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Post by nightblood on Mar 13, 2008 17:10:28 GMT -5
A strong wind blew across the land, bringing dark, omniscient clouds with it. It was just out of sight of Arnlan, but the wolves there could sense the dampness of the air. There was a storm coming. A bad one at that. Most had probably taken shelter by now or were at least preparing to. Not NightBlood. The Sentry was too concerned with keeping the pack safe from invaders to worry about a little rain water.
However, her ventures around the territory did not keep her from noticing the clouds when they finally came into view. Out of the corner of her good eye, she saw something dark. Slowing to a stop and raising her head slowly she gazed, hawklike, at the coming storm over her shoulder and frowned at it. There would be no stars tonight.
She looked at the horizon to her left. The sun was setting, the day growing darker as the clouds moved in. There was a rumbling in the distance. Thunder. Loud thunder. This would be no ordinary storm. She could tell by the way the lightning arced across the sky. She looked to her left again, only this time focused on a dark figure backlit by the sunset. She liked keeping Armageddon on her blind side. She felt she could trust him. She felt protected.
"Want to head for shelter?"
It really wasn't his job to accompany her as she patrolled. He wasn't a Sentry, However, she was glad that he took the time to walk beside her. Making her rounds was more enjoyable now that she had someone to talk to.
Suddenly, thunder clapped again, louder this time. Night looked up at the storm and pivoted on paw toward Arnlan, signaling that she'd follow him if he sought the safety of a den. She'd even offer her own if she had to.
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 14, 2008 22:14:03 GMT -5
Silence.
Cold
Impermeable
Absolute.
It pressed on Armageddons eardrums as he walked with NightBlood. It didn't make him too uneasy, he felt quite at peace with the earth at the moment.
He kept a loose casual lope close to her, sharing the moments alone.
Alone.
Where were all the other denizens of Arnlan? He hadn't seen so much as a bird in the branches. And then, the haunting siren call.
Storm birds carried their lilting, mournful tune across Arnlan. Something bad was coming their way, and that made Armageddon stop in his tracks. He looked left, to see that NightBlood had stopped too, looking out at the horizon.
Armageddon gulped as lightning arced across the sky and thunder rumbled ominously through the air.
"Want to head for shelter?"
"Oh yeah. Lets go."
He was getting unnerved by the storm birds haunting lullabies. Songs of destruction would follow them if they continued to walk out here.
Problem was, he didn't know where to go.
A louder clap of thunder seemed to shake the ground, and Armageddon instinctively drew closer to NightBlood.
Icy rain began to smack on the ground with unnatural force, pattering on his nose and body.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
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Post by nightblood on Mar 14, 2008 22:47:44 GMT -5
"Oh yeah. Lets go."
NightBlood had begun moving into the territory by the time the loudest thunderclap hit. Her ears lowered at the mind numbing sound, but she remained as poised as she could, pausing only briefly as her black shadow drew closer to her. She leaned her head into the fur on his neck, attempting to calm him down as the cold rain began to fall. She shook her head when a drop landed on her nose. She pulled away from him, wiping the exposed skin with her right paw.
"That stings, it's so cold..." she muttered.
When her nose was properly warm again, she raised her head and gazed up at the sky. The storm was drawing closer now. The clouds were now at the Arnlan tree line and moving fast inland. An icy wind blew roughly at their coats and at the trees, waking anything that had been asleep on the branches.
"We'll head for my den," Night said loudly, competing with the noise made by the thunder and rattling leaves.
With that, she took off at the fastest pace she could, making sure Armageddon was at her heels. He fastest pace was probably half his, but the adrenalin that now coursed through her veins drove her further than her best, even though she could still never challenge the black male's speed.
The rain beat down on them as the wind quickened, picking up dirt and debris. She stared straight forward, zeroing in on the next obstacle. She made her way around boulders and trees and over and under fallen logs. She was glad her leg hadn't acted up since the fight with Archer, but the limp slowed her down a great deal. Armageddon was probably getting tired of following someone at half his speed, but he'd have to put up with it.
It wasn't long before NightBlood had to star squinting in order to see anything. Rain flew into her eyes and she could barely keep a straight line as she ran. She began searching for a spot to take cover temporarily so she could rest and get her bearings, but nothing suitable showed itself. She was slowing down in her exhaustion as her search continued. Soon she found a boulder that was curved against the rain. She began making her way toward it, seeking shelter under it's hollow side.
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 15, 2008 2:08:43 GMT -5
Armageddon shivered in the strengthening wind and pressed even closer to NightBlood when she put her head against his neck. He heard her mutter something, but couldn't make it out. The wind was beating against his head and sweeping over their bodies.
Tree branches groaned and protested to the gusts, threatening to give in to the wind.
"We'll head for my den,"
Armageddon could just make out NightBloods statement and nodded, squinting through the icy water dripping past his brow.
The dark blur that was now NightBlood set off at a fast pace, and he jumped up to follow.
Clenching his teeth, he bowed his head to the wind blowing against them, looking up every now and then to make sure Night was there.
Adrenaline pumped through him, pushing him to break even with Night. The wind kicked up debris, and stung at his eyes and nose. Just when he thought things couldnt get worse, the rains started. Icy, cold, wet droplets carried by the wind pounded down on them, and sight was next to impossible. NightBlood was all but a faint grey blur now.
Fearing that he was falling behind, Armageddon plowed forward with the last reserves of adrenaline-fueled spurts of energy he had, and once again regained his place at NightBloods heels. Being thin was no advantage when faced with strong winds. He was a like a blowing tree leaf.
And with some sort of miracle, his heroine found a sturdy rock to take temporary shelter in.
Groaning through his last bit of energy, he toppled within its refuge, sat down close enough to Night to be touching slightly, and shivered, uncontrollably.
He looked over to his sopping companion, knowing he probably looked as pitiful as her. Two starcrossed wolves, caught in the storm of the century.
An amused smile grew on his maw and he laughed at the thought.
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Post by nightblood on Mar 15, 2008 11:48:09 GMT -5
The Sentry shook the water from her coat as soon as she entered the hollow side of the boulder. Pressure on her side announced Armageddon's presence. She sat down and turned toward him, their shoulders pressing together as she tried to avoid the water droplets that streamed down from the top of the rock. Peering through the falling water, she attempted to get an idea of where they were. The rain made anything more than ten feet away disappear from sight. Luckily, there were a few familiar trees that told her of their location. They were near the area where Mortil and Archer had their first fight.
"We're nearly half way there," Blood announced as she pulled her head back into the makeshift shelter, shaking her now soaking head and neck free of water and probably getting Armageddon wetter than he already was. "Sorry," she said, pulling her ears back as she looked at the black male. She looked around again, making sure she was right, but this time staying inside the shelter. "We'll rest for while, but we don't want the storm to get too rough before we head out. We'll never get there."
She shook again, but theses were simply pronounced shivers. The rain was chilling and what made it worse was that it was falling on exposed skin. Her left eye was firmly shut against the cold, but she could do nothing for her nose and scars as she ran. Her left hind leg was nearly frozen at the joint and she couldn't feel it move when it did, nor could she feel the area around her left eye or her nose. Her paw pads were the only skin that remained warm as she kept them moving. Now she was beginning to feel the cold from them. Hopefully she didn't get frost bite any time soon.
NightBlood looked at Armageddon's wet figure. She'd heard him falling back as she was running and realized that his frame was like a leaf in the wind. He couldn't run at his best in this weather. She'd keep a slower pace this time, blocking him from the wind and debris. She'd run beside him and be his shield.
After a moment or two, she looked out at the rain again. It was coming down harder than before, as she had feared. She had a feeling, however, that this was not its worst. Better to get going now than to wait for that.
"Straight shot west. It's a big rock cave near the center of a clearing. Ready to get going?"
She was giving the description of her den in case they, by some unfortunate turn of events, got separated and had to make the journey alone. Suddenly, the pitter patter of the rain turned violent. She looked out and saw that the rain had become a shower of sleet.
"Joyous..." she commented sarcastically.
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 15, 2008 19:36:51 GMT -5
"We're nearly half way there," NightBlood announced as she shook her head and neck, splattering more water on Armageddon. He shook his head and neck in turn, in effect making their entire shelter soaked.
"Sorry," The black and tan female pulled her ears back, but Armageddon smiled, "S'alright."
He nodded and sighed in relief at her statement of resting for a while. He couldn't protest. The shivering had stopped, for the most part, and faded into short bursts until they were gone altogether.
He looked outside the shelter, watching the rain get thicker and louder. Rivulets of water and mud snaked their way in and covered any dry spots under their rock. His ears lowered in frustration as the ground soon became wet and shifty beneath them.
"Straight shot west. It's a big rock cave near the center of a clearing. Ready to get going?"
He dropped his frustrated look and obtained a joking bad-boy attitude while saying, "Ready as I'll ever be!"
Just as he said that the skies exploded with sheets of sleet pounding over them. The wind picked up almost immediately after that, turning the sleet nearly horizontal. It would be impossible to see NightBlood in these conditions.
Coming down from his bad-boy facade almost hilariously, he leaned close to Night so she could hear him say in a low voice in her ear, "Night... will you... stay by my side?"
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Post by nightblood on Mar 15, 2008 20:17:40 GMT -5
NightBlood's hopes were nearly dashed when the sleet came pouring down from the sky. She pulled her ears back and hung her head. Could they make it in this weather? Her question faded when Armageddon's hushed voice came into her ear. The ambiance of the frozen rain and clattering leaves was drowned out as he spoke. She focused only on his words.
"Night... will you... stay by my side?"
As he finished his question, NightBlood leaned into his neck once again, brushing her head under his chin. She had not done this so easily with Archer as she had with Armageddon. It felt better, almost... perfect. She closed her eyes as they shared each others' warmth one last time before they were thrust back into the cold. Already, she was reluctant to break contact.
"Always," she said, coming up toward his ear so he could hear her clearly.
She lingered there until a loud thunderclap broke their peace. She glared up at the sky, daring it to try to harm them. She pulled away from her black companion and stood up. Her ears and tail rose, along with the fur on the back of her neck. She stared up at the falling sleet as if challenging it. Her muscles tensed, readying herself for a battle against the elements. This would be a test of all her training in Draviria. With Armageddon by her side, she would not fail.
"Let's go," she said, lowering her head and stepping out into the sleet.
She was greeted by a monstrous howling wind. It brought the sleet with it, sending the hardened water plowing into their skin and fur. It stung her nose and ears as she moved, but she did not stop. She ran on, lowering her head and tail and folding her ears back. She made herself run under the shelter of the trees. Although they provided little protection, they helped in their journey.
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 15, 2008 21:43:15 GMT -5
Armageddon lingered in silence as Night leaned into him and brushed her head under his chin. He breathed slow and deep, his breath coming out in wisps of steam. It was getting cold.
"Always,"
He smiled, pressing in close to her and gave her a gentle nuzzle on her cheek. He closed his eyes and remained frozen in tranquility until an explosion of thunder made him jump. He scowled at the rock ceilng above him.
Night had rose, and was looking out at the roaring storm outside.
He thinned his lips, readying for those words...
"Let's go."
She stepped out into the sleet, and Armageddon followed, keeping close to her side. She moved to a running pace. At this instant he lost sight of her, but regained it when he broke even with her once again, slipping often on mud slicks. The wind was at his right side now, which wasnt as bad because he could keep an eye on his protector.
He could hear nothing for several minutes except the roar of the wind. Through the din of noise a thunderous CRACK echoed out from the forest. He looked to his right but saw the giant tree branch too late; before he knew it, the branch delivered a crushing blow to the right side of his cheek and ricocheted away.
Screaming, he swore, wanting to ball up in pain. Though his cheeks were nearly numb the pain was searing through his body.
He continued trudging forward, tears from his eyes mixing with the stinging sleet.
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Post by nightblood on Mar 15, 2008 22:05:47 GMT -5
NightBlood stopped and looked up quickly when she heard the crack of wood above them. The object came into view a millisecond too late. Had she seen it sooner, she would have pushed him out of the way. She cried out in agony as her ebony companion screamed in pain. She never wanted to hear that scream again. She recovered from the initial shock of the falling branch quickly and rushed to him, coming to his side as he ran on.
"Are you okay?" she asked him through the howling wind and rustling leaves, hoping he could hear her. She could see his tears now that the frozen rain was falling instead. He was obviously in a great deal of pain.
"We could stop for a moment. We're almost there."
Night looked around for another landmark as they moved. A familiar broken log she had once slept on told her than they were three quarters of the way there. They had another ten minutes of running, depending on how many more branches were going to fall.
She looked over at Armageddon again. How she wished she had taken the blow instead. Though he was fighting through it well, she did not enjoy seeing him in pain. She licked his cheek, away from where she would have caused more pain, and leaned into him. This storm was not going to take him from her. She had lost too many loved ones in her life. It was time for it all to stop.
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 15, 2008 22:48:12 GMT -5
"Are you okay?" Nightblood said just above the level of the wind and rain. Armageddon shook his head, squinting at her. He wasn't okay, he didnt know if he was bleeding or not and his right eyelid was beginning to swell shut. But he'd have to deal with it.
"We could stop for a moment. We're almost there."
"No, its okay. We need to keep moving." he said exasperatedly, his one eye pleading.
Shakily putting one paw forward after another, he trudged on through the rising freezing ice and water. The clouds were so dark above them it was almost night-like. For an instant lightning flashed and cast the forest around them in sharp relief. Thunder followed almost immediately after, exploding everywhere, ground trembling under its might.
Armageddon continued running, nearly sinking in the large sliding rivers of mud. But he felt the touch of NightBloods side even through the numbness of his body, and continued forward.
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Post by nightblood on Mar 15, 2008 23:19:26 GMT -5
"No, its okay. We need to keep moving."
Wise words for one in such pain. NightBlood was moments away from pleading for him to stop so she could make sure he was alright. Then a great rumble of thunder shook the ground beneath her. She almost lost her footing, but continued on, staying at Armageddon's side as she had promised. She kept her head low and steadied her body as they moved through the mud. Once or twice she stepped on something sharp. She could feel her paws bleeding. This did not slow her, however. They needed to get to her den, and fast.
NightBlood's sense of direction did not lead her astray. They soon came to a tiny clearing in which she had once met Sofika for a discussion. It was not a happy memory. She shook her head. This was no time for reflection. They avoided the clearing, preferring to stay more sheltered under the trees. A pine cone managed to drop squarely in the middle of the Sentry's head. More sheltered indeed. At least now she knew that her clearing would come into sight within the next minute.
She wasn't wrong. Total blackness up ahead meant that the trees ended. However, it was soon drowned out by white. NightBlood cringed as the sleet turned into hail. Now she could barely keep her good eye open. Large white rocks fell from the sky as they made their way toward her den. The pain was unbearable. In her agony-driven adrenaline, she pushed into Armageddon's shoulder and put on a burst of speed. Instead of heading toward her den, she pushed him to a large pine tree at the end of the tree line. She had to have a moment's rest before moving on.
Once under the safety of the pine, the black and tan female sat down and began to shiver. She pulled up a paw to her muzzle and began digging at the wounds, searching for the thorns that pained her so.
"Fuck, this hurts..." she whimpered, pinning her ears back against her skull.
In all reality, NightBlood was in more pain than she lead on. Her nose and ears had been cut by sharp drops of sleet and her eyes were on the verge of freezing. But she knew it all paled in comparison to Armageddon. She knew she needed to get to her den, but one more step probably would have made her fall over and spasm. She needed to rest. Just for a moment.
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 16, 2008 0:07:54 GMT -5
Sharp pains now tortured Armageddons entire body, making him wince and twitch. Though, suddenly, he felt an intense pressure at his side as NightBlood steered him underneath a large pine tree.
"Fuck, this hurts..." NightBlood said, then started digging at her paws.
He turned toward her, concerned. She was in a bad way. Her ears and nose had been cut by the hail, and she looked to be on the verge of hypothermia. He leaned in close and sniffed at her face, nosing the remaining loose hailstones off of her head. He drug his tongue across the larger wounds that he could see had hailstones in them, trying to get them out.
He himself knew he had cuts that were bleeding, but it didnt concern him now.
"This is horrible..." he mumbled out at the storm. He stepped behind NightBlood, pressing his chest against her back and placing his neck over hers, hoping to warm her, though he was shivering himself.
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Post by nightblood on Mar 16, 2008 10:17:01 GMT -5
Now it seems I’m fading
All my dreams are not worth saving
I’ve done my share of waiting
NightBlood whimpered as she pulled out the last thorn. Then a warm feeling came to her face. She turned and saw that Armageddon was getting rid of some of the hailstones that were still on her. He licked at her wounds, trying to free the frozen ice that was stuck in them. She grinned... as much as anyone could while under a tree hiding from the biggest storm they'd ever seen. Though he succeeded in warming her, the hail stones he removed would only be replaced when they broke for her den. Those that were trapped in her wounds would be melted by her own body heat eventually. Still...
And I’ve still got nowhere else to go
So I wait for you to
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
~He's sweet..~ she thought to herself with a smile as he attempted to share his warmth with her.
Seems you’re wanting me to stay
But my dreams would surely waste away
She leaned into him once more, again, savoring a moment of being with him. This one didn't last as long as she would have hoped. Another pine cone interrupted it. She glared up at the tree, stifling a growl and was soon reminded of the storm raging out from under the tree. She looked to her den, a dark mass in a rain of white. It was then that her eyes beheld an ominous sight. They hailstones' mass doubled before them. They were now the size of her molars.
And I still have nowhere else to go
So I wait for you to
"We shouldn't have stopped..." she said in despair, standing up and staring out into the storm. Her eyes were on the verge of tears. They had to run in that? The Sentry shook her head and neck, forcing the tears back. She wasn't going to look weak, especially not in front of of Armageddon. However, as she continued to study the raining hail, her tough shell seemed to fade and she turned to Armageddon. Her eyes pleading. She didn't want to move from this spot, but she knew she must or risk waiting for bigger hailstones, oner that could rip the branches of this tree.
Take me all the way
"I can run if you're there with me," she said bravely.
Take me all the way...
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Post by Blackfeathr on Mar 16, 2008 21:24:13 GMT -5
She responded by leaning into him, and he was still. He wanted to linger in this spanse of time forever. But time would not allow it, and neither would Nature, when she threw a pine cone at NightBlood. Armageddon scowled at the trees above, resting his chin atop her head and whining.
The hail soon doubled in size. Armageddon looked out at the skies in astonishment.
The winds kicked up once again, whipping the trees around, sending leaves and foliage flying around them. A deafening crash signified a large tree branch just fell close to them. More ear-splitting cracks sounded all around them threateningly, putting Armageddon on edge.
"We shouldn't have stopped..." NightBlood said, turning to him with pleading eyes. He could fall into those eyes.
"I can run if you're there with me,"
Armageddon was filled with that soaring feeling again, it threatened to explode inside him and take him and her away from this tempest, this storm of storms. He balanced himself on the flats of his feet as he sat in front of her, and rested his paws on her shoulders, gently nuzzling her cheek.
"I'll always be there."
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Post by nightblood on Mar 16, 2008 22:01:04 GMT -5
"I'll always be there."
Push me under
NightBlood leaned into his neck as he embraced her. How she wanted to stay like this forever. Time, however, did not allow it. A large twig that had gotten picked up by the wind managed to drive itself through the edge of the Sentry's right ear. She roared in pain and shook her head as she straightened up, knocking herself free of Armageddon's embrace and sending blood flying. She snarled at the storm and eyed it with a vengeful glare. Although she knew she could not harm nature, she would prove that she could not be made a fool of.
Pull me farther
Steadying herself, the female stood at the edge of their shelter, looking out at her den. Nothing could stop her from reaching it. Not even the hail. She lowered her head and prepared herself for a painful run. Glancing at her shadowy friend, her eyes gave a clear message. She voiced it anyway.
Take me all the way
"Let's go."
Take me all the way
With that, she stepped out again into the storm. Again, she was greeted with pain unlike any she had ever endured. She quickened her pace, racing under the hail that fell on top of them. She lowered her head, attempting to protect her eyes from the worst of it. She could barely keep them open long enough to watch where she was going. But she knew shelter was ahead. She pressed on, knowing the pain would end... eventually.
Push me under!
Pull me farther!
Once or twice, the brutish female slipped, but managed to regain her footing. All the while, her muscles screamed, protesting the pain they were made to go through. A few times, she wondered wether it was worth it to go on. Each time, she was reminded of Armageddon, the male running beside her. Life was worth something. Worth being with him.
Take me all the way!
Suddenly, the hail stopped. Her paws skidded on damp rock as she made an attempt to stop herself. Her eyes, though it hurt to even blink, opened and saw the familiar cave that she had taken as her den. She sighed in relief and fell on her side on the cold stone floor. She was ready for sleep after all this.
Take me all the way!
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