[PRP] Comin' Around the Mountain (Adamaz x Panili)

[Wizardy Herbert]

Two young orangebloods who like to take walks meet each other on the mountainside.

 

[Wizardy Herbert]

Adamaz needed to clear his head. Things had been… stressful for a while. The cave mission, the swamp… the party. These things combined, he hadn’t been feeling himself. He’d been having trouble meditating, too. What better way to clear ones head than a good long walk.

The weather was nice; a hot day coupled with a clouded night left the air warm enough to walk up the mountain trails without too much gear. Adamaz pulled on a thicker pair of (still torn) jeans, some scratchy wooly socks, and thick hiking boots. He put on a second sweatshirt over his favorite one, and some fingerless gloves. He looked up – yup, Papa Roach was napping in his hair. Perfect. He set out for the Busthind Mountain trails.

There weren’t too many; despite the locale, most trolls that live there aren’t too keen on venturing up the mountains themselves. The dangerous terrain and occasional snows on the taller peaks made it simply not worth it. Nevertheless, Adamaz wound his way over his mountain’s trails, all the way around it to another peak. He was up for some exploring, and sought out a good trail to start.

In this valley, normally the stars shown between the peaks, completely free of all lights of civilization and even the light of the moon, which hadn’t yet climbed over the tallest Busthind Peak. Tonight, however, the clouds left the most of the mountains concealed, much less the sky. Adamaz climbed up, careful not to climb so far as to sink into the mists above him.

Sypon

 

[Sypon]

On top of one of the steeper peaks of Busthind stood Panili’s hive, gleaming like a geodesic lighthouse amongst the stars. Tonight’s walk was blessed – moon rays cast reflections from the dome onto what she expected her trail to be and (after a confirming vision of her putting on her sandals) Panili set out with her favorite walking stick. There was no social goal today, just high minded thinking on a very high place. Shmothma was close behind, gibbering quietly as a few stray insects found their way into her mouth. Shmothma was an excellent practice in focus. Her constant noises were like… White noise now, and thankful for her protective presence as she was Panili also couldn’t imagine meditating without the soothing rhythm of her wingbeats close behind. Though she would have settled for less hunting during her walks and relaxation sessions. Alas.

Rounding a long switchback, Panili took a look at the sky and closed her eyes. Yes. Something about this spot, an outcropping shielded from the wind, seemed right. She had brought her notepad with her to write some notes, as well as a snuggleplane in case the weather turned sour. Laying it down folded, she pressed her sitbones against it and rested her hands on top of her thighs. Back relaxed, shoulders unwinding, eyes drifting shut. Perfect. The mist below her was a thick sea, her rocky sitting place above the billowing, soft waters. Air peaceful, night quiet – and Shmothma’s small screaming noises elicited as she hunted and caught a squeakbeast.

Wizardy Herbert

 

[Wizardy Herbert]

What had been a relaxing walk meant to clear his head had quickly turned into a complete wash. The clouds had darkened above and it had begun to rain; the clouds were heavy and sank to cover the trails Adamaz was walking. He had lost the path, and didn't know how to get back down without encountering the slope.

Great.

This had been how most of Adamaz's recent ventures had been. Always, he had begun with the best intentions: show someone the FRS and make a friend; get involved with the military to keep in the crown's relatively good grace; obey mysterious and ominous messages to keep in the ... whatever it was you kept in for following mysterious ominous messages. Every single time, it all ended with disaster. This venture was no different, apparently. With his luck, a thunderstorm would roll in and zap him. Adamaz took a sip of water from one of his water bottles. Instead of raising his spirits, he began to wonder why he tried keeping them up at all.

Adamaz wandered the mists among the mountains and wondered how he'd make his way down before the sun came out. And, if his shoes were edible. He'd meant to be back by lunch.

Sypon

 

[Sypon]

Above the layer of mist, Panili took a deep breath in and out. Suddenly, a head popped up into view like a burrowing-plains-creature.
“Oh! Hello!” Panili exclaimed. She went to blink, but her eyes were already closed. Opening them, there was no troll’s head in sight. It took a split second to register: future vision! Someone was down below. She could barely remember the flash from her vision, but the troll in question seemed to be young. She held off on calling for Schmothma.

“I mean, uh… Hello, down there!” She called again. Panili broke her position and leaned forward over the cliff face, blowing the mist a bit to try and get visibility. She would simply have to wait for the orange-horned noggin to show back up again. What a silly image! Hopefully the troll was friendly. Just in case, she was confident knowing that her hungry lusus was only a flap away.

Wizardy Herbert

 

[Wizardy Herbert]

The clouds had thinned to mist, but that was no comfort. No visibility meant climbing down was treacherous – one bad step meant he was a goner. But staying put was no good either – he had come here to walk, darn it. No inclement happenstance was going to stop him now. He trekked upward instead, convinced that was probably safer. Papa Roach had become concerned for his ward, but not worried. He was being more hard-headed than usual, but such a tough boy, sweet boy. He’ll make it through. And so Adamaz climbed. And climbed. Soon, he reached a cliff face. He sighed, and against the chittering of Papa Roach, he looked for a handhold and continued upwards. He was huffing and sweating – his hair deflated with the weight of the damp mist.

Adamaz wasn’t sure what he expected from his ascent, but it sure wasn’t a friendly hello echoing down from above the clouds. He nearly stopped, but figured he was hallucinating or something and kept walking. And again, a hello – a voice he’d never heard before. Once again, he considered calling back. Skittering above, guiding Adamaz to handholds, Papa Roach popped up through the clouds first. His feelers danced as he spotted another troll and a lusus waiting there for them, and he chittered urgently to Adamaz. Don’t be rude, old sport! Say hello! There is a girl here.

When his head had broken through the mist, Adamaz’s eyes immediately fell on the girl, and he took in her appearance – friendly, welcoming, lowblooded, and relaxed. She was resting just a few steps in front of him on a snuggleplane folded up at the edge of the cliff he was climbing. Her lusus fluttered behind her, sniffing the air. Waiting for them – he ignored it and looked back at her. She seemed… serene. Something about her reminded him of his books on meditation. Looking aside and behind, he saw now that, above the clouds, the peaks stretched above the grey, and that their shadows cozily convoked beneath the patient stars and moons above. It was a little breathtaking, how sharp the escape from the murk had shifted to the serenity he had sought. So breathtaking, it took a moment to remember his manners.

“H..Hello.” His voice was muffled by the open sky.

“I’m really lost. Also, Adamaz.”

Sypon

 

[Sypon]

“Ah!”

Adamaz’s head popped up, and Panili did a brief double-take. Her vision hadn’t deceived her. As a fluffy head of hair and set of horns emerged from below, she giggled. “Hello, Adamaz. I’m Panili.”

Schmothma fluttered nearby, snout wiggling up and down with curiosity. As if to sooth her, Panili put out a hand, and the lusus kept her distance. “Is that your lusus? Hello! Sorry to hear you’re lost, but perhaps I can help! Come on up here. I was just meditating and doing some breathing.”

She got to her feet and dusted off her leggings, sliding her scarf back into place. It seemed to be a good time as any to pack up. “Are you from Busthind, or just passing through?”

Wizardy Herbert

millions of years have passed

 

[Wizardy Herbert]

Adamaz grunted, and hauled himself the rest of the way up the cliff. He lay there for a moment, face up on the cliff, still recovering from the shock of finding his way through the bad weather on the mountain to the misty respite. He looked again to the snuggleplane, the girl, the lusus, the sky, the girl, down into the mist, the girl.

"Uh."

Adamaz registered Panili's questions a couple seconds after each was said. He inclined his head to look at Papa Roach. Of course, being high on his head, Pops did not enter his view until he shuffled through the wet mop of mohawk to settle directly on top of Adamaz's face. The boy pointed at the scuttlebeast on his head, going slightly cross-eyed to look at him.

"Yup. 'Smy Lusus," he slurred. His tired arm slapped wetly on the ground. "M'from Busthind. I..." He trailed off as he slogged through another exhausted thought. "M..meditate? You meditate too?"

Sypon

Archaeologists found another post

 

[Sypon]

“Oh!” She responded. Panili clapped her hands together, making a soft patting sound. “Meditating is one of my favorite things. Especially when it’s as quiet as it is up here.” She tapped her chin.

“Do you need directions back home? If you have time you could warm up at my hive! I have some really good new tea I’d like to try.” Panili’s smile was small and genuine. She pushed and pulled at her hair in anticipation of his question, positioning it finally in front of her shoulders to stave off some of the cold.