A Sticky Situation [Complete]
Aug 9, 2022 23:25:34 GMT -5
Post by Tatalia on Aug 9, 2022 23:25:34 GMT -5
The images faded from Tatalia's mind like a waking dream, vivid memories of a tale she had never witnessed, but felt as if she had somehow experienced. The sight of the old dwarf's face as he looked back at the unicorn, that expression he wore as he wordlessly prepared to leave his child's life forever, trusted the boy's fate to the unicorn... Tatalia could not forget that look of regret, sorrow, and determination. That was the expression of sacrifice. It reminded her of-... of when her...
Tatalia tried not to think of who it reminded her of. She forced that memory out of her mind.
In a way, the dwarf's expression was the same expression the unicorn seemed to wear constantly... though the unicorn seemed harder somehow, more stern. The goblin wondered how many lives the unicorn had been able to save, how many he had not, and what sort of idyllic existence the creature had given up to serve as guardian of those woods.
Such heavy thoughts clung to Tatalia's mind, as did a sudden pang of guilt for only having thought of herself. She had only been thinking of escape... and looting the dead. The goblin stared down at the gloves on her hands and took a deep breath. That was another memory she decided it would be best to shove away for now.
Quietly, Cantio murmured something about leaving, or sleeping, or finding a place to rest. Tatalia nodded. She wasn't sure which he'd actually said, but it boiled down to the same thing, didn't it? It was time to go.
Silence laid between the two adventurers, thick as the fog of a cold day on the Marsh Flats. They left the wooded realm entirely, coming out to a hill some distance from the treeline, and continued up it until they found the remnants of an old campsite. Tatalia wagered it was a week old, or perhaps two, the tents and goods long since abandoned but the skeleton of a good camping spot still remaining. As light storm clouds gathered overhead, Tatalia decided it was as good a place as any to stop. The sparse few trees there offered a good place to make camp.
Still not a word was spoken between the two as they lit a fire. Still not a word was spoken as Cantio, the only one who had rations left, split his food between the two of them so they could both eat. A drizzle fell around them as the fire crackled, and a gentle wind rustled the two trees stretching their branches over the camp, like two doting old grandmothers protecting their children. Tatalia smiled wistfully. It reminded her of her grandmothers back home. Well... her 'grandmothers,' anyway.
The happy memory brought a little touch of red to the goblin's cheeks. She had kept her eyes averted from the bard and his face the whole time, respectfully trying not to peer at something he'd kept hidden for so long. But at that moment, she just couldn't help but look up, smirk, and offer a little quip.
"Did I mention that I think the spider Mother adopted me?" Tatalia asked casually, leaning back against the old tree behind her and folding one leg over another. "I've never had siblings before. Do sisters normally try to eat each other?"
Tatalia's eyes twinkled with mischief in the firelight.
Tatalia tried not to think of who it reminded her of. She forced that memory out of her mind.
In a way, the dwarf's expression was the same expression the unicorn seemed to wear constantly... though the unicorn seemed harder somehow, more stern. The goblin wondered how many lives the unicorn had been able to save, how many he had not, and what sort of idyllic existence the creature had given up to serve as guardian of those woods.
Such heavy thoughts clung to Tatalia's mind, as did a sudden pang of guilt for only having thought of herself. She had only been thinking of escape... and looting the dead. The goblin stared down at the gloves on her hands and took a deep breath. That was another memory she decided it would be best to shove away for now.
Quietly, Cantio murmured something about leaving, or sleeping, or finding a place to rest. Tatalia nodded. She wasn't sure which he'd actually said, but it boiled down to the same thing, didn't it? It was time to go.
Silence laid between the two adventurers, thick as the fog of a cold day on the Marsh Flats. They left the wooded realm entirely, coming out to a hill some distance from the treeline, and continued up it until they found the remnants of an old campsite. Tatalia wagered it was a week old, or perhaps two, the tents and goods long since abandoned but the skeleton of a good camping spot still remaining. As light storm clouds gathered overhead, Tatalia decided it was as good a place as any to stop. The sparse few trees there offered a good place to make camp.
Still not a word was spoken between the two as they lit a fire. Still not a word was spoken as Cantio, the only one who had rations left, split his food between the two of them so they could both eat. A drizzle fell around them as the fire crackled, and a gentle wind rustled the two trees stretching their branches over the camp, like two doting old grandmothers protecting their children. Tatalia smiled wistfully. It reminded her of her grandmothers back home. Well... her 'grandmothers,' anyway.
The happy memory brought a little touch of red to the goblin's cheeks. She had kept her eyes averted from the bard and his face the whole time, respectfully trying not to peer at something he'd kept hidden for so long. But at that moment, she just couldn't help but look up, smirk, and offer a little quip.
"Did I mention that I think the spider Mother adopted me?" Tatalia asked casually, leaning back against the old tree behind her and folding one leg over another. "I've never had siblings before. Do sisters normally try to eat each other?"
Tatalia's eyes twinkled with mischief in the firelight.