It had taken some getting used to, but Callidus was finding himself slowly easing into the steady motions of his new steed. Granted, he didn’t think he’d ever get used to quite just how rough it was in comparison to a chocobo. But in this day and age, chocobos were extremely low on the food chain, and it was exceedingly difficult to travel on one without getting beset upon by beasts. The sounds of it’s hooves hitting the ground had been most disconcerting at first- he’d been raised on birds with two legs, not beasts with four.
Thus had Cal sent a missive to a renowned farrier- one of no modest repute. The missive itself contained a rather hefty sum of Gil- Callidus had meant to hire the man for the long term, and ‘twas but one investment of many. The King often set out on exceedingly dangerous hunting excursions, and without an expert to tend to the only viable mode of swift transportation these days, he was more like to accidentally burn his beast out than do it any good.
So here he was, hood pulled tight over his frame as he attempted to keep out of the rain as best he could. He was fairly far from the Capital- there were actual trees, lakes, and rivers in the area. He’d traveled further on his hunts before, and even further to condemn Scourged villages to ash. So he was not unused to the rain here, nor was he unaware of the footpaths that yet kept he and his mesmenir as dry as physically possible.
The King was on his way to meet with his new companion when everything went off the rails. Vicious sounds of a fierce fight, warbling gargles of... gigantoads?
Then the loud, absolutely touched laughter of a man somewhere in the distance. Eyes widening, Cal gently spurred his beast on, heading towards the sounds as quickly as he could. When he arrived; however, he found himself dumbstruck. There, next to what appeared to be some sort of large stream, were around seven gigantoads.
And one mad bastard, punching them with his bare fists. Callidus was at a loss for words as he watched the other man dance through a flurry of tongues, snapping jaws, and giant wobbling bodies that came crashing down on him as they leapt with reckless abandon. But this... this man was dancing around, dodging their every attempt to devour him with a flurry of steps and strikes, moving with an almost graceful practiced ease.
But Cal’s mind was reeling- one misstep, on random variable and it could lay the man low. Without saying a word, Cal lead his beast around the site of the battle to as high of ground as he could, and summoned his favorite bow from a burst of crystalline light. He didn’t have terribly much time to form a stratagem- he’d have to improvise. Swearing heavily under his breath, he steadied his beast below him and raised his bow, keen eyes searching for an opening.
The touched man was actually winning. But it was inefficient; a waste of his time and energy. The longer the fight draws on, the lower the probability of success. Cal waited, eyes like a hawk searching for his prey, when one of the Gigantoads ended up taking a particularly heavy shot to the face, appearing stunned. Cal fired.
Fwip.
A single arrow to the side of the head, skewering right through either eye. It fell to the forest floor with a lurching thud. It’s hide was tough- Cal had to fire at it’s eyes to get an arrow into it’s head, or wait until they opened their maws to force one through the soft underside of the roof of it’s mouth.
“On your left!” He shouted, praying to the six the man understood he was firing again to his left. The last thing he needed was the man to rush into the path of his arrows.
Fwip, fwip.
This toad hadn’t been at a proper angle to ensure one arrow would pierce deeply enough- so he fired an arrow into each eye instead.
So, just because he’d been hoping to be noticed, didn’t mean he’d actually expected it, and the question caught him a little off guard. He glanced around briefly - just to make extra sure it was him being spoken to - before turning back to the Glaive in question. Tredd? That was it, right? Tredd... Fr--... Fruror...??
...
... somethin like that.
“Uh... m-me? Oh, no, I was... y’know... I like to hang out here sometimes. Just... soakin up the atmosphere...”
In my new interview with author Ginger Smith, she discusses her new semi-romantic, somewhat military, sci-fi space opera novel "The Rush's Echo," the companion to 2020's "The Rush's Edge.
📖🚀
"Would you like to build a snowman?" {gingersmiith} {tredd no}
* WINTER STARTERS *
There’s a perked brow, a rare look of amusement turning up the corners of the mask’s mouth.“I fear I am too cold for that. Any sculpture I make turns to powder.”A little swarm of sprites still manifest around the gardens, causing the ground to freeze. A flurry immediately begins to coat that harsh layer.“ I can only help in this way.”
This just in from my friends at @toptunethesongwritersgame featuring myself @hollywoodandlevine_ken_levine @lilherman321 #jonathanmechin #gingersmith microphones provided by @micehrlund and a bunch of people not on @instagram 😂 LIVE at @thewriteoffroom in #woodlandhills #singersongwriter #vocalist #musician (The Write Off Room) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0J5pRDg9kf/?igshid=4fpuwpf7abhd
Chillin’ at the @thewriteoffroom before the beginning of @toptunethesongwritersgame LIVE with the amazing #gingersmith who acts as singer AND the #vannawhite of the show! #livemusic #songwriters #songs #writeoffroom (The Write Off Room) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxJMXh_nLLy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=171isdf3jro0a
“It’s dangerous for a Royal to be walking around alone.” {gingersmiith}
Noctis stops short. It’s just a little past nine in the evening and he’d slipped out of his apartment for a walk. Technically he’s not supposed to be out alone after dark, but he’d needed the time to clear his head without someone hovering over him. That and his favorite noodle place doesn’t open until after eight.
This is hardly his first time sneaking out, but it is his first time being recognized. Hood pulled low and Cup Noodle in hand, he turns to face the man who’d approached him.
