The rest of the night passed uneventfully like the nights before, with the exception of a rabbit that had wandered into the camp during Bryran's watch and which the warrior had quickly killed and skinned, stowing the pelt in his pack and setting the meat to cook slowly so that they would have a quick meal ready for the morning. Kellindil's watch had passed by quickly and peacefully, and both the elven archer and the human warrior were rested and ready to move on when the sun rose on the next day. They dined on the cooked rabbit meat, Kellindil especially savoring it as the only meat he had had for the past tenday and more was wolf meat, and so rabbit meat was a welcome change, even if his throat stung warningly every time he swallowed.
After they finished their meal, the two companions packed up the makeshift camp and set off down the Pass, both excited to be making progress on their journey towards Coldwood. The sun was barely over the horizon, so both Bryran and Kellindil anticipated making headway on their trek down the Pass, since they hadn't been able to cross a noticeable distance in a few days, and both veteran adventurers were eager to make progress. Kellindil was looking forward to being reunited with his kin, and hoped that his bruises and other injuries might have faded some before he got to the last place that his kin had made camp.
The elf dreaded having to explain to his kin and cousins what had happened to cause his injuries, but they deserved to know what had happened, even if it didn't reflect well on his skills as an elven warrior.
Kellindil shook his head, reminding himself that now was not the time for those kinds of thoughts, and that he could feel embarrassed – along with grateful that he was still able to feel embarrassed – once he and his companion reached the home of his kin in Coldwood. The elven archer glanced over at Bryran and saw that his companion looked just as eager as he to make some progress on their journey, since it had already taken them far longer than it should have to travel the distance that they had.
Bryran frowned slightly as he wondered whether or not Kellindil would agree to stop over in Sundabar for supplies, since he only had so many things left in his pack that would be useful for a long journey. Though, given his elven companion's urgent need to get to Coldwood, he doubted that the elf would be open to a short stop in a human settlement. The warrior inwardly sighed before he returned to gazing around the Pass in search of any enemies that might be waiting to ambush them while they were off guard. He said a quick prayer that they did not come across any more orcs on their journey, since Kellindil needed as much time to heal as he could get.
The warrior glanced over at his companion once again, noticing that the elven archer wasn't leaning on his walking stick quite as much as he had been the day before, and Bryran's lips quirked up when he saw that the elf's ears were perked up and his blue eyes were scanning for enemies, the same as the warrior's eyes were. Bryran was amused by how alike they were acting, though he supposed that keeping an eye out for dangers became second nature after a while of traveling and adventuring; both alone and with companions.
Half of the day passed by quickly and peacefully, which both Bryran and Kellindil were thankful for, but after they broke the small camp they had made when they stopped for lunch and began walking again, things changed – and not for the better. Dark clouds began rolling across the sky, slowly at first but then they began to pick up speed until the previously bright and sunny sky was covered with roiling storm clouds. The wind began to blow, and neither Bryran nor Kellindil missed the ominous feeling that came with the weather's change.
The two traveling companions exchanged concerned glances and without speaking sped up their pace as much as they could, Kellindil relying heavily on his walking stick to increase his speed in order to avoid putting any undue strain on his healing injuries. They both knew that the sudden change in the weather could only bode ill for their journey, and they had no desire to be caught in the impending storm, and from the look of the clouds there was no doubt that it would be a fierce one. The winds were already increasing, whipping about with a fury as thunder rumbled above like the roar of an angered dragon. Lightning snapped through the dark clouds like burning whips, and Kellindil was beyond relieved when he managed to spot the entrance to a cave almost completely hidden behind a boulder that looked to have fallen from the top of the cliff.
Bryran ducked inside the cave first and found it to be a decent size, bigger than the cave where he and Kellindil had met at least, and there was more than enough room to stand up which was also a good thing. The warrior paced around the cave once, twice, and then stuck his head out of the cave to let Kellindil know that it was alright to enter the cave. The elven archer had scarcely entered the sanctuary than the clouds opened and rain began to fall in sheets from the skies. The two companions exchanged glances, both relieved to have found shelter before the storm began and both feeling the ominous charge in the air that had come with the sudden change in the weather.
Kellindil sighed wearily and made his way to the middle of the cave where Bryran was already setting up a fire pit using loose stones and twigs from around the decently sized cave, leaning on his walking stick as he did so. The elf slowly eased himself down into a sitting position near the fire pit, wincing and hissing through his teeth as his myriad of cuts and bruises stung and pulled. Bryran glanced up from where he had just gotten a small fire started, and he looked at his elven companion in concern, asking quietly, "Are you alright, my friend?"
The elven archer winced again before he could stop himself – his pride hurting along with his injuries - and reluctantly admitted, "I am fine, a little sore to be sure, but otherwise fine. I am sure that a good night's sleep will do much in easing the pain of my bruises, my friend." He smiled reassuringly, though Bryran seemed unconvinced.
The warrior looked closely at the elf and told him, "Be that as it may, you'd best get some rest. I highly doubt that even orcs will be out and about in this weather." Bryran and Kellindil locked eyes, a battle of wills that ended when Kellindil nodded slightly, accepting that it would be best if he rested and healed as much as possible as quickly as he could. The elven archer took comfort in the fact that the tenderness of his injuries meant that they were healing.
Kellindil moved back from the fire a little more until he could lay down about four feet from the fire, and he curled one arm under his head to use as a pillow as he glanced around the cave: It was at least twice the size of the small cave that had been his home during the previous rainstorm, he estimated, and he noted with relief that the ceiling was high enough that he could upwards without fear of touching the roof with his fingertips. The elf smiled slightly as he looked at Bryran across the fire one more time and then slipped into a deep reverie.
Bryran smiled at the sleeping elf and gently poked at the small fire with a stick to keep it going. He yawned widely, feeling his jaw pop it was stretched so wide, and decided to follow his own advice and get some rest. Using his pack as an improvised pillow and the wolf pelt that Kellindil had given him to carry as a blanket, the warrior drifted off into a well-deserved slumber.
Outside the cave the rain continued to pour down, but weather did nothing to disturb the two companions' rest.
Hey all! Sorry it took me so long to update, but I've been distracted by other plot bunnies. -_-; Hopefully I'll be able to take care of them and then focus more on this story. I'm sorry this chapter wasn't very exciting, but I thought the guys needed at least one night of uninterrupted sleep. Maybe I'm just not feeling very evil right now? Hmmm…Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the little bit of dialogue I threw in there, and as always constructive criticism is welcome! Please read and review!