|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:44 pm
Smoke...fire...screams...Phantoms of a distant past that still haunted even the smallest of nightmares. Somehow every dream led back to that house, towering in stone above the 7 year old girl. Her sister and brothers missing or diapearing around her in a flash of white light. "Mommy...Daddy..." She didn't understand what was happening. Why their house was burning. Where was Fora? Where was Scott, Philip, and the baby Nile? The little girl held her bear closer as the light began to envelope her, raceing with the flames licking at the door of her room and the smoke choking the senses. She wanted to try and find her siblings but the flames acted as a wall stoping her steps. And before she knew it, it was too late. Her world was gone. Choking flame became cleansing sea. The smell of salt replaced smoke. The call from her foster mother in the floor below, dragging Keori from her 7 year old dear, into her 17 year of reality.
Keori pulled herself out of bed, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Coming!" She called down, the smell of frying caplin, mixed with the smell of the sea filling her senses. Living here...she could almost forget her past. Could almost forget that she had a sister and three brothers somewhere out there in the world. She wasn't even sure if she would recognize them anymore. Ten years...that was quite a long time. She knew almost for certain that if Nile were to come to the market today she wouldn't know him. He had been just a baby after all.
The young girl pulled on some clothes and went downstairs for breakfast. Not surprising, her foster father had already eaten and was likely on the water as they spoke to get the mornings catch to sell at their little stall in the market. There was fried fish and fresh bread for breakfast. Partriage berries were in season and so they were able to have a special treat of jam on their bread. The meal was paired with a strong black tea. "Better hurry and get ready to go into town Love. Your father will be back soon."Said Keori's foster mother. Keori loved her foster parents and regarded them as her true parents. They couldn't replace her real mother and father of course, but it was nice to have people who loved you when you couldn't be with your true family.
"Okay..." Keori got up from the table, and had just finished gathering her things when she heard her foster father's boat knocking against the dock outside, and him stepping out, likely with catch in hand. Keori raced out the door to fetch the horse and hitch it too the wagon while her father loaded the wagon with the days goods to be sold. Within an half hour they were heading into town.
The market was too crowded to bring a wagon through, so Keori stayed with the horse while her father loaded up the stall with the goods. Once everything was ready, Keori and her father traded places. Keori to mind the stall, and her father to go and do more work that needed to be done. Keori's days were quite often busy starting off, when the majority of people did their morning shopping. But as the day wore on, Keori was able to find time to tie flies in between customers, adding to their collection of things to sell. She assumed that this day would be like any other. But she didn't realize just how wrong she would be.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:01 pm
"Fero, you lazy a**! Get down and help me fetch some water!"
Fora opened an eye to a lush, green canopy of leaves. The branch she was currently resting on was rough and sturdy against her back, but that didn't stop her from jolting when it began to violently shake.
"Alright!" she snapped to the dark haired boy below her. "I'm coming already, ya' dunderhead!" He laughed up at her, only to have it turn into a yelp when she aimed to land on top of him. He scrambled away just in time, and Fora landed next to him on her haunches.
"Be more careful!" Daniel snapped, but Fora merely rolled her eyes.
"It's not like it would've hurt, you baby." She punched him in the arm, and he returned it with a light shove before trowing a wooden bucket at her.
"Yeah, well, Mauve put us on kitchen duties for dinner, so we gotta go get boiling water fer the stew." he replied. Fora let out a loud groan.
"What? Again?" she whined. "We did breakfast two days ago!"
"No helpin' it." he shrugged. "Gergor and his group still haven't come back."
"You think they're alright?" Fora asked, setting the bucket down once they reached the stream. Gregor and a few of the more skilled thieves had gone into town to scope out the new tourists flooding in, but that had been several days ago. The most anyone had every been away from the caravan had be four days, unless they were planning to leave for good. A thought occurred to her. "Ya think they left us?"
"Nah." Daniel replied, skipping a stone across the water. "They're probably held up by the authorities or somethin. Not like it hasn't happened before."
Fora knew he was right, but her heart still pounded as she dipped her bucket into the cool running water.
As they walked back in silence, Fora thought back to her first run-in with the caravan she now called home. Before leaving the care of the duke and his wife to save their lives, she had decided to cast her identity as a princess away. She cut her hair and began binding her breasts to pass herself off as a young boy. She started off alright with what personals she could pawn off without suspicion, but when soldiers began showing up in town she had to move to living in the woods.
Mauve had found her, high up in a tree to avoid the animals that prowl the bushes in the night. Mauve was smart, she had known Fora was a girl right away, yet she had promised to keep her gender a secret from the rest of the caravan. She had introduced her to them under the name Fero, to further hide her identity. Even now, after staying with them these ten years, only a handful knew her secret. None of them know she was the princess, but every time they passed a town she would notice Mauve was a little on edge. It was possible she knew. Fora wouldn't put it past her. It could explain the false name.
"Oi, you gonna wake up anytime soon or what?" Daniel remarked, snapping her from her daze. Daniel, as far as she knew, was not in the inner circle of people who knew her real gender. She felt bad about that sometimes, especially since she did conciser him as her brother. She wondered what he's say if he knew, besides her not being a boy, that she was actually five years older than him? Honestly, above anything else, she believe that would bother him most. Daniel took a lot of pride in being the oldest of the children in the camp, and to keep up her disguise she had changed her age from twenty-three to seventeen. A small laugh escaped her lips, but she quickly masked it as a cough as Daniel shot her a funny look.
"I don't know anyone who live in their head as much as you do." he commented as they entered the encampment. Fora rolled her eyes, placing her bucked down next to his and picking up some firewood to throw into the cooking pit.
"That's because you bore me." she teased, quickly moving out of the way when he tossed a small piece of firewood at her. She laughed.
⊰
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:37 pm
Philip whistled to himself as he walked along the edge of the forest, having come to the end. Along the sides rolled grassy greens and hills covered with the fresh smell of spring on the air, however with it came the smell of blood. He could smell it; every blade of grass had its own blood dripping it from it. The smell had never been so over whelming as it was now. He could hear the distant memories drifting around, screams never been so loud. And all because the thought that there was something else that was contained within the teleportation spell and it wouldn’t leave him alone for one minute so he could think of something else. It was fairly distracting. Slowly he started muttering something to himself, to distract him, to do something that was different. He settled on deciding his goals for the day.
“Goal one, find some new trinkets for the day.” He said looking around constantly for any glimmer of something that a traveller may have dropped on their journey. He walked by popular routes, the forest were known for keeping clear of bandits, and so people would often drop things in their carelessness. However he also was aware that was only the rules of the forests he had passed through before, it could change when he passed through these forests.
“Goal two, find ways to the next nearest town or village within the food supply limit” he said looking at his black bag again. He probably had enough for three days if he limited himself carefully. Just over a day if he didn’t. He didn’t know how much he would get for each trinket and he had picked up one or two things that people had claimed ownership over before. That had nearly got him landed in jail a few times in the past. Not somewhere he wanted to be, even if he didn’t look the boy he used to be. Philip looked up at a distant figure on a horse and gave a long huff. The horse wasn’t moving fast at all.
“Goal three, try and not get myself into any more trouble.” He said before racing after the horse, running had become very easy very quickly. “Hey there!” he called coming up behind the horse, it really wasn’t moving very fast, an indication that the rider had been pushing slightly too hard. “Your horse needs a rest,” he said grabbing hold of the reins to bring the horse to a halt. “And you look starved.” Philip said staring at the young man on the horse, not even aware that the person he looked at was one of those people he had long forgotten the faces of. He was just aware that his food pile had probably gone down to a day at max.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:11 pm
The morning was wearing on when a small group of soldiers came to the market. Keori did as she usually did, kept her head down, looking busy, trying not to draw attention to herself. Usually this would work. The market was usually crowed enough that any soldiers who might march by who might recognize her, wouldn't even notice her among the crowd. And it's not like there were that many soldiers there that fateful night at the stone house either. But on this particular day, it seemed at least one of the soldier recognized her. From her stall she could see them. Looking towards her, lips mouth her name "Ahto". There were just three of them there, so when they looked away for the briefest moment, she whispered words long forgotten by most under her breath, casting her gift into their minds. When they looked at her again, they would no longer see the girl with blue hair siting there. But rather a younger girl, with auburn locks. Keori went back to keeping her head down and such, hoping the soldiers would just turn and leave since the girl they thought they saw was obviously not there any more (even though to the rest of the world nothing changed).
The use of her power would have been perfect, if it wasn't for what happened next. An older woman came by the stall, and after paying for some fresh caught fish, she looked up at Keori. "What pretty blue hair you have dear. Must be a gift from your mother..." The woman commented. She meant well, but at the same time it sealed Keori's fate. The soldiers had been close enough that they over heard the old woman. It took a moment, but Keori could almost see the hints click together in their metal covered heads before...
"She bewitched us! An Ahto Child!! Seize her!!" The lead soldier cried out. Immediately the market was in a panic. Ahto was a name that stuck fear in most. To be associated with one meant death. Keori didn't hesitate. She got up from the stall and made a run for it down a back alley. She knew she would never outrun them on foot if they had seen where she went. So running around another corner, Keori spotted a horse. There were only a couple people around so she grabbed the reins and hopped on the back, starting off into an immediate gallop. "Help!! Horse thief!!" She could hear behind her, mixed in with the sounds of yelling soldiers and clanking metal. She took a look behind her. They were gaining fast, and one was reaching to confiscate a horse. Terrified and feeling her heart hammering in her ears, Keori kicked the horses sides and started off into a gallop. Weaving through the familiar alleys and roads, Keori desperately tried to dodge the reaching hands wanting a reward for catching an Ahto child, and trying to outrun the ever present soldiers at her heels.
Another turn and Keori could see the city gates. She gave the horse another small kick, holding on to the reins for dear life. With the soldiers close behind, she didn't dare stay on the road and headed straight into the near by woods in an attempt to loose them. For the first quarter mile through the trees, she could still hear shouts and horses behind her, but with every hill and tree, the sounds grew more faint. Her heart continued to hammer in her throat as she looked for a place to hide. Across a river and down a bank she found a small cave, the enterence so small she almost missed it herself. With no time to loose, she jumped from her horse, and led it into the cave with her. The cave was just high enough for them to fit, and just deep enough that their figures would be darkened if the soldiers came across it.
There Keori waited. She tried to quiet her breathing, though still felt as though her heart was loud enough for the world to hear. Far off she could hear the soldiers shouting. She waited in that tiny cave for hours, waiting for the shouting to stop. As she waited, her mind went to her foster parents. She preyed they would be alright, that no one would tell the soldiers where she lived. The young girl felt tears welling in her eyes. Why did all good things need to come to an end?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:10 pm
Scott started, startled. He lied on the horse, most of his strength in holding the doll. his eyes, just slits, didn't see a thing, but he could still hear, still feel. Someone was approaching. And then he shouted out and Scott twinged. That voice...so familiar.
He had only the vaguest idea that he knew the person, but that person was dumb. The horse was fine. His heartbeat was strong as ever, his breathing easy. Scott didn't have the strength to hold on, so he kept it at a slow pace. The horse was his last gift from the farmer. He would keep it healthy.
As the man reached out, Scott could feel the disturbance and grabbed him before he touched the reins. Fingers pressed against the veins in Philip's wrist, he paid attention. That heartbeat was eerily familiar. If only Scott had the energy to think. He could feel a fuzzy image form. Before he could finish it, though, he was interrupted.
"For- forget me... Woman... danger..." Scott tried to straighten himself on the horse as he pointed towards the nearest town. There was commotion enough to shock him awake. He strained to hear words, but only one reached him. A name. His name.
"Go!" He shouted at the male before him. Scott turned his horse to go off in that direction. He needed to help the person. That was one of his siblings. "Please go help the Ahto!" Scott fainted, wasting every ounce of energy. Falling against his horse, he still held onto the doll.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:42 am
Nile sunk back into the water, his form vanishing completely from the surface yet completely visible through the clear water. He came back up, holding his hands tightly together, as he waded to the shore. There was a small pile of smooth rocks in various colours and shapes. Unlocking his hands, Nile dropped a few more stones into the group. They were very interesting to him, perfectly crafted into flawless shapes by the artistic talents of the running water. Most of them were innocently white, something he enjoyed, but others were more curiously striped, reds and browns and yellows.
The boy was smiling the whole time he had been bringing the stones in, and even now when he began sorting through them. Five into a pile of white ones, others into a pile of unique shapes, and the rest into a pile of spheres. Besides the occasional animal which he sometimes was lucky enough to spot, Nile found the river stones one of the most fun things in his life.
The boy picked up the white stones and walked, dripping with water, over to his clothes. He put the stones onto his large shirt on the ground, and picked up his pants. Nile sat down and sunk his feet into the cloth and pulled while squirming till they were over his legs. He tightened the garment around his waist with the thin rope that worked as his belt. Nile then bent over and gathered the stones off his shirt, which had left a wet pattern on its dark canvas, and stuffed them in his right pant-pocket. Nile then picked up the shirt and put it on, or rather buried himself in it.
Nile was waving his arms around under the cloth, trying to find the right holes for them to go through. That's when he heard the many bird calls over the rushing river, and it broke the peace of the woods. Nile struggled with the shirt, saw light, and poked his head out. He gazed right up at the sky, and to his terror he could see the many birds that had taken flight. Something spooked them, and he could then hear the shouts, and soon horses hooves.
No, no, the people! What were they doing out there? Nile managed to free his hands from the confines of his top and in his panic rushed behind the nearest, largest tree. Where could he go, where should he go? They were out this far in the woods.
Could he go home? But the house was the first place they would look if they found it, that's what he always said. That's why he always told Nile to have other places to go to, for safety. The galloping came closer, until something passed over the water... Nile gripped tightly to the bark of tree, clinging to it while trying to think of a place to go to. He just wanted safety.
Then, the stomping got farther, the rider was going away... Was that it? Was he safe? But then, the shouting. More galloping animals. More were coming. He had to think, think hard, find a place in his mind. Nile crouched down and shut his eyes. 'Think, think!' He begged in his mind, trying to get away, trying to get an image to disappear to. The darkness of his closed eyes reminded him of something... The Cave! In a flash, the boy was no longer by the tree, no longer in the open sun, no longer by the river...
Nile felt the cold stone beneath his bare feet and his shoulders relaxed. He was away, he was safe! Opening his eyes, there was only darkness around him. Security. The dimmest light shone in from the cave mouth in the distance. Nile sighed heavily, trying to calm down. His heart was beating fast, he could feel it by pressing his hand to his chest.
Then, the horse neighed. Nile lifted his head - What was that? Did an animal come to the cave in hiding? Was it harmless... was he safe? Nile focused as his eyes got used to the dim lighting, and there was the silhouette of a person there! Right there in the darkness with him. The boy jumped back with a squeak of fear and pressed against the wall of the cave, his back held uncomfortably to the harsh rock. What did he do!? A person, and he had just used his power!! Maybe he could escape, run to the opening - but then the other people.. Nile stared in shock to the cave opening as other humans passed by. He could not go anywhere, what did a ghost do when it was trapped?!
"B-boo." Nile yelped.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:00 am
Philip looked over at the nearest town, frowning. It was a fair distance off and he hadn’t heard anything. It was strange that the name Ahto had been mentioned but decided not to mention anything about it. The man was probably delusional and besides no one else was coming his way. Giving a long sigh, Philip would have walked away by now had the person not collapsed on their horse after asking to go and help. To help someone would only draw unnecessary attention. He held the reins incredibly tightly and turned the horse back towards the forest. They would be much safer there and if he didn’t go too far in, he could probably turn the person back to the village where Philip had just come from. They were very friendly, even more so if he sent a trinket along with it.
Taking the rider and his horse back into the forest, Philip took him far enough back and hidden enough that if anyone did come they wouldn’t trample and stumble across them. He started laying out the blanket which he recovered from his black bag. He then removed some of the food from his bag, placing it to one side, taking a carrot which he had obtained in the village. He walked over to the man and started removing the reins from the horse.
“You should go and lie down,” he said stroking the horse and holding the carrot out for the horse to nibble on. “There’s some food, have something to eat before you pass out again. You’re not going to help anyone if you are hungry.” He said softly. “And your horse isn’t going to survive much longer if you carry on the way you are.” Philip turned away from the horse and looked at him. “You were being delusional, the name of Ahto has not been murmured for years, not unless you want the ruler Trantaus on your back. .”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:23 pm
"Caw!" came a loud cry forcing the young traveler from his thoughts. At the moment a traveler by the name of Demios sat near a small stream finishing the remains of a meal he had gathered. The birds crowing was a sign for Demios, he had learned over the years to trust the judgement of animals especially when it was his own pet. Odds were it noticed something and was trying to convince Demios to get moving. He nodded to himself before gathering his supplies and making a whistling sound calling the raven down to him. The raven landed on his shoulder and gave another caw.
It wasn't long before he was on the move again, he always seemed to be on the move these days and he wasn't even sure where he was headed. Ever since the death of the old woman Demios had felt a bit alone with only his pet by his side. Sure he occasionally came across people traveling or villages, but most of the time even those people kept a good distance from him. He reached up and pet the raven "At least your here to keep me company Nyx" he said with a bit of a smile. He supposed that his best option for now would be to keep an eye out for a place to get some direction and be wary of trouble along the way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:19 am
A Man came running through a dark alley way, as he bolted towards the right corner, being halted by a few guards, taking a strong turn he bumped straightly into Beatrix. "B-Beatrix! Ah! Help! Me! I! don't want to die." as the man struggled his way through the guards but was pushed back by their shields. Beatrix who stood their looked at his pitiful pride. And was given a piece of paper with his name on it. Seeing that he was indeed in cahoot with the Ahto Children long ago. She gave a snap of her two fingers. "Throw him in the pit." as she turned the two guards took the mans shoulders as he struggled while screaming for help. Beatrix on the other hand, didn't give a damn and started off towards the main district. Their was something she needed to get. Something of an importance for the great leader. Trantaus.
Standing in the mush while holding her blade up high, Anzshela took a stance before Kevin and began to go for a stab sending her blade tip towards his abdomen. Kevin evaded the attack and stepped to the right side as he held his blade to his chest and began to maneuver through Anzshela's attacks. Something was making her move yet her attacks were calm and precise. Anzshela kept on the verge of taking the attacks head on. Mastering each step and technique to its higher standards. "Your getting the hang of this Anzshela, good form good form. But your still not their yet. You have yet to learn strategy, moving without hesitating is something greater, but thinking before acting is a stronger way to show, you have master what your father could not. Now try going a bit slower." as Kevin proclaimed while shielding himself from her side slashes. "Kevin I'm in no need of learning such weaknesses, I need to get stronger. Those bastards will pay for striking my families pride. I have no need to go as slow as you have taught me for those 10 years. I already know that the idea is to make sure all your attacks take a blow, but what good is it, if my attacks don't even have power behind it." as Anzshela took a stance once more and began to rapid assault using piercing stabs towards Kevin's chest. "It is more about planning your attacks then attacking on random. You know this, think calmly, think like the ocean if you must, it does not need pride it needs to be calm and patient." Anzshela just stopped and stood their holding her blade.. "Kevin, I'm... I'm just not in right of state of mind. I know your trying to teach me that, I don't know whats going on. 10 years ago..was too soon." Kevin looked at her and slowly sheathed his blade. "It would be best to calm down and listen. Your family is already proud of you, someone who already have mastered the Flames techniques is quite a feat. But if you want to get revenge, you must also understand, that becoming them wont bring you to revenge, it will only bring you pain and suffering." Anzshela looked around and slowly sheathed her blade as well. "So what am I supposed to do?. Kevin." Kevin looked at her backside and sighed.. while ruffling his head with his left hand. "I don't know, but I'm going to the town for some groceries, I'll be back. Just work on what we were talking about.. once I come back we can continue." as Kevin grabbed his cloak he began to walk away. Leaving Anzshela behind to think.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:24 pm
If Scott were still up and had sufficiant strength, he would have slugged Philip. He was endangering one of his siblings! Scott would give his life to protect his brothers and sisters. He didn't know Philip was one of them, though. He slept like a rock, drained and not able to thrash around in his nightmare.
He could see Niles, now a boy, and Philip, and Keori, and even Fora, all running from nasty looking men. Scott tried to help them, but Trantaus appeared and grabbed him, making him watch as his siblings were captured and brought to a chopping block. Scott screamed in the dream.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 4:51 pm
Philip gave a long sigh as he watched the boy collapse on the horse. Now he would have to pull him off and get him on the blanket himself and that would require quite a bit of effort. He walked over and pulled Scott gently off the horse and onto the blanket below, before returning his attention to the horse. The scream made him jump and he turned, but it seemed that the boy was still asleep. Dropping his head, Philip started to remove the saddle. If the boy was having nightmares there was nothing he could do about it. It wasn’t that he was heartless. He just didn’t have enough heart to give out to everyone he saw.
Philip placed the saddle on the ground to one side, sliding it underneath a nearby bush. It would make sure that he would have to hide it if someone came along, someone who wasn’t wanted. He then started to brush the horse down, after tying it to a tree. He really didn’t want to be accused of stealing someone’s horse.
“Ah, he really needs to take better care of you,” Philip muttered to himself as he ran his hand through the horse’s hair, just like his father had shown him how. “He would have ridden you to death if he had carried on. He probably would have wandered around the area without actually going into the town. And where would he be without you?” he said, whispering into the horse’s ear. “It’s been a long time since I’ve brushed such a grand horse as you.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:49 pm
You wanna fight? Then bring it on!
~Crystal Lightfeather~
Morning sunlight; Wind whistling through the trees, the leaves rustling; birds chirping; a peaceful moment in a not-so-peaceful-world. Clear blue eyes opened in this moment, as pale pink lips parted to release a sigh. Crystal swung the strap of her sword over her shoulder and stood, stretching her arms high above her head until her back cracked. She glanced down to the ground below. The branch she had chosen for the night was about ten feet off the ground, and had thankfully been sturdy enough to support her weight. The nearest tree had a similar branch just five feet lower, and was within jumping distance. Sucking in some air, Crystal ran to the edge of her branch and jumped, bending her knees as she landed on the lower branch to reduce her impact. Grabbing the branch with her hand, she let her body swing over, then dropped to the ground, bending her knees again. She stretched again and transferred her sword to her waist, then walked a few feet to the pathway she had been traveling on. Crystal was moving on again, constantly trying to quench her thirst for travel. The next town wasn't far. It even had a small port. Maybe she would try her hand at sea travel, possibly even leave the country to explore distant lands. She smiled as she began walking. The pathway ran through the forest along a little stream. It didn't seem well used, but she trusted the person who had recommended it to her. After a short distance, Crystal began to smell wood burning, and could just barely hear the murmurs of people chatting. She realized that the smell came from a campfire, and her mouth watered. She only had a half-loaf of bread and a chunk of cheese left from her rations, and had hoped to find some food in the town. Maybe, if she offered to do a bit of work for these people, they would offer her a meal as payment. Then she could save what little she had left for lunch if she couldn't find any work in the town. Her decision made, Crystal altered her path and waded across the small stream, following the sounds and the smells. She had not expected to come across a caravan and two kids, who seemed a little older older than her, building up a fire in a cooking pit. "Um, hi. Sorry to bother you. Is there someone in charge here who I could talk to?" She smiled warmly at them.
 Once I'm through, you'll see I've won.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:08 pm
Keori's head snapped to the side when she heard the tiny shaking voice in the darkness. Her eyes had been closed, listening for the shouts of soldiers and trying to judge how far or close they might be. How did she miss this little boy coming in the cave? How did she not hear him? What else has she missed?
Her whole body visibly jumped. The horse whinnied and shook it's head.
"W-what are you...H-how did you..." Keori didn't know what to think. She could only assume that with her attention focused solely on the soldiers, she just didn't notice the boy. A grave mistake, and one that she wouldn't make again if she could help it.
Keori jumped again when she hear a soldier yell from not too far away. Without even giving it a thought, she reached forward to grab the boy, and pull her closer to her. "Don't you dare make a sound. Or you'll get us both killed." She hissed a quietly as she could. She had no idea who this boy was, but she wasn't going to take the chance at him being the nail in her coffin. She held him close, not out of protective instinct, but of fear that he might try to run out and give her away. It was way too risky to try and find a new place to hide now.
"Just stay quiet okay. I'll let you go as soon as the soldiers go away. They're looking for an Ahto child..." She whispered, hoping that he would find the words at least a little soothing and wouldn't start screaming for help. "Please..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:35 am
Nile stayed back, firmly against the cave wall, and looked ever more terrified as the other person spoke. He could not hide and he could not run, then the person grappled him! Nile closed his eyes and squealed through his gritted teeth, while trying weakly to squirm away. It was very ineffective, and he stayed in the lady's grip. He was just more scared as she continued speaking. Nile, overcome with fear of being hurt by her - especially since she mentioned being killed if he made sounds - froze. He stayed still, his eyes closed, mouth shut, and his arms tightly pressed to his sides.
The mention of Ahto children was completely lost on him, all it meant to him was the people outside were looking for someone - this person now kidnapping him most likely - and they were most likely dangerous. How threatening was this lady then, if she was hunted by the others? Nile perfectly understood why he should not go out, why he should never go to the town with the other people - at least in daylight. This would happen, probably every time. The gentle please calmed him slightly, but he stayed generally lifeless while being held.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:37 pm
Keori could easily see how much she scared the boy. His little frozen figure was evidence enough of that. She would have apologized if she wasn't so scared of someone hearing her. Nonetheless, she loosened her grip on him a bit. She still held him tight enough o she would be able to catch him if he tried to run, but loose enough to not seem threatening.
Keori waited there in the darkness of the cave until the sounds of the soldiers finally began to fade. She waited for sometime after as well, to make sure they were really gone and not just getting more troops to search. Likely, they assumed she found a way out of the woods without them noticing. When she was absolutely sure it was safe. Keori let go of the small boy. "I'm so sorry about that....if I scared you. I didn't want to hurt you I promise. I was just trying not be found. It wouldn't be good for ether of us really...if they saw either of us. They might have thought you were the one they were looking for if they saw you." Keori wouldn't be able to explain the fact that the use of her powers on those soldiers earlier would make them think just about anyone was her. More manipulation of the mind. Looking at him for a moment, Keori tilted her head slightly. "You know...you're about the same age as my brother would be..." She murmured. She highly doubted with was the long lost Nile. But nonetheless, perhaps the comment would offer him some comfort to resemble a relative of hers. Who would really hurt their own brother after all?
Taking a cautious look around, Keori slowly made her way out of the cave, the horse navigating it's way through the narrow crevice of stone close behind her. She knew she had to run, and fast, but she found herself looking at the kid again. "Hey kid...you really shouldn't stay in these woods. If you want...I could give you a ride somewhere. A thanks for not giving me away I suppose. Wouldn't want your parents to worry now would we."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
