Grasping Reality

JP with Cindy and White_Caribou

“Hmm. A man who takes odd pleasure in killing and suffering. I live with quite a few of those,” the witch thought out loud.
She noticed that Islana had only asked about her friend so far.

“Well, little lamb. You sound like you've walked quite the harrowing path. Now ask me something.” Shalia responded with faint excitement. There was so much she could talk about!

Islana didn't know what to say to Shalia's reaction about the man that was after her. Perhaps she shouldn't say anything.

Questions? Islana had so many but there was one that seemed to be first in her mind.

"Your touch, why is it so cold?"

The tone gave away it was pure curiosity but it also seemed to be a vital part of the other woman, so as a slave Islana figured she should probably know.

Shalia understood how jarring that must have been. Islana deserved to see who she was in the presence of. Why she was so special to the Odonine. Why she was away from Ostiarium.

“The mountains run through my veins. With ice. With death. Winter has made a home in me," she spoke cryptically to add a dramatic touch. "I am forever kissed by the cold.”

A little demonstration couldn't hurt. She twisted to the side and wrapped her hand lightly around Islana’s wrist. “Fancy nonsense for saying I can do this,“ as she spoke normally again, a coating of painless, numbing ice surrounded Islana’s warm skin and reached up to her elbow before stopping. Shalia then let go of her, making the ice slowly begin to retreat as if melting away, and faced forward again. Now, she expected nothing but terror and disgust from the Helian, and her posture stiffened as if in preparation.

Islana felt the cold embrace her arm as the ice enveloped it. It didn't hurt, it just felt cold. The young woman watched with interest as the ice melted away.

A magik user? Shalia was a magik user. It would have been comical if Islana's situation wasn't so sad.

Alright, whichever one of you deities decided this was how I should connect with another magik user.... couldn't have their been an easier way to go about this?

Not just a magik user but someone who Islana would be, probably, spending a long time with. Someone who clearly knew more on the subject than herself.

The other woman's posture stiffened, the redhead was well aware why. Islana herself had experienced vival hatred at people finding out but, at least, she hadn't experienced that from everyone who knew.

There was nothing even close to terror or disgust in Islana's voice when she spoke, it was spoken just as if a revelation.

"You're a magik user."

There was a decision to make, if she didn't tell the woman and was found out.... looking down at her arm....no that would not be good. If she told Shalia then what would happen?

"I should tell you something....or maybe show you but I cannot do it on horseback."

Shalia opened her mouth to retort threateningly, but was quickly caught off guard by what Islana actually said, remaining in a drawn-out silence. Such a tame reaction from a foreigner…so calm? Yes, she knew her place, but the ingrained beliefs across the sea were quite volatile regardless.

There was nothing like that in her words.

Her tone became unreadable the more Shalia played it back in her head. The redhead hadn’t even flinched at the sight or sensation of her magik. Funny how Shalia was suddenly the one baffled and speechless, a ticklish feeling settling into her chest.

She spoke with hesitation. “Uh…show me later, alright? It is too soon to stop now. We’ll be traveling for days and I’d prefer not to make unnecessary stops.” With that, she sped her horse up and the men soon followed suit. The quiet conversation of two Aghul played behind her, horse hooves picked up the pace, and birds called out in the sky as the sun crawled further into sight.

"Tell me whatever you'd like." Shalia finally stated, looking out at the sunrise over the mountains.

The silence seemed to stretch out forever. Islana realized her reaction had probably thrown the other woman. Considering how most people would react it wasn't surprising.

It was easy enough to realize that Islana should not speak again until told to. So, she remained silent.

There was a conversation, the redhead didn't understand, she could hear the sounds of nature playing against the silence between the two women.

Kaithak called out and swooped down out of sight for a few moments before returning, probably hunting as Islana hadn't been able to feed the falcon.

Finally, Shalia spoke up. Tell her anything? At this point Islana didn't know how the other woman would take what she had to say but Islana's voice couldn't have sounded more sincere when she spoke.

"I also have an ability. It's not as powerful as what I suspect you are capable of but I can communicate with animals."

Using the word communicate for lack of a better term. After all, what was a good word for what she could do?

It was difficult to grasp.

Had their magik drawn them together? Was Shalia's impulse not only out of desire to spare her? She had never encountered another weaver before, never mind one as open and to-the-point as Islana. Likely to do with the power imbalance, but it felt almost casual and honest despite. This place was certainly not Helias, yet there was never a chance for her to open up about much of anything beyond whatever Odonine issue was at hand or about the progress of her magik to Koshnem. What she could say only went so far.

She sighed deeply upon remembering the separation. Without him here, she had never felt as violently isolated, falling right into place as the mountain recluse the clansmen, women, and children wanted to avoid. Was her lifetime of loneliness suddenly interrupted, or was it all too good to be true?

Was she just weak and desperate for a connection of some kind? Some person she could be vulnerable to and not lose in the end?

"Fascinating. How long have you known? How have you survived out there?”
She fought to keep her composure in the onslaught of her own thinking. An air of bewilderment sounded in her voice as she shifted slightly on the horse. She would need to see the scale of this 'animal communication' to truly believe it even though someone would hardly lie about such a wildly damning thing. Islana did not seem like a liar thus far unless she was quite good at deception. Wanted to get on her good side. Doubtful.

What would she really gain from a lie?
Shalia could dangle her young life on a thread at will. Pierce her through the heart with a dagger of ice. Throw her to the hungry wolves that stalked behind them.