To Become Something(Open)

[Arlenwa Nenharma]

Arlenwa Nenharma

Beginning to think.. What if this was all I was ever really meant to be?

The war had seemed to have died away.. Large-scale battles were now scarce, but raids were becoming more frequent and fierce. Of course this didn't bother the Battonians. They would need the time to gather more men and supplies. The Anorians, however, were beginning to feel the fear and worry tear at them little by little. The lull in the fighting would help them physically as well, but harm them mentally. Even the Elves could feel the same dread as the Anorians.

The bleary gray of the drizzling clouds greeted Arlenwa as she opened her eyes. She blinked several times before sitting up and moving Sakar's rain dotted saddle from over top of her. The stallion snorted, looking over at his mistress. "Mára aurë, Sakar." She smiled, tightening the saddle around Sakar, then securing her belongings to it. Arlenwa mounted, urging him into a smooth canter.

Rain fell heavier in large, freezing drops. The soft blue of her traveling dress turning dark, almost gray, as the wetness soaked into the fabric. Despite the cold, it didn't bother Arlenwa. One of the many physical perks of being an elf. However, the sticking, damp of her wet clothing did bother her. Irritated, she slowed the stallion beneath her to a walk and pulled at her clothing. I should stop and rest.. but I have to cross the river before the weather gets worse. Arlenwa sighed, directing Sakar through the forest until they reached the great, winding ribbon of water.

"Let's find somewhere more shallow to cross," she said, more to assure herself of the plan than to simply speak. Sakar trotted along the bank, black tail snapping loudly with the weight of the water. "There," she mumbled, "We'll cross there."

The rushing water didn't seem to phase Sakar in the least bit. He simply plunged into the water, huffing noisily as it reached almost to his neck. Arlenwa whispered encouragement, worry visible in her gentle blue eyes, body tense with wariness. Sakar whinnied as if dismissing her fright like it was foolishness. After all, he was a rather strong horse. "Concentrate, mellon nin," she scolded as he turned his great head to watch a large branch float by.

At this point Sakar's hooves could no longer reach the pebbly bottom of the river and the branches and logs floating by had become more frequent. The storm was wild, the amount of rainfall causing the river to be bloated crawl over the sand until it reached the grassy forest at the other side.

Sakar's breathing had become loud and heavy, his head dipping below the surface of the wily river. He thrashed in terror, desperately trying to stay above the water and get to the other bank as quickly as he could. Arlenwa cried out as she lost her hold on the reins and was pulled down by the undertow.

Fear overtook her as she swam, trying to find which way was up. How could you tell? Was it better to swim the direction she was being pulled or against it? Did the temperature change according to how deep you were? Was it warmed closer to the surface?

She decided on one direction, the lack of air making it more difficult to keep going. The current took her again, her body smashing against a rock, any oxygen left had been expelled in little bubbles floating to the surface. Even in the darkness of the water she could see the bubbles floating up. Towards the surface. Despair weakened her as she realized she had neither the oxygen or energy to pull herself to the surface. Here she would die. Such a shameful end to the daughter of a great nation. How would her mother react to the news? Her brothers? Arbellason would take it the hardest. They had lived together even before they were born. But Rimedur, her protector, would feel failure. How could she do this to her family? The answer? She couldn't.

A new sense of hope and determination covered the fear and exhaustion as her feet hit another rock. She propelled herself upwards from there, the strength in her legs and streamline position almost taking her all the way. Now she swam furiously, her head popping out of the water like a spring. She gagged, swiming parallel to the shore until she felt the sand brush against her chest. Arlenwa dragged herself far away enough out of the water so she couldn't be dragged out again and collapsed, gasping.


[Word Count: 741]
[Notes: She'll be fine when she wakes up.. so no damsel in distress or anything xD]

[lizzie]

The rain lashed down mercilessly on Illania as she struggled through the pouring rain, she tightened her hood around her face in a feeble attempt to keep dry. Arwen plodded forwards, ears pinned back and head low, rain didn’t bother horses in the same way as it did humans, but this rain was like a thousand needles, pricking your eyes and limiting your vision.
“we couldn’t have picked a worse time to travel, could we girl!” muttered Illania, there were two things she despised above all else, the rain and the cold.
Arwen plodded onwards a few steps, before raising her head in alarm to look at something.
“Oh Arwen, don’t be... Oh no!” Illania could’ve cried when she saw that terrible raging river ahead of her.
Arwen froze and stared, she’d never seen such fast moving water before and it was making her nervous.
Illania dismounted and went to investigate the river, they might just be able to cross if it was shallow, providing Arwen wouldn’t be too scared to go in. Then she saw the girl lying in a crumpled heap on the bank.
“bad time to go swimming” she remarked
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Word count: 200
Notes: eek, this is horrible, ah well...

[Byron]

Byron was well hidden in his hiding place beneath a fairly large tree, but still rain drops fluttered down between the branches and got him relatively...damp. He snorted angrily with a shake of his head, making rain drops spray off in a circle. To make matters worse it was chilly, and the sheer effect of the whole storm was making Byron most displeased. The ground which he was sitting upon was dry, but still he was chilled to the downy fluff that lined the inside of the eagle half.

The griffin stretched the cramps from his chilled muscles and craned his head around for a brief look. Slowly, he lowered himself to a stealthy crouch, his belly fur just brushing up against the cool grass. His tail flicked back and forth like a cat's. There was something wandering about in this weather?! He snorted, eagle eyes taking in the landscape that blurred from the sheet of rain that fell across it. Yawning quite loudly, he rubbed his beak inbetween his talons. Smoothing his ruffled feathers a little more flat, he poked his head out of under the branches.

There definitely was something out there, and with this rain the river is surely to be deep and flowing quite strongly. Who or what ever it is, was pulling the griffin's attention and curiousity. Besides, Byron hadn't eaten in a while and the exercise could do him well.
There was no way he'd attempt a flight with the wind, so the griffin set a steady pace towards the rushing sounds of the river; and the curious traveller. Keeping his head and body as low to the ground as physicly possible, he crawled his way toward a figure int he distance... it appeared to be a horse, and maybe a rider?

((Word count: 295))
(( Sorry guys, this is the best it appears I can come up with for now. ))