In Dire Straits - scraping 'long the iron [sarissa]

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[Image: way_of_life_by_traumlaterne-db0mhch.png]

#d17d00

This place was strange, there was no other way to describe it. Set was used to sand beneath his paws, an endless sea of bronze and red, the dunes that glowed under the intense light of the sun and the purple smoked hues as it set beyond the vast horizon. Alteron couldn't have been more of a polar opposite, green all around, and an ample amount of water.

He missed his home, the safety of his mother, the familiarity he took for granted.

There was a deep sunken pain within his soul when he woke up one day and his father and brother were just GONE. Of all the things that could have happened, all the abusive words, or neglectful treatment driven into him by their father, he should have expected this, and yet, he hadn't.

Curled up in a mossy hollowed out tree, sprinkled with little forget-me-nots, and surrounded by a briar of raspberry and blackberries. Teeth cutting and gnawing on a bone, licking away at the marrow. Ears perked for a moment and he shrunk back at the sound of someone approaching. At first he thought it wise to remain silent, though what if he was found? "H-hello? I-I have b-bones, t-to share?" He called out, like that last bit would save his skin.

[Image: sarititle_by_lunecy-dboifh4.png]

The forest had been noticeably quiet for the past few days, the air stagnant and strange. Sarissa had an odd feeling — only being comforted by the thorns that surrounded her at night. She had never felt such a primal instinct before, one where she felt threatened, like she was prey instead of the hunter. A feeling the girl had never felt before and one she hoped would disappear as fast as it let on. Sarissa was one to prey upon others, but dread settled in the pit of her stomach, telling her she was the hunted.

When the morning came, she wandered around, curious about the scent in the air. Something she couldn't place. The stench overshadowed the perfume that laced her pelt. Sarissa felt uneasy, tempted to scurry back into her hole or even weave through the forest to find her father's tower. It may have been safer there even if he was gone, the stone walls felt secure.

As she rounded the corner, the sounds of clicking and teeth against bone nearly startled her. Sarissa sighed heavily when she spotted gold against lush green and burgundy browns.

Why are you so on edge, Princess?

The strange scent was stronger here, perhaps she was unused to the large flowers that shielded themselves with thorns and berries. Sarissa approached quietly for once, thinking the sour and tart berries would help calm her stomach as she plucked a fat raspberry from it's stem. The velvet on her tongue was calming enough and her eyes moved to the stranger in the log. He had spoken, hadn't he? Her mind was riddled with uncertainty.

"No... thank you, I think I'd much rather have some berries." she said, voice calm yet meek. "Do you mind some company?" The sturdy sword was unsettled, and it was almost sickening.

I don't want to be alone.

✦ ✦ Speech Text ✦ ✦

#d17d00

He spied her as she crept through the brush, she almost appeared far more uneasy than he initially (or should I say usually) was. Reddish-orange eyes blinked in confusion as she addressed him softly, Set staggered backward just a bit, ears flicking back as if he'd heard something truly distasteful. What was this? There was the slightest bit of a tremble that the black and white young woman would notice. Someone was being nice?

In that moment his eyes narrowed and he blinked rapidly as if to change his expression, slender face pointing downward as he attempted to glance up at her. Don't be like that, he'd hear his father's voice like a threatening coo in his ear, it said remember your place, remember what you are. A lowly worm. The fear of a figure miles and miles away was still scarier than the apprehension he felt when someone was oddly pleasant. Osiris had broken this boy.

Set's jaws opened for a moment, body lost to shudders as he attempted to find his words. Deep breath, deep breath. "Y-yes, you c-can join me. C-company is always n-n-n-n-nice." The pale mix breed tried to smile then, but it looked almost pained. Moving slightly to clear space for her to come and sit, his back resting against the old tree trunk. "I-I'm S-S-S-S-SET. S-e-t. Set." He struggled to pronounce his name clearly, but in the end managed to get it right, looking from her to the ground. His father had always snapped at him for staring too long. "I j-j-oined n-n-not too long ago."

"It's a v-very quiet day, s-s-strange, d-don't you think?" He dared to glimpse up for a moment before bring his gaze down to his paws as if steeling himself for inevitable feeling of teeth each time. His poor nerves long since shot. Nostrils flared, a strange smell in the air, hmm.