, quickly stooping to snatch up a rock and hold it up triumphantly for Misty to see. "Here's my flint!" With a shrug, his riding cloak fell from his shoulders to be caught in a waiting hand. The drape was then tossed unceremoniously over Shadow's saddle.

“What do you do for food out here?” Assyrian looked over his mount's back, eyebrows raising with amusement and a low chuckled sounding when she quickly stated her lack of hunger as if to reassure him that she wasn't asking for food this moment. “I’m just curious…how one might survive, all alone, in a place like this.” The man paused, touching the small lump under his previously hidden knife vest where a small quartz rose hung on a thin piece of leather. All alone... No. He shook the memories from his head and shrugged, calling over to her as he loosened Shadowfax's saddle with one hand, the other still holding the not-flint-stone. "Well, there are always rabbits, or fowl. And when there isn't small game such as that then I can usually find a deer and I salt down what I don't eat..." He replied, his words drifting off when he felt an odd bump under his charger's girt-strap. Tick bite. He decided before letting out an excited "Oh!" at remembering a story.

"There was one time, when I was much younger mind you, that I was so hungry I had decided to steal a chicken from some farmer's coop." He paused laughing as he remembered that day. "If my memory serves correctly, then I got quite a few cuts and bruises from quite a few hens who weren't very happy I had woken them." He chuckled again, completely oblivious to what his words might have implied when first beginning his story. Without thinking twice, he stepped out from around Shadow's side, the six throwing knives plainly visible - three over his ribs on each side - without the shadows of a cloak to hide them. Not realizing that the sight of such weapons might frighten Misty, he pulled one free with his right hand as he knelt down in front of the pile of wood and started scraping the blade against the rock. The sparks it created were bright and showy, but the man knew they would never be enough to start a fire. He had no choice, he would have to direct the fire himself.

Striking the rock with the knife one last time, Assyrian easily kindled small wisps of smoke. Dropping the rock, he leaned down and blew on the sparks, easing them into a gentle flame. "That was more difficult than I thought it would be..." He said silently to Della, wishing he could simply share his gifts Misty and be done with it. "Oh I'm sure we'll get attacked eventually and you'll forget and just shift..." The creature grumped, licking the bandage over her wound. "Stop that, you'll spoil it." She snorted, but laid her head down and left her paw alone anyway.

"There, a fire!" Assyrian said with a grin, looking at Misty like a dog searching for praise.</sub>[/color]

[Felypsa]

The answer basically was that Assyrian hunted for himself. Misty’s mind whirled with the implications. Maybe she should ask him to teach her how to do that, in case she ever had to brave the wilderness herself. She could always create the necessary tools. Tomorrow, she thought. At night, it was unwise to try anything; even Misty could gather that much.

She sat there, curled up in her blanket, listening as he told a story about his youth. A smile was on her face, though she did not condone thievery. It was just a chicken for hunger’s sake; Misty could not condemn him for that. “Those must have been some very angry hens,” she remarked. “With very sharp beaks and claws.” She gave her own quiet murmur of laughter before her eyes landed on the knives strapped to his chest. As he pulled one out, she felt a small trickle of fear enter her. Of course, Assyrian was only cutting up the wood, but why had Misty not considered that he was a charming murderer?

It would have to take a very sick mind to pull this kind of charade, though. Misty did not really believe Assyrian would turn on her. All the same, with those knives, plus the long package she had seen earlier (which she now assume was a sword), plus his affirmation that he could protect her as well as a small army—it all added up to the fact that Assyrian was a very dangerous man. For now, he chose to look after her…for whatever reason…but what if he should change his mind…?

Misty was pulled from her dark thoughts as the fire sparked up and Assyrian let out his exclamation, grinning up at her. She looked from the dancing flame for a moment before back to him with a smile, though this one was a little more hesitant than the ones she gave so readily before. “Thank you,” she said softly, turning her head to avoid staring into the fire directly. Perhaps she was leaping to conclusions. He used the knife to scrape wood, he probably used the others for various tasks, like gutting animals and preparing food. The sword—if indeed that was what it was—was what did worry Misty slightly. That was certainly a weapon of battle.

“Assyrian…” She turned to him, her small pale face more serious than before. “How do I know that, once I fall asleep, you won’t just leave me?” Or hurt her in some other way while she was vulnerably unconscious. A heavy question, perhaps, but Misty was starting to worry about closing her eyes.

[ulrica]

<sub>Something was wrong. Her smile, once given so easily, now took obvious thought to appear on her youthful visage. A sobered dullness appeared in her eyes as if someone had just informed her the hero of some novel would die dishonorably in the final chapter. But why? She gave a soft thanks, her eyes turned away slightly so she wouldn't become blinded in the darkness by the fire's glow. Did I do something wrong...? Assyrian wondered confused, never once thinking it could be fear spurring this strange behavior. But who was he to call it strange? This girl was little more than an aquaintence to him, this could simply be her everyday attitude. No, he refused to believe the adventure deprived girl and this sullen little ghost could even be the same person. Something had deffinitely changed, but what?

Misty spoke then, adressing him with a questioning tone. “How do I know that, once I fall asleep, you won’t just leave me?” Her eyes held a seriousness previously absent as she gazed toward him, the heavy words hanging in the air as Assyrian assumed they had hung on her chest for quite some time. He didn't answer right away though, his eyes simply holding her gaze with a small smile hesitantly tugging on one corner of his mouth. He turned his head down to the stone and knife still held in his hand, the latter he sheathed with a faint click and the other he let fall to the ground with a faint thud. Still, no reply came, first he needed to understand where the question had come from. He needed to annalyze the question, the notes of her voice, the pronunciation of the words. Look at it from the point of a beast, feel out the underlying emotion as if it were his own.

Fear

The answer came to him as simply and plainly as if she had spoken it. He had scared her; the smile disappeared. But how? His arm brushed against the hilts of the daggers strapped to his side as he stood, realization flooding his senses though remaining absent from his currently unreadable face. The mask had been thrown up as it always was in times of uncertainty, and as a hand raised to gently grip the handle of a dagger, pulling it free from its sheath so the the fire light might dance across it's polished edge, it remained intact an unpenetrable. Oh... He had played the part of a gentleman, but gentlemen don't carry around vests of knives, nor do they hold a sword. The knowledge that he had frightened her didn't sit well with the soldier. Sure he could be a monster when the situation called for it, but he had tried to seem kind and protective in the eyes of this young woman. The fact that he had failed displeased him. "You should answer her... And putting your knives away might be a good idea..." Della reminded, jarring the man from his thoughts and back to the present.

"Well..." Assyrian began, stepping toward Misty while clicking the weapon back into its holdings. "I suppose you can't... But," if she hadn't moved away from him before, he would then squat down in front of her with forearms resting on his knees and hands clasped loosely, otherwise he would pause and allow her the space she desired, "if it would make you less concerned about the subject I will tell you this, if I were to leave you in the middle of the night it wouldn't be of my own choosing. And I assure you with the utmost certainty that I would return to you. I'm not the sort to leave a young woman alone and defenseless in the forest." He smiled, hoping he had calmed her or that at the very least she had heard the honesty in his voice. 

Della's head lifted nonchalantly, scenting the air with a dainty sniff before shrugging off whatever had caught her attention from within the shadows of the forest and returned her gaze to her soulmate and the woman before him. She waited and listened for Misty's answer as did Assyrian, though perhaps her gaze held a touch more patience.</sub>[/color]

[Felypsa]

There was a long silence, during which Misty’s heart quickened. What if this was the end of the charade? What if, by asking that question, she had forced his decision? Her nostrils flared slightly as he stood and held out a knife, though it was in a non-threatening way. He simply held it, looking down at it. And she was transfixed by the sight too, for some reason. That glittering knife…would it be the last thing she saw in this life? Or would she see it buried in some beast that tried to attack her someday? Was it protector or killer?

Now he spoke, Misty’s eyes darting right back to him. She swallowed as he made his way toward her, though forced herself to calm as he put the knife away. The only reason she was afraid, she thought, was because she had no reason to trust him. On the other hand, she had no reason to distrust him. She did not move. Whatever happened here, it would be very foolish of her to go running into the dark forest all by herself. And she was clinging hopefully now to the idea that Assyrian had given her no reason to fear him…

Her gaze focused on his face and the movement of his mouth as he spoke in reassuring, earnest tones. When he finished, Misty felt a smile tugging at her lips, feeling comforted though reason told her that she had no proof of his trust either way. They were strangers…only time would tell the truth of their relationship. Misty was letting the paranoia of her father get to her.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m just…” She put her head down, resting on her knees, which she had pulled up against her chest. “Scared. Excited, of course…but also just scared.” And she just had to admit that. “I’ve never done this before and…it only just occurred to me that you’re the only person in the world keeping me alive right now.” She had power, but it wouldn’t help her without experience. It was a bit frightening to recognize that someone had that much power over you. It could be so easily abused.

Misty lifted her head, looking at him with another small smile. “I guess I owe you quite a lot for that, don’t I?”

[ulrica]

<sub>Assyrian was going to shake his head, explain that she didn't need to thank him but forgive him for making her feel the need to question his intentions. But she was already speaking, continuing on her confession. "Im just scared..." She tucked her head into her knees and the shifter's brow furrowed, his body caught between the want to move to her side and comfort the young girl and the instinct to stay away from other creatures. These where the moments where bonds were made or broken. Where hearts opened and worlds grew to contain the soul of another. But his world had already grown and shriveled back to a darkness more obscured than he had ever known. He couldn't help her, couldn't explain that it would all be alright because he himself didn't believe such things. He could keep her safe, and maybe even for a time even keep her happy, but the fact that eventually he would leave her was simply too real to shrug away. He couldn't touch her without feeling the guilt of a sin he hadn't yet committed.

Misty's head lifted and she gave a small smile, Assyrian quickly brushed the frown from his face and returned to the usual grin he wore around others. “I guess I owe you quite a lot for that, don’t I?” The man laughed lowly, shaking his head and standing before running a wide hand through his unruly hair. "Dove, if I were one to call in favors then I suppose I might take that statement seriously, but as it is you owe me nothing." He smiled coyly, giving a sly wink. "Now you should really get some rest alright? Busy day tomorrow, we have a lot of ground to cover." He gave a playful bow then turned to move to Shadow's side, his neglect to the large stallion had lasted long enough.

If Misty didn't call him back he would then start on untacking the charger and rubbing down the long legs which had carried he and Della the entire day and later two fully grown humans. "You did well old friend... You did well.." The shifter would murmur softly, his skilled hands quickly unsinching the saddle and continuing to move about his business.</sub>[/color]  

[Felypsa]

When he gave that smile and dismissed her offer of gratitude in such a chivalrous way, Misty could hardly believe she ever doubted his intentions. She returned his easy smile and snuggled under her big thick blanket, resting her head on the rolled-up blanket he had given her. She kept her eyes open for a little while, watching Assyrian take care of his horse with great care. No man who loved his horse like that could be able to hurt a defenseless young woman, she was sure. Her worries were moot.

She let her eyes fall shut slowly. Though she was tired from the long day and the extra magic she had done, it was too hard to fall asleep right away. Her mind was still reeling in shock of how her life had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time. She was running away from home, essentially, with a strange but exceedingly charming man who was now, for all intents and purposes, in charge of her survival.

There were many mysteries about him, of course. Misty was sure he was not without secrets. But perhaps that was part of his intrigue. A traveler such as he must have had so many adventures…accumulated so many interesting stories as a part of himself…she truly was honored that he had wanted to take her with him. If she got to see even a fraction of that part of him, she would be quite glad. It was more than what she could have wished for before he had walked into The Rising Dragon.

Perhaps it was fate, her mind whispered. Misty smirked at that, her eyes still closed. No, that was a silly notion, one that she could only dream about…as she drifted off into silent slumber…

oOc| we can jump to the next morning or something now...whatever you want :3

[ulrica]

<sub>Assyrian smiled as Misty snuggled into her blanket and drifted off to sleep. The peace and innocence of her face reminding the man of a child or an angel. She was beautiful in her innocence, amusing in her naivety. He was glad she had agreed to accompany him. "She'll cause more trouble than she's worth you know..." Della said, her eyes closed in an act of sleep. Assyrian sighed, resting his forehead against Shadow's mane, breathing in the sweet smell of the horse. "I don't understand why you choose to so adamantly oppose her tagging along. I've considered the consequences and they're nothing I can't handle. If push comes to shove what's the worst she can do anyway?" Della huffed, but was unable to come up with a retort so remained silent. The shifter smiled over his shoulder at the dog, shaking his head and chuckling softly as he returned to his work.

The large charger released the bit without hesitation when the bridle was slid from behind his ears, dropping the bar into his master's waiting hand. "Go on." Assyrian said, scratching under the beast's forelock as he turned away to go graze. The stallion would wander a few yards away, but the man was sure he would stay within hearing range. The horse had been with him since he was a foal, they were practically family. Stooping to pick up the saddle and the blankets which went under it to cushion Shadowfax's back, Assyrian headed to where Della was curled in a ball. He tossed the blankets over a low hanging branch to dry the sweat, then laid the saddle on the ground to use as a pillow. Now where'd that blanket- Oh! The man turned, striding silently to Misty's side. He bent and scooped up the blanket she had decided not to use after producing her own, but for some reason he didn't immediately leave.

She looked so peaceful, so ignorant of what the world held outside the confines of her small fishing world. The sound of her breath softly entering and leaving her lungs filled Assyrian's head along with the pounding of his heart, or was it hers? He couldn't tell anymore, everything mixed in his head creating a raucous din of noise. A lock of hair fell in front of her face, each exhale making it dance and sway over her smooth skin. Upon instinct, Assyrian reached out a hand; oh how easy it would be to simply brush it back and behind her ear. But no, he paused, suddenly uncertain of his actions. What if he woke her? She would probably be angry at that, or irritated that he had dared to touch her. His brow furrowed and the hand withdrew as he stood. No, it wasn't his place to arrange her hair away from that innocent visage. Even if his hands itched for the task.

"You're still awake?"</sub>[/b][/color] Della asked sleepily, lifting her head and yawning before gazing after her soulmate with lazy eyes. Assyrian turned and gave the small dog a smile, walking back to her side with the blanket tucked under his arm. Reaching his counterpart, the man spread the blanket out over the ground, part of it covering the saddle as well. The knife vest was deposited under the saddle wrapped in his cloak and he then eased himself down onto his back, the sword also slid under the saddle in case he needed it during the night. Though unlikely, it was simply a habit he had gained after sleeping under the stars so many times. Della crawled up and curled into his side, her chin resting on his rib cage and his arm resting over her back. "Sleep well, fledgling."[/color][/i] Assyrian smirked, his eyes closing. "You too, Dell."[/b] And with those words he fell silent, both mentally and audibly.

It wasn't long before sleep overcame him.[/color]

((OOC: Works for me :] ))[/sub]

[Felypsa]

Her sleep was fitful, for in spite of how tired her body was, the hard ground was difficult to adjust to when she was used to a soft bed. Several times she woke during the night, tossing and turning to try to get comfortable. Finally, as the moon was drifting down and a cold fog was coming in, Misty sat up fully and let her magic run through her fingertips one last time. Now with plenty of moisture in the air to work with, she transformed her thick blanket into something even thicker, filling it with air as she did so.

When she was finished, she had more of a working portable “bed”…and as she lay on it, she felt so much more comfortable. Plus, using that weaver-magic of hers tired her out further, so it did not take long for her to pass out in a much more solid slumber.

Still, the sun was a powerful thing, and when its first bright rays hit her eyes, Misty did sleepily open them…and for some reason, the first thought of clarity that morning was that she had to hide her magic. Perhaps years of hiding it from her father—who knew it existed, but hated when he saw evidence of it—caused this sudden fear. She scrambled off her impromptu bed, her hands working quickly to deflate it back into the blanket it had resembled before.

At the same time, she looked around for Assyrian, to see if he was up yet, if he had seen. Her own heart was racing, and she questioned now how capable she was of keeping a secret from someone she was traveling with…someone whose side she could rarely leave. It was not going to end well, and maybe—dare she think it!—Misty should just trust him with the truth sooner rather than later. She just feared he would think her a freak and abandon her…a fear that came from countless warnings of her biased and close-minded father…

[ulrica]

<sub>Assyrian woke in a field, tall grass waving in the wind. He smiled, stretching with a yawn. He was alone here, no Della, no Shadow, no Misty. There wasn't even a sound to distract his clouded mind. Perhaps if this had registered, he would have realized what was happening, but the first clue went unnoticed as always. "Syri!" The messy haired man turned at the sound of the voice. That musical, charming voice which had rendered him spellbound from the first time he heard it. A girl stood, her red hair billowing out as did her dress in the breeze. A wry grin came across his face, she was turned away from him. Good, he would sneak up on her and surprise her. She would be so glad to see him! So glad that he had made it safely back from the capital.

Assyrian crept stealthily through the grass, finally getting close enough to throw his arms around the slender figure before him. Rose gave a laughing yelp, her hands raising to cover his around her. There was something off. Something wrong with the woman's touch. But the shifter was just so happy to see her again, so happy to have her in his arms. The second clue was ignored. "Rose.. Rose.. I can't tell you how happy I am to have you again.. I've missed you so much, love." He murmured into the woman's hair, squeezing her tight. She turned then to face him, a smile curling her lips. But there weren't lips, there was only bone stained yellow from time. He gasped and staggered backward, the ground suddenly disappearing beneath his feet and swallowing him whole. "No.. No!! ROOOSE!!!!" Even seeing her as a wraith he clawed at the air to reach her, to get back to her. But the darkness swallowed him and the picture of that ghostly figure reaching down for him soon faded into memory....

Assyrian awoke with a start as if someone had just dropped him to the ground, a shocked gasp escaping from his mouth as he flung his arms out to the side and sat up with eyes wide. It took him less than a second to realize where and when he was, but the depression that hit him afterward was like a house falling on his heart. How could he have been so foolish? Giving a defeated sigh, he rubbed a hand down his face until a wet nose touched his hand. "I'm fine, Dell..." He said irritably before she could question his jerky awakening. "I wasn't going to ask... I was merely reminding you that we weren't alone..." The creature said haughtily, obviously hurt by being snapped at. Assyrian sighed again, he didn't need this early in the morning...

Giving a sleepy smile and making sure to keep the shadow from his nightmare from that rugged visage, the man turned to where Misty's eyes watched him. "Good morning." He said kindly, standing with a stretch. "You haven't been up too long have you? I would hate to have left you awake while I was being lazy for so long." There was a joking tone to his voice but the words were serious, he didn't want her to have had to wait too long for him to wake up. "You hungry?" He asked, reminded of her needs as his stomach reminded him of his own.</sub>[/color]

((OOC: Blargh, sorry for the sucky quality >.<))[/sub]

[Felypsa]

Nothing. He noticed nothing. HE was still asleep after her, which slightly surprised Misty, but it meant that she could keep her secret for a little while longer. She did need to figure out how and when she would tell him, though. Probably once they reached the next town, so she didn’t have to worry about him leaving her off in the wilderness.

Assyrian spoke, and she looked down at him for a moment before shaking her head. Truthfully she was just relieved to have seen him still there. There had always been that slight possibility that he was still playing her. But no; he was still here, and that solidified her growing trust in him. As did his kind words, though he seemed sleepy and a little grumpy. Misty clasped her hands together and leaned on her fist as she looked at him. “Not terribly hungry…but I could eat.” Truthfully, she was ravenous, but did not want to seem overly demanding.

The air was heavy with morning mist, slightly chilly though Misty was quite happy with this kind of temperature. Perhaps it was related to her magic. “How did you sleep?” she asked, venturing the polite question. After working at an inn for so long, she had served many a morning patron, seeing people in all sorts of moods, irritable and friendly. Her father too was hardly a morning person. Misty always tried to put on a fresh face for others, even if she was still a little tired and her back still complained after the first hard half of the night.

oOc| ish fine xD I don't mind going a little slow at first, I figure we can work on their basic relationship before raising the stakes with a more serious plot, hope you don't mind that

[ulrica]

<sub>Assyrian didn't register Misty's reply straight away, still groggy from sleep and troubled from his dream. They were becoming more frequent, did it mean something? Was he foolish for thinking that it could? "I'm sure it's just nerves." Della reassured him softly before going to curl up closer to the dying fire. How it had lasted through the night and this long was a mystery, unless you were Assyrian of course and then it was common knowledge. Most fires took a while longer to die out when he was around, part of his 'special' abilities. “How did you sleep?” The shifter blinked, suddenly remembering this wasn't the first time Misty had spoken to him that morning. "Oh I slept wonderfully, dove." He lied easily, not wanting to explain his midnight phantoms. "And what about you? I trust your first night away from home wasn't too frightening?"

With his head cocked to listen for the girl's reply, Assyrian stood and rolled the blanket into a tight bundle which he then shoved into the saddle bag slung over his 'pillow'. He then set about to replacing his vest about his person and draping the riding cloak back around his shoulders. "You know she must be starving..."</sub>[/color] Della chastised, on eye open and glued to her soulmate as he worked. "Yes, well, there isn't a lot I can do about that right now is there..." He replied testily, instantly regretting his tone. "Della forgive me... I'm just...upset..." Soothing acceptance leaked through their link and Assyrian knew he had been forgiven, no words were needed.

As Assyrian gathered his things together - rolling the blankets and stuffing them down in the saddlebags, extinguishing the fire and tossing some dirt over it to completely snuff it out, gathering up his belongings and ensuring that Misty also had all of hers - he gave a sharp whistle for Shadowfax to return. Like always, the trusty charger gave a low nicker as he trotted through the morning mist and came to a halt at his master's side. Tossing his head, wide awake and ready for the day's work, the stallion stood mostly still until Assyrian had finished tacking him up. With a smile and an outstretched hand, the man looked to Misty. "How about we go find you some breakfast, alright." He said, his voice as kind and welcoming as it always was. Della stood and yawned, trotting to sit behind her soulmate's heels. "Where are we going to go?"[/i][/color] She asked, simply making conversation. "Just to the next town, I need to get some things if Misty is going to be traveling with us for a while." He replied simply, glancing down at the dog's huff. "I don't see why you bother, she's only going to change her mind at her first round of homesickness."[/color] Assyrian patted her head gently, eyes and a smile still turned on the girl in question. "Well, either way I also want a few things." Della groaned in his mind. "You're hopeless..."[/i][/color][/color]

((OOC: Nope! That was what I was thinking to do as well ^_^ ))[/sub]

[Felypsa]

If Misty had any idea of the communication that went on between Assyrian and his dog, she might have better understood why her traveling companion would lapse into silence, his mind clearly elsewhere, even when she was talking to him. As it was, she was starting to think that he really had too many things on his mind to concern himself with her…but if that were the case, why did he ask her to come with him?

And eventually he did return to speak to her, inquiring after her own night after reassuring her that his was fine. “Not frightening, no,” she replied, though didn’t want to tell him how uncomfortable she had been. It was a problem, yes, but not his, and she had fixed it anyway. “Should I have been frightened…?” she wondered out loud, mostly to herself, though Assyrian would probably hear if he was paying any attention.

However, he seemed to be busy with other things, getting Shadowfax ready for the next bit. Misty was reminded that her legs were a little sore from the day before, but again, she would not openly complain. She did not want to be a whiny brat whom Assyrian would regret taking with him. This was what the real world was like, she thought, and she would put up with the bad in order to reap the rewards of the good. She didn’t want to be babied and sheltered…she had had enough of that in her life. More than enough.

“Are we—I mean, you—hunting?” she asked, more curious than anything. “Or are we close to some settled area?” A town of some kind. Misty was woefully ignorant of her own geography. Escavas was a self-sufficient city with a very shut-in kind of mindset. It saw many merchants and travelers, but the permanent residents did not care to know where these people came from or where they were going.