sabra_la_antiqua | (no subject)

[Little things you never noticed before are now glaring in their absence. The woods, so long filled with animals and the occasional rampaging monstrosity from your fellow countrymen, are much quieter. Tree branches crack and splinter, dry and hollow inside as they hit the ground. And Lacerta... you don't want to think about the emotions you were hit with, the last time you were in Lacerta, that strange land where everyone was connected to the forest.]

[mutters to himself]

Maybe I should just go. Find Noric. Something.

[Only he didn't say where he was going, exactly, when he left rather abruptly last time. Just that he would be back when he could come.]

[shakes his head, shaking those thoughts away, staying next to the door, ready to run inside at the slightest hint of danger]

[suddenly, the sound of running coming from the path into the forest, heading this way.]

[takes out his knife, biting his lip. He hated fighting]

[the tangle of emotions preceding them by a few seconds aren't all that familiar - stress, worry, exhaustion - but then he's out of the trees and stumbling to a stop when he sees Xavier. dishevelled, dust-streaked and panting, but definitely Noric.]

[sheathes the knife unconsciously]

Noric!

[it takes him a few moments before he can catch his breath]

Good... good, you're still here.

Yes, of course--What happened to you?

Never mind that now... get inside.

[strides over and into the house, not waiting for a response. he's limping slightly, more obvious now he's not running.]

[well, following and shutting the door quietly behind him]

[rakes a hand through his hair, casting a glance around at everything, before turning back to him.]

Pack up your essentials - we have to go.

Going? Going where?

To the Sacred Mountain, in Pyxis.

[swallows]

What's going on?

The Gods are working to soothe the Old Woman's wrath, but you know the heat is still increasing.

[limps over into the kitchen, starts opening drawers and rummaging through things.]

A shelter is being built. To give us sanctuary.

I... I'll go get my things.

[jerky nod, as he heads to his room, his fear creeping out]

[it doesn't help that Noric's already afraid, a fear he's keeping locked down under his faith in his Goddess, that they will survive. but he knows what it means that they have to do this at all.]

Remember... it might be a long time before we can come back. You can't bring everything here, but anything important to you...

[like what? Xavier almost laughs. Instead he just stuffs his clothes into his travel bag and opens the door]

We can go now.

[stares at him for a long moment, eyes flicking to the books all around them. then turns back to the kitchen, dumping whatever preserved goods Xavier had into a bag, before gingerly going into his own room.]

Yes, soon.

[looks at his books, trying to breath normally]

[sounds of clothes being upended into a bag.]

Take some. You've done it before.

[smiles weakly]

It's a terrible decision and you know it.

I know.

[it's all he can really say. comes out again, slotting his old Orion knife into his belt alongside his Ophiuchus one. from his own books, he takes only one.]

Re: [Year 199, late summer, Lepus]

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