A Northern River

The exact rule was that she should not touch the pegasus without his permission. The animal eyed her curiously but kept distant, the winged horses trained from a young age to be weary of all but their rider. Too many of the noble beasts had been injured at the hands of the greedy in Gauldin for things to be any other way.

"I see, I'm surprised you've encountered many that were so good-natured out this way. At the rate you are going you might have something like an Inn before long."

The knight said as he observed the work she'd done with help. It was impressive and far more space than she needed.

"But if you've been accepting help then let me offer my own. If you require anything I'd be happy to assist."

Despite his surprise at the news she'd encounter good natured people, he himself was so inclined. So perhaps he should be more generous to others.

Renaux listened as Viessa explained everything that she'd built with the help of various travellers. His esteem only grew with how well she and her various guests had comported themselves. If nothing else, this new land had forced many to be more cooperative than they might have been in other circumstances. Respecting a holy woman was a level of civilization that gave him quite a bit of hope for what future they might find here.

"Neige prefers the open sky to a roof. It is rare you will see a Pegasus willing cut themselves off from open sky, they shield themselves with their wings during rain and storm. Their fur is excellent at insulating them from the elements its how they can go so high."

He explained to her when she offered to let him stable his steed. He didn't want to be rude so he explained why it was not something he'd be doing. Only in very dire circumstances would Neige agree to shelter under a roof.

"It is challenging to earn a Pegasus's trust." Renaux said with a nod of his head. "They are long-lived and Neige has seen her kind hunted by humans before their valley was placed under the protection of the royal family of Gauldin. The hardest part of any knight's training is earning his steed's trust. That being said if you wish to get to know her I am happy to make an introduction. It is a crime to touch her without her permission or my own."

A law that she should understand a bit better now that he'd explained the wickedness that had been inflicted on the majestic creatures. Still, Viessa seemed to be of a kindly and respectful demeanor so if she wished to get a bit closer he was willing to let her do so under supervision. When she offered up the food he accepted it with a nod.

"Thank you, I'll not turn down a meal and I am in no great rush at present."

She smiled kindly as he took the offer. The day seemed pleasant, especially with the arrival of her friend. But there was a distant sound of splashing, she turned her head in the direction of the small waterfalls off in the distance, barely seen around the bottom of the mound that had been dug for form her home. A vague sense of dread filled her for some reason, nothing so strong as she was used to feeling in the old world. She frowned and looked to the prince, kindly gesturing toward a seat that had been carved from a fallen log by a man who wanted a place to rest whenever he passed her by. She'd healed a very deep wound caused by an interesting plant and he occasionally came by to supply her with trade for the treatment of wounds.

Viessa then wordlessly and almost soundlessly moved several paces toward the side of the construction, craning her neck to peer off toward the direction of the sound, wanting to make sure it was an animal and nothing more. She squinted, there was someone upstream from where she peered, and there was a familiar feeling that she wasn't sure she could name at the moment. She normally did not feel her gut feelings as much as she would have before, but this one was stronger than most. It as as if she knew the figure despite not being close enough to see his face. Frowning, she turned back around and without looking at neither the visitor nor his noble steed. She looked around for a moment before ducking into the dugout, grabbing several small pouches of medicinals just in case her gut was wrong, and then she was looking for her dagger for protection. She then cast a glance over her shoulder toward the one who was eating, “I think I just heard something off in the distance... I think I saw a man. If he is hurt, he might need help... But I think perhaps it might be wise if you were with me. I... Cannot explain.” And then she turned, letting him decide for himself what he would do while she slowly and warily moved toward the man who was prone, her blade tucked up so it wasn't visible from the man's vantage point when she would reach him.

She was moving slowly enough that she could have been easily caught up to.

Lying on the riverbank with his left side in mud and the right submerged, Sigefrid did not wish to move. He was beyond exhausted and mentally spent. The sound of the rushing river was not as soothing as some might think - it sounded too close to the same ocean waves he had been at the mercy of for days. The chill was returning to his bones, making his rest less than pleasant.

For a brief moment he smirked at the thought of intentionally rolling into the current and hoping he did not fight the urge to come up for air.

He was falling in and out of consciousness, starting awake when his subconscious realized the sound of the water was gone. It was almost maddening. But it changed when he thought he heard thumping footsteps across rocks and wet earth. It was excruciating to try and drag his arms and tuck them beneath his heavy torso, and more so to put effort into lifting his shoulders up and hold his head far enough that he could raise his eyes and get a glimpse of what was coming to kill him.

He was unsure if he should have been relieved or defensive to see people moving in his direction. One man and one woman.

Glancing across the female shot a glimpse of a flailing figure in a white gown with obscure features across his brain - followed swiftly with a blinding migraine that forced him to squeeze his eyes shut and drop his head to the ground with a rather infuriated snarl. What was he to do here? Were they here to help him, or put him out of his misery?