» Together

No more than a week had gone by since her descent into the Rift. It often still felt like one big strange dream, yet no matter the number experimental bites or deliberate bruises she’d dealt herself to be sure, Valkyrie was still unquestionably trapped in a world that was as frightening and new, as it was thrilling and wonderful. The days teased by her wonder-struck gaze in a drunken-like blur. Blinking eyes, creeping shadow and nauseating light - all those colours - soon melted into a backdrop less overbearing, and the tension she’d not realised was wrought beneath her sullying coat, began at last to unwind. The calm, wise words imparted by Roscorro as they’d chatted by the Portal, played a key role in grounding her thoughts and energy; though the unnerving blend of adrenaline and cortisol in her blood begged for upheaval, her mind battled hard to stay focused and in tune, drinking in lessons along the way, as she delved  into her surroundings a little deeper. The Daughter was glad to spend the meditative period alone. If she’d spent another moment longer with the man, Vynter, she might very well have sliced his good for nothing head clear off that muddy, messy throat and returned then through to Portal into the familiar world behind it - task completed, thank you very much High-Maiden… She stepped thoughtfully, each hoof placed with decent consideration as the enormous rainforest whispered around her. The discovery of Screaming Moss had been a rather distressing event, so too, the moment she’d brushed past Medusozoa Hedera, and burned bracelet-like tracks around two of her, unfortunately, stained limbs; so careful in fact had the adventure become, that she seemed to be travelling nowhere, fast. It was an uncomfortable feeling for one so young and brash, so she frequently she reminded herself that safe was better than sorry. At last, she paused, seeking respite from penetrating shafts of sun-rays and humidity, where the shade of an enormous, lichen licked tree fell dank and dark across the floor. After thorough inspection (should it screech at her or drive a knife between her ribs), Valkyrie relaxed and slumped right, sighing, against its surprisingly cool girth. Propped up appropriately, she craned around to better inspect the raw, red burns circling both lower left, front and back legs. The pale hair was barely visible above it. “Ouch…” she whispered, wincing and sucking in the moist air, at even the most delicate touch of her own pink lips; that plant was a true menace. The still air around her gave birth suddenly to the low humming drone of conversation, and furry ears lifted curiously in response. Finding her feet (and enduring the aching wound), she turned towards the direction from whence the sound seemed to come - the south perhaps. With shining eyes inspired and searching, she picked a gradual path between fern and timber until foliage gave way to smile-coated rock, rubble that threatened to send her careening forward. In circumspect fashion, she investigated the space ahead. It looked very much to just fall away - like a cliff, so for the time being she chose to keep a sound distance in between. The voices spoke on, rising varyingly from somewhere below. After a small time spent stumbling and strolling along the ridge, the granite split to reveal a well-worn path. It looked to descend, to cut downwards into the face of the cliff, and Valkyrie was instantly intrigued, for her entire world before the Trial of the Shield, had consisted of winding tracks, just as precarious as this. A smile leaked into her engrossed expression - challenge accepted! In a remarkable display of expertise and dexterity, the white-creamy horse made her way to the bottom. The scene there on the beach as she arrived upon it, was unexpected, to say the least. Though she’d noted a number of bodies along the way, some stranger than others, she wasn't even slightly prepared for the queerness she would behold - not like anything which had crossed her path previously. Except maybe Roscorro… There was a monster - it caused her sensible hesitation - beached just past the shallows. Stark, frightful razors, much more than she could hope to count, glinted in the burning light as its scaled lips rolled and curled around words beyond her reach; its long glowing green body trailed like a limp fish behind, ending in a sharp, pointed tail. The image would haunt her for a long while - and rightly so, anything so savage looking, ought to be locked into the forefront of one's mind. She would be wary, for sure. Very intriguing… There was a second monster, more hideous than the first, but perhaps not so scary. As she examined him from her secure space nearby, Valkyrie could almost imagine the context of his ‘creation’ - clearly the universe, gods or whatever modelled the world beneath their toes had an abundance of leftover pieces. The giant before her (one of many it seemed in this world of absurdities), seemed to consist of them all! Behind his bleeding, gruesome existence trailed a sort of unsettling creature made from shadow. Less obtrusive were equine-type folk, unusual animals and even an assortment birdlife. The Daughter drew a long breath. She was unsure what to do. Drawing slowly to the conclusion that there was no hostility between to crowd before her (that there was a slim chance she could slide in without notice), she inched curiously closer; slowly to begin with, unobtrusively, totally casual. Curiosity  By the time she was strolling among them - as one of them - small bands were already dispersing hither and thither, and though she strained to observe both with sight and sound to gage the meaning of the occurrence, she could find no logic. It seemed an unfortunate coincidence that the nearest to her, and possibly the last to depart (to whatever burning thought summoned them), was the second monster - and less disconcertingly a horse-type like she, a man unbeknownst to her. Forcing back her good sense and swallowing down hard on the great bubble which had risen in her throat, the Daughter stepped lightly behind the duo, pressing her ears forward should any words exchanged offer good insight into their movement. tl;dr - Valkyrie is following along behind Kisamoa and Ruwin