Up The Mountain

[Varus Wren]

Krowsnest​

It was growing late, but he never slept all that great the night before a hunt. The excitement still got to him after all this time. His wolf, Ciri, lay on the ground beside him. She was a large creature, ferocious in every way but now she seemed little more house dog curled up by the fire. She let out a puff of air, steam visible in the cold winter night as she settled again.

Varus absently through the fur on her neck as he stared into the fire. He was alone, the others having retired some time ago. Varus enjoyed the silent, cold night. He let himself be pulled into the shifting movements of the flame.

He had almost drifted off to sleep when Ciri stirred and looked out into the darkness. It was obvious she saw something, something that excited the wolf. It was then that he saw a familiar face, one he had not seen in some time.

It had been years since he had seen Ravyn, she had let the galaxy swallow her up, pulling her away from home. "Well Well...look what the crows drug in...a raven" he said as he stood. He was not faster than the wolf who had already jumped at the familiar face, threating to knock the Mandalorian woman over if she didn't brace herself.

He let out a quiet laugh as he walked around the other side of the fire. "Its been too long!" he said warmly.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

It was dark, the light of the moon hidden behind the tangled branches that sat overhead. The sound of the snow that crunched beneath her boots, once familiar and now completely foreign. Ravyn had spent so many years away from home that she had almost forgotten how harsh and cold the nights here could be. Her attention followed the light of the fire ahead, its flames peeking out from behind the trees that lined her path, it's warmth and glow inviting as the cold air bit her nose and flushed her cheeks. She let out a deep breath as she approached, the steam visible as it escaped her lips, and pulled her coat further over her shoulders to keep in the warmth. In the distance she could see Varus, his frame silhouetted against the flames of the campfire he had built. It had been years since they had seen one another, and Ravyn had almost forgotten about Ciri.

"Varus!" She smiled, kneeling in the snow as Ciri rushed towards her in excitement. The large wolf pulled Ravyn over into the snow, laying her weight on top of her and rubbing her head against her frost bitten cheeks. She was heavy enough to pin her down, but Ravyn didn't mind as she had missed them both equally and threaded her fingers through her thick white coat to pet her.

"Come on now, Ciri. I've missed you too, don't worry." Ravyn laughed, struggling a moment to crawl out from underneath the wolf so that she could stand again. It circled her a few times before returning to Varus' side so that Ravyn could brush the snow from her hair.

"It has indeed been too long, Varus. Unfortunate that we needed to meet under such circumstances, but I'm happy to see you regardless." Dusting off the last bit of snow, she walked with them towards the fire to warm up from the harsh nights air.

 

[Varus Wren]

He let out a hearty laugh as the wolf plowed over the woman. Ciri was not so welcoming of most, but Ravyn had long ago earned the beast's trust. Once Ravyn had found a way to free herself they returned to the fire. Varus tossed another log on the fire, sending sparks into the air.

"Hey now." he said holding his hands up "You could have chosen any time to come home." he said as he sat down in his same spot by the fire.

Varus picked the flask up beside him and took a long pull from whiskey inside before tossing the flask over to Ravyn. "I'm sure you haven't been able to find a proper drink out there." he said as he gestured towards the night sky. Perhaps Varus was biased but there wasn't a drink that could hold a candle to a good Mandalorian whiskey.

"Are you home for long?" he asked finally. She had left years ago, as some did. She always had considered herself more of an outsider than she really was. Though he had always thought she let herself be convinced of this to help justify satisfying her thirst for experiencing the rest of the Galaxy. He hoped she had been looking for. His clan would need warriors like her in the coming times.

"Regardless, I am heading up the mountain in the morning to hunt a wampa that has begun causing some issues in the area. Wouldn't mind the company if you want to tag along." he said shrugging his shoulders. He was sure she had other things to do, but it would be nice to catch up.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Ravyn caught the flask with one hand, her other still buried in the wolfs fur as it sighed with content. Despite the cold that nipped at her face, it was the perfect night- the skies were clear, fresh snow peppered the ground and the fire crackled with a beautiful intensity. There wasn't a single thing she had missed more than this and for a brief moment she had forgotten why she had been so quick to leave Krownest behind. Varus had never seen her as an outsider, but that was what she loved about him- his inability to accept that she was a broken woman. Holding the flask to her lips, she smiled at him and took a sip, the alcohol burning its way down her throat; there truly wasn't anything better than Mandalorian whiskey.

"I have no plans of leaving while war threatens our lands. I will go wherever I am needed, but I will not abandon our people. You should know me better than that, Varus Wren." Ravyn teased with a smile, taking another sip before handing him back his flask. She had run years ago to escape her fathers constant criticisms, but she would always be a proud member of Clan Wren. The threat of war was far more important than petty familial disagreements and she'd stand with her people for as long as she was needed.

"Count me in if you're headed up the mountain. I had nothing else planned. I'm sure that Aramis and Orrick can wait another day to know I've returned- we all know how thrilled they'll be." The last bit dripped with sarcasm. Varus knew neither of her brothers would care that she'd returned and she had no intentions of addressing her father- it was best to avoid any confrontation with the three of them and she'd survived long enough without them that their acceptance was no longer something she desired.

She leaned back with a sigh, resting her head against Ciri's side to keep warm. It was harder now to lay with her given they had both grown in the years she'd been gone, but still she had missed this.

 

[Varus Wren]

"I am sure they will be glad that you have come home." he said taking the flask back and holding it to his mouth. Any Mandalorian that could turn their back on their family in such a way as they had to Ravyn held no respect from Varus. He wouldn't mettle in the woman's affairs, that was her battlefield and she would face it however she saw fit.

"Great!" he said finally pushing himself to his feet and dusting himself off. "It will be a good chance to see if space has made you soft." he said looking over and winking at the Mandalorian Woman. The words had the bite of a friendly challenge behind them. Competition was in their blood, it pushed them to be better and it was one of the things that had turned them into the Galaxy known warriors they were.

Ciri yawned and stretched as she stood to follow Varus. "You always have a place in my akaata'yaim" he said gesturing to small domed structure lined with furs and branches. He wouldn't blame her for not wanting to get into it with her family tonight but he also wouldn't blame her if she wanted to face it head-on. "I plan on leaving just before sunrise either way." he said.

He yawned himself before he dropped the flask of whiskey beside Ravyn. It landed in the snow beside her. Whatever she decided, it never hurt to have whiskey as a companion. "Good Night, Ravyn." he said smiling.

If she took him up on his offer, he would wait, if not, he would step out into the clearing and make his way to the akaata'yaim. The wind picked up, cold even for his liking. Tomorrow would only bring worse conditions, and possibly, danger.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Ravyn had nothing to fear from her brothers and her father had grown absent in his old age, but still their company was tiresome. It wasn't hard for anyone to see why she chose to spend so much time away from them. Of course, she was smart enough to know that her mothers death didn't rest on her shoulders, but the constant reminder that she was unwelcome made it hard to want to return. Varus understood her reasoning and she appreciated that he hadn't questioned her on her decision to leave, but it was clear now that she had been running from the wrong people. He was her family regardless of blood ties and had done nothing to deserve her absence, though she was grateful to him that he had not held it against her.

Krownest was home, even if she had been gone too many days to count.

"Soft." Ravyn laughed at the word, sitting up so that Ciri could stand. "You know, Varus.. you'll eventually need to accept the idea that I'm no longer a child. Soft isn't in my blood." With a smile, she reached for the flask in the snow beside her and uncapped it to raise it to her lips and pull the rest of the liquid from the container. It was enough to intoxicate her, even if only a little, but the opportunity to sleep it off meant it didn't matter. The alcohol made it easier to sleep and kept her warmer than the akaata'yaim they'd sleep in.

"I'm following you." She stood, brushing the snow off her clothes. "Here's hoping your snores don't attract the Wampa while we sleep." The woman smiled wide, nudging him with her elbow in a friendly manner.

 

[Varus Wren]

Dice Thread

He smiled back out through the darkness as they left the fire. "It isn't me you have to worry about, Ciri is the loud sleeper." he said tugging at the wolf's ears. She playfully snapped at him, letting out of a huff of steam into the winter night.

The hut was small but it was cozy enough. He relaxed his head back on arm and starred at the hut's roof as his mind wondered. It was not long before he was drifting off to sleep once again. He awoke a few hours later and they made any last minute preparations. He donned his armor, painted the colors of Clan Wren and the made there way out of the village.

It was a long hike to the area they were heading, it also involved a fair amount of climbing. Ciri followed as long as the path would allow the wolf, but she headed out into the wilderness when she was unable to climb the sheer cliffside. It was good for her to spend time in the wilderness, however long they had spent together, she was still a wild creature.

Hours later, they finally reached the general area of the beast had been seen. They began tracking the wampa, but it didn't take long for them to come across a recent kill the creature had made. It was obvious that was the wampa, given the gore and brutality of the kill. From there they began tracking through the treacherous landscape. The trail wasn't hard to follow, but it was slow going.

The sun was just peaking over the mountain tops, the reflection of the snow was blinding, but the view was breathtaking. "It would be no small task to find a view to match this out there." he commented as they continued to track the beast.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

They left early enough that the sun was just peaking out from behind the mountains, the air still chilled from hours without light. Ravyn wore layers beneath her armor to keep out the cold, trudging through the knee deep snow behind Varus as they made their way deeper into the mountains. Ciri disappeared behind the trees, but when it was time to head back Ravyn was sure she wouldn't be too far behind. Varus and Ciri shared a bond stronger than friends- an entire species separated them, but the two of them were bonded like family. There had been a time when Ravyn had sought that same kind of bond with a wolf of her own before she realized that theirs was truly unique. Wildness couldn't be tamed, except between Ciri and Varus.

"I don't believe words could do it justice." Ravyn agreed, turning her eyes to Varus as he spoke. They had been following a bloodied trail left in the snow, leading away from one of the Wampas most recent kills but it seemed to be faded the farther they traveled. The Mandalorian woman had grown far too used to tracking people that she'd almost forgotten entirely how to track a wild beast and relied more on Varus to lead the way. However, when it came time to kill it, she doubted he'd be disappointed- the Galaxy hadn't made her soft, but rather the opposite.

"Varus," Ravyn caught up to him, the steam rolling off her lips as she breathed. "What made you decide to come home?"

 

[Varus Wren]

Snow crunched beneath boots as the walked along the snow-covered mountains. The wind howled as Ravyn moved alongside him. He thought about her question. He had left home briefly when he was younger. His short stint as a bounty hunter was meant to give him experience out in the Galaxy, but he had always felt the desire to return home. In this way, he and Ravyn had always been different. Perhaps it was her family always pushing her away that had birthed the desire to run free away from Krowsnest. "Ciri doesn't do well on ships." he said grinning, steam coming from his mouth as he chuckled.

"Not all of us were born to be great adventures, such as yourself." he said nudging the woman playfully. He sighed a moment later giving the question more serious thought. He looked back up as the wampa jumped from a ledge above.

He moved, just in time to keep the beast from coming down on top of him. The creature landed rather gracefully for a creature of its size as it let out yell, blood still frozen to the edges of its mouth. It swung wildly at Ravyn and then at Varus. The creature was fast, it caught Varus across the chest with a powerful blow, sending him sidewise.

He landed on a slope, the snow giving way as he tried to find his footing. He began to slide down the mountainside and towards the cliff below.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

The large beast slid down the mountain and landed beside her, its cries echoing through the mountains. Ravyn could feel the warmth of its breath on her face and her heart skipped a beat as it swung at her in a quick and violent motion. Reaching for the blaster, holstered at her side, she rolled out of the way in time to avoid being struck and her attention moved quick to Varus. The Wampa was too close to him for her to risk taking a shot and she could only watch as he was thrown towards the side of the mountain, carried by the shifting snow towards the edge of the cliff- one wrong move and he'd be dead.

"Varus!" Ravyn called out to him, drawing the attention of the large beast that now hunted them. It snarled and moved towards her, but Ravyn was quick to fire her weapon. It missed, only serving to irritate the beast who moved quicker towards her. It was a foolish move, but instead of keeping its attention, she closed the distance between her and Varus to try and pull him away from the edge of the mountain. "Grab my hand. I'll pull you up!"

Ravyn anchored herself and aimed at the Wampa with her free hand, but it was too quick. Its clawed hand knocked the blaster from her grip and sent it sliding over the edge of the cliff . Before Varus could grab her hand, its second clawed hand caught her in the back and sent her flying in the other direction. She felt the blood that soaked her coat, but fought off the pain and tried to recover her second blaster before she was attacked again.

 

[Varus Wren]

He slid down the mountain towards the cliffside. He tried to get his footing underneath himself but it was no use, the snow just gave way underneath him. He rolled, taking out his knife and drove it into the ground, hoping it would catch onto something before he plummeted to his death.

Just as he reached the edge, his knife caught and he jerked around, struggling to hold on. Ravyn was already moving to help him. She should have just worried about the Wampa, it was still their biggest threat. It clawed at her, throwing her aside. He couldn't let it get ahold of her before she recovered. He pulled himself so he was facing towards the beast and pulled the blaster from his belt.

As it turned to pounce on Ravyn, he fired his blaster. Five shots slammed into the creatures back. He paused, before turning back to Varus, pained hatred visible in its eyes. As it took its first step towards Varus, its eyes glazed over, losing their focus and fell forwards. The creature slid down the mountain, Varus having to scramble out of the creatures way before it plummeted over the side.

He finished pulling himself up and stood. "Are you okay?" he called out to Ravyn.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

The shots echoed through the snow covered forests, followed by silence as both her and Varus awaited what would happen next. It turned to face him and both of them froze, their blasters aimed and ready to fire. The wampa stumbled and despite the pain that pulsed from her wounds, Ravyn was already moving to help Varus, her finger curled around the trigger. Her eyes never left the beast, blood dripping from its claws as he paused, stance wavering for a silent moment before it fell forward and fell off the edge of the cliffs behind Varus. Ravyn held her breath, listening as its large frame snapped branches on the way down- only after it was silent did she finally look over towards Varus, letting out the breath she had been holding.

"Yes, I'll be fine." She reached up to grab hold of the tree beside her, wincing as she pulled herself to her feet. "I thought I was about to lose you over the edge." Ravyn frowned, realizing now that she should have been more focused on the wampa. They'd spent more than enough time together for her to know that Varus was more than capable of taking care of himself- clearly, her travels had made her softer than she'd care to realize.

"We should head back though, before the sun sets and it gets too cold for travel." She looked out over the trees, realizing that the sun was already disappearing beneath the treeline. It would be a couple of hours before they made it back to his akaata'yaim and even longer before they'd reach their village.

 

[Varus Wren]

He reached her side as she examined the wounds she had suffered. All things considered, they had come through it alright. Some bruises and cuts, but nothing that wouldn't heal. "Hey now." he said holding his hands out to the side. "Its me. I am not that easy to get rid of." he said, winking.

They would spend a moment or two bandaging wounds and prepare for the trip back down. "Hopefully there is something left of it down there, I would make a nice trophy." he said examining the path where it had slid before going over the mountainside. A howl echoed up the mountain. "If Ciri decides to leave us any..." he said chucking. The wolf not doubt had already smelled the new corpse. She likely would leave the head, probably.

"You haven't grown scared of the dark now, have you?" he said, grin still on his face. He had forgotten his long lost hobby of teasing her. It was good to have her back. He agreed though. They could survive a night out here, but it wouldn't be fun.

Just then, something glinted in the corner of his eye. It was in the path of the disturbed ground the beast had slid down. He looked over and saw the metal reflecting the sun back towards them. "Huh." he sounded, making his way over.

He dug out the snow and dirt that covered the rest of the metal. "Its a door." he said, looking back at Ravyn. He had been up here hundreds of times and have never seen anything like this. He pulled the release and lifted the heavy door. He pulled a light out but couldn't see the bottom of the long access shaft, just a ladder leading down into darkness. Warm air rose, turning to steam in the winter air. "Want to check it out?" he asked. He was sure she would, she always had been the more adventurous of the two anyways.

They slowly made their way into the mountain.