The beast was made of shadows and claws and gnashing teeth. It didn't hold the shape of a dragon or any scalekin Warren was familiar with but he could feel the draconic influence of his opponent.
You are fools to come here, son of man.
Warren didn't reply and drove the pommel of his sword down. It was a useless blow against such an intangible opponent but the highlander wasn't about to surrender.
You think I'm going to kill you? Or him? What need would I have of that? You are inconsequential.
The smoke and shadows relented and withdrew leaving Warren alone and on guard in the snow. He blinked against the harsh light of day and seemed confused by the sudden change. What had he just been doing...?
"W-Warren...?!" Howl's voice stammered behind him and Warren turned. His friend was standing in the snow with a spear leaned against his shoulder and something red stained his hands. Around his wrist was the length of leather Xhosa has given to him to hold the vial of poison. The vial had broken and the contents ran free over Howl's hands.
Warren's eyes went wide as Howl began to collapse.
Consciousness slammed back into him as the bed moved. Soft footsteps moved across the room and sat wearily in a chair. For a moment Warren thought he was dreaming still, then he spoke up.
"What're you doing?" His voice was quiet but still split the night. The sounds of Howl settling into his seat suddenly froze.
"Wh-what? I was just sitting. Why are you awake? You should be resting..." Howl's tone was one of compassion and Warren was long used to him deflecting any questions to turn them around to benefit Warren. He wasn't having any part of it tonight.
"Chairs are lousy to sleep in. Trust me." The big man shifted upwards, turning so his legs hung over the side of the bed and his feet rested on the floor. "C'mere. The bed's not much better but we're not getting another chance to feel anything soft."
He wasn't asking. There was a hanging moment between them where nothing moved, then Warren urged him on. "C'mon."
Howl begrudgingly accepted the invitation and Warren promptly kicked off the blankets he'd been using and dumped them on the miqo'te. They'd be warmer than whatever Howl had wrapped himself with and Warren pulled up the covering of the worn mattress and cocooned himself within it.
"We'll both sleep better if we know the other one's sleeping better. You need to get some rest, too. Long trip ahead."
Warren kept his ears open for Howl's breathing to slow down but surrendered back to sleep before confirming whether or not his companion dozed.
You are fools to come here, son of man.
Warren didn't reply and drove the pommel of his sword down. It was a useless blow against such an intangible opponent but the highlander wasn't about to surrender.
You think I'm going to kill you? Or him? What need would I have of that? You are inconsequential.
The smoke and shadows relented and withdrew leaving Warren alone and on guard in the snow. He blinked against the harsh light of day and seemed confused by the sudden change. What had he just been doing...?
"W-Warren...?!" Howl's voice stammered behind him and Warren turned. His friend was standing in the snow with a spear leaned against his shoulder and something red stained his hands. Around his wrist was the length of leather Xhosa has given to him to hold the vial of poison. The vial had broken and the contents ran free over Howl's hands.
Warren's eyes went wide as Howl began to collapse.
Consciousness slammed back into him as the bed moved. Soft footsteps moved across the room and sat wearily in a chair. For a moment Warren thought he was dreaming still, then he spoke up.
"What're you doing?" His voice was quiet but still split the night. The sounds of Howl settling into his seat suddenly froze.
"Wh-what? I was just sitting. Why are you awake? You should be resting..." Howl's tone was one of compassion and Warren was long used to him deflecting any questions to turn them around to benefit Warren. He wasn't having any part of it tonight.
"Chairs are lousy to sleep in. Trust me." The big man shifted upwards, turning so his legs hung over the side of the bed and his feet rested on the floor. "C'mere. The bed's not much better but we're not getting another chance to feel anything soft."
He wasn't asking. There was a hanging moment between them where nothing moved, then Warren urged him on. "C'mon."
Howl begrudgingly accepted the invitation and Warren promptly kicked off the blankets he'd been using and dumped them on the miqo'te. They'd be warmer than whatever Howl had wrapped himself with and Warren pulled up the covering of the worn mattress and cocooned himself within it.
"We'll both sleep better if we know the other one's sleeping better. You need to get some rest, too. Long trip ahead."
Warren kept his ears open for Howl's breathing to slow down but surrendered back to sleep before confirming whether or not his companion dozed.
![[Image: yEROfKO.png]](http://i.imgur.com/yEROfKO.png)
