[017] - OOM - In Berinhed's Forest (Adventure II)

[tristranthorn]

In Berinhed's Forest Tristran outfaced on of the great, tawny eagles, who would have carried them both back to its nest to feed its young and was afraid of nothing at all, save fire.

Stardust, p.168 (Graphic Novel)

The star asks him where they are going, where they were. This is the only way Tristran will really know the names of places -- if someone asks him directly. He has no idea how he knows, but he knows.

"Up ahead is a forest," he answers her, "Berinhed's. We are on the path leading directly towards it; you can already see the trees."

He readjusts his shoulder-bag, getting lighter and lighter as the days pass by, and shrugs. "Unfortunately, I am running out of provisions. I do hope that there is a village somewhere on the other side of the forest."

Comments

[an_evening_star]

Her hand is in his before she even gets the chance to think about it and the complete ease of the gesture makes her shake her head in amusement.

"Very chivalrous of you, Prince Charming," she grins, words quietly murmured into his ear as he tugs her upward. "Now shall we continue down the path of not dying?"

[tristranthorn]

It is weird how it happens like that, how his heartbeat seems to suddenly quicken to a point of becoming uncomfortable as she murmurs into his ear and he isn't sure just what to do about it.

His hand does unknowingly tighten over hers, however, and he nods dumbly, clearing his throat.

"Yes," he replies, voice low. "Let's do just that."

[an_evening_star]

One quiet step forward and the star's eyes are already trained upward warily. She's still rather fond of the idea of her internal organs remaining internal for the moment.

Well, for more than the moment - but she figures she'll just take this one step at a time.

"Is this to be a fleeing sort of run," she inquires, still whispering. "Or a leisurely stroll with intentions of ending up very far away?"

[tristranthorn]

They have already begun walking, more or less hidden in leaves still.

"Can your leg handle a short run?" he inquires, concern reaching his eyes.

He wouldn't want to over-exert the star, after all.

"If all else fails, I ... I suppose I could carry you on my back."

[an_evening_star]

Her eyes widen for a moment - cheeks pale and lips parted noiselessly - before she shakes her head (perhaps a bit too forcefully).

"No, thank you. I mean, I will be fine," she glances at him, then quickly away and back up. "I will not break, Tristran."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran nods. He grips her hand properly so they won't lose each other, then begins leading her towards the path. He looks from left to right then up, to make sure no feathery giants are nearby.

They could remain hidden, but doing so would only mean they'd be running aimlessly through trees with no clear destination. He might be good with directions, but he isn't that good.

"Okay, let's...get out of here, then."

[an_evening_star]

"Okay," she agrees almost reluctantly - fingers tightening accordingly and sucking in a deep, steadying breath. This ought to be fun.

It's barely a few steps before the breath comes back out in a hissed whimper, eyes slitting to accompany the mental commentary of, 'Ow, ow - fuck - ow!'

No one ever claimed that Yvaine had a particularly pleasant mental commentary. She figures that it's a sign of maturity that it remains mental.

... or at least it would have if another loud screech hadn't prompted a yelped reiteration of some choice bits.

[tristranthorn]

Tristran doesn't hear any of the mental commentary voiced aloud, as he is very much preoccupied now with his own less vulgar choice of words.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he mutters, more to himself, before he searches around for any sign of the owner of that screeching.

He pulls the star along anyway, never stopping, even as a shadow passes over them.

[an_evening_star]

There's a swift swipe of something sharp and pointy dangerously close to their heads, followed quickly by a loud rumble of thunder from the now-dark sky.

"Oh, now that's necessary," she grits out - stumbling slightly and hissing out another painful breath, the fingers in his tangling tighter instinctively. "If we die now, I am going to be very displeased."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran lets go of her hand for a moment. "Find somewhere safe to hide," he tells her, completely taken over by some strange thing called Heroism.

It's probably the sword.

-- Which is being taken from its sheath now. He turns to the giant bird which has now spotted them and isn't quite willing to let go of possible prey -- her children are hungry, after all. It tries to swipe at the two of them, talons attempting to grasp at Yvaine.

He might not be at the same level as Alberic, but he can still handle the sword with relative ease.

"Quickly!" he tells the star as the bird lets out a deafening screech.

[an_evening_star]

For a moment the tone of his voice alone is enough to make her back up slightly - but only for a moment and just enough to comply to getting behind him in some sort of fashion.

"If you think that I am going to abandon you, Tristran Thorn," she replies stubbornly, hands bracing out to her sides and chin tilting. "You have another thing coming, you bloody moron!"

The thunder alone makes her shake and she doesn't precisely have any idea how one should go about being helpful in this sort of situation, but she's not leaving either.

[tristranthorn]

"Yvaine," he starts, turning to look at her briefly.

He really ... well, he appreciates it, but he would rather she be safe and sound (and not to mention, she does have a broken leg that isn't fully healed yet), and being behind him is the last place to stay safe as far as he's concerned.

"Please, Yvaine. You'll be safer out of harm's way. If the eagle tries to grab you --"

Well, he really doesn't know what he would do.

[an_evening_star]

"Then it tries, Tristran," she snaps right back at him, voice sounding far more secure than she particularly feels. "I am not going to break - gods know that if I haven't yet, I am not going to now."

She peers forward at the looming shape, lips curling into a smirk, "Not over some over-sized feather pillow with an attitude problem, at least."

Very large pot of eagle chicken soup? Meet unnecessarily shiny kettle.

[tristranthorn]

He lets out a deflated sigh just as the eagle tries once more to clutch at them. Tristran quickly pushes him and Yvaine forward, barely missing the large claw, then straightens, slashing his sword at it. It swoops up slightly, screeching its irritation.

"All right," he concedes with another sigh. "Just...stay close to me."

[an_evening_star]

"Thought that was the point," she quips and scrabbles backward accordingly - eyes flickering from the rather pressing concern in her immediate view to skitter along the ground for something (anything) of use.

"Do you think it will just get bored?" she winces in her own irritation as the sky rumbles ominously once more ands then sets itself alight. "I mean, we are rather scrawny."

Probably don't even taste any good.

[tristranthorn]

"I don't think it'll likely give up, if that's what you are implying," Tristran tells her, turning his eyes to her briefly before slashing once more at the eagle with his blade. He is more or less successful, until it swipes at his arm, leaving a gash in his jacket.

And then out of no where, another eagle appears from the opposite direction, squawking in kind to its companion.

This is not good.

[an_evening_star]

"Oh, come on now - we are hardly even bite-sized!" she turns - shoulders stiff and back pressing to his, one set of fingers twining into his coattail. "I do hope that we make you violently ill."

The rain starts then, droplets heavy and cold, as startling as the thunder itself - catching on the tawny feathers of the eagles and sending a shiver down her spine.

[tristranthorn]

Tristran swings his blade at the eagle before him, just as the other one comes and grabs his arm, lifting him above the ground.

He lets out a surprised yelp, swinging his legs slightly and blinking the rain out of his eyes.

[an_evening_star]

Her grip tightens and she lets out a noise of her own - half startled and half furious. This is not supposed to be happening.

The star's voice rises shrilly as the eagle now behind her lets out another threatening screech.

"That is it!" she fumes, words punctuated rather neatly with a sudden bright flash as lightning strikes a nearby tree, splitting the trunk down the middle and setting the wood ablaze.

[tristranthorn]

As the flames begin to lick and consume the tree, illuminating the dark with red and orange and smoke, the pair of eagles suddenly shriek, flapping their wings frantically.

The extra wind only increases the size of the flames as they grow, spreading to the next tree, and soon the next despite the heavy rain.

Another screech, and the eagle holding Tristran lets go. He falls to the ground, sword clattering somewhere next to him from the surprise of being dropped.

[an_evening_star]

The star was being brave and indignant - yes. Very brave and very very indignant and brave people don't stand stock-still, not breathing, because of a little cosmic light show.

She is a cosmic light show.

She swallows a bit shakily and drops down to her knees beside Tristran (ignoring the protest from her leg) - eyes still trained upward at the sudden flurry of desperate motion from the large eagles hovering overhead.

[tristranthorn]

Tristran sits up, rubbing his head. It could have been worse, and at least he made it alive.

"How did you do that?" he asks, turning his head to Yvaine.

[an_evening_star]

Alive is good.

Yvaine is a staunch supporter of being alive - and remaining alive. Even for him.

"Do what?" her voice is quiet again, a little uncertain as she blinks wide blue eyes back at him. "I didn't do anything."

[tristranthorn]

"The lightning?" He gestures to the trees, now slowly spreading more and more flame as it dashes from leaf to leaf.

The two eagles have begun to swoop in panicked circles, squawking loudly as though frustrated that they came so close to capturing proper prey.

"You didn't...do it?"

[an_evening_star]

"Make lightning?" her head shakes slightly, letting out a slight, wavery laugh. "I am a star, Tristran. Not a witch."

The fire spreads wildly, the lightened rain doing little to stop it's sweeping path, flames leaping higher - much to the continued agitation of the birds overhead.