Reflections [Open]

[Cascade]

Now she was actually mad. Who did this guy think he was? "I have a sense of adventure, but I also have a sense of self-preservation," she shot back, "But you're right, I just don't appreciate anything about my home. Thank you, mysterious stranger. Who would have guessed that a guy who met me five minutes ago actually knows me better than I know myself? Are there any other aspects of my personality that you would like to inform me about before you go up the mountain and get yourself killed by a crazy immortal?"

She usually didn't get this angry, but dammit, he deserved it. Self-important little...well, the comment about his mother seemed to hit a nerve in him that she hadn't intended to hit, but still. She was the real victim here, right?

[Deleted]

Now he had braced himself for such a reaction as he was getting. It was, however, especially discomforting to hear someone that he had seemed to be on the right path with expressing her anger with him. So he twisted his neck and let his head rest lazily on the base of the tree as she continued to be unpleasant. In an effort to defend himself, he decided that she misinterpreted him.

I can't do this without her..

What "this" was, he wasn't entirely sure. Aurix knew however, that if he was going to find out more about this power, and come closer to understanding it, he couldn't just march off by himself anymore. So in a frustrated twitch he smacked his muzzle into the tree and then turned around to face her.

"... That wasn't what I meant when I said that.. at all."

When he had lied about Verec it was arguably not something that he could have foresaw or, in ill intentions promised. This, however, was something new entirely.

I can't risk admitting that I was rude.

It may have in fact been that he was too proud to lose to her again, but there was also that idea. It was hard for him to squeeze out more lies, and he wasn't entirely sure that he could sound convincing enough. He tried anyways.

"What I meant is that.. He froze for a moment and was terrified that he couldn't come up with anything else to say.

"You should try hunting like I do.. I mean, I was still thinking about that. You said that you don't hunt deer."

Ugh.

Aurix almost hoped that Chandler could see through this one. The last thing that he wanted was for her to feel apologetic about protecting herself. He wouldn't be able to get past that any time soon.

Well, maybe quickly enough anyways.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't more clear about it. I'm not used to people feeling concerned about me so I changed the subject." He could barely tell what was the truth anymore, so he assumed that was the point where it was good enough to confuse others. A little part of him seemed to die in the process, but in light of what he though was at stake, it seemed like all he could do.

"I've been thinking a lot about what I believe in. I was confused, and I ended up here. Defending the weak and doing the right thing is what's important, and I think you helped me remember that.. but.. I can't follow these beliefs if I'm too weak to. I'm here because I was too weak, and this power that you talk about might be the only thing that can change that. At least, I hope it is." He wasn't sure why he had just told her this, and even more unsure of why she would be interested, but it only seemed right considering what he was doing to her.

I'm a damn fool and a liar.

I can't protect anyone.

Not even from myself.

At least he still knew the truth.

[Cascade]

Okay, this wasn't fair. Now he was making her feel bad. He tried to backpedal again, but she knew he had meant what he said. Still, she realized she didn't have any more of a right to be a jerk to a guy she just met than he did to be a jerk to her.

"Look," she sighed, not even believing what she was about to say, "You're a double idiot for thinking that having a magic power will make you strong and solve all your problems. Like you're seriously dumb and all of your dreams are going to fall apart in an instant when you realize that I'm right. But I appreciate that you are at least doing it for the right reason, so if you promise to stop making me feel like I just kicked a puppy, I will take you up to where the magic wolves are and you can ask for magic if you really want to. Which you shouldn't. But I'll take you anyway."

[Deleted]

Well, he had won. At least he saw it this way. He also thought that it was a pretty important victory, too. If she hadn't forgave him for being inappropriately blunt, she sure did put up a better show than he could. If that was the case, well,

He didn't want to think about that. He had won, after all.

However, regardless of why she was doing this, she had the very correct point that he needed to back off of her. He had almost cost himself any hope at the power with one stupid comment. That kind of fragility was sure to drive him off of the side of any mountain before he met any magical wolves.

So rather than fighting her opinions on the magic wolves, he decided to instead assume (pretend) that she was just being as playful and silly as he was going to be.

So by the time she said "You're a double idiot for thinking that having a magic power will make you strong", he was in an entirely different mindset. He could tell that she wasn't as upset as just a minute before. While it pained him that he had been such a slippery, hypocritical fraud for getting himself to this position, it was incredibly relieving to be back on good terms. So he'd try to make the best of it.

"I'm not afraid of a mountain and some old wolves.. and if you are.. I'm not saying you are.. well, I'll protect you then." Of course he was just being as friendly and light as possible under the circumstances, but he was beginning to feel like her warnings did warrant some caution if he couldn't be turned away.

The spot where he had nervously dug at the base of the tree was starting to expose a root and, seeing this, he rushed over and pawed a little more at it until it was absolutely clear that a wolf had dug into the structure. Then, carefully he nudged a few thorns into the gap and turned back to her, chuckling before he could even look at her in the eyes.

"Now, if this adventure we're embarking on does kill me, you can always have this little marking to remember how you were chivalrous enough to save poor little Aurix from a monster bush.. and the thorns are there in case you forget how I was stupid enough to get killed." His sides ached a little more from his laughing by the time he collected himself and slowed down to let her take the lead of the conversation.

"So, my friend, what next?" His head cocked to the side, he watched his new companion closely and listened greedily.

[Cascade]

(Aaah, I'm so sorry! I always check my character list thread when I am catching up on posts, but I don't have Chandler in there yet so I forgot about her D'

"I'm not afraid," she huffed indignantly, "I'm just perfectly content with not being a mutated freak, thank you very much. But since you would clearly rather roll the dice on being some crazy's science experiment, go ahead and follow me. Just don't come crying to me when she turns you pink or grinds your bones to make her bread or something, because I warned you."

Chandler looked up, searching out the mountain over the tops of the trees. It was west of where they stood, and a little south. Pretty much on the opposite end of the valley. The young wolf sighed deeply. Why her? All she wanted was a nice rest underneath the tree. Still, she had given him her word.

"This way," she barked, making it clear that she wasn't happy about it as she turned due west and loped off into the trees.