Through the low mist that hung thick across the hills, came the first glimpse of a township at last. It was Theon who noticed it, having pushed on ahead whilst another sodden downpour slowed the rest. Their presence was now reduced to distant mud squelch and Tharan’s muted curses and in this new quiet he stopped, squinting into dank grey at silhouettes that unfurled on the hillside opposite.
“Hey!” Hardly daring to think they might have found their way at last, he turned, right back into driving rain with his mouth cupped so his voice might have some hope of carrying. 'Hey. Hurry. Something stands ahead.' Clawed by wind he turned eyes forwards once more then, through the deluge as a huge gust howled its fury and the fog drew back. Yes. Underneath its desolate blanket a hillside dwelling did indeed hide out and he took a shaky step towards its outline. Cramped. That he could see even at this distance, all narrow streets in a tangle that rose steep, slick with mud and cold and grey and empty, no fire-light to cut through the dark.---------
Leading, like he had for the seemingly endless entirety of this furtive venture, Theon's temple pulsed. Aware, that each step was bringing them deeper into a world of which they had no measure. The hillside path was tough. Feet slipping, rain beating. The streets deserted as they'd seemed from afar but also not. Teaming with shadows, playing with the corners of their vision, flickers of movement in the rotting structures they passed.
The last light was fading fast, soon the dark would come and he craned his neck, searching for any sign of where they were supposed to go. Whilst he did, the walkway steepened further, snaking deeper into the hill so that as every bend was reached, the rock conspired to hide whatever lay upon the other side.
Mistrust grew. Hanging like a fly over meat. Hands drew to weapons concealed in heavy cloaks and still it steepened, jutting corners closing in, mountain-rock towering and pressing until they were single file and moving at barely a crawl.
Vulnerable.
Leading, like he had for the seemingly endless entirety of this furtive venture, Theon's temple pulsed. Aware, that each step was bringing them deeper into a world of which they had no measure. The hillside path was tough. Feet slipping, rain beating. The streets deserted as they'd seemed from afar but also not. Teaming with shadows, playing with the corners of their vision, flickers of movement in the rotting structures they passed.
The last light was fading fast, soon the dark would come and he craned his neck, searching for any sign of where they were supposed to go. Whilst he did, the walkway steepened further, snaking deeper into the hill so that as every bend was reached, the rock conspired to hide whatever lay upon the other side.
Mistrust grew. Hanging like a fly over meat. Hands drew to weapons concealed in heavy cloaks and still it steepened, jutting corners closing in, mountain-rock towering and pressing until they were single file and moving at barely a crawl.
Vulnerable.
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