Though it was no longer storming, flurries of snow still danced through the air. They pierced the skin like tiny frozen daggers and the biting wind only intensified that feeling. The apples of Namythria's cheeks stung, so she pulled her scarf up around her jaw to stave off the sensation. The muffled sounds of snowfall and hoofbeats crunching on powdery ground was a cadence she was used to. It calmed her, sometimes mesmerized her. The invisible road to the Citadel had been long and drawn out with no one to talk to but for Sable, her mare. Much of it was just a white or stormy blur.
They were close, though; she could feel it.
Sable's body tensed beneath her, snapping her to attention. The horse's ears stood straight up and her nose turned. Nim's gaze followed it to see a small herd of reindeer in the small valley below. The herd was fleeing from a figure on the ice. A hunter? A silhouette in the air caught her attention as well. Either her eyes were deceiving her or there was a small dragon working with the hunter.
Nim reached down to pat Sable's neck, cooing a few reassuring words as they watched and waited. Nim was not one to disrupt another's hunt, though she grew antsy to approach. This was the first person she'd seen in a while.
Were they from the city? ...Were they friendly? ...Was the dragon friendly?
When the metaphorical snow settled and the hunter had caught his quarry, Nim kicked her horse forward. They slowed to a stop when Nim thought they had come close enough, bearing in mind that the dragon seemed to be keeping a lookout. She certainly didn't want to put herself or her horse in any danger.
The carcass of the reindeer seeped warmth into the air and the smell of blood was thick. Nim felt her stomach tense with hunger. It had been months since she'd hunted game like that, surviving mainly on hares and easier pickings.
She pulled her scarf down from her jaw to speak: "Hello there!" The relief in her smile was obvious, and she explained, "I haven't seen another person in a long time. I'm on my way to the citadel." She paused, looking more closely at his work, "Do you want any help with that?" It was a lot of meat and hide for one person to clean and to carry, else he might have to leave some of it to go to waste.
talyson
They were close, though; she could feel it.
Sable's body tensed beneath her, snapping her to attention. The horse's ears stood straight up and her nose turned. Nim's gaze followed it to see a small herd of reindeer in the small valley below. The herd was fleeing from a figure on the ice. A hunter? A silhouette in the air caught her attention as well. Either her eyes were deceiving her or there was a small dragon working with the hunter.
Nim reached down to pat Sable's neck, cooing a few reassuring words as they watched and waited. Nim was not one to disrupt another's hunt, though she grew antsy to approach. This was the first person she'd seen in a while.
Were they from the city? ...Were they friendly? ...Was the dragon friendly?
When the metaphorical snow settled and the hunter had caught his quarry, Nim kicked her horse forward. They slowed to a stop when Nim thought they had come close enough, bearing in mind that the dragon seemed to be keeping a lookout. She certainly didn't want to put herself or her horse in any danger.
The carcass of the reindeer seeped warmth into the air and the smell of blood was thick. Nim felt her stomach tense with hunger. It had been months since she'd hunted game like that, surviving mainly on hares and easier pickings.
She pulled her scarf down from her jaw to speak: "Hello there!" The relief in her smile was obvious, and she explained, "I haven't seen another person in a long time. I'm on my way to the citadel." She paused, looking more closely at his work, "Do you want any help with that?" It was a lot of meat and hide for one person to clean and to carry, else he might have to leave some of it to go to waste.
talyson
