veardant | (no subject)

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[ gods, tighnari hates the desert..

or, to be fair, he hates the heat. there are many things about the desert itself that he does appreciate. it's beautiful, its endless gold and scarlet sands rippling like water, the sky above stretching wide and bright blue, and there's a surprising amount of life to study. the plant life certainly isn't as lush as in the avidya forest, but it still exists. it's scrubby and hard, and is no less valuable than its rainforest cousins. the oases in particular are lovely.

but they've found no oasis this day.

tighnari is quite grouchy. he's stripped down to his sirwal and clingy undershirt, and all but drained his waterskin. despite the sun protection he'd slathered on his fair skin, he's sure he's burned nonetheless - the desert sun had been relentless, beating down hard. by the time night falls and the air begins to cool, tighnari's mood is at its absolute lowest. they pitch their tent in a hollow of stone, and tighnari sits down hard, rubbing at his sore ankles with a scowl. he's plenty used to spending long days running and hiking, but moving across the steep sands is a whole new level of difficulty.

why in the hells did cyno bring him out here, anyway? tighnari absolutely adores him, there's nothing he would not do for cyno, but this certainly tests his limits. later, he'll be ashamed of his behavior, perhaps once the chill of the night has finally set in, and he no longer feels as if his brain is bubbling in his skull. ]

How is it still so hot?

[ .. because the sun has barely gone down. ]

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[ The heat doesn't really bother Cyno nearly as much. His skin isn't nearly as fair after years in the unforgiving sun in the sands of the desert. He's not without some sympathy for Tighnari but his mood drags Cyno's down a little as well and he knew that the fox isn't going to be happy when he finally settles them down in an overhanging of rock at least out of the wind if it kicks up anymore than it is overnight.

Tighnari helps him set up their camp for the night and Cyno makes a small fire for them to heat some food over. He crouches by the fire and studies Tighnari as the other is rubbing his ankles, one brow quirking upward. ]

Give the air some time to cool. The leaves don't dry right after the rain.

Mmnf..

[ cyno is correct, of course, but it still chafes him. how can he stand this heat so stoically, without even batting an eye? normally, tighnari would find that quite impressive, he's always impressed by cyno's strength, his tenacity, but right now he's too crabby to appreciate it. peeling off his gloves, tighnari sets them aside with his tunic and djellaba, as well as his boots. ]

I suppose.

[ a soft groan, and he lifts his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them, his ears pinned back as he rests his chin down. ]

I wish we could've found an oasis.. I need a bath.

[ Cyno is quite a bit used to it, of course. He still is a bit frustrated with the other's grumpiness -- if only because the more he complains the more he's disappointed in himself that he didn't find acceptable accommodations for Tighnari. He doesn't like to let him down. It's unreasonable, though. The desert is vast and there are only so many oases.

His gaze is set on Tighnari before he returns his gaze to the food he's preparing to at least make sure he doesn't burn that. ]

I'll find one tomorrow.

[ the tone in cyno's voice is enough to shame tighnari into silence for a few moments, his eyes dropping contemplatively to the sand between his feet, his ears folding back. ]

.. it's all right. Even if we don't find one, I'll make do.

[ he says, his voice a little more gentle this time, and tighnari sighs heavily, leaning his weight back against the warm stone wall behind him. to think, his ancestors lived here.. they were made of tougher stuff than him, for sure. ]

Sorry. I don't mean to complain so much. You have enough on your plate as it is.

[ Cyno clears his throat a little and finishes up the pita pockets he'd made, offering some to Tighnari and finally sitting fully instead of crouching at the fire to cook. ]

I know you don't like the heat and aren't used to it. It's fine.

[ -A punny joke really needs to go here sob.- ]

Edited 2023-03-04 23:38 (UTC)

[ it's fine!! tighnari doesn't want to hear his dumb jokes right now anyway, he's already miserable enough. ]

.. if you're sure.

[ he accepts the pita pocket, glancing down at it a little forlornly. the heat has killed much of his appetite, but tighnari knows he needs to eat to keep up his strength, so he soon takes a cautious bite. ]

Anyway, I'll try to be better, tomorrow.

[ Cyno watches Tighnari and frowns at the way the other doesn't even look like he is going to eat but at least he takes a bite. Cyno takes a bite of his own food and looks at their supply of water. ]

I can scout ahead and see what I can find.

[ Tighnari would be able to protect himself if he left for a short time. ]

[ tighnari chews slowly, his expression tight, because he sure doesn't feel in the mood for eating at all.. but he has no choice. he's not so stubborn as to think that he can face the desert on his own, without food to power him. thank the gods it's finally beginning to cool down, as the sun dips below the horizon. ]

By yourself?

[ he.. well, he knows cyno will be fine, he travels the desert alone all the time, but still, it doesn't feel right not to help. ]

[ Cyno nods simply. He doesn't like that Tighnari is so miserable and continuing to travel on for the mere chance to find an oasis isn't going to make him feel better. ]

This spot is very secure so my exploring shouldn't make you vulnerable here.

[ Not that Tighnari can't take care of himself. ]

[ tighnari only huffs at that. ]

Don't talk as if I can't defend myself! But.. yes, all right, I'll wait here.

[ and then, more gently: ]

Be careful.

[ A small smile tugs at the corners of Cyno's lips as he stands up. ]

Safety’s alright if you got all night.

[ Cyno looks positively pleased with himself as he grabs his spear and starts to head out in search of an oasis. ]

[ SIGH...

tighnari doesn't entertain that with a reply, instead he simply returns to his pita pocket, attempting to finish it while cyno is busy finding their oasis. ]

[ Cyno moves quickly through the sands and makes sure to keep himself orientated so he can easily make his way back to Tighnari. He's tired but he makes no complaint and after some time he does finally locate a small oasis. It's further away than he'd hoped but at least it's there.

He makes his way back to the camp, having to deal with some scorpions along the way. ]

I found one.

[ by the time cyno returns, tighnari has finished his meal and tucked himself up against a stone shelf out of the sun, his head rested back, mouth slack as he pants hard. just how does cyno stand this? tighnari has always known that he's made of stern stuff, but honestly..

tighnari's gaze flicks toward cyno as his ears swivel. ]

Oh, good.. here, have something to drink.

[ Cyno raises a brow when he finds Tighnari and he sighs. He doesn't look any better for having been allowed to rest. He wonders if he can make it the rest of the way to the oasis... ]

You should keep it for yourself. The oasis is farther than I'd like for you.

We can both drink.

[ tighnari sits forward, and as if to prove it, takes a healthy gulp of water, before he's forcing himself to his feet with a soft sigh. ]

The sooner we go, the sooner we'll get there. Thank you, Cyno.

There is not that much left. Keep it.

[ Cyno says a bit stubbornly. And he does have an emergency supply available but he keeps that to himself as he starts to clean up the camp they had started to make. It'll be getting cold soon, especially while walking in the open and without fire. ]

Let's move quickly.

[ tighnari looks annoyed - he wants to make sure cyno drinks, too! - but he's far too hot to allow it to develop into an argument. so he sets his thoughts aside, and nods. ]

All right. Let's go.

[ It's good he doesn't argue because Cyno would have stood his ground and Tighnari would be wasting his breath. He looks Tighnari over for a moment before he starts leading him in the direction he had found the oasis.

At least he knows where it is now so he can take a more direct path -- but it will still take a good bit more walking. ]

We'll stop sooner next time.

[ To make sure they can stop at an oasis with ease. ]

[ stepping out of the shade of the cliff he's beside feels like walking willingly into an inferno. the heat is enough to make him gasp, but tighnari swallows it down, breathing through his clear discomfort as he follows along behind cyno, hooking his waterskin back onto his belt. ]

It's all right. I'll.. manage.

[ even if he sounds crabby about it. the sun's rays are sinking deep into his dark hair and fur, and he tugs his cloak more tightly around him in an attempt to stave off the sun as best as he can. ]

[ Cyno is very unhappy with the state that Tighnari is in but he moves as quickly as he thinks Tighnari can keep up to get them to the oasis. ]

You didn't have to come to the desert with me.

.. yes, I know.

[ he admits, his ears folding back. ]

I'm trying to get used to it.

Why?

[ Cyno says and there's no need for Tighnari to go on longer stints in the desert. ]

I ought to be able to come here without entirely falling apart. There's plenty I would like to see, and study.

[ that doesn't sound ridiculous, to him. ]

[ Cyno lets out a little huff. There's no arguing with that kind of point and all but still. ]

This venture is pushing it faster than you need to.