Tasha rolls over as the sun slants over onto her face, glinting off her red locks. She mumbles something both slurred and in a foreign language, so it's completely unintelligible, but from her tone it's evident it's some kind of curse. She's currently huddled up with her dog, curled around the furry beast, who is also sound asleep, but waking more quickly than its mistress.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
She was still asleep. As were Tavis and Seung. James sighed. With the storm likely halting anyone who'd been traveling in the forest who might have been after him, they had some time. He decided to let them wake up slowly while he sat in the rays of warm sunshine.
Wolfsbane slips out from Tasha's arms, trotting over to James and sitting down next to him. The Hunter grumbles some more, resistant to waking up.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
She lets him pet her and lays down, putting her head on his lap.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
Tavis woke with a gasp and sat up quickly. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He hadn't had a nightmare that bad in a long time.
Seung jolted awake at the sudden noise, and he immediately sneezed and began to shiver. For sure, he had at least caught a cold, but hopefully nothing worse. His mind began to run through possible remedies he could find in this wilderness. Spoiler
Sorry, I've just been trying to prepare for APs and everything else coming up this week. I'm still up for this.
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
Tasha sits up, pushing her hair out of her face. Her dog stands as her mistress awakens and lopes over to her, tail wagging.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
"Fine," he replied in brief. That answer was only partly true. He'd gotten sleep, and felt more rested than usual, but he was still agonizing over making a decision on what to do. Should he help these people try and find a way back home? Was there even a way? How far would obligation carry him? He didn't know.
Things were... a little different. With Tasha. They'd spent more time together and he knew more about her than Seung or Tavis. But nonetheless he still felt at a loss. The only reasonable explanation for them being here, if they truly were from another world, or time, or universe, or realm, or whatever it may be, was magic. At least, in his world. In the world they were currently in. The world of kingdoms and corruption and magical catastrophe and dragons who'd-
His thoughts came to a halt. Dragons. The only ones who would be able to help. Or give them answers. Were dragons.
James stared at the ground, eventually closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose in resistant anticipation of what would come if he were to follow that train of thought.
You've been looking for a dragon for the past few years. How's this any different? His thoughts taunted. It's completely different. I was looking for a human. Not an actual dragon. His dueling thoughts caused him to let out a short, deliberate sigh.
This is just the push you need to find answers faster. Go straight to the source.
He looked up at the others, showing little signs of his inward distress and conflict other than his usual resting frown.
"What about you Tasha..." he asked, too delayed to feel natural in the flow of conversation.
"Better than those two," she gestures to Seung and Tavis, standing and tying her hair back before walking over and sitting down next to him. "You?"
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."
James looked at her, confused. "Did I not just say-" then he stops, and narrows his eyes at her. She was either way more perceptive than he gave her credit for, or it was morning, and she didn't catch his answer earlier. Or maybe both.
