kindred
Drift gently...
It had been a long journey, or at least realistically it had been. In her mind, though, it had lasted only seconds. She could only remember being ushered out in the darkness of night; her nose pressed tight against the cloth moon to hide her mind from the noises. Her panic-driven steps ever-so-slightly too loud, hips scratching against the stone walls that encased most of the graveyard ruins which were their camp. The same words repeating in hushed whispers - “they will execute you if we stay” - spiking louder between the throbbing of her heart that was being tossed around her skull. It was a vain attempt, blocking the panicked whisper which was only a figment of her imagination through her pendant – but she had tried, dammit. She had tried for Wren. Each of her movements based off of the body language of Wren’s wings and the swinging of her hips. Words weren’t particularly needed between the pair – even though Kindred could go on for days describing the beautiful things before her.
It had to have been five seconds later, yet it was dawn and it was far colder than she recalled it being. It didn’t make sense. She vaguely recalls asking where they were, and if it was winter, but she doesn’t remember the response Wren gave her. The pair moved along, much closer this time in an attempt to keep each other warm and to keep Kindred from dissociating to the point where she could do nothing but shake, stuck standing in one place. Another twenty seconds and she could clearly see towering trees pulling into view – actually the entire breadth of her perception was trees. Warmth had finally started to radiate off of her coat.
The words “We’re safe now. Stay close, must lose them in here. Confuse them,” rung clear in her head after Wren gently moved her nose away from the crescent moon which Kindred had started to cling to again. She remembers a pause, the feeling of Wren’s wings against her shoulders, and the concern breaking the almost monotone voice as Wren inquired, “Are you okay? Can you stay with me?” Kindred’s voice was almost a croak at this point, “Safe? Yes... staying...” her eyes wide as they stepped into the forest. A nod from Wren was all the encouragement she needed for the panic to begin to ease from her body. Whispered numbers being muttered under her breath – too muted to be picked up by anyone who wasn’t very close, but loud enough to force her mind to register them.
Kindred fumbled over her thoughts, trying to recall what had happened. She knew it had been a few evenings at this point – sleeping in different sections of this vast forest – but she couldn’t place exactly how many or the different spots they had been in. Honestly, had Kindred been fully out of the dissociative state she might have been able to help Wren navigate this forest, but with her mind not completely her own all of the twists and turns looked the same. She shook her head, visibly trying to pull her mind back into her body as she steeled her legs and stopped in place. Her breathing was still quicker than usual, but at least it didn’t seem to place her close to hyperventilating or cause her pain. “Wren...” her voice trails off as she blinks away the thought of her sister disappearing in the shadows. “Wren, have we been moving in circles?” Baby blue eyes peered at trees, trying to find some kind of marking that would confirm or deny this belief – though if it confirmed it then it would only serve to stress the teetering mare even further. Kindred wasn’t certain she’d be able to pull out of it quick enough to stop the feeling of floating again. And, as she looked to meet Wren’s gaze it was almost as if her eyes were pleading for her sister to lie if they actually were going in circles.
“We’ll... we’ll get out of here, right?” Her voice was anxious, probably a little louder than it should have been – and it definitely was betraying the fear she had been dealing with since they had left in the midst of the night those months back. Now, all there was left to do for the mare was to hope.
----------
ooc: I have permission from @Brit to explain what Wren did prior to this post
Also @Wren; anyone else can join at any time (don't necessarily have to wait for Brit to post Wren).
It had to have been five seconds later, yet it was dawn and it was far colder than she recalled it being. It didn’t make sense. She vaguely recalls asking where they were, and if it was winter, but she doesn’t remember the response Wren gave her. The pair moved along, much closer this time in an attempt to keep each other warm and to keep Kindred from dissociating to the point where she could do nothing but shake, stuck standing in one place. Another twenty seconds and she could clearly see towering trees pulling into view – actually the entire breadth of her perception was trees. Warmth had finally started to radiate off of her coat.
The words “We’re safe now. Stay close, must lose them in here. Confuse them,” rung clear in her head after Wren gently moved her nose away from the crescent moon which Kindred had started to cling to again. She remembers a pause, the feeling of Wren’s wings against her shoulders, and the concern breaking the almost monotone voice as Wren inquired, “Are you okay? Can you stay with me?” Kindred’s voice was almost a croak at this point, “Safe? Yes... staying...” her eyes wide as they stepped into the forest. A nod from Wren was all the encouragement she needed for the panic to begin to ease from her body. Whispered numbers being muttered under her breath – too muted to be picked up by anyone who wasn’t very close, but loud enough to force her mind to register them.
Kindred fumbled over her thoughts, trying to recall what had happened. She knew it had been a few evenings at this point – sleeping in different sections of this vast forest – but she couldn’t place exactly how many or the different spots they had been in. Honestly, had Kindred been fully out of the dissociative state she might have been able to help Wren navigate this forest, but with her mind not completely her own all of the twists and turns looked the same. She shook her head, visibly trying to pull her mind back into her body as she steeled her legs and stopped in place. Her breathing was still quicker than usual, but at least it didn’t seem to place her close to hyperventilating or cause her pain. “Wren...” her voice trails off as she blinks away the thought of her sister disappearing in the shadows. “Wren, have we been moving in circles?” Baby blue eyes peered at trees, trying to find some kind of marking that would confirm or deny this belief – though if it confirmed it then it would only serve to stress the teetering mare even further. Kindred wasn’t certain she’d be able to pull out of it quick enough to stop the feeling of floating again. And, as she looked to meet Wren’s gaze it was almost as if her eyes were pleading for her sister to lie if they actually were going in circles.
“We’ll... we’ll get out of here, right?” Her voice was anxious, probably a little louder than it should have been – and it definitely was betraying the fear she had been dealing with since they had left in the midst of the night those months back. Now, all there was left to do for the mare was to hope.
----------
ooc: I have permission from @Brit to explain what Wren did prior to this post
Also @Wren; anyone else can join at any time (don't necessarily have to wait for Brit to post Wren).
... Into Oblivion