"Something spiritual," Syro finished. "Almost like an uprising from the world of the demons. And instead of fighting ourselves, we should be uniting the tribes with the power that the gods have given us." It was a guess, a blind reach for a rope as he fell into the chasm of the unknown future, but he believed that maybe he had gotten it.
"It makes sense," Rokkel consents, copper eyes uneasy. "But that doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to trust you. I may be a shapechanger and a speaker for the demons of the dead, but I'm no fool."
Syro snorted. "If you were a fool, then the gods may not have chosen you. Trust is not an instant feeling of those thrown together to fight a battle. I don't think I trust you much either, to be honest."
"Most wouldn't trust a wolf," Rokkel says, laughing softly. "No, trust is not instantaneous. But there must be some measure of trust between us, lest we turn against one another."
"Yes. Maybe not complete trust, but we must rely on a meeting place. And on secrecy. This is a dangerous task Fate has played into our hands. But complete trust would be foolish, for if one of us were to be possessed by a demon, we would be unable to defend ourself."
Rokkel nods silently, drumming her fingers lightly against a tree. "Yes... I suppose you wouldn't know the cave by the waterfall?" she muses, sighing.
Rokkel nods silently, drumming her fingers lightly against a tree. "Yes... I suppose you wouldn't know the cave by the waterfall?" she muses, sighing.
Rokkel nods silently, drumming her fingers lightly against a tree. "Yes... I suppose you wouldn't know the cave by the waterfall?" she muses, sighing.
"What cave by what waterfall?" Syro questioned, puzzled. "I've only been to the calm neck of the river, to hunt fish."
"We could meet there, I suppose. Or meet here." Rokkel shrugs somewhat carelessly. She wasn't really concerned about where they met, but rather when they met. She was afraid of trying to meet during the daylight, especially since she was more nocturnal.
"Anywhere," he said slowly. He didn't know of many secluded areas near the border. He preferred to stick to his chosen hunting spots. "But when?"
"Not during the day, for certain," Rokkel muses, chewing on her lower lip. "I am more nocturnal because of my shape-shifting. I say late night, early morning."
Syro paused to consider their options. "I only go out at midday, when animals are least active, and in the middle of the night, when they are easier to find."
"Middle of the night is perfect for me," Rokkel says, smiling a bit weakly. "I suppose we just meet wherever along the border, then?"
"Middle of the night is perfect for me," Rokkel says, smiling a bit weakly. "I suppose we just meet wherever along the border, then?"
Syro shook his head. "Not just anywhere. That is at risk for discovery. My tribe sends out night patrols sometimes, when we believe hostile forces are out." He thought for a moment. They needed a place where they would never be found. "How about the Starlit Caves?"
Rokkel shifts uneasily, hesitantly nodding. "Alright. I'm not too fond of the place, but it is the safest meeting place we've been able to come up with."
The Starlit Caves were sheltered beneath the shadows of a rock, and were hardly visited, for they were known to possess spiritual power, which he stated to Rokkel. "We may be able to communicate to our gods there," he added. "And ask them more specific questions." The caves were lined with glowing starflowers, sacred to the tribes, and it was the only place were such blossoms were found.
The Starlit Caves were sheltered beneath the shadows of a rock, and were hardly visited, for they were known to possess spiritual power, which he stated to Rokkel. "We may be able to communicate to our gods there," he added. "And ask them more specific questions." The caves were lined with glowing starflowers, sacred to the tribes, and it was the only place were such blossoms were found.