The wind howls through the mouth of the cave, bringing the cold damp mist with it. A flash of light reveals the landscape only for an instant, followed quickly by a clash of thunder echoing off the stone walls of the cavern you're hiding in. As you stare into the darkness looming outside, for a moment, you could swear you saw a shadow move, only to fade into the darkness once more. Minutes later, you see it again, this time coming closer, only to fade away again. Finally, you see the creature step through the lip of the cave. A creature half the size of a man, dressed in a black cloak pulled around his body and over his head shielding himself from the rain. At last in the dry cover of your cave he lifts his arms free of the cloak and removes his hood. His fingers brush his ebony locks from his eyes before they rise to meet yours.
"Still here I see. What's it been now, 2 months. I was hoping you'd have your strength up enough to have left." He moves closer pulling a waterskin from his shoulders. "Drink this, it's fresh from a spring, much better for you than the rain water you've been drinking. I've brought some more food to, when you're up to eating. Should be a lot better than what I brought last time. I got you two kinds of dried meats and a half dozen rations of dried berries." The halfling squats down stirring the embers of the fire you let dwindle away, slowly restoring it to its former glory. Once a strong blaze is built, the halfling will look up to you again with a simple, content smile.
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Sabrina was trying to sleep, but she was still awake, the dreams have returned. They keep her awake most nights now. the scene replays over and over and over. The pleading, the crying.
Sabrina sat upright sweating screaming again Harriet! she reaches for her cousin but she isn't there.
suddenly there is movement. she grabs her sword holding it ready to defend herself. her pose indicates she is no stranger to sword play, but hunger and fatigue have since taken their toll. any skilled warrior could send her to the ground with ease in her current state.
Sabrina looks nothing like she once was. her golden blonde hair is so dirty and matted one probably would think she was a brunette. her face dirty, clothing tattered and torn. she still wears the same cloak from all those years ago. once a royal blue with a white trim. now it is all but pure black. dirty with who knows what after all these years.
the small person that enters the cave is not unknown to her. and she immediately recognizes the small stature. she mistook him for a child when they first met, but now, she knows different.
She lowers her weapon once he enters.
"Still here I see. What's it been now, 2 months. I was hoping you'd have your strength up enough to have left." He moves closer pulling a waterskin from his shoulders. "Drink this, it's fresh from a spring, much better for you than the rain water you've been drinking. I've brought some more food to, when you're up to eating. Should be a lot better than what I brought last time. I got you two kinds of dried meats and a half dozen rations of dried berries."
She nods, not saying much else. She quickly takes the offered drink and food.
At first she looks like she attempts to be civilized. scrounging for proper place settings and silverware. but soon gives in to her hunger and devours it like a common street urchin.
she looks to Davin as she eats. and takes some of the berries and offers it to him. despite her appearance, there is a definite hidden beauty there.
Davin smiles at her offer. "No, not today. You need it far more than I do."
He hesitates a moment before continuing, "You know, my offer to come back to town with me is good any time you want." He lets the statement hang in the air his eyes focused on the fire. The fire illuminates his features. His hair dark as the night sky crowns is head, drooping over his ears and parted to keep it from covering his eyes. it's pressed close and damp from the rain clinging to his olive skin. Resting over a hawk like nose are a pair of mismatched eyes, one a dark brown, its twin a silvery blue.
After a few minutes, he finally breaks the silence, "If you don't mind the company, I was thinking of staying the night here. Let the rain pass over."
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Sabrina was quiet for a bit despite his refusal of a share of food she leaves some for him.
Davin? she says in a raspy voice. you can stay. It was rare that she spoke. at first Davin was unsure if she could speak at all.
there was something angelic about her voice, hidden under the dry raspy ness and dehydration and fatigue.
as the night wore on Sabrina stayed awake as long as Davin did. like she trying to stand guard, to protect him. though from what or even how she would do that is a mystery. Still she felt an obligation to to protect him.
It doesn't take long for the weight of the journey to wear on Davin. He peels his pack off and produces a bedroll from it laying it near the fire. Once everything is settled, he returns to his pack, this time producing a blanket. He moves over to his ward wrapping her in the blanket with a gentle smile. "Thank you, for your kindness."
Pulling his hands away, he returns to his side of the fire sliding into the bedroll. His hand slips down to his side, hand gripping the crossbow hidden on his hip, as he quickly drifts into a peaceful sleep.