Lanya sank deeper and deeper into her internal landscape, a place that was soft and comfortably linear. From deep within, another dream arose, but this one was somehow both more and less sensible than the other. The wood elf stood before her again, and this time, he danced in an ornate and flowing gait which spoke of familiarity with nature, harmony with all of its creatures and life. Lanya watched in silence, unwilling to break the peaceful scene before her. It was here, deep within her mind, that she could still enjoy magically inclined creatures. If she came across them while awake, she couldn't help the sense of unease that permeated her body at the mere thought of their presence. She'd met enough mythic creatures now to know better than to believe any myths about their inherent goodness or kindness.
But here, in this quiet place, the wood elf continued his solemn dance, cushioned by her own mind's eye and given the glowing quality that she still managed to wonder if real elves possessed. For in all her wanderings and unfortunate mishaps, she's yet to meet a real live elf.
In another moment, the cushioned view compressed and shrank with a sudden powerful surge of energy, and Lanya understood that something even older and more mythic was coming. A lilting feminine mist swirled into her unconscious view, slim and spiralling with both its own untapped energy and its inherent playfulness. Lanya couldn't guess what this creature could be, though she'd travelled with one such as this before. The pure life's essence of a nymph, a dryad emerged from its natural playground to play a splendid little ditty with the locals. The bard watched in silent respect as it wisped toward the wood elf and wrapped him with its own power.
Before her eyes, the sprouts in his hair grew and grew, extending to the ground. His skin became textured as the bark from the trees, veined like the leaves, and she imagined that his blood had turned to sap. The nymph had made him so finely attuned with nature, that even his physicality reflected his newfound relationship.
Lanya couldn't help herself. A song began to form in her subconscious, drawing in the images hovering before her. This elf's story needed to be told. She couldn't think of a single myth where changing into plantlife turned out well for the character. Somehow, her own brain had found a way.
Now the misty presence looped toward the human, and Lanya shrank back, unsure of what to do with this foreign presence. But it didn't touch nor hurt her - no, it touched her hands, the thing within her hands, and gave her a little wink, and twirled away into the nothingness. The wood elf watched it go, but Lanya was looking down now, and in her mind's wonderful dream it was Flame, her beloved little robin, mended and whole, clacking his little wooden beak...
Lanya gasped at the sharp mental pain which lanced through her, and her awareness flooded her once more, bringing with it the physical pains from her body. The dream had turned out to be cruel after all; and didn't they always? That's just what she got for thinking something so poetical, so magical, could be anything but a ploy to break her heart. For Flame was gone, dead and gone, and his little beak would never clack again.
She flexed her fingers convulsively, feeling for the solid wooden block that used to sing with her, and instead she felt the warmth of a living presence, the feathery fur of a real bird...
Lanya's eyes shot open and she jerked her head forward and down to stare at what she held, fully expecting to be holding some diseased rat or otherwise disgusting creature. She'd lost whatever optimism she'd ever had. Instead, she found herself staring into two tiny black eyes, framed by a dark gray head, light gray body, and my, what a red little breast it has...
It was too much. The final mockery of Flame's death, punctuated by this living robin. Lanya felt the tears well and fall before she had time to stopper her emotions. She was in too much pain, and too disoriented by her surroundings, and too drowsy. She was miserable and wet and cold. Why oh why did the world hate her so? Was it consciously trying to break her will to continue?
The robin hadn't moved. It just continued staring up at her, cocking its little head this way and that. It felt light and warm, which it never had before, and it took some getting used to. But it was an animal, after all, and its loyalty was stronger than its need for self-explanation. The sight of Lanya's sorrow triggered reflexes that had built up over years; it knew how to cheer her up, it knew what songs made her laugh and smile. It burst into one now, and it was no warbling robin's voice which emerged, but a powerful instrument that sounded just as it had before.
The bard was stunned for a moment, but she understood soon enough. Some miracle had happened here, and there was a reason that a living robin now sat where a wooden one had before. She didn't care to explain it; she didn't care how it had happened, or who to thank. In a moment's time, Lanya's tears changed to joyful sobs, as she understood that Flame, her little Flame, was whole once more. Whole, and alive as he'd never been before. Lanya's lips spread to bare her teeth in a laughing smile.
It was the first genuine, whole-hearted smile that her face had worn in weeks.
Scamper
-
Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
The captain of the guard hated the woods for the same reason he hated magic. The woods in Thar Shaddin were magical, like a dumping ground for the filth the city had pushed away. There were so many stories about what went on here, and some of them had to be true. It was the place from which the demons spilled forth - demons his job was to slay - and he was on their turf.
It kept him more alert and on edge than usual, which was no easy feat. He kept his horse going at a slow walk and never took his eyes off the line of trees except to check the ground for any sign of a trail. He couldn't see the blood anymore, and was relying on instinct and luck to lead him.
The good part about working with a battlemage was that they rarely engaged in idle chitchat. Perhaps their only redeeming quality in his eyes.
It kept him more alert and on edge than usual, which was no easy feat. He kept his horse going at a slow walk and never took his eyes off the line of trees except to check the ground for any sign of a trail. He couldn't see the blood anymore, and was relying on instinct and luck to lead him.
The good part about working with a battlemage was that they rarely engaged in idle chitchat. Perhaps their only redeeming quality in his eyes.
-
Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Ryxa held the reins of the horse in one fist, her red leather glove creaking, keeping the mare at the same pace behind Camulous' horse. The path was narrow and wide enough only for one, so she was forced to look at the Captain's back and the forest behind her. She kept a wary blue-black eye at as many sides she could see at once, jumping slightly at any noises animals made. The forest had a barely perceptible magic aura which was making her more wary than usual... and jumpy. Usually she didn't notice magical things that other battlemages did, for whatever reason.
Ryxa had never had occasion to go to the forest before, and she was feeling peeved at that stupid witch who had to run in here so that Ryxa would get brambles in her strawberry-blonde hair--and probably end up dirty. When she got her hands on the magic-user she was going to have some fun.
Ryxa had never had occasion to go to the forest before, and she was feeling peeved at that stupid witch who had to run in here so that Ryxa would get brambles in her strawberry-blonde hair--and probably end up dirty. When she got her hands on the magic-user she was going to have some fun.
Lucian sat on the ground a little ways from Lanya and let himself look at her and the little bird that now flitted about her, the very incarnation of energy and life.
He didn't understand how it had happened, or why, but it was good. It was very good as he watched this new smile touch every part of Lanya's face, the carving-come-to-life seeming to reawaken the spirit of hope within her. He sat there a while, neither of them saying anything. The rain was showing signs of letting up as evening began to set in, and throughout the grove there was...
Serenity.
That was the other part of what had happened, he knew. He could feel the serenity of this place in a way that did not pass into human speech. He could feel what was happening around him, in this grove and in its vicinity, feel the mood and the atmosphere. Quiet. Restive. At peace.
The little robin's beak moved, and Lucian sighed quietly, watching the way hearing the song made Lanya's eyes light up.
He ran a hand through his ruddy brown hair for a moment, trying to understand it all. To make sense of it. But what was there to understand? They had received a blessing in the midst of hardship, the good in life showing its petals.
The gypsy grinned widely at the thought and he looked at his companion and her resurrected friend and the joy the three of them were witnesses to, in this time and at this place.
"This is what gives us our strength, Lanya." His voice was still quiet and the vowels rasped, but it conveyed his conviction well. "Remember the good that life can be, and it will give you hope to overcome evil."
He looked at the bird again, smiled and asked, "Does he have a name?"
He didn't understand how it had happened, or why, but it was good. It was very good as he watched this new smile touch every part of Lanya's face, the carving-come-to-life seeming to reawaken the spirit of hope within her. He sat there a while, neither of them saying anything. The rain was showing signs of letting up as evening began to set in, and throughout the grove there was...
Serenity.
That was the other part of what had happened, he knew. He could feel the serenity of this place in a way that did not pass into human speech. He could feel what was happening around him, in this grove and in its vicinity, feel the mood and the atmosphere. Quiet. Restive. At peace.
The little robin's beak moved, and Lucian sighed quietly, watching the way hearing the song made Lanya's eyes light up.
He ran a hand through his ruddy brown hair for a moment, trying to understand it all. To make sense of it. But what was there to understand? They had received a blessing in the midst of hardship, the good in life showing its petals.
The gypsy grinned widely at the thought and he looked at his companion and her resurrected friend and the joy the three of them were witnesses to, in this time and at this place.
"This is what gives us our strength, Lanya." His voice was still quiet and the vowels rasped, but it conveyed his conviction well. "Remember the good that life can be, and it will give you hope to overcome evil."
He looked at the bird again, smiled and asked, "Does he have a name?"
Yar, says I.
-
Lanya Caliope
- Fugitive
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2005 12:49 am
- Race: Human
As the little robin continued serenading her, she moved her hands to wrap his body in a gentle cup, brought the bird closer to her face, and kissed his tiny little head. The bird stopped singing, feeling that its mission had come to a staggering success. It understood that Lanya was now very, very happy, and it felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that it was the cause.
Lucian's question took a moment to penetrate her single-minded joy, and she blinked and looked at him with a blank, uncomprehending stare until she translated the words. She blinked again, then smiled and looked back at the robin in her hands.
"Flame. His name is Flame. He used to be wooden, but now he's alive, really alive, and...how? How could this have happened?"
She was asking out of honest curiosity, with a sense of wonder, but she wouldn't be disappointed if she never learned how this change had occurred. She was just so blissfully happy that it had, and she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Whoever or whatever did this, thank you. From the bottom of my heart."
Snatches from her dream came back to her, and she remembered a native presence, but little more. She directed her words to the clearing as a whole, and then to Lucian for good measure. If it weren't for him leading them here, to this place...
"Thank you. You...are a most lucky type of circumstance. I think I shall think of you as my lucky charm."
As she finished speaking, Flame hopped about her hands, then finally glided the short distance between her hands and her shoulder to settle himself in his favored spot. Lanya chuckled and dropped her now-useless hands, then raised a brow at the little bird from the corner of her eye.
"Now don't go staining this blanket, you."
Lucian's question took a moment to penetrate her single-minded joy, and she blinked and looked at him with a blank, uncomprehending stare until she translated the words. She blinked again, then smiled and looked back at the robin in her hands.
"Flame. His name is Flame. He used to be wooden, but now he's alive, really alive, and...how? How could this have happened?"
She was asking out of honest curiosity, with a sense of wonder, but she wouldn't be disappointed if she never learned how this change had occurred. She was just so blissfully happy that it had, and she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Whoever or whatever did this, thank you. From the bottom of my heart."
Snatches from her dream came back to her, and she remembered a native presence, but little more. She directed her words to the clearing as a whole, and then to Lucian for good measure. If it weren't for him leading them here, to this place...
"Thank you. You...are a most lucky type of circumstance. I think I shall think of you as my lucky charm."
As she finished speaking, Flame hopped about her hands, then finally glided the short distance between her hands and her shoulder to settle himself in his favored spot. Lanya chuckled and dropped her now-useless hands, then raised a brow at the little bird from the corner of her eye.
"Now don't go staining this blanket, you."
-
Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
Camulous led his horse along the path with his eyes and ears open, staying as sharp as he could in such a distracting place.
He could not feel magic, but he didn't need to. Nature was by its very definition where man was not. And where man was not, magic always was. So said the tomes, and so believed Camulous.
Looking around, he thought he could see things in the trees at every glance. The shadows were too dark, the lines of the branches on the wrong angles. The breeze changed directions, became cool, then warm again. Looking far between some bushes he saw two eyes staring back at him, orange and black but piercing and intelligent as though whatever beast they belonged to was watching him for some sinister reason. A second later the animal ran off and all he saw was the reddish fur of a fox.
It didn't phase him. Growing up in Thar Shaddin made such things almost normal. As long as he held to his confidence and his beliefs he was safe. He was not going to entice some demon with the smell of fear.
The birds chirped and the wind rustled the trees, but something else carried in the breeze.
He stopped his horse abruptly and held up his hand, indicating to Ryxa to stop as well.
Part of the reason he went without a helmet was so that he could hear better, and he thought he heard voices.
He could not feel magic, but he didn't need to. Nature was by its very definition where man was not. And where man was not, magic always was. So said the tomes, and so believed Camulous.
Looking around, he thought he could see things in the trees at every glance. The shadows were too dark, the lines of the branches on the wrong angles. The breeze changed directions, became cool, then warm again. Looking far between some bushes he saw two eyes staring back at him, orange and black but piercing and intelligent as though whatever beast they belonged to was watching him for some sinister reason. A second later the animal ran off and all he saw was the reddish fur of a fox.
It didn't phase him. Growing up in Thar Shaddin made such things almost normal. As long as he held to his confidence and his beliefs he was safe. He was not going to entice some demon with the smell of fear.
The birds chirped and the wind rustled the trees, but something else carried in the breeze.
He stopped his horse abruptly and held up his hand, indicating to Ryxa to stop as well.
Part of the reason he went without a helmet was so that he could hear better, and he thought he heard voices.
-
Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Ryxa was ambling along on her horse, becoming very bored but unable to keep her eyes away from the slight movements in the trees. Camulous stopped ahead and she reined in her mare, though it was already stopping because there was no room to go around. "What is it?" she hissed at him, hoping her whispering wasn't carried away from his ears on the wind. By the slight tilt of his head he was hearing something, so she tried listening, too.
...Voices? Is that what it was? It sounded almost like rustling, but more pronounced. "Do you think it's them?" she said softly at his back, wanting to be heard but afraid to speak too loud.
...Voices? Is that what it was? It sounded almost like rustling, but more pronounced. "Do you think it's them?" she said softly at his back, wanting to be heard but afraid to speak too loud.
She questioned the unquestionable and thanked the unthankable. It was an overflow of the happiness and bewilderment that she felt inside, the gypsy knew, and so he said nothing but just smiled. Then-
"you... are a most lucky type of circumstance. I think I shall think of you as my lucky charm."
Lucian absorbed her words and lowered himself to the ground on his back, letting himself uncoil and grow still, his lanky frame stretched out. Foreign emotion made his throat feel unnaturally tight, and he tried to swallow to alleviate it. It had been more than a decade since Lucian had been in any way connected with another human being, and never had he been through any manner of trial or event with a companion to share in the amazement and life.
It was... special. Something he had missed for a long time, without knowing it was missing at all.
So he spoke, "I think I shall think of you as the one who reopened the space for humanity in me."
He lay there for a moment before he glanced back up at Lanya's face to see if she said anything, then relaxed his neck again, looking up at the tree boughs. He didn't feel like he needed to say anything else unless she wanted to talk more. It had been said. It had been felt.
For just a moment, with evening upon them and the rain falling at only a drizzle now, he felt like things might be alright for them both.
Then he felt it.
At first he didn't understand what it was as his eyebrows knit together. It felt mildly like an itch, behind his eyes and in his throat and just- inside him. Something just felt... wrong. Off-balance. Which was disorienting, because he had just felt so much serenity and peace from the grove.
Lucian sat up, slowly, looking around and above where he and Lanya sat, searching for whatever might be the source of this... imbalance. But his eyes detected nothing. Still, it persisted, this itch that he could not scratch. But what was it, this disturbance? This violation of the peace he had so assuredly felt?
Feel.
The thought was one word, but he understood entirely.
He closed his eyes and relaxed his mind, growing very still, and then far more quickly than he had ever done before he was awake to the unseen world, the world where he saw the green and gold swirls of the life-flow about the grove again, still rushing quickly but peacefully.
But they were... unconsciously, his body twitched slightly as he was unable to name what or how he felt through the life-flow. But he, with far greater ease than he had ever accomplished before without being deep within the Dance, he chose a stream from the life-flow and followed it, rushing with it to the outskirts of the grove, where Lucian hesitated for just a moment, unsure of how far he could wander from his body. But he still felt the connection, strong and sure, and so he plunged outward, branching off from the large vibrant stream and flowing through a much smaller vein that branched out into the surroundings.
The forest beyond the ring of the grove felt different and flowed differently, with far less consistency and continuity as the life-flow was through such a variety of plant and small animal life. Repeatedly Lucian was halted and had to search for another linking pathway as he glided along the forest floor through the invisible web of life the tied the undergrowth and overgrowth together, searching for the itch.
When he touched the signs with his mind, his physical body recoiled slightly, dozens of yards away as it was.
He sensed the presence of much larger creatures than the insects and birds that he had been feeling. Larger and commanding a far greater portion of the life-flow, effecting its bend toward them. There was no sound or taste or scent in this otherworld, and Lucian dared not approach any closer to the presence- but he felt its nature, felt how the forest was cautious of it, as it was cautious of the forest.
The presence was... searching.
In an eye blink Lucian flew back through the life-flow and snapped back into his consciousness, his eyes flying open and the tension and alertness returning to his tired body. He understood the itch. It was the physical expression of his unconscious monitoring of the life-flow, through which he had felt the vague searchings of this presence.
He didn't know what it was or if it was actually searching for them. But all of his caution and awareness were at full alarm.
He glanced over to Lanya, and in that quick glance noticed that Flame's beak...
Ye gods, was the little bird singing?
"you... are a most lucky type of circumstance. I think I shall think of you as my lucky charm."
Lucian absorbed her words and lowered himself to the ground on his back, letting himself uncoil and grow still, his lanky frame stretched out. Foreign emotion made his throat feel unnaturally tight, and he tried to swallow to alleviate it. It had been more than a decade since Lucian had been in any way connected with another human being, and never had he been through any manner of trial or event with a companion to share in the amazement and life.
It was... special. Something he had missed for a long time, without knowing it was missing at all.
So he spoke, "I think I shall think of you as the one who reopened the space for humanity in me."
He lay there for a moment before he glanced back up at Lanya's face to see if she said anything, then relaxed his neck again, looking up at the tree boughs. He didn't feel like he needed to say anything else unless she wanted to talk more. It had been said. It had been felt.
For just a moment, with evening upon them and the rain falling at only a drizzle now, he felt like things might be alright for them both.
Then he felt it.
At first he didn't understand what it was as his eyebrows knit together. It felt mildly like an itch, behind his eyes and in his throat and just- inside him. Something just felt... wrong. Off-balance. Which was disorienting, because he had just felt so much serenity and peace from the grove.
Lucian sat up, slowly, looking around and above where he and Lanya sat, searching for whatever might be the source of this... imbalance. But his eyes detected nothing. Still, it persisted, this itch that he could not scratch. But what was it, this disturbance? This violation of the peace he had so assuredly felt?
Feel.
The thought was one word, but he understood entirely.
He closed his eyes and relaxed his mind, growing very still, and then far more quickly than he had ever done before he was awake to the unseen world, the world where he saw the green and gold swirls of the life-flow about the grove again, still rushing quickly but peacefully.
But they were... unconsciously, his body twitched slightly as he was unable to name what or how he felt through the life-flow. But he, with far greater ease than he had ever accomplished before without being deep within the Dance, he chose a stream from the life-flow and followed it, rushing with it to the outskirts of the grove, where Lucian hesitated for just a moment, unsure of how far he could wander from his body. But he still felt the connection, strong and sure, and so he plunged outward, branching off from the large vibrant stream and flowing through a much smaller vein that branched out into the surroundings.
The forest beyond the ring of the grove felt different and flowed differently, with far less consistency and continuity as the life-flow was through such a variety of plant and small animal life. Repeatedly Lucian was halted and had to search for another linking pathway as he glided along the forest floor through the invisible web of life the tied the undergrowth and overgrowth together, searching for the itch.
When he touched the signs with his mind, his physical body recoiled slightly, dozens of yards away as it was.
He sensed the presence of much larger creatures than the insects and birds that he had been feeling. Larger and commanding a far greater portion of the life-flow, effecting its bend toward them. There was no sound or taste or scent in this otherworld, and Lucian dared not approach any closer to the presence- but he felt its nature, felt how the forest was cautious of it, as it was cautious of the forest.
The presence was... searching.
In an eye blink Lucian flew back through the life-flow and snapped back into his consciousness, his eyes flying open and the tension and alertness returning to his tired body. He understood the itch. It was the physical expression of his unconscious monitoring of the life-flow, through which he had felt the vague searchings of this presence.
He didn't know what it was or if it was actually searching for them. But all of his caution and awareness were at full alarm.
He glanced over to Lanya, and in that quick glance noticed that Flame's beak...
Ye gods, was the little bird singing?
Yar, says I.
-
Lanya Caliope
- Fugitive
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2005 12:49 am
- Race: Human
Gently, the bard tilted her head until she was just touching the top of the bird's head on her shoulder, nuzzling her little friend with all the affection of a lost love. She'd been missing this feeling, this joy and optimism which so often failed her these days. Flame had awakened that for her; Flame had awakened so much for her. And she still felt quite strongly that she had no one but Lucian, this physical force of reason and luck, to thank.
She raised a brow at Lucian's comment, then shook her head and chuckled.
"You have a flare for the dramatic."
She watched him settle, then turned her attentions back to the bird on her shoulder. Tiring of twisting her head at such an odd angle, she reached up and pushed her finger against his legs, which made him grip her finger as a perch. She pulled the bird before her eyes and considered, even as Lucian focused his attentions to the surroundings.
"Tell me, little Flame, can you sing as you did once? You mimicked a flute so well..."
The bird's tiny black eyes flickered, and it fluttered its wings as it considered its own voice. Everything felt so strange, so living. The blood in its little breast was throwing it off; it had never felt warmth.
Finally, the bird opened its beak and launched into a riotous song, a lilting flute's voice emerging from its bird beak. Lanya threw her head back and laughed; not only alive, but just as skilled as before. And now his song had the living edge to it; and oh, it was so beautiful!
Lanya looked at Lucian then, and noticed that he'd not even twitched at the bird's flute song. And although he was focused, it was loud enough to at least make him jolt in surprise...
He turned, noticed the bird, noticed the bird's beak, and as horror dawned on his face, Lanya finally solved the riddle. He couldn't hear Flame's flute voice; he'd had to look at the beak. He couldn't hear...
And right now, he looked horrified. Lanya pulled her bird back, against her chest, protectively. Her good feeling melted away in so many seconds. She was confused by his glare.
"What? What's wrong?"
She raised a brow at Lucian's comment, then shook her head and chuckled.
"You have a flare for the dramatic."
She watched him settle, then turned her attentions back to the bird on her shoulder. Tiring of twisting her head at such an odd angle, she reached up and pushed her finger against his legs, which made him grip her finger as a perch. She pulled the bird before her eyes and considered, even as Lucian focused his attentions to the surroundings.
"Tell me, little Flame, can you sing as you did once? You mimicked a flute so well..."
The bird's tiny black eyes flickered, and it fluttered its wings as it considered its own voice. Everything felt so strange, so living. The blood in its little breast was throwing it off; it had never felt warmth.
Finally, the bird opened its beak and launched into a riotous song, a lilting flute's voice emerging from its bird beak. Lanya threw her head back and laughed; not only alive, but just as skilled as before. And now his song had the living edge to it; and oh, it was so beautiful!
Lanya looked at Lucian then, and noticed that he'd not even twitched at the bird's flute song. And although he was focused, it was loud enough to at least make him jolt in surprise...
He turned, noticed the bird, noticed the bird's beak, and as horror dawned on his face, Lanya finally solved the riddle. He couldn't hear Flame's flute voice; he'd had to look at the beak. He couldn't hear...
And right now, he looked horrified. Lanya pulled her bird back, against her chest, protectively. Her good feeling melted away in so many seconds. She was confused by his glare.
"What? What's wrong?"
-
Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
The captain lowered his gloved hand and gripped the reigns of his horse again. He couldn't see through the wall of leaves and branches but he could orient himself to where the sounds were coming from. With a distracted stare he turned his head and struggled to hear. It came again. Voices for sure.
"It must be." Was all he said in quiet reply.
Then there was laughter. That of a woman who by the sound of it was the same age as the witch. It would bother him - hearing her laugh - but his mind was fully absorbed with his duty at this point. He thought only of catching his prey by any means necessary, and all other worries were off his mind.
The question now was whether to stay on his horse or go on foot. The woods were tricky but if they ran again on foot he might never catch them. Abruptly he remembered his pistol and places his hand on the grip. Hopefully it still had enough ammo to be useful. It, and Ryxa, were the best bet.
"Come on..."
He yanked his horse through the line of trees at the side of the path, guiding it between them and moving as quietly as the beast could. On the other side he expected denser foliage, but things thinned out instead.
"It must be." Was all he said in quiet reply.
Then there was laughter. That of a woman who by the sound of it was the same age as the witch. It would bother him - hearing her laugh - but his mind was fully absorbed with his duty at this point. He thought only of catching his prey by any means necessary, and all other worries were off his mind.
The question now was whether to stay on his horse or go on foot. The woods were tricky but if they ran again on foot he might never catch them. Abruptly he remembered his pistol and places his hand on the grip. Hopefully it still had enough ammo to be useful. It, and Ryxa, were the best bet.
"Come on..."
He yanked his horse through the line of trees at the side of the path, guiding it between them and moving as quietly as the beast could. On the other side he expected denser foliage, but things thinned out instead.
-
Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
At his words Ryxa felt an anticipation of such strength that she couldn't contain herself. She steered her horse between trees apart from where Camulous was going and went into the clearing faster than him, making a great deal of noise. Once she was through the foliage she inhaled sharply. There was a man and a woman, both of them sitting within the clearing. It had to be them because no one would be in the woods that looked as they did. And the woman was obviously injured just like the seers had said.
Rxya and Camulous were at the left of the clearing with the witch and her accomplice across from them at the right. Tactically she knew she had to prevent them from running off away from them or--even with horses--there would be trouble catching them. Well, the man could run away but the woman not so much; however, she wanted them both, so his escape was unacceptable. The man would be her little slave for as long as he lived through her torture, while the witch was for the judges... And like with Chrishton, maybe they'd let her help.
Her eyes widened manically as she raised her hand to a large tree behind them. It really was a magnificent tree, and despite the dampness in the air and the living properties of the plant, she was determined to make it burn. "Let's make this fun, shall we?" she called to them while concentrating with all her might. It started quite slowly as she focused her mind on the many leaves on it's outreaching branches, imagining them covered by flames. First there was only smoke. Then abruptly they all burst into a bright blaze simultaneously, making a splendid living torch of the tree. She clenched her outreaching hand into a tight fist as she prodded the flames, making them roar, incinerating the leaves within moments. Hungrily the fire spread down the branches and over the rest of the tree. The orange glow reflected in her eyes and onto her face, which was, somehow, in a gleeful expression without smiling. Her gaze was fixed on the fire as she helped it burn in the very slight drizzle of rain.
Rxya and Camulous were at the left of the clearing with the witch and her accomplice across from them at the right. Tactically she knew she had to prevent them from running off away from them or--even with horses--there would be trouble catching them. Well, the man could run away but the woman not so much; however, she wanted them both, so his escape was unacceptable. The man would be her little slave for as long as he lived through her torture, while the witch was for the judges... And like with Chrishton, maybe they'd let her help.
Her eyes widened manically as she raised her hand to a large tree behind them. It really was a magnificent tree, and despite the dampness in the air and the living properties of the plant, she was determined to make it burn. "Let's make this fun, shall we?" she called to them while concentrating with all her might. It started quite slowly as she focused her mind on the many leaves on it's outreaching branches, imagining them covered by flames. First there was only smoke. Then abruptly they all burst into a bright blaze simultaneously, making a splendid living torch of the tree. She clenched her outreaching hand into a tight fist as she prodded the flames, making them roar, incinerating the leaves within moments. Hungrily the fire spread down the branches and over the rest of the tree. The orange glow reflected in her eyes and onto her face, which was, somehow, in a gleeful expression without smiling. Her gaze was fixed on the fire as she helped it burn in the very slight drizzle of rain.
"What? What's wrong?"
His feeling of impending dread only heightened as she asked the question. The fact that she was unaware, unsuspecting, and incapacitated filled him with a sense of incredible danger. They could not flee. If they were discovered...
"Quiet. There's something-"
And he felt it then, the pounding vibrations through the ground, broadcasts of heavy, rapid footfalls. Lucian spun just in time to see them thunder into the grove, a woman and a man [who Lucian's enchanted eyes recognized as one of the horsemen in the street, earlier in the day], the former eagerly leading the latter, both on horseback, arrayed in armor and the man carrying what appeared in Lucian's eyes to be a plethora of armaments.
But it was the nature of the woman that made the gypsy's gut grow cold. The darkly gleeful, eager expression on her face as she saw them both, as though joyfully anticipating what was to come.
Lucian's mind scrambled for any snatchings of an idea, anything to create a diversion, an opening, anything. But with Lanya scarcely able to walk [much less run] and both of these people on horseback, he alone would have difficulty making his escape.
Then it happened. The dark woman raised her hand to the tree, and Lucian felt that same, chill elasticity across his skin as he had when the spellcaster back in the city made everyone freeze with his magic. He felt the dark draw as she summoned astral magic here, to this sacred place-
And the old Grandfather to their backs, an entity whose lifetime dwarfed all but his companions here in the grove, burst into an orange and red glow of flame.
The raw, utter horror that choked Lucian defied conscious thought or words to describe it. In his mind's eye he felt the grove scream and shriek, the balance and energy he had brought to this place thrown into utter chaos and dismay as black veins of death wrapped around and began choking the vibrant streams of life that inhabited this place. All of these Grandfathers, they were connected. As one flourished, so all flourished. As one suffered, so all suffered.
As one died-
No.
Intermingling with the horror now, rising from his gut and setting fire to his body was fury. Unrestrained, uncontrollable fury. The wanton destruction, the careless waste-
Lucian had never been strong. He knew that by the standards of men, he would never be remarkably strong. But he was quick. Everything about him was fast and agile.
And so as his fury solidified, so did a plan and a course of action.
His hand dove into his shoulder sling where it lay on the ground next to him, seizing and extracting the knife that he had removed hours ago from little Flame. It was not a large blade, a little shorter than the length of his hand.
But it would suffice.
He was already in a crouch, so there was little or no warning to his intent before he exploded in a leap, corded sinew accelerating him forward, directly to the woman.
He had no intention of attempting to get at her with the knife, armored as she was. And as for the solider- that would have been total suicide.
But the horse she was so imperiously perched upon was not so protected.
The laws of killing in nature were simple and brutally direct. You kill to eat. You kill to not be killed. Beyond this was murder and waste. So he held no scruples whatsoever when, as he slid under the horse's neck and it instinctively began to rear up, he slashed its throat with one wide swipe, spilling blood all over the ground and himself.
It was serving those who came to kill him. The laws of nature were satisfied. And there was one less horse to give pursuit.
His feeling of impending dread only heightened as she asked the question. The fact that she was unaware, unsuspecting, and incapacitated filled him with a sense of incredible danger. They could not flee. If they were discovered...
"Quiet. There's something-"
And he felt it then, the pounding vibrations through the ground, broadcasts of heavy, rapid footfalls. Lucian spun just in time to see them thunder into the grove, a woman and a man [who Lucian's enchanted eyes recognized as one of the horsemen in the street, earlier in the day], the former eagerly leading the latter, both on horseback, arrayed in armor and the man carrying what appeared in Lucian's eyes to be a plethora of armaments.
But it was the nature of the woman that made the gypsy's gut grow cold. The darkly gleeful, eager expression on her face as she saw them both, as though joyfully anticipating what was to come.
Lucian's mind scrambled for any snatchings of an idea, anything to create a diversion, an opening, anything. But with Lanya scarcely able to walk [much less run] and both of these people on horseback, he alone would have difficulty making his escape.
Then it happened. The dark woman raised her hand to the tree, and Lucian felt that same, chill elasticity across his skin as he had when the spellcaster back in the city made everyone freeze with his magic. He felt the dark draw as she summoned astral magic here, to this sacred place-
And the old Grandfather to their backs, an entity whose lifetime dwarfed all but his companions here in the grove, burst into an orange and red glow of flame.
The raw, utter horror that choked Lucian defied conscious thought or words to describe it. In his mind's eye he felt the grove scream and shriek, the balance and energy he had brought to this place thrown into utter chaos and dismay as black veins of death wrapped around and began choking the vibrant streams of life that inhabited this place. All of these Grandfathers, they were connected. As one flourished, so all flourished. As one suffered, so all suffered.
As one died-
No.
Intermingling with the horror now, rising from his gut and setting fire to his body was fury. Unrestrained, uncontrollable fury. The wanton destruction, the careless waste-
Lucian had never been strong. He knew that by the standards of men, he would never be remarkably strong. But he was quick. Everything about him was fast and agile.
And so as his fury solidified, so did a plan and a course of action.
His hand dove into his shoulder sling where it lay on the ground next to him, seizing and extracting the knife that he had removed hours ago from little Flame. It was not a large blade, a little shorter than the length of his hand.
But it would suffice.
He was already in a crouch, so there was little or no warning to his intent before he exploded in a leap, corded sinew accelerating him forward, directly to the woman.
He had no intention of attempting to get at her with the knife, armored as she was. And as for the solider- that would have been total suicide.
But the horse she was so imperiously perched upon was not so protected.
The laws of killing in nature were simple and brutally direct. You kill to eat. You kill to not be killed. Beyond this was murder and waste. So he held no scruples whatsoever when, as he slid under the horse's neck and it instinctively began to rear up, he slashed its throat with one wide swipe, spilling blood all over the ground and himself.
It was serving those who came to kill him. The laws of nature were satisfied. And there was one less horse to give pursuit.
Yar, says I.
-
Lanya Caliope
- Fugitive
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2005 12:49 am
- Race: Human
Lucian's eyes widened, glaring at the bird, at the bird's singing mouth. Lanya could not help but feel a stubborn surge through her, and she considering refusing his request for quiet, but instead she reached up and tapped the little bird on the chest. Flame's beak snapped shut and the music stopped. It felt so quiet, of a sudden, and Lanya shivered. She was cold, wet, and in pain, but she hadn't felt these things before. Now, in the quiet, with Lucian staring into the distance...she felt threatened again.
But it wasn't him who was threatening. It was his whip-crack awareness of their surroundings. He couldn't hear, but still, he was sure...
She followed his eyes, and found herself staring at two horses with riders. She couldn't tell who they were, but Lucian's fear was enough. Her instincts screamed at her to run, as far and fast as possible - but she couldn't move. Her leg hurt, and now it was stiff and sore to boot. She couldn't put a moment's pressure on it.
Maybe they were just travellers, travellers who'd heard Flame's beautiful song, and wondered what it was. Maybe...
Flames, real flames carrying heat, burst from one of the larger trees in the grove, and Lanya lifted her hands to shield her face. She didn't scream; the horror stuck the sound in her throat before it could get through. Now she looked at Lucian, and gasped.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen such hate on the face of another. She wondered, for a moment, if the assassin felt that for her.
And then he was up, and away. Lanya watched him, but she was too slow, too confused by the sudden flaming burst of the tree. Her brain took a moment to catch up while Lucian's steps took him toward the horse, and she saw the metal flash, and she saw the target...
"Oh, gods, no, no!"
Her yell was pathetic against the roar of the flames, and now she saw the tree branches swaying into each other. Would they catch together? Lanya imagined the entire grove bursting into flames, choking her, burning her clothes and skin...
"Gods, help me..."
She was struggling to rise, bracing her hands against the tree behind her. She had to leave, and now. Which way? It didn't matter; she didn't want anything to do with the fire bringer. She didn't want any of this. Her arms shook, as did her good leg, as she pushed and shoved her way to her feet, her bad leg hanging unused and forgotten. The walking stick provided ballast, but it wouldn't help her run, wouldn't help her escape.
She was still too confused to sort her thoughts, but she knew, instinctively, that thoughts wouldn't help her now. She had no way to run, nowhere to go, and her companion was in a murdering mood.
Maybe they have a healer...
Sometimes hope was too much to ask.
But it wasn't him who was threatening. It was his whip-crack awareness of their surroundings. He couldn't hear, but still, he was sure...
She followed his eyes, and found herself staring at two horses with riders. She couldn't tell who they were, but Lucian's fear was enough. Her instincts screamed at her to run, as far and fast as possible - but she couldn't move. Her leg hurt, and now it was stiff and sore to boot. She couldn't put a moment's pressure on it.
Maybe they were just travellers, travellers who'd heard Flame's beautiful song, and wondered what it was. Maybe...
Flames, real flames carrying heat, burst from one of the larger trees in the grove, and Lanya lifted her hands to shield her face. She didn't scream; the horror stuck the sound in her throat before it could get through. Now she looked at Lucian, and gasped.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen such hate on the face of another. She wondered, for a moment, if the assassin felt that for her.
And then he was up, and away. Lanya watched him, but she was too slow, too confused by the sudden flaming burst of the tree. Her brain took a moment to catch up while Lucian's steps took him toward the horse, and she saw the metal flash, and she saw the target...
"Oh, gods, no, no!"
Her yell was pathetic against the roar of the flames, and now she saw the tree branches swaying into each other. Would they catch together? Lanya imagined the entire grove bursting into flames, choking her, burning her clothes and skin...
"Gods, help me..."
She was struggling to rise, bracing her hands against the tree behind her. She had to leave, and now. Which way? It didn't matter; she didn't want anything to do with the fire bringer. She didn't want any of this. Her arms shook, as did her good leg, as she pushed and shoved her way to her feet, her bad leg hanging unused and forgotten. The walking stick provided ballast, but it wouldn't help her run, wouldn't help her escape.
She was still too confused to sort her thoughts, but she knew, instinctively, that thoughts wouldn't help her now. She had no way to run, nowhere to go, and her companion was in a murdering mood.
Maybe they have a healer...
Sometimes hope was too much to ask.
-
Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
Camulous watched Ryxa impatiently charge ahead and didn't know what to make of it. It wasn't as though he had any authority to discipline her in any way whatsoever. She wasn't one of his men... She wasn't even a man.
It was a terrible move in his eyes - not at all by the book. That kind of carelessness had to be beaten out of a soldier, and it pissed him off to see it happen.
"Wait!"
It was too late. She was in the clearing, hand outstretched in the casting of some spell, which set a large old tree behind the witch ablaze before he had even brought his horse fully out of the woods. His horse caught sight of the sudden burst of flame, read something in Lucian's reaction, whinnied and reared while the captain wrestled with it to keep from being thrown. His right hand was busy with the pistol, making it doubly difficult.
"Damn!"
His powerful grip refused to give as he brought the horse under control. He would have wrestled it to the ground if he had to, and almost did. By the time it was calm enough for him to look up again, the young man was running at Ryxa's horse with a knife in his hand.
She asked for it. Let her deal with him. Camulous was there for the girl and the girl alone. Whatever laws the strange vagabond broke were probably justifiable and not worth the distraction.
He dared not take the horse any closer to the fire. It was jumpy enough already, so he dismounted in a fluid motion and was on the grass running at Lanya just as Lucian's knife dug into Ryxa's horse.
He could see she was getting up... Or trying to, at any rate.
His eyes met hers as he approached, and said everything he didn't have to. If she kept trying to run, he was going to have to hurt her. It was her choice.
It was a terrible move in his eyes - not at all by the book. That kind of carelessness had to be beaten out of a soldier, and it pissed him off to see it happen.
"Wait!"
It was too late. She was in the clearing, hand outstretched in the casting of some spell, which set a large old tree behind the witch ablaze before he had even brought his horse fully out of the woods. His horse caught sight of the sudden burst of flame, read something in Lucian's reaction, whinnied and reared while the captain wrestled with it to keep from being thrown. His right hand was busy with the pistol, making it doubly difficult.
"Damn!"
His powerful grip refused to give as he brought the horse under control. He would have wrestled it to the ground if he had to, and almost did. By the time it was calm enough for him to look up again, the young man was running at Ryxa's horse with a knife in his hand.
She asked for it. Let her deal with him. Camulous was there for the girl and the girl alone. Whatever laws the strange vagabond broke were probably justifiable and not worth the distraction.
He dared not take the horse any closer to the fire. It was jumpy enough already, so he dismounted in a fluid motion and was on the grass running at Lanya just as Lucian's knife dug into Ryxa's horse.
He could see she was getting up... Or trying to, at any rate.
His eyes met hers as he approached, and said everything he didn't have to. If she kept trying to run, he was going to have to hurt her. It was her choice.
-
Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
The battlemage felt the horse under her begin to rear, but it was already too late. The guy was already here and with a quick swipe it was over. The horse, feeling its throat emptying out its blood, kept trying to rear yet ended up falling sideways. Ryxa's attention was on the flames, making sure that the drizzle wouldn't put it out, and didn't notice immediately. When she felt the jerking movements of the horse she blinked, looking down. Unfamiliarity with horses was her downfall; she wasn't quick enough to react. Her body lurched to the side in a desperate attempt to escape the falling horse.
Ryxa fell awkwardly and with a loud WHUMP the dead horse landed right on her left leg. Her plated leather boot was tough, keeping her foot and lower leg from breaking under the weight of the modest mare. However, Ryxa cried out as it bruised her. Splayed out on the ground with the horse on her leg with her other leg draped over the corpse, the battlemage turned angry, kohl-rimmed eyes to [Lucian]. This was only a mild setback; she was still in control of herself and the situation. Without turning from him she put her hand on the back of the mare and said, "Rise." It levitated up a few inches, enough to free her, then floated away. She stood as it collapsed back onto the ground—ignoring the dull pain in her lower left leg—with her fierce blue-and-black eyes on him, studying his reaction. "Well, hello, little man," she said, a smirk on her face. The quick action pleased her; it meant this annoying woodland trek would be shorter.
By this point the flames on the tree had stopped roaring quite as forcibly. It was already raging on its own and didn't seem like it was letting up without a fight. The very light drizzle wasn't powerful enough to overcome the heat engulfing the wood any time soon. At this point, ironically, Ryxa was the only one that could stop it.
Ryxa fell awkwardly and with a loud WHUMP the dead horse landed right on her left leg. Her plated leather boot was tough, keeping her foot and lower leg from breaking under the weight of the modest mare. However, Ryxa cried out as it bruised her. Splayed out on the ground with the horse on her leg with her other leg draped over the corpse, the battlemage turned angry, kohl-rimmed eyes to [Lucian]. This was only a mild setback; she was still in control of herself and the situation. Without turning from him she put her hand on the back of the mare and said, "Rise." It levitated up a few inches, enough to free her, then floated away. She stood as it collapsed back onto the ground—ignoring the dull pain in her lower left leg—with her fierce blue-and-black eyes on him, studying his reaction. "Well, hello, little man," she said, a smirk on her face. The quick action pleased her; it meant this annoying woodland trek would be shorter.
By this point the flames on the tree had stopped roaring quite as forcibly. It was already raging on its own and didn't seem like it was letting up without a fight. The very light drizzle wasn't powerful enough to overcome the heat engulfing the wood any time soon. At this point, ironically, Ryxa was the only one that could stop it.