Ulrik

the engineer

With metal in tow, the Engineer ground his way up the path to the Aurora Basin, his glossy, sweaty hide chilled. His time spend in the south had caked his body with salt, and now he shivered almost uncontrollably, white sticking to his fur. The cold had never hurt him like this before, and he knew that it had something to do with the fact that he had been so hot. Feverish and wild, the stallion inhaled shakily, letting the load of heavy steel fall near the frame of the second sentinel and then stumbling into the warmth of his home.

Breath heaved at his sides, and he focused on the hot springs in the distance, bronze eyes with green flecks locked onto the billowing invitation. He stumbled his way toward them, blinking and resetting his world every few seconds. Even his heart hammered in his chest, and he knew that he was ill from the churning in his gut. For once, Kirchoff was silent, his concern and subtle paw on his mind, and he heaved himself into the water, a violent shiver gripping up his spine as the heat washed away the sticky muck and sweat from his body. The stallion stood there for quite some time, even going to far as to drunk his head.

Fully dripping, he waited, head resting with weary eyes closed against a stony edge, breath shallowly exiting his lungs. He stayed like that for who knows how long. Time disappeared a while ago. Kirchoff whined at the edge, his little, silver paws lightly touching at his face, and he barely felt the little claws against his skin. Finally, he cracked a dizzied eye open, groaning as the world swam and took a while to settle. There was no use in stating the obvious. He did not feel well at all.

Ulrik yanked his weary frame from the water, dripping into the morning sun and taking slow, deliberate steps toward the middle of the grassy field in case he fell. There, he leaned against a conifer, looking rather queasy and uncertain. How could he have been so foolish? Pursed lips and a cranky attitude walked hand in hand with his slight fever, and he watched shapes stir on the horizon. He absently thought about calling Lena, but like all men, he was a stubborn fool and refused medical attention until he was nearly dying.


@[Arah]

"Talking"