Through The Innocence Of Youth

[Lief]

The Edge of Fridheim​

Midvinter​

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyo8I8AKmY​

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Snow.

As far as the eye could see, a white blanket lay stretched across the barren landscape she knew as home. Her coat had transformed over the years, taking on a white hue, body retaining a little more fat though powerful muscles remained at the of the beast. Just enough to stave off the cold.

Done. The child was done, finished fooling around, being dragged from place to place aboard the great metal beasts. It was here she had returned to, here she had fled from any responsibilities she might have had, without realizing it. Away from the home of Animus high in the mountains, away from the funny silver friend her heart ached for, away from it all.

She had seen so much, she could remember so much more now, all of the chaos and destruction which had followed them. Death that lay beyond the realm of necessity, far from the circle they called life and death. Corruption, carelessness, landscapes ravaged by war, burned and soaked through with blood until the very ground itself became fruitless, infertile.

And yet here... Despite its own problems, she had never seen such here. Death was inevitable, the occasional war, but the weapons used were more similar to her own, tooth and claw made of steel, an extension of hands, remaining with the individuals who swung them. Though the people fell, the land continued to thrive.

Her decision to leave had come at a cost. No Tuk'ata stood at her side now, the beast known as Groom had remained with his master, leaving the child with the company of Ariel who swooped overhead, she felt rather empty without the creature who had been at her side for what could have been generations for all she knew, and yet she knew that it had to be done.

She could not tear him from Animus.

A blimp on the horizon tore her attention away, a light which flickered in the settled dusk. More than that, a scent - nay, a presence - that she had not felt in forever. Could it be?

Was he here?

When last she had seen him, they had sat upon a dune of sand. He had aged in a way she did not understand, thrice her age at least, if not more... And yet it had felt as though a day had not passed since they had explored Temples together, and ran through fields.

Without realizing it, Kida picked up the pace, headed toward the source of warmth and comfort which reigned within her core. Overhead Ariel glided to keep up, following closely and keeping watch for any signs of difficulty in the vicinity.

But the child did not care about such.

She only cared for him.

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

"Yah! Yah," he urged the young steed onwards, galloping through the forest thickets and kicking up a cloud of snow behind them. The chestnut colt was just as eager as his rider, having been stolen from the stables for an impromptu ride through the woods surrounding the City of Fridheim. Always one for excitement in whatever fashion it presents itself, the youngest Heavenshield had become a skilled rider in spite of his age, for waiting around and being patient was not a virtue he subscribed to. He'd pestered the city's horsemaster for lessons for months before he finally budged and showed him the basics, laying a foundation upon which Thirdas took matters into his own hands, braving greater challenges and pushing himself each day.

Coming up to the familiar clearing they'd started off from, the colt neighed as he was given rest from their workout, with Thirdas leaping out of the saddle to wash his face in the crystal-clear, cold water of a nearby creek yet to freeze over. His skin turned pink at the shocking cold, yet all the same refreshing to the youngster who swept his long golden hair back and out of his face before wiping himself on a bit of cloth. "That has got to be our fastest run yet, don't you think, Balian?"

Balian, as the colt was known as, knickered in response and reared his head, baring his teeth. "Fine, you've earned it," he said and produced a red apple from his pack with which to feed his friend. "But no biting this time, okay? It hurts like hell, and mother always finds out about it one way or another." Balian just shoved his muffle in Thirdas' face, gleefully messing up his hair. In response the lad simply brushed him aside and sat down to enjoy an apple of his own, biting into it and savouring the sour-sweet juices.

He'd only gotten a couple bites in when suddenly Balian reared up on his hindlegs repeatedly, neighing and flailing about as if panicked. "What's wrong, boy?" Thirdas turned his gaze to their surroundings, expecting to find a predator stalking the bushes. He ran over to the distressed colt and unsheathed a short sword from its sheathe strapped to the saddle, gripping it tightly with both hands. "I-I know you're out there, whoever you are," he shouted at seemingly nothing. "S-show yourself!"

[member="Kida"]​

 

[Lief]

Her attentions were not so single minded that she did not notice when Ariel began to circle overhead in the distance. The child had trained herself to notice such things about her wandering companions, and even though the trio had become a duo she had not lost such instincts. Slowing to a halt, the young warg focused upon her avian friend and with a slow yet panting intake of breath she pressed her mind forth into the aether, grasping at the straws which lay within.

For a moment all became hazy, and then the world burst into light, vast blue and white all around, with the tops of trees lying far beneath her. The wind beat against her wings as she continued the circling, and her shrewd gaze narrowed in on the clearing which had been spotted. Moreso than this, the sounds which accompanied it; whinnies, splashes of water, crunching of feet on snow... And a flash of golden hair which glistened against the late afternoon sun.

Could it be?

As quickly as she soared, Kida slumped back into her feline form and resumed her hasty approach, slowing only when the trees began to thin. Her muzzle lifted, nose twitching as she sniffed the scents present, familiar in some ways yet foreign in others, not the presence she had been seeking and yet close enough to it that she had mistaken it for her Furry.

But it was not a man who stood there by the whickering colt, in his place a mere cub with tooth of metal brandished aloft and wary. And yet to simply look upon him threw her back to those days on Teth, to a time of less hardship, to a time of true happiness, of family and companionship. A time she had forced herself to mostly forget, for her own survival and betterment.

It all came rushing back though, because he who stood before her now looked just as Furry had, with only his eyes to tell the difference, they were pools of onyx in place of sapphire.

Slowly, with ears pressed back in submission and uncertainty, the feline prowled closer, doing all she could to avoid seeming hostile. Though given her size that was often difficult to accomplish. It was far too cold to succumb to her childish state, with no pelt to cover her, so she would have to make do with her snowy Daux form.

She could only hope that things did not come to blows.

[member="Thirdas Heavenshield"]

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

Out from the underbrush a strange creature appeared, paws gently plodding towards him as it assumed a submissive stance. It was unlike anything Thirdas had ever seen - unlike anything found on Midvinter, in fact. At first when the great cat came closer, his guard only increased as he gripped the hilt of his shortsword firmer, trying to look confident in his ability to defend himself. But as he stared into those animalistic eyes he could not help but become mesmerized, and against his better judgement he started lowering his sword until no longer a threat to the beast.

"H-hello," he cautiously said, his legs unable to move from where he stood. "Y-you're not so scary, are you?" Believing that he had gained some measure of courage, he reached out towards the large cat, removing his glove so it could smell his scent. His head turned for a second to find Balian having settled, no longer spooked by the rustling of leaves and snapping of branches once the seemingly peaceful creature emerged.

Taking a very slow forward, Thirdas' palm was held out right in front of the beast's nose. "I am not scary either, see?" He let go of his sword, letting it fall to the ground at his feet with a metallic *clang*. Taking another brave step forward, his hand connected with the large cat. His fingers gently caressed its furry cheek, giving it a careful scratch. His head tilted to the side as he inspected the strange creature, only to find that it mimicked his movements. He tilted to the other side, and the beast did the same. This caused the lad to smile and chuckle.

"My name is Thirdas. What do I call you?"

[member="Kida"]​

 

[Lief]

Straight to the man cub she wandered, paws soft and lost to the snow with each step she took.

By the time she reached him, the metal tooth was set aside and his hand was outstretched toward her. As would be expected she immediately began to sniff the air, her great maw nearing his fingertips in order to do so, before she turned her face against him and nuzzled her fur up against his hand.

He even smelled like him. It was strange, bewildering, but right this moment she wasn't going to question it. Instead a low rumbling purr tore through her. The man cub was talking, words that she partially understood, after all it had not been too long since she had been apart of civilization, not long enough for her to have forgotten what she was taught.

The longer she spent in his presence, though barely a few minutes had truthfully passed, the more content she became. Perhaps it was in there genetics, to put the girl at ease, but soon enough her lumbering form had dropped against the snow by his feet and she peered up at him with bright glistening emerald eyes.

Head mimicking his, she tilted left then right, drawing a little laughter from the boy.

Becoming aware of the fact that he was asking questions, and wanting answers, Kida had to make a decision. Did she stay as she was, unable to communicate yet warm, or did she risk spooking him by changing forms, becoming exposed to the chill of the air. She didn't have her furs, Groom had always carried them and he was no longer here.

Yet she eyed something that might work on the saddle of the pony.

Making up her mind, she slowly rose and stalked toward the whickering creature. Keeping her ears back, her presence small and non-threatening, until she was close enough to snatch what looked to her like a blanket but could easily have been a cloak of some sort from the saddle bag.

It fell over her, pooling on the ground at her side where it overhung.

Before he could shout, tell her to stop, or attack, the sound of snapping twigs could be heard. Only it was not sticks which were cracking, but instead bones. Slowly but surely the form of the Daux began to recede, until it disappeared entirely under the furs. Transforming back was always the harder of the two, it took a lot of energy from her, and as she shivered under the furs, and panted under the strain of it, Kida closed her eyes and waited for the sickening aches to leave her.

She did not dare stick her head out, afraid of what might happen if she did, but the boy might be able to make out the shape of a child beneath the furs, where previously a large cat had been.

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

Thirdas watched in disbelief as the big cat-like creature seemingly crumbled into nothing under the fur it had covered itself with. Picking up his sword again he very carefully stepped towards the fur and whatever hid underneath it, and with outstretched arm he gently poked the bundle with the tip of it. There truly was something hiding under there! Mustering a bit of courage he sheathed his shortsword and leaned down to lift up the corner of the fur, and as he laid eyes upon not the big scary cat he'd just met but rather the form of a small girl, he was frozen in place.

Not because he was afraid, but because something about her had rendered him speechless as innumerable thoughts swirled through his head. But that all changed when he saw how cold and frightened she seemed, like a small animal lost and confused. He promptly removed his cloak and wrapped it around her, for he was his father's son and would resist the cold for the time being. At the very least far better than this girl could, from the looks of it.

"Come here," he offered his hand to help her up on her feet, not knowing whether she would accept. "I won't hurt you, little kitty-girl. Do you want to go somewhere warm, get some fresh new clothes?"

[member="Kida"]​

 

[Lief]

She had forgotten just how bitter the cold of Midvinter could be on unprotected skin.

Even bundled under the furs she could feel it, there was nothing quite like the fatty muscles she obtained in Daux form for fighting it off but that hadn't always been the case. When first she landed her form had been far leaner, with less fur, after all she had come from the warm swamps of Dagobah where such was a necessity. She had been quick to evolve, though, and it had been an unconscious action.

The feeling of his blade poking against her had the child yelp. Typically she wasn't the type to cower, far from it she would have been quick to act against such, but she was at her weakest in the hour or so following a transformation back to her human form and as such she merely curled up tighter.

He seemed to realize as much, because she heard the sound of the blade dropping.

Soon enough he had the cloak bundled around her, and she poked her face out from beneath it to look at him through a different set of eyes. He was so familiar it almost pained her to look at him, because she knew it wasn't her Furry. He did say a word she had not heard in forever though, one she had once known as a term of endearment, and her eyes lit up.

"Kiiitty" she repeated, before pointing to herself. "Keeda."

A hand had been offered to her, and she was reminded of her beloved friend [member='HK-36'] who had always held her hand and helped her to walk. She missed the silver creature dearly...

Reaching out she took his hand and felt herself effortlessly pulled to her feat, the boy was stronger than he looked. Thankfully the cloak by this point was wrapped tightly around her, keeping off the worst of the cold. From overhead Ariel swooped down, and the bird was quick to perch upon her shoulder.

He was a breed native to Midvinter, though they were rarely spotted around cultural centers such as Thainbroek and Fridheim. Ariel peered over to Thirdas, before nuzzling against Kida's cheek somewhat protectively.

[member="Thirdas Heavenshield"]

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

She was a small thing... whatever she was. Long and brown unkempt hair covered her head, going in all directions and he could not help but find it amusing. "Kida," he repeated her name, pointing at her. "My name is Thirdas," he then pointed at himself and smiled. "Thir-das." Again drawn to her frizzy hair, he raised a hand to pat her on the head in vain attempts to make it somewhat less unkempt. "Where did you come from, Kida? I have never met one of your kind before, and somehow I don't think you're native to this world," he noted her trembling from the cold.

He did not take her for a conversationist, given her apparent difficulty speaking, so he did not expect much in terms of elaborate answers. Seeing to his horse, Thirdas took hold of the bridles and walked him over to Kida, petting his long neck. "This is Balian, he's... Well, I guess he's not exactly my horse, but we're friends. I saw him being born only a year or so ago." The colt began nuzzling the little girl's face, sniffing and even trying to nibble on her hair.

"I think he likes you," Thirdas giggled. "Go ahead, pet him!"

Giving her time to greet Balian, a freezing wind swept through the forest, chilling even him to the bone. "Hey, what say we get out of here and go somewhere warm? I'll take you home to Fridheim, and we can find you some clothes to keep you warm, as well as some hot food. Papa won't mind." Getting up on his horse, he once more offered a hand to her.

[member="Kida"]​

 

[Lief]

While speaking wasn't the easiest of things for her, she had been fortunate enough to find a patient teacher in the silver droid and as such much of what was being said was understood.

"Furr" she repeated, when the boy gave his name, yet another reminder of her past. Only this blonde boy had dark pools of onyx for eyes, not oceans. While he was correct, this was not the world she came from, at the question Kida leaned down to touch the snow and knowingly stated one word as bright as day, even the pronunciation was perfect.

"Home."

For that was what Midvinter was to her now, after decades of being stranded here.

It was home.

When the equine creature was brought toward her Kida, who was naturally predisposed to get along with all manner of creatures, stepped closer and sniffed at it. Then she set one hand against its long nose, before placing her forehead against it.

Soon after Ariel took to the skies, circling overhead to keep a watch out for any dangers. That was a compliment if ever she had seen one, for the bird to trust the boy.

"Warm... Papa..."

[member='Mythos']. That was who came to mind then. She had not seen him in so very long. But such was her life, people came and went and for a great many years she was alone, before old faces reappeared and the cycle continued

She stepped toward [member='Thirdas Heavenshield'], still clutching at the cloak and furs, and took his hand. Her steps had been unsteady, but compared with how Kida had once been they were stronger than they had ever really been. Not that he would know that, of course.

"Furr... Friend?"

 

[Thirdas Heavenshield]

A smirk broke out across his face as her hand found his, noting her confident referring to Midvinter as 'home'. While she was no Valkyri, and likely not any kind of native, this world was her home just as it was his. And he was glad to have found a new friend. "I'll be your friend, Kida," he told her prior to him pulling her up onto his horse to sit in front of him in the saddle. Thirdas wrapped an extra blanket around them both to keep warm for the short trek back to Fridheim, and with a soft kick from the stirrups Balian set off in a light gallop.

Re-tracing their own footsteps back the way he and his steed had rushed through the woods, he kept an arm around Kida at all times in a bid to keep her warm as well as secure in the saddle; he wagered she wasn't a very experienced rider, for why would someone of her talents require a mount?

It did not take long for them to reach the gates of Fridheim, Capital of the Westmark. "Hey, Einar! Open the gates, will ya?" he called out to the guard on duty. A man poked his helmeted head out over the ramparts, looking less than pleased to see the young lord. "Yeah? What's in it for me, letting a known troublemaker back into town while on duty?" A moment of silence followed, but eventually the guard could not maintain composure and let out a bellow of laughter, accompanied by the giggles of Thirdas. "Alright, just this once," he jested before giving the order to open the gates. A loud rumbling as the steel gates swung open from the inside and they were allowed entrance.

They trotted up the main street only to veer off to a nearby stable. Here Thirdas dismounted and would help Kida down as well, before quickly removing Balian's leather saddle and straps. "Go on now, boy. I shall come see you later," he took farewell of his friend for now, hoping he would not be caught by the stable boys; no doubt they knew by now of their small excursion without permission. Allowing Kida a moment to say goodbye, Thirdas then returned Balian to the enclosure and took her by the hand to lead her back towards the busier streets where they could easily slip away.

[member="Kida"]​

 

[Lief]

A friend.

Now Kida had two friends! Not counting Ariel, or Groom, of course.

Groom. That thought had her let out just the smallest of whimpers. The fact that the tuk'ata was no longer at her side pained the young shapeshifter, they had spent decades at one another's side... But Groom belonged to [member='Mythos'] and with the man's resurgence it was only fitting that his hound return to his side.

At least she had Ariel.

The bird swooped overhead before flying straight toward the village, no doubt scoping out their trail, when Kida was pulled up into the saddle infront of the boy. She nestled into the blankets, a tiny growl of unease escaping her at the strange rocking which could be felt from the horse below. It was true, she had never found cause to utilize a mount, though there had been one or two occasions when Groom had carried her over his back when she was injured or particularly fatigued. Those were times which were blurry though, given the circumstances.

Soon enough the gates of the City sat before them, and Kida peered up with wide eyes in awe. She typically avoided civilization hotpoints, especially on places like Midvinter where the natives were wary of creatures with a bite such as she in her usual feline form. But she knew there was nothing to worry about, not with Furr at her back. He had promised to be her friend, after all.

The exchange between he and the man at the gate went mostly over her head, she was simply glad when they were next on the move and just as quickly they were stopping again only this time to dismount. She was helped down from Balian, and instinctively she lifted a hand to stroke along his long nose in thanks. Again her forehead pressed against him, earning her a soft knicker from the creature.

Then she took the boy's hand, allowing him to lead her through the streets which were filled with people. Boy did she feel out of place among uprights, and as such she kept as close to [member='Thirdas Heavenshield'] as she could.