Arrow Lake ≡ Angel With a Shotgun

@Polaris

It was relatively late in the evening. The hour right before the moon overtook the sky. The wild chirped with sounds of restless animals seeking their bed for the night. Crickets chirped busily in the distance and birds followed the steady wind that carried them home. The heat of high-day disappearing and the soothing colors that denoted the setting of the sun were just beginning to themselves become muted.

 Collision lay atop a stone perch. His head rested lazily upon his paws and his eyes observing nature in her finer moments. The past few weeks had proven to be easier. He had thrown his worries to the back of his mind. Perhaps, simply, he weren’t facing the. It worked. He needn’t hear another distasteful thing about their emperor. The man’s life was meant to be taken by Yuudai. An honor that Collision couldn’t take from him, but as they days tumbled by he was left feeling more and more inclined to take the matter into his hands. The samurai had been gone far past the deadline they had all agreed upon. The slate male was growing tired of the wait. The eagerness to finish what had been started [now] moons ago itching at him.

The silence he sought after now was not something he ever thought himself to hunger for. The quietness of solitude. It was, however, observable that his spirits had been lifted. There was a happier move to him when he was on these outings. The further he drifted from the Vale the more freedom he seemed to feel. There was no doubt in his mind that he belonged among those of his own kind. Similarly, there was no doubt in him that the Reneian Empire and himself would shortly bid adieu.

He released himself from the clutches of his lazy evening and lifted from the rock which he lay. He descended down onto the earth once more and he found himself seeking water. He had grown thirsty bathing in the sun and he supposed it meant his solitary confinement was growing to an end. The male hurriedly crept across verdant earth until a pool of water was found. He would sate the desire he held and then he would seek to return to the Vale once more. Perhaps this time to the Emperor’s head on a rod.

they certainly leered but polaris, she could not afford to let herself be thwarted. 

the mountains appeared to contain a steadfast determination to label themselves as but a place of the girl's own ruination, wishing to keep her from their brazen company. slap her down enough and perhaps she would simply remain cowering upon the dirt, reduced to simply glaring her contempt at their grinning peaks. 

but they were wrong. as long as breath continued to rattle from her lungs; she would prevail. sure, approbation for their mighty efforts- they didn't believe in holding back certainly. but that grave mistake remained waggish and proud nonethless, polaris was still alive. and never again would a breath be wasted in affrighted hesitancy. 

so she returned to the mountains; maltreated shoulder still aching, pallid demon's face still fresh in her mind's forlorn eye. but she had to, she had to! she would prove that she still could, she was still fighting. 

it's one of the first days to produce rays of sunlight in what feels like an eternity, and the svelte figure standing tall upon the slick stone tilts her chin; letting the liquid light embrace her wholly. a gentle inhale, capturing that sky kissed air as eyes dropped to the scintillating water and focused with pleased surprise on the being spotted by its side. collision. a half frown as she studies him, what he'd spoken of before...it had to have been that man right? that behemoth tainting his home. but how, how could he pledge himself to any such place that would allow such a beast sanctuary? unless they didn't know but...why allow him the cloak of secrecy? 

teeth grit and she makes her way down the intricate paths that would grant her safe access to his location, wincing at the strain on her still healing wounds. 

it is quiet as she steps close, the chilled hum of dusk touched breezes their only companion as she swallows and exhales "collision"

she trusts him and yet why, why is she wary? teeth press hard against each other, it is more difficult than she wishes to admit. the confining grasp of those rocks raising around her like a clawed hand, just her and this man- no, it's collision. the mountains, the damned mountains, they would not put her on edge with whispered memories. yet she is tense as she watches, body not so ready to trust in her mind's beliefs.

The water eases its way down his throat and a cold sensation divides itself across his body. He finds delight in the sensation. To feel the spread of such life-giving forces is almost something worth thirsting for. To starve one's self of something so easily attainable for the small rush he felt.

It ends. The feeling he is so focused on as a voice beckons him out of his trance like state-of-mind and his head turns abruptly to face her. Though it were only a brief time since he had met the pale woman she seems unchanged where she stands. His eyes cover her and there is something off…though he cannot quite decide what it is. Is she alright? His head betwixt stating his obvious inquiry. Perhaps it has been a long day for her too.

“Polaris,” Her name drips off his tongue in a warm greeting and his eyes cling to the orange and gold rays that entangle within silvery plush, “How are you?”

She is his friend, yes? He turns his body towards her and advances. He seeks to come closer to her. Only just beyond the distance they had shared laying on the banks of a river and getting to know one another. Where they had offered words of encouragement. They had not been lost on him and he hoped much of the same for her kind soul. He felt as thoug evil could not tether itself to a jewel.

He should know better by now.

Tongue sprawls across inky lips and he stops and sits before her. He notes how small she is before him–he had forgotten. There is no concern for the happenings of his ‘home’ (if he dared call it that) for now. He had learned that there were other things that required his attention. His own life….For a change. Yuudai would eventually claim the life of the ruling serpent and the chaos would end. Of course, Collision had not seen the Emperor in some time and it was no secret that now the Empress had fallen to oblivion. Gone were the songs she sang. Perhaps she too would return anew.

“It’s nice to see you once more,” And he means it. The disciplined soldier offering a mellow smile. He had never been overbearing and he only felt the need to tread ever lighter in her presence. He would not deny the strength that coursed through her veins…but somehow he could not deny that he also saw her as delicate in more ways than ever he would be so bold to speak.