Something is wrong. It hangs heavy in the air, oppressive and unrelenting. Kratos doesn’t know the cause of it, but as he traversed through this strange, new, foreign land, he knows that time reveals all. He’s a patient creature, but he is not content with the unknown.
 
The mountaintops are a treacherous place to traverse when the sun has fallen beyond the horizon and only a sliver of the moon remains to guide the way. Every step is taken with a dose of caution, every winding path carefully inspected as the pair gradually descended, but never did they falter with fear. Where he was going or even where he currently was could be anyone’s guess, and as far as he was concerned, he didn’t necessarily care so long as they made it there soon. The wind was bitter and numbing as they carried on through the night, but with seemingly each step that carried them further south, the more eager Pryna grew and the more powerful the inexplicable pull became. The feeling itself was bizarre and unlike anything he could remember feeling, yet somehow, it felt wretchedly familiar – and that was perhaps what kept him moving through the night more than anything.
 
“How much further?” The nebulous man asked aloud, ears twisting and laying closer to the crest of his neck as another gust blasted against his side, tousling his mane from one side to another in a wild mess that was sure to be fixed as soon as was possible. Until then, he would just be thankful that Pryna was the only witness to his disheveled state.
 
Flitting about in the blustering winds, Pryna was noticeably struggling to maintain her position as the wind continued to pick up. She was a resilient little thing, though, and with only minor difficulty did she turn around and make it back to Kratos, finding purchase on one of his curling, twisted horns. ”Maybe a couple more hours,” she proffered, ”But maybe not.”
 
His features creased, mostly from the harrowing breeze but partially over his companion’s unhelpful statement. “Maybe?” He repeated, scoffing softly and resisting the urge to roll his eyes. The dragon wouldn’t see it, but he knew she’d know he had done it anyway. “We can’t even be sure there’s anything beyond these mountains. What makes you so certain there is?”
 
Settling down closer against her bonded to ward off the chill, Pryna wrapped her tail about his horn. “Because,” she stated matter-of-factly, “I can feel it. We’re meant to be here.”

"Speaking."

ooc - Open to all!!

azrael

Pryna was the first to notice that they were not alone. The crunch of snow behind them wasn’t what tipped her off to the approach of the unfamiliar stallion, but rather a cursory glance over her shoulder. The gentle green glow was unsettling to see when one considered their location, and when it only continued to draw closer, a soft, rumbling growl permeated the air just loud enough for Kratos to hear.

Craning his neck in a way that caused his mane to whip out of his eyes and give him a clearer view, the man of nebulous hues tipped his ears backward to signal his wariness. Nothing about the approaching stallion was outright unsettling aside from his sudden appearance, seeming to materialize from the darkness behind them. How long had he been trailing along behind them, just out of view and beyond their field of perception? Kratos was cautious, Pryna even more so, but the young stallion’s features harbored no fear.

Turning to face the stranger and ever mindful the location of the ledge, Kratos strained to get a better look at him. The stars are not kind to them this night, sheltered behind a blanket of patchy clouds that effectively obscure the moon at most times. The tender green glow of the amulet hanging from his neck was more helpful than anything, yet still it was difficult to discern his features in quality. By now Pryna had quieted, gazing through cautious but curious eyes from atop her companion’s horn.

“I wish to get off of this mountain,” he replied at last, honest, simple and to the point, “Though I do not know what lies beyond them. My friend seems confident that we’re near something, however.” He quirked a brow then, gesturing with a minute turn of his head back the way he had been going. “Do you know if that’s true?”

"Speaking."

@Azrael

azrael

While stardust and mystery wasn’t entirely out of the realm of Krato’s desires, it wasn’t terribly high on his list of priorities at this moment in time. No – he wanted to be someone warm and out of the wind, somewhere he could stop and figure out the next step in his uncertain journey, the next move Felume had written in his unending destiny. He wasn’t sure who Calligo was, but if they had a court somewhere down the mountain, then that sounded like as good a place to head than any.

But, if he were understanding this stranger of soft dapples and ethereal blue, the way there was back the way he had just come from. His ears tipped back in the slightest sign of annoyance, not aimed at the other man himself but rather the situation as a whole. Felume would not let him fall so easily, but what if the path going back down was not as easy as it had been coming up? He heaved a breath of disdain, and he swore he could feel Pryna inch slowly backward as though he might not notice.

Casting his cerulean gaze back to the elder stallion, Kratos gave a shake of his head, and Pryna looked apologetically toward Azrael from her perch. “Sorry, friend, but perhaps another time. I have some things I need to attend to before anything else.” Beneath him, his feet stirred with the intention to head on down the mountain without so much as another word, but Kratos stopped himself before it was too late. “… Wait. Before I go – who is Calligo? Is the court known to be hostile toward outsiders?”

"Speaking."

@Azrael

azrael

All of Denocte paid tribute to a single God? It was an odd concept, at least for him, who had grown up in a community where everyone freely worshipped whoever they wanted. If he were to become a resident of Denocte, then let him be the odd one out. His allegiance would always lay with that of Felume, and there wasn’t a thing in the world that would ever cause his loyalty to waver. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about the threat of being chased out, if everything this man was claiming was true.

Azrael, as he had just called himself, turned as soon as the warning rolled off his tongue. Kratos hummed thoughtfully to himself, eyes lingering on the man for just a little while longer before he, too, turned to continue further down the path to the so-called safe haven that Denocte apparently was. “I never do on purpose,” was his only response as he moved on, ignoring the swat of Pryna’s tail against his cheek in clear disapproval of what she’d perceived as rude behavior from him.

"Speaking."

@Azrael