In a flurry of snow and stinging chill wind they take off across the plaza. The longer the Winter Storm holds the Nexus in its clutches the more alien a world it starts to look. Even the semi-constant landmarks are either buried under a foot or more of drifting snow or hidden by a constant and persistent fog that creeps in and settles over the Nexus every time the wind dies down. Pathways and streets that used to be bustling with people coming and going from all manner of lands and times sit deathly quiet and empty now. Their portals frozen over and people either long since gone home where it's safer or sheltered in one of the refugee camps out of the elements.
With a design meant to travel above the ground rather than on it, Josh is able to get over the worst of the snow and ice with little trouble. Where possible he still sticks to the hard packed trails people have worn through expeditions, supply runs, and travel as they tend to be the most reliable but all too soon they're off every beaten path, flying across open snowy hills. Past empty buildings that stand now only as a shell of their former purpose. An empty husk long since abandoned by anyone with the means to do so.
Quicker now than ever before they come across a line of torches marking the end of their relative safe perimeter. No matter how rough the wind blows, how wet the snow, these torches have stayed lit since well before Winter began. Rather than plowing straight past the torch line Joshua turns the speeder to go alongside it for a ways, cutting north for as long as he can. Eventually though, he has to turn westward once more. They sit at the edge for a few long seconds and Delia can feel Josh's body tremble in apprehension of what they're about to do. Underneath her fingers the young man shakes with fear before he revs the engine. The speeder whirs louder and they're off again toward the Wilds.
They leave the safety of the torches behind them.
Progress from here on is slower. The last thing Joshua wants is to give away their position so he's puttering along the shallowest of the snow drifts rather than kicking up clouds behind them. Wherever there are tracks to be followed he's doing so but slowly. Carefully. Always with an eye out for traps.
They come to the base of a large hill. Josh stops the speeder and leaves it hovering but twists around to look back at Delia.
"Think I should probably let you off here to get a closer look. I'll swing around the side and if there's trouble to be had give them one hell of a shock so you can get closer. If you hear gunfire go quick cuz I'll be swinging back to grab you and get the hell out. Sound like a plan?"
no subject
With a design meant to travel above the ground rather than on it, Josh is able to get over the worst of the snow and ice with little trouble. Where possible he still sticks to the hard packed trails people have worn through expeditions, supply runs, and travel as they tend to be the most reliable but all too soon they're off every beaten path, flying across open snowy hills. Past empty buildings that stand now only as a shell of their former purpose. An empty husk long since abandoned by anyone with the means to do so.
Quicker now than ever before they come across a line of torches marking the end of their relative safe perimeter. No matter how rough the wind blows, how wet the snow, these torches have stayed lit since well before Winter began. Rather than plowing straight past the torch line Joshua turns the speeder to go alongside it for a ways, cutting north for as long as he can. Eventually though, he has to turn westward once more. They sit at the edge for a few long seconds and Delia can feel Josh's body tremble in apprehension of what they're about to do. Underneath her fingers the young man shakes with fear before he revs the engine. The speeder whirs louder and they're off again toward the Wilds.
They leave the safety of the torches behind them.
Progress from here on is slower. The last thing Joshua wants is to give away their position so he's puttering along the shallowest of the snow drifts rather than kicking up clouds behind them. Wherever there are tracks to be followed he's doing so but slowly. Carefully. Always with an eye out for traps.
They come to the base of a large hill. Josh stops the speeder and leaves it hovering but twists around to look back at Delia.
"Think I should probably let you off here to get a closer look. I'll swing around the side and if there's trouble to be had give them one hell of a shock so you can get closer. If you hear gunfire go quick cuz I'll be swinging back to grab you and get the hell out. Sound like a plan?"