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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 24, 2017 11:02:18 GMT -5
Ryuujin "Don't take my kindness as my weakness. The beast in me is sleeping, not dead."
⇀↠ 〤 ↞↼
The Pegasus.
Now that he thought about it, looking at the other, there was something that definitely fit Nichol when he claimed that he "might be" the Pegasus. Something about that seemed to just... fit. His brown eyes shown curiously, but he did not press into the matter as much as he would like. The words "horse whisperer" were more than enough to make him convinced that the other male was of the animal he thought of. Ryuu knew of his animal since he was very young, living in a small town and often loving to explore the woods. Dogs, foxes, coyotes, wolves - all these animals were naturally friendly and would always play with him or be around him, as if they could feel his emotions. He had always been close with canine animals and generally disliked seeing them killed or abused. Wolf-hunting and fox-hunting more than disgusted the male for more than one reason. Killing for pure pleasure, especially one of the animals that he felt a connection to, sickened him to no end. Looking between Nichol and Ingrith, there was a wonder as to if they felt the same about their animals.
A poor farmer, eh? That suited the other man more than Ryuu would ever politely admit. No fighting experience, nothing similar like that, it seemed to fit the way he held himself, the way that he acted, spoke, stood. That would explain the lack of weapons and the amazement that was drawn his way when he had been showing off his weapons. Ingrith, however, seemed to be keeping to herself about her upbringing. He would not press her for answers, as some might not have had as much of an upbringing as he did.
Almost as if on cue to his thoughts, the female spoke about having to be on the run. This almost seemed like a challenge and the twenty-four year old's eyes shown a little and he rose his chin, composing himself a bit more and almost making sure to look a bit taller. There was a bit of a hint of "I dare them" in his small smirk on his lips. "If you fear for someone coming after us as well, then I will show you fighting moves that I know. Perhaps you might not know the sword as well as I do and we do not have any to spare, but surely, let them try to come. Let them come for you. The woods is a wolf's home." Ryuu motioned around him, there being something borderline amusement and borderline something else that can't quite be put to words. "If they wish to mess with you, they will be at their deathbed, for you are under my watch and a fair maiden like you can simply not be harmed or jostled around like a ragdoll." The "fair maiden" part was playfully mocking. There was no indication about this girl that shown that, like how a prissy noble woman would act. There was no "helpless damsel in distress" about her and he doubted that it would be that way.
The thought of splitting up made something in him stir once again and he did not like the sound of that from Nichol. It felt... wrong. Ingrith seemed to back up his thoughts, his gaze turning to her upon stating that it was more than a mere coincidence that they were all here, that the three of them were near each other. This was more than just their paths crossing coincidentally, this was... something that had been written out for them long before they knew that they were going to have this happen. Why else would he be so relaxed with them, be so friendly towards them? Ryuu was one that watched from afar, a sarcastic and sassy man whom kept to himself. He watched, he listened and he did not get close unless he had to. Laid-back, yet hard-working, a man whom liked to keep most things to himself. He rarely even introduced himself with his actual name, often using the name "Jesse" as a cover name for himself . Yet with these two... he stated his full name and the names of his family as well as mentor.
Dark eyes traveling the girl once more, Ryuu tilted his head a little and noticed the way she was holding herself, eyes going along her figure to see that she really had been on the run. Her question about him stabbing himself made his eyes snap back to her honey-brown ones and a playful smile appear on his lips. "Well, there is a reason I do prefer Nihon swords over the ones of Northwind. I have taken a sword through the foot, and let me tell you this... it does not hurt nearly as badly as it sounds when it misses the bone," he stated with a humorous tone to his voice. "Now, that is something for another time. Right now, I would like to set up a small camp here. Do either of you two-... no, I see that you do not. That is fine, I can make some sleep bags for you both. Perhaps I could teach you both. Do you know how to hunt or fish, at least?"
While he did not want to seem to baby them, everything in him wanted to protect them, wanted to take care of them. Ingrith seemed to hold herself in a wounded manner, which bothered him quite a bit. He motioned for her to come over to them, unraveling his leather and wool sleeping bag and laying it down on the ground. It wasn't like a actual bed, but it was something that he had used for... months and months. Northwind wasn't the warmest place to live in, ranging in weather from cold, to freezing to cold enough to get frostbite within your internal organs. There were two season; constant rain or constant snow. So his sleeping bag... it was worn but it did the job well.
It was at times like this that Ryuu would sometimes want a horse. To be able to carry things that he could not really carry on his own without overbearing himself. A cooking stand and a few pots or pants would have been nice, but he did not have that luxury while traveling and horses just... were not his thing as much as canines were. But he made himself busy, having traveled across Northwind for four years straight and having made his own camp area outside of Saoirse.
Moving swiftly and quickly, Ryuu gathered rocks, leaves, grass and moss, lines the rocks around the tinder and then grabbing sticks and wood from the trees. He was quick and light on his feet. Taking two rocks him his pack, he clashed them together over the tinder to make sparks. A few hits and embers began to light up, glowing from the dried grass and moss. Within a few minutes, there was a nice fire going. He could makeshift a cooking spit if needed and if they wanted. He had only packed enough for himself for a few days until he got to either the McCree family's home or to Soairse.
"I can show you which berries to eat and which ones to not, if you would like as well. Medicinal plants and cooking plants can be included. I have... had my fair share of poisoning and picking the wrong things, so trust me on what I say to never put near your mouth. Do either of you want me to hunt or fish?" It was like these two were a part of his... pack? Pack was a nice word to use in this situation. It was the way he felt, a word drawn close to him, fitting the role that he felt was within him. He wanted to make sure that they were taken care of. A big brother instinct did not really even come close to what he wanted. "After all, we will be here for a bit, I feel. Two more we have to wait for, right? Two more. The Eagle and the Stag. Might as well make the best of it as we can."
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 24, 2017 11:02:52 GMT -5
[ it's all good, astro! thank you for the heads up! ]
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Post by carmine. on Jul 24, 2017 11:06:19 GMT -5
( hey nerf! it's all good :-) there's no need to apologize
edit ; oh dear i posted late okay lemme read haha )
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 11:13:08 GMT -5
hello! I've just been accepted so I thought I would introduce myself c: I'm excited to be part of this group!! :D you all write so much for all your posts !!1! I'm going to have to take a day to read over all of them)
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 24, 2017 11:15:06 GMT -5
[ it's all good ala! you mind if i call you ala?
ah, welcome to the rp sappho! we do write a lot, as it is an advanced paced rp~ i am looking forward to rping with you as well. now that everyone is completed, i am very excited to get this moving forward! ]
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Post by carmine. on Jul 24, 2017 11:21:38 GMT -5
( i don't mind at all! feel free to call me whatever you'd like :-D
ayy welcome aboard, sappho! super excited to rp with you ;-)
i'm really hyped, too! this is gonna be great cx
typing up a reply right now!)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 11:43:30 GMT -5
I got my form up c: I added a little drawing of Tafari at the bottom just bc she's a fun gal to draw)
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Post by carmine. on Jul 24, 2017 12:12:20 GMT -5
( she's adorable <3
i love all these characters why are they so amazing. )
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Post by carmine. on Jul 24, 2017 13:40:16 GMT -5
Ingrith ▼ ▼ ▼ "Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.”
Watching Ryuujin lift his chin with a challenging gleam take his eyes was like watching a great wolf raise its head to the vast navy blue canvas above their heads, indeed. There was something inexplicable expressed on his face and in his demeanour when he spoke, and the subtle smirk that lingered upon his lips seemed to dare anything and everything that would stand in his way. Yet, it was different from the looks of those barrel-chested thugs who were so assured of their own past successes, their thoughts assertively arrogant and grossly distorted.
Just because things have worked in your favour today doesn’t guarantee that it will tomorrow as well, she remembered herself telling Malin while gently pulling his cheek as he’d pouted. The younger thief been acting a little too full of himself that day, and a boy with his personality was bound to get himself stuck in a situation he wouldn’t be able to pull himself out of. She’d seen it happen too many times, before she’d met Aristide and the rest of his crew. Countless and countless amounts of young thieves thrown to the side for their ambition and their mistakes resulted from their naive confidence, discarded like a dead animal, left to rot in the crooked alleyways until they faded into the yawning shadows that greedily swallowed them. And no one would mourn over their lost lives, because no one had even known of their existence from the start.
"If you fear for someone coming after us as well, then I will show you fighting moves that I know. Perhaps you might not know the sword as well as I do and we do not have any to spare, but surely, let them try to come. Let them come for you. The woods is a wolf's home.”
A wolf’s home, indeed, Ingrith thought with a slight raise of the eyebrow, though she soon felt herself smile a little, too. Something about Ryuujin’s confidence and gallant amusement felt contagious, and it compelled her (without her realising it herself) to let her lips tug upwards as he swept his hand around their surroundings. She felt mostly reassured, and the small worry that nagged her at the back of her head had grown to a slightly more minuscule notion. "If they wish to mess with you, they will be at their deathbed, for you are under my watch and a fair maiden like you can simply not be harmed or jostled around like a ragdoll.”
Fair maiden? All right, now Ingrith was definitely smiling and she couldn’t exactly deny the fact that she was because she’d definitely noted the tone of his voice. That, and because, well, she was a thief who’d grown up in the most forgotten and crime-infested parts of the streets — a place that had acted as a home for her but to many others was considered as nothing more than a miserable dump with its grimy buildings, their roofs bowed by the harsh weather. A thief was a very sharp contrast from a fair maiden, indeed. Besides, her clothes — worn out and loosely wrapped around her lithe frame — indicated the opposite. And while she was lucky enough to possess smooth, bronze-skin and a charmingly nefarious smile, her calloused hands, hardened gaze, and feline grace, derived from the years of her life as a silent predator, implied something much more sinister. Even so, at the moment, there wasn’t really much of any ‘sinister’ going on for Ingrith, because she found herself truly trusting Ryuujin and Nichol, as peculiar as the thought was in her head. Trust was almost a foreign word for Ingrith, and yet, she found herself thinking that they were individuals she could rely on. If their paths truly did split at one point… well, she wouldn’t think about that unless it truly did, happen.
“A sword through the foot?” Ingrith repeated, the curve of her lips changing into a small, horrified ‘o.’ She’d fallen off a (thankfully) lowly placed building before with nothing to catch her below, gotten knocked into several walls to the point where they’d caved in from the sheer force of the street scandals that she’d been enveloped in, and had a bone in her shoulder dislodged before. But getting a sword through the food sounded so much, much worse. A puncture wound like that would have someone dead in a matter of days from the effects of an infection. The streets of her upbringing had not been the most dedicated nor concerned with hygiene, after all. Aristide had been a “clean freak,” though. A speck of dust settling on his chair had been enough for him to gather the whole crew and task them with cleaning his home — their usual gathering spot — for hours. “It does not hurt nearly as badly as it sounds when it misses the bone.” When she heard the second part of his sentence, Ingrith was struggling to keep her expression something that was in between a grimace and a smile. “You still have my sympathy.”
At the mention of a camp, she stood up a little straighter and listened after reaching their side from Ryuujin’s motion. Hunting? Well, yes, hunting had been something she’d had to do once or twice before, but fishing was a new concept. The water in her area had been too defiled to let any living creatures call it home. Its surface had swirled with an oily violet hue, and she had not really stopped to think of what could have possibly made such a color.
“I’ve hunted a few times before. I may not be able to help with that for the time being, but I’d like to help in some way,” she said, ignoring the throb in her leg. Because, at this moment, her attention was more focused on doing something for the three of them to settle temporarily as best as they could. It felt different — refreshing, almost, to have someone who seemed to be willing to look after them. He’s kind of like an older brother, she thought. Not that she knew what having one felt like, but if she had, she supposed that it would feel like this. And though she knew her current state would forbid it, she still wanted to help. She didn’t want to heap everything onto Ryuujin or Nichol.
“If you’re going to stay here with us, Ingrith, you’re going to have to earn it,” she remembered Aristide’s easygoing yet stern voice. “It’ll be the same wherever you go. Do you understand?”
"I can show you which berries to eat and which ones to not, if you would like as well. Medicinal plants and cooking plants can be included. I have... had my fair share of poisoning and picking the wrong things, so trust me on what I say to never put near your mouth.”
Somehow she didn’t doubt him when he said that, and it showed in her slightly amused, yet convinced and warm gaze.
“Do either of you want me to hunt or fish?”
Shaking her head to the side, Ingrith exhaled a small sigh as she felt the warmth of the fire. “I can’t say for Nichol, but I’m all right — that apple was more than plenty.” It was a lie (she hoped her stomach wouldn’t rumble like a thunderstorm), but the last thing she needed was to cause any inconvenience, no matter how small it was, for anyone. Just the fact that Ryuujin was willing to hunt or fish for them was enough for Ingrith, and she appreciated his words more than he’d most likely know. In fact, the kind words were almost enough to fill her stomach alone. Gazing at the mixture of scarlet and gold of the fire, Ingrith found herself speaking. The words she spoke hadn’t registered in her head entirely before she’d opened her mouth; it was as if a part of her thoughts had just flowed out in words without her knowledge.
“Thank you, aniki. You know, for all of this.”
What she was thanking for wasn’t something that’d registered in her mind, either. Was she simply appreciative that she’d even met him and Nichol? Maybe. Maybe she was just grateful that she'd encountered these two. His words, his display of humour, his will to help (and that apple)… she supposed it included all of that.
Right, the eagle and the stag.
After humming in thought as a response to his words, she spoke, her eyes, which seemed far more vivid with the brilliant glow of the fire reflecting against them, curious. "I wonder what they're like. The stag and the eagle, I mean. Speaking of animals," she said when a thought popped into her mind. "I may sound crazy for saying this, but... you said you're the wolf, right? So... do you feel some sort of tug when you see any canines?"
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Post by carmine. on Jul 24, 2017 14:05:12 GMT -5
( just as a fair warning, i may poof soon cause it's p late here and i probably should be sleeping )
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 24, 2017 14:10:14 GMT -5
[ hey, that is alright. you need sleep and that is fine by me. please, make sure you take care of yourself and sleep, ya silly. ]
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Post by carmine. on Jul 24, 2017 14:17:10 GMT -5
but sleep is for the weak D:< <<jkjk thanks, nerf ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 15:19:42 GMT -5
Tafari
✵✺✵
"How rare and beautiful it is to even exist"
✵✺✵
She had been pulling away from Beatha since she could walk. Legs, even then too long for comfort, staggering unsteadily towards the edge of the forest, towards the steep and sudden drop of the cliff. She'd run off her baby fat in a matter of months and worn out every pair of shoes she was given in less. Her parents, still new to the job back then, smiled in equal parts worry and amusement, took this as normal, and put up baby guards around the home (these guards had become semi-permanent since then, given the flux of young girls that followed.) When she got older, she still wandered, now instructed with rules and limits as to how far she could go. When she reached schooling age, she was called before principles more than once to explain herself when class was missed in favour of the dark trees.
Tafari could never truly explain it, though. For a while, she believed what her parents had explained to her, which was what the Doctors and Shamans had said to them - that her mind was a little different from the other children, that sometimes she didn't understand things as quickly as they did and that it was OK because there was nothing wrong with her, and she was still important to their community. At the time, the six year old Tafari had found this talk uncomfortable and even cried a little at the end, but now, thirteen years later, she was infinitely glad that it had happened. Her parents loved her, and that was good to know, because Tafari wasn't one hundred percent convinced they had actually solved why she was called to the woods as often as she was. But she did not ever approach the subject on her own, simply thought it out again and again every single night, lying awake, staring at the stone ceiling above her, young mind racing. It wasn't long before her sisters were to arrive anyway, and her parents' lives suddenly became a lot more hectic.
Their lives became so busy that her father, Qinisela, left his job with the thinkers and plotters of stars, and stayed at home with the numerous amont of babies. Tafari helped, of course, and as each girl grew older, they recognized their responsibility to each other, but Qinisela never did return to his job. He kept going in his spare time, going down in the evenings to sit by the wicker tables outside social clubs with old friends and review the night's sky with them. He was both a scientist and an astrologer, a holy man called to the fields of math and logic. Tafari shared in her father's passion for the heavens; they were an escape. A way out of her home without leaving, without breaking her family's heart by explaining that, despite everything, she was not happy in Beatha. A trip to the stars was easy to return from. So Qinisela, delighted that she had taken an interest, taught Tafari everything he knew and introduced her to every bright star, every constellation; Enihsnus' Jewels, the Sickle, the Jade Apple, the Crooked Sword of Ablas, the Twin Hares, and so many more. "Every pattern has a meaning to the science and a meaning to the soul." he would say to her, one hand on her shoulder, the other pressed against her heart, "When we are awake, we cannot understand these meanings. Our lives are busy, busy, busy. But when we sleep," He raised his hand to her temple, and directed her head back towards the sky, "All the maps and all the codes are laid out for us. We can understand everything when it is laid against a blank canvas. Our ancestors knew this, that is why we do what we do, why we stay vigilant and watch the stars in hope of dreams. Our dreams have flesh to them, Tafari. They are harbingers."
Her father had told her this years ago, and though she never forgot it, it was buried under other things, the trivial things that life insists on throwing at every person alive; school, jobs, family, pretty girls, awkward social gatherings, and sneaking alcohol out with you when you went back to the trees, back to the wild places. Tafari was inevitably drawn to light too, not the corrosive burning of a campfire, but the ethereal shine of a full moon or the endless spinning of the hot yellow sun. The sun is also a star, after all. The most important star in everyone's life. Most of her evenings became spent out on the cliffs, totally alone, in absolute silence with a forbidden flask of something that burnt on the way down. Occasionally voices would rise to meet her from the town far below, all ones she recognized; Nosey neighbours who whispered too loudly, well built workers all sweating away in her Mother's forge, the voice of peers out on some adventure that she was not invited on and did not wish to join. Mainly the world was still up there, and Tafari was left to her endless thinking in peace. This was the place where you were most likely to see the deer. Tafari loved the deer.
They were as silent as she was, she liked to think they were thinking too in the ways she did, that they too moved softly through the world, barely brushing the leaves of the trees they passed. When her dreams first started, they were of deer. In her dreams she wasn't watching the deer, she was running with them, a member of the herd, racing and racing through fields of tall grass, the whole world turned golden from the sun. They were not racing for no reason, she knew there was a destination, a goal, but she did not know where. She would wake sweating and panting, hands clenching her blankets, half out of bed from the violent kicking she'd done in her sleep. This dream happened every night, she would even catch glimpses of it during the day when her concentration was skewed. She had not forgotten what her father had told her. This is why, when the voice first started speaking to her, she was not as surprised as she should have been;
"Your freedom lives in Saoirse, Tafari Labrys, eldest child of Amaka and Qinisela Labrys."
She did not question the voice, rather, she packed her bag, left a note and in twenty minutes she had walked out of the town's limits. In another day, she had left Beatha altogether and was heading South to Hold of Svile. Her family would be upset, she knew this, but she could not stay for goodbyes. Her Mother would never let her leave, she would find a way to keep her here. Amaka was a pragmatic woman who, though loving her husband with all her heart, did not always believe in the messages he saw in the stars. She was not a religious woman, though she would be devastated when she returned from work in the evening. Her parents never fought, but there would be tears over this for sure. There would be gossip, the neighbours would go wild, and surely rumors that Tafari had lost her mind, or she never really had a whole one to begin with, would be fired at the family relentlessly. Gossip was not so daunting when you knew you would not be around to hear it. Her heart was heavy with guilt, however. Her sisters would have hell to face in school. Tafari had done her best in her letter to explain that no one person had made her leave, and no singular event was beckoning her south, but her whole life had lead up to walking out the door to go and find the herd she dreamt of.
The Moon had changed its shape many times since she had left, and Tafari was endlessly grateful she had worn her good sandals, else her feet would be nothing more than bloody stumps. The shield on her arm was heavy, but the weight was familiar by now and it was as much a comfort to her as the lantern in her other hand. As if her old shield and some light alone would keep her safe. The shield reminded her of her betrayed mother, so she did not think of it for too long. It was much colder here than in Beatha, but Tafari did not have many warm clothes. She also realised a day after crossing the border that she was very rusty on the language here and her heavy accent made it even harder to be understood. Needless to say, she was somewhat regretting leaving so suddenly, though the voice would reappear to soothe her worries every now and again. It was not a friendly voice, per se, but it was very comforting, like she'd known it for years. Her hood was up now, the crest of her family along the back of the white fabric, her face all but invisible in the shadows it cast. She was used to standing out by now, her height never allowed for fading away, but she was not used to being a stranger, and the dark circles forming under her eyes told the story that she'd been too scared to sleep fully for some time now. At least she'd managed to save money on food - her knowledge of woodland plants was paying off at last.
"Still, Tafari Labrys. What you seek is close at hand."
The voice startled her somewhat, having being lost in her own herbitude and she stopped suddenly, the only noises that of her breath and her swinging lantern. It wasn't dark yet, but she had lit it all the same, addicted to the light like a moth. Where were the deer? This forest was too dense for them, surely? They liked paths and open fields for running. She had seen no evidence of them, no tracks or scratches of antler against bark, and she had been looking. Listening then, she could hear voices, human voices. She felt a pout rise up in her, They're not deer.
"A herd is a herd."
So Tafari crept closer, picking her way through the undergrowth gently, as not to get tangled. Two people, or three? Three. Two men, one woman. All older than her. Proper adults. She suddenly felt very young, like a student sneaking out of school again. "... Might as well make the best of it as we can." They were dressed better than she was, though she barely felt the cold. She would look odd to them indeed; hood up like a criminal, belly exposed like a call girl, lantern clutched like a child. One man was as tall as she was, something that reminded her of her father. Another disgraced pang to ignore. These people were total strangers, but she undeniably felt the familiar rush of her dream, of running alongside her people. Had they been deer in her dreams? She suddenly wasn't sure. One of them had something of a wolf about him, and though she felt like she knew his face, her body tensed. Tafari did not like wolves. "... Some sort of tug when you see any canines?" How long could she skulk in the shadows? Tafari may have left her family behind, but they had not raised her to sit and hide in the undergrowth like a hedgehog. And she had not walked all this way to stop at the first clue she received. She took a breath like she was diving into the deep end of a lagoon and continued walking forward, out of the thicket and into the clearing, her mind emptying of any intelligent conversation. She froze, caught in headlights, bright eyes glinting in her lantern light against the hooded shade on her face, and after what felt like an eternity, Tafari spoke slowly, drawing each syllable out from her accent, "Greetings. I am looking for my herd."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 15:20:43 GMT -5
hope that's a decent starter! I just sort of rambled a bit)
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Post by lozi on Jul 24, 2017 19:28:55 GMT -5
Nichol Eyre
"No act of kindness is ever wasted, no matter how small." ♆ ♆ ♆ ♆
The more Nichol looked at Ryuujin, the more wolf he saw in him. The more wolf he saw, the more fear crept in and wrapped itself around him. It was the fur armor that really did him in, it truly looked as if a wolf had up and laid itself on top of Ryuujin's shoulders.
Whenever Nichol was around horses, they seemed to gravitate towards him, coming whenever Nichol called them. He began to wonder, this close to the woods, would wolves come to visit at night. He sure hoped not, he could still remember the hot breath of the wolf on his neck, the piercing eyes seeming to stare right into his soul. He shuddered at the thought, trying not to think about it.
You are safe here. The voice had lost some of its gentleness, becoming a little more insistent, as if he were slow or hard of hearing. He founding himself thinking back to the voice, slightly defensive, and was glad that - he was pretty sure - none of them were mindreaders. Surely by now they would think him crazy, with his rolling and unharmonious emotions.
Nichol was quick to accept the offer of being taught how to fight. Now that he was traveling, he was anxious to learn how to fight. He nodded quickly. "That would be wonderful. We never really had any reason to fight. Our community was normally very peaceful, and would come to each other's aid when we needed it."
He tried to think of what weapon he would use. He could try to use a sword, but he was afraid his clumsiness would get in the way. At the mention of Ryuujin stabbing himself in the foot, he gasped. It surely sounded unpleasant, but hopefully it wasn't too painful. From experience, being cut by a sharper knife hurt less than a duller knife. Many a time before Nichol's fingers had slipped and he had sliced one of his fingers.
Immediately, at the mention of hunting, Nichol was paying attention. A wide grin split his face, a visual of 'ear to ear.' It had been so long since Nichol had been hunting. Ever since his father's death in the carriage accident, he hadn't had time to hunt before.
"I can try to hunt, if anyone has throwing knives on them. It's been a while though," he warned, "so I may not be the most accurate. The closest thing to a weapon that I've used is a scythe or a sickle. Grain harvesters aren't the most formidable tools after you watch the twins wield one. If no one has throwing knives, I can set traps."
He laughed at a memory that only he knew of, one where the twins had begged to help him in the fields. They had held the sickle together, trying to hold it, and swung wildly at the grain, falling over from the weight of it. They had looked like they were dancing in the field, under the setting sun, when really they were struggling to hold it up. Of course, it was a dulled blade, Nichol had made sure. Never on his watch had the littles been badly injured. They had laughed together for a while, before it was time for Nichol to head back inside and make dinner.
Nichol worried about not being able to pull his own weight, though. He wanted to contribute to the group, and not be left behind. One wrong move, and everything might go wrong. He just hoped that he could aim well enough to perhaps bring back a deer, or at least set a trap that could bring back a critter or two for the group.
The sound of brush moving immediately caught his attention- Nichol was being much more aware of his surroundings now. He turned his head towards the sound, just in time to see a girl who looked to be only a couple years younger than himself emerge from the woods. She gave him a fright at first, what with her hood up, he thought she was a bandit for a moment.
Nichol became sure without a doubt that this was another one of their group. He smiled his big, charming smile and waved to her.
As she came closer, he could see that she was quite tall, really. Taller than him even, despite the fact that she looked to be without Elven blood, seeing as her ears did not have the characteristic points at the tips. She was only a couple inches taller, but he was surprised, seeing as she was the first person he'd met that was taller than him.
He ran his fingers through his hair, and just as he did with the others, sized her up. Aside from her tallness, she looked to have Acirfa blood. She had copper colored eyes, and was quite thin, with a round face. Large hoops hung from her ears, and she had golden jewelry on her neck. Metal bands ran up her arms.
With the amount of money on the farm they could not have afforded to buy jewelry, and Nichol was quite aware of this. Although he was not sure what kind of family or upbringing Ingrith came from, both of these people seemed better off than him.
[ Sorry for rushed post, I wanted to get something up before bed. ]
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 19:39:11 GMT -5
I have literally no idea what weapon to give Cefe. It's kind of stumped me. DX)
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 24, 2017 19:55:37 GMT -5
[ remember that this is medieval times. skyrim-ish in the city structures.
astro, you did fine!
as for cefe's weapon, i would suggest perhaps a battle axe? [
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 20:01:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I was thinking something along those lines. I also thought maybe some tonfas would fit her speed.... its so hard to decide )
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 22:29:51 GMT -5
Ceferinae Whelan "My dear, our souls met long before our eyes did." - A.P
☼☼ ☼ ☼☼
So far Ceferinae had come across three bands of thugs, a pack of wild dogs, a pack of wolves, a few bears, large cats, and even a few devil eyed reptiles. Her horse had taken each and every obstacle in stride with the occasional nervous jitter or stomp. So one would think that the mighty beast would be able to handle a small, teeny tweeny snake. But life wasn't that simple was it?
At the sight of the snake, Cefe's horse reared back with a loud screech of protest and suddenly bolted away from the scene of the crime. The woman shouted in shock and gripped the reigns between her fingers tightly, struggling to hold on as the beast panicked. The horse reared once more and this time its rider, unable to keep her grip, slipped right out of the saddle and fell to the ground. She grunted as she landed on her side with a heavy thump, a bolt of pain shooting through her body. Breathless, Cefe flipped over unto her back.
The sun beat down on her as she laid there in the open field, trying to retrieve the breath that was stolen from her. She closed her eyes against the sun, and groaned at the soreness that was already creeping into her bones. Her body screamed at her when she attempted to stand, but she pushed through the pain. It was possibly an awkward sight, like watching a newborn deer stand for the first time. However, when the soles of her feet were on the ground again, she rejoiced.
Cefe stared off in the direction that her horse had gone, a scowl on her face. A string of unlady like expletives rolled off her tongue when she caught sight of the backside of her horse, but then her body stilled with realization, "My pouch. It was tied to the saddle."
As quick as her body could move, she was running after the horse. Of course, there was no doubt in her mind that she wouldn't be able to catch the creature. Still, sheer terror for losing one of her father's treasures pushed her forward. The horse disappeared into the woods far ahead of her, "Wait! Come back!"
By the time she broke through the barrier of trees, the forest had stilled. No leaves rustled with activity. Cefe put her hands to her temples and closed her eyes, distraught. Everything she needed was in the pouch; her money, her change of clothes, her knives and tonfas. It was like loosing her fortune. And to top it all off, she had no idea where she was since she had run off after that good for nothing horse of hers.
Walk forward, dear one. Everything you need is right in front of you.
Cefe's head darted to the side quickly as if trying to locate the sound of the voice. She still wasn't used to the otherworldly timber that vibrated in her head with an ungodly amount of force. Sometimes it was still, small and patient. Other times, it was violent and demanding. She never knew what to expect. The woman scowled at the ground and kicked a small rock across the forest floor, "My horse just took off with my pouch. Unless the beast is hiding behind this tree up here, everything is probably in Hartz by now." Ceferinae looked to the sky, her palm turned up in exasperation, "Great. Now I'm talking to it again."
The voice didn't respond to the snappy comment. It almost never did. Cefe had determined it was a coward years ago as it never snapped back to her. She turned away, arms crossed and heart hard. But as she started to walk away, an unexplainable pull tugged on her heart violently as if demanding her to continue forward. She swallowed hard at the yearning to walk forward. There was life on the other end of the string, many different voices and passions and lives. She felt them near to her heart, even though she didn't know their faces or if they existed. The string had been pulled taunt before, but never this strongly. It was as if her soul cried out to go and find them, the people with souls like hers. She couldn't explain how she knew or even what it was that she knew (it was all a little confusing), but she just knew.
Almost immediately, Ceferinae set herself back after her horse. The forest was dense and much of the time, she was forced to reroute herself. Without her horse, it was slow going. However, eventually, she came to a small clearing and was surprised to see her horse trotting along merrily. The tension she felt within her soul momentarily forgotten, she sized him up. He appeared unscathed for the most part and the pouch still dangled from the saddle. Lips pulled back and teeth bared, she crossed the clearing with a huff, "Well, if it isn't the chicken. I never thought I would see you again."
The horse lazily flicked its tail as she approached, but when she reached to grab the leather pouch, it bolted once more. Cefe yelled in frustration and darted after the stupid creature. They crashed through the forest like a herd of elephants, the woman screaming curses at the animal. The horse simply galloped through the wooded area until he suddenly slowed his pace and walked up to a man standing beyond the trees.
Cefe, out of breath and angry as a badger, thrust her way out of the tree line only to see a small group of people. Four to be exact. Shocked to see them, the woman immediately straightened her back and lifted her chin. Nothing was said for a moment as the horse calmly ambled up the man of obvious Elven descent. Then, she merely pointed to the creature and cleared her throat, "That's my horse."
She inwardly cringed at the level of awkwardness she had brought to the small group. Of course it was her horse. Why would she have been chasing it? She clenched her jaw to keep the blush from spreading across her cheeks. They had most likely heard every foul insult and word she had said as well.
They will not judge you, dear one. This time the voice was slightly amused, They are your everything.
Ceferinae allowed her gaze to sweep over the five strangers who didn't feel like strangers. Her heart tightened with joy at the sight of them as if she was seeing old friends again. Her eyebrows furrowed deeply in confusion. What did the voice mean when it said they were her everything? She ran a hand through her silky black hair, her fingers catching on the tangles.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 22:31:06 GMT -5
All right! I hope that my starter is ok. I'm going to bed now, but I'll see y'all in the morning!)
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 25, 2017 4:07:41 GMT -5
Ryuujin "Don't take my kindness as my weakness. The beast in me is sleeping, not dead."
⇀↠ 〤 ↞↼
It was funny how one word made him freeze up a bit.
“Thank you, aniki. You know, for all of this.”
Anaki. That word itself had never really been used for him and it had completely taken him off-guard. She spoke his language? His otosan's language? Being an only child, he never had siblings, and thus, never heard that word used for him. He spent most of this time with Amoux for a little less than half of his life and since they were the same age, it was not a name that Ryuu was called. A soft smile crossed his lips as he glanced at the honey-brown eyes of this woman that he barely knew at all. "Douitashimaѕнιтe," he replied with a small chuckle. That small little word made him quite a bit more happy.
Brown eyes started over the the young adult of Elven blood and felt a bit amused at the sight of him lighting up so much at mentioning of hunting. He made a motion as if to say "help yourself" towards the woods. "I only carry what I have to on me and my wakizashi does more than even to work as a hunting or fishing knife. No throwing knives on me, I am afraid. My apologies," Ryuu stated with a small chuckle. While it was in the morning, the sun was already peeking up and shining down on them. Strange to have a fire, but he wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable and to be able to cook anything they might catch. However, a question from Ingrith had him look back over at her.
The same curiosity had crossed Ryuu's mind as the female stated something about wondering what the other two were like. He had no idea what the other two were like. No idea what they looked like, sounded like, what gender they were... he had no idea at all. The Stag he was envisioning someone to look like a cute small fawn or a huge protective buck, not really having any other vision. The Eagle... he could see someone with long feathery hair and graceful movements that belonged in the sky, not the ground.
"I do not know what the others are like. I just met you two, but it feels like we are old friends. I am sure it will be the same for the other two that I have not met yet," he stated, picking up a stick and poking at the fire. A small chuckle escaped him and he got this... sort of look on his face, staring at nothing, but yet he was seeing something. "I do know the third one that you have not met, however. The Dragon. His name is Amoux McCree, the son of the man whom taught me everything I know about swords and gave these swords to me. He is... really... something. Much shorter than me, but the last time I saw him, I was about his height. Kind of looks like me, but it is... hard to explain unless you see our parents." Wait, no. That would put up questions that he really did not want to answer or explain and that was more than a little embarrassing for not only him, but their families. He cleared his throat. "He has shorter hair, no facial hair either, liking to keep a clean look about him. Amoux... he has this necklace around his neck at all times with a wolf pendant on it. Oh the stories I could tell you..."
And just like that, he was wanting to change the conversation that he was regretting bringing up. Ryuu blinked at the question about the canines and then looked up at the sky for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer that without sounding confusing or weird. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, there was that electrical feeling again and then a voice that made him jump up from his position by the fire and immediately draw his wakizashi in one fluid movement, eyes narrowing for a split second. For that one small moment, he looked aggressive and dangerous, just as he normally would towards a stranger sneaking up on him. Lips baring a snarl with a clenched jaw, muscles rigid and tight, ready to get him out of danger in this small moment's notice, hand holding onto the small foreign sword like a deadly extension of his arm. However, he immediately relaxed and straightened up, going from hostile to curious with his head tilted as he felt that pull towards the... very tall female.
This female did not look like she was from Northwind at all, more like a rich noblewoman from a different country. After all, most females dressed warm due to the cold environment and did not generally have this style about them. Ryuu was cautious, just as he had been at first with Nichol and Ingrith. When there was statement about a herd, the twenty-four year old relaxed even more and took in a deep breath. He was about to sheathe his sword and bow with an apology, but there was... a horse? A horse. Going to Nichol.
There was a horse.
Following a little afterwards, he assumed was the rider. Another female. And just like with the others, there was a tug. An electrical pulse that he felt within the air, that drawn everyone together. The stronger the bond, the more that he was able to sense someone. Of course, this meant that these strangers had to be within a few meters of him for him to know that they were there. Even so... he knew this from experience with Amoux. Everyone seemed to have a different feel to them, a different pull. So there were three females and three males. That was... quite evened out, huh?
Noticing that his sword was still drawn and he still looked a little hostile, he cleared his throat and composed himself, sheathing the wakizashi back in its sheathe. Arms by his side, Ryuu bowed down to make his body at a ninety-degree angle, closing hi eyes. "Gomenasai. My deepest apologies, I was not expecting someone to appear like that. If I frightened you, I surely did not mean it. It is my nature to be very cautious and I have been jumped more than once, so please do forgive my rash behavior," he stated with a warm, polite and formal tone to his voice. He was not fully warmed up to the other two, but he felt... very comfortable with them. "This is not a herd, but a pack, my dear. My name is Ryūjin Shimada, son of Jackson and Kurai Shimada. I am a master swordsman whom has been traveling the roads of Northwind for quite some time now. You two must be the ones we have been waiting for."
Standing up straight, he looked between the four in front of him. There was a small pride within him, for some unknown reason. His chest puffed out a bit and his brown eyes stayed on each person for a few seconds before looking between them. There was a small laugh that escaped him and he tugged his scarf back up over his nose and his hood over his head, the braided tails brushing over his shoulders to be in front of him once more.
"I expected to be waiting here for a while. It appears that hunting and fishing can wait for later, Nichol. Pity, and I just got set up to relax too. Nonetheless, we best be on our way to Saoirse," Ryuu stated with a small chuckle. Stamping his foot down into the dirt by the shore and then kicking it up to have a good pile of mud, sand and dirt, he kicked it over the fire, which went out with a hiss. He packed everything up, getting everything neatly in his pack before throwing it over his back. "Let us all introduce each other on the way, please. The sooner we get there, the better." He looked like he was about to continue, his mouth opened, but something caught his eye and made him look down the path, towards the direction of Saoirse.
---
Five animals stood there, glinting in the morning sunlight upon the rocky road. In something like a "V" formation, with the Wolf at the center. Behind him was the Eagle to his right and the Sabertooth to his left. Behind the Eagle was the Stag and behind the Sabertooth was the Pegasus. Each animal was like a spirit, glowing silver and see-through. But they were all about the same height and size, massively huge and all standing together. The Wolf seemed to be staring directly at him, his eyes meeting Ryuu's.
"Now is the time your journey begins. The life you all have lived so far will be no more. The time is upon once again for your existence and here, once again, you will stand. Look around you to each person. These are your pack, your family. Each of you hold an important role. The leader, the fighter, the strategist, the healer and the heart of the pack. These are not just friends of old, but the only friends that you will have that you can trust with anything. There is an old, large hall within Saoirse called the Evening Tide. Find it and find William Amarnheart. He will show you the next part of your journey, where you will awaken each of us within."
The Wolf's mouth did not move, but Ryuu could hear his voice loud and clear. There was a sense of pride stirring within him again and he, for a moment, saw through the Wolf's eyes at his group and even himself. This was his pack, and it was his duty to keep them safe. Standing there for a moment to let them all sink it the information in, there was suddenly a energy that burst through him. Any wariness within him disappeared, nothing but energy and curiosity filling him. His tense muscles were nothing that he felt, just just felt this... awakened energy within him.
Lifting his head back, the Wolf let out a loud, heart-warming howl that seemed to trigger the others. The Eagle raised herself up and let out her piercing cry as her wings stretched out upon the sky, the Pegasus rising up on his back legs and pawing into the air with a mighty neigh and the Sabertooth lifting her head up and opened her mouth in a ferocious roar. The Stag was the silent one, watching with his own sense of pride, but like the Pegasus, he rose up on his back legs and pawed into the air with a graceful, fluid rear.
Stamina was nothing of a concern to Ryuu as he watched, feeling something inside of him wanting to do the same as the mighty canine beast in front of him. Their eyes locked once again and the leader of the animal pack turned around, his silvery fur letting the sunlight through and bolted down the road at a full on gallop, the other four taking off after him. There was a moment in which the Wolf looked back at Ryuu with a playful kind of stare, as if to ask if he was coming or not.
The twenty-four year old looked at the others and then his feet began moving on their own. He was running after the great beasts that were just seen and he looked back at the other four. "C'mon! Let'us go!" he called back to them, feeling almost like an excited little kid running towards a cool new place. There was this energy within him that he could not explain But it filled him and something told him that he wasn't the only one feeling it. Like an adrenaline rush, but so much better and so much more than that.
It was time that their journey began.
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Post by carmine. on Jul 25, 2017 5:28:18 GMT -5
Ingrith ▼ ▼ ▼ "Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.”
“I can try to hunt, if anyone has throwing knives on them. It’s been a while though, so I may not be the most accurate. The closest thing to a weapon that I’ve used is a scythe or a sickle.”
A scythe? A sickle? The two names piqued her curiosity. She’d heard of a sickle, before, but a scythe was something else she’d never imagined any mortal hands would use. The only scythe she’d heard of and could think of came from the small stories that some individuals zealously told of a man in a long, velvety cloak with a cowl so low it concealed his eyes. Plumes of smoke circled around him whenever he came, one of the folks had said, and his thin, wiry hands, wrapped around the long, heavy weapon that curved at the end, were made entirely of bone. A reaper, she remembered. Either she had much to learn about the outside world, or Nichol was somehow related to the bringer of death, which she doubted a bit. His eyes were too kind for someone who brought such a thing onto others. She paused before she could do anything when she heard Ryuujin speak in response to the way she’d referred to him.
“Douitashimashi—te.” At this, she gave him a small yet familiar crooked smile in response, her honey-brown eyes gleaming a bit from the light of the fire. He’d looked surprised — ah, yes, she had spoken that word in his native tongue, after all. She would’ve been equally and pleasantly surprised, too, had something similar happened to her. But he didn’t seem against it (actually she could’ve sworn he looked a little pleased to some degree), so she supposed it was all right.
It most likely would be the same for the other two, as he’d continued, for the rest of them as well. Her gaze caught him as he looked at the fire, and she curiously followed his eyes to watch the vivacious mix of gold and scarlet. As he stared into those flickering flames, he seemed to be seeing something, and she briefly found herself wondering what that could be.
Her attention, however, did return to him when he spoke of the third one — The Dragon. The individual they had not yet met with the exception of Ryuujin. Amoux Mccree. So Amoux was one of them, she thought, thinking back to the time Ryuujin had first mentioned his name, his voice filled with hope. To think that was moments before — it seemed like years had passed since then.
In any case, it would have been her imagination, but the way he spoke of The Dragon — Amoux — and the way how his eyes looked almost reminded her of someone speaking of their significant other. And at his last sentence, she couldn’t help but quirk an eyebrow and allow the ends of her lips to tug up to form a slight smile.
“Kind of looks like me, but it is… hard to explain unless you see our parents.” Oh. Best not tread around that topic for too long; it didn't seem to be one that was comforting, but rather, well.. something to treat delicately.
"He has shorter hair, no facial hair either, liking to keep a clean look about him. Amoux... he has this necklace around his neck at all times with a wolf pendant on it. Oh the stories I could tell you…"
She was about to gently encourage him to go on of these stories — because her interest of The Dragon had been piqued, and she was genuinely curious of what he was like.
But then her reverie snapped, gone as quickly as it’d come along with the rest of her words, when she heard the unnatural rustles. Rustles that indicated someone else’s presence, and to this, she tensed, almost standing back up with her hand reaching for her sleeve, where her dagger lay hidden. It wasn’t only just a dagger that she had on herself, though. Her clothes held the capability to hide more things than that of a wardrobe. When this very tall individual emerged from the thickets with a hood over their features, Ingrith surveyed the rest of their surroundings. Were there more? Was this the only one? Her calm eyes narrowed a little until she heard something that caught her off guard entirely. Ryuujin seemed tense next to her as well, and so had Nichol, who turned his head towards the sound.
“Greetings. I am looking for my herd.”
The transparent tether that had tied her to something inescapable, something that she could only refer as an obligation and a duty, seemed to strengthen for a bit, and with a short moment of reluctance, she lowered her hand from her sleeve. There were only so many individuals who could urge the small tether that anchored her to others — who she could feel familiar with upon first glance, coming to care for their wellbeing as if she’d known them for years.
And this individual, a tall, young girl, was one of them. Ingrith’s shoulders, which had been tense, dropped a little. There is no need for you to fret, my dear. She is on your side, a whisper seemed to say in her head before fading. The small crease between Ingrith’s eyebrows disappeared, and she was left leaning back from where she sat with her expression changing to that of one who felt at ease. Herd the girl had said. Pack, Ryuujin had stated. “Regardless, I think you’ve found us,” said Ingrith with a small yet warm smile before watching Nichol wave and wave her over to where they were.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed that this girl was most likely carried Acirfa blood in her veins. The very first thing she’d noticed about this girl, however, were her clear and pretty eyes. They were a color Ingrith was fond of, and it wasn’t just because of the silent joy her younger self had felt whenever she’d picked up a copper coin that hadn’t been rusted or covered entirely in unremovable soil. Pieces of jewellery and metal seemed to adorn the girl’s ears and her neck and her arms. The turquoise discs hung past her chin, and the metal bands seemed to glow more vibrantly, glinting brighter than any gilded armour, from the light of the fire. So did the golden choker around her neck, which made Ingrith’s eyes widen in surprise. Saints, was that actual gold? Truly, and really?
Her ears caught something drifting in the wind. No, it wasn’t exactly drifting. It was more like a furious string of some words being yelled. Raking her hand through her inky hair, Ingrith raised an eyebrow. Was she imagining the voice? But no, it was certainly there, loud and clear, echoing throughout the forest, loud as a raging elephant storming around. And the words were not the most appropriate, Ingrith thought, nevertheless half-puzzled and half-amused by them, because for her, they were familiar off the tongue. For nobles, she’d imagine they’d be horrified if they heard what this individual was saying. Whoever was yelling, something must have happened. It was then someone — no something — burst through the bushes, followed by another silhouette who soon came to light from the fire. This woman had lifted her chin, her eyes surprised, though she did not speak. Then, after a while, she said: that’s my horse.
Ingrith glanced over at the horse, who seemed to be fond of Nichol. He really was the horse whisperer, wasn’t he. In any case, she noted that this woman’s eyes, strikingly golden and hawk-like, seemed to shine brightly, as if to reflect the hue of the fire. She had high cheek bones, rosy pink lips, and silky black hair. The tether and obligation seemed to strengthen, once again, tightening in her chest, and Ingrith realised that this was most likely a part of them.
"Let us all introduce each other on the way, please. The sooner we get there, the better.”
The sooner the better, indeed.
~
It was the sight of the animals that made Ingrith stop in her tracks. They were silver, transparent, and emanating an aura of grace and power and pride. Her eyes widened when she spotted the Sabertooth, which seemed to watch her with its piercing, yet somehow nurturing gaze. Golden fire seemed to resonate in its glowing orbs, and its see-through fur seemed to ripple. Instinctively, the tip of Ingrith’s fingers gently rested on the stone that was fastened around her neck. So this was….
She’d only seen the Sabertooth as a shadow, as a mere silhouette upon a grimy wall whose white eyes had watched her every step, its gaze intense and scorching as if she’d been swallowed by hungry flames. To see the Sabertooth as it was now felt so different.
"Now is the time your journey begins. The life you all have lived so far will be no more. The time is upon once again for your existence and here, once again, you will stand. Look around you to each person. These are your pack, your family. Each of you hold an important role. The leader, the fighter, the strategist, the healer and the heart of the pack. These are not just friends of old, but the only friends that you will have that you can trust with anything. There is an old, large hall within Saoirse called the Evening Tide. Find it and find William Amarnheart. He will show you the next part of your journey, where you will awaken each of us within.”
Was this… was this the wolf’s voice? Her honey-brown eyes flickered over to where the massive and gracious creature stood in the centre of all the other animals, though her gaze returned to the Sabertooth when she heard another voice in her head. A sharp, jolting current coursed through her veins.
“So your journey finally begins.” The voice was warm. It held ferocity and strength, yet there was also an aspect of it that made the voice nurturing. The Sabertooth's expression did not change, but she thought she heard a smile in its voice. “Do not worry about falling into the shadows any longer, love. This time, there will be someone who will catch you.”
Ryuujin’s voice startled her back to her senses.
“Let us go.”
When Ingrith took a step forward, the world felt more alive, and she, herself, felt what could only have been one of the greatest things she’d desired: freedom, and the first step towards a different life.
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Post by carmine. on Jul 25, 2017 5:32:24 GMT -5
( i'm excited for this! your post is wonderful, astro :-) also everyone's starter looks more than just amazing, i promise )
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 7:45:44 GMT -5
Tafari
✵✺✵
"How rare and beautiful it is to even exist"
✵✺✵
Tafari was not always the most talented person among strangers, but they normally did not jump up and draw weapons. Her own training with her mother had not been wasted it seemed, because the minute she heard the sound of a sword being drawn, she'd raised her own arm and readied her shield. Her stance changed, long legs bending slightly and feet spreading for better balance. The man looked even more like a wolf, and though fear pierced her, she did not flinch. It was like she knew he would not harm her, despite the lupine aura he had. A shorter woman with thick dark hair also appeared to have a knife. Divine above, were all folk in the south eager to be stabbed? My, they were dressed strangely. Or rather, she was dressed strangely. She didn't feel the cold so much, but she must've looked like she was freezing, even her long coat wasn't very thick, as it had been designed for gentle summer evenings. The only one who didn't make an attempt on her was the tall man. Though he looked about the same height as her, it was hard to tell when he was sitting, his shoulders were much boarder, and his arms were sinewy from a life of work. When he smiled and patted the ground beside him, she did not move, still glancing from person to person, ready to run at any given moment.
"Put down your shield, fool. You are among your own kind."
The frostiness was broken up by a distant voice screaming something. She did not speak the language fluently, but she knew a string of swear words when she heard one. Then, suddenly, there a horse. And then, as suddenly as the fine looking beast, there was a fine looking girl, cheeks pink from running and swearing. "That's my horse." She spoke with the birth given confidence of a noblewoman, and the way she pointed her fingers did not contradict that first estimation. Tafari felt guilty for feeling relieved, but these other three folk did not look like nobles, they looked more like thieves, frankly, particularly the feline woman with the sharp eyes. The other woman's gaze had landed on her choker, and Tafari did her best not to squirm under the pressure of such a gaze. Her eyes were stunning, but sharp, the bright and beautiful colours often displayed by poisonous animals. A crafty woman, no doubt. The wolf-man spoke, sheathed his sword and bowed. She didn't catch every word, but the message was clear. Tafari lowered her arms, shield and lantern dipping down to hang around her waist.
"Listen to what they say, Tafari Labrys. Try to understand."
He had corrected her, he definitely corrected her. A pack. Hmmmmm. She pulled a face at the word, not bothering to try and hide her annoyance. Tafari didn't feel the need to pretend anything, actually. She felt light, and safe. Acting on these feelings, she shifted her feet to regain her regular stance. The feline woman spoke, and Tafari turned her to her, cokcing her head to the side. She lowered her hood, letting her short hair spike up, and felt the wind against her neck. She was not afraid. These people were not a threat. Tafari could feel a tug towards them, she was caught in a current that was far too strong to fight, so she floated with it instead. The young woman caught names from the wolf-man, and knew it was her turn to speak, "I am Ta-Far-i Labrys, eldest child of Amaka and Qinisela, from the cliffs of Beatha." She broke her name up into its syllables when she said it, taking each word slowly as to not make a mistake, "I travel many miles. There have been dreams. I was expecting deer. Not wolf. And.... large cat." She admitted with a shrug, though now the thought of it seemed silly. What would she have done, lived among the deer? Not an awful life, true, but there were no bathrooms in the wild.
~
The animals were much larger than the kind found in her home, though judging by the other's reactions, she was not alone in her wonder. They were glowing, as if they were lit from within, and Tafari could feel herself falling in love with that light, coveting it in the same way she did the stars. It was comfort, and warmth, and everything whole in this world. She could've stood there forever, trying to suck in as much as possible. Her little lantern looked positively childish in comparison. Each animal seemed fixed on each person; the wolf spoke directly to Ryuu, the sabertooth clocked onto the pointy girl with the knife, the pegasus to the young man of Eleven blood, and the eagle to the noble woman. The Stag trained it's own gaze on her; it was not a comforting gaze, in the way the light was, but there was understanding and peace in it's eyes. The solitude and tranquility of snowstorms. She barely heard the wolf speak when it did.
"Now is the time your journey begins. The life you all have lived so far will be no more. The time is upon once again for your existence and here, once again, you will stand. Look around you to each person. These are your pack, your family. Each of you hold an important role. The leader, the fighter, the strategist, the healer and the heart of the pack. These are not just friends of old, but the only friends that you will have that you can trust with anything. There is an old, large hall within Saoirse called the Evening Tide. Find it and find William Amarnheart. He will show you the next part of your journey, where you will awaken each of us within."
What about her own family? There were seven people waiting for her in Beatha, and the brilliant light suddenly felt heavy against her skin. She should've waited to speak to them. She should've said goodbye. The connection she felt to the others, and the joy of realising the meaning of her dreams, was dulled for her. Suddenly the light felt far too bright, though she did not move her hand to shield her eyes. When the animals came to life, Tafari jumped, shocked by the sudden display of divine power. Her eyes went wide, and she looked a little frightened, though this passed in a matter of moments. Ryuu spoke, and started running, and she wanted to follow, but it took several seconds for the command to reach her feet.
"Do not let your overthinking ruin this moment, child."
The voice had never addressed her loving before. It sounded sympathetic this time, as if it understood her sudden doubts.
"You are not replacing your family, you're simply extending it. It's alright to feel scared. But you must not let that fear stop you from running."
She blinked then, and realised the others had run on, and without a moment's more hesitation, she raced after them, her lantern glowing a little brighter. Tafari did her best to regain her positive mood, "That thing," She called, pointing to where the glowing Divines had stood, "It happen often in these woods, no?"
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Post by lozi on Jul 25, 2017 8:41:07 GMT -5
Nichol Eyre
"Your heart knows things your mind can't explain." ♆ ♆ ♆ ♆
"I only carry what I have to on me and my wakizashi does more than even to work as a hunting or fishing knife. No throwing knives on me, I am afraid. My apologies," Nichol nodded understandingly, rising to his feet. He stretched, his back cracking as he did so. "It's probably better that way, seeing that I've been a little out of practice. Throwing knives in my hands could be a little unpredictable. I'll see to setting traps for small game, then." His traps were normally quite efficient, many a time he had used them to catch pests around the farm. Wolves, foxes, and crop eaters such as rabbits were often found in his traps. He felt a pang in his chest, as if he'd offended Ryuujin in some way. His fear of the wolf was still there, but he had a respect for the animals, now. He tried to justify himself, seeing as they were killing valuable livestock, but it didn't feel like a good excuse. To take his mind off of it, he started to plan the kind of traps that he would use. He had many loaves of bread wrapped up in his bag, so he could probably spare some bread as bait. He could make snares and deadfalls, and if they had time, maybe even make a fish trap. What Nichol had missed in proper schooling, he made up in farmer's knowledge. He knew how to hunt with traps, and grow vegetables and wheat. He knew how to make bread with the bare minimum, and how to whip up a breakfast for a large group. Even so, some days he wished that he could have gone on to a better schooling. "I do know the third one that you have not met, however. The Dragon. His name is Amoux McCree, the son of the man whom taught me everything I know about swords and gave these swords to me. He is... really... something. Much shorter than me, but the last time I saw him, I was about his height. Kind of looks like me, but it is... hard to explain unless you see our parents. He has shorter hair, no facial hair either, liking to keep a clean look about him. Amoux... he has this necklace around his neck at all times with a wolf pendant on it. Oh the stories I could tell you..." To say the least, Nichol was intrigued. He could kind of imagine what this Amoux looked like, but not quite. Still, it was the same familiarity he felt, that he felt with all the others. He nodded, but let the subject slide. He sensed that this was a touchy subject. That was part of what made Nichol so approachable. He could sense others' feelings well, better than his own. He often understood what he had to say to make people feel better. It was a major play in how he could be found humorous by others. He was surprised when a horse came trotting out of the woods, straight up to him. It was a fine horse indeed, no doubt owned by a better off person, from the looks of a heavy pouch attached to the saddle. Maybe it belonged to the other person that they were waiting for. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, realizing he was probably the only dirt-poor person of the group. What would the others think? He rested a hand on the horses muzzle, calming it. He grabbed a hold of the reigns before it could run off. Perhaps the owner was not too far behind. He could hear another crashing through the woods, even louder than he had. He didn't pay much mind to her when she came out of the woods, he was just unbelievably glad to see a horse again. He rested his forehead against the beast's easily able to reach. He ran his fingers through his mane, and examined it. He didn't seem to be in too bad condition, which pleased him. He must not have been in the woods for long. " That's my horse."
Nichol was brought out of the clouds by the voice, and he finally turned to examine her. She was pretty, no doubt about it. Her hair was pitch black, her eyes golden brown, and her skin tanned. Her body was curvy, yet muscular, and her skin appeared to be flawless. She was definitely much shorter than him, at least by a foot. "I'm Nichol." He offered to the two new girls. "Nichol Eyre." He gave a cheeky bow, grinning at the two girls. It was obvious that he was the jokester of the group so far. "I assume you've come to join us?" The man had taken to assuming that these two were part of the group. Their timely arrival and the pull he felt no longer felt like a coincidence. At the mention of not being able to hunt, he frowned slightly, but nodded. "It's best we be on our way." He had quickly turned serious, and was ready to go wherever Ryuujin said. Already, he saw him as the leader. § § § The animals were like specters as they stood in the middle of the road, nearly scaring Nichol out of his skin. They were silver and transparent, looming at a height almost as tall as him. They were roughly the same size, no matter what creature they were. There were five of the animals that Ryuujin had spoken of. The wolf, eagle, sabretooth, stag, and pegasus. All of them were here. They were regal to see proud and powerful. Then the voice came, and Nichol assumed that it was the wolf who spoke. "Now is the time your journey begins. The life you all have lived so far will be no more. The time is upon once again for your existence and here, once again, you will stand. Look around you to each person. These are your pack, your family. Each of you hold an important role. The leader, the fighter, the strategist, the healer and the heart of the pack. These are not just friends of old, but the only friends that you will have that you can trust with anything. There is an old, large hall within Saoirse called the Evening Tide. Find it and find William Amarnheart. He will show you the next part of your journey, where you will awaken each of us within." It was a lot of information for Nichol to process. Which role did he fall into? He was sure that Ryuujin was the leader, but he didn't know the others well enough to tell where they stood. Evening Tide? William Amarnheart? Awaken? He repeated the instructions in his head over and over, memorizing them so at to not forget. Go to Saoirse and find hall called Evening Tide. Find William Amarnheart for the next part of your journey. Awaken your animal within yourself. Going to the hall and finding William Amarnheart sounded easy enough, but he sure hoped this William knew a lot about awakening the animal inside them. That part sounded particularly difficult. All the animals responded to the call of the wolf, rearing and sounding their calls into the sky. Heartened by the animals, he was filled with energy. Letting out a whoop of the joy that the animals had given him, he pelted after Ryuujin, turning a cartwheel in the road. He felt like a little boy again, and for now, all his troubles were forgotten.
Turning to run backwards, he called back to Tafari, "Only to us!" He grinned again turning around and running even faster to catch up to the spirit animals.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2017 23:00:55 GMT -5
Ceferinae Whelan "My dear, our souls met long before our eyes did." - A.P
☼☼ ☼ ☼☼
Cefe's golden gaze raked over the small group as they talked about something that she didn't understand. She approached her horse, side eyeing the man of Elven blood. He was much taller than her and all smiles. Something about him radiated peace and comfort; the woman was instantly soothed when she entered his presence. She stopped in front of him to attend to her horse - it was happily munching on a patch of grass - and reached into her leather pouch to make sure none of her possessions had jostled loose on the wild ride. Loosing a sigh of relief when she felt all her items, she withdrew her hand from her pouch and patted the backside of her horse gently. Despite all that they had been through in the last few hours, she thanked the Divines above that she was able to find the horse and the people that she had been pulled towards.
"Let us all introduce each other on the way, please. The sooner we get there, the better."
The noblewoman's head shot up towards the man who was the obvious leader of the group. Did he say that his name was Ryujin something? The name sounded foreign, but was smooth off his tongue and tickled her ear. His accent was classic Galic though his features weren't necessarily Galic in nature. He was an odd mix, yet it suited him in a way that Ceferinae couldn't describe. She frowned deeply at his comment to the small group. Her heart beat as she looked around the group. Unknowingly, she had stumbled into her destiny and before she could breath, the people her soul had pulled her towards where off and running. Everything seemed to be happening so fast. Get where and why not know each other's names before they got there?
To Saoirse, of course. Have you not listened to me at all, dear one?
Cefe grinded her teeth at the annoyed, but slightly amused voice in her head. Of course she had listened to the voice. She wouldn't be standing in the middle of nowhere with not-so-stranger strangers if she had chosen to ignore the feminine timber in her head. For a moment, she wondered if the others felt the same fear and uncertainty about their journey as she did.
Just go with them, Ceferinae Whelan. They will not harm you or desert you. You are safe in their company.
It was the first time the voice had addressed her by her full name. Her insides shook from the force of the demand. Cefe groaned and rubbed her eyes, "Ok, ok. I get it."
As the impossibly tall, dark skinned woman introduced herself, Cefe tightened her pouch to her horse saddle, brow furrowed. Gracefully, she swung herself into the saddle and took the reign into her slender hands. She then directed the massive creature around the crowd of people, chin high but eyes softened to her new pack, "I understand you wish to get moving, but you should at least know how to address me. My name is Ceferinae Whelan. You may call be Cefe."
She dipped her head to the group then spurred her horse after Ryuu.
☼☼☼ It was a struggle to keep the overwhelming shock off her face. Cefe stared at the spectral Divines, jaw slack and eyes filled with amazed wonder. She hadn't known what she was expected the, to look like, but it surely was human sized ghost animals. The wolf spoke without ever opening his mouth, adding to the intrigue of the moment. Their glow filled the forest, casting moving shadows across the forest floor and heating the space with unknown life. A ruffle of feathers caught the woman's eye.
The eagle - in simple terms - was massive. It would have towered over her had she been standing beside it. The Divine turned it's golden gaze (a gaze suspiciously like her own) to Cefe, and blinked slowly in recognition. She felt like she was looking in the mirror as she stared into her Divine's eyes. Then, a wave of peace and comfort washed over her suddenly.
Dear one. That was the name the voice had always called her. She had never thought to much about it, yet now it struck her heart. Her mother had said that in her dying moments, and now the eagle was carrying her into a new life with the same name. This Divine had brought her to people who would care and protect her, hopefully make her laugh and do life with her. A strong feeling of want for the others blossomed inside of her in that moment and the fear of the journey drifted away. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes, but Ceferinae wiped them away before the others could see. The eagle blinked again, joy glittering in it's sharp eyes.
The intense moment for her was interrupted by the wolf's powerful voice.
"Now is the time your journey begins. The life you all have lived so far will be no more. The time is upon once again for your existence and here, once again, you will stand. Look around you to each person. These are your pack, your family. Each of you hold an important role. The leader, the fighter, the strategist, the healer and the heart of the pack. These are not just friends of old, but the only friends that you will have that you can trust with anything. There is an old, large hall within Saoirse called the Evening Tide. Find it and find William Amarnheart. He will show you the next part of your journey, where you will awaken each of us within."
Cefe squirmed in her saddle, excitement building in her bones. It mattered not to her anymore where she would fit in the group; all that she cared about was that she was apart. She memorized the information as well as she could (it was a huge amount to take in). When the Divines responded to the wolf's mighty howl, a grin split her face and laughter bubbled from deep inside of her. It had been months since she had felt such joy and excitement, and she wasn't about to let anything ruin her moment. She didn't waste a single breath in hesitation before she kicked the side of her horse and took off after her new pack.
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 26, 2017 7:43:36 GMT -5
Ryuujin "Don't take my kindness as my weakness. The beast in me is sleeping, not dead."
⇀↠ 〤 ↞↼
Everyone was running behind him. Everyone was here. At the question from the woman, whom he could only assume was the Stag due to her wording and such, he opened his mouth to speak, looking back at her. However, Nichol had already answered and he felt like that was good enough. The five of them had come together, for whatever reason, and they were on their way. The Wolf had stated that they were needed, but were they really? It wasn't as if they were five knights that fought an evil empire. Sure, the Emperor wasn't the greatest of guys and things were a bit tight, but they were not some story-book characters that rose up to fight. Life wasn't that cheesy... was it? Oh sweet Divines, no. Anything but that.
Still, all five of them were there. There were five of them and that is what it would be like. For a second, before the Divines had vanished from their sight, Ryuu could have sworn he glimpsed a much larger, more beautiful creature in the sky in front of the five animals. It was there for only a second and the creature's stare sent shivers down his spine, not a pleasant feeling coming from that one at all. It was gone as fast as it came, however, just like the others. The animals were gone as soon as they had all started running.
Keep your pack safe, young one. No matter whom is the threat, you must protect them at all costs.
Those words were like weights in his mind and his full on sprint had faltered in speed for a mere second before he gritted his teeth and continued as fast as he possibly could. That would be something to think about in another time, not right now. For the time being, he felt nothing but energy. It was almost as if the Wolf himself was running within him, pushing him forward with this energy and excitement. Nothing really stayed on his mind besides the other four and getting to Saoirse.
How long they were running, how they were even able to stay running like that, Ryuu did not know nor would he ever really have answers for that. Eventually, he felt the energy fade and he did slow down to a walk. For some reason, he wasn't even out of breath. His heart was racing, but that wasn't due to the running. He was fit and very prone to keeping in tip top shape, but even he couldn't normally sprint like that for an amount of time like that. Whatever it was, whatever had happened, it was done.
Now came the traveling part. Being that they ran at a sprinting speed for a good while, probably running a few miles at the least, and the twenty-four year old figured that they were already half-way to Soairse from his town, they had maybe ten more miles to go. After all, the stone walls and the palace were in sight by now, the woods thinning out as they reached the bottom of the mountain. Salmon were jumping up stream in the small waterfalls and rapids, which caught Ryuu's eye. He stopped and then looked back at the others for a moment, a part of him wanting to catch a fish or two, but deciding against it and going back on his way.
"I grew up traveling back and forth from one end of the hold to the other on a weekly basis. For about ten years I would cross these roads twice a week. It normally takes me about two hours at a speed walk to get to Saoirse itself, but about a day or day and a half to get from my hometown to the other side. Normally, it should take someone two or three days, but I know plenty of short-cuts." The silence was something that Ryuu preferred but being that everyone felt so... familiar, yet they were all strangers, he decided to fill up the silence with some small talk. He went off babbling about hidden trails to tips for fishing or hunting. And boy did he love to talk about his parents. "I never had a mother in my life, so I grew up with my Otosan and my Pa. Never really went to school either, but I was taught how to speak, read and write by both of them. Everything I know is either by those two or Amoux's parents. He was like me, which was really ironic considering our parents were... similar? Hikari is of Nihon blood and from Nihon too. Mark is... hauntingly exactly like my Pa. It is a nightmare to have our parents together." Blinking, he thought of something that he had been asked earlier. The only reason it came to mind was because there was a farm dog out herding sheep on the long stretch of open land before them.
The dog's name was Lady, she was a purebred Border Collie. She was very obediently trained and strived to please her master by keeping the sheep well herded together and taken care of. Never to bite or snap at them, just bark and keep them together. Normally sheep farmers had two, but this one only had Lady. How he knew this, was just... a feeling. Every canine that came close to him, he just... personally knew and understood. Like how he could feel how focused Lady was on guiding the sheep back to their pen. He watched her stop and turn towards him, their brown eyes locking for a moment before the dog went back to doing what she was doing.
"Ingrith, you had asked earlier how I feel about canines when they are around me? Their emotions, their names and what they do, that is what I can... feel. They feel what I do and they respond to my emotions as I respond to theirs. If there is an injured vixen or a lost pup, I can sense them and give them aid. I know when a pack of wolves in on the hunt or when a tamed dog is playing with the farm children," Ryuu explained in a more... quiet voice. It was as if he was a little cautious of this topic, borderline scared of talking about it. Each step closer to the capital of his hold, the more he got nervous about talking of this subject. Kurai and Jack had always made sure that he was careful on this subject and didn't show anything outstanding, for fear of someone wanting to accuse him of sorcery. "Just as if I am hurt, they naturally come to my protection, when I am hungry, they actually bring me food. When I was lost as a child, a pack of wolves took me in and then guided me home. I take care of them and they take care of me. I am the Alpha, and the Alpha protects his pack. You surely understand, right?" Perhaps cats did not work as canine creatures did, nor did birds, deer and horses, but it was... surely something similar, correct? He decided to go quiet on the matter, looking at a group of guards heading down the pathway. It was not uncommon for them to be traveling the roads, especially since they were getting closer to Saoirse.
"Do not mention anything of the sort around them," the words were murmured quietly as he looked back at the others with a quick glance at each to make sure they understood. Sorcery was illegal and punishable by being imprisoned for all of their lives or even death. Of course, prisoners were often treated so poorly if they were there for life that most didn't last more than ten years at the most. Elemental magic, shape-shifting, "control" over animals. It was unnatural and forbidden, yet the five of them could do it.
Groups of young adults were not uncommon either, so they really didn't look out of the ordinary, besides the two females that looked more like noblewomen than the rest of them. Even so, they didn't look out of the norm as they walked down the path. Remembering that Ingrith was being chased by some people, Ryuu glanced over at her and moved to walk directly beside her, pulling up his scarf over his nose. He was not going to let anyone intimidate her nor make her feel uncomfortable and even if she looked perhaps a little shifty, he was not going to let anyone think twice about taking her in.
Lifting up his chin in a way to look down at the approaching guards, there was an air about Ryuu that gave off that challenging air once again. Like a snarling wolf, his eyes held this protective, fighting fire within the brown color. It was as if he was silently daring anything to come at him. Most guards enjoyed a good fight, the ones on the outer edges of Saoirse seen so much of it that they preferred to not fight. There was nothing that they could do to justifiably give them the right to search or take any of them in and Ryuu knew that well. No matter how they looked, if they approached them, the trouble would be upon the guards, not the young adults themselves.
"Good day," one of the passing guards stated with a dip of his head behind the helm upon his head that covered his face. Guards were required to wear armor of that hold's color and a helm that covered their face, to protect them as well as hide who they were so a assassin could not specifically seek them out. Of course, every guard also had a shield of their hold's color and emblem. Some were archers, some used short swords or great swords. It was a range of weapons, really. "A nice day to be out on a walk."
"It is," Ryuu agreed and dipped his head a little. He didn't look back until the guards were long past them, trekking up into the forest that they had just left behind. A few more miles and they would be getting to Saoirse. "Cefe, you will be able to pay for a stable for your horse, yes? There are two stables close to the city. One is right outside the guard's gates and the other is a bit of a walking distance. The one farther away is cheaper, if you wish. I could arrange something for you for the one closer as the owner was a drinking friend of my Pa's and one of the best archers in the guard."
Ah, Amalia Aamer. She and her daughter were foreign to Northwind, much like his Otosan had been, so they did not have the typical accents of this country. However, Amalia spoke more of Naidni language than her daughter did. He couldn't really remember her daughter's name, whom was a guard like her mother, but he knew Amalia and he knew her very well. She owned the stables outside of the city and cared for the horses well. After retiring she became a herbalist and was quite the medic when the time came. And her cooking was outstanding; who else would Ryuu learn to cook from but the best?
The sun rose slowly and it shone a beautiful light upon the guarded city within the grassland, the rolling hills of the moor. It made the twenty-four year old take in a deep breath as he glanced around the small farms and stone watch-towers. People and guards alike were walking along the roads, a caravan set up right outside the gates. It was a familiar sight, but he was not here on regular terms. It had been four years since he had walked into those walls and the thought of it made him a bit... excited, almost.
They were almost there.
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Post by carmine. on Jul 26, 2017 8:14:19 GMT -5
[ typing up a reply right now! it might take a bit though just cause i feel a little scatterbrained today. i'm studying for this one exam atm and it's just blaugh. why must we take exams like these x~x ]
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Post by lozi on Jul 26, 2017 8:33:07 GMT -5
[ typing up a reply right now! it might take a bit though just cause i feel a little scatterbrained today. i'm studying for this one exam atm and it's just blaugh. why must we take exams like these x~x ] [ Aw, that bites Al. Best of luck! ]
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Post by ѕρσттεdѕнιммεя on Jul 26, 2017 8:39:36 GMT -5
[ typing up a reply right now! it might take a bit though just cause i feel a little scatterbrained today. i'm studying for this one exam atm and it's just blaugh. why must we take exams like these x~x ] [ don't worry about replying, focus on your exam! still, the best of luck to you with it! ]
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