#threads:erikondavid

[temporalobjects]

@adjective-mordant asked:  ❛  speak your mind even if your voice shakes.  ❜ [ David to Eri ]

Eri glanced over at David beneath the shadow of her drawn hood. Her dark eyes had been cautious, carrying suppressed anger, but now his advice caused them to take on a gleam of curiosity. She had expected two outsiders like them to attract unwanted attention at the bar. That was always the unfortunate trade off to getting a warm meal and a beer.

Finally, she had made up her mind. She set down her utensils and rose from the seat, staring straight into the ruddy face of the villager who had been making snide remarks at the side of their table. “If you have nothing constructive nor intelligent to say, it is best to save your breath,” Eri remarked gravely. “Do you know the proverb - disaster comes from careless talk?”

[temporalobjects]

@adjective-mordant asked: [ LISTEN ] 

Eri cradled her head in her hands as she watched the crackling fire. Her cheeks, smeared with dirt, took on a ruddy hue from the warmth of the flames. She and David were taking shelter here for the night, inside a cave overlooking the calm river below. Travellers had carved a path up these rocky mountains to reach the ruins of a temple that was rumoured to be built on top. They were close to the Fiery Mountains that lie to the north of Zerrikania. She had begun to speak about what she could remember of her past, growing up amongst the tribes where she looked so different from every other child. David’s attentive silence encouraged her to carry on.

She talked of her disciplined but loving upbringing by her mother. She woke at daybreak every morning to offer prayers to the dragons, then spent half an hour meditating with her mother. Then she practised writing and reading, especially learning of alchemy, medicine, and acupuncture. If there was a subject her mother didn’t know, she would send her to another priestess to learn. She was also trained in combat, survival, and strategy. Given all this, her days were never dull, and she always slept like a log after the full day of education and activity. 

“And of course we always had hearty meals of roasted meat and vegetable stews to finish a busy day,” Eri added, her soft smile half-hidden behind the licks of fire that danced between them. “My mother’s secret spice mix can arouse the smallest of appetites.”

[temporalobjects]

“You have something in your hair - let me get it for you.” [ From David, to Eri. ]

FLUFF SENTENCE STARTERS [open]

@adjective-mordant​

Eri’s first instinct was to ask - why? In fact she had instinctively turned to glower at the witcher. That thing that was purportedly in her hair must not be anything dangerous, else David wouldn’t have asked for permission first.

Zerrikania was a society proudly led by warrior women and priestesses. That did not mean they were immune to the gentle things of romance, or despised them. And certainly there were a number of men in her village. Eri just preferred to keep her distance, however much her peers teased her for being too uptight about it.

Or maybe she was misreading the situation after all? This was probably a normal thing to do in David’s culture. After some thought, she finally relaxed her expression, even stopping in her tracks.

“Fine, but make it quick.”

[temporalobjects]

@adjective-mordant

Eri's heart had swelled with pride at being chosen for such an important task. Aurie, her guardian and also a respected priestess, had reassured her that she was ready to take this on alone. She had honed her skills under the best of her tribe's warriors, and years of diligent training had added hard planes of muscle to her thin, angular frame. However, at times she still felt like a mere girl when standing next to the tanned, broad-shouldered women who were her peers.

She was taking a moment's rest beneath the shade of a large tree, and her calloused fingers carefully touched the charm at her neck. Eri closed her eyes to utter a brief prayer to the great dragons, and soon felt more at peace. Her feet made barely any sound as she resumed her journey through the forest. Animals large and small lurked and scurried about, but Eri never flinched, for her expert ears helped her to distinguish those noises that meant danger. The young woman was well camouflaged with her body wrapped in skins and painted with red clay. Her smokey black hair was pulled into a tight plait, her fierce eyes lined with horizontal stripes.

After trekking for another half hour, the colossal craggy walls of the grand canyon in which her civilisation resided finally came into view. The spray from the majestic waterfall provided relief for Eri's heated skin. But she couldn't afford to enjoy the breeze, for she knew he was nearby. Indeed, she picked up the scent of tobacco, and she warily followed it to its source.

As Aurie advised, she dared not approach the Witcher directly. For all she knew, he could already be aware of her presence. At least she would have the advantage of being on higher ground. Eri drew her loaded bow and whispered another short prayer. The dragons were kind, for a huge Tsetse fly was following a mad flight path toward the man, and Eri let the arrow fly, pinning the heinous insect into the opposite tree.