[center][h2][color=9a45dc]Ivor, The Wild[/color][/h2][/center]
[sub]Location: Crystal Cavern on way to Aelios’ Temple → Ivor’s cottage → Main Square[/sub]
[hr]
After leaving the two of them in the cave, Ivor had headed back to the surface to survey the weather, to make sure the return journey home wouldn't be hampered. The skies had considerably darkened, the moon was covered and the wind was picking up faster, first signs of another imminent storm. Unless the three of them wanted to be stuck in the cave for another blizzard, he urged both Tia and Zeph to pack up for the journey home. By the time the three of them left, the snow was already beginning to fall. It took them somewhat longer to head back, the snow and wind hampering their movements somewhat, but ultimately it was their combined exhaustion that held them back from charging home. The giant’s gaze from time to time wandered to the priestess, who’s steps weighed heaviest among all three of them. The time spent in the cave seemed to trigger something when she first examined the stone he had retrieved. Whatever had happened, Ivor hoped that it was worth it, though something in his heart told him of ill tidings and omens ahead.

As if to confirm his fears, the priestess’ steps became painfully slow, slow to the point that she nearly collapsed in the snow. Zeph, much faster on his feet, was able to catch her body weight before she fell into the freezing snow. Ivor’s eyes grew wide, he knew that this excursion had been exhausting, but he hadn’t realized just how much of a toll everything had taken on her. The town was close at this point, and the temple not only had another priestess, but the doktor was there as well. Wordlessly he scooped up Tia from Zeph’s grip, ignoring her horrified face and motions of protest; her light body crumpled into his arms like an unfluffed pillow. His legs moved forward, harder, faster, [color=9a45dc]“Back to temple, quickly! Healers! Doktor!”[/color]

Regardless of the journey or its outcome, they were able to return to town and both Ivor and Zeph, as protectors, rushed to bring their charge back to the temple. As the three approached, the blonde haired, armored woman from before was at the entrance there to receive them; scorn and wrath writ plainly upon her face. Ivor had expected harsh words, loud noises, perhaps crying, but the champion’s face was stony; stoic. There was a fire within her that spoke louder than words ever could, her harsh gaze almost seemed to command the priestess indoors as the smaller, bloodstained woman gripped Ivor’s arm, signaling him to let her down. Once on her feet, she meekly bowed to both him and the lunarian guard before slowly retreating inside. Again where Ivor expected harsh words, he was met with a glare so raw and filled with vitriol it sent shivers up the blightborn’s spine before he was shocked back to reality as the temple door slammed in their faces.

The giant blinked, attempting to process the last few moments before turning to Zeph who just as bewildered, shrugged at him. There wasn’t much to say at this point, the job was done, whether it was good or bad, who knew. The two nodded to one another, exhaustion quickly setting in as they parted ways. Ivor went off to collect his fish nearby, having left it in the snow earlier before leaving. The freshly fallen snow covered them, but he knew where he could find them, quickly retrieving the catch. Fortunately it was mostly intact, some critters must have gotten to a couple, but nothing that made the whole batch unsalvageable. He’d need to bring it by the eye later in the day, for now though he could use some rest, and time to grapple with feelings he hadn’t felt since the days of his youth. Fish slung over his back, he trudged back to his cottage on the northern end of the village. His face felt hot and flushed, only getting hotter each time his mind raced back to those angry, beautiful eyes.

[h3][center]~~~ Some Hours Later ~~~[/center][/h3]

Ivor had returned home to slumber, but his mind barely allowed him to maintain it. Periodically he’d wake up, often in a sweat, sometimes from events that happened in the cave, to ones that didn’t happen at all, but felt just as real. Then there was that one dream, the one that he first experienced while in the cave. Something begged for release, a release he could not dare give into. After about the seventh or eighth time, the blightborn giant finally had it and needed to take a walk.

The air was still, the snowfall having died down since his journey home. What Ivor had mistaken for people beginning their morning bustle was actually the activity of additional guards in the streets. As a blightborn, particularly one of his size, he was used to the staring eyes of both the denizens and scrutiny from authorities, but something felt different this time. The quiet wasn’t just from a lack of people, there was a tension in the air that wasn’t present last time Ivor was in town. Guards were not just watching him, they were staring daggers, daring him to do something reckless enough as to allow them to draw their blades. He wasn’t sure when this shift happened, but he wasn’t a threat to anyone and would continue to walk the streets, fish slung over his shoulder as he delivered it to Sya at the eye.

Still the intense glaring was a lot and Ivor tried to tune it out with a different kind of glaring. His mind wandered back to the temple, that armored woman, staring at him with such intensity. He hadn’t realized it earlier when he had first entered the temple and she was in the middle of arresting that man. Even then she held a level of authority that caused Ivor to step back in her wake as she carried out her duty. She seemed strong, confident, brave even; brave enough to stare at a man three times her size in the eye with an intensity as to scorch the sun itself. Most men could barely look at him without some amount of fear or awe. Yet she not only sent his heart a flutter, but his soul ablaze; who was she to hold such sway?

Clearly that woman held far too much sway as the giant blightborn absentmindedly bumped into another individual in the street. Snapping back to reality he quickly began apologizing, [color=9a45dc]“OH, Ivor is so sorry, did not see you there, I hope I did not step on the toes and the-”[/color] he paused, looking over the fur coated individual, a singular eye blinking back at him. [i][color=9a45dc]“Syraea! It's good to see you my dear, it has been far too long!”[/color][/i] The giant blightborn exuberantly spoke in his native tongue. Ivor, as excited as he was stopped for a moment as he looked the woman up and down, [i][color=9a45dc]“Something seems different about you Syraea…”[/color][/i] he looked her over, trying to figure out what was different. Her clothing looked like the usual, she still had one eye…she wasn’t wearing her usual braid though… [i][color=9a45dc]“Oh! You did something with your hair!”[/color][/i] He smiled, feeling proud of himself for noticing this change. [i][color=9a45dc]“Ah, before I forget, I brought you many, many fish!”[/color][/i] he said slinging the fish from over his shoulder to show his neatly bundled catch, [i][color=9a45dc]“I think it’ll make for a few hearty stew, keep the people warm, ja?”[/color][/i]

[sub]Interacting with: Tia [@c3p-0h], Zeph [@The Muse], Dyna [@Queen Arya], Sya [@PrinceAlexus][/sub]