Prompt Opportunity 03 - Completed

[Prompter]

PROMPT THREAD

SITUATION

Two characters have found themselves stranded in the middle of the Wasted Land, unable to find water. They have only found each other recently, and are trying to find the best way to exit this territory and find drinkable water. This roel play should be started "in medias res," meaning in the middle of the action--the first posts should be written as if the characters have already found one another and been introduced.

CHARACTERS

Two characters--who have not met before--are involved, posting a minimum of four times.

PRIZE

Thirty EXP to all participants.

COMPLETED

August 29th by Reeddragon and Alehue

[Deleted]

((Hope you don't mind. ^.^)

Nerah looked around, hoping to see some source of water. Any source. Even a river would be welcome, though she doubted they'd find one out here. They had been traveling forever now, and her throat dry to the point of pain. She was thankful or her new body, which seemed well adapted to environments such as this, but she had been lost for quite some time, and even an evolved form had its limits.

She kept near her companion in the search for water, unwilling to let them out of her sight. They were in this situation together, even if it didn't start that way. Their best bet for survival and escape was to stick together and help each other.

"This is what we get for wanting to see new lands, huh?" She let out a nervous laugh.

[alehue]

he had met her under dire circumstances - and now he had become acquainted with her, to the point where she may be a tentative friend. his throat was like sandpaper, and he had swore under his breath, damning himself for not pausing to drink water when there still was some available. he was hopeless, his happy attitude sinking as his thirst became more and more unbearable; his voice was rough and scratchy, when he mustered up the strength to talk. but they were ready to find someplace with water.

"this is what you get," nixen agreed, coughing sporadically after his voice was forced to make so many sounds against the rough throat. "we should try to find lower ground," nixen said, nearly hacking up his lung after this phrase.

[Deleted]

Nerah frowned at her new friend, worried for his health. He was coughing quite a bit, and she was sure the force of said coughing would end up damaging of expelling his insides. They should never have come out here. They didn't know where they wer, and her packmates didn't know where they were. All she could see was him, herself, and a vast, unfamiliar landscape. However, she also knew that she shouldn't abandon hope. They were as good as dead if they gave in to the situation. They had to just press on and make the best of things, trusting that they would find their way out f this situation and back to their loved ones. Did he have loved ones? ...Of course he did. Everyone did. Right? He'd at least have her.

He had suggested trying to find lower ground, and Nerah nodded. He was right. Lower ground had a higher chance of harboring water. "Right." She stood straight, glancing around at their surroundings. The she pointed a bit to her left with her muzzle. "The horizon seems lower there., and...I'm not quite sure, but I think I see a little bit of green. Maybe it's plants. Where plants are, water's sure to be nearby."

[alehue]

the feline was sure that this huge beast had a need for a much more water than he did, though she probably also had more stored up in her system for times like this. though, the mirror-eyed male figured that they both were extremely desperate for water. as soon as his companion (her name was nerah) gestured to the left, saying the horizon was lower, nixen nodded at her, his voice now too painful to use.

he began to walk, his paw pads burnt by the ground, the dry surface sucking all of the moisture that happened to condensate around that area away. he beckoned, with his tail, knowing that the female would follow him anyways, though he just wanted to be sure. he wanted to be sure he wouldn't be thirsty, hungry, tired, and alone in this place.

[Deleted]

Nixen began to walk in the indicated direction, and Nerah followed. This was a rare time when she didn't feel like wagging her tail and even keeping her own spirits up seemed like a massive ordeal. She wanted to be back home with her pack where there was water and meat ready at any moment and everywhere was safe to rest.

It'll get better. Everything will seem better after we've found some water.

She sniffed as she walked, though the wind prevented her from accurately scenting what was ahead. Fortunately, her eyes worked just fine and the things she had seen truly were plants. Ferns, from the look of things right now, though she could be wrong.

"Yes! There has to be water near here!" she exclaimed. She willed her paws to keep their current pace. Wearing herself out wasn't going to get her out of this.

[alehue]

nixen had not realized how much of a state he was in until he pushed his body to its limits. tears soaked his eyes (wasting what precious little water he had left in his system), and the strength he needed to keep walking was stretching his body to the point where the only thing he could think of was staying on his feet, and continuing to step forward, towards the supposed green.

after a couple hundred yards, the male became even more tired - he knew that nerah needed water, too, but...he would drink a whole lake right about now, if he could find one. determined to continue, nixen padded faster, despite the black that ate away at his vision as he did so. when his companion mentioned that there were ferns ahead, nixen didn't care anymore about conserving energy. he ran.

[Deleted]

"Ack!" Nerah watched as Nixen ran, having not realized until that point just how slow and pitiful their movements were. His running showed her just how slow they had been going, and it was no wonder they felt as though they had been in this place forever. "Please be careful!"

Nerah watched Nixen for a moment, and then followed at a slower pace. She wanted to keep an eye on him and make sure he'd be okay. In this trial, she had come to think of him as a close friend, and the thought of him in such a bad condition was like a thorny vine wrapped tight around her heart. She had to make sure he survived, as well as herself. Either they both got out of this alive, or neither did.

[alehue]

nixen heard nerah's surprised exclamation as he sprinted towards the field of green - all he could hope was that it was not just a mirage, something that he and nerah both imagined, to put themselves out of the hopeless misery they had suffered before. as he neared closer, though, nixen knew that this was not a mirage; there was details in these ferns he had never even noticed until they were right in front of his face. still, he was tentative to step into the bed of ferns alone; there had to be a catch, there just had to be. so, nixen waited for his companion, though he did not allow himself to take the weight off of his paws; that would mean sleep, and sleep in his state was not what he needed. he needed water, but he was too afraid to go for it alone.

[Deleted]

Nixen continued in his run, and Nerah followed, speeding up so she could be right behind him if something happened. If he collapsed, maybe she'd have the strength to carry him the rest o the way. At least, she hoped so. She wasn't in the best of conditions either, but this form was suited to a lack of water so she was likely faring better than he.

They neared the plants, and - as Nerah gazed at te horizon - she noticed more green ahead, and what looked like a shimmer in the distance. Was that light on water? Yes, it was!

They reached the ferns, and Nerah wagged her tail. Sniffing the air, she caught a very welcome scent.

"We made it!" she exclaimed to her companion. "There's plants here, and I can smell the water! We're going to be okay!"

[alehue]

"we made it," nixen repeated weakly, his paws shaking beneath him at the thought of it, though his voice was barely strong enough to say those three words. he didn't hesitate any longer, though, not caring if it was a mirage any more. he needed a drink of water, soon, if he was going to live to see another day. bounding through the ferns, enjoying the feel of something other then harsh, dry sand against his paws, nixen sprinted towards the water. not caring any more that he would be soggy for the rest of the day, nixen launched himself into the lake that nerah had spotted. he gulped down the water viciously, his throat finally regaining some feeling. he would live.