MAEA
His laughter filled the hollow space and turned cold rock into something warmer. Like a shelter instead of a hiding place, like this was an adventure rather than a trial. He had a knack of doing that, she'd noticed. Unpleasant and uncomfortable things became bearable and manageable when Liam was around, like his presence acted like an alchemical substance which turned ordinary things remarkable. The idea of remaining in one place for a lifetime had always filled her with a panicked dread, but the way Liam spoke of his contentment had her wondering if it was the view that made the difference, or their outlook. Between a deadly barrier and an endless horizon, was there any real difference in the borders they'd been living behind? If not, then perhaps she could learn to see the world the way he did. It seemed a happier place than hers.
"Mmh, it does sound wonderful," she replied with a smile, gazing up at him as he caught up. "Would you show me, some day? I've seen some of Stormbreak, but far from everything." The times when she felt comfortable exploring the city were growing shorter, admittedly, but Maea refused to accept them as gone. There was going to be an after the Family, there would be lifetimes to explore and travel and fill with whatever they chose.
Guiding them down a few more intersections, the rock quite abruptly took on a different quality. Older and worn from the passage of time and tides, in the dim light Maea could see faded chalk marks on a wall. "Thief marks," she said and pointed them out to Liam. "Old, probably outdated by now - I knew we were going the right way." Eager to see what had become of her cave thee slender ancient picked up the pace, her feet finding the way even as light faded. Just before even her pale hair was swallowed up by the darkness, she reached back and caught Liam's hand to pull him to the left, into a crevasse that would have been impossible to spot unless you knew it was there. Another tight passage followed - then a sense of space opened up around them. Their shuffling footsteps echoed less than before, muffled by vegetation creeping up the walls towards a slight crevice in the ceiling where light trickled in. A pool of water lay still and black, undisturbed by wind or other waves - and in a nook a pile of rags had been piled up. Forming a nest of a sort, as 'bed' seemed too grand a term for the damp, moldering heap.
"Well. Here it is." Maea turned around slowly, fingers cold as she kept holding on to his hand. "Looks like nobody's been here since..."
"Mmh, it does sound wonderful," she replied with a smile, gazing up at him as he caught up. "Would you show me, some day? I've seen some of Stormbreak, but far from everything." The times when she felt comfortable exploring the city were growing shorter, admittedly, but Maea refused to accept them as gone. There was going to be an after the Family, there would be lifetimes to explore and travel and fill with whatever they chose.
Guiding them down a few more intersections, the rock quite abruptly took on a different quality. Older and worn from the passage of time and tides, in the dim light Maea could see faded chalk marks on a wall. "Thief marks," she said and pointed them out to Liam. "Old, probably outdated by now - I knew we were going the right way." Eager to see what had become of her cave thee slender ancient picked up the pace, her feet finding the way even as light faded. Just before even her pale hair was swallowed up by the darkness, she reached back and caught Liam's hand to pull him to the left, into a crevasse that would have been impossible to spot unless you knew it was there. Another tight passage followed - then a sense of space opened up around them. Their shuffling footsteps echoed less than before, muffled by vegetation creeping up the walls towards a slight crevice in the ceiling where light trickled in. A pool of water lay still and black, undisturbed by wind or other waves - and in a nook a pile of rags had been piled up. Forming a nest of a sort, as 'bed' seemed too grand a term for the damp, moldering heap.
"Well. Here it is." Maea turned around slowly, fingers cold as she kept holding on to his hand. "Looks like nobody's been here since..."
Bleeding out for you
BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3
