Hannah Montana's actor has a song about this

Iskra

I'm chasing starlight to find it's died away

He's spent some of the last few days carving engravings into the large, tortoise scute he's claimed as a shield. The bony plate from the overly large creature that he'd claimed from Hak Etme had been cut to the right shape at the desert by his fire magic, and the ribs and vertebrae of the creature that are inherently connected to its shell work as a natural handle for his hand on the inside. So he's been marking up the front with the images of suns and flames that represent his father so well. 

Now he's moving onto the next phase of his quest, and as such has fashioned the shield across his back in order to leave his arms free to move while he hikes through this hell scape. Goose remains safely at home, not needing to treat any lava burns on the dog, or deal with his disagreement over all this heat and sharp stone. Iskra though, he's fitted out in his work attire, his boots having a good amount of traction to make sure he can travel without winding up on his ass through this less than hospitable zone. His plaid shirt flaps, partially open over the white undershirt, moving in the hot wind that stirs like a curse. 

"Hotter 'n shit," he grunts to the rocks as he hoists himself up a small ledge.

In the middle of the night, in my dreams
You should see the things we do, baby

Despite Aithne's decision to settle in the Grounds, the Climb remains among her favorite places in Caido. Perhaps it's because it's where she became her true self - where she was accepted by Dygra and transformed into something beautiful. Or perhaps it's simply because it's warm, and bright, and even a little bit dangerous, just like Aithne herself. Either way, the girl has returned through the portal to lounge upon a rock, face turned up to the sun, not unlike a snake basking in the warm light.

It isn't until she hears grumbling that she tilts her face down, dark eyes lighting on an unfamiliar man traipsing through the Climb and - seemingly - rather unhappy about it. Well, that certainly won't do. Aithne is solidly in her good vibes only era, and nobody who stumbles upon her is going to ruin that. So she leans to one side, propping herself on one elbow, blinking languidly at the stranger with a fanged grin on her lips. "Never cools down, though," she chirps in response to the man's grunt. "At least shit turns cold if you leave it for a minute. But the Climb? Gloriously hot, forever and always."

In the middle of the night, in my dreams
I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time

Aithne

Iskra

I'm chasing starlight to find it's died away

To say the joke went over his head doesn't accurately describe the blank, blinking look Iskra offers the woman he suddenly comes across. Part of it's because her voice send such a startling thrill through him that he almost loses grip on the igneous rock and stumbles back down, and not that the ledge he just hiked up is particularly large, but the way missing even a single step on a staircase feels horrendously unbalancing and terrifying, so his stomach is convinced he'll plummet to his imminent demise. The other part is that once he does recover enough with a swallow and a lick of his lips, is that she's lounging on the hot ground as if getting a sun-tan, or maybe a lava-tan. Lava-crisp?

"What?" is all he can scrounge up at first, openly gawking. She does add more to it, and he does adjust to the unexpected addition of her in this travel, quickly noting the features that mark her an Ancient and tie up a few of the loose ends. "Oh, uh, yeah, good point." Maybe she's a shitologist? "Bit of an adjustment for me from Halo," he offers as a bit more explanation for his statement, anticipating some kind of grimace from her in response he already buffers a smile out. "This your usual lay out spot?"

In the middle of the night, in my dreams
You should see the things we do, baby

Her joke lands with a disappointing womp, womp, but Aithne is not deterred. Lounging in the heat is one of her favorite ways to spend her time after all, and if random passersby don't get her particular brand of humor, well, that's hardly a her problem, is it?

So she rolls onto her stomach, propping her head on her hands and kicking her feet into the air. Her tail flicks idly to one side, not unlike a cat as it considers whether some new movement constitutes prey. "Mm, not really," she says thoughtfully. "I just usually come to the Climb and pick a rock." She says this very seriously, because it is the absolute truth. She cocks her head to one side, fanged grin on display. "Why? Are you hoping I'll share?"

In the middle of the night, in my dreams
I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time

Aithne

Iskra

I'm chasing starlight to find it's died away

Iskra can’t help but feel his stomach clench as she rolls over onto hers, absolutely positive the ground is radiating enough heat to cause discomfort if he should lay out like that. Given what he’s going for with his shield, the fireproofing of Ancients is something enviable. The tail and horns though, seems like it’d make clothing more of a challenge. ”You’re a geologist?” he wonders, when she explains why she’s here, although porque no los dos? By the looks of it she is both laying out to enjoy some heat…and not looking for rocks. Maybe certain ones call to her on the trips to and from here. ”Or just a collector?”

A fuller smile breaks out, and Iskra shakes his head with a chuckle. ”No, can’t say I’m the sort to enjoy lava basking. I’m here to hike through the Climb with my shield, on a quest for Ludo to make this fireproof.” He motions with his head towards the large piece of tortoise bone on his back, pivoting slightly to give her a better look, appearing like a poorly cosplaying mutant ninja turtle in that moment. ”Wanna join? Who knows, could find your best rock yet.”

In the middle of the night, in my dreams
You should see the things we do, baby

Aithne giggles. "No, silly," she says, propping her head on her hands. "I find rocks to sunbathe on." And her chosen rock today is her favorite one yet: broad and flat, radiating a comforting warmth that, while it might singe the skin of any other being, feels absolutely divine to Aithne.

But the invitation to join the stranger has Aithne bouncing easily to her feet, a mischievous grin revealing her fangs. "Oooooo, a quest!" she repeats, bounding towards her new friend with glee. She looks at the shield - a large piece of tortoise bone that immediately gains the girl's approval - and claps her hands together. "So cool," she says. "I can definitely say that being fireproof is, like, the best thing ever. Such a useful ability."

In the middle of the night, in my dreams
I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time

Aithne

Iskra

I'm chasing starlight to find it's died away

Admittedly, her clarification is painfully obvious in hindsight, and the quick flash of an embarrassed blush streaks across his cheeks. "[i]Oh,[/i]" he admits with a small laugh at himself that joins the sound that bubbles up from her. "That makes sense, yeah. So not a geologist, just a tanner." He flashes a wolf's smile at that, head tilting faintly as he considers. "Although I bet you could still find a way to carve and hoist your favorite one home if you really wanted. Lava not included though." Which sounds alright by him, but seems like a non-starter for an Ancient.

As their focus swaps to his shell-shield and the point of his being here, he beams brighter and agrees, because yes, it is cool. "Thanks!" he grins, puffing up faintly with the praise. "I'm making it after my dad, he was super strong and protected others, so seemed like a good tribute." He shrugs, not overly bothered to speak about his passed father but not delving into all the details unprompted either. "I admit, your guys' fireproofing is enviable," he grins, starting to take more strides deeper into the Climb, glancing after her. "Although I like what I am," and as if in proof, he summons a flaming fish into existence between them, magic humming just beneath his veins, golden and powerful. The amber glow of the fire fish between them is lost to the rest of the Climb's heat and lava, but the little companion of magic swims with a flourish here and there, long, flaming fins trailing out as it makes mindless loops and darting maneuvers.

They continue on into the Climb and it's heat, scaling rocks and leaping down small rises or ledges. Her lay of the land helps guide him through the less familiar place, and her company is easy to keep as they banter about their preferences. Overall, a hike he appreciated and would remember as nice, despite the temperature.[/i]

[FIN]