The morning of the trek started off without any sort of issues or delays. Gaston and Lili had everything waiting to be loaded onto Gaston's chocobo by the front door of the lodge, so it was simply a matter of loading up and heading out after a quick morning meal. The weather was calm, the sky clear, and dawn wasn't yet peering over the mountaintops. It was the soft blue of early morning, not a sound to be heard for the first few malms besides their footsteps and the random click or trill of Livvy the chocobo.
Neither of them spoke at first. Gaston showed the way and Lili merely with Livvy pulling up the rear. They had a sun or two to find the boneweed at the locations noted on the map before Gaston required they turn back. He wasn't keen to be in the mountains longer then required, especially at such a high elevation where the boneweed was said to grow. Other factors played parts as well, ones that he knew Lili had already thought about, and yet...
He glanced back to his current 'employer', seeing that she was paying more attention to the shadowy mountain peaks then she was at where they were going. The heavily fur lined hood hid her blonde hair from view, the shadows cast by the covering exaggerating the shadows under her eyes. Or perhaps she just didn't sleep? Gaston hadn't paid enough attention to notice.
"Oi." His voice stirred her. "We should pick up the pace while the world still sleeps."
The only response given was a wordless smile and a nod.
The whole day was spent hiking up to the desired elevation. A far trickier feat then some might have thought given how badly the Calamity had shaped the mountains with the drastic weather changes. Though the peaks had already been prone to the cooler weather due to their heights alone, the everlasting winter that was now endured only made the once difficult hike all the more dangerous. Sheets of black ice, avalanches, starving predators unable to get down the mountain, flash freezes...
Gaston prided himself on having quickly learned ways around these various obstacles. Finding the ways to overcome or avoid them altogether which is what prompted Lili to hire him in the first place. The first day left her confidence intact concerning his competence. If anyone could help guide her to what she was looking for, it was him.
If anyone could help her find this for Sara, it was Gaston.
He had them stop for the day in a small cave that smelled of stagnant earth, barely big enough to fit the three of them inside but they made do. Lili's smaller stature helped as she bundled down next to Livvy while the chocobo curled up against the wall as they watched Gaston secure a tarp over the entrance of the cave. Keeping out excess wind and snow before getting comfortable as well.
"We covered a lot of ground today. Right above us is the position on the map you showed me where the boneweed should be growing. If it's not there, there's a chance the seeds have been carried off elsewhere to another peak or-"
"My, Gaston, you're showing quite a bit of care all of a sudden," murmured the hyur with a faint smile. The same faint, solemn smile she had been wearing all damn day.
He glared at her. "I am merely speaking logically, my lady. It tends to happen in nature. The winds carry the seeds and gives them a chance to regrow else where."
"I am well aware of wind dispersal. But this isn't a lush, fertile valley we're speaking about. This is a rugged mountain range where the ground rarely gets to see the sun anymore. There's already been mass amounts of recorded extinction of various plants and animals that used to thrive up here. If the boneweed isn't here? I'm not going to hold my breath that I'll find it else where unless someone decided to grow it domestically. If so? I'd have heard of it."
It was infuriating to the elezen how thorough she had been with this. While a part of him was glad he wasn't dealing with an imbecile, there was another part of him that felt strangely disturbed at how content she seemed to be about giving up after this. Hells, she was positively serene!
"If it was my child, I wouldn't give up so easily," he growled under his breath as he got out his flint. Realizing he had said it aloud, he stiffened. Feeling her gaze upon him without looking up. Feeling a chill slowly creeping along his spine, feeling it wrap around his neck and squeeze-
When a glance was dared, she was still looking at him. But whatever chilled fury had been there settled into something more passive. Her last words of the evening were simply 'goodnight' before she shifted against the steel grey chocobo and nestled into her side with her arms wrapped around herself. Livvy clicked her beak at the cuddle buddy, not seeming to mind.
It wasn't often that Gaston's ego and pride let him feel like an ass. Many would try, most would fail.
Lilithium Rinannis Altair, however, made him feel like feel like an ass and then some with a look he hadn't even seen.
They rose the same time they did yesterday, shoving some food in their mouths for energy before the tarp was brought down and they continued on their way. There was more climbing involved while Livvy was strangely nimble for such a docile creature. She used both her beak and talons to keep herself steady as she kept up with the bipedals, Lili murmuring soft croons of praise to the magnificent bird.
Gaston rolled his eyes as he hoisted himself onto another ledge. "She will grow quite the ego if you keep showering her with such praise."
"A little encouragement never hurt any soul. Isn't that right, sugar?"
Livvy trilled and her owner sighed with exasperation. His horsebird would be expecting similar affections after this was all over. Most of his past clients all but ignored her, but not Lili. Damn women.
"We're almost to the top," he grunted as he rose up onto another ledge. Lili was close behind, hoisting herself up as well with a chatter of her teeth. Despite her enforced layers, the lack of oxygen this high up coupled with the wind chill was starting to get to her. She had been spoiled with all her time in the Mists surrounded by balmy air and humid heatwaves.
Gaston noticed her pace gradually slowing, pausing to watch her get situated. Not a single complaint passed her lips this whole trek either yestersun or this sun. At most? She'd crack a dry joke or ask a question that he'd answer with a curt response before silence would reign again. If nothing else, he could chalk this up as one of his more pleasant trips despite the grim circumstances.
"Shall we head back?"
Lili gave a grunt and a growl. "Keep. Going."
"It's not here, Lilithium!"
Forget the 'my lady' shite. They had been here for hours with a flash freeze rolling in and Gaston had been watching as Lili was still looking for that stupid weed. It was nearly white as the snow itself! Finding it was going to take hours that they didn't have that would be more of a risk to their lives then he felt was worth it. At this rate? They'd have to scramble down to the cave they had taken shelter in last night or risk being turned into ice cubes.
But Lili wasn't listening. Working like a woman possessed as she dug around snow, and ice until she could touch and prod at the ground. But even that was covered under thick layers of ice she was trying to break away with a pick. Near Gaston, Livvy began to let out distressed 'kweh's and stomps of her claws against the ground.
They had to go. Now.
"I FOUND IT!"
Gaston stared as she began furiously hacking her pick at a part of the ice. Dangerously close to the nearby ledge. The wind was picking up to where he feared the little hyur would be swept right off the mountain. With snarls of irritation, he began stumbling and stomping through the snow towards her. He'd drag her off of here by her hair if he had-
There came a sudden sound. A sharp crack that made the ground beneath their feet rumble. Loud as a shot made sensitive ears ring and made Livvy even more skittish then before. But she wouldn't dare abandon her master, trilling at him as loud as she could. When his chocobo was panicking, it was time to leave.
"It's time to go you stupid-" But there came another crack...and a shifting of the ground beneath them. That was when the realization hit the guide, like a kick to the groin. They weren't standing on land. They were standing on ice.
Ice that Lili had been digging at and picking through to find the boneweed. Ice that had been weakened by her actions while additionally strained under the weight of a full grown elezen, chocobo, and hyur.
There was a final crack. The ledge Lili had been on began sliding forward and the blonde was quick to scramble up, to try and get back and away to safety. Gaston wouldn't be able to reach her in time. Neither would Livvy.
Down Lili fell, ledge and all, with the long stalks of boneweed still clutched in her hand.
Neither of them spoke at first. Gaston showed the way and Lili merely with Livvy pulling up the rear. They had a sun or two to find the boneweed at the locations noted on the map before Gaston required they turn back. He wasn't keen to be in the mountains longer then required, especially at such a high elevation where the boneweed was said to grow. Other factors played parts as well, ones that he knew Lili had already thought about, and yet...
He glanced back to his current 'employer', seeing that she was paying more attention to the shadowy mountain peaks then she was at where they were going. The heavily fur lined hood hid her blonde hair from view, the shadows cast by the covering exaggerating the shadows under her eyes. Or perhaps she just didn't sleep? Gaston hadn't paid enough attention to notice.
"Oi." His voice stirred her. "We should pick up the pace while the world still sleeps."
The only response given was a wordless smile and a nod.
The whole day was spent hiking up to the desired elevation. A far trickier feat then some might have thought given how badly the Calamity had shaped the mountains with the drastic weather changes. Though the peaks had already been prone to the cooler weather due to their heights alone, the everlasting winter that was now endured only made the once difficult hike all the more dangerous. Sheets of black ice, avalanches, starving predators unable to get down the mountain, flash freezes...
Gaston prided himself on having quickly learned ways around these various obstacles. Finding the ways to overcome or avoid them altogether which is what prompted Lili to hire him in the first place. The first day left her confidence intact concerning his competence. If anyone could help guide her to what she was looking for, it was him.
If anyone could help her find this for Sara, it was Gaston.
He had them stop for the day in a small cave that smelled of stagnant earth, barely big enough to fit the three of them inside but they made do. Lili's smaller stature helped as she bundled down next to Livvy while the chocobo curled up against the wall as they watched Gaston secure a tarp over the entrance of the cave. Keeping out excess wind and snow before getting comfortable as well.
"We covered a lot of ground today. Right above us is the position on the map you showed me where the boneweed should be growing. If it's not there, there's a chance the seeds have been carried off elsewhere to another peak or-"
"My, Gaston, you're showing quite a bit of care all of a sudden," murmured the hyur with a faint smile. The same faint, solemn smile she had been wearing all damn day.
He glared at her. "I am merely speaking logically, my lady. It tends to happen in nature. The winds carry the seeds and gives them a chance to regrow else where."
"I am well aware of wind dispersal. But this isn't a lush, fertile valley we're speaking about. This is a rugged mountain range where the ground rarely gets to see the sun anymore. There's already been mass amounts of recorded extinction of various plants and animals that used to thrive up here. If the boneweed isn't here? I'm not going to hold my breath that I'll find it else where unless someone decided to grow it domestically. If so? I'd have heard of it."
It was infuriating to the elezen how thorough she had been with this. While a part of him was glad he wasn't dealing with an imbecile, there was another part of him that felt strangely disturbed at how content she seemed to be about giving up after this. Hells, she was positively serene!
"If it was my child, I wouldn't give up so easily," he growled under his breath as he got out his flint. Realizing he had said it aloud, he stiffened. Feeling her gaze upon him without looking up. Feeling a chill slowly creeping along his spine, feeling it wrap around his neck and squeeze-
When a glance was dared, she was still looking at him. But whatever chilled fury had been there settled into something more passive. Her last words of the evening were simply 'goodnight' before she shifted against the steel grey chocobo and nestled into her side with her arms wrapped around herself. Livvy clicked her beak at the cuddle buddy, not seeming to mind.
It wasn't often that Gaston's ego and pride let him feel like an ass. Many would try, most would fail.
Lilithium Rinannis Altair, however, made him feel like feel like an ass and then some with a look he hadn't even seen.
They rose the same time they did yesterday, shoving some food in their mouths for energy before the tarp was brought down and they continued on their way. There was more climbing involved while Livvy was strangely nimble for such a docile creature. She used both her beak and talons to keep herself steady as she kept up with the bipedals, Lili murmuring soft croons of praise to the magnificent bird.
Gaston rolled his eyes as he hoisted himself onto another ledge. "She will grow quite the ego if you keep showering her with such praise."
"A little encouragement never hurt any soul. Isn't that right, sugar?"
Livvy trilled and her owner sighed with exasperation. His horsebird would be expecting similar affections after this was all over. Most of his past clients all but ignored her, but not Lili. Damn women.
"We're almost to the top," he grunted as he rose up onto another ledge. Lili was close behind, hoisting herself up as well with a chatter of her teeth. Despite her enforced layers, the lack of oxygen this high up coupled with the wind chill was starting to get to her. She had been spoiled with all her time in the Mists surrounded by balmy air and humid heatwaves.
Gaston noticed her pace gradually slowing, pausing to watch her get situated. Not a single complaint passed her lips this whole trek either yestersun or this sun. At most? She'd crack a dry joke or ask a question that he'd answer with a curt response before silence would reign again. If nothing else, he could chalk this up as one of his more pleasant trips despite the grim circumstances.
"Shall we head back?"
Lili gave a grunt and a growl. "Keep. Going."
"It's not here, Lilithium!"
Forget the 'my lady' shite. They had been here for hours with a flash freeze rolling in and Gaston had been watching as Lili was still looking for that stupid weed. It was nearly white as the snow itself! Finding it was going to take hours that they didn't have that would be more of a risk to their lives then he felt was worth it. At this rate? They'd have to scramble down to the cave they had taken shelter in last night or risk being turned into ice cubes.
But Lili wasn't listening. Working like a woman possessed as she dug around snow, and ice until she could touch and prod at the ground. But even that was covered under thick layers of ice she was trying to break away with a pick. Near Gaston, Livvy began to let out distressed 'kweh's and stomps of her claws against the ground.
They had to go. Now.
"I FOUND IT!"
Gaston stared as she began furiously hacking her pick at a part of the ice. Dangerously close to the nearby ledge. The wind was picking up to where he feared the little hyur would be swept right off the mountain. With snarls of irritation, he began stumbling and stomping through the snow towards her. He'd drag her off of here by her hair if he had-
There came a sudden sound. A sharp crack that made the ground beneath their feet rumble. Loud as a shot made sensitive ears ring and made Livvy even more skittish then before. But she wouldn't dare abandon her master, trilling at him as loud as she could. When his chocobo was panicking, it was time to leave.
"It's time to go you stupid-" But there came another crack...and a shifting of the ground beneath them. That was when the realization hit the guide, like a kick to the groin. They weren't standing on land. They were standing on ice.
Ice that Lili had been digging at and picking through to find the boneweed. Ice that had been weakened by her actions while additionally strained under the weight of a full grown elezen, chocobo, and hyur.
There was a final crack. The ledge Lili had been on began sliding forward and the blonde was quick to scramble up, to try and get back and away to safety. Gaston wouldn't be able to reach her in time. Neither would Livvy.
Down Lili fell, ledge and all, with the long stalks of boneweed still clutched in her hand.
