Day Two - Continued (II)
The trail begins to get wider, as if it has been more frequently used. You spot a few fresh-looking paw prints in the dust; perhaps Riv's patrol is out and about. Pushing aside a few tall ferns, you see it ahead.
The ground dips off, dirt slanting sharply before disappearing into pebbles. The lake is vast and sparkling, so bright that it leaves spots in your eyes when you blink. To your left, up on a hill that overlooks the lake, is Riv's house. The deck is drowning in flower pots and hanging wind chimes, as usual, and a few small vines.
Kit begins squirming, having opened his eyes to see the new expanse of territory. You set him down, and he immediately bounds to the lake's shore, dipping his paws in the cool water and splashing about. He makes it a point to walk only in the water all the way to the hill. You sigh, seeing that hes soaked his bandage completely. At least Riv always has an extensive supply closet.
Shaking out his fur, Kit scampers after you as you head up, nearly tripping you on the old wooden staircase attached to the deck. He sits at the top, yipping incessantly until you arrive.
The deck is more of a jungle up close; hummingbirds and insects are abundant, drinking from colorful flowers and fluttering about. You walk up to the door and knock while Kit chases and eats a butterfly.
There is no answer; the possibility that he is out is very high. You turn the knob, finding it unlocked. In fact, the door doesnt appear to have been closed completely. Well, he is expecting you, after all.
"Cmon, Kit!" you call, holding the door open for him. His ears perk toward you and he barrels in, running in excited circles. He pauses to sniff the air, his little tail waving back and forth.
You close the door, and slide your pack off. It feels great to finally be in a house and out of the sun.
"Riv?"
No answer. As you thought, he is probably out in the forest, doing whatever it is he does. You drag your pack with you up the stairs and down the hall. There's a bathroom on the right, Riv's room next to it, and the guest room across on the left. You enter this room.
It has been cleaned to a point, and of course, there is another plant resting on the bedside table, just below the windowsill. You throw the pack on the bed; you'll put that all away later.
Your first order of business is a shower; you're bloody, dusty, sweaty, and overall, just gross. Grabbing Kit and a towel, you head to the bathroom, locking the door behind you.
Kit doesn't put up a fuss this time as you remove the bandage and trash it. The scratch has stopped bleeding for the most part, despite his activeness. Scabs are beginning to form.
The shower is refreshing, even if Kit attempted to drink a good portion of it before peeing on your foot. Hatchlings will be hatchlings. At least you have managed to get him clean.
After toweling him dry, you grab some spare clothes from the dresser in the guest room and take Kit downstairs. The layout consists of a modest kitchen with a little table in the center, a pantry, a rather large living room, another bathroom, and the supply closet- bingo!
Opening the door, you pull the string, which flicks on the bare lightbulb. There are shelves of jars containing a variety of items. You grab a purple one, popping off the cork and pouring some onto your hand. It makes your skin tingle and shiver as you rub it on the scratch. Immediately, the mark begins to fade.
You pour more into your hand and offer it to Kit, who messily laps it up and burps out a colorful bubble. His lacerations begin to disappear. He whines when you put the elixir back, pawing at your leg.
"Hungry?"
He yips, running a quick circle around you.
"Alrighty, then. Let's see what weve got to work with, here."
In the kitchen is a little refrigerator; the only thing keeping it running is the old generator out back. You open the door, peering around. Riv dislikes meat, mostly because he sees it as his duty to protect and watch over living things, but off to the side is a package with a little note attached.
Reading it, you realize Riv has gone out of his way to make you feel more comfortable. There's some turkey meat here, as well as a few hotdogs (which you internally cheer for), and ham. The turkey looks healthy and safe enough, so you take it out and tear some bits off for Kit. You look through the cabinets, finding two bowls suitable for Kits small size.
One is filled with water, and the other, the turkey. He begins chowing down the moment you set the bowls on the floor.
"Slow down a bit, you dont wanna get sick," you murmur.
For yourself, you decide on a quick salad. Yes, hotdogs- but after being in that heat you want nothing to do with warmed food. Besides, you aren't all that hungry.
When you've finished what amounts to dinner, you're sure to clean up thoroughly, as Riv keeps a pristine place.
It's evening now, and you wander out onto the deck. The view is quite magnificent; the sinking sun throwing silky hues of purple and yellow up into the few gathered clouds, and scatters fragmented flakes of gold across the surface of the lake. Hiding stars are emerging, and with the cooling air, it is perfect.
You spot a few Kelpari surfacing, splashing to and fro, and up above, the lone shadow of a gliding Nytekrie. There is one thing, though, that unnerves you: along the tree line are moving shadows. Unable to make them out, you can only watch as they appear from the trees, and vanish again.
They're a bit unsettling, but your rational side knows that this is, after all, a forest. Creatures of all kinds must come to the lake to drink and refresh all the time.
Darkness has risen, and the chill in the air is getting to you. You head inside, locking the door behind you. You're a little worried about Riv, but you also don't know what his usual schedule entails. He does make hundreds of recorded tapes, mostly bird and other animal sounds, sometimes his own voice describing the sights and events of the day. There are many interesting creatures of the night, and he is definitely the kind of person to stay up at unholy hours just to record the nesting screech of a Nytekrie.
Kit is sound asleep at the base of the stairs. He stirs lightly when you scoop him up, but doesn't wake. He's had quite the day. You wonder where he came from. Puffadores belong in posh homes, spoiled and meticulously groomed by doting owners. Not stranded miles into an untamed wilderness, alone and terrified.
You shove the pack off of your bed, knowing you will regret not unpacking later. But youre quite exhausted, and as soon as you lay Kit down next to your pillow, you pull the covers over you and shut your eyes. You think nothing as you drift off of the creaking door knob downstairs, or the low and hushed voices murmuring back and forth.
Player
Health Points: (10,000/10,000)
Effects: None
Location: Riv's Lakehouse
Pack Items: Empty water jug, full can of predator repellent, tent, pocketknife, flint and steel, First Aid Kit.
Kit
Health Points: (5,000/5,000)
Effects: None
Location: Riv's Lakehouse
Abilities: Strong senses, danger detection |
