The woods smelled nice to him, the fragrance of nature without any hint of city smell's or noises near by. He was tired, but in the sense he had finally enjoyed a good work out and felt calmer, more complacent with the situation.
What Drake said made enough sense he imagined, why would the man care but uhm.."Drake, why do you think he lives out here? I mean...its a bit odd for most people isn't it?"
He paused at the idea of climbing trees, they were objects he had learned to simply accept as things to dodge, rub against, eat, or relax under for shade. Long ago he had quit looking at them with the thought of climbing up high. "I...don't know if I can." The tree's suddenly seemed more massive at the idea of climbing them, old whispered warnings coming to mind. "I guess if you think I can..."
The earth seemed solid and real under his feet, heavier as if to remind him where he belonged. Tree's could cut skin or break limbs...Cody shook his head out to clear it from the fears and worries that clouded him from trying something he had once wanted to do when he was younger. "Sure." A more firm answer that time..the confidence wasn't going to last for answer, but it was another small bit of standing up to trying something new.
Forgotten Faces
"Sure you can." Drake smiled encouragingly at his friend. "There are two ways you can do it until you get good. You can either stand up and walk along the limbs using the ones above you to hang on to, or you can lean over like you're going to walk on your hands and feet using your hands to hang on to the branch. I know it might sound a little hard, but you'll get the hang of it before long." He patted Cody on the back and started to climb into a tree when he spotted something.
Just to the side of the path they had been following there was a tree with a branch barely two feet off the ground and another about four and a half feet above it. "Look," he said excitedly, "a practice tree. Come here." He led Cody over to the tree. "You can use this to get adjusted to it and decide which way you want to do it."
Just to the side of the path they had been following there was a tree with a branch barely two feet off the ground and another about four and a half feet above it. "Look," he said excitedly, "a practice tree. Come here." He led Cody over to the tree. "You can use this to get adjusted to it and decide which way you want to do it."
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody imagined the idea in itself sounded simple, all there really was to it was walking being careful of where you put your feet right? As a horse he had learned to pay special attention to where he put his hooves since some horses recklessly put them anywhere, surely as a human he could learn basically the same thing. Of course as a horse it was normally larger areas that were safe to step and only small areas where he had to keep his feet from landing, this was definitely different.
Cody followed him over to the mentioned tree, he snorted feeling nervous over something he was pretty sure he didn’t need to be nervous about. This was new, and he had once been warned dangerous to him, still this certainly did appear easier than the tree’s Drake had been climbing around in.
Cody put a hand lightly on the first tree branch and clumsily climbed up on it, quickly grabbing for the branch above it wary of losing balance even if he was close to the ground. Cody felt nervous, then swallowed it away giving the next branch the same defiant look he had used on Drake when he first met him. Cody had balance and decent strength, no reason he couldn’t do this! He shifted his arms farther apart on the branch and pulled himself up, again his legs scrabbling some for leverage but after a moment was kneeling on that branch. Alright this was progress! Cody looked down as he decided what to make of being higher up than he was use to. Cody snorted again shaking away his nerves, then slowly worked at standing back up, feeling his legs shift underneath him. His legs shook, and Cody held his breath waiting for the fall, but instead found he was still standing on the branch. “I don’t think I’m very good at this…”
Cody gripped a branch straight above him for a bit extra balance and looked helplessly at Drake. “I’m going to probably fall at this rate…” He left off the part about getting hurt when he fell, as that was something he imagined was rather obvious. “This one is supposed to be easy isn’t it?” He looked from the tree he was on the others farther away.
Cody followed him over to the mentioned tree, he snorted feeling nervous over something he was pretty sure he didn’t need to be nervous about. This was new, and he had once been warned dangerous to him, still this certainly did appear easier than the tree’s Drake had been climbing around in.
Cody put a hand lightly on the first tree branch and clumsily climbed up on it, quickly grabbing for the branch above it wary of losing balance even if he was close to the ground. Cody felt nervous, then swallowed it away giving the next branch the same defiant look he had used on Drake when he first met him. Cody had balance and decent strength, no reason he couldn’t do this! He shifted his arms farther apart on the branch and pulled himself up, again his legs scrabbling some for leverage but after a moment was kneeling on that branch. Alright this was progress! Cody looked down as he decided what to make of being higher up than he was use to. Cody snorted again shaking away his nerves, then slowly worked at standing back up, feeling his legs shift underneath him. His legs shook, and Cody held his breath waiting for the fall, but instead found he was still standing on the branch. “I don’t think I’m very good at this…”
Cody gripped a branch straight above him for a bit extra balance and looked helplessly at Drake. “I’m going to probably fall at this rate…” He left off the part about getting hurt when he fell, as that was something he imagined was rather obvious. “This one is supposed to be easy isn’t it?” He looked from the tree he was on the others farther away.
"Ah, everyone's shaky at first. It just take some practice." Drake watched Cody shaking on the limb. He couldn't tell if it was from lack of balance or nerves. He had gotten up easy enough and even stood up smoothly. "Just don't focus on the ground so much. When you're not used to being up high your mind will fool you into thinking you're higher than you are, and that can cause problems."
Drake looked around the area and found a tree close-by with a branch at the same height as the one Cody was on. "Just take a little time and get your bearings." He walked over to the other tree. The branch he was aiming for wasn't any higher than he had thought, but there were no other limbs closer to him. He took a deep breath and squatted low to the ground to stretch his muscles. Doing what he was about to do was a lot easier with a flat surface like a wall, but now he only had a rounded tree to work with. It had been a while since he had done it too.
He stared at the tree with a look very similar to that Cody had given the higher branch. "I can do this," he told himself. He jumped at the tree and pushed against it with his free foot. A piece of the bark gave under the pressure, and he slipped, his momentum still driving him towards the tree instead of away from it. "Damn it," he shouted loudly as his face smacked hard against it.
He stood, brushing the dirt and leaves off his clothes, and made ready for another attempt. He aimed for the same spot, hoping that the lack of bark would prevent the same problem from happening. It worked, all the way up until the point where he was supposed to grab the branch. He had miss-calculated and was too far to the side, which resulted in him laying on the ground with a handful of leaves instead of him swinging from the branch. With a grumble and a menacing growl he tried again, just barely succeeding this time. He swung up onto the branch in the most amazingly graceful way he could imagine in an attempt to save face.
He looked at Cody to see if he was laughing at him. He didn't appear to have seen a thing that had happened. "Cody, how you doing with that?"
Drake looked around the area and found a tree close-by with a branch at the same height as the one Cody was on. "Just take a little time and get your bearings." He walked over to the other tree. The branch he was aiming for wasn't any higher than he had thought, but there were no other limbs closer to him. He took a deep breath and squatted low to the ground to stretch his muscles. Doing what he was about to do was a lot easier with a flat surface like a wall, but now he only had a rounded tree to work with. It had been a while since he had done it too.
He stared at the tree with a look very similar to that Cody had given the higher branch. "I can do this," he told himself. He jumped at the tree and pushed against it with his free foot. A piece of the bark gave under the pressure, and he slipped, his momentum still driving him towards the tree instead of away from it. "Damn it," he shouted loudly as his face smacked hard against it.
He stood, brushing the dirt and leaves off his clothes, and made ready for another attempt. He aimed for the same spot, hoping that the lack of bark would prevent the same problem from happening. It worked, all the way up until the point where he was supposed to grab the branch. He had miss-calculated and was too far to the side, which resulted in him laying on the ground with a handful of leaves instead of him swinging from the branch. With a grumble and a menacing growl he tried again, just barely succeeding this time. He swung up onto the branch in the most amazingly graceful way he could imagine in an attempt to save face.
He looked at Cody to see if he was laughing at him. He didn't appear to have seen a thing that had happened. "Cody, how you doing with that?"
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody may have not see what happened, but he had heard the thud and the curse from Drake. He had turned to glimpse but then had felt how twisting his body also twisted his balance, and faced ahead again. Cody shook his head again clearing his mind from the tendrils of fear that over took reason. He looked ahead to consider each branch and how it connected to the next. It’s easier to jump with a running start, perhaps a continuous motion was easier in tree’s as well.
He wasn’t positive it was a great idea, but instead of carefully stepping to the next branch he leapt, gripped onto another branch and managed well enough for several leaps before hesitation mixed with a more difficult step caused downfall. Fear filled his eyes as he felt gravity pushing him backwards, logic failed him on his next course of action. He heard himself cry out, felt defeat clutch him and then landing on a solid branch underneath that stopped him from continuing his fall to the ground. It hurt, he’d have a bruise later probably, but it wasn’t something that would present long term damage, and that was what scared Cody.
“Uh…I’m ok I guess.” No he wasn’t. He wanted to say I can’t do this, or let me go back to using the ground. Cody looked up at the tree tops considering the position he’d put himself in. Cody carefully used his arms to turn himself sideways where he thought he’d be able to get a better position for standing back up. Cody was…so tired of being a coward, being scared of everything. If he couldn’t conquer his own fears, couldn’t he at least not add any new ones to the list? “I’m fine.” He sounded a bit more confident that time. A moment later he ignored Drake’s earlier warning and looked down, this branch had caught him, and some branches could do more damage than a sore back. Once up he gritted his teeth and jumped again to another branch. Cody started to remind himself to use his hands more to grasp the branches; somehow it was hard to remember that until it became a necessity because of balance.
He wasn’t positive it was a great idea, but instead of carefully stepping to the next branch he leapt, gripped onto another branch and managed well enough for several leaps before hesitation mixed with a more difficult step caused downfall. Fear filled his eyes as he felt gravity pushing him backwards, logic failed him on his next course of action. He heard himself cry out, felt defeat clutch him and then landing on a solid branch underneath that stopped him from continuing his fall to the ground. It hurt, he’d have a bruise later probably, but it wasn’t something that would present long term damage, and that was what scared Cody.
“Uh…I’m ok I guess.” No he wasn’t. He wanted to say I can’t do this, or let me go back to using the ground. Cody looked up at the tree tops considering the position he’d put himself in. Cody carefully used his arms to turn himself sideways where he thought he’d be able to get a better position for standing back up. Cody was…so tired of being a coward, being scared of everything. If he couldn’t conquer his own fears, couldn’t he at least not add any new ones to the list? “I’m fine.” He sounded a bit more confident that time. A moment later he ignored Drake’s earlier warning and looked down, this branch had caught him, and some branches could do more damage than a sore back. Once up he gritted his teeth and jumped again to another branch. Cody started to remind himself to use his hands more to grasp the branches; somehow it was hard to remember that until it became a necessity because of balance.
Drake watched Cody fall and land hard on the branch. "Are you sure? That looked like it hurt." He straddled the branch he was on and watched as Cody got up and gave it another try. He smiled at his friends apparent determination. "Just tell me when you think you've got a handle on it and we'll get moving again."
He leaned back against the tree from which his branch sprouted. The sky overhead, or what of it he could see, was starting to get the first colored streaks of the sunset. It was going to be hard for Cody if they didn't get going before the sun finished it's descent, but he didn't want to stop him. Cody seemed to be pushing himself to succeed at this, and he thought that Cody could use a little more confidence. Drake decided to focus on the mission that lay before them instead.
He had no clue as to what his connection to the mage was. He shook his head. That wasn't true. He knew that the man had hired him for some job involving gnome made tubes of some sort. He searched the portion of his memory that was still intact. He could think of many uses for magical tubes. Magically drawing poisons or toxin out of the body, gathering the energy of a ghost for use in spells, or even to give someone a poor imitations of immortality, though few ever succeeded in that endeavor. All of the possible uses of magical tubes were plausible, but none of the tubes used for any of the spells he could think of would look anything like the ones from his memory. He shook off the thoughts.
He then decided to find out if he could see the cave they were going to. He stood and scurried higher into the tree. When he was as high as he thought he could get without impeding the range of his sight, he stopped and sat down in a fork in the tree. There were lots of strange rock formations in the area, but none of them looked like they would be capable of housing the entrance to a cave. He climbed back down the tree. "You think you're ready to move on yet?"
He leaned back against the tree from which his branch sprouted. The sky overhead, or what of it he could see, was starting to get the first colored streaks of the sunset. It was going to be hard for Cody if they didn't get going before the sun finished it's descent, but he didn't want to stop him. Cody seemed to be pushing himself to succeed at this, and he thought that Cody could use a little more confidence. Drake decided to focus on the mission that lay before them instead.
He had no clue as to what his connection to the mage was. He shook his head. That wasn't true. He knew that the man had hired him for some job involving gnome made tubes of some sort. He searched the portion of his memory that was still intact. He could think of many uses for magical tubes. Magically drawing poisons or toxin out of the body, gathering the energy of a ghost for use in spells, or even to give someone a poor imitations of immortality, though few ever succeeded in that endeavor. All of the possible uses of magical tubes were plausible, but none of the tubes used for any of the spells he could think of would look anything like the ones from his memory. He shook off the thoughts.
He then decided to find out if he could see the cave they were going to. He stood and scurried higher into the tree. When he was as high as he thought he could get without impeding the range of his sight, he stopped and sat down in a fork in the tree. There were lots of strange rock formations in the area, but none of them looked like they would be capable of housing the entrance to a cave. He climbed back down the tree. "You think you're ready to move on yet?"
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody glanced back at Drake again, this time keeping a hold of a branch and twisting his wrist a bit to keep his balance. He smiled weakly at Drake, “I’ll be fine, we can go whenever you’re ready.” He thought of suggesting they move slowly, but he didn’t want to hold them up. Cody wanted to keep up, he didn’t really like being slow at anything.
Cody thought of showing off his improvement by swinging fully around and hopping a branch to bring himself closer to Drake. The pivot was find, the execution of the leap looked fine, the landing wasn’t as great. His feet landed on the branch, but not enough to gain balance to perch on the branch. From their came an interesting view of arms frantically grabbing onto branches, curling up into a ball to miss hitting a low branch, then pulling himself up on the branch he’d managed to hold onto. As if to spite his growing sense of confidence Cody got to hear the sound of the branch cracking at its base, protesting the amount of weight Cody had suddenly put on it. At this point most of the determination was falling from him to be replaced with fear. “Drake….” Cody’s right hand shot out frantically searching for a branch. His fingers touched a branch a hairs length to far to get a good grip, and a bit low. The seconds seemed forever as his branch broke, and Cody snagged the lower branch he couldn’t reach earlier. Fear gave him the urgency needed to pull himself easily onto the branch and grasp it with white fisted knuckles, knees pressing down on the branch as hard as he could manage. He again stared down at the ground trembling. “No problem…” This time his voice betrayed the fear he felt from another near fall.
Cody thought of showing off his improvement by swinging fully around and hopping a branch to bring himself closer to Drake. The pivot was find, the execution of the leap looked fine, the landing wasn’t as great. His feet landed on the branch, but not enough to gain balance to perch on the branch. From their came an interesting view of arms frantically grabbing onto branches, curling up into a ball to miss hitting a low branch, then pulling himself up on the branch he’d managed to hold onto. As if to spite his growing sense of confidence Cody got to hear the sound of the branch cracking at its base, protesting the amount of weight Cody had suddenly put on it. At this point most of the determination was falling from him to be replaced with fear. “Drake….” Cody’s right hand shot out frantically searching for a branch. His fingers touched a branch a hairs length to far to get a good grip, and a bit low. The seconds seemed forever as his branch broke, and Cody snagged the lower branch he couldn’t reach earlier. Fear gave him the urgency needed to pull himself easily onto the branch and grasp it with white fisted knuckles, knees pressing down on the branch as hard as he could manage. He again stared down at the ground trembling. “No problem…” This time his voice betrayed the fear he felt from another near fall.
Drake had rushed to help Cody, but ran into a problem of his own. The only branch that would take him directly to his dangling friend was dead and split down the middle. Drake had recognized the danger just in time. "Hang on Cody," he said, thinking that it was too low for his friend to hear. He couldn't worry about that at the moment though. He looked around for another fast way. His best option was the ground, so he jumped, using another dead branch closer to the ground to slow his fall some.
He hit the ground with a roll and ran full out to the tree that Cody was in. All of the low branches were too small to support his weight. He looked around again as he didn't want to trust his rusty skills with rebounding off trees when someone's life depended on it. He spotted another tree near by with a limb that came very close to the one he needed to get to.
He jumped and swung from branch to branch to get up the tree as fast as possible. The deep cut on his bare hand opened up again, and droplets of blood landed in his open eyes. He blinked them away and ignored the stinging in his palm. By the time he had reached the long limb, Cody was starting to loose his grip. Drake watched his friend start to fall. The sight drove him harder.
He literally ran across the wide branch and threw himself at the tree from which Cody hung. He hit it chest first with a loud, hollow thud and wrapped his arms around it tightly. He felt about for a limb with his dangling feet, and found one quickly. It took some work, but he eventually clambered onto it. He hurried from limb to limb on his way to aid Cody.
He came to the broken stub of the limb Cody had been on. He looked around for a sign of his friend and couldn't find any. Where had he gone? He jumped down to the next limb, and nearly fell himself to avoid landing on top of Cody. Drake leaned back against the tree to catch his breath. "I guess we can continue on foot then."
He hit the ground with a roll and ran full out to the tree that Cody was in. All of the low branches were too small to support his weight. He looked around again as he didn't want to trust his rusty skills with rebounding off trees when someone's life depended on it. He spotted another tree near by with a limb that came very close to the one he needed to get to.
He jumped and swung from branch to branch to get up the tree as fast as possible. The deep cut on his bare hand opened up again, and droplets of blood landed in his open eyes. He blinked them away and ignored the stinging in his palm. By the time he had reached the long limb, Cody was starting to loose his grip. Drake watched his friend start to fall. The sight drove him harder.
He literally ran across the wide branch and threw himself at the tree from which Cody hung. He hit it chest first with a loud, hollow thud and wrapped his arms around it tightly. He felt about for a limb with his dangling feet, and found one quickly. It took some work, but he eventually clambered onto it. He hurried from limb to limb on his way to aid Cody.
He came to the broken stub of the limb Cody had been on. He looked around for a sign of his friend and couldn't find any. Where had he gone? He jumped down to the next limb, and nearly fell himself to avoid landing on top of Cody. Drake leaned back against the tree to catch his breath. "I guess we can continue on foot then."
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody looked at his friend in a bit of confusion at first, surprised with how little time it to Drake to get to him. His eyes strayed to his friends hand and the branch beneath the hand that had a red smear on it. "Sorry Drake. We can keep to the tree's if you want...I'll...get better." He really did like the idea of the ground though, it was much safer. "Is your hand alright?"
Cody worked himself slowly into a better sitting position feeling his heart starting to slow back to a normal pace. His back was starting to protest the treatment it was being given. The fall had hurt some, but his adrenaline had kept the pain at bay. Now as he used the muscles in his arm he was aware of how they tied into the muscles into his back. No...no...how badly would it effect his legs in his horse form. Cody closed his eyes and tried to imagine the different structure in how everything was connected, the back would be sore but it shouldn't stop his movement any. Then again, it would make climbing around in the tree's a lot harder. "You could stay in the tree's and I could manage alright from the ground. That seemed to work alright earlier."
Cody worked himself slowly into a better sitting position feeling his heart starting to slow back to a normal pace. His back was starting to protest the treatment it was being given. The fall had hurt some, but his adrenaline had kept the pain at bay. Now as he used the muscles in his arm he was aware of how they tied into the muscles into his back. No...no...how badly would it effect his legs in his horse form. Cody closed his eyes and tried to imagine the different structure in how everything was connected, the back would be sore but it shouldn't stop his movement any. Then again, it would make climbing around in the tree's a lot harder. "You could stay in the tree's and I could manage alright from the ground. That seemed to work alright earlier."
Drake regarded his hand carelessly. "Not really, it's not even bleeding all that bad anymore." He clenched and unclenched his fist to make sure it was the truth. It still hurt a little, but he maintained full range of motion. This was the second time he had hurt himself going after Cody, and he was still going to stick with him. After all the things he had put the boy through, it wouldn't be fair to leave him.
"I suppose it would be better if we were both in our own element. We'll be able to get two views of the area that way too. Good idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it." He smiled at Cody humorously. "I suppose we should be getting on our way now."
"I suppose it would be better if we were both in our own element. We'll be able to get two views of the area that way too. Good idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it." He smiled at Cody humorously. "I suppose we should be getting on our way now."
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody was relieved to hear that the hand was alright, he was always one of those gentle souls that hated it when people got hurt because of him. Cody looked down, not much farther to the ground thanks to his fall from earlier.
"I guess this proves that I wasn't meant to climb tree's." Now he had to get down, somehow that seemed harder than getting up. No...actually getting down looked easy, it was the getting down without falling that looked hard. Cody sighed and tightened his grip on the branch, gave Drake a moments helpless look then started inching himself off the branch. Cody's feet dangled for a moment, then kicked at the air a few times till they both found the support of a branch beneath them. Letting go of the branch he was holding on to he felt his body go back and forth as he tried to center himself to regain balance. After a few seconds he hopped down on the ground, flinching at a tiny thorn nicked his arm. It wasn't bad, if anything maybe a drop of blood might be formed, but little more.
That's why Drake had wanted the tree's...it was all these dang thorns. Cody snorted again, neither horse nor human form would care for this terrain. The truth was if Cody was picking his own course he would have never come here. "Hey Drake...do you think there is an easier path? Cause I was thinking...this guy doesn't live in his cave all the time does he? If he has to come out, wouldn't he want an easier path to travel?" There of course probably a flaw in that logic, but Cody wasn't to sure what it was.
"I guess this proves that I wasn't meant to climb tree's." Now he had to get down, somehow that seemed harder than getting up. No...actually getting down looked easy, it was the getting down without falling that looked hard. Cody sighed and tightened his grip on the branch, gave Drake a moments helpless look then started inching himself off the branch. Cody's feet dangled for a moment, then kicked at the air a few times till they both found the support of a branch beneath them. Letting go of the branch he was holding on to he felt his body go back and forth as he tried to center himself to regain balance. After a few seconds he hopped down on the ground, flinching at a tiny thorn nicked his arm. It wasn't bad, if anything maybe a drop of blood might be formed, but little more.
That's why Drake had wanted the tree's...it was all these dang thorns. Cody snorted again, neither horse nor human form would care for this terrain. The truth was if Cody was picking his own course he would have never come here. "Hey Drake...do you think there is an easier path? Cause I was thinking...this guy doesn't live in his cave all the time does he? If he has to come out, wouldn't he want an easier path to travel?" There of course probably a flaw in that logic, but Cody wasn't to sure what it was.
Drake watched Cody slowly lower himself to the ground. He got down from the tree a lot more nimbly than he had gotten into it. He looked around at the surroundings, hoping he could provide Cody with a positive answer to his question. He finally gave up. "It actually looks like this area is the clearest for now, but it looks like it might clear up some up ahead." He shrugged apologetically. "If you want to turn back, I'll understand, but this is something I have to do." He grabbed hold of a higher branch and pulled himself up into it.
"If you're going to go with me though, I think we should get a move on. It wouldn't be very good to loose our sense of direction out here in the dark." He leaped to the next tree in the direction they needed to go, and crouched down on the branch to survey the area.
"If you're going to go with me though, I think we should get a move on. It wouldn't be very good to loose our sense of direction out here in the dark." He leaped to the next tree in the direction they needed to go, and crouched down on the branch to survey the area.
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody had never considered the idea of getting lost, or at least it hadn't gotten a lot of thought. "I'm pretty sure I could get us back to Marn if we got lost, but I wouldn't know how to get us to the cave."
Cody walked forward, pushing away any branches or thorns that got into his path. What he didn't add is how he knew he could take Drake back to his owner's house where he had grown up. Cody wasn't sure on the directions, but if he turned in the right direction he was sure he could eventually get there.
Cody's back was growing sore and making the job of moving branches more annoying than it should be, his shoulder blades protesting as those muscles connected to the ones in his back. He was also tired, from the run he had enjoyed, the focus and the adrenaline rush he'd had in the tree's. Cody planned on sleeping good tonight, and really wouldn't mind resting now. Drake wanted to move, and Cody imagined it was a good idea.
Truthfully, even if he had been someone's property, physically Cody had been treated well most of the time. The wife had hurt him at points and the period of time he had been trained was a bad memory though more from fear than pain. Mostly he had been well tended, even over protected at some points. He had been required to get certain amounts of sleep, and wasn't allowed to do certain activities that could possibly get him injured. To Cody something as trivial as a sore back, was actually a rather harsh thing to endure. It was easier to hide the fact it bothered him if Drake spent most of his time higher up climbing about in the tree's. Cody just kept his eyes somewhat lowered, high up enough just to make sure he pushed any needed branches out of the way.
Please....please let this end soon.
Cody walked forward, pushing away any branches or thorns that got into his path. What he didn't add is how he knew he could take Drake back to his owner's house where he had grown up. Cody wasn't sure on the directions, but if he turned in the right direction he was sure he could eventually get there.
Cody's back was growing sore and making the job of moving branches more annoying than it should be, his shoulder blades protesting as those muscles connected to the ones in his back. He was also tired, from the run he had enjoyed, the focus and the adrenaline rush he'd had in the tree's. Cody planned on sleeping good tonight, and really wouldn't mind resting now. Drake wanted to move, and Cody imagined it was a good idea.
Truthfully, even if he had been someone's property, physically Cody had been treated well most of the time. The wife had hurt him at points and the period of time he had been trained was a bad memory though more from fear than pain. Mostly he had been well tended, even over protected at some points. He had been required to get certain amounts of sleep, and wasn't allowed to do certain activities that could possibly get him injured. To Cody something as trivial as a sore back, was actually a rather harsh thing to endure. It was easier to hide the fact it bothered him if Drake spent most of his time higher up climbing about in the tree's. Cody just kept his eyes somewhat lowered, high up enough just to make sure he pushed any needed branches out of the way.
Please....please let this end soon.
Drake made his way from tree branch to tree branch. He could see that Cody was making slower time one the ground, but knew that he would be doing worse down there. He stepped onto the next branch and stopped. He was doing it to get a look at the area, but it had the added benefit of letting Cody catch up some.
They were getting closer to the first of the rock formations that he had noticed earlier. They looked a little bigger now, but still not big enough to open up into a cave. How far would they have to go to find this cave? Could it be possible that they had missed it? He shook his head realizing that that was a stupid question, of course they hadn't missed it. He heard a twig snap as Cody walked past the tree he was now in. He started forward again.
A few minutes later he came to a stop again. He was now close enough to tell that all of the rock formations were surrounded by rings of small stones, like the one back in the clearing. The trees and animals didn't seem to shy away from these though. He flaked the dried blood off of his hand as he pondered the idea idly. "The path really does get clearer up ahead," he called down as Cody walked past his current tree.
A few minutes later Drake was hopping down onto the top of the first large mound of solid stone. He spun slowly in place and looked at the ring of stones around it. They were perfectly spaced from the stone to make a perfect circle. All of the other stones close enough to see seemed to be the same way. He counted them as he waited for Cody to get out of the thick underbrush of the path they had been following.
He was sure that Cody would rejoice in this new area of the forest. The remaining light of the sun shined through the treetops in a way that made the whole of the area look like an amazingly well done painting. That wasn't the best part though. The grass here looked like it was content to stay below the ankles of the people that tread over it and there was not a single thorn covered vine in sight.
Thirteen stones in all. "You figure they're all like this?" His friend had just passed the last tree before the beautiful new area opened up to him.
They were getting closer to the first of the rock formations that he had noticed earlier. They looked a little bigger now, but still not big enough to open up into a cave. How far would they have to go to find this cave? Could it be possible that they had missed it? He shook his head realizing that that was a stupid question, of course they hadn't missed it. He heard a twig snap as Cody walked past the tree he was now in. He started forward again.
A few minutes later he came to a stop again. He was now close enough to tell that all of the rock formations were surrounded by rings of small stones, like the one back in the clearing. The trees and animals didn't seem to shy away from these though. He flaked the dried blood off of his hand as he pondered the idea idly. "The path really does get clearer up ahead," he called down as Cody walked past his current tree.
A few minutes later Drake was hopping down onto the top of the first large mound of solid stone. He spun slowly in place and looked at the ring of stones around it. They were perfectly spaced from the stone to make a perfect circle. All of the other stones close enough to see seemed to be the same way. He counted them as he waited for Cody to get out of the thick underbrush of the path they had been following.
He was sure that Cody would rejoice in this new area of the forest. The remaining light of the sun shined through the treetops in a way that made the whole of the area look like an amazingly well done painting. That wasn't the best part though. The grass here looked like it was content to stay below the ankles of the people that tread over it and there was not a single thorn covered vine in sight.
Thirteen stones in all. "You figure they're all like this?" His friend had just passed the last tree before the beautiful new area opened up to him.
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Thorn's were a nuisance. Humans had to deal with torn flesh, and clothing. As a horse the concern was possible scratch, or the dang things could just get all tangled up in a well groomed mane, quickly causing tangles and matts. He honestly would love to back out, except he'd still have to go through this mess and he didn't really want to leave his friend. He sure hoped they found a better path they could use to head back whenever they did.
Eventually Cody cleared the worst of the woods, leaving behind vines and roots hell bent on tripping you, and into the area with the stones and Drake. Cody slowly exhaled a deep breath looking at the area in relief. "Not sure, hope so." Cody walked up to the stone putting a hand on it, just feeling the need to touch it.
"Do you think we are getting close now? Since its less thick and theres some stones about now..."
Eventually Cody cleared the worst of the woods, leaving behind vines and roots hell bent on tripping you, and into the area with the stones and Drake. Cody slowly exhaled a deep breath looking at the area in relief. "Not sure, hope so." Cody walked up to the stone putting a hand on it, just feeling the need to touch it.
"Do you think we are getting close now? Since its less thick and theres some stones about now..."