#(shoes can indeed helpful for hiking up a cliff… poor Tesni’s plans for the evening have taken a sharp turn :’D)

[justassorted]

Ithadel hissed softly as the rain grew heavier. His arms were already wrapped around his chest, but now with a wince he tucked his bad arm more tightly below the other. The dull pain that had been lurking all day thanks to the incoming storm was now building to a sharp, sickening ache as the cold sank deeper into his bones, like pressing ice to a sensitive tooth. 

“You — sound like you know them well,” he managed, based more on her tone than anything. It was reassuring to hear the family’s names; it gave him some small sense of foundation.

Ithadel, too, fell silent as they climbed. Between the slippery path and his uncooperative limbs it took all of his focus to manage the trail, and his footing slipped frequently. Thankfully, he managed to avoid any true falls or stumbles. The wind had long since blown Ithadel’s hair into an unruly mess, and now with his head ducked to focus on putting one foot in front of the other the rain had plastered it down in a long curtain around his face. But on the few occasions that he could see the young woman glancing back at him he was able to wave her forward unaided.

His first knowledge that something might be amiss was the scrape of rocks slipping and the low thud of her contact with the ground. By the time he had looked up, pushed his hair out of his face with one clumsy hand, and processed what had happened, she had already scrambled to her feet and begun warning him earnestly about treacherous rocks. 

Ithadel just nodded wordlessly at first, struggling to steady his breathing well enough to speak intelligibly. “Y... you’re—alright, though?” He studied the indicated part of the trail and then squinted back up at her with a concerned, guilty frown. She would surely be comfortable and safe in her home by now if his negligence hadn’t frightened her into making this endeavor.

Silence stretched after her suggestion. Tesni held her breath as she waited for his reply, hands clutching together again simply for something to hold. What would she do if he refused? Most likely, she would hurry to the lighthouse alone and beg the lightkeeper for help persuading him. His shakiness had made the selkie sincerely fearful for his wellbeing at this point.

At last, he agreed. Tesni exhaled, relief washing over her, and nodded. She waited until the man had nearly reached her before she began leading the way.

Another easy question. “Megan,” replied Tesni with fond familiarity. Rain had begun pouring in earnest now, forcing her to raise her voice slightly over the patter of water. “Her mother is Meredith,” she went on, “or Ms. Cadigan. Their cat is Delwyn, or Del.” Maybe too much information, but Tesni hoped the extra preparation would help ease his worries.

She found herself too breathless to speak much more as they climbed. Even with a well-tread trail to follow, it wasn’t an easy hike in a storm. Long grass swept over the slippery path with each gust of wind. The lighthouse served as the clearest landmark in the gloom that dimmed their surroundings.

Tesni glanced back every so often to make sure her companion was still following, always ready to lend him a hand if needed. She had never been the steadiest on her feet — especially on bare feet, without a walking stick — but she tried her best, not wanting to let him down. And her carefulness paid off. She only slipped badly once, when they’d nearly reached the lighthouse. Rocks scraped her palms, but her rain-soaked dress shielded her otherwise.

As soon as Tesni scrambled to her feet, she turned to face the man before he reached her. “Careful,” she warned him breathlessly, pointing to where she’d fallen. “There’s a— a rock, hiding there.”