Seiji watched the sky. He was increasingly aware, with each passing day, of the Longnight drawing near. It must be close. The sun rose so briefly now the days could hardly even be called such. The air was thin with cold, treacherously sharp when he breathed it in. And the snow — an endless white carpet on the ground. Difficult to believe flowers ever bloomed here. Difficult to remember the sight of grass, the warmth of spring. Or whatever the similar season was called in Caido. These thoughts were all in Seiji's head as he walked away from the settlement, tracking the sun's progress with some concern.
He had, he thought, decent enough plans for the darkness ahead. He knew where he was staying. He had some of his own food. The Rathskeller should be well-stocked anyway, but he knew so precious few of the people here he felt it best to weigh upon them as little as possible. So he had some of his own food, and he hoped he could find ways to help when the time finally came. But he was restless, all the same. The agony of waiting for something he barely understood.
So, today, he went out to the glade. He had been reading the notice board with a kind of desperate fervor, hoping to learn more from the snippets of information he found there. Many were just enough to confuse him, or else dire warnings. But one thing in particular caught his eye, and he had been thinking about it all night. Something called a Spark Bird. A being of light, he imagined. Some kind of deity, if Caido had deities the way he perceived them. Had he better planned, Seiji might have found someone to ask about this creature, but he spent all his time with others asking different questions. He had decided he would travel to the glade, anyway, and see if he could find a shrine or offering place, and follow in the footsteps of those who had come before. Even if he was not successful, he thought it should do no harm.
Over one shoulder, he carried the small bag he had used for gathering before. In it was a small handful of winter apples, the best of the bunch, though he regretted parting with them and did not particularly look forward to eating the mushier handfuls he still kept for himself. As well, he had added a handful of roasted chestnuts. It seemed a terribly small offering, and he wished he had something like meat to bring, as well, but he had never hunted anything before in his life. So what he had, along with maybe a song of prayer, would have to be enough for now. He could hope maybe the thought counted more than the physical offering, but he was still rather doubtful as he walked through the trees, his steps crunching lightly over the frozen crust of snow on the ground, his breath a ghost around his face.
His thoughts, all tangled with concern, held most of his attention. He might not have noticed either of the two creatures standing there, but some flicker of movement caught his peripheral vision and he found himself blinking at a pair of bright blue eyes just ahead. Much to Seiji's surprise, he saw they belonged to a fox, snow-white, almost invisible against the snow at its back.
But the pale creature was not alone. Nestled against its side was another, smaller animal painted in the same hues: a creature which was a bird in front and some kind of furred animal in the back. Surely these were natives only to Caido. Hesitating, Seiji stared at them, then instinctively dropped into a crouch, hoping not to startle them any further than he already had. "Hello," he called gently, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth.
He had, he thought, decent enough plans for the darkness ahead. He knew where he was staying. He had some of his own food. The Rathskeller should be well-stocked anyway, but he knew so precious few of the people here he felt it best to weigh upon them as little as possible. So he had some of his own food, and he hoped he could find ways to help when the time finally came. But he was restless, all the same. The agony of waiting for something he barely understood.
So, today, he went out to the glade. He had been reading the notice board with a kind of desperate fervor, hoping to learn more from the snippets of information he found there. Many were just enough to confuse him, or else dire warnings. But one thing in particular caught his eye, and he had been thinking about it all night. Something called a Spark Bird. A being of light, he imagined. Some kind of deity, if Caido had deities the way he perceived them. Had he better planned, Seiji might have found someone to ask about this creature, but he spent all his time with others asking different questions. He had decided he would travel to the glade, anyway, and see if he could find a shrine or offering place, and follow in the footsteps of those who had come before. Even if he was not successful, he thought it should do no harm.
Over one shoulder, he carried the small bag he had used for gathering before. In it was a small handful of winter apples, the best of the bunch, though he regretted parting with them and did not particularly look forward to eating the mushier handfuls he still kept for himself. As well, he had added a handful of roasted chestnuts. It seemed a terribly small offering, and he wished he had something like meat to bring, as well, but he had never hunted anything before in his life. So what he had, along with maybe a song of prayer, would have to be enough for now. He could hope maybe the thought counted more than the physical offering, but he was still rather doubtful as he walked through the trees, his steps crunching lightly over the frozen crust of snow on the ground, his breath a ghost around his face.
His thoughts, all tangled with concern, held most of his attention. He might not have noticed either of the two creatures standing there, but some flicker of movement caught his peripheral vision and he found himself blinking at a pair of bright blue eyes just ahead. Much to Seiji's surprise, he saw they belonged to a fox, snow-white, almost invisible against the snow at its back.
But the pale creature was not alone. Nestled against its side was another, smaller animal painted in the same hues: a creature which was a bird in front and some kind of furred animal in the back. Surely these were natives only to Caido. Hesitating, Seiji stared at them, then instinctively dropped into a crouch, hoping not to startle them any further than he already had. "Hello," he called gently, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth.
