The haunting song grew clearer as the seconds ticked by, the singer nearing the little clearing on quiet feet. A pale head could be glimpsed through the trees and moments later a young woman stepped into the clearing, her song rising sweet and sad through the Deepfrost air. It cut off abruptly as she saw the two men and she froze. A luxere crunched through the snow behind her stopped and snorted at her pause. Blond hair was pulled back in two thick braids and she wore pale leathers that were ragged but looked warm enough for the season beneath a cloak of brown and white furs. Her hand dropped to a heavy hunting knife at her hip, but then her gaze flickered to the pair of owls and her expression turned to a scowl as she glared at Deimos and Loren . ”What are you doing to them?” she called, her voice still beautiful but now edged with mistrust. ”Did you hurt them?”
At the tension in the air the luxere snorted again and began to back away from the brewing confrontation, shaking her antlers uneasily at the trio of humans, one of whom held the scent of dark magic about him like a cloak.
”As the lady wishes,” Jigano tried to manage a courtly smile, but it was a half-hearted attempt as the blight blunted his usual predilection for banter. He welcomed the warmth of their exertions, a modicum of it finally making it through the eternal chill that had settled into his skin ever since the Voice’s disease had claimed him.
Coaxing the snake might have been more difficult if he’d had to rely on his own warmth to do so, but thankfully he had other talents, and he used them to good effect. Hotaru’s sly comment brought a true smile to his lips, however, and he nodded in wry agreement. ”I thought we’d be helping each other with each tree,” he admitted. ”But I suppose they’re each strong and capable enough to handle one each.” His smile remained, warming as Hotaru complimented the lovely snake, but it faded to a more solemn and studious expression as she gave her suggestions.
And they were good ones, Jigano nodding along with her expertise. ”I admit, I thought it might be easier to dig out a ramp of snow on one side of the log, pack it down, and put the sledge down there.” He gave a little shrug, managing to look a little sheepish. ”Then we could just roll a log over on top of it and haul it out… but getting it up out of the hollow afterwards would be a lot harder than what you suggest. We have the top of the tree to use as a ramp support though, and plenty of snow to pack around it.” As he was speaking he joined her in packing the snow down around the area she had indicated. ”I’ve got rope so between the two of us we should be able to manage it. I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve than just a snake.” Though he had that, too, and likely not in a way Hotaru thought.
He moved to set the snake back up in the safety of a tree before beginning chopping up a smaller section near the top of the tree to form the base of their ramp and left the construction of the snow to Hotaru’s expert hands. Soon enough they had a ramp that would serve, and Jigano unslung the rope from around his waist. ”Have you ever harnessed up a horse before?” he asked with deceptive casualness as they began to rig the first length of trunk.
Hotaru and Jigano are ready to load their tree, if Hotaru’s construction of the snow ramp is up to OSHA standards!
Deimos and Loren have been joined by a woman out singing to luxere! Will they make a new friend, or a new enemy?
No Posting Order!
At the tension in the air the luxere snorted again and began to back away from the brewing confrontation, shaking her antlers uneasily at the trio of humans, one of whom held the scent of dark magic about him like a cloak.
”As the lady wishes,” Jigano tried to manage a courtly smile, but it was a half-hearted attempt as the blight blunted his usual predilection for banter. He welcomed the warmth of their exertions, a modicum of it finally making it through the eternal chill that had settled into his skin ever since the Voice’s disease had claimed him.
Coaxing the snake might have been more difficult if he’d had to rely on his own warmth to do so, but thankfully he had other talents, and he used them to good effect. Hotaru’s sly comment brought a true smile to his lips, however, and he nodded in wry agreement. ”I thought we’d be helping each other with each tree,” he admitted. ”But I suppose they’re each strong and capable enough to handle one each.” His smile remained, warming as Hotaru complimented the lovely snake, but it faded to a more solemn and studious expression as she gave her suggestions.
And they were good ones, Jigano nodding along with her expertise. ”I admit, I thought it might be easier to dig out a ramp of snow on one side of the log, pack it down, and put the sledge down there.” He gave a little shrug, managing to look a little sheepish. ”Then we could just roll a log over on top of it and haul it out… but getting it up out of the hollow afterwards would be a lot harder than what you suggest. We have the top of the tree to use as a ramp support though, and plenty of snow to pack around it.” As he was speaking he joined her in packing the snow down around the area she had indicated. ”I’ve got rope so between the two of us we should be able to manage it. I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve than just a snake.” Though he had that, too, and likely not in a way Hotaru thought.
He moved to set the snake back up in the safety of a tree before beginning chopping up a smaller section near the top of the tree to form the base of their ramp and left the construction of the snow to Hotaru’s expert hands. Soon enough they had a ramp that would serve, and Jigano unslung the rope from around his waist. ”Have you ever harnessed up a horse before?” he asked with deceptive casualness as they began to rig the first length of trunk.
Hotaru and Jigano are ready to load their tree, if Hotaru’s construction of the snow ramp is up to OSHA standards!
Deimos and Loren have been joined by a woman out singing to luxere! Will they make a new friend, or a new enemy?
