Better With You 
7th of First Bloom, 122nd Year, A.o.S. (Glade 37th)
Sunrise had barely broken over the horizon let alone the mountains that covered it, the early twilight hours of this Eiroldas still young as the moons still showed past the clouds. Just beyond the edge of the woods where the trees thinned out and a few rivers were visible, Shemashk rested in position at least just a couple of miles from Rickter's position. He had vaulted somewhere relatively near here not too long ago, and had continued his march out of the wood until now.
Now he saw where his next destination was, hopeful that he might slip inside Shemashk without any real provocation. This was still Kalzasian territory after all, if the wrong people found him poking around the town... then it probably would not have ended well. Circumstances aside though the wolf's heart ached, not because of what he'd lost for once, but because of what he had to do in order to protect what was his. Leaving behind his packmates had been the hardest stunt he'd ever pulled, especially when two of them managed to confront him before he'd successfully slipped away. Yet was too late. They could not stop him, and nor could these damnable feelings or memories that sporadically popped up.
It was bad enough he felt as though he'd relived that moment with Hannah before, but now, it felt like Rickter had unwittingly recreated something of a circumstance between him and his beloved. Had there really been a time he'd walked out on her, it would not have been to protect her or their family as he did now. No... whatever happened at that time, in that circumstance, clearly the wolf felt much different before than he did now...
A dirt road stretched onward as he walked forward with his eyes on the ground, Rickter's back remaining only toward the village at all times. He needed to put as much distance between here and Loras, as much as he could, so that the ones he left behind wouldn't ever have to see his face again. "Really leavin' so soon, eh Wolfman?" The voice called out as he finally noticed the scent of Hannah, as the brunette stood several feet behind him on the same path he walked.
"I can't stay here..." He admitted plainly with a glum expression cast to the ground. "It's better if I just leave... She'll be better off."
"Better without you? I almost want to agree." The rogue determined as she started to approach, the wolf barely looking over his shoulder to acknowledge that first step she'd made. "I'll be honest I couldn't stand you when you first arrived. But Telion? She sure as shit gives a damn, and given what she's been through, I'm almost certain that's a reason not to leave." She looked disgusted with Rickter but in a way that aped simple rivalry, as though the rogue hadn't quite befriended him just yet. "Why leave anyway? Got a problem with women when they get attached or something?"
"Because..." He started with a firm tone but he paused, thinking over the memories they'd already made here together. In Loras. From the moment they crossed paths he knew he couldn't be the best possible option, not when Telion had so much to give in the world, no he would only spoil that about her like he did everything else. No matter what he touched, things just fell apart at the end of the day... why put someone he might've cared for through something like that. "At the end of the day-"
He pressed the glimpse back down. Rickter had enough of the Echo or whatever gods forsaken thing was called, tired of it filling his head with memories of things that were and weren't. He and Telion never met in that damned town she'd describe, and Hannah would've never gone out her way to admit such nonsense! The wolf swallowed hard as it felt like he had to choke down the feelings that welled with the memory, the emotions akin to how he felt now even with the difference in circumstances. At the end of the day it changed nothing. He walked out on her regardless, leaving the lasting impression that maybe... just maybe...
She were better off without him.
But somehow... He could not ignore the fact life felt better with her. With them all. Which was the reason why he pulled away, because he wanted to preserve that at all costs. With Telion... he was happier than most because she supported him, even so much as guided him when he failed to navigate the turbulent waters in his life. It wasn't perfect for sure, but together, they had something far more special than just a mere connection. Yet it wasn't the same, not quite like the other Bonds that kept him ever so grounded.
Maybe that was why he struggled so much recently, because what few compasses were left in his life were taken, and the only one left he valued so much... he would've gathered tucked her away from the world. Telion, The name floated in his mind with such a fondness, I know better than to think otherwise... You... Make everything better. He would always feel better when faced with situations like this, able to conquer his fear of the uncertainty through every small act of encouragement she'd give. They were both better when they were with each other, because somehow, they both brought out the love and freedom within one another.
Which was why leaving her behind, no matter what life Rickter felt stuck within, would always be hard no matter the circumstance. This time though... he would face the risks, knowing that it would likely tear them apart. Because while he cared about everything when it came to someone like Telion, that luxury was soon diminishing from his life just like the rest. After all, the wolf only had so few heartstrings left to pluck anymore... And if the cost of saving the ones he loved from certain war and death... then, he would go whatever distance necessary to keep all those he loved safe from harm.
It really felt tragic though, that the wolf was now alone once more. As Shemashk was a growing landmark in the distance for him, the wolf walked quietly toward his destination with the acceptance of what was to come. Fearful as he might've been of where this road would lead, he knew that the long night ahead would be welcomed by dawn afterward. It was his path after all... A road he felt determined to walk alone from here on, as he neared the outskirts of the village nested along the river. As the sun had finally broke over the peaks, very few people had risen early to start their day, naturally the farmers of the settlement being counted among those.
Though careful to avoid any direct engagement, the wolf collectively learned to realize that the trains were still shut down. Likely from the impending war that threatened the nation, which meant his plan to board one for Zaichaer would require a bit of evaluation. He couldn't afford to turn back now. As frustrated as he was by this, it would only be a minor setback to what was eventually to come. He'd reach the industrial city one way or another, therefore, took to the road once again when the trains seemed a no longer viable option. Rickter made sure to get out of town quickly before the rest of the early risers filled the streets, his eyes on the road for what felt like the longest time as Shemashk was a shrinking landscape at his back.
Yet the sight of the tracks next to the Merchant's Highway led him to ponder something. While he wasn't the most excellent Traverser, the wolf could still attempt to Blink or even Vault his way to Zaichaer. And he could technically use the rails of the tracks as a guide for him, but, another part of him wondered if he still couldn't utilize the rails with another method. It won't be as fast as riding a train but... Given the ground I'll still cover, this might actually still get me there quicker. Careful to look in the direction he came from when he approached the tracks, the wolf eyed the distant village speculatively for a moment. Trains were out of the question after all... but... who was to say he still couldn't ride the rails?
Thus with a step onto the first rail of the tracks he'd approached, Rickter stood with the flat of his boots over the rail carefully. A cold chill started to radiate along the rails between his boots, as frost permeated over the metal where he stood while he focused on the Flux around the rail. Creating a current with Seeming, the wolf started to shift after a bend at his knees, gradually sliding before the ice built on the rail started to freeze the metal ahead of him. As he kept channeling out Aether the wolf started to slide along the rail quicker now, Seeming his way along the tracks as the winds started to pick up against him.
He picked up speed more and more, until at last, Rickter felt the world rushing past him along the line he road south from Shemashk.
Now he saw where his next destination was, hopeful that he might slip inside Shemashk without any real provocation. This was still Kalzasian territory after all, if the wrong people found him poking around the town... then it probably would not have ended well. Circumstances aside though the wolf's heart ached, not because of what he'd lost for once, but because of what he had to do in order to protect what was his. Leaving behind his packmates had been the hardest stunt he'd ever pulled, especially when two of them managed to confront him before he'd successfully slipped away. Yet was too late. They could not stop him, and nor could these damnable feelings or memories that sporadically popped up.
It was bad enough he felt as though he'd relived that moment with Hannah before, but now, it felt like Rickter had unwittingly recreated something of a circumstance between him and his beloved. Had there really been a time he'd walked out on her, it would not have been to protect her or their family as he did now. No... whatever happened at that time, in that circumstance, clearly the wolf felt much different before than he did now...
A dirt road stretched onward as he walked forward with his eyes on the ground, Rickter's back remaining only toward the village at all times. He needed to put as much distance between here and Loras, as much as he could, so that the ones he left behind wouldn't ever have to see his face again. "Really leavin' so soon, eh Wolfman?" The voice called out as he finally noticed the scent of Hannah, as the brunette stood several feet behind him on the same path he walked.
"I can't stay here..." He admitted plainly with a glum expression cast to the ground. "It's better if I just leave... She'll be better off."
"Better without you? I almost want to agree." The rogue determined as she started to approach, the wolf barely looking over his shoulder to acknowledge that first step she'd made. "I'll be honest I couldn't stand you when you first arrived. But Telion? She sure as shit gives a damn, and given what she's been through, I'm almost certain that's a reason not to leave." She looked disgusted with Rickter but in a way that aped simple rivalry, as though the rogue hadn't quite befriended him just yet. "Why leave anyway? Got a problem with women when they get attached or something?"
"Because..." He started with a firm tone but he paused, thinking over the memories they'd already made here together. In Loras. From the moment they crossed paths he knew he couldn't be the best possible option, not when Telion had so much to give in the world, no he would only spoil that about her like he did everything else. No matter what he touched, things just fell apart at the end of the day... why put someone he might've cared for through something like that. "At the end of the day-"
He pressed the glimpse back down. Rickter had enough of the Echo or whatever gods forsaken thing was called, tired of it filling his head with memories of things that were and weren't. He and Telion never met in that damned town she'd describe, and Hannah would've never gone out her way to admit such nonsense! The wolf swallowed hard as it felt like he had to choke down the feelings that welled with the memory, the emotions akin to how he felt now even with the difference in circumstances. At the end of the day it changed nothing. He walked out on her regardless, leaving the lasting impression that maybe... just maybe...
She were better off without him.
But somehow... He could not ignore the fact life felt better with her. With them all. Which was the reason why he pulled away, because he wanted to preserve that at all costs. With Telion... he was happier than most because she supported him, even so much as guided him when he failed to navigate the turbulent waters in his life. It wasn't perfect for sure, but together, they had something far more special than just a mere connection. Yet it wasn't the same, not quite like the other Bonds that kept him ever so grounded.
Maybe that was why he struggled so much recently, because what few compasses were left in his life were taken, and the only one left he valued so much... he would've gathered tucked her away from the world. Telion, The name floated in his mind with such a fondness, I know better than to think otherwise... You... Make everything better. He would always feel better when faced with situations like this, able to conquer his fear of the uncertainty through every small act of encouragement she'd give. They were both better when they were with each other, because somehow, they both brought out the love and freedom within one another.
Which was why leaving her behind, no matter what life Rickter felt stuck within, would always be hard no matter the circumstance. This time though... he would face the risks, knowing that it would likely tear them apart. Because while he cared about everything when it came to someone like Telion, that luxury was soon diminishing from his life just like the rest. After all, the wolf only had so few heartstrings left to pluck anymore... And if the cost of saving the ones he loved from certain war and death... then, he would go whatever distance necessary to keep all those he loved safe from harm.
It really felt tragic though, that the wolf was now alone once more. As Shemashk was a growing landmark in the distance for him, the wolf walked quietly toward his destination with the acceptance of what was to come. Fearful as he might've been of where this road would lead, he knew that the long night ahead would be welcomed by dawn afterward. It was his path after all... A road he felt determined to walk alone from here on, as he neared the outskirts of the village nested along the river. As the sun had finally broke over the peaks, very few people had risen early to start their day, naturally the farmers of the settlement being counted among those.
Though careful to avoid any direct engagement, the wolf collectively learned to realize that the trains were still shut down. Likely from the impending war that threatened the nation, which meant his plan to board one for Zaichaer would require a bit of evaluation. He couldn't afford to turn back now. As frustrated as he was by this, it would only be a minor setback to what was eventually to come. He'd reach the industrial city one way or another, therefore, took to the road once again when the trains seemed a no longer viable option. Rickter made sure to get out of town quickly before the rest of the early risers filled the streets, his eyes on the road for what felt like the longest time as Shemashk was a shrinking landscape at his back.
Yet the sight of the tracks next to the Merchant's Highway led him to ponder something. While he wasn't the most excellent Traverser, the wolf could still attempt to Blink or even Vault his way to Zaichaer. And he could technically use the rails of the tracks as a guide for him, but, another part of him wondered if he still couldn't utilize the rails with another method. It won't be as fast as riding a train but... Given the ground I'll still cover, this might actually still get me there quicker. Careful to look in the direction he came from when he approached the tracks, the wolf eyed the distant village speculatively for a moment. Trains were out of the question after all... but... who was to say he still couldn't ride the rails?
Thus with a step onto the first rail of the tracks he'd approached, Rickter stood with the flat of his boots over the rail carefully. A cold chill started to radiate along the rails between his boots, as frost permeated over the metal where he stood while he focused on the Flux around the rail. Creating a current with Seeming, the wolf started to shift after a bend at his knees, gradually sliding before the ice built on the rail started to freeze the metal ahead of him. As he kept channeling out Aether the wolf started to slide along the rail quicker now, Seeming his way along the tracks as the winds started to pick up against him.
He picked up speed more and more, until at last, Rickter felt the world rushing past him along the line he road south from Shemashk.
"Common" "Synskrit"
"Rickter" "Hannah"
"Rickter" "Hannah"
"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."
