[PRP] Don't Judge Me So Early in the Morning (Zian x Skuld)

[Nori Ishida]

The sun was rising brightly in the clear blue sky, the birds shouting their morning songs. Zian was laid in the grass beneath a sprawling shade tree, taking his time waking up. He had had a restless few days, unsure of his next destination, wandering aimlessly. It had been a few weeks since he had last seen another soul, which was fairly normal for Zian, but he sometimes found himself lonely during these long stretches. But, he reminded himself, loneliness was all that he deserved.

He rose from the ground, stretching he legs out and shaking off the sleep from his body as he scanned the plain sprawling out in front of him. Always on the lookout for potential pursuers, Zian's guard was never fully down. He was a fugitive, and though it had been many years since he fled from the emperor's lands, there was always a chance that his soldiers were still searching for him. For this reason, Zian stayed on the move, made no friendships or romantic contacts, and always had one eye watching his back.

His mouth was parched and sticky from his overnight slumber, so he decided to seek out a stream or pond to quench his thirst. Tossing his multi-colored mane to the side, he set off across the plain, his heavy armor and tack rustling noisily with each footfall.

Lunadriel

 

[Lunadriel]

The two Valkyrie twins occasionally found themselves far from home. Skuld especially liked to stay on the move. Being an old soul, her bones ached if she stayed in one place for too long. Most of the time she would travel alone, un-armored, blending in with others. Today though, she had insisted Eier get out and explore. One couldn't meet their full potential as a child of Edda, if they only stayed in the safety and security of the herd. The two were very different, but still shared a strong bond. Skuld told her that broadening the areas her paws mapped, helped to find those worthy of Valhalla. Eier had found none so far, but that didn't make her any less of a Valkyrie. Eier is very careful in what she measures the worth of others with. Looking more for mental strengths, or strength of the heart, than the Hero type that might catch the eye of her twin.

The twins traveled with stealth, not snapping so much as a twig. Flight could expose them, when Skuld wanted to observe more than anything. Eier followed her lead. On their body each carried a satchel filled with things of necessity. Skuld made sure they both had daggers with them. One could never be caught unprepared, in case they needed to bring a swift death to a worthy life, who deserved life eternal in its place. Even without a dagger, both were skilled in using their claws if needed. The claws kept sharp on one or two paws. Skuld even had metal extenders she could add to her claws, if an advisory had a thicker hide than her nails could pierce. Neither had their armor or large weapons. That was saved for battles that were well planned ahead of time. Traveling in armor could be exhausting, especially with their small size. Stealth was next to impossible with armor as well. So Skuld and Eier heard the soft tinkling of metal, long before they saw it's wearer in the distance.

Skuld heard it first, and put out a wing for Eier to stop. She motioned with her head, to move out of sight and wait.

Eier got a little over zealous as they watched the stallion come into view. He was clad in armor that beamed the suns rays and shone with a golden glow. Eager to meet him, she lost her train of thought, and stepped forward without paying attention. A small twig snapped under her paw.

Skuld gave Eier a look of death as the twig snapped. A rooky mistake. Her senses heighted, ready to strike or flee, if the male that approached tried to attack them. Even though she judged he didn't appear to be evil, nobody wore armor for no reason. Likely on the defense for some reason or another.

Eier winced at the sound. She sighed as Skuld put up a wing in front of her again, bidding her to wait. Skuld stepped out from behind the brush that had hid them, leaving Eier hidden. She didn't say a word, and waited to see what the stranger would do. She dipped her head down to him ever so slightly, but did not lower her eyes. A greeting of sorts, to try and show she was no threat. Though most would not consider an Usdia a threat. Skuld had used that to her advantage many times.

WC: 567  

[Nori Ishida]

Zian's mind began to wander as he trudged along in his waking haze. His thoughts drifted back to his homeland, lingering on the memories of his humble beginnings where he had found the love of his life. There were so many moments in hindsight where he wished he had just accepted his simple life and stayed in the village with his family and mate. But alas, Zian had sought glory, and indeed had found it in service to the emperor. Many and great were his conquests in battle, and his prowess had catapulted him into the highest ranks of the emperor's army and he was given great favor.

He stomped along perhaps a bit more angrily and noisily as visions of his ascent played in front of his unfocused eyes. Power, riches, and women were all his to claim, and that he did. He had forgotten himself, his honor, and his love. When eventually he crossed the emperor and betrayed his trust, he had taken everything from Zian in his wrath. Panic and anger rushed through Zian as his visions turned to his lost love, her eyes widened in terror, her mouth gaping open in a silent scream, and suddenly all was red and bloody.

A sudden "snap" brought him back to his senses and he looked around frantically, cursing himself for becoming so distracted. He took a step back as a small winged figure emerged from behind some brush. She appeared to be an Usdia, but a very unique one the likes of which Zian had never encountered. The chimera-like combination of wings and paws was intriguing to Zian, but he was sure to make note of her sharp claws.

Flustered and embarrassed at being caught unawares, Zian ignored the mare's nod and puffed himself up, glaring down at her. "Who are you?" He asked gruffly. His eyes darted back to the brush she had emerged from. It was tall enough to completely conceal her, or others of her stature. He looked back at the mare and angrily demanded, "Are you alone?"

Lunadriel

 

[Lunadriel]

Skuld refrained from the urge to sneer at the tone of the stallion. Both tails twitched back and forth in annoyance, just at the tips. Blue feathered wings stretched slightly from their folded position, in case she needed to take off quickly. Though she didn't extend them up to cause alarm. In certain situations, she would extend them up to appear bigger than she was. Now wasn't the time to look more of a threat though.

Peering at the stranger with eyes like daggers, Skuld did not answer. His tone did not warrant any reply from her. Neither question, any of his business. If he wanted a response, he would have to be a little more respectful than that. Skuld is an old soul, and would not humor others with forced politeness, nor would she reduce herself to be questioned by a stranger in such a manner. Where others might reply to avoid further confrontation, Skuld would not.

In the brush, Eier held her breath as her heart pounded. There was no fear of the stallion that rudely questioned his sister, but more a fear of what her sister would do to him! If her sister got in an altercation with him, Eier would assist her in any way she could, though likely her aid would be unneeded. Skuld the more able bodied of the two, and could handle herself like the fiercest of Valkyries. Eier watched her twin flex her wings, just barely. More of an indication to Eier that they would flee, rather than fight. Meaning Skuld had already decided that the stranger wasn't worthy of a swift send off to Valhalla. Not that he was unworthy, simply that Skuld wouldn't make a snap decision upon meeting someone once. If they were a threat, she wouldn't stick around, unarmored. If he interested her though, she would return to find him, and stalk him for days to learn about him. This is her way.

Eier inhaled a deep, slow breath, so as not to be heard. She continued to hide, trusting her sister not to answer his questions.

WC: 349  

[Nori Ishida]

Zian stared at the mare, awaiting her reply. When her silence continued, he raised his eyebrows and leaned just slightly forward, as if prompting her to speak, waiting for some type of response other than the twitching of her twin tails and the slight rustling of her wings. His patience really began to run thin and his expression turned to a scowl as the mare continued to just stare at him.

"Well then..." Zian paused, halting the string of insults that was about to escape his lips. He sighed, his expression softening, but still showing his annoyance and befuddlement at the mare's behavior. Though odd, she didn't seem to be a threat, and there was no need to pick fights. Though Zian was usually cordial enough, his morning visions and his lingering haze had soured his mood. There was no need to take it out on this strange but seemingly harmless mare. "If you've nothing to say, then I'll be on my way."

He glanced once more at the brush she had emerged from before turning and continuing noisily along in his search for water. He had only been awake for a short while, but between his distressing memories and this strange encounter, he was over this day already. Wishing he could start over, he looked over his shoulder to peer at the winged mare once more before she disappeared from view as he turned a corner.