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 Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:44 am
Moose - Callum
There were many things Callum was prepared for in this life.
Being stuck in a hidden crevasse was not one of them.
Fool that he was, Callum had gone off to explore the landscape of Oba on his own in the few hours before his merchant friend would leave for Jauhar. He'd gone in search of the water springs, throat parched and dry from the harsh heat. Callum was the adventurous sort, and had taken a lesser traveled route, which proved dangerous. He'd no more than spotted the spring when the ground below him gave way and dropped him into an underground pit.
At first he'd tried pulling himself out, but the sides were just too slick. And no matter how high he jumped he couldn't grasp the ground above. Not only that, but the ground was sandy, making him wary of messing with it too much. As of now he was stuck in stone, but his jumping around might end up burying him beneath a mound of sand. At least it was cooler here than it had been on the surface. He might have thought it a well if there hadn't been shelves lining the walls. It looked like an abandoned smugglers hideout, which would have been interesting if he wasn't stuck.
"Is anyone out there?" Callum cupped his hands around his mouth and tried calling out one more time. His dry voice cracked and the volume wasn't nearly as loud as he would have liked. "Help!"
Corny - Dexurn
Dexurn really didn't like traveling during the day, but his attempt to stop in the last Oban town had been.. too eventful for his tastes. Between half the people there outright treating him like a servant as though nothing had changed, walking into an occupied inn room to get mistaken for a thief, and tripping into and knocking over a clothing stall in the market, he was more than happy to move on despite getting nothing done that he needed.
He was ecstatic when he came upon the water spring. He dropped to his knees and dunked his whole face in, practically inhaling the delicious drink. He looked up when a strange noise echoed past him, but looking around revealed no sign of the source. He was scooping up another drink when that weak yell finally reached his ears. Dex jumped to his feet, looking around again. Over there?
Slowly moving toward the now visible hole, he hesitated. Maybe it was a trap? Bandits were all over the place... However, the expanse was fairly open, and no one else was in sight. Creeping closer, he got down into his hands and knees to peek over the edge and into the pit. There was a ghost down there! Wait, how could a ghost get stuck? "Hello?" he replied softly, still unsure of the pale man down in the dark. "Are.. you okay?"
Moose - Callum
He was ready to give up for the moment when he started to cough. His throat felt as if something had scratched it, or perhaps he'd swallowed a barbed seed. Callum was already preparing to tuck is legs in to sit down when a soft voice caught him off guard. He looked up, raising one hand to shield his eyes from the sun to see a very blue, very strange young man. His head fins gave him away as Matorian, even if Callum had yet to actually meet one himself. This was his first, and if he could help, then he would exalt him like a God.
"Not-" He cleared his throat and tried again. "Not really. I was trying to get to the spring when I fell in. Would you mind helping me out of here?"
Corny - Dexurn
Dex cocked his head, brow knitting. The guy down there sounded like he'd swallowed a mouthful of sand. He did hear the comment about the spring though. "Hold on, please," he said, scooting away and hurrying back to the spring. There, he refilled his canteen with fresh water. When he returned, he tossed down the canteen to the man. "So.. you can't climb outta there?" He asked, one hand reaching down to feel the walls. They were dry up by the surface, but he could tell that the shadowed areas were slick. By the time the sun and heat dried the walls, the pale man would probably be dried to a crisp as well!
Moose - Callum
"Wait-!" Callum tried to call after him, but his voice was barely above a squeak. In that instant he panicked. What if he didn't come back? Callum placed his hands against the cool stones surrounding him, and looked up, trying his hardest not to freak out too much. He hadn't realized just how close he was to it until the opportunity for escape was close at hand.
And then, he came back with..."Thank the Gods." Callum bent down to picked up the canteen. Never before had he drunk water so greedily, but this thirst was great. It soothed the ache in his throat, and helped to cool his mind. Looking back up once again he shook his head. "I've tried. I even tried impaling my sword into the wall so I could pull myself up, but I couldn't get it to go far enough to support me. You...wouldn't happen to have any rope, would you?"
Corny - Dexurn
Boy, that guy was thirsty. ..Understandably so, though. Dex couldn't help a tiny sigh of relief. Looked like the guy actually needed help.
He didn't respond at first, just staring down into the hole while thinking about the possibilities. Filling the hole slowly with sand might help, but it could also collapse and bury the guy alive. The walls looked too slick for him to jump down and carry the guy back out. The shelves didn't come high enough to make the climb easier. He didn't have a home to run back to for any supplies. ...Rope? ...Of course!
Looking down at himself, he quickly untied the thick belt of rope from around his waist. Stretching out flat on his belly, he scooted until his shoulders were over the ledge, letting his arms and the rope hang down as far as they could. His end of the rope looked securely around his hand, and he silently prayed that he wouldn't slip down there as well.. "Might need to use those shelves.. can you reach that?"
Moose - Callum
"I can try." Callum first secured the canteen to his belt before giving the shelves a quick assessment. They were covered in sand and grime, but the wood looked sturdy enough. He first testing a lower level by placing one foot on the plank, and pressing down as hard as he could. When it didn't seem to move he took the chance to climb up further.
It took some effort to get to the top without toppling it over. Once Callum made it to the top he sat on his knees long enough to steady the shelf. The last thing he wanted to do was to fall and break something. Looking above him he could see that the rope wasn't too far out of arms reach. Stealing his nerves, he slowly stood up and grasped the rope, looping it a few times around his wrist for safety. "If you think you're going to slip and fall in let go. It wouldn't do for you to get stuck too."
Corny - Dexurn
Dex watched the progress silently, and the other's warning received a nod of understanding. Once the rope was secured, he warned of the move and tried lifting... but that quickly became a non-option. Try as he might, his arms weren't strong enough to lift straight up. Maybe if he tried standing to pull at an angle for better leverage... Pursing his lips, he wiggled his legs around so that he was crouched with his feet at the edge of the pit. A bit of sand and ground crumbled into the hole, but he thought it would hold. "Gonna try again. Ready?" He pushed down and out with his legs, managing to get mostly upright. "Can you.. climb from there?" he managed to ask, feeling his feet sinking into the sand. There was no real grip for him to secure himself with...
Moose - Callum
If he said he wasn't hoping for a miracle he would have been lying. Callum had seen the 'muscle' the Matorian held, and unless he had some friends progress was going to be slow going at best. "Ready." Closing his eyes against the sand that fell on top of him, Callum waited until the right time to start climbing. The young swordsman wedged his toes inbetween cracks, trying his best to get some sort of foothold to help them both.
So close...he was so close...Callum reached out to grasp the edge of the pit, but felt his hand slip through sand. He kept trying, however. Several times he slipped and missed until finally he held onto something tangible enough to hoist himself up. When his waist was out of the pit he all but released his hold on the rope in favor of scrambling to get his whole body onto the sand. And once he was sure he was safe, he flopped over with a tired huff.
Dexurn - Corny
Dex idly wondered if he might really slip in as well. It sure felt like the guy was taking his time climbing up. Of course, he was used to pulling his own weight around; which wasn't much. It was easier to climb out of a hole than to pull someone bigger out of one!
As the pale man reached out of the hole, Dex gave a mighty tug to give one last bit of assistance. The rope was suddenly free though, and he flew backward with a small yelp to land on his back. He peeked up to make sure the guy hadn't fallen back in, and then laid his head back down. His arms shook a tiny bit from the effort, panting quickly for air, but he was feeling good. It really was nice when he could help others. It was about time for something to go right anyway.
Groaning with a stretch of his arms, he pushed himself up and held his hand out to the stranger. The guy was almost as blinding as the sand in the light! "Do you.. need help.. to the water?"
Moose - Callum
Once Callum's breathing was under control, he pushed himself up onto his knees in the shifting sand. With the way his body had already made an impression, just from lying there for a short time, he had no doubt it would have suffocated him should there have been a collapse. He owed this boy his life, and so much more.
He took the offered hand with a smile, and hoisted himself up. "Oh? No, no thank you. You've done enough for me, and I can't ask you for more." Callum reached around to his side, and untied the canteen before handing it over. "How can I make this up to you? Coin, favors, food; you name it and it's yours."
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:05 pm
Corny - Dexurn
That smile was open and bright, and Dexurn couldn't help returning one of his own. "I'm glad you're okay," he said, tying the rope back into place around his waist. It absolutely tickled his insides to be thanked and smiled at so earnestly. Since parting from his last companion, he'd missed the association a lot.
The mention of making it up made him look up with wide eyes. Slowly, he took the canteen and hugged it to his belly, eyes dropping to the swordsman's knees while he thought. ...Anything? "Do... do you have food?" he asked softly without looking up, feeling almost embarrassed to request something in return even though it'd been offered. He was hungry though...
Moose - Callum
The almost proud way the Matorian had looked earlier seemed to get swallowed up in an instant. It interested Callum as much as it worried him. There was something about this boy that resonated with him; something about that soft look, the almost embarrassed tone and it just..."I don't." Callum placed his hand on the others shoulder, and his smiled softened. "But we can get some. I've coin enough to fill a few stomachs, so we'll get you set up. Maybe some provisions too, provided the stalls aren't closed by now."
While it had been earlier in the day when Callum had originally set out, it was getting later now. He hadn't realized just how long he was in the pit until now. It explained the tired ache in his muscles, and the burning sensation of his pale skin. "Do you mind going to the spring first, though? I think I could drink my weight in water right now."
Corny - Dexurn
Feeling the hand on his shoulder, his first reaction was to flinch, but the touch was gentle, and followed by an equally gentle voice. Dex dared to look up again, face warming with comfort. To think that there really were so many good people out in the open... Sometimes he still wanted to go back to the comfort of being a slave at his master's home, but times like this made him glad to be free. "If.. you really don't mind," he said, a tiny smile rising back into place. The mention of the water brought a pleased couple of nods. "We can do whatever you need." Wait, not a servant anymore. "..and I need to refill my water."
Moose - Callum
Callum was a sucker for helping others, especially when they deserved it. And this guy did in spades. He'd not only helped him out of the pit, when Callum very well could have been a criminal, but he was asking for little more than something to fill his stomach. Nothing specific; just anything food related. It was a humbling experience, and one that lifted his spirits.
"Good, then lead the way." Callum clapped him on the shoulder before moving his hands to brush strands of ivory hair away from his face. His braid was in all sorts of disarray, but at least it was all relatively in tact. "What's your name? I should have something to call you when I tell stories of your heroic exploits."
Corny - Dexurn
Giving a small nod, Dex managed to turn and guide the way back to the water spring. Frankly, he was thrilled with the prospect of a full meal. He'd been able to eat with his previous companion, but that had already been days ago. ..Maybe if he could stop managing to get lost, the trip wouldn't be so long. Unfortunately, the boy had no sense of direction...
Heroic?! Dex looked up quickly, checking to see if he was being teased. The guy seemed to be honest though. "I'm not a- ..It's Dexurn." A bashful smile rose. "May I ask your name? I won't tell everyone I helped you, but it'll be nice to know~"
Moose - Callum
Callum's longer stride was the only thing that allowed him to keep up with the spry fellow. Even with Dexurn's help he was still dehydrated, and feeling it. "Heroes don't always wear shining armor, nor are they always given the credit they are due." He pointed out. He'd known many every day heroes, and some died without every getting the praise they deserved. "My name's Callum. As you probably guessed I'm not exactly native to Oba, and I doubt anyone else would have given a second thought to helping a foreigner, much less a hybrid. So, to me, you are indeed a hero."
Corny - Dexurn
Dex kept his head down, but his ears and mind were open. Heroes didn't always look like heroes...? He was still doubtful of his own status, but there was a flicker of delight within him now. There was at least one person who saw him as a hero, and that was more than he'd ever imagined.
A hybrid? He looked over at Callum again, taking the opportunity to really look at the guy. "I don't mind that you're a hybrid," he said firmly, ducking his head once more. "You're nice, so it doesn't matter." Such bold statements... He was glad to reach the water and use filling his canteen to distract himself.
Moose - Callum
Callum didn't mind Dexurn looking him over; in fact, he was used to it. Any attention was good attention in his eyes; even the bad. It meant that people were at least acknowledging his existence, which was more than he could say about some. Besides, compared to half of Tendaji he looked like a washed out mess. The only color on him were his crystals, and most of them were hidden by his hair. "Thank you." In truth, he didn't know what to say to that. It mattered a great deal to Callum, but maybe...maybe it shouldn't.
He got as close as he dared to the spring, and cupped some water in his hands before splashing it on his face. The instant the cold water touched his skin he seemed to melt. It felt too amazing! And when he was sufficiently cooled, he cupped his hands again but this time to drink. "So," he said at length, "what kind of food are you in the mood for?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:18 pm
With his canteen full and secured to his pack again, he leaned back on his heels to give Callum time at the water. Watching the swordsman, Dex was fairly certain of his assessment. Callum seemed really nice, appreciated being helped, and smiled plenty. He could remember talk of hybrids back home... It really was never very good talk. The people who visited Master's home were of the pure-blood view. This was his first time actually talking to one. ..He didn't see the problem.
Looking up when Callum seemed finished, he brought up a finger to lightly chew on. A choice of food... "I.. like fish?" It was more of a question than a statement, almost asking for permission. Despite Oba's desert conditions, it was on the edge of the ocean, and he'd always enjoyed when he'd gotten leftovers from the fish dinners. The very idea made his stomach growl eagerly.
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:02 am
Cornetified Next post can wrap it up if you want. c:
That would explain the belled collar, but Callum never was one to judge another's accessory choice. "That settles it then! We're off to find fish to eat." He stood, and wiped his hands clean on his pants. "Do you know the way back from here? I came from some city or another, but I'm not exactly sure which way to go..."
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 11:27 am
Callum's refreshed energy was like a light in the dark, and Dex couldn't help his hopeful smile. They were really going to go eat! If only people would get stuck in pits more often for him to save~
Mention of going back to the city made Dex's gaze shift to the side. He really didn't want to go back, but he had no idea where the next city was... With Callum there though, maybe it would be a little bit easier? "It's this way," he finally said, turning back the way he'd come. Though nervous about going back to the city, he found himself excited. Food and an friendly face... That was a good way to end a day.
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