RP:An Unexpected Encounter

Summary: The moon has risen, the night is in full force, and a man is hobbling through Sage Forest, in the search of a familiar place. The man stumbles, sporting an injury of some kind, and it's then that he's met by a blinding light, and a pretty elf that demands answers. Shock registers on both of their faces, as Krice and Lanara reunite, after not having seen each other for several years. The two briefly chat on their way to the elf's cottage, and seeing that she's not getting any sort of answers from the mysterious enigma, Lana heads out for the night, and leaves Krice to wait for her sister, Talyara. Their encounter was unexpected, and leaves both of them with more questions than answers.

Krice had meant to stop at the tavern, but under cover of night, he continued westward through Kelay until he could turn north for the animal sanctuary. His steps were heavy and his brow freckled with sweat. He didn't get too far into the forest before both legs gave out from under him and he collapsed to his knees, throwing his right hand to the ground to catch the rest of him. He grunted, huffed out a breath, and sat back on his haunches with his head tilted back, short silver hair billowing lightly in the breeze, eyes closed. The exhausted warrior just needed a moment to breathe. With his hip-mounted katana protruding out behind him, and his shirt held closed by merely two of the seven buttons, the warrior sat still, regulating his breathing - and fighting the want to sleep. Just a little farther, and he'd be at the sanctuary.

Lanara stepped out of the sanctuary about an hour ago, for a much needed breather, after having lost one of their rescues. The poor bear cub’s injuries were too extensive, and the two veterinarians, combined with the magic of the witch, were unable to save him in time. He had bled out, despite Lana’s best efforts, and though losing an animal was common in her line of work, it had still stung. Sniffling, she trudges through the forest, half-stomping, as she aims to walk off the multitude of conflicting emotions that boil in her soul. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt, leggings, and knee-high boots, she looks like an average elf exploring the forest, on a moonlit night. However, the clenched jaw and tear stained cheeks are a dead giveaway that all is not well with the woman. The sound of branches breaking to her left, a little farther into the woods, cause her to come to an abrupt stop, her tapered ears twitching. Was it another animal that needed rescuing? Someone that wished to intrude upon the sanctuary? Glancing back, she knows her place isn’t that far off, a mere quarter of a mile, at best. She could head back, or she could explore and see what lingered in the forest. Choosing to sate her curiosity, Lana heads closer to where the sound had emanated from, her footfalls less angry than before, as she looks for signs of life within the thickness of the trees.

Krice sat there for a few minutes to catch his breath and rest, enough time for anyone within a small radius to realise that they weren't alone. Somehow, his tired mind zeroed in on movement to his right, away from the Sanctuary, and he opened his crimson eyes to peer in that direction, expectantly. Rather than wait and hope it was an ally approaching, the warrior stumbled to his feet and crossed his torso with his right arm to grip the hilt of his katana, strapped against the opposite hip. Like this, he prepared for the arrival of an enemy, his tired features drawn into an expression of emotionless focus.

Lanara continues her approach, fueled by anger from losing the bear cub, as any semblance of fear fades from her features. Drawing a dagger from the side pocket of her leggings, she moves the brush to the side, and steps into the small clearing, where the silver haired enigma waited. It’s dark in the woods, and the shadows that lurk don’t provide any assistance to a mere elf, and she cusses beneath her breath. Those with advanced senses would smell the scent of her perfume, see her clearly in the darkness, and hear her exact location. Although Lana stands a mere six feet from Krice, she’s squinting and unable to see exactly who is in such close proximity. Alas, a branch crunches underfoot as Krice stumbles to his feet, and the witch extends her arm, as a ball of light appears on her palm, instantly brightening their surroundings. For a moment, they both would be somewhat blinded, though their eyes would adjust to the blaring of the glowing sphere, and the witch would quirk a brow, shock registering in her chocolate hues. “Krice?!?”

Krice didn't need too much light to see his surroundings, though tired eyes were his enemy at present more than any darkness could be. As the figure approached, he watched it silently. At some point he became aware that the person must not have been able to see him because she continued ever closer. He waited, motionless and silent, and just barely registered the stranger's features before that ball of magical light was tossed up for illumination. He stumbled as he turned away, recoiling with a hand raised to his face. "Agh,", he exclaimed in discomfort, squinting in the brightness at the woman on the other side. Rather than greet her and apologize for being the source of her temporary fright, he gestured up at the light ball with his right hand and asked incredulously, " What the hell?" Did she always blind her guests? He teetered on his feet but shifted his right leg outward just a little, stabilizing his weakened stance.

Lanara clearly wasn’t in the mood for games tonight, and she brandishes the dagger outwards with a flourish, narrowly striking the air between the sphere of light and Krice’s hand, as he covered his face. Thankfully, she recognized him before she issued another knife strike and she instantly tucks her dagger back into her pocket, while the sphere begins to dim dramatically. Now her palm emits an eerie glow, though neither of them would be blinded by the surge of light. Assessing the male before her, Lana’s lips twitch, as a hint of a smile appears on her face, and she’s about to give her old friend a proper greeting, when she takes in his status. The ragged breathing, the favoring of one side, the fact that he was lurking in the dark forest. Putting it all together, Lana’s eyes widen, and she takes a step forward, “Krice… Are you alright? Do you feel ill? My sanctuary isn’t much farther… I can heal you there, if you need help.” Concerned, she offers him a hand, the one that isn’t wielding the light sphere, should he wish to latch on for added support.

Krice was completely oblivious to Lanara's attempt to cut him. Had he noticed, this encounter might have gone differently. With the light dimmed, he focused on her anew and squared his shoulders, rigid in self defense despite his condition. "I'm fine," he muttered, leaning away from her assistance to turn for the cabin. "Didn't expect to see you." Whilst he hadn't been intentionally avoiding the woman, it had taken until now for their paths to cross, despite his repeated visits to her sister.

Lanara lowers her hand as he avoids her offer of assistance, though in truth, she hadn’t expected the warrior to lean on her for strength. She was a mere one hundred and twenty pounds, and nearly a foot shorter than him, so it likely would have caused him more pain to rely on the petite elf. Not to mention the fact that Krice was a very independent minded soul and she hadn’t expected him to change. “Likewise… It’s been…” She tries to recall the last time they had spoken, as they both walk in the direction of her cabin in Sage, just west of the animal sanctuary. “Over a year… I think? I remember seeing you at the Yule Ball… And after that, it was around February… You lent me your coat, and then I, uh, died.” The jacket blew up, along with the witch, so she hopes he doesn’t expect her to return it, though she could offer to buy one anew. There’s a long pause, as she self-consciously lifts her hands to clean her cheeks of any tear stains, “So… How have you been?” He seems to know where he’s going, despite them not having crossed paths, and she wonders if he’d been visiting her sibling, as Talyara spent more time at the cabin than Lana.

Krice was sort of shuffling, half stumbling, rather than walking, but he looked for all intents and purposes like he was managing to stay on his feet. As Lanara spoke, he squinted into the forest murkiness for some glimmer of memory. The Yule Ball... It had been properly overwritten by other more important incidents since then. To hear of Lanara's death, the man sent a sidelong glance her way, his focus, concentrating expression softening slightly with compassion. It was minimal, but there. Continuing onward, he answered the woman's question with a tense, wry, "You know, dodging death at every turn." His steps faltered from weakness and he stumbled just once, grunting from the effort expended to right himself. "Anyway, I wanted to see Talyara. She's helping me with... something."

Lanara can see that he’s struggling to walk along, so she walks a little closer to the male, enough so that if he wishes to hold her shoulder, she’s not so far away. However, she doesn’t extend her hand again. She knew how most men could be, and accepting the help from a little woman often was refused. They had to keep up their whole macho reputation, and were easily embarrassed. Lana frowns as Krice stumbles, wanting very much to assist him, but she knew this particular man was unlike many others. He was visibly a human, but was much more than that, though she never quite figured out the intricacies of the enigma. She did recall that he disliked physical contact, and that also holds her at bay from extending a helping hand. As they walk on, the small cottage comes into view, and a flickering candle can be seen in the distance, sitting atop the kitchen table. Nearing the front door, the pair would be greeted by a raccoon, which scrambles into the bushes upon seeing that Lanara has company. Placing the key into the knob, she tilts her head to study Krice’s features, looking to see if perhaps he felt something deeper than a friendship for her sibling. Taly and Krice had been close friends for years, and the fact that he was coming to the cottage, injured, at this hour… Well, it made one wonder. “Something? Hm… That sounds vague. Well, let’s see if she’s home. If not, you’re welcome to wait here until she returns. She took a job at my sanctuary recently, so we can head over there and check, too, if you’re feeling up to it.”

Krice slowed once the cottage came into view. With a candle on and visible through the window, he assumed that perhaps Talyara was home. That was good. Once they arrived, he slowed to a halt just inside Lanara's reach and waited for her to open the cottage to his access. The appearance of the raccoon drew his gaze and he watched it scurry under the nearby shrubbery, his features more or less neutral. Animals new, though he be stranger or otherwise, that he wasn't one to harm them. Halfway through the woman's study of his features, which would glean no clear information about his attachment to her sister, the warrior shot her a sideways look that was neither aggressive nor irritable - just questioning. What was she looking for? At any rate, he stepped inside after Lanara and paused just to the left of the door, scanning the immediately visible rooms. Talyara wasn't home. In response to her sister's suggestions, he glanced her way and said, "I'll wait here. She knows to expect me here more than not." A moment of silence passed before he interrupted it with a bow of his head and a simple, but genuine, "Thanks."

Lanara doesn’t comment on the man stating that he had been frequenting her cabin, though a knowing smirk sweeps across her face. Had the two finally taken their friendship to the next level? Lana wasn’t immune to the wistful look Talyara would get whenever she spoke of the enigma, and she knew that they had been close friends for the past five years. The elf is already shipping them in her head, as she peeks into her bedroom, and then into Taly’s, before returning to Krice and motioning for him to take a seat. “Make yourself comfortable. She should be back soon enough. Can I get you something to drink?” He had declined her offer to help him walk, so healing was likely out of the question. And he also wouldn’t reveal his reasoning for being here, or the ominous sounding thing that Taly was helping him with, so Lana is at a loss for words for the moment. She fixes the male with a small smile, and the two merely stare at one another for a long moment. It had been some time since they’ve seen each other, and there’s a struggle to find common ground, or the right thing to say. Finally, Lana clears her throat, and waves her hand towards the east, “Have you visited the sanctuary, yet? One day I’ll have to give you the grand tour, and you can meet with some of the animals. It’s a very humbling experience, and who knows?! Maybe you’ll find a friend you’d like to adopt!”

Krice was already shifting to sit down on one of the sofas when Lanara returned to the living area. He shook his head in decline of her offer of a drink. "No thanks," said the enigma, ever polite despite the oft-hardness of his stoicism. Whilst the witch stared at him, he sat with his head low and his arms folded over his thighs, right hand angled upward to massage the space between his left pectoral and clavicle. An aching muscle, perhaps? Whatever the case, he seemed less and less in the mood for company as time went on because his condition was worsening. He probably needed to sleep. He was only vaguely aware of Lanara's discomfort; in silence, the enigma was never uncomfortable. When she spoke again, he lifted his head to view her through tired but quizzical eyes, glancing briefly in the direction of the sanctuary "I have a wyvern," he mumbled, noting this as a reason for not adopting any animals. "She's already a handful."

Lanara isn’t sure what to do with the likely injured male, as he declines the offer of a drink, and claims one companion is enough. As if! In Lana’s world, one could never have too many pets… The woman had quite the menagerie, which included a shark horse, a temperamental reindeer, twin dire wolves, and an animated potato. The mention of the wyvern makes her think about Eirik for a brief moment, as he had given one to her so she could easily fly to and from Venturil. “Sexy Dry Wall? Something like that…” She’s muttering the hard to pronounce name beneath her breath, as she blankly stares at Krice, wondering what the warrior and her sister were up to, and if Taly would blow up her cottage as she had a few years back, in Frostmaw. Retaliation was never far from Lana’s mind, and she knew that her sister had returned to the lands a new woman, so who know what she was capable of when Lana wasn’t home?! The witch sighs and looks out the small kitchen window, seeing the moon hanging low in the sky, and knowing that she had to leave. “I have to run; my permission slip expires in an hour, so I better get back to Tiber’s apartment. You can stay here, but if you have to leave and my sister isn’t home, please lock up behind you, okay?” Lana faintly smiles at Krice, knowing he wasn’t one for affection, so she doesn’t bother to force him into a parting hug. “Also…” She snickers, “Tell my sister to make sure that the oranges stay in their bowl atop the counter… It’s an inside joke.”

Krice lowered his hand and lifted his head, staring through his fingers at Lanara, perplexed. 'Sexy dry wall'...? He knew the tone of her voice alluded to this being a personal thought so he opted not to comment,though bewilderment was clear, even in his tired eyes. When she spoke of departing, he glanced toward the window that had stolen her attention before regarding her once more. 'The oranges stay in the bowl'... Okay. Lifting his chin, the man commented on her request that he lock up, " I don't have a key?" Unless the door had some kind of mechanism that would allow him to lock it on the inside before he closed it from the outside... He twisted to look.

Lanara pauses, with her fingertips on the door knob, and she gives Krice a quizzical stare as he comments on not having a key. “Oh. Right.” As he twists to look at the door, Lana pulls the keys from her pocket and snaps one off the ring, tossing it at the male. “Here you go. I… I’m spending the night elsewhere. It’s… Complicated.” She wasn’t sure exactly how to describe the unique arrangement with Tiber, so she doesn’t offer anything further. Krice would frown on the whole slavery aspect of things, but she was working on it. The hex was consuming Skitch and she’d have the gold back to Tiber in no time. For now, she had to play her part to perfection. “You can give it to me or Taly, whoever you see next. I’m not in any rush. I won’t be here much for the next few weeks. I’m staying in Cenril…” A pause. “Feel better, Krice. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon. And don’t forget to tell my sister about the oranges!” With that, she offers a final wave, and exits the cottage, closing the door behind her as she fades into the night.

Krice didn't see a mechanism on the door, so he wasn't surprised when Lanara threw him a key. He caught it in his right hand, despite his tiredness, and turned it over between his fingers. He didn't appear to be listening to Lanara's talk of staying elsewhere. She seemed uncertain about sharing the information though, really, why did she feel the need to? They hardly knew each other. With the witch heading out, he lifted the key in a gesture of farewell and managed to push himself to stand before she closed the door, a deeply engrained act of chivalry not many got to see. Once the door was closed, he returned to the couch where he would wait for the other sister.