Above and Beyond [open]

[Aras|Ofelia]

In its state of heightened awareness, the vulture immediately noticed Kayla’s—or perhaps it was her Talisman’s—discomfort. Although she moved to sit next to him, her posture was tense, as if she were prepared for action. Aras couldn’t figure out why she had only now decided on wariness and suspicion; had he said or done anything odd or out of place?

Her answer told him nothing about her, but she probably had her reasons for leaving out specifics. He wasn’t one to pry; on the other hand, she seemed intent on finding out more about him. Even in the fleeting moment their eyes met, he could see some conflict in their depths. An argument with the snow leopard, most likely.

“Am I that interesting?” he asked lightly, heeding his Talisman’s warning to not reveal too much about himself. He normally wasn’t too reluctant to answer such seemingly innocent questions, but Kayla’s distrustful body language was putting him on guard. Her casual mention of ‘some war’ did not help matters. Any shifter who wasn’t a complete newcomer at least knew of the conflict, even if he wasn’t directly involved.

A brief nod was the only answer he gave. “What have you heard?”

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Kayla found a small stick by the fire and proceded to break it into small pieces, something for her hands, and part of her mind to focus on. She gave an uncomfortable laugh when he asked her if he was that interesting. How to answer that one? No, I just want to know what side your on and if your on the other side, do you want to capture me and do god knows what. She shifted her weight again, always keeping her feet under her, ready to pounce away. Maybe she was overreacting?

She hesitated when he asked what she has heard.
Um, ha well you know. Good and bad, power hungry versus the peace keepers stuff.
That was the eaisest to sum it up, she didnt want to go into it, explaining how different the two sides were, yet at the same time how the borders can blurr together and then you dont really know whos with who.
Then each side has their own Elders, leaders I guess. Hunters and Innocents.
She went a bit farther then she had meant to, so she flicked her eyes to him, trying to see if she could read his face on what he was thinking or feeling. He seemed like he knew more by the way he was being so vague, but who knew? She was doing the same thing. She almost asked what side he was on before the fire popped so loudly it pulled her back through the haze.

[Aras|Ofelia]

"Um, ha well you know. Good and bad, power hungry versus the peace keepers stuff." A pause. "Then each side has their own Elders, leaders I guess. Hunters and Innocents."

The usual--except for the last bit. By her hesitation, Aras figured she knew even more than she was saying, but he didn't press her. He merely nodded. "I've heard the same." He stared thoughtfully into the fire, watching the flames flickering, searching for the last bits of wood to consume. "Pointless, isn't it." It wasn't a question. "Does anyone even know how it all began?"

No-one did, of course. It was a rhetorical question, and he didn't know why he had voiced it aloud. Even revealing opinions was risky--yet he found that he didn't really care right now.

The raging storm had diminished to no more than a drizzle. Standing up, Aras walked to the entrance and peered outside. It was dark, late into the night--probably a few hours before dawn. Above, the stars were still obscured by layers of rain-laden clouds, but in the distance, the minuscule spots of light were visible. It was almost time to start heading back.

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Kayla shrugged ger shoulders.
No, but my guess says it has been going on for years. So no one may really know what started it.
She turned her head to him as he moved, she tensed. When she say he only went to the entrance of the cave she relaxed a little. She found herself looking at him. He was handsome, and she had, does, like him. She could really see herself with him, whether he could see himself with her didn't matter. She was just wondering anyways. Too bad she felt there was something off about him. She nodded to his pointless statement, even though his bsck was turned and he didnt see it.
Are you involved? I mean, you know what I mean.
She gasped to herself, had she really just said it outloud? And pretty much asked him who he sided with? She wiped her head around and saw a point rock laying in the dirt. She reached for it, grabbing it quickly slide it under her shirt, keeping it hidden.

[Aras|Ofelia]

The question was unexpected. Kayla had been dancing around the topic, and he figured her circumlocution would continue for a while yet. It was not a subject easily broached around those one could consider friends, much less brief acquaintances. She just had to bring up the question of allegiance, didn’t she? No matter how you put it, any inquiries of the sort came with an undercurrent of wariness and mistrust. While caution in these times was not unwarranted, Kayla’s obvious suspicion was making him weary.

Aras turned to her with a bemused expression on his face. “Do you ask that of every stranger you meet?” The use of the word stranger had been deliberate; not only did it warn her to tread carefully, it re-established the distance between them. He disliked pushing people away like this—Melissa had been hurt, even when hadn’t done it purposefully—but it was better this way. It simply saved everyone a lot of trouble.

He held a hand, palm up, outside. It was met by a wispy drizzle and only the slightest breath of wind. They could be heading home soon, he noted with relief. It was getting more and more difficult to think about anything but a steaming mug of coffee, and he had to quash the urge to transform and wing his way back to town. It would be terribly rude to leave Kayla behind, even if he was sure that she would manage fine on her own.

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Kayla squeezed her eyes shit, wishing she had just stayed away from this topic. I mean, if he was a real Hunter, wouldn't he have hurt her already? Or at least acted a bit, I dunno..evil-ish? Or given her a real feeling of mistrust? First thing she felt was attraction, of course, then again maybe it just shielded the truth.

She closed her hand tightly around the sharp rock in her hand as he turned to face her, making sure to keep it hidden.
Well....um, sometimes.
She tried to ease the situation by flashing him with one of her most appealing smilies. Just the perfect mix of flirtatious and seductiveness, all the while still seeming sweet, cute and harmless. She had perfected it. Kayla hoped it work, if anything hopefully he is at least attracted to her physically so she could either get more info or...who knows. A thought occured to her.
Maybe he was forced to be a Hunter? Maybe he is really a nice good guy.
Deep down she knew it was because she liked him...but it could be true.

When he stuck his hand out to test the weather she sighed and ducked her head. NO matter what sides they were on, all he wanted was to get the hell out of the cave. She opened her hand and looked at the rock, she tossed it aside and heard it slap against the cave wall. She stood and headed over to the entrance.
We could probably get going.
He wanted distance, he got it.

[Aras|Ofelia]

Kayla's answer was hesitant and uneasy. She flashed him a smile--admittedly, a very attractive smile--in an attempt to diffuse the tension. It half-worked. Aras automatically returned the smile with one of his own, and he was more than glad to let the subject drop. Still, even though her evident mistrust had vanished with the smile, suspicion continued to hang in the air between them.

The fire had nearly burned itself out. He went back and stamped out the remaining embers. The hard smack of something hitting the wall made him look up. Kayla had thrown something (a rock, probably) against the wall with a bit more force than was necessary. With an inward shrug, Aras walked over to the entrance, where she now stood waiting.

"We could probably get going."

He nodded in agreement, and they both stepped out under the open sky. The cave had sheltered them from the wind; but now, as the breeze tugged at their hair and clothes, Aras realized that Kayla still had his jacket. He didn't mention it. Although she was no longer soaking wet, she still needed it more than he did.

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Kayla waited for him at the entrance of the cave while he stomped out the fire. When he reached her side, she hesitated before stepping out into the wind. The wind pushed her back, as if it wanted her to stay in the cave. she struggled against it for a moment before she got her footing. She looked up and searched for the path they had come in on. It took her several seconds to locate the break between the trees. She started to head that way, keeping her head down out of the wind and rain. She slid between the branches, making sure to hold them out of Aras's way. The path was now like a river, with a steady flow of water running down the hillside. Mud was sliding down more slowly, thick like glue. She starred at her feet so she didn't fall while pulling her jacket closer to her. She hesitated and looked down.

Oh god! Im sorry. Here.
She slid the jacket of her shoulders and handed it to Aras. But when she went to turn back to conitinue down the path, her feet slipped. She lsid down the path, screaming and trying depserately to stop herself. The rocks under her scraped and cut her back and legs. She made one last effort, she slammed her foot against a big rock just off the path. She jolted to a stop, but there was nothing close to her to grab onto and pull herself up. But if she moved her foot she would start sliding down the mountain once more.

She took a moment to catch her breath, not daring to move while she layed in the path, hoping her foot didnt slip off the rock.
Shit.
She said as she looked around trying to spot something to use. She was now covered in mud, head to toe, in her hair and on her face. Her body ached from cuts and bruises. This was the best night she has had in a while.
Well, at least I took your jacket off before I fell. Otherwise it would be covered in muddy sludge.
She gave a weak smile and sowre again under her breath.

[Aras|Ofelia]

It took a couple of moments, but they managed to find the path on which they'd come up. Perhaps 'path' wasn't quite the correct word anymore; the dirt trail on which they'd traveled was now running with water, soaking their shoes and socks with cold, wet, muddy runoff. His sneakers were going to smell none to pleasant when he got home, Aras thought morosely.

They proceeded carefully downhill. Kayla moved slowly, considerately holding branches out of his way as the went. They had walked only for a few minutes when she came to an abrupt stop.

"Oh god! I'm sorry. Here."

Shrugging off his jacket, she pushed it into his hands. Before Aras had the chance to hand it back and tell her she could keep it until they got back, she fell.

He made a grab for her but missed. She slid and tumbled down the hillside, screaming wordlessly. At last she managed to halt her descent by catching her foot on a jutting rock, jerking to a stop. She lay still and silent, and for a moment Aras was afraid the fall had knocked her out.

"Shit." Well, at least she was still conscious, if filthy and bruised.

Nothing lay within her arm's reach onto which she could grab hold. By the way she lay still, not moving a muscle, she was either afraid she'd begin sliding again, or she was hurt. Aras hoped it was not the latter. He could get down there and pull her to her feet, but if she was injured, that presented a whole new range of complications.

"Hold on," he called down to her. There was no way he was attempting to climb down that hill when he had a far better option. Pulling on his jacket, he climbed up the nearest tree that looked like it could bear his weight. He needed to get as high up as he could, for fear of getting his wings caught on branches and trunks when he transformed.

A bearded vulture launched itself into the sky, circling a few times before descending among the trees. He landed awkwardly, then clambered down to Kayla in human form. Grasping the nearest branch, he reached a hand towards her.

"I don't think the fast way down is the best," he said wryly.

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Kayla grunter to herself when he had said hold on. Like she was going somewhere. She rolled her eyes at her situation before she noticed a vulture circling above her. She watched it for a moment, even forgetting where she was. As it circled above her it landed in a nearby tree and to her surprise, transformed into Aras. Ah ha. So thats what he is. She said to herself. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes as he climbed down the tree.

Kayla shifted her weight as much as she could so she was inches closer, but even then she had to really stretch out and reach with al her might. Finally, her hand made contact with Aras's hand. She grasped it and started to move her body and use her legs so he didnt have to pull her entire body weight. A few times her hand nearly slipped out of his due to it being covered in slick mud.

Finally Kayla was able to reach 'dryer' land with Aras' help. She only rolled her eyes at his comment for she was too tired to even move. Her breathing was elevated and her leg had a distant throb from holding herself still.
Thank you. No, really. Thanks.
She let her body fall to the ground, laying on her back she kept still, waiting for her breathing to return to normal, which only took a few minutes. She finally sat up and looked at him.
I bet this has been an eventful 2 days for you. Probably wishing you had never met me.
She forced a laugh.

[Aras|Ofelia]

Finally managing to get Kayla onto steadier ground--even though her hand, slick with mud, threatened to slip out of his a few times--they paused for a few minutes to catch their breath. Kayla was, in a word, filthy. Aras was not exactly spotless himself, but he was at least faring better than she. He only nodded at her mumbled words of gratitude; he didn't know how long they had been stranded up in the mountains, but he was exhausted. Trouble-prone as she was, Kayla was probably even more so.

His grin was a little forced as well. "Let's just say it was an experience." And pretend that wasn't a complete understatement. He vaguely recalled that his original plan was to come up here to relax. Well, that idea had been shot. Through the head. Several times.

Taking off his jacket, he handed it to Kayla. "Take it." She was sodden once more, though this time with mud instead of just rain. He might catch a cold, but she would likely freeze without it. "Ready to get going?"

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Why must bad fortune always follow me around?
Kayla slowly stood, holding her hands out in case she slipped again. But she didn't, finally. When Aras handed her his jacket she hesitated. She was covered in mud and the jacket, would no doubt get so filthy dirty.
I think Im ok without. I don't want to ruin it.
Before he could say anything else about the jacket she nodded at his next comment and started to head off down the hill side. The mud made her clothes thick and hard, and cold. But she kept moving, thinking of coffee and a hot shower.
A few times down the hill she slipped, but caught herself with her hands, never really going down. She lost track of time, maybe they were walking for 20 minutes, or two hours.
So...Aras. When did you find your talisman?
Kayla had thought for a long time on something they could talk about. Something to at least, pass the time and break the silence.

As she walked she wondered if they had met in a different situation, if maybe they would have been friends, or more, or maybe enemies. How they both had to kind of rely on eachother up here. But she knew, as soon as they reached the bottom they would both go teir seperate ways and most likely, never see each other again.

[Aras|Ofelia]

She refused, but Aras practically pressed the jacket into her hands. "Don't be stupid," he said impatiently. "It can be washed, but you'll freeze if you don't put it on."

They continued down the hillside, taking care to choose a path that would minimize the chances of a replay of Kayla's fall. A few times they had to retrace their steps, the way blocked by wide arcs of slowly-flowing mud. The going was tough on their already-exhausted bodies, and they didn't speak for a while.

Kayla broke the silence. "So...Aras. When did you find your talisman?"

He shrugged, even though she was probably too focused on where to place her feet to have noticed. "When I was a kid. I'm not sure exactly when. I've always known I'd find one, so it didn't really come as a surprise. What about you?"

His talisman snorted, throwing him a look that said 'You mean I found you'. All right, so it had a point.

"Do you think you'd have more luck in leopard form?" he asked, watching her struggle with the descent. (He was having trouble as well, but since she'd forged ahead, he could learn from her mistakes.) The snow leopard, steadier on its feet, might be more successful in navigating its way downhill. Kayla would lose the use of her hands, but perhaps she wouldn't need them. She'd have four feet on the ground, and her center of gravity would be lower, making her less prone to stumbling.

[Jocelyn[Spirit]]

Kayla starred at her feet, willing them not to slip again. She pulled his jacket tighter to her body once more, in a way glad he had forced it upon her. A small shiver ran up and down her spine as she thought about a nice warm bath. When he answered her, he glanced up at him, but only for a moment before her eyes turned back to the ground.
I got mine when I was...I dunno, maybe like 13? So I guess a late bloomer.
she continued down the path at a slow steady pace before his next comment hit her like a ton of bricks.
You know, Im still not smart like that. I always seem to forget that I have that advantage. Wait, what anout you? Can't you just fly out of here?

She let her body shrink and lengthen. Her arms grew, legs shortened, that long thick tail started to sprout and of course the furr popped out everywhere. Soon she was the leopard and she could already feel the pads and furr on her feet gripping the muds and rocks better then rubber sneakers.
She flicked her tail and flashed her ice blue eys at him, like ha, this is so much better.

[Aras|Ofelia]

The vulture huffed, a bit condescendingly. Her spirit must be slacking if it didn't think to bring up that idea. Or maybe it just had a very one-track mind, thinking the leopard form should be used only for running and hunting. Either way, it wasn't doing a very good job of being a guide and guardian at the moment.

By now the snow leopard stood in Kayla's place. The moment she resumed the downward trek, Aras could see that the going was far smoother this way; her paws spread out her reduced weight, and the feline's natural grace allowed her to navigate the unsteady footing with ease. In addition, though it was caked with mud on parts, the thick fur coat was keeping her warmer than any jacket.

He managed a light grin. "Not until I get my jacket back. I'll follow you from above." And he did just that, climbing into the sky, circling low to catch glimpses of the leopard through the leafless branches.