Snippet #2134879

The rain had plastered strings of hair against Jenna's forehead and temples. Dripping down the tanned skin, if there was light the light on the water would emphasis her already defined features. Thin lips stretched in a half smile as the young woman enjoyed the scent of the damp air and the touch of the cool liquid. It was not too cold on her flesh, tamed to cope with the weather. So she stood alone, somewhat comfortably, enjoying one of nature's common phenomena. The crash of thunder every now and then did disturb her slightly. It wasn't wet, cool and comforting like the rain and the snow. She had heard stories of thunder and lightning from some more learned people. It was said that the lightning burnt where it struck, charring and frying its target in a split moment. So she was thankful the heavy dark storm clouds filling the sky were not sentient and malevolent. Each boom caused a little shiver up her spine, as if due to the cold which she felt slightly beneath her dress and heavier cloak keeping her from endangering her health. As a child she had never taken the precautions and had to tough through a few fevers and colds. She had learned to take care of herself better when both she and her brother happened to fall ill at the same time, leaving her parents alone to work for the few days. It had stressed them and for their sake Jenna restricted her time in the precipitation and took care to avoid suffering from soaked clothing.

The lands around her view point could not be described as attractive. It was beyond the edge of the village, away from the people and wild. There wouldn't be much to see even without the pervasive darkness lit only by the occasional flash. It played hell with one's night vision, yet another reason Jenna did not plan to remain outside for too much longer. She was comfortable enough in the dark, in the solitude it offered but there was always the threat of the unknown, small as it was. It was the unknown that stumbled upon her and not in a typical form. Through the overwhelming sound of rain on the wet marsh she heard voices, distant but not particularly sedate. It came from the direction of the village. The words were indistinguishable and Jenna could hardly care less about the speaker. Yet here, alone in the dark and beyond the confines of the bundle of shacks and homes, she felt the tinge of curiosity coloring her thoughts. She started out from where she stood towards the noise. It was a little walk, the mud pulling at her heavy boots and leaving deep trails in her wake. She cut across the rougher ground directly for the much more secure path and continued along the packed dirt towards what could be called the edge of the scatter houses that formed the village.

Being on the path led her past another slowly trudging away from away from Ley's outskirts. The disturbance from earlier had quietened and she stopped to watch this person walking away from the best shelter there was for a least a few days walk. Curiosity was not flecked with concern. Jenna had always been individual yet when things had gone badly her family was always there to care for her. More often then not when she became sick due to the weather and cold. So seeing someone alone in these conditions, not seeking immediate shelter was a certain cause for alarm. Still she stood, watching the vague silhouette as moved away at an angle to her. A timely flash of lightning illuminated the scene and thought it was difficult to tell the young man was certainly not from the village and he seemed completely soaked to the bone. Cautiously Jenna was goaded on, she took slow tentative steps in his direction. When he was within a moderate distance she called to him. Her voice was firm but quiet, hardly carrying through the rain.
"Umm... Excuse me. You shouldn't be travelling in this weather. There should be someplace to stay in the village." Somewhat nervous she stammered the words, feeling a little bit awkward. In a way she might be glad if the offer was rejected but that was foolishness, as much as staying out in the rain was foolishness.