[o] [SE] Runnin' again

Colt

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun
Can't trust anyone

The sky is holding on grey for now, and that suits her just fine. She'd take the rain over the screaming any day. Mud squelches underfoot, not so thick and clingy as spring, but fed by dreary skies and roaming storms. A chill comes with these ones, and without meaning to, she huddles deeper into the shell of her duster, seeking some semblance of comfort and warmth, even if it's just the echo of her own.

They've stopped here on purpose, Colt mentioning to the captain of the need to visit the Mathair, and several echoing their agreement. She doesn't know where they've all dispersed, having gone to hunt her offerings on her own, but they won't leave until nightfall. The sky might be clouded, but it's bright enough to suggest late afternoon still, so she presses on, boots leaving a messy trail, hardly noticeable among the other network of footfalls here. Despite that, it appears she's alone when she steps nearer the massive tree.

"Hello," she greets the deity, head tilting down enough that a stray drop of water rolls off the brim of her hat. She doesn't know if Mathair is listening, or capable of it in this form, but it seems unnatural not to greet the figure. She hasn't been here much, but she's always had an affinity for this time of year and the one that heralds it. A time of change, drawing away the smothering heat with a crisp bite every night, unafraid of showing some teeth. The season of storms, where the sky becomes a living, unpredictable thing that rolls with a restless energy she can relate to. Death, in degrees, is brought to the world in a riot of color, placing beauty among loss, a reminder that it too is part of all this. Some find this time of year ugly and unfavorable, but she has always been drawn to its reckless fury.

She crouches near the base of one large, scrawling root, fingers pressing into the mire for balance. Behind her, the bodies of the blink hares thrown over her shoulder shift, but she ignores them for now as she withdraws a satchel of dried herbs. A powerful tea, when brewed, that gives back strength and resilience. Where many see little more than the dismantling of what the seasons before have built, Colt has always seen the sense of preserving the core necessities for survival. Mathair might take, but it's all in an effort to conserve and endure. A sense Colt can especially relate to right about now. "Wish I was half as strong as you," she murmurs in low appreciation, dumping out the contents and letting them flutter against the bark and scatter into the moist soil, where some of its abilities might be leeched.

---

I was so sure what I needed was more
Tried to shoot out the sun

Cheer up and dry your damp eyes and tell me when it rains
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you and shoot it through your veins

Sohalia had always appreciated the Greatwood and what it had to offer. During the spring and summer, it was a verdant paradise, so much so that she didn't even mind when she got lost amongst the trees. Even in Leafchange, it was beautiful, a riot of color that heralded the coming of Deepfrost. Soh, unlike Colt, was more of a springtime kind of girl, but that didn't mean that she held any less appreciation for the autumnal shift that precluded winter - especially here, where the seasonal change was so pronounced.

Sometimes she wondered whether her life would have been easier if she'd stopped here after she'd left the Grounds rather than continuing on to Stormbreak. If she'd never led a region, she wouldn't have been a target for the Family. If she hadn't met Koa, her love life would never have become such a tangled mess. Of course, all of that had led her to where she was now - and now, at least, she was happy. Maybe passing over the Greatwood hadn't been such a bad thing after all.

The Mathair towered over the Luminary as she approached, deep in thought. In her pocket was a packet of seeds that she planned to plant amongst the deity's roots - but before she could kneel in the mud to begin digging a hole for them, the soft drone of a familiar voice had her moving around the Mathair's trunk. When Colt came into view, Soh smiled. "Hey," she called out to her friend as she picked her way through the dead leaves on the ground. "Hope I'm not interrupting - you here to make an offering, too?"

the Luminary

'Cause your heart has a lack of colour and we should've known
That we'd grow up sooner or later 'cause we wasted all our free time alone

code stolen from sky who stole it from odd

Colt

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun
Can't trust anyone

Mathair is such a grand being that Colt should have suspected she’d be hiding another presence around her side. Not that she particularly needed the solitude, but there is a different sort of ability to talk freely when your confessions are only blending into leaf litter and smoke-stained bark.

Fortunately, the other one joining her isn’t an unwelcome sight beyond the unexpected, and Colt peers over her shoulder at Soh with a mild smile. ”Hey,” she greets, shifting back to look at the deity before them. She balances on her toes as she reaches back with both hands to gather the two blink hair kills she’d made not long before, one a touch warm still. ”No interruption,” she confirms, a shrug tacked on, because who would she be to barr anyone else from serving Mathair, especially this time of year.

”Yeah, always like to acknowledge her when I’m out. Was on my way back—” she stumbles over saying the word home, not quite sure she has a right to that word at the moment, or that it fits. She left her most recent stay in Torchline with quite a few changes. A lot less cattle and horses, heavier coin purses for it, and after some miserable wondering and wallowing, a decision finally made firm after restlessly returning to it again and again. That, more than the ashes waiting back at King’s End, is what gives her pause now.

She doesn’t bother to find something else to call it, and Soh should know what she means after their talk in Wildering House, Torchline only ever a stop along the way. ”She’s always been my favorite,” Colt finishes instead, using a knife to cut into the rabbit from throat to tail, opening it up more to let the blood and organs have access to the ground and roots as she lays each animal down. ”You?” She can see by the seeds, that yes Soh is here to pay respects, but she means the favorite, or maybe anything deeper Soh means to add about the Leafchange presence.

I was so sure what I needed was more
Tried to shoot out the sun

Cheer up and dry your damp eyes and tell me when it rains
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you and shoot it through your veins

Colt looked good, Soh was relieved to see, despite what had been a very trying season. As her friend stumbled over her words, Soh's gaze softened into something understanding. After all, she'd lost her home, too - and was still trying to rebuild, just as Colt was.

"Mmhmm," she said. "I try to pay my respects to all the deities when I can." Kneeling in the mud, Soh gave little thought to the muck seeping onto her pants as she began to dig a small hole to deposit the seeds she'd brought into. "Mathair is important. Everything that happens now is what helps to set up the world for springtime, you know? She's part of the cycle, so... I respect that." Death, decay, rebirth - all things that Soh thought of when thinking of the Leafchange deity.

Hole dug, Soh pulled a packet of seeds from her pocket. "Wildflowers," she commented, raising grey eyes to Colt for a brief moment before returning them to the ground. After burying the seeds, she covered them in mud and stood, wiping her dirty hands on her pants. Good thing she hadn't worn her favorite pair.

"So... how are the plans for Hak Etme coming?"

the Luminary

'Cause your heart has a lack of colour and we should've known
That we'd grow up sooner or later 'cause we wasted all our free time alone

code stolen from sky who stole it from odd

Colt

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun
Can't trust anyone

Soh’s understanding of the need for balance in the seasons is a relief. Too often, it seems everyone only ever wants the more palatable aspects. Pretty things and cute baby animals or buds, as if rebirth could be eternal and never exhaust itself without the other end of death and decay to feed it. A plea for sunny days and cool winds, unwilling to endure the rains and the snows that feed the shade trees and wildflower meadows that’re adored. Everything’s got an ugly side to it. Needs it.

Cleaning off her blade by wiping it on the edge of her duster, Colt folds and puts the knife back in her boot. ”That’s a refreshing take, you know? So few acknowledge the benefit of the losing, but it’s all a give and a take.” There’s something to be said too about the survival of the strong. Mathair, necessary as she is, has never struck Colt as particularly kind. Hardship shapes strength though, and anything less, rises or finally falls to feed a new chance.

”Always prefer those over the manicured lawns,” Colt admits as she rises back to her feet, her rabbit corpses steadily bleeding into the soil. ”People consider ‘em weeds sometimes, but they serve a purpose and still look nice.” For someone who spends a long time breaking horses and taming pastures behind fences, she knows there’s a limit to how much you bend the wildness out of things. Part of the reason she likes the troublesome mounts.

Fisting her hands into her pockets and running a toe over the mud before her, smoothing it out, Colt lifts her gaze from the offerings to Soh. ”Sailing out there in a week’s time,” she reports, a newfound certainty in the set of her eyes, a brightness there like something lit. A pause, long enough to breathe, and she tilts her head faintly. ”I’d love if you came with me.”

I was so sure what I needed was more
Tried to shoot out the sun

Cheer up and dry your damp eyes and tell me when it rains
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you and shoot it through your veins

Maybe it was the time spent in cycles of rebirth herself, but Soh had a healthy respect for the circle of life. Springtime was her favorite - new beginnings and all that - but she was all too aware that each season had its place, that one could not exist without the others. And there was something oddly beautiful about Leafchange, despite all the death and decay that followed in Mathair's wake. With the brilliant, flaming colors, Soh had to imagine that the deity knew how to go out with a bang.

"It is," Soh agreed. "But you're right. People don't want to see the ugly side of life, but where would we be without it?" Strangely philosophical talk, for a rancher and a cartographer, but Soh wasn't complaining. It was simply what she'd learned in her life - there was always a give and take, just as Colt had said.

"I prefer wildflowers, too. They're so pretty, and I like that they feed the pollinators." Manicured lawns might look nice, but there was something about fields of flowers that made Soh's heart sing. With a grin, she added, "Weeds are hardy. I like that they can survive so much and still grow." A metaphor for life if ever there was one.

Fortunately, Colt seemed to have found her strength, and Soh smiled to hear the resolution in her friend's voice. What surprised her, though, was the invitation - she hadn't been planning on going to Hak Etme any time soon, intending to split her time between Torchline and King's End. "Me?" she asked stupidly, raising her brows. "I... how long will your trip be?" Maybe Soh could squeeze it in. Anything to support her friend.

the Luminary

'Cause your heart has a lack of colour and we should've known
That we'd grow up sooner or later 'cause we wasted all our free time alone

code stolen from sky who stole it from odd

Colt

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun
Can't trust anyone

Colt has often found herself one the ground, usually dazed or bruised by whatever had put her there. Horses, usually, but plenty of less obvious or literal things. Sometimes it hurts like a bitch, and sitting there and sniffling for a bit is needed before rising up, and sometimes she can bounce back to her feet like the ground had always been a place to push off from and pop up stronger. This time, she stayed low for a while, even if she pretended otherwise to plenty of people, herself included. She’s back on her feet now though, and she’s positive the desert will soon send her off ‘em. The very idea excites her.

Pressing out a fuller smile as Soh stammers a bit, Colt nods in swift response. ”Yep, you.” Maybe the confirmation isn’t necessary, but she wants no hesitation about it. ”You’d know the lay of the land better than anyone, and be able to help us find the best place to set up base camp in terms of resources and safety. You’ve also got prior experience leading, and I could use someone like that when we start to actually establish a town and build something that will attract people.”

The desire to laugh rises in her chest like pressure that still feels light, but Colt doesn’t let the sound loose, even if it’s springing out of a fresh joy. ”Well,” Colt starts, drawing it out like she hasn’t already given it tremendous thought. ”I suppose, stay as long as you like, or are able. I won’t turn down however much of your help I can get, but I was rather hoping you might consider being part of the council I establish.”

I was so sure what I needed was more
Tried to shoot out the sun

Cheer up and dry your damp eyes and tell me when it rains
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you and shoot it through your veins

Whatever Soh had been expecting Colt to say, the small speech the rancher offered was not it. At first, Soh offered a small smile; she would know the lay of the land, for the most part, and could be helpful in setting up a base of operations. That much was true. But then Colt kept talking, mentioning Soh's leadership experience and inviting her to be a part of a future council, and her mind went suddenly blank.

She'd never anticipated leading again, nor serving on someone's council; she'd thought her days would be spent finding ways to entertain herself and make herself useful in some small way. She'd imagined a quiet life, settling down, starting a family... never in a million years had she seen herself moving to Hak Etme permanently to help establish an entirely new region. That was Colt's dream, not hers.

And yet...

"Uh..." Soh said rather unhelpfully, still processing the request. "I mean - I'm flattered that you'd ask -" Turning the words over and over in her mind, suddenly all she could think of was what this would mean for her relationship with Flora, who had been so happy to have her in Torchline, and what it would mean for she and Zavien, who were just starting out.

And yet...

There was something inherently exciting about starting something new, about doing something that had never been done before. And to have the chance to help build something from the ground up, rather than taking over something well-established... well, Soh could certainly see the appeal.

"Alright," she heard herself say. "I... need to think about the council thing, but... I'll come with you, at least for a while."

the Luminary

'Cause your heart has a lack of colour and we should've known
That we'd grow up sooner or later 'cause we wasted all our free time alone

code stolen from sky who stole it from odd

Colt

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun
Can't trust anyone

The careful response from Soh is only a signifier that Colt has chosen well. She doesn’t expect anyone to quite match her energy in this venture, not when she’s been sitting on it far longer than anyone else, quietly shaping it in the dark before bed, and every quiet moment in-between. She has used this like a rope to hoist herself onto, sagging otherwise back into the ground, and it means more for that than it likely ever could someone who’s even eager about it, but toss in all the danger and possible failure, and well she’d be more worried if someone wasn’t wary.

She shot high, and she didn’t land all of it, but she got the core of her need. The rest might come in time. ”I’d expect nothing less,” she praises with a softer smile, it’s reach finding her eyes even if the sharp delight beneath it has settled into something easier. ”I’ll be looking for you on the docks of King’s End then, and from there, we sail to Hak Etme.” She nods, the deal set as easy as that. ”Bring your maps, and any camping gear. I’m arranging tents and tools now.”

I was so sure what I needed was more
Tried to shoot out the sun

Cheer up and dry your damp eyes and tell me when it rains
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you and shoot it through your veins

Relieved that Colt didn't press her for more than she was ready to commit, Soh ventured a small smile at the rancher's praise. It was no small thing, to consider uprooting one's entire life to move to an inhospitable desert in the hopes of making it into something worthwhile. She'd never considered doing something like this before, and while she wasn't sure what her decision would ultimately be, she was excited to find that she had the option available to consider. Already making a mental list of things she'd need to bring, Soh nodded. "Deal."

A breeze stirred the lingering, dying foliage, and Soh looked up to watch Mathair with an open expression, thinking about how beautifully vibrant the deity was even in the throes of death. But this season, like Colt's offer, simply paved the way for something new to take hold. With a soft laugh, she shook her head. "I guess I'd better get home and start packing, then." Glancing over at Colt, she smiled. "Want me to take care of anything aside from the maps?"

the Luminary

'Cause your heart has a lack of colour and we should've known
That we'd grow up sooner or later 'cause we wasted all our free time alone

code stolen from sky who stole it from odd

Colt

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun
Can't trust anyone

It’s the first real commitment from someone she’s asked. Even if it’s a half step, Colt isn’t measuring, so long as it’s forward. Admittedly, Sohalia’s really the first she has asked, the decision only beginning to firm up in her own bones. She’d tossed the invitation out to Thal, sure, and it had it’s own weight, but Colt knows better than to expect the ancient to moor herself for long. Sohalia though, as is plain in the position Colt extended, she seems like someone who could be there for the long haul.

She rather thinks it’s the kinship of losing everything you had and suddenly wondering how to find solid ground again, and even if Sohalia has a much better shot at that than Colt currently does, what with Torchline’s abundance, Wildering House just scratching the surface of that. She’s guessing someone who does cartography likes to tame wild things too, in her own way. That’s what Colt’s offering. A chance for somewhere to land, somewhere you could shape to your steps.

There’d be no bad blood if Sohalia woke up and decided, fuck that shit. It’s all nice and rosy as words, but living it will be another feat entirely. She might be overly confident about her endurance, given what she had already survived there, but if she had made it through the entire desert during it’s ugliest season, she’s pretty sure she can do more than complain and run this time around. ”I’d say that’s a good plan,” Colt offers with a smile and tilt of her head, bright gaze sweeping off Sohalia to the distance where her ship waits. ”Need to do the same myself.” A little less packing, a lot more arranging.

”Just stay honest,” she advises. ”I need someone I can trust, someone to tell me not what I want to hear, but what I need to hear. You’ll know things I won’t, and that’s more important than any ego.” She’s been able to call the shots in her own little world on the ranch for some time, and she’s still the one leading the charge here, but there’s a lot of learning left to do with this rodeo. ”And the tequila,” Colt adds as an afterthought as she starts to step away. ”You’re definitely in charge of that.” She winks.

As they part, heading to their separate ways, Colt slows just enough to pause at the edge of the Mathair’s root. ”Wouldn’t be able to start this venture without your help.” The desert could be argued not to have a truly nice season, Deepfrost maybe getting the closest, but there’s still enough wane in the heat and some extra boon in water this time of year to make her odds a bit better. With all the work they have, they need whatever edge they can find. ”Thanks.” She’d have to bring Mathair back a souvenir. For now, she better get started rather than talk about it all day.

[FIN]

I was so sure what I needed was more
Tried to shoot out the sun