Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Roar characters.
Send me all output
The air was thick around them and heavy as well.
So heavy that it elicited yawns of fatigue out of the people of the
Sanctuary. In fact, they were so hot in their caves that they started
camping out under the trees, with the shade as their safety
from the sun.
They were outside at present, slumbering underneath
the canopy of stars. Fergus was snoring, the great lout rolled over and
gone to the world. Catlin was a light sleeper, and her cloak was being
used to pillow her head. Watching her, you could only
tell she was asleep due to her rhythmic breathing. Tully? He was out
as well. Conor could hear him breathing. Naturally, Conor
was awake. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Stare at the
stars, that is. He could remember lying there just like that with
Claire by his side. There wasn't anyone now. Just his comrades. And
that was a fine way to be. Just... incomplete. Still, if he
closed his eyes and was still enough, lying with his legs stretched
out and his arms propped behind his head, then he could catch
the sweet scent that was Claire. He could imagine her right beside
him, so close that perhaps he could roll over and bump into
her, to get a startled reaction. But not anymore, she was dead. And
that's just the way it was.
Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled low like
a bear. Clouds were gathering on the horizon. Conor smiled softly,
faintly. Rain would be good for them all. Perhaps it would cool down
Fergus's attitude... nah! That's something that would be a
constant. There just as the Wheel of Time turned in the sky. And there
that constellation was, too! Right over by the bear and
the hunter. And the dog, and... he was drifting off to sleep. One eye
opened again, focusing on the bright stars. They were
gradually losing their luster as night crept towards day.
The rumbling was coming again. It didn't seem like
thunder, either! He sat up quickly, startled. What in the world could it
be?
One never knew what to think anymore... it reminded him of horses.
Hundreds and maybe thousands of them. Or maybe it
WAS a bear. He didn't know, nor did he find out. The tug of sleep was
still there. No matter what alarm he got, his eyelids
were heavy and the Dreamland was incredibly inviting. Inviting... yes,
that's it... One eye closed. Stayed that way. And just as
surely as his hair was blond, the other eye closed. Conor fell asleep.
A cool, wet spot fell on his brow. The thing rolled
down his temple and onto his ear, which was being greeted as well by the
soft melody of a woman singing. The woman was a brilliant singer in
fact, and could hit a wonderful range. It made a slow smile
spread across his face. About to open his eyes, he heard a voice, nearly
scolding.
"What're you smiling like that for?" it was Fergus.
His eyes opened. "Who says a man needs a reason
to smile?" he was in a good mood, nothing was going to spoil that!
Fergus snorted, brushing the rain from his bare
forehead. "A man, aye. But a lad? They often have reasons."
Conor didn't even dignify that with an answer. He
just looked around. Tully had already deserted them and Catlin was still
asleep. She had been doing a lot of scouting lately, riding hard hours
into the day then returning before daybreak. Conor didn't
blame her for being exhausted. "Who is that singing?" he wondered aloud,
changing the subject.
"A woman." Fergus retorted.
He glared at the older man, and crossed his arms,
cocking his head slightly. "Aye, I kinda guessed that much." he yawned
mightily, stretching his arms above his head, returning them back to
his chest when he was finished. "But seriously, cailleach," he
called Fergus an old hag. He didn't wait for the reaction. "Seriously,
who IS that?" the voice was sweet, he wanted to know
who could produce such a reaction and why he hadn't found her yet?
Fergus shrugged, ignoring Conor as well. "There
were some traders that came in late last night, early this morning." he
paused, gesturing to the Sanctuary which was already busy with action.
"Some GYPSY traders, none the less."
Conor's eyes widened, he had heard of the gypsies
from Galen and from a few of the elders who had traveled in Britannia
where the gypsies were rare as it was. Perhaps that was what the noise
was! "What're they doing here?"
Fergus looked at him, a smirk on his face. "They're
traders. I wonder what that means they're doing here."
The sarcasm was damaging. "You know what I mean!
What are gypsy traders doing in Eire of all places?" This produced a
shrug out of Fergus. "And another thing?" Conor asked as he stood up.
"Please, lay off the sarcasm." he walked off to the
Sanctuary, curious as to what the gypsy traders would be like. Fergus
just stared at him, watching the Prince. Then he nudged
Catlin, it was time to start the day.
This one isn't finished yet. :)
Send all output to me