[Far, far in the future, there may come a day when Erenville no longer feels wonder at the vastness of the world. On that day, he's promised himself he will recognize it is time to retire. Worldliness is no excuse for complacency.]
Well, unless you intend to rush me about and magically complete my tasks in the space of bells, we will be here for several sunrises.
[He looks east, though the sun has long since passed the horizon and sits in a sky of deep blue with only faint wisps of clouds to interrupt it. Again he tries to take it all in, and can't quite: the soft wind stirring the long grass, the sound of a nearby stream, the necessity of turning himself physically to see anything close to the whole place. At times, things like this make his island home seem impossibly small.
More recently, he's been beset by the terrible knowledge that they might have lost all this. Permanently. It would have become a pale memory, at best.
Erenville shrugs up his pack again and takes a few steps down the gently worn path leading out of the pass.]
Were it not for my understanding of the dangers of the local fauna, I would be content to let my feet take me where they will for some time.
[There are far worse things than an extended stay on the Steppe, and while she's here to offer him her assistance in whatever way she can, she's not about to rush him through his business. It is best, really, that they take their time and enjoy the sights and experiences this place has to offer.
She falls into step beside him easily, her own bag of supplies slung over one shoulder.]
Well, you do have something of an advantage in that department— if you'd like to wander, I'm more than capable of ensuring you don't come to harm.
[Not that she believes gleaners to be slouches in their own right. They're a capable sort.]
[He isn't sure whether to find it amusing or troubling that the vaunted woman walking beside him has only a small pack of supplies in comparison. Then again, she isn't made to carry several varieties of each sample set, nor preserve their life and quality where such is warranted...
No gleaner is ever released into the wild without being somewhat able to defend himself. Nevertheless, he'll be glad not to need to, whether due to caution or company.]
Reunion ought to serve, for the time being. Regardless of my feelings now, somewhere I can get my bearings is the best initial destination.
[While he suspects the giant stone bowl will be his best point of orientation for the tasks ahead, knowing in what direction sanctuary lies on the ground can only be useful, too.]
I look forward with regret to your realization that a gleaner's work will seem quite unexciting when compared to your usual assignments.
[Part and parcel with the job is knowing and recognizing when an Adventurer, the sort who claims this as sole employment, is also up to something in his vicinity. He's not at all unfamiliar with Amri's sort, in all their questionable variety. So, couching his view of her profession in stricter terms should be fine.
Then he seems to recall who he's with, exactly. The stories he has heard - some of them from her closest companions directly.]
[A base of operations, as it were, and at his warning, she laughs.]
I could do with some 'unexciting,' all told. I've had enough excitement to last me a long while— but given the destination, I think we'll be anything but bored.
[There's always something happening on the steppe. They'll not want for entertainment, but Amri finds the location and scenery satisfying enough on their own.]
... I'll do my best to help keep things sufficiently dull, however.
[She knows trouble does tend to follow her, whether she likes it or not.]
[The terrain slopes gently toward a stream as they walk, and Erenville finds his attentions drawn toward the wildlife as they often are. Vilekin, large and small, zip and glide at varying heights above the water and the lush grass nearby; frogs (which make him smile, for a second, fleeting and genuine) sing from their hiding spots near a slow section.
Some unexciting, she says, and he hums assent at the memory of...well, of how Amri looked when the Scions returned from the edge of knowledge and memory.
With the flags of Xaela life fluttering off in the distance, and an exceptionally rotund seedkin or three lumbering about in range of his sensitive hearing, Erenville can only hope the extent of the excitement is in food and socialization. At least for today.]
I understand many of these people came to your aid in the endeavor with Garlemald.
[Somehow, this is not the understated description of the year. The world has shed its cloak of impossibilities so quickly, and in silence for all but those who knew when to look.]
[It's interesting to watch the way his gaze moves across their surroundings, the way he subtly takes notes of the creatures that have made their home here— it makes sense to her that all gleaners must be keen-eyed, to be able to identify precisely what it is they need to find or study while out traveling.
At his observation, she nods, a fond smile pulling at her lips as she, too, looks towards the Xaela flags in the distance.]
That they did— and I remain infinitely glad for it. I'm of the opinion that friendship is never to be taken for granted, but if it ever needed proving, I think their aid in Garlemald would have taken care of that quite thoroughly.
[They had come quite a long way to assist, as had so many others.]
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no subject
Well, unless you intend to rush me about and magically complete my tasks in the space of bells, we will be here for several sunrises.
[He looks east, though the sun has long since passed the horizon and sits in a sky of deep blue with only faint wisps of clouds to interrupt it. Again he tries to take it all in, and can't quite: the soft wind stirring the long grass, the sound of a nearby stream, the necessity of turning himself physically to see anything close to the whole place. At times, things like this make his island home seem impossibly small.
More recently, he's been beset by the terrible knowledge that they might have lost all this. Permanently. It would have become a pale memory, at best.
Erenville shrugs up his pack again and takes a few steps down the gently worn path leading out of the pass.]
Were it not for my understanding of the dangers of the local fauna, I would be content to let my feet take me where they will for some time.
no subject
[There are far worse things than an extended stay on the Steppe, and while she's here to offer him her assistance in whatever way she can, she's not about to rush him through his business. It is best, really, that they take their time and enjoy the sights and experiences this place has to offer.
She falls into step beside him easily, her own bag of supplies slung over one shoulder.]
Well, you do have something of an advantage in that department— if you'd like to wander, I'm more than capable of ensuring you don't come to harm.
[Not that she believes gleaners to be slouches in their own right. They're a capable sort.]
We can go wherever you like.
no subject
No gleaner is ever released into the wild without being somewhat able to defend himself. Nevertheless, he'll be glad not to need to, whether due to caution or company.]
Reunion ought to serve, for the time being. Regardless of my feelings now, somewhere I can get my bearings is the best initial destination.
[While he suspects the giant stone bowl will be his best point of orientation for the tasks ahead, knowing in what direction sanctuary lies on the ground can only be useful, too.]
I look forward with regret to your realization that a gleaner's work will seem quite unexciting when compared to your usual assignments.
[Part and parcel with the job is knowing and recognizing when an Adventurer, the sort who claims this as sole employment, is also up to something in his vicinity. He's not at all unfamiliar with Amri's sort, in all their questionable variety. So, couching his view of her profession in stricter terms should be fine.
Then he seems to recall who he's with, exactly. The stories he has heard - some of them from her closest companions directly.]
We hope.
no subject
[A base of operations, as it were, and at his warning, she laughs.]
I could do with some 'unexciting,' all told. I've had enough excitement to last me a long while— but given the destination, I think we'll be anything but bored.
[There's always something happening on the steppe. They'll not want for entertainment, but Amri finds the location and scenery satisfying enough on their own.]
... I'll do my best to help keep things sufficiently dull, however.
[She knows trouble does tend to follow her, whether she likes it or not.]
no subject
Some unexciting, she says, and he hums assent at the memory of...well, of how Amri looked when the Scions returned from the edge of knowledge and memory.
With the flags of Xaela life fluttering off in the distance, and an exceptionally rotund seedkin or three lumbering about in range of his sensitive hearing, Erenville can only hope the extent of the excitement is in food and socialization. At least for today.]
I understand many of these people came to your aid in the endeavor with Garlemald.
[Somehow, this is not the understated description of the year. The world has shed its cloak of impossibilities so quickly, and in silence for all but those who knew when to look.]
no subject
At his observation, she nods, a fond smile pulling at her lips as she, too, looks towards the Xaela flags in the distance.]
That they did— and I remain infinitely glad for it. I'm of the opinion that friendship is never to be taken for granted, but if it ever needed proving, I think their aid in Garlemald would have taken care of that quite thoroughly.
[They had come quite a long way to assist, as had so many others.]