Hard as Stone, Cold as Ice

[Laehval tTemarr 0]

Hard as Stone, Cold as Ice

 

A Collaboration by:

El’Riov Laehval t’Temarr, Arrain Destorie N’Dak & Erein Lill t’Ditsy (NPC)

 

 

 

Water ran red as Laehval scrubbed the last of the snake blood off of her hands. Her clothing was now mottled with patches of deep red and green, souvenirs of both the serpent’s death and N’Dak’s wounds. Moving to the small clearing where they'd wrapped all the meat they could carry into the large leaves, she bent to stuff a few more in her pack. Her gaze flickered over N’Dak who was seated across the clearing, his eyes closed as he stole a few moments of rest.

 

“Are we ready to depart?”

 

“Ie. I believe so.”

 

N’Dak took a breath against the pain and sat up, then struggled to his feet. Despite his outward displays of strength, he was in tremendous pain. Though bandaged, the snake bites he’d sustained still bled sluggishly and he felt slightly weak from the loss of blood. Sharp pains jabbed him with every breath, a few ribs no doubt broken when the snake had tried to squeeze him to death. Grabbing for his makeshift walking stick, he also shouldered his own pack, now full of the snake’s meat. He was determined not to show any weakness, especially not to Laehval.

 

Unbeknownst to N’Dak, Laehval had stuffed most of the meat into her own pack, giving the male a chance to ease his wounded body. She knew that he was in more pain that he admitted. Erein t’Ditsy had the third pack, carrying their rations and the water bottle. Laehval kept control of the ISD that mapped out their course, not willing to trust the other woman with the precious information. After interviewing t’Ditsy, she’d discovered that the hopeless Engineer had departed the Talon without taking an ISD. Still, they had two working ISDs with which to make comparisons and hopefully to further their expeditions. Between the three of them, they now had three full days of standard rations, an abundant amount of snake meat that they could use to supplement their meals, three blades, one disruptor pistol, and one water bottle.

 

Checking to make certain that both her knife and her weapon were in place at her hip, Laehval shouldered her pack, adjusted it to a comfortable position, and glanced toward the sky. “I thought we could make some headway while looking for a good place to camp. The sun is sinking ever lower and soon we’ll have no light. The smell of fresh blood will also draw predators to this spot.”

 

“Agreed. We should get moving. According to my ISD, the river widens a few kilometers ahead and winds through the forest. If we follow it, we will stay on track. There is a canyon listed on the map as well. Perhaps we can find shelter there.” Reaching down, N’Dak holstered his bloody dagger into place. Choosing a path parallel to the river, he led the way through the sandy soil that lined the bank. Though obviously in pain, he kept to a brisk pace, anxious to reach cover before nightfall.

 

“Here.” Laehval passed her ISD to him, throwing him a sidelong glance. “While we walk, compare the two of them to see if we can get any additional information. We can study them more in detail once we camp, but it will give au something to take aur mind off things.”

 

Knowing that she was trying to provide him with a distraction from the pain, N’Dak took it with a nod and began to look it over. Occasionally, he would glance behind them to make certain that t’Ditsy was keeping up and hadn’t wandered away. When he grew tired of staring at topographical maps, he put the two ISDs away. Though he kept a keen eye on their surroundings, his attention kept shifting to Laehval. She was paying no attention to him whatsoever.

 

“Laehval, au don’t trust me or like me, do au?”

 

“Mmm, not especially. Na. Never had a reason to.” Her tone flat and emotionless, she finally glanced his way, one eyebrow arching at the question. “Does that bother au?”

 

“To an extent.”

 

N’Dak stared at her for a long moment, gauging her reaction. He had wanted to speak with her for some time now, but had never found the opportunity. Though he would have preferred to have some privacy, he figured that t’Ditsy wasn’t observant enough to follow their conversation. Indeed, as he looked back to where she straggled behind them, he saw she was too interested in collecting little pieces of broken shells and smooth river pebbles. Sighing, he returned his attention to the stone-faced engineer beside him.

 

“I don’t blame au, really. I don’t think au realize, however, that we are not so different.”

 

“How so? Do enlighten me. I’ve wanted to crack into aur skull for ages now.” Dryly, she turned her gaze from him again, focusing on the path and the forest that grew ever closer. A hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth at her play on words. She hadn’t glared at him yet, which meant she was in a contemplative rather than a defensive mood.

 

“We are frozen hearts, au and I.”

 

Neither confirming nor denying his statement, Laehval continued to visually scan the area. “And why do au think aur heart is frozen?”

 

“Aur circumstances are similar to mine. Only …” N’Dak paused, pushing aside his memory of that one day so many years ago when he, the proudest of all Rihans, had fallen to his knees in tears. “Only, I am the cause of my own sorrows.”

 

“So are we all.” Her voice strangely quiet, she threw him a sidelong glance. Not surprisingly, she didn’t ask for details.

 

“We are both so cold to the touch … unreachable.” A heavy sigh escaped him, but he continued. “We keep those around us at arm’s length, never becoming a part of any group, never experiencing friendship.”

 

“It is better that way.” She’d told herself that over and over again. After a short while, she actually started to believe it. Clearing away the emotion that choked her, Laehval flicked a hand to the forest as they neared the tree line, hastily changing the subject. “Let us find a good spot to make camp and settle in for the evening.”

 

Had N’Dak actually cracked the veneer of the ice queen? He’d detected the change of her tone, but didn’t comment. There would be time later. “Through the canyon, I think. There should be plenty of cover. The map shows several clusters of rock through this area.”

 

As they entered the forest, the foliage began to thicken until they were forced to leave the river and make short detours where they could push through the underbrush. The forest floor gradually sloped downward, outcroppings of rock rising to steep ravines which formed into a full fledged canyon. The river widened into a madly rushing current which tumbled over boulders and splashed down several levels of waterfalls. The air grew heavy and humid and everything about them grew a vibrant green. The dying light overhead through gentle rays through the forest canopy, dappling the thick debris below that muffled their footsteps.

 

Like sleeping giants, the moss-covered boulders began to appear, scattered through the trees. Moss grew rampant, covering riverbanks, trees, and boulders alike. The place felt ancient, and somewhat forbidding. Soon enough, they had discovered a prime camping spot among those hulking rocks, choosing a cluster that formed a nearly perfect ring. The river rushed past them only a few meters away, though the roar was muted by the dense flora.

 

N’Dak kneeled in the center of the ring that t’Ditsy had cleaned of all debris. A small, stone ringed, pile of leaves and twigs were piled before him. “If au can gather the wood and arrange it, I can start a fire.”

 

“With what? Two sticks rubbing together?” Laehval snorted as she dropped her pack, moving out of sight to gather wood.

 

“Actually, I was thinking rocks.” He smirked at her retreating form. “When I was a young child, my father used to take me camping in the woods around Hien’rhe.”

 

“That must have been lovely.” Sprawled out on the ground beside him, t’Ditsy gazed up at his handsome form, just now realizing how muscular he was. She watched him intently, taking any opportunity to stare.

 

“It was.” Sighing softly. He had no idea how strongly his next words would effect the female. “Koga and I often went out on such adventures.”

 

She sighed heart-wrenchingly at the mention of his very name, her dreamy-eyed expression now permanently fixed on N’Dak. He was not as muscular as her unrequited love, but he was, perhaps, the only possible substitute. Murmuring, she smiled. “Did au take aur shirt off on many occasions?”

 

“What?” N’Dak peered at her, preoccupied as he chose two rocks from those about them. “Did au say something?”

 

“Nothing of importance.” Now smiling a secret smile, she lost herself in her own delicious thoughts.

 

Oblivious, N’Dak began striking two small rocks together, each making a tiny spark. One of them caught fire to the pile of loose leaves, smoldering. He blew lightly on the ember until the surrounding area caught fire as well. Painstakingly adding twig by twig, the fire was crackling merrily by the time Laehval returned with an armful of dry branches.

 

“Ooooooh … impressive.” t’Ditsy blinked back into reality as the fire began to grow.

 

“Thank au.” N’Dak chuckled, glad the darkness hid his slight blush.

 

Hours later, the sun had disappeared completely, throwing the forest into true night. The fire flickered and sparked, sheltered inside the ring of boulders, giving the trio plenty of warmth and light. A crude spit had been arranged above the flames and skewered upon it were several pieces of snake meat. Each had been skinned and thoroughly cleaned, and now they sizzled over the flames. Occasionally they could hear the shuffling of small creatures, but the fire kept them at bay.

 

Laehval sat with her back to one of the rocks, her legs crossed loosely beneath her. An ISD in each hand, she flipped through both of them at the same time, her gaze darting back and forth as she compared maps. Ignoring the other two that sat only feet away, she concentrated instead on their location and the route they should travel the next day.

 

Unable to stand the silence, N’Dak shifted closer to the fire to soak in some of its warmth. “Perhaps au were right. The elements did smile upon me today.”

 

“It is fortunate that our paths crossed.” She replied, though did not look up. Her brow creased, furrowing as she gave something a closer inspection. Amazingly enough, her words were neutral, rather than layered with wishful thinking. “Otherwise, au might not be alive.”

 

“Or, perhaps it is better still that au had a moment of weakness when our paths did cross and saved me?” Speaking softly, he stared at her, watching as she worked.

 

“Saving aur life was weakness?” Her chin lifted and she returned his gaze. The dancing flames made her features seem softer than usual. She was not a beautiful woman, but in the dim light she could almost pass for pretty.

 

“I am sure there would be quite a few dry eyes on the ship had I perished. The Enarrain would have most likely commended au.” He covered the bitter words with humor.

 

“Au underestimate aur worth. It she wanted au dead, she would have let the lashes continue.” Her jaw clenched as the image of t’Vixen’s lifeless body rose to memory.

 

“Perhaps.” His voice softer still, he let the conversation lapse into silence for a few moments.

 

“Tell me, Laehval, how do au do it?”

 

“Do what?” The ISDs in her hand clattered softly together as she stacked them and slid them inside one of the packs. Feigning disinterest, she rifled about for the water bottle.

 

“How do au live without the one au love?” The question barely a whisper, he was staring into the fire now rather than meet her gaze.

 

“I pine over him, memorize his daily schedule, and paper my walls with holos of his manly visage.” Murmuring sleepily to herself as she tended the cooking snake meat, it was t’Ditsy that first answered his question. She was only half paying attention to them, however, preferring her own daydreams.

 

The bottle slipped from Laehval’s hand in the same instant, and fell to her lap. Her chin trembling, she stared at him, a bit shocked at the question. “Au … au are treading on very dangerous ground.” She sounded more sorrowful than threatening.

 

“Aren’t I always?” He glanced back to her now. “That’s how I live. Always on the edge. Each time I nearly cross into the next life, I am reminded that I am still alive.”

 

Covering the slip of her steely façade, Laehval uncapped the water bottle and took a very long swig. She refused to meet N’Dak’s mournful eyes. Once she had control of herself again, she replied. “Love is not something I discuss. With anyone.”

 

“Perhaps that is aur problem.”

 

“Na. It is my strength. That is how I survive. It is na one’s business but my own.” Pushing the subject away as she always did, the brief glimpse of her true self had disappeared.

 

“One day … perhaps au will have a reason to change aur mind.”

 

“Perhaps.” Settling back to wait for the meat to finish cooking, she kept her gaze focused anywhere but upon N’Dak. “But not any day soon.” Murmuring to herself.

 

The silence of the fire engulfed them, broken only by shifting wood or the popping of embers. Glowing ash rose on heated air toward the few stars that could be seen, winking out of existence in the cool air above. All lost in their own thoughts on that peaceful night, the three had seemed to forget that somewhere beyond the trees, beyond the canyon, and beyond the very planet itself … the hunter awaited. No doubt, they would soon be reminded of their status as prey.