December 10, 2011 - 6:48pm — Sybil.
Possible mature language warning.
A thick mist hung in the crisp morning air, making the already icy ground sodden with dew; a white antlered doe stirred in her sleep, extending a slender neck slowly and lifting her skull-like head. The white fur clung to the taut skin as she rose, trying with little effort to shake it out. Despite it growing slightly thicker for winter, it was still thin generally; the doe shivered, resisting the urge to drop back down into the flaxen grass for its warmth and shelter.
Stretching out a stiff forelimb, Astrid began to make her way out from under the slanted rock, gradually leaving the playground to head in the direction of the first forest. She'd been walking for quite some time in the cold before leaning against a tree to shiver against it; pale blue irises flicked to the side for a moment, catching sight of something sitting alone in the distance, shrouded by the almost opaque fog.
Curiosity getting the better of the malnourished female, she pulled herself away from the trunk, moving closer to let it gradually be uncovered.
It seemed to be a fawn, though something seemed off about it... Something unnatural... Still, it was only a fawn. It couldn't hurt her.
Astrid still trotted closer and closer, straining her neck to lower her head. Jaws parted slightly to let a voice, softer than normal, escape; “Hello.”
Tracking for now, I'm going
[Alright, it's no rush.
Balthamos was wandering
The ghost sat on the ground, charmed by the simple beauty of the dawn: it lasts just a moment, then it flees away.
A long, melancholy sigh came out from the cyanotic lips. Another day passed, another sleepless night. The damp pastures didn't help him warming his heart. The spectre was lost in his thoughts, when he felt a presence nearby, and a noise of hooves. Then came the words, simple as the dawn itself.
" Hi ... ? " he replied instinctively.
There was an odd creature which was looking at him. It seemed quite feminine, like its voice, so he supposed she was a lady. Her fur was white like pure snow, and her huge skull face upset lightly the fawn.
" Uhhh... I meant, nice to meet you, Miss ... ? " He could do nothing but staring her strange eyes, trying to sound as much polite as possible. He had an anxious expression, and his muscles were becoming tense, while waiting for the reply.
She edged closer, closer,
Jutting shoulders rolled back and cracked as the female bent her head to sniff at him, the scent of heavy must clinging to the insides of her nostrils; she shook her head in an effort to clear the smell, seemingly not caring if that bothered or offended the youngster.
The jaws, which had since snapped shut, slowly opened again with a creak, unmoving as her vocal chords worked. “... Nice to meet you too.” Slowly, the cervid imitation began to circle the spectre, head cocked to the side as she kept her constricted pupils locked on Balthamos.
From his position on the
Were those movements the ones of a predator? Was he the pray?
Feeling more and more uneasy, the fawn said, with trembling but still polite voice:
" Uhhh... May I help you, Miss ? "
She kept her eyes locked on
The look in her eyes could have been interpreted as hunger, perhaps, but it was more an intent transfixtion; Balthamos intrigued her.
There was silence for a while. Then: “What are you?”
The question could be deemed impolite, abrupt, but Astrid wasn't one to care about manners, really. And she hadn't even answered his question.
Balthamos was a bit scared by
In spite of replying, a new question came from the disturbing skull. The ghost felt the way he was used to feel with his Masters: he wasn't allowed to ask anything, just obey without complaing.
" What ... ? Well Miss, I believe that I could be called a ghost ... If this is a good enough reply for you, my lady ... "
His tone was very servile now, like it was coming from a past age.
A strange orange tongue
“A ghost?” She would have snorted, but held back -- after all, this forest did hold a wide array of strange creatures... Herself included.
“Do you... have a name?” Letting her tail rest against her rump, she settled in front of the spectre, not even bothering to ask for permission to sit.
Balthamos looked with a mix
Again a question ... Quite unusual for a Master.
" Sure I have one Miss ... My name is Balthamos, Mos for short ... May I dare to ask what is yours, Miss ? "
The action of sitting in front of him relaxed the spectre, and made him feeling less inferior. Anyway, he attempted to keep some distance from the doe ... Didn't wanted to be touched by her.
Ears flickered, tongue
A nod as she took in the name; a quick twitch of her head revealing her crudely engraved name briefly before she spoke: “Astrid.”
The antlered doe let her jaws, for the third time, part, becoming slack and hanging slightly open. Her tongue lolled from the edge, black gums visible against the striking white of her skull and pelt, tiny pupils fixed on the fawn.
It was just a second, but the
" Uhh ... So ... Miss Astrid ... What can I help you with ? "
He repeated, wondering if she was going to actually reply this time.
Her head twitched as she
What can I help you with? A shake of the head. “I... Don't need help.” She sighed, staring at him, eyes wide. “I just... wanted to... sit with someone, that's all...”
A low chuckle; it seemed as though even Astrid didn't know what she'd been amused at, but continued laughing anyway.
" Oh ... It ... It is okay, I
Replied the ghostly fawn, even if the doe's presence wasn't exactly relaxing... Anyway he wasn't going to say no to a lonely creature, since he knew very well what loneliness was. After a long, awkward pause he kept making conversation, in order to entertain his new encounter.
" So, Miss Astrid ... May I ask where are you from ? Indeed you do not look native of this forest ... Without offence ! "
His voice sounded kind, but with a bit of anxiety.