Beyond the Wall

Subject: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:45 pm

There was a soft breeze blowing around him, and as he woke, Quentin realized that he was outside. He was in some sort of makeshift shelter. It didn't seem very sturdy to him, but he was sure it had to have been, or it would have been on top of him, rather than covering him.
He looked around and tried to understand what was going on. He fell asleep in his own bed, next to a new calico he had taken in...
The kitten!
He sat up, frantically searching for the small kitten. What had happened to her? He felt a strong pang of guilt as he realized it was pointless to search any further for her. If she had been out in this wilderness, she was long since lost.
He sighed, sadly, and wondered where he was for the second time.
He heard some rustling outside, and contemplated getting up to check it out.
He did, and when he was outside, the bright light of the sun nearly blinded him. It wasn't very hot, but it was very bright, nearly white even. He searched around and found an older looking woman, ragged and wild-looking. Her attire was familiar to him. And that was when he noticed his own. He was wearing very similar clothing to hers.
Hm...
"Gervèse! You are finally awake. Here, come help your mother with plucking this bird..."
Gervèse? He wandered over to the woman and looked at what she was talking about.
There was a large bird in her hands, half relieved of its feathers. He twisted his face in an expression of distaste and squatted down to help her. This was not his idea of a good time.
"Mother?"
"Hm?" she replied.
"Uh... Nothing. Forget I mentioned anything."
The woman looked at him, confused, and then continued to hand him the large bird.
Gervèse took the bird and began to pluck the it free, just as she had done.
It was then that it hit him.
This was beyond the wall of Westeros where he knew the Wildlings to live. He was somehow in the setting of Game of Thrones. He didn't know how it happened, but he knew this is what was going on. He furrowed his brow, confused and wondering what he was supposed to do about this.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:32 pm

Genevieve awoke to talking amongst many people, and it confused her. She hadn't fallen asleep at the amphitheater, she knew that, so why were so many voices talking? She pushed herself up, rubbed her eyes, and nearly screamed. She was in a small makeshift shack of some sort, surrounded by cots, and sitting in a cot herself. The walls and ceiling of the room looked like they would cave in on her at any moment.

"Where am I?" She mumbled to herself before biting down on her bottom lip in fear.

She stood and walked to the opening in the shack, only to find kids running around outside, all dressed alike. She recognized what they were wearing and couldn't help but look down at her own clothes.

"These are like costumes from..." Her eyes widened as she backed into the shack once more.

What am I doing here?! This is beyond the wall!

At first she didn't want to believe what was happening to her, chalking it all up to a dream, but discovered when she couldn't force herself awake that it was really happening.

So, I get sent here and I'm a Wildling? She shook her head. That doesn't make sense at all.

A man entered the shack and she backed away from him, not sure who he was.

"Good. you're up, Tristana. Cook some food for your brothers and sisters." He motioned for her to get out of the shack.

"Yes, sir." She hurried out, not wanting to be alone with him. She noticed a little ways away from where her "family" was staying that another small family was camped out there as well.

What have I gotten myself into?!

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:46 pm

The bird was bald in no time. Quentin noticed a young girl, probably thirteen, coming up to the side of him, eyes fixated on the poultry dead in his hands. Her fingers began to squirm as she licked her lips. His "mother" quickly turned to her and smacked the tops of her hands.
"Wait until the thing is cooked first, at least! Your brother needs to make the stew. Go gather sticks!"
The girl seemed to let out a low growl before kissing his cheek, then sprinting off into the snow to find something to build a fire.
"That girl will never learn a thing..." This itself seemed to be a growl.
Quentin tensed up at the sound and quickly started to move some large rocks together in a circle. This, he knew how to do: build a pit for a fire. As he was moving the rocks together he glanced over to the other family that seemed to be traveling with them. A young woman came out of the makeshift shack, seeming rather disoriented and unsure as to what she was doing. He tilted his head and continued to watch her.
She was beautiful, with her soft black hair strewn about, eyes blue and piercing.
"Wow..."

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:51 pm

Tristana, which is what she had learned her name was here, looked around at all her brothers. Three of them. All young and rambunctious. Her sister, who appeared to be around fourteen, was sitting on a rock and staring around her at the mountains. She saw that next to her was the food she was supposed to make for them. It had already been prepared for cooking, which she was thankful for. She didn't feel like she could gut an animal or anything like that. Not without throwing up or fainting, anyway.

As she walked over to grab the food she was to make, she noticed a man over at the other camp staring at her. He was attractive, especially by Wildling standards, but she didn't enjoy being stared at. Plus, who knew what was going through his head. Maybe he was contemplating on how to get her alone so that he could have his way with her. Knowing a Wildling, which she knew to be vicious, he probably was thinking something along those lines. She decided to be brave and confront him.

"Why are you staring at me?" She asked, just loud enough for him to hear her over her brothers.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:05 pm

Quentin, now known as Gervèse, shook his head of the what he had been thinking, turning his full attention to the woman in front of him. He was almost ashamed, embarrassed to be sure, but still not quite ashamed. Not yet. He looked into her eyes and tried to think of an excuse, he was sure she wouldn't fall for him simply just admiring her beauty.
But he couldn't think of a legitimate reason, and he figured the truth was better than nothing.
"Honestly, I was simply admiring your beauty. Cheesy, I kn- I mean, ridiculous, I know. But the truth, I swear to you."
He looked down and away from her then, certain he had just sounded like a complete fool. "Cheesy" wasn't a part of the language back in these times. He sat and waited for her response, sure she was going to attack him with the knife that was sitting on the boulder next to them.
God, please don't kill me already. I've only been here for half an hour...

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:12 pm

Tristana raised her eyebrows at him. Had he just said "Cheesy"? She shook her head, ridding the thought from her mind. They didn't say that here. She must have just been hearing things. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, wondering if she should believe him. Then, a thought occurred to her. If a Wildling was thinking about doing things to you, he would have blatantly said so. He wouldn't have tried to hide it behind something like "admiring beauty".

"Uh, thanks." She wasn't sure what else to say to him. She didn't want to sound like an idiot.

She picked up the food and walked over to the fire the man back in their shack, which she was guessing was her father, had build for her family. She wondered where her mother might be. She didn't notice if anyone else had been sleeping in the tent.

What kind of meat is this? She wondered to herself, looking it over. She took it over to the rocks that were set on the fire, knowing she would have to cook them on their surface. Luckily for her she'd taken courses in her girl scout days that taught her survival in the wild. They were going to help her while she was out here, she knew that.

"How far away are we from where we're traveling?" She asked the man, looking up at him after she'd set the meat on the rocks. She couldn't help but notice how stunning his jaw and chin were. Then again...everything about him seemed to be stunning.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:35 pm

Gervèse stopped what he was doing and thought about how to answer that for a moment. He had just gotten there, he had no idea of the content of their journey. He looked around, observing their surroundings as if he were calculating the distance.
What the hell do I say?!...
In the distance he saw a small stream of smoke. He didn't know how he could see this far, it were as if his eyes had adapted to the wilderness over time. Like he had never lived another life in another time.
"Well that smoke doesn't seem to be too far off. If we're lucky, we'll be there by evening tomorrow."
He couldn't believe how this was turning out. It was like everything had never happened back at home...

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:06 pm

Tristana nodded her head, glad that whatever journey they were on would be over soon. She didn't like walking very much. Dancing, yes, walking was a big no. She looked down at the meat and realized she needed to flip it. She desperately looked around for something to use and found a makeshift tool that looked sort of like a spatula. It was, of course, nothing near as nice as a spatula nor as thick.
The simple things I'll miss from home.

She flipped the meat the best she could and listened to it start to sizzle. It smelled good, at least. She figured it had to be some sort of bird, because it wasn't red meat, but she didn't recognize it in the least.

"I'm Gen-"She cut herself off, mentally kicking herself for almost using the wrong name. "I'm Tristana."

Wow, now you'll REALLY look like a damn idiot!

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:32 pm

Gervèse let out a small chuckle and nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"Gervèse. Nice to meet you."
He smelled the meat she was cooking and felt the saliva begin to form on his mouth. He let out a sigh of contentment and looked back to Tristana. He then had a thought.
If they were traveling together, why is it they had never met until now?
"Tristana?... Why is it that we haven't spoken before? We've been traveling together for quite some time now, I'm sure, and yet we are not familiar with one another? Doesn't that seem strange to you?"
He lowered his head, furrowing his brow.
She started introducing herself as something different, she seems to be out of place... Was she?
He stared at her then, wondering.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:18 pm

Tristana gulped, unsure of whether he was testing her or not by asking her the question. What if he had already known her name? No, he wouldn't have introduced himself back if he had. He would have told her they had already met and would have asked her if she was feeling alright.

Just come up with something, damn it!

"I haven't really socialized with your family much at all since we began traveling." She looked back towards her own family. "Plus, whenever I'm not sleeping I seem to be making food for them or off gathering supplies from the mountains."

Hopefully he'll fall for it.

She pulled the meat off of the rocks and placed them on the small chipped plates that were sitting next to the rock. She yelled for her siblings to come eat, and they did so without saying another word. She was glad, because she had no idea what their names were.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:40 pm

Gervèse tilted his head and watched as the boys and young girl ate their food with their hands. Of course, he couldn't expect much else from Wildlings, but he still somehow imagined there would be a little less mewling coming from the little ones. He shook his head slightly, a small shiver running through him.
He looked back at his mother, wondering where his sister could be coming back. He didn't like the idea of a child, strange or not, being out there on their own. Let alone a little girl. He pursed his lips together in distress before turning his attention back to Tristana.
"So, we don't associate much. I believe that should change."
He looked up at her, since he was now kneeling on the ground somehow, and got lost in her eyes.
Yes. Change indeed...
He remembered Amariah back home. What she must be doing, how she must be feeling. But then, it dawned on him. He probably didn't exist in that life anymore. If he came here and suddenly fell into another life, the one back home might as well have been a dream...
He saddened his expression then, still looking into her eyes, but not sure what to think anymore.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:48 am

Tristana watched Gervèse's expression change from the smile he seemed to usually wear, to worried, and then to sad. She wondered what thoughts were playing in his head to change them so quickly, but she dared not ask in fear that he would become offended or that it would sour his mood even further. Instead, she just smiled at him.

"Yes, I would have to agree with you." She took a bite of her own food, trying her hardest to not get it all over her face. She realized it wasn't too bad.

This wasn't the life she had seen for herself at all. She had always expected she'd be a lady or princess if she ever had the chance to life in the world of Game of Thrones. Being a Wildling far from made sense to her. Though, if she were here there must have been a reason for it. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She only hoped that wherever they were going would not stir up too much trouble for her. If they were heading for the camp filled with Wildlings, she feared they would try to do things to her that she wouldn't be able to live with.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:16 am

Gervèse nodded, nervously, and turned away while she ate. He needed to go searching for that little girl. It was taking far too long for his liking.
"Excuse me..."
He got to his feet and approached his mother.
"Where has she gone? Shouldn't she be back by now?"
The woman looked up, validated fear in her eyes. She curled her lips in worry and looked out to where the girl had gone.
"I fear so... Would you find her, son?"
He nodded his once and took off in her direction, following her tracks.
For some time, they walked in the same general direction, some sets of prints closer together than the rest, and in a somewhat zig-zag motion. He took this as a hint that she was probably hopping from one step to the next. He chuckled and pressed on.
Just up ahead was where the tracks took an immediate left, further into a mountain range. He didn't like the feeling he got just by looking at them. The terrain seemed colder, and the ice seem thinner.
He started a light jog in the direction, knowing he had to find her, to return her back to the camp. He continued at this pace for a minute or so, taking slight turns here and jumping over logs there. He slowed down and noticed a break in the ice, his heart speeding faster.
He approached the hole and noticed that it was a tunnel under the ice, and went down a few feet, curving towards the way the sun would set. He peered into the hole and noticed that there was a small glove at the mouth of what seemed to be a very tight-fitting cave. He grimaced, realizing he was needing to somehow fit down there, and come back up. He scratched his head, wondering how to properly go about this. He knew he couldn't fit down the hole with his jacket on, so that would have to come off. He sighed and, reluctantly, stripped himself of the heavy furred thing, allowing it to fall to the ground. Secondly, he needed a way to pull himself back out of the hole. He knew it would be imposible to crawl back out how he came, the ice was too slippery. Gervèse rested his hands on his hips and found that he had an ice pick with some rope somehow attached to it. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. He took the pick and thrust it hard into the ground, then tugged on the rope to make sure it would hold him coming through the hole. He nodded, happy that it seemed it could work, then slowly inched ito the hole, feet first, head up.
When he slid down he heard some soft moans coming from deep within the "cave". He knew he had come just in time.

Gervèse was struggling back to the camp with the young girl he knew was his sister. She had been in that icy cave for far too long. She was hurt, her leg was open and bleeding, and she was unconscious.
He came upon the camp and saw that no one had realized his reappearance.
"Mother... She is hurt."
He laid the poor girl next to her now sobbing mother, unsure what to do.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:07 am

Tristana watched at Gervèse spoke with his mother and then left in search of his young sister. Their sisters had to be about the same age. She had been gone, alone, for far too long. She guessed they must have noticed too, because they both held worried expressions on their faces. She waited, impatient, hoping they would both return alright.

When Gervèse returned, she noticed he carried his sister in his arms. She noticed the cut on her leg right away and then realized that she was unconscious. She had gotten wounds like the one on this girls leg many times from dancing too much. They always showed up on her feet, calves, or shins. She knew just how to help and stood, walking towards their camp, hoping they wouldn't be offended by her offer for help.

"I've had many wounds like that before." She gestured towards her leg and then looked at Gervèse and his mother. "If you wouldn't mind, I know how to fix it."

She took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever they might say in response.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:17 am

It was his mother that spoke first, frantic and grateful.
"Oh thank whatever gods are left, you are such a gift Tristana. You've always been such a good help to us."
Gervèse's back tensed up. His mother knew her name? And not only that, but had obviously encountered her many times before now. He was certainly confused by the conflicting stories. He eyed the woman now tending to his sister's leg, unsure what to make of it all.
"Yes, you've always been so generous in offering yourself, Tristana."
He was now on the edge of anger. He didn't appreciate being lied to. At this moment though, all he was concerned with was his little sister. He didn't like how pale she was getting, and how fast it seemed to worsen.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:47 am

Tristana realized in the moment that his mother was speaking to her that she had messed up. Obviously she had contact with this man before. Many times before. Why then, would he pretend that they hadn't? She felt anger surge into her. Did he do it to make her look stupid? Was this some sort of joke to him?

She narrowed her eyes for a moment, looking to where neither of them could see, and then grinned at his mother.

"It's not problem at all." She walked over to the small girl and looked at the wound. She was right, it was all too familiar.

She began by grabbing some of the snow and melting it over the fire. She would need plenty of water to clean the wound. Then, she found a bag just outside the shack. Inside was a needle and thread. How she knew it was there was beyond her, but she was glad she knew of it's existence.

She walked back over and began to clean the girl's wound. She knew, even unconscious, that this would not be pleasant for her. She expected many whimpers to escape her before the cleaning was over. She had only ever stitched one person's wound together once, and was glad that she had sewed many costumes together before now. When she had finished stitching it, she announced she had finished.

"Can I talk with you for a moment?" She could tell her tone wasn't friendly as she looked at the attractive man standing next to her.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:25 am

Gervèse narrowed his eyes at Tristana. This Wildling was about to pull a fast one on him, he knew it. But to avoid suspicion, he simply nodded and ushered her to go forward. He wasn't sure what this was about, and he needed to clear the air with her before things got too ugly. He didn't want trouble in his first hour here.
"Why did you act like we hadn't met before?"
He stopped in his tracks and waited for Tristana to look at him, sure that something nasty was about to come. He could tell that she was angry over something. What it was, he had no idea, but she hadn't kept it a secret that she was feeling it.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:43 am

Tristana stopped in her tracks, not expecting him to ask this question. As far as she knew, he was the one lying to her. He was the one hiding something. Yet, here he was acting like she was the liar hiding something. She spun around, fuming.

"Why did you act like we hadn't?" She glowered. "Were you trying to make me look like a fool?"

She kicked a rock that sat one the ground, watching it fly a few feet away from them. She wanted to kick him, but the rock would have to do. She looked at him, expectantly, wanting him to speak before she had the urge to use his head and pretend it was a rock.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:03 am

Gervèse was confused. Wasn't she the one that had been lying to him and not the other way around?
"What are you talking about? I acted that way because I sincerely had not met you before now."
He was letting his fake accent drop now, too angered and confused to try to keep the game going any longer.
"I haven't seen any of these people before in my life! Last I remembered, I was falling asleep next to a kitten I had just rescued, then I was waking up here, dirty and freezing my damn balls off!"
He realized he had said far too much and wanted to smash himself with the rocks he had seen her kicking. He wanted to grab all of them, turn them into one solid rock, and just bash his own head in.
He was done for.
Just KILL me now!

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:20 am

Tristana's eyes widened at all of the things Gervèse was saying. His accent slipping had taken her by surprise. Who was he? Then, when he mentioned the kitten falling asleep next to him her heart stopped in her chest. She was most sure they didn't have kittens beyond the wall, in Westeros, or across the narrow sea. Her eyes widened as realization hit her. He wasn't from this time either.

"Kitten, you say?" She let her own accent drop. "Was it a black one, by any chance?"

Please let me be right in assuming he's from the twenty-first century too!

"I've never been too fond of kittens myself." She shook her head. "German Shepherd puppies are more my thing."

She hoped he either knew exactly what she was talking about or would think her insane. Anything else would probably hurt her more than help her.

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:44 am

Gervèse fell to the ground and brought his knees up, leaning his elbows on them, distraught and lost in his current thought.
"No she wasn't black. She was calico, had half a black mustache, white paws, and dark rusty spots on her ears. She was so freakin' adorable, I can't even tell you."
He looked up at her then, just to look up, not even noticing what was going on with her expression.
"I even cut up a box, stole my neighbors planter and emptied the dirt into the box for a makeshift litter box! And gave her some milk... God I hope she's okay, wherever she is."
It was then that he realized she had brought up German Shepherd puppies.
Back then, they didn't have German Shepherds. Only wolves in this region, and even back in their time, the Dire Wolf had gone extinct.
"Did you say German Shepherd puppies? Did I hear that right?"

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:03 am

When Tristana had heard him utter the word litter box she knew he was from her time and not a true Wildling himself. This made her sigh in relief. She wasn't alone. This hadn't only happened to her. The question for her now was why there were people from the twenty-first century being sent into a television show set in the past.

"Yes, that's what I said." She grinned. "Where are you from? From the accent I would say Utah, but it's beginning to fade. You must have moved."

She was beyond relieved at this point. She wasn't alone! She didn't have to hide her secret from everyone around her. She had someone to share it with.

Why is he so much more attractive to me all of a sudden...?

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:24 am

He threw himself back in the snow, relieved that he wasn't the only one.
"I'm from New York, actually right now. I was born and raised in Utah, yeah. My family was a little more than I could handle. So when I got the chance, I got the hell outta there."
He sat up then, feeling so much better than he had at all these past couple hours.
"My real name is Quentin, by the way. I have no idea how the hell all of this came to play." He gestured to the snowy land. "Though, for our sake, I'm sure it would be wise to just stick to Gervèse while everyone else was around..."
"What about you? Where are you from?"

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:46 am

Tristana smiled at the relief that crossed his face and sat down upon the snow herself, glad to find that it wasn't too cold to handle. The clothes she was wearing worked awfully well out in the cold weather the Wildling often had to endure. She thanked whatever Gods there were to thank that she wouldn't have to fear freezing to death.

"Born and raised in Los Angeles, but I'd been living in New York for the past two years. I worked for the New York City Ballet Company." She looked around at the surrounding mountains. "But look where I am now. No ballet here."

The thought brought a pang of sadness to her, but she pushed it away. There must be a reason for her being her. She just couldn't figure out for the life of her what that was.

"I think we should stick with our names here for sure, even to each other when we are alone." She looked around. "You never know who could be eavesdropping, especially when we get to wherever we're going."

Subject: Re: Beyond the Wall Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:51 am

He frowned to himself, knowing that she was right. Why had he been so careless? He didn't like that she had the beauty and the brains in this situation.
"You're too pretty to be that smart. From now, stick to one or the other."
He stuck his tongue out at her, playing around. He hoped she would take it as such.
He sighed and laid back again, this time making a snow angel. He hadn't made one in years. Nto since before he had hit puberty. The coolness of the snow actually felt good to him.
He thought back to Amariah, a small pang of hurt rushing through him. He was technically single now. And he didn't really like the feeling of it.
"Damn..."