to be cautious to be smart, that much is obvious beyond meetings in forests. never has he been the one to be anything but careful; every movement a precise and thoughtful one, akin to how a large wildcat pads with gentle consideration for every sound as it paces through the wilderness. but he does not feel like much of a hunter tonight, with no interest in snaring this stranger wandering so far from the masses of people.
“there’s no need for it, if you are not willing to share it.” he decides to reply. truly, it does not matter too deeply to him what people do with their time. this stranger might simply be wandering aimless, could even be in search of something in particular, but none of it is going to matter much to him. it has little influence on his life. the stranger speaks with confidence abound. he seems not at all swayed by the presence of one such as him, which is enough for sephiroth to linger for a moment more.
“as for me, i simply felt your presence nearby.” and had wandered from his estate to the thick of the forest, curious for the source of that strange feeling. it is unusual but not unheard of for people to walk here, but few hold themselves in a manner such as this. with such regal but proud posture. truly, otherworldly in many aspects.
sephiroth almost begins to speak again, but a low rumble beneath the earth begs for his pause. it is a long, elongated sound much like the murmuring of a sleeping beast, yet it seems to vibrate from directly beneath them as if the ground itself growls to life. “it wakes.” he exhales, withdrawing his sword until it stood glistening in the dim light. a lengthy blade, almost too long for the closed space they stand in, but the eight foot sword is held ready at his side.
“your secrets mean nothing to a starving creature. for your sake, i hope those blades of yours are not simply for show.”
He was at once intrigued and disheartened by the suggestion that his presence was easily detectable. Seeing as his footfalls were near silent and he possessed heightened senses of his own, Thranduil surmised the stranger must be accustomed to the misty terrain and what noises were standard, else his senses truly dwarfed his own. Either way, the elvenking felt at a disadvantage, though he made no show of it.
Before he could dole out a reply, a quake shook the ground seconds before the sound even carried to his ears.
Clearly powerful and growing closer to where the two of them stood, the vibrations were cause enough for Thranduil to unsheathe one of his blades, eyes narrowed in consternation as he looked to the other’s weapon, causing him to contemplate removing his other sword. When he finally did, the hilt was tugged quickly and he brandished the metal with finesse.
❝Whether you’re astute or simply in league with this shadowy foe, I regret our cooperation seems the wisest option now.❞ His words were loosed in a hushed, venomous tone with his feet planted firmly on the ground, legs conversely tensed in preparation to move swiftly should he need to. ❝Be my ally, and I might—❞
Interrupting his offer was a thunderous quake that split the nearby land into a gaping hole, allowing a dark and eely figure to burst out with a piercing screech. Had his muscles not been taught, Thranduil would have stumbled at the deafening sound. As it was, he cast a questioning stare to his unrehearsed ally before shifting icy blue eyes to catalogue what little defining features he could of their foe. What concerned him most was not the enormous shadowed monster, but the fact that his only choice now was to trust the stranger would not stab him in the back.
