It was quite as the two trudged along the snow laden road and Argis voiced as much, but Nikolai gave no response. They could easily see the walls of Windhelm across the river but the wilderness beside them was silent. “It doesn’t sit well with me,” Argis grumbled.
Nikolai glanced over his shoulder and motioned towards the city, “It’s probably because we’re so close to Windhelm. Do you honestly hear the sounds of wildlife just outside the walls of Markarth?”
“No,” Argis frowned, “but that’s because the Forsworn are slinking just out of sight. The animals know to steer clear.”
“Could it possibly be the fact that it’s snowing and they found shelter of their own?”
“I suppose.”
The younger man rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the road ahead. “Another few minutes and we’ll within the city. We’ll have a hot meal and a warm bed, so no more complaining.”
Pursing his lips together Argis said nothing more. They were both in sour moods thanks to the current weather. Neither had been prepared for snow. Argis thanked the Divines that it happened so close to the city. There was no telling how things would have progressed if they were another day out.
Argis never heard the animal before it hit him; never saw it’s shadow or the flash of fur out of the corner of his eye. The roar of the sabercat cut through the silence like a knife and was echoed by Argis’ cry of surprise as he was wrenched back. The claw that was undoubtedly supposed to slice into his back had instead lodged itself into his pack. Now he lay on the ground, heart racing as he heard the creature snarl.
The sound of Nikolai’s screaming his name was lost to Argis. All he heard was the rush of blood in his ears and his own mind trying to get him to move. He tried to scramble to his feet, hands frantically reaching for his weapon but the cat deftly knocked his legs out from beneath him. Argis rolled onto his back and stared wide eyed into the face of the animal as it stood over him.
“Fus Ro Dah!”
With what sounded like a crash of thunder the sabercat was knocked off of Argis. He could feel the force of it wrack his own body and for a moment he feared that he too would be thrown be the sound. Yet there was nothing, save for the hard beating of his heart.
“By the gods,” Nikolai cried suddenly coming into Argis’ view, his face pale. “Argis, are you okay?”
Argis gave a slight nod, “I think I’m fine.” He let Nikolai help him to his feet and waited as the man looked him over.
“Nearly tore your pack in two. We can buy you a new one. The damned thing doesn’t look like it’s coming back.”
“That sound. What was it?”
Nikolai gave a nervous chuckle, “That was me, actually.”
“You? That sounded like-“
“The dragons, yes?”
Argis gave a slow nod as he gave Nikolai an uneasy look. “We’ve always steered clear of them but could hear their battles. How is it that you can sound like them so easily?”
“I guess it’s because I’m Dovahkiin.”
There was nothing Argis could say in response to such a revelation. He knew he wore a shocked expression thanks to the nervous response Nikolai seemed to have. All it did was illustrate how little Argis knew about his companion. When Nikolai had arrived in Markarth he was no-one of note, just a man wishing to aid the city in some way. Argis listened to those in the Jarl’s employ about this newcomer and before he knew it this he was serving this newcomer. Neither spoke about their lives before working together. Argis didn’t even know where Nikolai hailed from.
“W-we should get moving, Argis.” Nikolai stammered. “I think we both deserve a drink after that.”
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Re: My Favorite Drinking Buddy (2/?)
Date: 2013-07-29 06:47 pm (UTC)Nikolai glanced over his shoulder and motioned towards the city, “It’s probably because we’re so close to Windhelm. Do you honestly hear the sounds of wildlife just outside the walls of Markarth?”
“No,” Argis frowned, “but that’s because the Forsworn are slinking just out of sight. The animals know to steer clear.”
“Could it possibly be the fact that it’s snowing and they found shelter of their own?”
“I suppose.”
The younger man rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the road ahead. “Another few minutes and we’ll within the city. We’ll have a hot meal and a warm bed, so no more complaining.”
Pursing his lips together Argis said nothing more. They were both in sour moods thanks to the current weather. Neither had been prepared for snow. Argis thanked the Divines that it happened so close to the city. There was no telling how things would have progressed if they were another day out.
Argis never heard the animal before it hit him; never saw it’s shadow or the flash of fur out of the corner of his eye. The roar of the sabercat cut through the silence like a knife and was echoed by Argis’ cry of surprise as he was wrenched back. The claw that was undoubtedly supposed to slice into his back had instead lodged itself into his pack. Now he lay on the ground, heart racing as he heard the creature snarl.
The sound of Nikolai’s screaming his name was lost to Argis. All he heard was the rush of blood in his ears and his own mind trying to get him to move. He tried to scramble to his feet, hands frantically reaching for his weapon but the cat deftly knocked his legs out from beneath him. Argis rolled onto his back and stared wide eyed into the face of the animal as it stood over him.
“Fus Ro Dah!”
With what sounded like a crash of thunder the sabercat was knocked off of Argis. He could feel the force of it wrack his own body and for a moment he feared that he too would be thrown be the sound. Yet there was nothing, save for the hard beating of his heart.
“By the gods,” Nikolai cried suddenly coming into Argis’ view, his face pale. “Argis, are you okay?”
Argis gave a slight nod, “I think I’m fine.” He let Nikolai help him to his feet and waited as the man looked him over.
“Nearly tore your pack in two. We can buy you a new one. The damned thing doesn’t look like it’s coming back.”
“That sound. What was it?”
Nikolai gave a nervous chuckle, “That was me, actually.”
“You? That sounded like-“
“The dragons, yes?”
Argis gave a slow nod as he gave Nikolai an uneasy look. “We’ve always steered clear of them but could hear their battles. How is it that you can sound like them so easily?”
“I guess it’s because I’m Dovahkiin.”
There was nothing Argis could say in response to such a revelation. He knew he wore a shocked expression thanks to the nervous response Nikolai seemed to have. All it did was illustrate how little Argis knew about his companion. When Nikolai had arrived in Markarth he was no-one of note, just a man wishing to aid the city in some way. Argis listened to those in the Jarl’s employ about this newcomer and before he knew it this he was serving this newcomer. Neither spoke about their lives before working together. Argis didn’t even know where Nikolai hailed from.
“W-we should get moving, Argis.” Nikolai stammered. “I think we both deserve a drink after that.”