[WE] Strange Weather - Padma x Uzumati

[Sabra Knight]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Finding ones way through the forest was already near impossible for some but thankfully Uzumati had learned the paths by heart since living in the wilderness as a young boy. However, the rain that had constantly been pouring from the gray skies had made previously used paths far from accessible and in a sense had not only dampened the ground but also Uzumati's mood. It was aggravating that the creek he used to simply wade through was now roaring like the largest river in Tale.

How was he supposed to cross back over and get to the village in this situation? Uzumati grunted, his frustrations easily visible in the tension of his back and the glare of his golden-green gaze. Like any wild animal the man found himself pacing back and forth, up the bank and back down the side of the bank as he tried to figure out a path across. There were some rocks but the constant rain and the choppy waters would hide such rocks at random and even he knew that taking such a path would risk being washed away from the rocks and further down river.

So exactly what was he to do? He could continue heading north towards where the bright star should be shining (not that he would know if his guess at its position was entirely accurate considering how the blanket of clouds never seemed to lessen) but perhaps if he headed far enough the waters would end and he could cross over. It would take longer, a thought which had Uzumati growling and clutching his fingers into fists, but it was his only option. It wasn't like he could simply fly over the waters...one would have to be a bird to do that and no matter how far his leaps could take him it wouldn't be enough.

With that in mind Uzumati twisted, his bare toes squishing into the muddied ground, and with great reluctance he took the first step away from his usual path and towards higher ground.
 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Sabra Knight

Bouts of rain and minor flooding did happen in Tale as the rainy season came to a head. But growing up in the region, Padma had never seen the rain come so suddenly and with such a torrential downpour. The seasons were predictable; villagers would see the heavy clouds in the distance and pull their goods up into their trees, bunkering down for bouts of rain that could last up to a few hours, before lightening into sprinkles, bringing with it an oppressive humidity and sheets of foglike steam. The cushiony sands would soak up the liquid greedily, helping to usher in a season of plenty, as nuts, fruit, and pods by the dozens popped up along the trees and crystalline grasses of the savannah.

This was not normal. The rain came after a period of grey skies, a cold, dreary vacuum of space that unnerved Padma's familiars. She'd been on the path towards the village, from visiting Ujana in Jauhar, when Ishta refused to go a step further, braying and kicking her hooves against the sand when Padma tried to tug her onwards. The rain started soon after - pouring down onto her, ice-cold and heavy enough to wind Padma as he tugged herself and her familiars against the thick roots of a tree.

That was hours ago. Now, the rain continued without a hint of abating, as Padma had settled down, expecting it to pass like any other rain shower. She peered up at the sky, drenched to the bone and shivering. The worst part was that the well worn path that ran to the town had washed away - the ground had oversaturated, and wasn't able to soak up any more water, causing it to slide in sheets over the sands, turning the sands around her into a quagmire of terrifying, shifting sludge.

"It'll calm down soon." She swore to herself, patting Astilbe, her kinfa, reassuringly through the blanket she'd curled around her, trying to protect her from the rain. She bird was an angry poof of feathers, but had calmed somewhat, besides from the occassional chitter and ruffle of feathers.  

[Sabra Knight]

Scarlett Arbuckle

The scent of damp earth stung his nostrils. Uzumati huffed as he once again shook his damp mane of hair from his face. Normally the first rains would leave by now and he would find himself enjoying the rich smell of nature as the glistening grasses and trees would begin drying themselves in the golden rays of sunlight. Yet since the rains had refused to stop the ground was swollen and the once pleasant scents were decaying into something not entirely pleasant. Such a strange mixture of smells had the man's nostril's flaring as he tried scenting the area. He couldn't even seem to open his mouth to taste the air as all he would get was a mouthful of rain, something which he found out by first attempting and then spitting out the abundance of water later. But he was not completely without his senses and as Uzumati slipped through mud and rising waters he noticed that the forest was rather quiet.

One would assume that the creatures were hiding or had even been smart enough to head for higher ground but Uzumati found himself tense. In the chaos had something else managed to sneak up on him? Or rather was it that something was prowling just up ahead? His gaze narrowed sharply as he attempted to sniff the air once again. This time despite the pouring of rain Uzumati caught whiff of something familiar, something with a pungent tinge to the scent that make him recoil. Hunkering down Uzumait prepared to crawl forward through the mud, his movements silent as he began to track the tracker.

It seemed the chaos of the rainstorm not only was bringing floods as another predator, a witu by the odor of its spray, was hunting in his woods. The thought made Uzumati growl quietly under his breath as he stalked forward. What he didn't realize that there was another scent, one almost long forgotten, and hiding under a tree which was currently being circled by said witu.

 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Sabra Knight

All Padma heard was rain- the thunderous crashing of the air, the rushing roar of the river. She didn't hear the silence of the forest above the ominous creaking of the tree behind her, and the thumping of her pulse in her ears. Drawing her hand over her face, trying to wipe the water from her cheeks, Padma peered into the darkness, wondering if she should continue to sit and wait for the storm to abate, or if she should get up and try to find a way back to town... when Ishta jumped to her feet.

In the hours since the storm started, the aldabuck had settled beside Padma, her legs tucked under her, but... something in the darkness startled the skittish doe. She tossed her head, eyes rolling, and Padma set Astilbe down and surged to her feet, grasping at her bridle and shushing her, gently, voice barely heard above the storm.

This... reminded her of something. But before she could think on it too hard... she saw it. A flash of lightning illuminated the beast in the darkness, only feet away, body ducked low to the ground. Long hair, which dry would resemble the savanna grass, was soaked and hung heavily against its muscular body, its eyes set on Ishta. Padma instantly released the aldabuck's bridle and smacked her, soundly, on the flank, yipping loudly at her. Instantly the doe tossed her head and darted away from her, at her command, disappearing into the dark forest.

The witu, at first not understanding the beast had been warned, ran after the aldabuck, but without the element of surprise it didn't have the speed to catch up to her. Instead, he stopped, turning back towards Padma, head canted to the side, considering its new potential target.

Once, in this forest, Padma had quaked at the idea of running into a witu - equipped with a dagger and little else. Now... she slowly stepped back away from it, slipping her runes from a pouch at her hip. With a flicker of magic the rocks floated in her palms, crackling with energy - lightning, which zapped painfully up her soaked hands, achingly into her bones. But it was the best option, if the witu decided to strike.  

[Sabra Knight]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Uzumati stalked forward through the crystal grasses. Each blade gave a tiny p***k against his bare arms and chest but rather than annoying the man the sensations gave him a sense of awareness. He was sensitive to everything around him, the thrumming energy of the storm above, the moisture of the ground that quietly squished beneath the weight of his broad body, the dampness that made the air seemingly stick to his skin like a second layer. All of those things made him feel the wilderness around him and in his heart Uzumati knew that he was home. If not for the human constraints of his own form it would be fairly easy to believe that the spirit of a witu resided behind those yellow-green eyes.

Such a spirit was especially visible now as the energy of the hunt sparked a fire in his gaze. Despite the rains which poured around him and drenched his body Uzumati found himself caught up in emotions of a man fighting for his territory. This witu was dangerously close to his territory, the home that Uzumati had made in the deeper parts of the forest that circled around the small village across the now raging river, and while he could have considered showing mercy if the creature had simply been passing through to see it hunting something in his territory made Uzumati's hackles rise.

From his angle he missed the running aldabuck and so the mystery of what exactly the witu hunted remained. However, that aspect was set aside in blind fury as Uzumati saw the witu brace itself and then leap through the air at some target. With a hiss Uzumati found himself kicking up a flurry of mud and water as he charged after the witu - fully intent upon colliding with it to stop this hunt from continuing in his territory...  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Sabra Knight

Padma bit the inside of her cheek, bracing herself and raising her hands, defensively. Despite her preparations, Padma was still unused to dealing with beasts like this - she wasn't able to read it accurately, and so she was wary of every motion it took - including when it lowered itself down, bracing for a sudden leap. When it suddenly shot forward though - her breath hitched and she skidded backwards, throwing her hands forward with a flux of magical energy.

What she hadn't expected was for something - or someone - to suddenly launch themselves forward, body slamming with a painful sounding crash into the body of the beast, just as her magic collided - sending sizzling lightning through the creatures. The witu released a startled yelp as it was caught, mid leap, and it landed with a wet crash just feet from Padma, thrashing in the mud as the electricity blazed through its body, cramping its muscles painfully.

Padma didn't know how powerful the attack would have been, on its own - but with the power of the lightning passing through two subjects instead of one, its potency was lowered from a potentially life-threatening attack to more of a painful inconvenience for both. Lightning was painful, but it filtered through their bodies into the ground within seconds - leaving them pained, and most likely enraged.

And now she likely had two very angry creatures to deal with.

Only... as Padma clasped at her runes, backing away from the witu, she looked at the other attacker and -- saw a young man. A wild looking man - there was no way, was there...?

"It's-- it's you!" She gasped, breathless from both the wild beast between them, and the rushing rain.  

[Sabra Knight]

Scarlett Arbuckle

It was always exhilarating to leap into the hunt. Uzumati could feel the sting of the wind and rains as they smacked against his bare skin, the sensation only fueling his inner beast more. He just had to stretch his fingers a bit more, just a little further, and then he could grasp at the sharp spines of the witu with his hands. His fixation on the witu kept his senses distracted and the bolt of magical energy hit before he could even register what was happening. All he knew was that his palms were sliced by the spines with a temporary sting of pain before something with a far worse impact than witu spines shook his whole body.

Blinding white light filled his vision as his skull seemingly split in half. In that moment it seemed as if even his heart did stop before slowly deciding to attempt beating once more, a testament to the strength of the man who immediately crumpled to the ground next to the witu. His breathing ragged, his fingers numb as his body shuddered in agony, Uzumati had to wonder what type of lightning bolt had honed in on him in that very moment. Were the gods of nature angry that he had decided to fight during their stormy affair? He knew that the earth and skies were fighting, hence the floods, but he didn't realize that his interaction with a witu would deem him worthy of such punishment. Had he finally pressed too hard against the forest? Was his territory too large or....here he finally started to regain some of his senses, his blurry vision honing in on something that was speaking.

The words were dulled by the ringing in his ears but as his nostrils flared and life started to flood into his body once more as he gasped for air Uzumati recognized something. Or rather he recognized someone, "Flow...flower." He mouthed the word quietly as he remembered the silent nickname he had given to the delicate looking woman he had encountered so long ago. Not that she seemed so delicate considering those runes in her hands. He smelled magic on them, sensed the heaviness in the air around her and for a wild moment he attempted to flail away from her before tumbling backwards once again.

Perhaps it wasn't the gods who had harmed him. The realization was slowly dawning on him as he battled between being angry, wary, or in awe of the fact that the girl he had adored since first sight was once again before him.
 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Sabra Knight

It was. With a sickening feeling, Padma realized that the prone, stunned body in the mud at her feet was -- the boy who she'd met, all that time ago. She couldn't get a very good look at him, with the heaving storm and thrashing of the witu beside him- but she could see that her attack had left him winded, if not more seriously hurt... and of all the times she'd imagined meeting him again, she'd never thought it would be like this.

The feeling of guilt only got worse when he seemed to recognize her - then heaved himself bodily away from her, falling backwards into heavy mud that had been kicked up by two heavy bodies crashing to the ground.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Padma's call snapped the witu out of its daze from the attack. It heaved itself up onto shaking legs, hackles drawn back in fury, ears pressed back to its skull as it took one slow, menacing step towards her. With Uzumati's sudden movement just beside it, however, the canine paused, turning its head, eyes snapping back to the leaf earthling sprawled on the ground.

In moments, Padma knew it would weigh its options - revenge on the diminutive thing that had caused it harm? Or take advantage of this new prey, that was much bigger, and caught in a moment of weakness?

The way it shifted its body made it clear what it's choice was - and it sent a chill of dread down Padma's spine, as she hurriedly rose her runes again, faltering - what could she attack it with, that wouldn't put the other leaf earthling at risk in the process? "No! Get up -- run!" She yelped, taking a wild step forward - with the roar of the storm, and the stinging rain pelting against her, she couldn't even know if her warning was loud enough to do any good.  

[Sabra Knight]

n/a