Lion's Heart: The First Face ~Aldym

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:36 pm

Aldym was weaker than he thought at that moment, the cold water and the magic having drained much of the energy he had when this started. Still, in a situation like this, it was amazing what one could do, as proven by the fact that he had enough strength left to do leap moments before the float crack. He could not see what was happening behind him, only hear another great splash.

Unfortunately, what he had left wasn't enough for the finish, the jump being too weak the ice. His legs hit the water, and again the cold was there, but he managed to land close enough so that his hand found the ice and kept him from going under.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:45 pm

Adrenaline rushed through Adlym's veins - he grunted as he began to haul himself out of the water - a cold, hard refusal to die keepnig him going every time his hands slipped on the icy surface. He drew on those reserves of strength that no man can use until his life is truly in the balance and exerted himself as he never had before in his attempt to drag himself to saftey.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:15 pm

There was blood on the ice, where Aldym's hand had just been. It didn't take much to realize it was his, but it was something Aldym was not truly paying attention at that moment. His body was beyond aching, yet he somehow managed to continue dragging himself out of the water. There was barely any sense or motion left in his lower body.

Two breaths was the only thing he managed to do on the dry ice before he felt it shake once more.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:19 pm

Aldym rolled, ignoring the blood pouring from his hand as he scrabbled to get away from the ice and onto the solid permafrost of dry land. He almost reach within himself again, but somehow knew that drawing on his fledgeling ability again now would surely b the eath of him - so he clawed, rolled and stumbled his way towards the landward edge of the ice as fast as he was able.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:49 pm

It was painful and difficult, Aldym's feet refusing to support him, so that he could stumble forward, scraping his knees and hands on the rough ice surface. The plate shook again, this time cracking along the edge of the sea, giving in partially. Fortunately he was already by the cliffs by that time.

There was no way he could have climbed and he didn't know how far it was until a way up along the ice, as he was on the other side of the rift than the one he had come along. As he faced the rock wall reaching so high, he heard a splash behind him among the waves, something rising to the ice.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Aldym scowled and turned, the rapier sliding smoothly out of it's scabbard as he did so - the Dortman's iron-hard determination to succeed in his quest beating back any fear of what might be rising out of the dark waters to attack him.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:53 pm

The old man rose from the sea slowly, the black shape of the creature floating next to the shore. Stopping to breath once he was on the ice, he pushed himself up and started hauling the body on to the shore.

"Take off your clothes. Now." He didn't even look at Aldym as he spoke.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:58 pm

Aldym was numbed by the cold and the sdden adrenaline dump, and silently did as the old man said. Despite this, he was sensible enough to leave his blade close to hand - more than willing to run the old man through if he became a threat.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:24 am

The man pulled the body on the ice completely, then rolled it over. He glanced Aldym and shook his head apparantely over the fact Aldym chose to clung to the sword. Rising his hand high, the old man struck the body, then hit it again and again, always in the same spot.

The wind picked up once more, but occasionally Aldym could hear the flesh shaking and giving in to the man, until he had thrust his hand to the black-furred mass. Struggling for a moment, the man finally pulled something out of the body, with dark blood spattering all over him as he did it.

After that, he stood up and walked to Aldym, holding an organ of somekind in his hand, still pulsating.

"Here." He offered it to Aldym. "Rip the outer wall off, it's quite thin, then drink all of it."

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:37 am

Aldym raised an eyebrow for a moment, but shrugged and took the quivering organ in one hand. Whilst he was used to playing the part of an upper-class dandy, the rugh life of a Dortian street urchin was standing him in good stead as he bit through the outer skin and waited for whatever was going to pour into his mouth.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:22 pm

The flesh was tangy, the rotten smell invading Aldym's nostril's as he bit down. The outer wall gave out fast, parts of it remaining between his teeth and he tasted what ever it held within. A warm, sticky liquid which poured in to his mouth and down his throat. The cold seemed to fade away, leaving behind a body still almost too tired to move, but at least not one freezing to death.

As the liquid continued to fill Aldym's mouth there was a feeling around his wrist, the one near the rapier and suddenly the man was standing right in front of Aldym.

"The next time you choose to hold on to your weapon like that in defense against me even after I save you from a certain death, I shall simply let you die. Understood?" The grip was like an iron shackle, capable of crusing bone. Still, the man let go and took a few steps away, turning his back to Aldym.

"It will warm you, but you still need to rest. We have to make it back up before you can do that. Think you can manage that far?"

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:18 pm

Aldym sheathed the sword with no small difficulty,

"My apologies, I am still somewhat...shocked.

He took a few steps, then let out a hacking cough,

"I..I will make it."

Though he hunched over and his voice was hoarse, his eyes blazed with defieance - a refusal to give in even to the bone-chilling cold of this land.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:01 pm

The man nodded, staring at the sea. A large wave crashed on the shoreline, with the cold salt water hitting Aldym, who managed to remain standing somehow.

"Good. I don't think I could carry you and keep an eye for the selkies." He glanced at Aldym over his shouder. "And keep as close to you can to the wall, alright. Also, say the moment I go too fast." The man started slowly onwards.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:00 pm

Aldym nodded and shambled afer the man, engrossed in his own mind - seething with anger at his position and vunerability. He knew now that his anger gave him power and welcomed it, the cold determination and rage that had dragged him out of the sea's freezing clutches was there again, in some ways comforting and in other ways terrifying to the young man. But that part of him that recoiled from this new power was drowned out by the flush of power he had felt when the strands of magic around him and bent to his command. So he struggled on, unheeding of his dishevilled appearance or the howling wind about him.

OOC: Not trying to get on your back or anything boss, but is there any chance you could skill Aldym's UoM thread?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 5:38 pm

The ice seemed to go on forever, the wall running smoothly next to them. The waves kept crashing to the plate, the noise competing against the howling wind and the sounds carried from the heart of the island. A screech which sounded like it could have broken glass was accompinied by a flash in the sky. The cloak Aldym carried was the only clothing he could use to protect him, but the cold was not the threat which he felt now, it was the growing weariness of his body.

Aldym stumbled to his knees more than once, but found the strength to stand from somewhere. Finally, the man stopped, turning around to face him.

"We're here." He motioned towards the wall. At first, Aldym could not make out anything special about it, but as he went closer, he noticed rugged edges which could be used as footholds all across it. "Think you can make it?"

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:17 am

Aldym's mouth twisted into a humourless grin,

"I'll make it."

He reached out and began to climb the frozen footholds, aware of the painful cold but somehow numb to it - as if his senses had been dulled by his use of power. He kept going like an automaton - just wishing to get some rest and to re-assess thing in the morning.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:03 pm

Perhaps it was a good thing that Aldym's hands were numb. Despite it making it difficult to grasp and to continue as one should, at least he did not feel the pain as he saw the skin on his hands torn by the jagged edges. Although he could see the top of the cliff constantly, it just kept being farther and farther away as he rose, as if it was trying to escape him.

As his hand reached upwards once more, there was nothing to grap, just air. He had reached his destination, pulling himself over the ledge to the top of the cliff felt as hard as getting up there, but he managed to do it. There just was nothing left in him to rise up after he had done this. The waves were still audible, but now they were nothing compared to horrific wailing from the inner island.

He didn't know how long he lay there until he saw the figure above, the man staring down.

"You can sleep. You won't freeze." With that said, the man simply lifted Aldym to his shoulders and started to walk.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:59 am

Aldym opened his mouth to protest, to assert his ability to continue - but slipped down into a comfortable darkness as his over-worked body drifted into sleep. His complaint never made it past his lips as his head lolled to one side - his vision blurred, then faded completely and he knew no more.