Cold.
It was the first thing that annoyed him about his choice of residence. It was freezing cold at night, and Danerec didn't dare light so much as a candle. That is, if he'd had one to light.
Crouching against a wall of the somewhat intact building he had chosen to spend the night in, he rubbed his hands together trying to warm them, occasionally getting up to keep his feet from going numb.
Tripping in the dark over some rubble, Danerec cursed himself for being so clumsy, fearful of attracting unwanted attention. This isn't like the other side of town, he thought to himself. You won't be able to take on anyone over here and even imagine living through it.
After standing still for some time to make sure he wasn't heard, Danerec felt his way to the wall and crouched against it again. As he breathed into his cupped hands Danerec thought of his decision to move here. It was a new start,he rationalized. But probably not the best of new starts. There was no way I would be able to afford the rent after my parents died though. With a slight groan as his joints creaked with the cold Danerec rose again to pace. It probably would have been a slightly safer environment to strike out on my own from, though.
Danerec realized he could see more than the outline of his arm as it swung at his side, and looked up. Gazing at the stars through a hole in the roof of the building Danerec stood transfixed for a moment. With so many wonders and beauty in the world, why is it that I can only catch glimpses amongst the norm? he pondered. Suddenly Danerec had an urge to see the stars without the hindrance of the roof. I've spent my whole life looking down, he realized, I think it's time I looked up for a change.
Finding the hole in the wall through which he had found the room he was squatting in, Danerec exited the building and peered up into the sky at the bit of stars that he had seen. Soon after he'd left the building however a hidden cloud moved, blanketing the starlit sky with darkness. Disappointed at not seeing more stars, he hung his head as he trooped carefully back into the building, rubbing his arms with his hands to work some warmth into them.
Rising from ruins...
-
Civet
Civet stumbled towards the ruins. Even with her cloak on, it was freezing. The wind tore at any bare inch of skin it could find. Civet rubbed her hands together, trying to generate a little heat. She wished she could see the moon, or even a few stars.
Focus, she told herself, fingering her bow. You just need a place to sleep. You had a long day, but it was productive. You stole a few Bishani. That's better than nothing. Now it's time to sleep.
Movement in the ruins caught her eye. It looked almost as if someone had gone into one of the buildings. But that was silly. There wouldn't be anyone here. Besides, as long as she could see them, she could hear their thoughts. The only way she wouldn't have been able to was if someone was in one of the buildings, out of sight. But nobody would be here at this time of night, would they? Probably the wind just knocked something over.
Wondering why she was so jumpy tonight, she resumed walking towards the ruins. She felt a little better once she got to a wall that blocked the wind. She relaxed a bit, looking for a good place to sleep.
That building would be reasonable shelter for the night. She walked towards it, footsteps uncomfortably loud. Come on, Civet, nobody's here. Just go in. She ran, wind whipping around the bottom of her cloak. She rounded the corner and stepped through the door of the building. Then she saw the boy, who looked to be about 18. She froze.
Focus, she told herself, fingering her bow. You just need a place to sleep. You had a long day, but it was productive. You stole a few Bishani. That's better than nothing. Now it's time to sleep.
Movement in the ruins caught her eye. It looked almost as if someone had gone into one of the buildings. But that was silly. There wouldn't be anyone here. Besides, as long as she could see them, she could hear their thoughts. The only way she wouldn't have been able to was if someone was in one of the buildings, out of sight. But nobody would be here at this time of night, would they? Probably the wind just knocked something over.
Wondering why she was so jumpy tonight, she resumed walking towards the ruins. She felt a little better once she got to a wall that blocked the wind. She relaxed a bit, looking for a good place to sleep.
That building would be reasonable shelter for the night. She walked towards it, footsteps uncomfortably loud. Come on, Civet, nobody's here. Just go in. She ran, wind whipping around the bottom of her cloak. She rounded the corner and stepped through the door of the building. Then she saw the boy, who looked to be about 18. She froze.
Danerec had curled up in a ball in a corner when he thought he heard a noise in the darkness. Everything echoes in this damn place, I can't tell whether that was a rat or a troll! he cursed silently.
Sitting perfectly still and alert he stared futilely into the dark. REaching towards his waist where his knife was tucked into his belt, he drew it slowly, grimacing as its tip scraped against the concrete he laid on rather loudly.
Shades! Can I make any more noise? he wondered as he dropped the dagger and it clattered even more loudly on the ground. Quickly snatching the blade from the ground he rolled away from where he lay, rising into a crouch and slowly stepping away.
When he reached the opposite wall from where he had been laying before he stopped moving and stood still, listening for any sound. If this is just my paranoia I have to remember to kill it in the morning, he thought idly.
Sitting perfectly still and alert he stared futilely into the dark. REaching towards his waist where his knife was tucked into his belt, he drew it slowly, grimacing as its tip scraped against the concrete he laid on rather loudly.
Shades! Can I make any more noise? he wondered as he dropped the dagger and it clattered even more loudly on the ground. Quickly snatching the blade from the ground he rolled away from where he lay, rising into a crouch and slowly stepping away.
When he reached the opposite wall from where he had been laying before he stopped moving and stood still, listening for any sound. If this is just my paranoia I have to remember to kill it in the morning, he thought idly.
With that thought his eyes scanned the room again, and he saw the girl who had entered. At the sight of her, even in the darkness, Danerec's mind shut down.Danerec wrote:Danerec had curled up in a ball in a corner when he thought he heard a noise in the darkness. Everything echoes in this damn place, I can't tell whether that was a rat or a troll! he cursed silently.
Sitting perfectly still and alert he stared futilely into the dark. REaching towards his waist where his knife was tucked into his belt, he drew it slowly, grimacing as its tip scraped against the concrete he laid on rather loudly.
Shades! Can I make any more noise? he wondered as he dropped the dagger and it clattered even more loudly on the ground. Quickly snatching the blade from the ground he rolled away from where he lay, rising into a crouch and slowly stepping away.
When he reached the opposite wall from where he had been laying before he stopped moving and stood still, listening for any sound. If this is just my paranoia I have to remember to kill it in the morning, he thought idly.
For one, it was the first person he'd seen since he'd been in the ruins. The second thought bothering him about the sudden appearance of the girl is of her intent. For all I know she could be a mugger...and I wouldn't put it past someone because of their gender, Danerec thought. I don't want a dispute over something I don't have. Danerec held his hands out and set his dagger on the ground as a sign of good faith. On the other hand, the weapon was in hands reach in case the girl tried something.