Suki
Fire
Pledged to the God of Fire, Pyran
Posts: 34
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Solace
Jul 9, 2008 7:35:39 GMT -5
Post by Suki on Jul 9, 2008 7:35:39 GMT -5
She had left home when she was only seventeen, now many years had passed and Suki had accomplished little, but lost little as well. Izafel would never be returned to her; she would never learn the truth as why Izafel left, nor would she know the woman he picked instead. Xa'rion and his dragon companion had parted ways with her in the fire nation on the eve of her ascending. The duo had their own past to defeat, Suki understood this, and understood her emotional instability as Xa'rion's weakness.
Another year had passed...
Xa'rion and the dragon were gone, and had not contacted her since. Her hair had been cup, now barely reaching the shoulders. Her pristine white kimono had been traded in for a black body-fitting slayer suit. The changes were enough to keep the men from Izafel's past away from her. It was advised by the old "granny" the night of her ascension that she should dye her hair a new color, to represent the new powers she had gained, but Suki refused.
The new powers, nothing a person outside the dancers would understand. Suki now had perfected control over her fire, that wasn't to say water wouldn't weaken her, but she had better accuracy in her physical movements and correlations to the fire itself. The "granny" had told her these powers came after every fire dancer turned nineteen. In tradition a partner of the clan was necessary, usually the betrothed, but Suki did not have Izafel. What that did to her powers is uncertain, maybe it had tampered with the magic somehow, who knew. Suki did not care, she took the ascension as a reason to change, and had done just that.
Her wanderings into the uncharted region were aimless at best, with very little purpose other than to escape the taunts of lecherous men in the fire region. With her she carried only a bow and a few arrows, and a canteen of water. Suki had taken up her life of solidarity willingly, a stark contrast to the year before where she wanted nothing but a person to call a friend.
Soft footsteps were the only noise to fight against the quiet morning. Morning mist still lingered around the dewy ground, softening the feel of the abolished city. She'd been walking a few hours, unable to sleep. There were many broken pillars, the pieces skewed everywhere like broken chess pieces.
Nimble fingers undid the clasp to her canteen's strap and unscrewed the cap. Bringing the cool liquid to her lips she perched herself on a stone, enjoying her peace and quiet.
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Solace
Jul 15, 2008 14:00:19 GMT -5
Post by .:Z.a.r.r.'.i.n.i.k:. on Jul 15, 2008 14:00:19 GMT -5
The panther's sleek black hide shimmered under the early morning light. His powerful figure rippled beneath his silken canvas as he trespassed upon the unguarded ruins which lay scattered in the valley.
He was the precedent for the rogue that always followed him, but as the morning crept into the fine contours of the world, the unwelcomed drow was forced to find deeper corners in which to hide. The ruins was no place for him, and thus Avenhyvar was abroad on his own. At least for now. Zarr was always somewhere nearby--never far, and never gone.
The big cat paused a moment with the thought, glancing back over his shoulder just intime to see the shrouded figure step from the crevass that was nolonger safe from a rising sun. The black cloak absorbed and dissipated any revealing rays as the black skinned elf came to stand next to his life-long companion.
Zarr'inik was a creature of darkness, a monster of the shadows and the caves. The earth beneath the sun was not his home, and thus he stood out within it... a person who had no semblance of belonging.
Beneath the hood, nothing could be seen. His black skin folded into the shadows of the darkness, making the shadows deep and forboding. Only traces of his silver hair which escaped its folds showed the humanity that lingered beneath the concealing cloth. Zarr was still abroad, nearly two days since his last encounter with Nova--a woman who still frustated and baffled him even when she was nolonger near him. Why she had been so eager to fight him... Zarr doubted he would ever figure. She was simply a strange one in a strange world... and the black skinned elf really felt no curiousity to cross paths with her again.
With a sigh, Zarr let her slip from his mind as another notice captured his attention. Aven was attentively watching a figure in the distance. Again, his alert, tense posture reminded Zarr of how his first experience with human kind had begun. Why could he not wander in peace. It would seem the people of this upper world were more violent than he had guessed... he wasn't terribly interested in meeting another strange rogue, but what could he do. He couldn't keep running into isolation. That would only lead him back to the caves. Atleast underground, his travels weren't hampered by the damn sun.
So, for a short, breif expanse of time he quarrelled with himself. His eyes had glazed into the spectrum of light, and so his vision was weaker than the infrared he had mastered over the years. Unaccustomed to the light, his tired red eyes squinted through a white haze as he observed the new figure in the morning. It seemed a woman traveller... pausing for some reason. He was too distant to make out her extact movements. Oh how he begged for the night. Would make this choice all the more easier. but now, the early morning light only frustrated him, made him bitter and unsociable company.
He didn't doubt she'd notice him. He was not terribly far off from her, but he turned away nonetheless and moved behind a corner of the crumbling wall--where he sat to rest within some remnant shade. Resting his eyes, he experimentally shifted into the infrared, but found that already the morning sun had begun to heat the world... making it blaze with a growing fire. He sighed callously at his uselessness and helplessness and switched back into the vision that was common among the creatures of the upper earth.
He focused his limited sight--like that a blind man--upon his comrade. Aven had not moved, and remained in sight--bristling apprehensively, but otherwise making no aggressive motions. He was Zarr daytime guard--his eyes, and his strength, when his advantage dissapeared.
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Suki
Fire
Pledged to the God of Fire, Pyran
Posts: 34
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Solace
Jul 15, 2008 23:08:33 GMT -5
Post by Suki on Jul 15, 2008 23:08:33 GMT -5
Her eyes opened gently, scanning the area as she continued to sip at the water. There was no agenda for today; the fire dancer required nothing from the cities and had no desire to train with the morning just beginning. The mist still lingered around her feet, nipping at the exposed skin around her ankles. Suki welcomed the peace and quiet although she detected movement in the area around her.
There were two objects causing some sort of disturbance in the area around her. With her eyes only just opened she squinted slightly, trying to figure out what was around her without making it too obvious.
A black animal lurked around the pillars not too far away. She could sense that the beast was examining her just as she was it, though Suki knew better, the creature without a doubt had a better line of vision than she did. The canteen was sealed and left on the dewy grass, leaving Suki without a real distraction.
Suki stood slowly, meandering a few feet, no more than that, closer toward the creature. It was nothing to alarm the creature, she perched herself on a different pillar, her profile visible to the animal. Although Suki meant no harm the feeling of apprehension filled the air. The creature was unsure of this situation. Suki did not want to have to fight something, she hated violence more than she did her own lack of self-worth complex.
As she wondered internally if the animal had an owner, she noticed farther in the distance a figure move. The image was smaller, out of her line of sight, but it was obviously some sort of humanoid like being. It was tall, taller than Suki was, she judged. If the man was moving away from her, surely he meant no harm than. Still, curiosity bubbled inside the young girls heart. She still wanted to know the man, or at least know if the creature belonged to him.
Suki smiled softly and looked down at the creature, "Hey there, scared of me?"
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Solace
Jul 17, 2008 12:09:10 GMT -5
Post by .:Z.a.r.r.'.i.n.i.k:. on Jul 17, 2008 12:09:10 GMT -5
Zarr heard her movement, before he heard her voice… and he tensed insecurely. He hated this feeling… he was so used to being the hunter—the confident, able master of sword, skill, and stealth. But the sun was his weakness, and the lack of his keen and perfect sight incapacitated him.
Yet he had to remind himself. Though the sun smeared and blurred his world… his other skills and masteries were no less acute. Sensitive ears took in the sounds around him and he was no less capable of moving swiftly and silently—if only a little less accurately. No, he was not helpless in the mornings glare… but it was hindering. And a hindrance to a man such as him—a man used to fighting constantly for survival and being ever wary of false friends—was unsettling.
Hearing her soft steps draw slightly nearer, his palm reached instinctively towards the blade at his hip—feeling the smooth leather of the hilt beneath his fingertips eased his discomfort and reminded him of his confidence. The morning was still young, the sun still low… he was not crippled.
Aven had a similar reaction as the young woman began to take a few steps forward. The large panther stood its ground, lips curling back slightly to reveal a hint of the ivory teeth which clenched tightly together in a barred grin. Ears flattened, and muscles tensed as the carnivorous feline growled subtly.
Unlike Zarr, Aven was perfectly at home in the daylight. Granted, he was a nocturnal creature of habit, but the sun did not hinder any of his senses as it did to Zarr’s. So, the black beast could see the stranger clearly, and he was far more intelligent than a simple “creature.” He could recognize the difference between human aggression and passiveness… and though he did not read such intentions in her… he remained wary nonetheless… constantly remembering of the meeting with Nova.
"Hey there, scared of me?"
Her voice rang out innocently across the distance.
Aven heard it and relaxed slightly, reading no malice in her tone, and feeling the touch of her curiosity. Yet, the idea that Aven was “scared” of her… annoyed him slightly and the cat stopped growling only to give a noise that seemed more of a cough—an indignant gesture to the idea that the large panther was afraid of her.
Zarr felt similiarly, his pride annoyed by the idea. He was not in sight of the woman, and thus he interpreted the words directed towards himself as well, but he initially said nothing.
He paused to think a moment, lingering in his shade as his eyes slowly accustomed to the moderate shadows. Her voice seemed harmless enough, non-violent, curious… but Zarr didn’t feel like company. Well… he wasn’t sure of company. But even he had a curious edge to his cat-like nature and so he stood, his cloaked figure coming to stand beside Aven once more—shadow to shadow.
His face was hidden within the darkness of his hood, wisps of silver hair the only illusion to the humanity within that remained cloaked within the shadows. His pitch black skin, and solid red eyes were not a readily welcomed sight in this world, and the hood helped keep the glare from reaching his sensitive sight. He could often be intimidating, and he did not try to dampen that effect. The all the more foreboding he appeared, all the more people who would not trouble him.
So he spared the young woman in front of him no kindness, and his words were hard and callous. He did not dislike her or intend evil upon her, as some might assume. But he wanted it to be clear he was NOT afraid of her, and he was not to be trifled with.
“Nay, not afraid. Cautious.” he answered briskly, “False friends can be anywhere, and enemies will often hide from you till they find the moment to hurt you most.”
He raised his eyes to look at her, and the glare from the morning light briefly allowed a subtle red glare to shimmer off his eyes, a benevolent smirk flashing for but a moment, “…better to be careful.”
The smile disappeared as his callous, stoic expression returned—watching her warily. Eyeing her for any threat. He felt a touch of guilt at his bitter words, but he swallowed the moral and remained quiet. If she were as him, a lonely traveler… then she could relate to the words.
Nowadays, you couldn’t trust anyone.
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Suki
Fire
Pledged to the God of Fire, Pyran
Posts: 34
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Solace
Jul 29, 2008 21:15:46 GMT -5
Post by Suki on Jul 29, 2008 21:15:46 GMT -5
...better be careful
Careful...two years had past---she knew far too well the reprecusions of naivety, the inner torments and restlessness associated with always questioning the motives of every being, judging each beast's conscience before ever speaking a word to them. It seemed everyone in the world was a pal of Izafel's, therefore, trust no one.
But still, Suki did not look at the man, she instead examined his feline companion. It seemed that animals vocalized personalities better than any creature given the gift of 'speech'. He huffed and if he could, probably would have rolled his eyes at Suki. Standing, she lessened the gap between her and the feline, between her and the other new stranger as well.
Smiling, Suki once again bent at the knees to remain eye level with the feline. "I've offended you, have I? Well I'm sorry, I guess I usually take a growl as you either hate me or fear me. Judging by your companion--" she gestured to the man who appeared "--you just don't like me. You think quite highly of yourself, feline. Is feline too rude as well, forgive me, a name perhaps, good sir?" There was a hint of tease in her voice, but all the same she meant no harm to the cat named Aven. If anything, she found the way the morning light hit his fur breathtaking. This creature was muscle and stealth, beautiful within nature.
Now, what to do with the humanoid being? He had cloaked himself, worn a hood most likely to place the shadows convienently across his face. Why did it seem men always had something to hide?
His words replayed in his mind, just as cold and empty as earlier. Enemies do hide the closest. Everyone wants to pull wool over the other's eyes.
"It seems you have met traitors just as I have. Though, I will say, I have no intention of harming either of you unless you give me reason to do so," she shot back at him, her words filled with her anger; why distrust her, why her? It was a personally blow that she knew wasn't meant to be, but alas, she is merely a mortal woman human.
What vexed her so was that this man now trusted no one, with the exception of the cat. "What life could you lead, trusting no one but one being?" she asked before she realized. Is there such comfort in solitude, she wondered? Solitude was the path she had taken after leaving Xa'rion, but she still longed for someone who would at least stand at her side, not for love, not for friendship, but merely a companion she could form a trust with. Even a trust between a rival, a familiar face, was better than abandoning all means of communication.
"Do you intend to kill me?" she asked without hesitation, her anger overwhelming the earlier curiosity. "You came to his side, he obviously means quite a deal to you." She paused and smirked, "Perhaps you merely came out of the shadows to shoo me away, a pest within your existence only for asking him a simple question." Suki stood now, and look the figure head on, "Or maybe, you want me gone because you are the one who is cautious, and not him."
The sun was rising, awakening the planet, leaving behind the comforting dreams.
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Solace
Aug 7, 2008 13:57:11 GMT -5
Post by .:Z.a.r.r.'.i.n.i.k:. on Aug 7, 2008 13:57:11 GMT -5
Zarr caught his breath as her words snapped back towards him while she played silly games with Aven. He supposed he deserved it… he’d meant to seem sharp and distant… but still she was prying and questioning his mode of life. He didn’t like it and it made him tense. Who was she to ask such a thing? If she wanted company in life that was her own lot, but there was safety in isolation and having only one companion meant the possibilities of betrayal were slim. Perhaps unlike herself… Zarr did not feel it was necessary to be any kind of social. It wasn’t a hard-wired part of his personality… though it would seem socializing was expected and applauded here. He was content to be alone for now, though he had goals of eventually settling into society. One of the reasons he had lingered in the fire region—considering the possibilities that he could offer his skills towards the god that was supposedly his own. But it seemed a moot point; how could he ally his services to someone who ruled in the name of a god that Zarr did not look to as his own? Religiously, he was a traitor… and the uncharted… no, the free nations such as the ruins were a symbol of his conflict. Lost between, with desires in two different directions—what was natural and what was desired.
Yet, as Aven stood there, relaxing against the conversation this girl was offering him, Zar couldn’t help but notice that the big cat didn’t seem to mind her pleasant talk; he actually seemed to absorb the admiration he was reading off of this unnamed stranger. Though Aven seemed a common beast, his only hindrance was his inability to speak a human tongue. Otherwise he was intelligent as any human, and even more so as he carried the un-judgmental personality of any animal. Aven reacted by situation—and the last situation that they’d encountered a human female… things had turned violent and thus even Aven was apprehensive of the world above ground.
Yet, the big cat had seemed to forget his apprehensions as the woman’s words continued to encourage his passiveness. To prove his point the feline relaxed and with a sigh of his own, shifted his weight—sitting back on his haunches and looking expectantly towards Zarr… she wants my name.
The drow could always read the thoughts behind his companion’s eyes. They spent too many years together for him not to understand the silence that was Aven’s perpetual speech.
And it was with that, that Zarr resigned to company. With a defeated sigh, he rolled his brow and moved away from the cat and the girl, going back to his comfortable shadows. Now that she was closer to Aven, she remained in view of his glassy vision. She’d stood away from the cat and was now facing him, confronting him, but Zarr pushed aside her aggressive pose and made himself comfortable—the hard hilt of his scimitar clicking softly against the stone. Zarr reclined against his post and removed the hood, revealing his ebony skin, his solid red eyes, and his ruffled silver hair. The shadows helped protect his sensitive eyes, while his sharp facial features remained sharp and stern. However, there was a lightless about his eyes that showed his willingness to comply with what fate had delivered him. He would be reasonable now.
“His name is Avenhywvar.” Zarr announced callously with a resigned-edged sigh. He paused a moment, looking at her… hard. She’d taken offense to something he’d said… or perhaps to his tone… something. And he could not help but frown when she insinuated that his cautiousness would lead him to shoo her away. What would she say if he told her the truth: that he was cautious not for the sake of his health, but for the sake of his nature. Violence brought out the worst in him—brought out the hunter and the murderer… and he had vowed to leave that behind. If she thought he was the cautious one then she was right… but had the wrong reason in mind.
Resentment bubbled within his heart for a moment as his pride swelled from the hit. Meanwhile, a small nagging voice tapped quietly on the glass that held it back… but it was slowly weaseling its way towards the surface… the same way as it had when he’d crossed paths with Psycree. “If my intent was to kill you,” he seemed to growl ominously, “then we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.” There was no jest; he was serious. She might feel confident in her own abilities, but so did Zarr, and he had the terrifying experience to prove it.
Suddenly he smiled, it was a wry smirk—devious and cold: “If I am cautious, it is more for your safety than for mine.”
The sideways smile stayed with dark humor upon his exposed face. The hunter within was peering through. If he’d not meant to offend her before, he surely meant it now. Her tongue was too loose in his opinion, and her insinuations were offending to him.
Aven meanwhile felt a static rise as both parties seemed to exchange barred words. He lost interest and with no intent to join any violence the cat took a seat among the rocks not too far to the side. When it came to Aven, violence was always a last resort.
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Suki
Fire
Pledged to the God of Fire, Pyran
Posts: 34
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Solace
Aug 7, 2008 22:40:14 GMT -5
Post by Suki on Aug 7, 2008 22:40:14 GMT -5
His name is Avenhywvar.
A look of shock shot across her eyes, it came and went within one blink, nothing else on her face faltered. The cloaked man had actually given her a response, no cruelty or sarcasm in his words. The interaction between Avenhywar and the cloaked man was far different than the conversation going on between Suki and the man. The feline's simple head movement, gesturing toward his companion, was enough to bring the man out of his hiding. Avenhywvar sat back, relaxing, no longer flashing his dangerous fangs at her.
A smile crept onto her face. If she had stayed within the village, would Suki have a companion as intelligent and beautiful as Avenhywar. The bond between those two brought her back to her brief encounter with Xa'rion and Desuna. Maybe the fire dancer should consider an animal friend over a humanoid. Suki's words came quietly from her lips, her eyes twinkling with adoration as she gazed at Avenhywar, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Avenhywvar. I've never seen anything like you, in the best possible way. You seem a well experienced traveler, I see wisdom, in those eyes."
Avenhywvar's ease obviously rubbed off on the humanoid, who now leaned against an old pillar, still within the shadows. Was the sun the man's enemy and not actually Suki? Perhaps, but she hadn't acquired enough information to make a good guess. There was a faint sound, something hit the stone, not his flesh, something harder, a weapon. A weapon. So the man was armed, but still...
Seeing the man sit, Suki pull her eyes from Avenhywvar to gaze upon the man. What an interesting appearance the man had! His skin was purple, but not of a sickly purple humans had when they lost oxygen. Suki had to wonder if he was from a place far away. His skin must be that color through natural selection, it served a purpose. Her curiosity was overwhelming her, so many questions to ask, but Suki bit her tongue. This man obviously didn't like her. Oh those eyes, they were red like flames...
If my intent was to kill you then we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
A different sort of fire lit in her eyes, anger, once more."So your tact is to be quick and silent in your killings?" Her question was rhetorical, and it was probably something she should have kept to herself. Shaking her head in forlorn she sat back, sitting on the ground, because at this point, she knew he was right.
“If I am cautious, it is more for your safety than for mine.”
Equally as quick and cold Suki volleyed back the comment,"Ah why thank you, I am so grateful to you for thinking of me.What did he know, of pain, of death and killing?"I have died before, Stranger, but in ways you might find petty and pointless."
Blue sadness filled her eyes, memories of Izafel, of old lifetimes filled her mind. It would be her weakness, always be her weakness. Suki needed to become stronger, to be able to differentiate between that which was a memory and that which she carried with her from the past. Suki was still very young, and had much to learn of this world. She envied Aven, who seemed, even as a silent presence, knew more of the world and understood more of the world than she probably ever would.
Suki turned her eyes to Aven who wandered away from the arguing duo. She smiled again, letting out a small laugh, " So you are wise Avenhywar, get out while you can as the two of us bicker. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin upon them.
Did the stranger have name willing to give? Probably not. Suki knew that she shouldn't pry, that this was one of those unexplained circumstances that occur. He wanted nothing to do with her, but was staying most likely because of Avenhywar.
"Where does the name Avenhywar come from? It sounds majestic, it suits him perfectly.[/color]
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Solace
Aug 8, 2008 13:46:23 GMT -5
Post by .:Z.a.r.r.'.i.n.i.k:. on Aug 8, 2008 13:46:23 GMT -5
Zarr listened with a jealous ear as she purred towards his comrade—flatting the big cat till he swelled with pride. Muttering to himself, he wished she’d only been a little more aggressive towards them… she’d have seen more than ‘wisdom’ in those eyes.
"So your tact is to be quick and silent in your killings?"
He couldn’t restrain it, a sly twist of his mouth revealed a small smile, subtle and discreet, but it was there… for the promise of violence had faded from the air and Zarr’inik had obviously relaxed into a mode of converse with this girl. He almost chuckled, but had nothing to say in answer to her rhetorical edge. It was true, he liked silence, and he was a quick mercenary… but that was not really his point. Point of the matter was simply that he would not be talking with someone he intended to kill… if one humanizes a victim it makes it harder to do the job.
But that was a mindset he was trying to leave behind.
Her next retort was heavy with sarcasm and a bitter edge, but he ignored her point. He meant what he said… she may not know him just as he did not know her. His past was a bloody refuge in a dark world that did nothing if not encourage murder and deceit—a constant struggle for power between families who acted more like strangers towards one another. It was a life that bred killers and violence and moral was often lost among the chaos—moral that Zarr had somehow managed to refrain from losing. It was what kept him above ground… and what made him endure the torment of socializing with people whose personalities were so unlike what he was used to—all for Psycree of course. She was a strange one he’d not yet figured.
“…but in ways you might find petty and pointless.”
Zarr shrugged callously but the hard edge in his voice had faded and there was a casual note to his reply: “I probably might.”
Yet, it would seem that Aven—the one who was never wrong—had lightened the mood with his departure. The girl laughed softly, and even Zarr could not help but chuckle beneath his breath and behind a smile. Red eyes gleamed with this new touch of humor, but quickly dulled as the heightening sun cast a glare into his abyss. Leaning farther into the darkness of his corner, escaping it for now… Zarr refused the impulse to throw back on his hood and disappear into the dark shadows of the deep forest or even the caves. He was always at home in the caves—where his infrared design could not be matched… where he was at home.
The memory and the idea sent a shiver down his back as he quickly recoiled from the past that was slowly slithering back into his mind. He’d left it behind and it was good as gone.
Looking towards the girl once more, he noticed the question just barely left her lips. Again with Aven…? He was unused to anyone showing such interest in the cat. Within the underdark a creature such as Aven was feared, not admired, but here his beauty and reason was respected… whereas back home he was only a weapon to those besides Zarr.
With a sigh, Zarr straightened himself into a comfortable position and then offered her an answer; with some tensions eased he was almost coming to like the company, but he still quarreled with himself. Socializing was new to him.
“The drow word for sun,” he replied with a short, brisk tone—matter of fact—a clue to the reason for his black skin, and red eyes. The hard edge to his voice still lingered, but it had lost some of its callousness. The tensions had all but deflated as the girl sat, her chin upon her knees to look up towards Zarr, inquiring of an answer to her question.
He had given it to her, but now seemed as though he aught to have something to ask in return… but he had nothing. He would not ask for her name when he was not fully willing to give his own… and he didn’t really care enough to wonder why she was here. And so his silence persisted as the pair looked on at one another, both with a stubborn air that seemed ready spark.
Another, brighter glare from the sun reflected against the white pillars across the desolate paved road caused him to briefly flinch and within the same second the hood was back—drawing his façade back into the darkness of his shroud. He did not doubt she would notice, but he did not care. His mood soured by the blaring morning sun—a light array to her that seemed an afternoon fire to him—he was ready for her to go away so he could sulk until the day was done… and return when the night was fresh.
Yet, as soon as he thought of her leaving… he remembered his isolation. The way the walls of his world were silent save for the soft padding feet of his feline friend. It made the sound of her voice oddly appealing, and he wondered if this new draw towards conversation was a weakness. He was a hard man, killer by breeding, nocturnal by nature. Did he really have a place upon the surface where people gathered passively, conversed, and mingled within the daylight glare? He was here to try, was he not? Thus, why was he not trying?!
“I’m Zarr, by the way.” The name was given without request—the tone insecure and darkly threatening, as if defensive that she would use it against him.
But to him it would make all the difference. It would make things personal—him to her, and her to him. Not just a stranger to one another.
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Suki
Fire
Pledged to the God of Fire, Pyran
Posts: 34
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Solace
Aug 8, 2008 22:50:02 GMT -5
Post by Suki on Aug 8, 2008 22:50:02 GMT -5
Although the girl inquired, Suki had expected nothing less of a response filled with sarcasm or chastising for her curious ways. If she remembered anything clearly from the past besides Isafel, it was the constant scolding of her father for too many questions. A warrior had no time to question, her duty was merely to react. The stranger didn't seem like someone who was going to answer, time seemed to pass very slowly when she was with him----
“The drow word for sun"
Again, shock passed through her eyes. But his answer was enough to make her pull her chin from her knees and stare at the stranger with a newly rekindled interest. Drow...where had Suki heard this word before? Suki left home with little schooling of the real world, but had been a traveler with Xa'rion, where reality was experienced and not taught. What had Xa'rion said about this creatures?
The Drow are the exiled, corrupt cousins of Elves, driven underground as punishment for the transgressions of their goddess, and their own base treachery. It's aid they are inherently evil, Suki, but it has been found that a very small percentage, about 10% are born of other alignments.
Driven underground! The light! She was right! No wonder he hid from the sunlight as if it were poison, it was! A look of despair filled her face. She didn't want the stranger or Aven to leave her company just yet. She found the pair so fascinating, a threat and a challenge, but somehow the girl felt safe with the two of them. Suki pouted, sympathizing with the poor man.
No sooner had she realized the man's torment of light he threw his hood up. This was all she needed to confirm her suspicions. But what could Suki do? The fire dancer wondered if her own abilities would bring him pain, being able to conjure the flames of the earth at will, pulling power from the very thing that brought the man pain....
"Sun...why name a creature dark as night after the sun? If sun is the weakness of the drow, do the drow perceive Avenhywvar as a threat as well? [/b]While speaking she cocked her head to the side, thinking aloud, a characteristic one would find in a young dog, a pup, if you will. Her eyes wandered to Avenhywvar, who was sunbathing upon the rocks. Could a creature as beautiful as Avenhywvar truly be treacherous? She remembered the fangs, perhaps it was so. "I would hate to think anyone saw Avenhywvar as a mere beast or weapon, and not such a lovely animal. Perhaps this is my naivety talking, but beings such as he remind me that there are things besides fear and war. I feel as though I am wrong to think that...am I?"[/b]
Her ramblings were countered by her own silence. Suki had left the physical world momentarily to think to herself; what could she do to keep this man from leaving? It was pathetic, she knew, but Suki thrived to know this challenge more. Avenhywar that she truly wanted to know and only by association deemed the man tolerable. Although his words were quick and riled her up, he had no been exceptionally cruel to her...not as other men of the past had. Her fingers treaded through her hair, small wisps of flames dancing between the tangles, but not a single strange charred or damaged...
I’m Zarr, by the way.”
Suki looked up again, this time the shock evident on her face. It was as if the drow could read her mind! She needed no other reason to smile ear to ear, hugging her knees and inching herself just a little bit closer, drawn in by his voice. As he pulled away, she came, as if the two were now connected, just by his willingness to give a name. If he had meant to kill her, he would never have given out such information, even if it was an alias, it would have been a waste of time.
Suki cocked her head once more and tried to hold back her naturally bubbly nature, her body humming with joy that was most likely not warranted by merely learning a name. She stood and took a step forward, holding her hands together, "It is a pleasure to no longer call you a stranger, Zarr. Zarr and Avenhywar, what a powerful ring those two names have together. It makes my name seem rather plain..." She bowed at the waist for him, a custom of her people, of her priestess training she could not ignore. Once after bowing she sat down on a new rock and smiled, "My name is Suki. I'm from a place I cannot return to, one that is far away. My name has no greater meaning....Avenhywar's does....does your's, Zarr?"[/b][/size]
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Solace
Aug 9, 2008 0:35:17 GMT -5
Post by .:Z.a.r.r.'.i.n.i.k:. on Aug 9, 2008 0:35:17 GMT -5
The Drow elf watched the girl curiously as her eyes seemed to widen in recognition and Zarr instinctively cringed, awaiting either fear or aggression. Psycree had been maniacally aggressive, and Zarr would never forget her as being his first impression of the human race—oddly violent for such a fragile body. But Suki… she showed neither, but rather an odd sense of fascination and this likewise intrigued the dark elf. What did she really know of the Drow Elves, and what would she thus think of him?
And yet, right at the peak of his curiosity he saw something he did NOT like soften the contours of her face—melting it into a brief look of pity that could not escape his keen sight. It hardened him, making him shrink inside himself… pity. It was a vile sense that naturally repulsed him—weakness of his own warrior’s pride. He was a hunter, not some beggar to pull loose change from the pockets of citizens. He needed neither sympathy nor pity, it was insulting to him.
But his newfound shell was soon broken as a multitude of questions poured from her. She just didn’t stop. It was his turn to look at her with shock lingering behind red solid glass eyes. She had so many questions and her curiousity seemed unchecked. Zarr did not know how to guage the age of those above ground… but she seemed almost a child to him—naïve and too eager to watch which words fluttered from her lips. She needed to be more careful, many—Zarr was open to let this girl in. His shell was soft, pliable… for she intrigued him more than he would probably have liked. Yet many Drow would not let her speak so openly on matters that she had almost no right to investigate. She prying into dark waters… and there were monsters here.
Still, it was the word ‘weakness’ that caught him and held him, a stubborn scowl crawling down upon his face to stubbornly rebuke the idea as well as inform her with his answer, “It is not a weakness but a hindrance—eyes accustomed to seeing in the absolute black do not adjust well to sudden light. It’s blinding, but not a weakness… I’ll get used to it with time,” his voice rumbled begrudgingly.
”Threaten me and we’ll see how much of a weakness it is…” The silent threat, even voiced allowed, would have been meaningless, but he couldn’t help but mutter it to himself nonetheless… weakness.
His eyes were his only downfall in the light of the sun—his dual vision… a vision that was perfectly capable of switching in and out of the spectrum of light (as is for humans and other surface creatures) and the infrared (which is the natural and most preferred vision for those living in the dark abyss of the caves). There is little light within the absolute dark of the underground channels, where Zarr lived out a majority of his immortal life. The harsh brightness of the sun was such a sharp and constant contrast that it would take months for Zarr to fully accustom to it. Thus the reason for his lurking and his shroud.
He suddenly chuckled, “I’m no vampire.” With a humorous grin, he stepped from his darkness and purposely moved into the light of the sun. He kept the sunrise to his back, for he was not kidding about the sensitivity of his eyes. But he let himself stand there for a moment, lingering in its blissful heat. There was a calming to the warm rays which he now stood within. The dank cold of the inner earth could never instill such comforts as this mortal sun, and thus he withdrew back to his seat reluctantly and flashed his white teeth towards Suki as he smiled in his proof.
“I promise I won’t burst into flames,” he continued as he reclaimed his seat in the comfortable darkness of his pillared shade—the cold stone soaking up the heat off his back.
With a dying chuckle, the smile faded as a soft painful sigh escaped his lips. This was different… speaking of himself with another. Why he did not resent her for this one sided conversation he did not rightfully know… but oddly he liked revealing secrets of himself, his nature, and his kindred. It was strange for someone to show such interest in it… and he found himself attracted towards her curiosity—flattered by it.
“They fear, Aven for his intelligence, his strength, and his natural ability to kill. They fear him, because unlike them he does not bow to the materialistic and personal gain that serves as our—their—logic.” There was a darkness that descended towards the end of his voice as old memories battered against his new resolve. That had been his views once… the views they taught him to have—the views they’d encouraged… but he suddenly smiled, a gentle thing—an expression that showed a little bit of the bond that lingered between the beast and the man he had rescued from the dark.
Resigned to his dark thoughts, Zarr looked up at her, employing her to understand what she was speaking of. Drow elves were far different from those who lived upon the surface—and Zarr was and always would be one of them. He was just a different model… one capable of adapting and understanding a better, more reasonable way of life. But many would never accept such a nature, and thus Zarr regretfully admitted the vague truth she spoke of. “It is naïve.” Zarr looked at her—hard, “In the underdark, murder and deceit is acceptable and applauded if it is done well and discreetly, Drow justice focuses only on those who are too foolish to keep their dealings under the table. Aven is the perfect weapon for those smart enough to understand how to use him.”
He motioned towards Aven, who was curled peacefully and content fully within the sun, “In Drow society, Avenhywvar is the epitome of fear and war.” It was a sad truth, but one he’d accepted long ago. He was bringing it now into this world, passing it on to the ears of someone willing to listen and understand. He quarreled briefly on the wisdom of this and the hunter within him growled against the intruder that she was becoming as she joined his world through his passing answers. Zarr was a Drow elf… always would be, and there would always be that draw back to the life that came so easily to him.
Vaguely a motion drew him out of his thoughts as his eyes focused on Suki. She bowed… a gesture not accustomed to females of his kind, but seeming perfectly acceptable to her. It raised a sense of instinctual dominance within him that he knew he was wrong to feel, but it was hard to be crushed beneath the sole of a matron-ruled society for all your life and not feel a delicious sense of power as another bowed before you—even if it was in the wrong context. Quickly, he quelled the bestial notion and listened to her voice, ignoring her actions till she regained her seat. He nodded, applauding as he accepted her name with reverence and silently absorbed her praise with a stoic notion as she pried into the meaning behind his name… like Aven’s…
“I'm from a place I cannot return to…” Zarr could relate. Briskly a dark, deep shadow descended upon him as he recalled the meaning behind ‘Zarr`inik’. Zarr- the ‘inherited prince’. A title given to him at birth—a representation of his royal bloodline within his powerful family, a promise that power would one day be his to stand guard as a knight behind the matrons of his house. An honorable name… but it was now soured. Coldly, with a sense of vague hate behind the word, he revealed what his name had become: “Traitor.”
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Suki
Fire
Pledged to the God of Fire, Pyran
Posts: 34
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Solace
Aug 11, 2008 11:59:49 GMT -5
Post by Suki on Aug 11, 2008 11:59:49 GMT -5
It seemed that Zarr was warming up to her quite quickly. Xa'rion must have been mistaken when he said that drow were evil, Zarr didn't seem that way at all. It was one thing to be a skilled warrior, one acustomed to the ways of swords and violent, and another thing to be evil. Suki knew cruelty and evil, Zarr had shown her nothing but his "cautious" ways.
He spoke bitterly of how the light was blinding, but not death for a drow. The idea of blindness was something Suki had never considered--what would she do if she temporarily lost her ability to see? Calloused fingers ran up and down the sides of her face, circling her eyes, pondering. She closed her eyes momentarily, just to "see" what it would be like.
Quiet. The forest floor was busy with the tiny animals scurrying about, searching out food or shelter. The birds and insects were the only melodies she heard, alongside the breathing of Zarr and Aven. It was only a few more seconds before she opened up her eyes again at the sound of Zarr speaking---
I’m no vampire. His chuckle brought a strange shiver to her spine. This drow had the ability to make her feel alive again. Perhaps that is what it takes to stirr a feeble human soul, pure elementary interaction with another living being. Suki was once again priviledged to look at his face, cape down, hair framing his dark skin and red eyes. It was quite possible all the drow looked as he did, but Suki found his appearance exotic and captivating. She found herself like a young child, staring with complete dedication to remembering the details of his face.
I promise I won’t burst into flames.
Now that made her chuckle. Before she could even help herself the giggles escaped her rosey lips. Embarrassed she covered her mouth and turned her face and broke the eye contact, holding one hand to her chest as she straightened her breathing out. "I'm sorry, I don't know why, but I found that absolutely hillarious.. Her breaths were flighty and short, as if all the air had left her at once, chest heaving as the chuckles still rumbled in her insides. "Perhaps I find it funny because for me, bursting into flames is a regular occurance...
She absent-mindedly played with a strand of her hair as the giggles subsided. The girl hadn't had a good laugh since the playful teasings of Xa'rion. Now she sat up straight again, trying to redeem herself, prove she was at least half of a lady.
Zarr spoke of his home, a dark place where murder was of the norm. It brought a different sort of shiver to her skin, the kind that reminded her of Izafel and horrible things. She pouted lightly, as if phsyically hurt by the suggestions brought on by his basic words. The distaste in his voice, it was something she picked up on, especially when he mentioned her naivety. Maybe Suki should grow up more. She wondered if the only way to grow up was to experience such horrid things as murder and war. It didn't seem like an answer Suki wanted. Hugging her knees to her chest she continued to listen, eyes always on the drow even as he motioned to Aven who was happily sunbathing. How could Aven be considered a weapon, something of fear? He was so much more than that, and Suki had a feeling that Zarr was something special. From what she had learned, he was far different from what the normal drow would be. Wouldn't a normal drow have tried to kill her? He said he was protecting her...
“Traitor.”
The word hung in the air, then disappeared into the silence. Suki stared, unsure of what to say. Would someone name their child a traitor? No, no parent would ever do that. Did a former comrade give him the name of traitor? Had his name meant something earlier only to be now affiliated with this new meaning? Her name....her name at some point was a reminder of promise, promise for her country and her parents. She was to be a priestess, to be the best within the dancers. But...that hadn't happened.
"Perhaps," she said with a slow sad voice,"my name would mean traitor too. Suki tilted her head to the left and smiled weakly. The firedancer just didn't want him to be a traitor. Traitors were harmful people, vicious and unloving, but somehow Suki didn't believe that to be Zarr. Naive again...wasn't it?
The memories came to her slowly, the night she sprinted through the town. She gathered up possessions, taking without asking, leaving no real note nor explanation. Just as suddenly, like the wind, she left through the archway of the city, sandals flapping against the ground. It didn't matter where she went, as long as she was able to find....
Jarred from her thoughts Suki shook her head left to right, holding back tears that the drow probably didn't want to see. This was not about her! This was not a time to pity her! She always asked the questions, she always asked too much, and felt too much too. With a gentle slap to the side of her face she smiled, though it was forced.
"I won't ask how you got that name. I'm sorry. Maybe you had your reasons. Everyone has their reason and story. Perhaps what you believe just...isn't what other people wanted to hear. I made my decisions, I had my reasons. I know you had yours."
"I don't know if it means anything, but I don't see Avenhywar as just a weapon, nor do I strictly fear him. And Zarr? I don't see you as a traitor, because you have yet to cross me cruelly. Others have, don't do as they have to me."[/b]
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