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Post by Leda on Apr 5, 2009 0:17:41 GMT -5
"We need fire and food," Tikal noted, glancing around the area. "If you know how to get a fire going, I can forage something for us..." The echidna frowned as she looked back to Manic. "It doesn't look like Ridgy's going to turn up before nightfall... I hope he's okay."
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Post by Lans on Apr 5, 2009 23:26:41 GMT -5
"He'll be ok. He's, like, got dumb luck out the wazoo," Manic said as he took some things out of his, luckily waterproof, pouch. "See any long sticks around? I need a bow."
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Post by Leda on Apr 5, 2009 23:33:07 GMT -5
Still a little unconvinced, but attempting to push the doubts from her mind, Tikal forced herself to smile and nodded at Manic's request. "Of course! I'll find you some right away!" The priestess turned to her cloak crumpled on the grass, and upon picking it up, was disappointed to discover that it was still quite damp. And cold. But nevertheless, Tikal grit her teeth and slipped the garment over her shoulders, then flipped it forward like an apron. Despite the chills running down her back from the soggy cloth, the echidna busied herself with finding several sticks for Manic to choose from.
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Post by Lans on Apr 10, 2009 0:36:32 GMT -5
Manic, meanwhile, busied himself with gathering some larger firewood from a nearby fallen tree. When Tikal returned with the sticks, Manic examined them, then took the length of cord he had gotten from his pouch and made the one with sufficent length and flexiness into a bow. Then taking it and another stick, he carved a small hole in one of the logs with a pocke knife and proceded to begin working on starting a fire.
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Post by Leda on Apr 10, 2009 13:22:52 GMT -5
As he set about his work, the priestess busied herself with searching for something for dinner while there was still natural light. Darting this way and that, hurriedly inspecting the surrounding foliage, Tikal was disappointed with the meager selection the area had to offer. With a defeated sigh, the somber echidna returned to Manic, her cloak-turned-apron offering only a couple of berry clusters and a none too appetizing root. "There's not much around here to eat," she announced with a frown.
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Post by Lans on Apr 11, 2009 1:22:29 GMT -5
By then the green hedgehog teen had gotten a modest sized fire going. He picked a berry out of her selection and popped it into his mouth with a gulp. "Eh, it, like, beats garbage."
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Post by Leda on Apr 11, 2009 1:59:33 GMT -5
An appreciative smile crept across the echidna girl's face. "That's very true." Setting the food nearby, and laying out her cloak to finish drying by the fire, Tikal sat closely at Manic's side and took a couple of berries to munch on. A chill ran down her damp back, and her body shook itself in response. "I hope it's not too cold of a night," she commented.
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Post by Lans on Apr 11, 2009 22:15:22 GMT -5
Manic suppressed a nervous gulp, instead putting on a half-grin. "Well," he said leaning closer, "I'm sure we'll make it through ok."
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Post by Leda on Apr 11, 2009 22:20:52 GMT -5
"Yes, once my cloak finishes drying, we should be okay." Still, the echidna couldn't help but sigh. "I hope Ridgy won't be too cold tonight. And my father will be pretty sore at me when we make it back..."
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Post by Lans on Apr 11, 2009 23:30:33 GMT -5
"I'm sure they'll be all right," Manic assured her, then added jokingly, "Unless they all decided to join us in cold river swimming."
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Post by Leda on Apr 11, 2009 23:47:02 GMT -5
Tikal tittered at that. "Nooooo, I don't think anyone would be looking for one of those!" The echidna shivered again, huddling slightly and rubbing her arms. "I know I sure didn't enjoy my own dip." Her eyes drifted over to her garment near the fire. How long would it be until it was back to normal, she wondered?
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Post by Lans on Apr 12, 2009 1:57:44 GMT -5
Gathering his courage internally, Manic shifted the rest of the distance over to her and gently, almost tenetively, put an arm around her shoulders. "...Better?" he asked, hoping that the hope wasn't telling in his voice.
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Post by Leda on Apr 12, 2009 10:15:41 GMT -5
Glancing up at the hedgehog's face, Tikal's own produced a pleased smile. "Thank you!" Apparently reading the move as an open invitation, the priestess then snuggled up against her companion, leaning her right temple against his shoulder. "Do you camp a lot?" she asked, popping another berry into her mouth. "Or do you have a stable home?"
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Post by Lans on Apr 12, 2009 20:35:34 GMT -5
Manic didn't answer immediatly, half enjoying the feeling of her leaning on him, half pondering how to answer. "Well, like, I've got Meadowood," he started, "But if you mean before the nastiness...well, yeah, I did some...'camping.'"
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Post by Leda on Apr 12, 2009 21:03:57 GMT -5
"...Ah yes, the village! I'm sorry, I forgot about Ridgy mentioning it while we were walking." Her gaze turned up to the twilit sky, just starting to reveal the shining celestial eyes. "I've moved around my whole life. It's wonderful to get to see new places all of the time! But, I have wished now and then that we had a home somewhere to come back to."
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Post by Lans on Apr 13, 2009 0:35:46 GMT -5
"Well, I'm sure that Rob man wouldn't turn you guys out," Manic said with just a HINT of suggestion, "I mean he even accepted an overlander recently..."
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Post by Leda on Apr 13, 2009 0:39:42 GMT -5
Tikal let out a sound that was distantly akin to a purr. "Maybe the Elder would allow us to stop for a visit! I'd really enjoy to see your home!" Just as she was about to eat another couple of berries, her face twisted with horror and she bolted upright. "Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry!! I'm just sitting here gobbling these all up, and you've barely had any!!" The priestess emphatically handed off the remainder of the berry cluster, slumping her shoulders in guilt.
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Post by Lans on Apr 13, 2009 2:31:13 GMT -5
"Wha-?" Manic said, startled. "Nah, it's ok, I'm not really hungry..." And right then as if to spite him his stomach gave a rather loud rumble. "...Well, ok. Like, maybe a few." He grabbed a small handfull for himself and began popping them into his mouth one after another. In between berries he went on. "I think it'd be great if you guys could stay in the village, even for a little while. We don't get a lot of visitors, ya know. Though recently its been, like, busier than usual."
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Post by Leda on Apr 14, 2009 21:55:46 GMT -5
"That could be fun, if the Elder allows it," Tikal replied with a sheepish smile. Her attention turned then to the campfire, and after some careful examination, she withdrew a moderately sized stick that hadn't been very affected by the flames as of yet. With her brow furrowed, the echidna carefully skewered the yet untouched root, and propped it near the flames. "There! These usually aren't very tasty, but they're a little better when they're warm, at least!"
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Post by Lans on Apr 15, 2009 0:21:25 GMT -5
"I'm sure they'll be great," he told her, having eaten much worse in his past than a few bitter roots.
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Post by Leda on Apr 15, 2009 0:35:28 GMT -5
Moving on to her cloak, Tikal tested it for dampness, and was pleased to find it not only dry, but also warm and cozy. "Ah, this'll be MUCH better!" The priestess resumed her seat at Manic's side with the garment only partially wrapped around her shoulders. "Here, Manic; it's big enough to share, if you're chilly."
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Post by Lans on Apr 15, 2009 3:15:51 GMT -5
Manic gave her a smile to try and cover the sudden blush he felt creeping up his cheeks. "Sure." He slid over and allowed ehr to put the cloak around both of them. "Like, cozy," he commented. He relaxed a moment, once more just enjoying where he was, before deciding to continue talking. "So what're you guys doing out here?"
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Post by Leda on Apr 15, 2009 14:54:46 GMT -5
"Well, there's no reason we're here in particular, but we travel around all the time. When our clan was still together, we'd go from village to village and trade, offer medicinal help, and exchange stories and knowledge." Tikal frowned slightly. "But our clan got broken up by a robot attack... It's been just my father and me for a long time. It's nice to have an Elder around again."
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Post by Lans on Apr 16, 2009 22:39:58 GMT -5
"Well...at least you've still get them, right?" Manic said. He himself had only vague memories of his...biological family. And, of course, what family he did have was lost during the seizure of Mercia.
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Post by Leda on Apr 17, 2009 1:03:56 GMT -5
Tikal was silent for a moment. That quiet voice of resistance whispered the conflicting thoughts of how much better life might be if Pachacamac weren't around... The voice she'd listened to when she (apparently) attempted to murder him. The priestess slumped. " Yeah..."
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Post by Lans on Apr 17, 2009 1:12:25 GMT -5
Manic frowned, not exactly expecting this sort of reaction from her. "Um..." he began with uncertainty, "...did I say something...wrong?"
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Post by Leda on Apr 17, 2009 1:17:26 GMT -5
"No, I think I'm just tired." The echidna pulled the toasted root away from the flames, and tentatively took a bite. "Hmm... Probably would've been better boiled or seasoned, but," she paused to offer a bite to her companion, "at least it's good starch?"
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Post by Lans on Apr 17, 2009 1:28:20 GMT -5
Manic took the offered piece, and took a bite out of it. "Mmm, bettah tan mah ooking anyway," Manic said during his attempt to chew it down to a swallowable size.
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Post by Leda on Apr 17, 2009 1:32:00 GMT -5
Manic was rewarded with a mild chuckle for his compliment, as Tikal's cheeriness slowly returned. "Thanks. Still, I hope I can make you something better tomorrow." The echidna let out a long sigh; the darkness had definitely set in by now, and even without the emotional drain, she really was feeling a little sleepy.
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Post by Lans on Apr 17, 2009 1:41:38 GMT -5
"Tired?" he asked, though the answer was obvious. In truth, he was fatigued himself. Carrying a person in a raging, freezing cold, river and then setting up even a makeshift camp would do that to you.
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