Israfel
Looking back, Israfel wasn't certain as to what, exactly, compelled her to go to the swamp. Swamps weren't really her thing, not in Helovia, and sure as hell not in Novus. She loathed the stench of rot and decay, the muggy humidity that hung thick and stale in the air, and the way that everything felt dirty and rotten. It was hot, miserably so, and that was saying something for a child who carried the blood of a Sun God in her veins. No, it was mostly just because she hated swamps with a fucking passion and she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
And yet... She remained.
Maybe it was the drive of duty. Maybe it was sheer idiocy. Whatever it was had the Sun Daughter wading through shit-brown muck up to her knees, gilded wings arched up and held into the air to avoid dragging any feathers through the questionable liquid, tail dragging through the 'water' in a way that would have made her cry in her life from before. It was nasty. It was disgusting. Unsavory, really, and she was certain that she would be reeking of bog and peat soil for days, but, well... She was a warrior, and a warrior had to patrol the lands and make sure that nothing nefarious was happening in their own land. Thus, here she was. In a swamp. A stinking, rotting, humid, nasty swamp.
"Fucking nasty," the pale maiden groused softly, ears pinned flat amidst gilded-ivory hair, rose-petal lips turned downwards in genuine distaste. Why patrol a swamp? It wasn't like anyone would ever willingly come here for fun or mischief... Right? Well. If the inhabitants of Novus were anything like the ones back in Helovia, they just might.
Pulling herself onto a boggy shore that somewhat passed for dry land, Israfel gave herself a good shake. She had half the mind to just take to the skies and get out of there before she could become much more of a mess, but before she could, the sounds of rapid, desperate splashing caught her attention. Pale ears flicked forward, fiery vermilion eyes narrowing as she peered through dreary trees and low-hanging mosses, to see a rose-grey form thrashing desperately through the muck to reach a spot of high ground.
From afar Israfel watched the stranger, wondering momentarily if she should even approach. Then, because she had already decided to wade through a swamp that day, what harm would befriending another unfortunately swamp dweller do? Gritting her teeth against the hatred of what she was about to do, the Daughter of the Sun resumed her pace through the bog, doing her best to traverse upon the high ground or the dry parts she could find. Needless to say, they were few and far between.
Approaching the stallion, the warrior's crisp orange eyes regarded him, taking in his color, his build, the warped, spreading scars that clung to his frame, marring skin and muscle alike. Drawing closer, she forced a smile, even though it probably looked far more like a grimace than anything else. He had the build of a warrior, all strength and grace hidden beneath poised and coiled muscle, and Israfel wasn't foolish enough to sneak up on him... Not that she could, given the sucking sound that came with every step that parted from sodden, damp earth.
"Here I thought I was the only crazy one, walking through swamps. And on such a miserably hot day, too... Are you lost?" His scent didn't smell familiar, nor did it remind her of the others who called Terrastella home. Then again, Israfel couldn't really smell much other than the stench of the moist land around them.
And yet... She remained.
Maybe it was the drive of duty. Maybe it was sheer idiocy. Whatever it was had the Sun Daughter wading through shit-brown muck up to her knees, gilded wings arched up and held into the air to avoid dragging any feathers through the questionable liquid, tail dragging through the 'water' in a way that would have made her cry in her life from before. It was nasty. It was disgusting. Unsavory, really, and she was certain that she would be reeking of bog and peat soil for days, but, well... She was a warrior, and a warrior had to patrol the lands and make sure that nothing nefarious was happening in their own land. Thus, here she was. In a swamp. A stinking, rotting, humid, nasty swamp.
"Fucking nasty," the pale maiden groused softly, ears pinned flat amidst gilded-ivory hair, rose-petal lips turned downwards in genuine distaste. Why patrol a swamp? It wasn't like anyone would ever willingly come here for fun or mischief... Right? Well. If the inhabitants of Novus were anything like the ones back in Helovia, they just might.
Pulling herself onto a boggy shore that somewhat passed for dry land, Israfel gave herself a good shake. She had half the mind to just take to the skies and get out of there before she could become much more of a mess, but before she could, the sounds of rapid, desperate splashing caught her attention. Pale ears flicked forward, fiery vermilion eyes narrowing as she peered through dreary trees and low-hanging mosses, to see a rose-grey form thrashing desperately through the muck to reach a spot of high ground.
From afar Israfel watched the stranger, wondering momentarily if she should even approach. Then, because she had already decided to wade through a swamp that day, what harm would befriending another unfortunately swamp dweller do? Gritting her teeth against the hatred of what she was about to do, the Daughter of the Sun resumed her pace through the bog, doing her best to traverse upon the high ground or the dry parts she could find. Needless to say, they were few and far between.
Approaching the stallion, the warrior's crisp orange eyes regarded him, taking in his color, his build, the warped, spreading scars that clung to his frame, marring skin and muscle alike. Drawing closer, she forced a smile, even though it probably looked far more like a grimace than anything else. He had the build of a warrior, all strength and grace hidden beneath poised and coiled muscle, and Israfel wasn't foolish enough to sneak up on him... Not that she could, given the sucking sound that came with every step that parted from sodden, damp earth.
"Here I thought I was the only crazy one, walking through swamps. And on such a miserably hot day, too... Are you lost?" His scent didn't smell familiar, nor did it remind her of the others who called Terrastella home. Then again, Israfel couldn't really smell much other than the stench of the moist land around them.
@Diarmuid
