paradisabeyond | Terre Haute expedition: Camping Day 1

Entry tags:

!terre haute

Terre Haute expedition: Camping Day 1

[It's been a more or less uneventful day of travel for the expedition team. Not unexpected for the first leg of such a trip, and with any luck, it will stay that way.

As the sun starts to get low in the sky, Felix signals the group with a sharp whistle to stop, shortly after he feels the change. They've entered the Dead Zone. That sudden loss of power for anyone used to that sort of thing. Not an easy thing to adjust to, at first.]

"We've crossed into the border of the Dead Zone now. We should stop here for the night. Those of you with experience, help set up camp as needed. And I recommend a few of you working out a watch schedule. You never can tell what might be out here."

SET UP | CAMPFIRE | IN THE NIGHT

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[ Ashura comes up to the ancient elf, his boots making no sound as he walked, his skin itching as he tried to access his power and could not. Like Galadriel and many magic users, it bothered him not to have access to it though he had felt it before.

He took a seat beside her, offering her some of his dried fruit. ]}

A small treat.

[And she accepts it with a little smile.]

You have my thanks. This first day without is the most difficult. I recall that. [She doesn't bother to say without what. He'll be able to put it together and she knows it.]

It is hard to get used to, no matter if you know it is coming or not.

_{[ He picked out a piece of dried apple and chewed thoughtfully. ]}

It makes me itch inside. And not a little nervous, I think.

I feel as though I am blinded. How does one prepare for blindless, I wonder? [It's okay, though. She's adjusting. Slowly, but she'll manage.]

It is hard to say. Brace yourself, I suppose? Or learn new skills to deal with the loss.

_{[ He shrugged his shoulders and picked out a dried orange and a dried grape. ]}

Hopefully we move beyond it quickly.

In the meantime, I will distract myself with thoughts of all we might learn.

And treats, while they are to be had.

_{[ He smiled and offered her more as he chewed on his own pieces. ]}

I think it shall be interesting, what we find - both along the way and at the site itself. Surely, some things shall be answered.

[She smiles and shakes her head] No, thank you.

That is what brings me here, at least.

The last time we received answers, though, we came away with as many questions. But that is the nature of revelation, is it not?

So it is. Yet even the acquisition of new questions is productive.

And frustrating, never forget frustrating. But I suppose they continue to spur us on too.

[A little chuckle] It is fortunate that I have a stubborn temperament.

I think we all might be.

_{[ He smiled at her and reached out, touching her hand briefly. ]}

I am glad to have you with us, Galadriel.

[She smiles back, something a little more genuine than the "don't be concerned about me" smile she had been wearing.]

As I am glad to have you here.

_{[ He smiled back, nodding his head in thanks for the compliment. ]}

This is our first adventure together, isn't it?

Our second, rather. Do you not recall explaining that I had nothing to fear from Svitana?

Oh my, yes! I had near forgotten, since you seem so unconcerned about him now!

_{[ He laughed, shaking his head. ]}

That was well over a year ago now, was it not?

It was. Strange, isn't it? I never believed I would be here for so long.

Nor I. But yet, time passes. Three years now, isn't it? It is so easy to stop counting the passing days and just... be here.

It is two for me. [She sighs.] Perhaps it might be, were I not so skilled at remembering insults to my person. [And she does count a kidnapping as an insult.]

_{[ He chuckles, but it's darker this time. ]}

I suppose those have all faded into such a long string of indignities that I chose not to count them in order to spare my pride. But that is a very mannish response, I think.