Chapter Text
The snow had started just before she crested the pass. That had been fifteen minutes ago, and now the storm is setting in as she guides her monstrous Tatra 817 down the north side of Rust Mountain Pass into Silvergrove. Part of the way down the third switchback a lone figure comes into view, attempting to push through the storm. “Wow, professional idiot we have here” she mutters to herself, stopping the truck.
“Hey, you trying to freeze to death out here?” She called out while descending from the cab into the cold. The figure looked back at the sound of her voice, and she shouted again, “I don’t have all day, it would help if you got in.” There was still no response, but the other did turn around and head back towards the truck. Content with that much the driver climbed back aboard, and a few moments later a gust of cold air and the stranger joined her.
Turning to the stranger she extended her hand, saying “Good to meet ya, I’m Nyx.”
-:-:-:-
The truck was a welcome relief from the relentless cold of the storm. The driver had briefly introduced herself, but the wind was too loud to talk over. The concentration Nyx was currently placing into driving gave her the feeling it would have been fairly quiet anyway. Despite this focus, she looks fairly relaxed, wings spread partway across the cab and her back leaned into the seat. In the soft light from the instruments the amber of her right eye appears a burnt orange, and the lines across her face shimmer the same.
Lost in thought, the sudden rumbling of a downshift takes her by surprise. As they navigate the switchback, a sharp right turn, she catches sight of a mismatched teal eye. It looks good on her, with soft lips lit by the dim background. Maybe she would have made a move on her, except that she forces herself to move beyond that. Not to return to who she used to be, bound by shackles of her own creation.
She turns her focus forward, out to the road in front of them. She must keep focused, stay on the straight and narrow, not waste her chance at a better life.
-:-:-:-
By the time they reach the garage, the storm is in full swing. Nyx can barely see a few dozen feet ahead and they nearly miss the drive into the depot. This though, is the last of their tribulations and within the minute they are pulling into the third bay of the garage, safe from the weather.
“Here we are, the mighty garage.” Nyx comments as she hops down from the cab. A good stretch is in order as she rounds the nose of the truck to greet the stranger climbing down from the passenger side. In the light of the garage, she gets her first good look at her. Pale white skin, interwoven with old scars. Eyes red enough to match her striking red lips. Her left horn is broken off near the base, a stub of brown sticking out of long white hair faded to pink only at the ends. She hardly looks to be in good health, worsened by being out in the cold, and nearly falls over upon landing on the ground.
“Alright, you have seen better days, let’s go get you patched up. Whoever you may be.”
“Kim’dael.”
“Well Kim'dael, Lets get you some food in you and you'll be better in no time.”
This time she doesn’t even respond, giving only the slightest of nods in acknowledgment. With this Nyx swoops under one of her arms, helping her walk as she leads her upstairs. Her studio is attached to the garage, above the office. It is not much to look at, just enough space for a person as low maintenance as herself to live. She settles Kim’dael on the couch, before going and putting water on the stove and looking for some leftovers in the fridge. She settles on some fish korma she made for dinner two nights ago. The food went in the microwave and she poured the water over a strainer of dry mint leaves.
Bringing the cup over she takes a seat beside the stranger, and asks, “So, how’d you end up on a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm?”
“I needed to… escape. from the nightmare.”
“Came out here to get away then?”
“Not really, just started walking.”
Nyx felt her tone soften as she replied “Hey, that makes two of us. I came here once, long ago, looking to escape my past. It’s a good little town, you’ll like it here.”
“Thanks.” It was barely a whisper that escaped Kim’dael’s lips. Right then the microwave gave a beep as the food finished warming. Nyx got up to get it, and by the time she turned back around, was met with a stiff facade. She hands the plate to Kim’dael and turns back to find herself dinner.
As she walks back to the kitchen she says to the stranger behind her “I’ll find you a blanket after I eat, alright?” The only response she gets is a nod, from the once again silent stranger. Mumbling “A curious one aren’t ya” to herself as she starts rifling through the fridge.