1x1 Dragon/Color

[ColorCoffee]

Valentine carefully scanned the forest floor picking up every good limb she found. Grease did the same, except he picked up a few bad ones. Valentine noticed most of them and informed Grease. He huffed and dropped almost half his pile. It didn't take long for both of them to each the point where they couldn't carry anymore. They continued and waited for Cyrus.

[DragonDream]

Prince Gawain: Robin Fletcher
Cyrus had a load under each arm by the time he was finished, and doing his best to not drop any he led the way back to camp. When they got back the others seemed to be settled down. Gawain was sitting off by himself, and Bailey, Flint, and Clary were standing together talking. Clary came over to help them with the wood, taking it from Valentine and Grease and making a pile where Cyrus had thrown his sticks down. The two of them began to build the fire, the captain pulling out a tinder box from his bag and lighting the fire. He grabbed whatever rocks he could find around to put around so burning sticks wouldn't come rolling out on them. Looking at his work he sat back opposite to the side Gawain was on.

Gawain had watched carefully as to how they made their fire. He was poor at the skill and took note of how they did things. It was a decent enough distraction. When they were done he turned his attention to the way they had came, the flat land revealing the setting sun that was turning the clouds pink.

[ColorCoffee]

Once the fire was started, Valentine sat equal distance apart from Cyrus and Gawain. The warmth of the fire felt nice upon Valentine's skin. It didn't take long for her eyes to get heavy. she quickly drifted off to sleep.
* Valentine was walking through a familiar forest. The sound of leaves crunching under her feet and the warmth from the sun comforted her. She kept strolling until she wondered upon a quiet pond. She kneeled down to get a quick drink. As she was drinking she felt an ominous presence behind her. Some grabbed her by the arm and held her wrist behind her back. The mysterious figure whispered in her ear, "Don't worry it'll all be over soon." The figure spun her around so she could see him. There in front of her stood a man whom she did not know. He wore a crown upon his head and glorious robes. Still holding onto her wrist, he pulled her close.*
Valentine jolted awake shouting, "LET ME GO, LET ME GO!!" Her heart was pounding and she was painting, almost gasping for air. Sweat trickled down her face. When would the night terrors end? She didn't care right now, all she cared about was getting out of this forest.

[DragonDream]

Prince Gawain: Robin Fletcher
Gawain and Cyrus sat up simultaneously. The captain had reached for his weapon, looking for whoever he thought was attacking Valentine and realizing that no one was there. Clary was clutching his chest. He had been awake watching over the camp while they all slept, and his heart was now in his throat. Cyrus seemed to have caught onto what was going on, his mind going back to the same situation happening on the boat. He was going to go over to her but Gawain was up and over to her faster than he had seen him move in days.

The prince had been half asleep, the moist ground soaking his back and leaving him unable to fully fall asleep. So when he heard the now all too familiar screams of Valentine he was up and going over to her. Despite their frustration towards one another earlier he couldn't help himself from going over to make sure that she was okay. "Val? Its okay," he said letting her get her bearings. Once again he felt the guilt welling up inside of him knowing that he was only contributing to this happening. "Are you alright?"

[ColorCoffee]

She turned and looked at him. Without even thinking she lunged toward him in an embrace. She had forgotten momentarily about the tension between them. She latched on tight as she began to cry. She didn't want him to know that it was all becoming too much for her, but yet she couldn't seem to hold back anymore. She quietly whisperer, "No".

[DragonDream]

Prince Gawain: Robin Fletcher
As she grabbed onto him he pulled her closer, holding her as she started to cry. His chest tightened and he just let her get it all out. Looking across the fire he could see that Cyrus was watching him, and the two of them stared at one another until finally Cyrus looked away. Eventually everyone was going back to sleep, including Clary who he nodded to letting him know he would keep watch. Gawain gently pushed the stray hairs from her eyes. When she had calmed down a bit and things were quieter again he hesitantly spoke, barely whispering. "I'm sorry Val. I am so sorry."

[ColorCoffee]

She let him hold her for a while, not saying anything. She continued to cry in his arms as he rubbed her back trying to calm and comfort her. It worked. It didn't take long for her to feel safe again. She was still crying though. She ended up crying her self to sleep in is arms. This time with no nightmares.

[DragonDream]

Prince Gawain: Robin Fletcher
Gawain held her until she eventually drifted off. Sitting there with her in his arms he stared into the fire, his heart and mind wandering again. It was such an unusual circumstance he had found himself in. If he were to be the king of anything it would be strange situations like these. He couldn't help but wonder if he was going to make it through all this. If he did would he be able to face Quinn after everything? Would he come out of this alone? Would he be ready to rule a kingdom, or two if the need arose?

The night began to drag on, the sounds of night creatures lulling him along with the warmth and crackle of the fire. Eventually he lay back, nudging Flint with his outstretched leg to wake him so someone was keeping watch. Letting Valentine prop her head up on his arm he continued to hold her through the night.
-------

Sitting by the last embers of the fire Cyrus had his map stretched out in his lap, trying to gauge how long their journey would take them on foot. Eventually the others began to stir, and those who hadn't he was waking up. Kicking dirt over the fire he took up the lead, trudging through the tall grass and back out onto the road. Cyrus seemed to be in a slightly better mood than he had been the day before, talking to Bailey and Flint about something Gawain didn't pick up on. Behind him Clary and Grease took up the rear, the giant man rubbing his eyes tiredly.

By midday they had arrived at the village they were supposed to get to the day before. Not wanting to be stuck out on the road again and wanting to get everyone prepared for the fact they were going to have to camp in the woods for a long time while heading to the capital he decided they would stay in the village. "I think it would be best if we rest as much as we can in actual beds because when we leave the next village there is going to be a lot of walking and sleeping on the ground. There are only two villages within the forest and I am not even sure they will have inns. So, start preparing yourself for that. We don't have enough money to buy horses for all of us, or convince someone to drive us through the forest. I think the only people that go through are desperate or traders. So, with that said lets find somewhere to get something decent to eat."

[ColorCoffee]

Valentine was relieved when he said they would be staying the night in the village, but went back into panic mode when he mentioned the long travel through the forest. She looked at Gawain with fear in her eyes. Even if she was still a little mad at him, he was still her source of comfort. It was only about noon when they made it to the village, so they still had plenty time before they needed an inn. Knowing they didn't have a lot of money to waste on things she look at Cyrus. "So, What are we supposed to do until evening?"

[DragonDream]

Prince Gawain: Robin Fletcher
"Eat, rest, ask any local who is drunk enough to tell us what we need to look out for in the forest, get supplies. Nothing exciting unfortunately." he said answering her question. He hoped to find a tavern to get some lunch in then head back out and look for dried goods or possibly better weapons for the unarmed in his group. If he could find people who had ventured deeper into the forest from where they were he would be happy enough, but there was still one more village to stop in before they got to the massive walls of trees in the cold forest.

Scouring the little village they found a well built tavern that once they got inside not too many people were in it. Two men were leaned back on the counter when they walked in and they turned to look at the group as they came in. "How can we help you folks?" one asked with a raised eyebrow. The other was already making his way behind the counter. It was clear they were brothers, similar in the face and coloring. However one looked to be a little older than the other.

"We're looking for some grub. Been on the road for a few days and we'd kill for something decent to eat." Cyrus said grinned innocuously.

"Sit 'urselves down then, we'll bring something nice an' hot."

Since the longest table was taken up by the few patrons in there the group split up between two tables. Cyrus, Flint and Baliey sat together leaving the other four to sit at a table behind them. When one of the men returned from the back room a heavy aroma followed him as he brought out bowls of a thick potato soup. Fresh bread and herb butter were brought out with it as well as water and ale.