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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Aug 14, 2015 16:26:17 GMT
Katya’s faith in the stranger Max lessened even more as he and Johnny spoke, despite the words of assurance that were thrown at her so quickly. Suicide mission? Payment? Change of plans? It didn’t take much for her to begin wondering if she was being tricked somehow. She was told to come to this town, Wesbrook, to meet Aiden, not that she would arrive to get new directions. She wouldn’t have agreed to play courier otherwise. Perhaps that was why.
Safely tied in a small satchel hidden amongst the braids in her hair, the small paper started to weigh heavily. What could be on a note so small that was so important? Katya needed to deliver it to Aiden, who was it seemed in an impenetrable fort. Protected by what, she did not know. With her and Kirill together, her fears leaned towards traps and humans. If nothing else, maybe Max could spring the traps and let them pass by safely… the way he bargained, willing to risk his life on a suicide mission if he could be bought off, was not encouraging either. But there was one factor that neither of the men seemed to have considered just yet.
Standing up from her place beside Kirill, Katya was a moment too late in stopping Johnny from disappearing. Closing her mouth from the attempt, she looked over at Max, the assigned bodyguard. While watching him with a narrow-eyed gaze, he had turned and offered her a rucksack, asking who she was without so much as a pause at her glare. This frustrated her even more.
Taking the rucksack – lighter than the saddlebags, which they might or might not need if they ever retrieved the saddle – she didn’t answer his question immediately, for once taking the moment to formulate her answer before speaking. “Katya. And I don’t recall being asked about getting a tour guide, Max,” she started out calmly, ending with a touch of a growl. “I don’t know what your game is, or his,” referring to Johnny, “But I was told to come to Wesbrook, not out to some ‘rathole.’ And I was able to come here on. My. Own.” The dog whined suddenly, Katya turning to him impatiently in fae. “No, of COURSE we traveled together and I wasn’t completely alone, but he’s human! Remember how much trouble we had the last time we tried to explain you? Now let me talk!” For humans, the language often sounded more melodic than lyrical, but assuredly not like any language they would speak. It also went by quite fast, so it was only moments before Katya returned to her challenge of Max.
“I don’t see why you have to take us to Aiden,” Katya ended, far more prematurely than she had intended but Kirill had distracted her. Crossing her arms defensively across her chest, she waited for the rebuttal, not sure at all what to expect. Would he be as disimpassioned to help her as he had acted thus far and not react, or would he be offended enough to leave her behind? Leave her behind or go with her… Katya wasn’t sure which was the better option. He’d attract the infected, humans always did, but then he might be able to deal with or at least distract military and other humans. Katya had jumped into this blind, and she was only now beginning to see, when she was too deep to get out, that it had been a stupid idea...
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Post by Kelathi on Aug 14, 2015 23:50:30 GMT
He watched her as she spoke, rattling off a list of rants before momentarily being distracted, appearing to talk to her dog in some strange language. He waited patiently for her to finish, then only waited a brief moment to see if she really was finished, before replying. "I don't have to take you." he stated simply. Then he turned to the tables, and began kitting up, throwing the next sentence over his shoulder. "You are more than welcome to travel to Eastshore Pax on your own. The only difference your absence will make for me would be a distinct lack in weapons, which would be unfortunate, but not anything I can't handle." At this, he chucked a health pack over to her. "But if you will be coming along, Katya, you will need these. And grab some nail bombs."
He finished packing his rucksack, swinging it onto his shoulder, and perused the guns. "As for our 'game', I'm assuming Johnny is the middle man. Myself? I just need to get to E.P., and I owe Johnny for countless favours. For me to escort you is his way of cashing in." He took a holster and attached it to his belt, slipping a pistol into it. Then he took a shotgun and a crossbow. After a moments thought, he turned back to Katya. "Do you know how to use a gun?" Evidently, he was convinced that she was still coming along.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Aug 15, 2015 3:21:54 GMT
Katya nearly grimaced, settling for gritting her teeth as he turned away; yes, it was going to be the apathetic response. But… damn it all, he had some good points. It at least was a little calming to hear that he was helping a middle man rather than being one himself, although she wasn’t entirely convinced. This was not a world where being fully convinced of anything was always a good idea.
At the same time, Katya was well and truly stuck. For one thing, she and Kirill had barely gotten into this sector. If they were trying to get into another human settlement, one that made others call it suicide – she was very caught up on the use of that particular word – maybe it’d be easier to have a human to get them in and out. She looked down in her hands at the bag and the health kit she had caught, her shoulders rising uncertainly as she considered the weight that was already making her neck sore. She’d insist on getting the saddle back, that was for sure. If possible, it would be better to get a knapsack and the saddlebags. If they went with Max.
He didn’t seem to pay her much mind as she considered, continuing to talk in an almost disinterested way. She didn’t immediately reply to his last question, still looking over the equipment around her. Slowly, Katya raised her gaze, a little less hostile. A little. “Sorta. I don’t usually use weapons” she said, still quite defensive as she hotly added, “But I’m protected by something better than weapons.”
Before she could be questioned, Johnny had reappeared, carrying the agreed upon three boxes. Katya immediately grew wary again, still not liking this “middle man” she was being forced to work with. Kirill let out a soft growl before anyone could stop him as soon as the man appeared, but Katya didn’t try to quiet him this time. The sound was protective and made her feel better.
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Post by Kelathi on Aug 17, 2015 22:49:22 GMT
A glance in her direction revealed that she seemed to be momentarily preoccupied with some internal dilemma. Good, it did not do well to trust people too readily. It was for this same reason that he did indeed notice her last comment, before Johnny had entered the room again. He placed them on a space on the nearest table, opening the first, and pulling out the agreed upon 3 packets of cigarettes. “Here.” He handed them to Max, then pushed the first box under the table, and proceeded to open the second one. “A whole box full of ration cards, Johnny?” Max remarked, stocking up on the appropriate ammo for his weapons. Johnny just smiled. “Got a lot of people, Max.” And he handed over the 8 ration cards. The third box was unceremoniously shoved under the table straight away, presumably more stock.
To be perfectly honest, the horse had completely slipped Max’s mind, so foreign was it to be heard off in these times. Whilst infected largely ignored animals, most domestic animals had died out through starving in their homes, or even through being eaten by their desperate, trapped owners. Some zoo animals were lucky enough to have been freed by animal activist groups right in the early days of the crisis, which is why in the infected overrun sectors it was not uncommon to see the odd zoo animal; anything from monkeys, to large predators such as lions. Escapees, broken free from the iron bars, only to temporarily disappear into the cracks of their new wreckage of a concrete jungle.
“This is a semi-automatic shotgun. Used at close-range, it’s ideal for a first time user because it doesn’t require much accuracy, as the shell splits after firing, so it has a larger fire radius than other guns. You’ve probably seen one fired before, so you’ll know you hold it like this,” he lifted the shotgun, pointing the barrel towards one of the far walls, resting the butt of the gun at his shoulder. “Your shoulder will take the kick. You’ll get used to it pretty quickly. This is the safety catch,” he switched it on, “The gun should be in safety most of the time. Hopefully you won’t need to use this, but if you do, at least you won’t be caught empty-handed.” The gun conveniently had a leather sling, meaning it could be easily carried over the shoulder. He also grabbed a few shotgun shells, and showed her quickly how to cock the gun in order to load it, before handing it all over to her.
“So, you guys ready or what?” Johnny asked, arms folded now. Evidently, his patience was waning thin. He had other customers to see to, after all.
((DISCLAIMER: All firearm knowledge is from quick research + general knowledge from playing shooter games, so I am not by far an expert, so may be stuff wrong or mis-quoted XD If it's difficult to reply to I can write to them about to leave the city, just wanted to give Katya time to say anything she may want to, or mention saddle-bags etc. Just let me know if you want me to write more ^^))
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Aug 18, 2015 1:34:30 GMT
As Max and Johnny worked out the rest of their deal, Katya sighed in resignation and went to pack the nail bombs asked of her. She also immediately keened in on another crossbow, her touch showing she actually understood this weapon as she slung it over her back with a quiver full of bolts. Kirill followed her, sniffing at things as she inspected others. While the infected didn’t show much interest in animals – for reasons that the two were well aware of – Kirill was often enough of a deterrent to avoid conflicts at all. His scent could overpower the human in Katya’s, but adding Max to the mix put that balance in jeopardy. It was good that they would have a powerful defense against any infected that would come after them for human blood.
Katya turned back towards Max for more bolts just as he began explaining the shotgun to her, her response clearly one of dismay compared to the confidence she had with the crossbow. It only came up against more than her hands when Max began to pile the stuff in her arms, and she couldn’t hold it all with her hands outstretched. Unhappily, she stowed these too in the knapsack and over her shoulder, finally voicing her complaint. “We have to go back for the saddle,” she noted, very flatly, trying to indicate with her voice that she wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer. Kirill was far stronger than she; he was usually happy to take the weight. Guns, however, would not make him happy, but he was fortunately focused on keeping Johnny away from Katya.
Johnny’s remark immediately set Katya on edge, letting out a held breath to calm herself. She nodded rather than voiced her answer, as she was likely to admit that she wasn’t sure. She had to at least pretend for now that she was.
At least, as her father had once said to her, she wasn’t going to be alone.
(My dad is pretty into firearms, so I’m fairly familiar; you sound pretty spot on :) And yeah, Katya DEFINITELY wants to bring up the saddle XD )
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Post by Kelathi on Aug 18, 2015 23:20:22 GMT
((Woo! Good ☺ ))
He was glad to see that she had picked up a crossbow, and some nail bombs, as he had suggested. So she was not afraid to fight- good. She would need not to be. When she spoke, he paused for a moment. Of course, the horse. The creature would be handy for transport, it had to be said. But it may also draw attention… a look at her face made it clear this was not up for negotiation. “Fine.” Max answered, attaching the crossbow to his rucksack, and swinging both now onto his back. A good weight, not too heavy as the insides might suggest. He slipped another shotgun onto his arm with the sling, and pocketed the ration cards and cigarettes. Now, he was almost ready. Just one thing left to do…
“We’re going to take the underground trail.” Johnny nodded, that was to be expected. There were few hidden ways out of the sector, but the underground was the safest. The way in question was also an entire network, leading to a few key-points in the city. “But I’m going to use it to see Lar first. Katya, go get your horse and Johnny will take you to the entrance. Give your things to me.” He held out his hand. At her expression, he quickly explained. “It’ll do you no good walking the streets with those things, possession of the crossbow alone is a one-way ticket to the firing squad. I’ll meet you two there when I’m done.” Johnny scowled, and pointed a warning finger at Max. “You better. And be quick about it.”
((I'm thinking the underground trail is basically a disused sewer, with an entrance big enough to fit a horse: oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/the-last-of-us/thumb/3/3a/LoU-0726.jpg/228px-LoU-0726.jpg ^^))
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Aug 19, 2015 1:03:49 GMT
Underground trail? Katya’s eyes immediately jumped up to Max, wide with surprise and a heavy dose of fear. Underground was bad. Kirill couldn’t fly from underground. If they got cornered, they’d be in a lot more trouble. But Johnny agreed to the proposal; even if she protested, she seemed to have been automatically overruled.
Slowly, she unpacked the weapons and satchel, holding onto the saddle bags. Katya didn’t like the idea of having to meet up again. Bad enough they were having to go elsewhere in the first place. Handing them over to Max, she withdrew back to Kirill, who let out a soft grumble about going underground. “I know, I know,” Katya soothed, standing as Johnny led the way back out.
Getting back to the garage meant following Kirill’s nose, which of course Johnny was not ecstatic about. He was puzzled when Katya wouldn’t let him follow, returning from the shadows with the black horse saddled up. “The dog?” he asked, Katya quickly deciding on her answer as noncommittal. “Um. He’ll be fine,” she answered, quickly getting the horse to trot and so shut up Johnny in his attempt to keep up. He was too irritated at having to jog to catch up to ask about the dog, Kirill snorting as Katya hid a laugh. It felt good to get a little back, at least. The man muttered about having to lead the two over, that Max had overcharged him for cigarettes and ration cards, and that it was ridiculous that he’d have to wait. Wait they did, by an inconspicuous place, Katya dismounting Kirill to explore the area a little. The horse, meanwhile, kept an eye on Johnny, to his dismay, inching away from the animal.
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Post by Kelathi on Sept 1, 2015 15:08:13 GMT
Max stepped into the house, and as he did so, he was hit by a sudden sense of nostalgia. Maybe it was the way the sun filtered in the glazed window, the dust motes floating ponderously down to the wooden floorboards. Jaydie was in the living room, playing, oblivious to the turmoil just outside the door. Max was in the hallway with his wife. She was telling him that she was leaving.
There were tears down her face. She didn’t love him anymore, she had found someone else, the words that tore at his being until all he could do was reach for her, beg her not to go, his voice quiet with the effort of not letting his daughter in the other room hear his cracked voice, see the pleading in his eyes. /If you leave I’ll die. Please don’t go. I love you./ Desperate kisses on her hand. Kisses on her forehead, her lips. She had returned them. She had leaned forward, and they had embraced. /I’m sorry./ Her reply, over and over. /I’m sorry, I’m sorry./ Then she had taken her coat, and stepped into the living room. And broken him again.
Max ran his hand over the doorframe. In his house, it had a number of notches, a record of Jaydie’s height. Marks that stopped at the age of twelve. The year they had had to leave their home, and had made for sector 3. That elusive place they had never reached.
He closed his eyes, and steadied his breathing. He stepped into the room.
She sat with her back to him, facing the window. She was perched on the edge of the chair he had been in just that morning, her focus fixed on the scene outside. He could see that the stress of the day had knotted her shoulders; she was hunched slightly in an effort to ease the ache. Apart from her weapons, and the helmet that lay on the floor, she was still dressed in her riot gear. She was so deep in thought that he was in the room before she sensed his approach.
“Jesus Max! You scared me.” She smiled, but her eyes were tired. She stood up to embrace him. “What are you doin’ creeping about anyways… Max? Are you okay?” Was it a look in his face? A shift in his posture? He didn’t know how, but she could always tell when something was up, no matter how he might try to hide it. He pulled away slightly, his hands on her arms. He met her gaze. She noticed the heavy gear he was packing. “What’s all this?” her voice was guarded. “Lara…” he began, that one word giving him away more than any other subtle sign could have done. Her eyes filled with wariness. “Now I know something’s wrong.” She stated, sadly. She pulled away, her back to him again, gaze drawing back towards the window. But this time her full focus was in the room.
When she turned again, she leant up against the armchair, and crossed her arms. “Well? What is it?” Her voice was colder. “Are you in trouble again? Are you here for me to bail you out? Or is Johnny calling in another favor, needs a packet delivered?” Evidently, this was not the first time max had come bearing bad news. “What for? A handful of stupid ration cards? Or the cigarettes you so crave? I swear, you don’t even smoke and sometimes I think you love those damned cigarettes more than me!” Max covered his face with his hand, dreading the words that were about to spill forward. “Lara… I’m sorry, I…”
Her face hardened. “It is, isn’t it? Those fucking cigarettes!” She pushed away from the chair, and came face to face with him. “I have given my all to keep you here! You are the most wanted man in this sector, besides Johnny, and yet you are living here in this cushy house with all the benefits reserved for a member of the military! Do you just forget to think sometimes? Do you just… now don’t! I don’t want to talk to you!” He had grabbed her arm, softly, and was drawing her in. She was reluctant, but he always could sway her. For a moment there was silence as they held each other, and in that thick silence a thousand words were uttered. But no amount of quietness could take the burden of speaking the words he had to.
“There’s a lead on Jaydie.”
Lar became rigid in his arms. He could sense her thinking of the weight of these simple words. “A girl… a woman with her description. She’s in Eastshore Pax. I’ve got to go after her.” Déjà vu. The same words he had told Johnny. The same words that had haunted him every day for twenty years.
She pulled away slightly so that she could look up at him. She was sorrow.
“You can’t leave.” Her voice is cracking. “You…” She paused to recollect herself. “I love you, Max. But you have to let this go. You have to…” He couldn’t take this. This time, it was his turn to pull away. When she spoke again her voice was strained, urgent. “Max, listen to me. You have to let this go. It’s been twenty years. If she even is still alive…”
“She is.” He growled.
“But there’s a chance she’s not.” Lara replied evenly. “Listen, even if she is… She’ll be how old? Thirty? Will she even recognize you? She’ll be living her own life. What makes you think she’ll even want to see you?” She was grasping at straws. She reached for him. He pulled away angrily.
“I don’t expect you to understand.” He growled. “But this… this is my daughter. Every day I catch her little face in the eyes of strangers. I see her dark hair and I… I see her smile…” his voice cracked, but his eyes did not spill over… they had been dry for fifteen years, hardened by the loss of his daughter and the life he’d been forced to live. “Listen! This is my daughter. And if there’s even a chance, no matter how small, that I can see her again... A chance to reclaim all those lost years that those bastards stole from us… I’d take it. And I’d take it a thousand times over.”
He knew she wouldn’t understand. He could never expect her to. She could never grasp how he could love the ghost of a memory more than her.
Lara panicked as he moved towards the door. She was desperation.
“Max, you can’t leave me! Please… please! I love you!” she reached for him, he turned away. She followed him into the hallway.
She was anger.
“Fine! Leave! I want you to! You never loved me anyway! How could you? When you were always looking over your shoulder, always looking towards the past! You were bad for me, and I should have let you go in the beginning! To hell with you if you think I’ll come with you!”
“I wouldn’t ask you to come with me! I wouldn’t put that on you!” he shouted back, turning, and she threw herself into him, grasping him. Silence again, apart from their rapid breathing as they both slowly settled down.
“I loved you, you know.” She whispered into the warmth of his neck.
She was reluctant acceptance.
***
Max reappeared.
They were waiting right at the entrance of the underground pathway, where he’d expected them. Essentially, it was a sewer system, but only half of it was used nowadays. The other half had been cleared out, around ten years ago when the military had decided that perhaps a way to get a foothold on the situation would be to simply drop a bomb and blitz the place, and in doing so they would need a bunker to put the live inhabitants of the city… thankfully, the plan had been dropped after international opposition, and the sewer bunker, at the most part, forgotten by the military. Only occasional patrols took soldiers near the entrances, and a quick glance at the inside was enough for them to be able to check it off the list.
So there would be no soldiers inside. But infected? Well… the sewer was only really used by Johnny and those he trusted, and although he swore on it’s safety… he never went through unarmed. Who could know? Today could be the unlucky day that a part of the tunnel had caved in, allowing the outside world to slip inside…
Well, they were well prepared if that was the case. They just had to keep their wits about them. As he approached, he pushed all thoughts of Lara to the back of his mind. This was no time for soft thoughts; he needed all his concentration and commitment on finding, and bringing back his daughter.
And taking down anyone who got in his way.
“Ready?” he commented gruffly, swinging Katya’s rucksack and weapons off his shoulder, and passing them to her. Johnny uncrossed his arms, then dug in his pocket, pulling out two small circular devices. He chucked one at Max, then at Katya to catch. “Here. Torches. Just give ‘em a shake when they start dulling.” Max attached it to his shirt. “That’s me then! Adeus, my friends.” Johnny gave a mock bow, and as he turned away, threw over his shoulder, “I hope you both find what you’re lookin’ for.”
Max surveyed the entrance. It was effectively a large horizontal pipe, tall enough to allow one to walk in without ducking, so it would be no problem for the horse. The inside was pitch black, and the metal bars that covered the entrance were rusted with age. He switched the torch on, stepped forward, and heaved, lifting the cover as far as he could. “After you two.”
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Sept 20, 2015 4:59:46 GMT
Johnny was clearly distracted by the time that Max showed up, staring off to the side where both the horse and girl had wandered off to. Of all things, they were focused on a patch of flowers that had managed to grow off to the side of the pathway. Katya had managed to pick some and tie them into her plaits as Max reappeared. Their change in focus and return to the entrance settled Johnny considerably, given that the horse wouldn’t let him near the girl. There had been no opportunity to get Katya to wait with him next to the entrance. Now he was about to be relieved of the burden, and his mood showed his feelings.
“Yeah,” Katya replied softly to Max’s question as she took back her weapons, attaching them to Kirill’s saddle. Catching the round device, Katya managed to momentarily blind herself before Johnny was able to explain what the devices were, blinking as her eyes readjusted. Sliding the torch into her bra, she watched Johnny leaving, obviously happy to be leaving the odd pair. He was much more accustomed to those like Max; Katya was a hippie nature lover from what he could see, making it surprising she’d survived this long in infected infested lands. Surprising, quite possibly suspicious. As it was, he soon left, his words sounding a little hollow to Katya. She wasn’t looking for anything, but the people to give her information to. Once that was accomplished, she and Kirill would be free to once again roam.
First, however, there was the underworld to pass through. Katya shivered a little before she slipped under the cover to enter, Kirill having only to flatten his ears to enter with an unhappy snort. The hooves echoed only slightly against the mud and moss growing in the old tunnel, making an eerie, echoing sound. “How… how long will it take to get there?” Katya asked softly so her voice wouldn’t carry, even though she was certain she already knew the answer: no idea.
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Post by Kelathi on Sept 30, 2015 20:55:44 GMT
He closed the opening as quiet as humanely possible, and yet it still sent an uneasy, metallic clang! echoing down the corridor. There was a pause as Max listened. Only when the noise died down, and no answer was heard in reply, did he begin to walk, clipping his torch onto the front of his shirt. Katya’s voice seemed very loud, but that was the underground for you. Every sound is amplified. It was a good things, in a way. Hopefully if anything was down here, they would hear it far before it was likely to cause a problem.
Unfortunately, the same might be said about them...
The hoof-beats were also unnaturally loud. Not for the first time, he mused that allowing the girl to bring the beast along would probably serve to be something he would regret in the near future. He found himself hoping she wasn't too fond of the horse, just in case the worst, and unfortunately most likely thing, were to happen... As stated before, the animal population was largely ignored by the infected. But equally he had never seen an infected turn their nose up at a cornered animal, whatever the species.
“It depends where he’s based himself this time. There’s a camp not far from here he’s been known to man, we’ll try there first. If he really is in the Rathole, that’s a five day walk.” He paused, glancing at the horse. “Ride, shorter. This is all infected dependent, of course.”
After a moment’s thought, he swung his rucksack onto his shoulder, pulling out two packages. “Here.” He offered them to her. “Protein bars. They’re dished out to the military when food is in shortage. Will keep you going for days. After that, food will depend on what we hunt and scavenge, and as I’m sure you’ll know, having travelled here all by yourself, pickings are not easy to come by.” It was hard to discern his meaning from his tone. Was there a question in there? Or an accusation?
After a moments silence, he added. “You really unsettled Johnny, by the way.” This was uttered with a near-humorless smile, the first sign of any emotion other than... grumpiness, since they’d met.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Sept 30, 2015 22:10:22 GMT
Kirill was as uncertain of Max’s presence as a danger as the other was of him, snorting softly before resigning himself to silence when his noise echoed. Katya patted his side to settle him, turning her attention back to Max as he spoke. She got an actual answer, to her surprise, nodding her response before realizing that Max was unlikely to be able to see it. By that point, it was too late to try and change the reply.
Taking the package, Katya sniffed at it warily as it was described, trying to fight a face. This was familiar… and definitely gross. Filling, but gross. The memory was pushed aside at his tone, Katya glancing to Kirill as if seeking an opinion on it.
“Unsettled?” she echoed before she could stop herself, pausing in her step. Was he… was he smiling? Katya wasn’t sure if the smile was pleasant, or, given the lack of humor, scary. “Well… he doesn’t seem to be much of an animal person,” she decided to say, not sure which way to take the unusual expression.
Her concern was shifted when her foot hit a rock, kicking it ahead as it landed with a soft splash in muddy water. Max was at that point the closest figure, so it was he that Katya rushed to, plowing into him with the tiniest whimper. It highlighted how delicate she was, her short frame so frail. After a few moments, she withdrew and listened, holding her breath. Nothing. She’d scared herself. And Kirill, if the momentary clack of a claw was any indication before his feet returned to hooves. “Sorry,” she whispered as she went faster, more concerned about being trapped underground than of what they might find.
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Post by Kelathi on Oct 26, 2015 16:28:18 GMT
He hadn’t noticed how he had unnerved her, in fact, he had been about to elaborate what he had meant until the clattering echo reverberated off the walls. Simultaneously, she had instinctively thrown herself at him, and the horse had also taken the moment to whinny in surprise at both the sudden movement and the noise.
Max had paused immediately, not due to the sound she had made, not even due to her sudden contact. But due to the fact that he was trying to listen for any response that might echo off the walls…
A few moments passed before he decided that it was safe… and he glanced at her as she pulled away, apologising quickly. Evidently, she was embarrassed, as she began to walk quickly. Annoyance surged through Max. “You should be. Jesus, if you’re going to jump at every rock, you’re going to be the death of me!” He growled, sharply. “And slow down. We don’t want you falling into a hidden crevice added to our list of problems.”
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Oct 27, 2015 4:51:19 GMT
“Death of you?!” Katya growled, suddenly spinning on her heel in the tunnel. Despite her anger and frustration, she kept her voice soft, if only to avoid unnecessary contact. “YOU are only coming along because I don’t know where this hideout thingy is! And I was forced into it by Johnny,” she added, pointing an accusing finger as if it was Max’s fault that Johnny had insisted. “YOU are going to be a giant target sign on our backs because you’re-! You’re…”
Shoulders slumping, Katya’s gaze fell, not out of fear but weariness. All the stress of being in a stupid tunnel after trying to deliver a stupid message to a stupid human who wasn’t there exploded at once. The anger was stilled only by remembering her mother’s words, reinforced by her father’s. Don’t make a point that there’s a distinction between humans and you. It had been so long since she had last had to use that advice. Kirill whickered, walking over to her to nuzzle her arm. Far more comforting than running into a human.
Instead of explaining her reaction, she calmed herself to reply that, “I won’t be falling into anything. Just get us out of this tunnel.” Being unhappy in enclosed surroundings was enough explanation, she decided.
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Post by Kelathi on Dec 3, 2015 23:55:18 GMT
“I wasn’t aware I was coming along. Last I checked, I was leading.” He had growled in reply, although his voice was notably just as quiet as hers. Survival was more important than gaining the audible upper hand, after all. They had paused as she had her little blowout, before she tried to move on by ordering him to get her out of the tunnel.
But he was far more interested in hearing what she had to say. There was no rush on his end. So he merely folded his arms, as formidable as a statue in the pressing darkness, and regarded her silently for a moment. “I’m what?” Choose your words carefully, girl. He found himself thinking. He didn’t need this. Johnny would most likely not be surprised if Max walked back and announced the girl had been eaten by infected. Or, he could not go back at all, and continue his search for his daughter, cut out the middle-man, so to speak. This was just a means to an end, after all.
That would not be a smart move. Johnny was a far-reaching man, and although seemingly friendly and laid-back… he was not an enemy Max wanted if he could avoid it. Running with pilfered items after not filling his end of the bargain would not lay well with the man.
It was a game of playing bluffs, a game that Max was good at.
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Post by Red Irish Dragon on Dec 4, 2015 2:51:08 GMT
It took several long moments after Max had questioned what Katya was going to say before she even realized he was no longer following. She twisted around mid step, about to question him when she realized what he had even asked. She had, after all, decided she wasn't going to answer any of his questions after that. With a second's study of Max, she saw she had no choice if they were to get out of this stupid tunnel. Especially since he saw himself obviously as some sort of "leader." Gah!
But what, exactly, would be her answer? Her thinking lasted mere moments before she came to her answer, but her thoughts had been spinning. Obviously she couldn't say "human" - there was a reason why she had stopped herself from saying it earlier. Kirill glanced at her, grasping at answers that didn't really suit the question. Or meant anything to the original sentence she was about to say. What would she say? Then, her eyes narrowed and nose scrunched up as she prepared for the reply.
"Old."
Spinning once more on her heel, Katya continued on, still skittish and frustrated enough to want to escape the tunnel with Kirill alone rather than wait for their so-called leader.
(Had to reply now because Katya's response just popped into my head and I had to write it down XD)
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