A Short Rest Wouldn't Hurt

[ilaera]

Lightning lit up an already dark sky. Ch'tiel looked up from the rocky path she had been traveling along just to see the unique display. At this altitude she could have been hit if she was not careful.

She felt along the rocks that jutted out of the cliff face as a guide. Finally her hand came across an opening in the rocks. She couldn't see it with her eyes but she was confident that the emptiness was a small cave in the making. She decided she would rest there. Feeling with her feet and hands she scooted inside and sat down on the uneven ground. "Well this should do until morning I guess... Beats having to pay a lot of money for nothing." She leaned back and watched the lightning display outside of the entrance. Soon enough though a dark shadow passed by the door. Ch'tiel caught her breath and waited. She wouldn't have admitted it but she was afraid.

[Northen Light36]

A young man in his late thirties is passing by, humming to himself. "Hmm," he murmurs, standing outside the cave with his back to it. "Doesn't look like I'll be getting anywhere tonight. Pity. Sooner I get to Ilyamen, sooner I get my pay. Ah well, time to find somewhere to sleep."

[ilaera]

Ch'tiel listened quietly to the mumblings of the man and realized she had nothing to fear. She leaned forward and stuck her head out. "There is room enough for one more in here," she said to him. So long as he doesn't try anything suspicious thought Ch'tiel. She lowered her cloak hood and moved back inside the pitch black cave, cornering herself against the back of it.

[Northen Light36]

Zap jumps, not having expected anyone else to be out in the mountains at this time of night. Regaining his wits quickly though, Zap makes his way into the cave and smiles at Ch'tiel. "Thank you miss, for allowing me to share your shelther. Might I be gifted with the name of my host?" Zap grins, not really intending his mild flirting to do more then break the tension.

[ilaera]

Smiling, she said, "My name is Ch'tiel." She reasoned that this guy might be harmless enough to trust for now. "It's been a while since I've seen anyone out here. I guess this road is not traveled as often as some others in the area."

[Northen Light36]

"No, it's not," he admits. "I'm only out here because I was hired to escort a couple of kids safely to Maelstorm. Now I'm heading to Ilyamen to collect my pay before I set out to track down my sisters. What about you? What brings you out on a night like this?"

[ilaera]

She shrugged, "I'm just a wayward wanderer. I don't ever stay in one place for long. Anyways I would have stopped sooner had there been a place to stop at. I kind of like a bit of shelter even if it is a pile of rocks above my head." She smiled faintly, "I don't suppose you might allow me to join you on your journey to Ilyamen?"

[Northen Light36]

Zap shrugs. "Been awhile since I had a companion on the road who wasn't paying me," he says with a laugh. "Sure, if you want to come you're welcome. A man gets lonely with no one to talk to but himself."

[ilaera]

Ch'tiel smirked and then she laughed. "I understand completely. As for money I barely have any at all until I can get a temporary job. What little I do have goes toward food right now. It is a never ending cycle for me."

[Northen Light36]

"Me as well, unless I decide to visit my sisters for awhile and there's only so long a man's pride will allow him to beg from his siblings," Zap replies, then looks outside. "Might be just enough time for me to go grab some wood if you'd like a fire?"

[ilaera]

"That would be nice. I might be able to see a bit easier in here with some sort of constant light," she said to him. "Um, if you need any help just yell. You may find I'm a bit more helpful than I like to be sometimes."

[Northen Light36]

"I'll be fine," Zap assures her, heading out to see if he can find anything that might pass for firewood. The rain is just begining to fall when he returns and despite his thick coat, Zap's shivering. "I'll be glad when the weather warms a bit," he comments as he piles wood and dried grass, then starts the fire with a few sparks.

[ilaera]

Ch'tiel pulled off the overly large cloak she always wore and passed it to him. She was now able to see his features more clearly. Handsome in the firelight but well deserving of respect. That was her opinion. "I'll be glad if anything ever goes right," she commented. She pulled the pack off her back and set it down on the rocky floor. She opened it up and peered inside, eventually locating two wrapped items. She pulled both of them out, passed one to Zap, and unwrapped the other for herself. Inside was a a large peice of flatbread neatly preserved for eating later.

She broke off a piece and popped into her mouth. It was as delicious as the day she bought it. "Nothing like a light meal on a night like this," she said after chewing and swallowing.

[Northen Light36]

"Thanks," Zap says, taking a bite and chewing for awhile. "A wander eh? What set you off on that path?" The Storm hates prying like this, but a lot of the 'wanders' he's met over the years are either runaways or trying to hide from something and if he's going to be traveling with this girl, he needs to know if she's either of those.

[ilaera]

"Eh," Ch'tiel shrugged, "there is no real reason behind it. I don't favor staying in one place for very long. I go from place to place just looking for a job or an adventure." She chewed up another small piace of the bread and swallowed it. "I guess in the end it is something to do and is far more exciting."