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| Curse Divide; DarkAngel013 & Seiss | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 12 2009, 02:21 AM (8,396 Views) | |
| DarkAngel013 | Mar 10 2010, 03:05 AM Post #411 |
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Sleepy Inspiration
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I come. "Shura..." she breathed. Her teary eyes searched for him nearby. Before she could reach out to touch his mind again, she scampered back when the younger griffin appeared before her, as if sniffing and... she blinked when she recognized the sound of a the young calling out to its parents for... food. For that single moment, she didn't feel the pain nor the agony of the wounds that had appeared on her body. She couldn't help but realize that this griffin was a fledgling; a baby. She reached her hand slowly out to touch him, reminding her of how Shura was at first... animal-like and no human thoughts except anger and a single thought. Shura then appeared between her and the fledgling. She almost smiled in relief at his protectiveness of her, but cried out in pain when she realized she still bore the injuries inflicted on the fledgling as well as new fresh wounds that were now on Shura. Shaking with tears streaming down her face, she looked managed to look steadily at Shura when he spoke. Fledgling! This one is a fledgling! My... I can’t kill him. He has my blood! He nearly screamed out to Sayuri, fearing that she might kill the young. He cocked his head slightly so he could see her and his already wide eyes seemed to grow wider. What’s wrong? How-? "I thought so," she said with a shaky voice as she watched the growl. The fledgling wanted to challenge him for her and she almost blinked in surprise when Shura began to croon, like a father would to his child. But it wasn't the same... the fledgling was no longer sane. While Shura was busy crooning to the fledgling, it shrieked out defiantly, and Sayuri turned her eyes to Mirai, who came running to them... she was gesturing for them to leave... now. Immediately, overcoming the pain that she felt in her body, she staggered up and stood up as she walked toward the fledgling, walking around Shura. She touched her throat before she sang. It wasn't the normal kind of singing, but rather, a sort of lullaby of sorts. She tugged on Shura's feathers and pulled him forward slowly until her fingers managed to touch one single feather still attached to the fledgling. In that single instant, Sayuri smiled reassuringly at Mirai and continued singing the paralyzing singing spell on the fledgling and teleported them out of the town, taking a huge and immense amount of magic with them. They landed on the valley over, far away from town, but close enough that they could walk there by foot without a problem. She wanted to be sure that they wouldn't battle near the town and managed to put up a wide force field around the valley. Her body shook as she tried to overcome the affliction and she grew pale in concentration. She still continued to sing the lullaby more strongly before she abruptly stopped, unable to continue due to the pain her body that she felt and her legs gave out as she fell. Breathing heavily, she shakily looked up at Shura and grabbed his feathers to store into him more magic, to heal more of his injuries. She pushed out more of the arrows and cleaned and healed more of his wounds until no more was left. "The fledgling isn't..." she huffed. "It can't be saved... something is too wrong with him to be saved." She somehow managed to embrace him somewhat, whispering, "He may be of your blood, but he is not. Not really... he's born from something gone wrong..." In her voice, it implied something and she vaguely remembered the image of the boy in the library being dragged off. The boy would match the age of the fledgling... before she collapsed from exhaustion and agony of pain as she cried out at the movements that the fledgling was breaking free from her paralyzing spell. Her magic lost control and he broke free, causing her to fall to the ground, barely holding onto her consciousness. She hugged herself, as if trying not to be pulled apart. Tears still continued to roll down her face as her body shook, but, she kept a very steady gaze on Shura's golden orbs. |
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^Clicketh on thy picture. =] Call me Niko-chan~ ![]() ![]()
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| Seiss | Mar 10 2010, 11:54 PM Post #412 |
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
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His body shuddered with the effort to stay still, to trust the mage with her own safety. He followed when she tugged at his chest feathers, nearly stepping ahead of her just to soothe the overwhelming need to shield. She should be in bed. There were blood stains soaking through her clothes, injuries he didn’t know where they had come from until he recalled his own. He hadn’t noticed the link before. Not until now. Why? She was singing, he realized. A strange phantom wave rolled over him, leaving tingling touches in its wake. He had expected something to happen, like falling instantly asleep. There was nothing. While he stood unaffected, the fledgling stiffened, thrashing against the creeping sensation of nothingness. He couldn’t feel his toes, couldn’t control them. Quickly, in a smooth rush, the pain from his wounds dulled to a throbbing, before vanishing completely. Wings, arms, legs and the entire length of his body were thrown into oblivion. He squawked weakly, toppling to one side. But he could still see, still breathe. The fledgling’s fevered eyes rolled, seeking desperately despite not being able to move. Mirai’s gestures intensified. Anxiety and dread wringing her wits. All three of them appeared battered. She didn’t know how her warning would serve to help the pair at all. But when the ambassador gave her a tired smile, she crumpled to the ground, panting, face flushed from the stabbing pain in her ears and the ring of a headache. She could hear- thank the gods she could, albeit only a tiny whisper compared to clarity. It was something. When the three vanished, she heaved ragged breaths of relief. Her stomach churned uncomfortably. Mirai had to swallow and fight down the nausea. Researchers in green robes seemed to pour into the narrow street in small trickles- twos and threes- warily, as though they expect the demon. Mirai knelt by haphazardly stacked crates, leaning against them for support. She was more than thankful when careful hands lifted and helped her up. His vision split to two, one rimmed with blue, while the other crimson. Shura blinked his eyes rapidly and shook his head jerking himself to stand firm on suddenly wobbly feet. He felt the soft healing touches of the mage smoothing over him, like cool water in the desert heat. Once she was done, he shook himself and promptly planted his body between the limp fledgling and the mage. He was furious, naturally, at the mage for pushing herself just to fix a few pin pricks on him, but Shura couldn’t tell her not to- she was somehow suffering along with him due to a bond he was unaware of. For now, kept his eyes on the danger. For now. Not on her hurts. For now. "The fledgling isn't..." she huffed. "It can't be saved... something is too wrong with him to be saved." She somehow managed to embrace him somewhat, whispering, "He may be of your blood, but he is not. Not really... he's born from something gone wrong..." Something inside him turned cold, whether it was his ribs, or heart, he couldn’t be sure. But the frozen dense thing felt as though it was dropped into his stomach. Instinct was driving him to protect the fledgling. Instinct was distorting the idea of eliminating a faulted being to a despicable action. Griffins which were more experienced with younglings may choose to abandon a defective young. Rarely did they forsake their first. The instinctual and emotional call was too strong and too fresh. Trapped for the first time, he was trapped in indecision. The shattered control of paralysis on the fledgling struck him like a sledgehammer. He flinched when the creature twitched to life. He growled in frustration, feeling the hollow, numbed pain of being torn both ways when the mage collapsed, uttering cries in pain. His eyes were unseeing, despite meeting Sayuri’s red. He didn’t want to think. With a defiant shriek laced with ache, Shura reared, curling the claws of forefeet. He threw his entire weight down, onto the fledgling’s head. A dull thump punctuated his brutal strike. The fledgling jerked once, head buried under Shura’s claws. Its stiff limbs slowly relaxed, curling into itself. Steely golden eyes blinked. A reminder whispered. I will be waiting. Always. You know where to find me, don’t you? High, high above where your wings take you, to a shrouded mirror that you will have to break to see your reflection. With my power, I can grant you one. His claws lifted slowly and he stepped away from the still body. His heart felt like stone. Looking impassively down at the black mass, he stepped back, till his body brushed the mage’s. One claw stretched forward, pushing a shallow groove into the earth as he laid down, curling around her and hiding her under his wing. There is a way. But I don’t know if it’s worth it. ------------------------------------------------ The night was cold, but the rest were comfortably snug under their blankets. Save for Resee of course. She was out again, patrolling the parameters with a woollen blanket draped over her shoulders. The camp was silent, save for the chirping of crickets and the occasional call of an owl. Something small, the size of a fist dropped from above, onto Tryst’s arm, tumbling off his shoulder onto the sleeping mat. A dead nightingale, collared with a red string, a tiny silver tube attached to it. Sharp letters were scratched onto the paper with black ink: What is the worth of your love? Kill them and your wife will live. Edited by Seiss, Mar 11 2010, 12:00 AM.
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许? 天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。 欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。 君应有语,渺万里层云, 千山暮雪,只影向谁去? 横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。 招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。 天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。 千秋万古,为留待骚人, 狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。 | |
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| DarkAngel013 | Mar 11 2010, 01:07 AM Post #413 |
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Sleepy Inspiration
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His eyes was blank, as if she saw the idea of not to think. She realized that this fledgling must feel like Shura's first and cried for him. She couldn't imagine the feeling of his firstborn being like this, and how hard it must be for him to choose. She couldn't... she's never given birth to a child nor had she ever experienced the real love of a mother, but she knew that it must be the most difficult thing to go through. She watched as Shura reared on the fledgling's head, telling her moments later that the fledgling was knocked out, its black body still. She closed her eyes thinking that it was better that way than it was thrashing out like it had been before. There is a way. But I don’t know if it’s worth it. She blinked her eyes open as she realized that she was covered by a wing and looked up toward Shura. Now that all of his injuries were healed, she only suffered the injuries that the fledgling bore. It lessened the pain a bit to a dull throbbing so she tried to sit up and rested against Shura's body. It was soft, like she had remembered and wondered how come it felt like it had been ages since she's touched the griffin's feathers. She turned her head to face him as she murmured, "He's your fledgling, no matter the circumstances... so I'm sure it'd be worth it..." It sounded as if she was having a bit of difficulty trying to stay awake. "If it's possible for him to be saved, it'd make me feel a whole lot better and it would most probably soothe the instincts you must be feeling in your gut." Absently, she stroked his feathers to keep herself awake. She touched her chest as she sent another ripple of magic throughout her body. She felt relieved significantly and the constricting feeling that limited her breathing calmed her. She breathed more evenly now, despite her injuries. * * * Tryst had been awake for awhile now, his body itching to do something as he was restless. It was dead midnight now, and Seryel's earlier administration to counter the poison inside of herself had already been done, and she lay beside him, sleeping peacefully. When the nightingale fell onto his shoulder and rolled onto the mat, he sat up as quickly as his body would allow him without disturbing his wife. Wary, he opened the tube to find the paper that had written words that he had dreaded. What is the worth of your love? Kill them and your wife will live. He got up and wrapped the blanket around Seryel more warmly before he went to bury the nightingale. He whispered a small good-bye before standing up and stretching. Cowardly fools, he thought as he began to stroll around the camp, unable to sleep now. He was conflicted. He knew that Seryel would disapprove of this idea with such viciousness, that telling her would only worsen her condition so telling her was out of the question. He didn't need her to worry more unnecessarily; especially not with the poison still inside of her. But, to kill Jegan and Resee was possible, especially for a man of his caliber, but he did not want to. They had been so kind as to accompany them on this trip and even more so to take turns to hunt, to help care for Seryel when he had to go hunting. They hadn't done anything to them that he would want to take vengeance for, nor had they done anything that would make them appear bad in Tryst's eyes. If he killed them, Seryel wouldn't look at him the same way for the rest of their lives. If he didn't, Seryel would die. He saw Resee making her rounds and knew her difficulties of her body was limiting her from moving the way she would normally. If she had been at full health, he would have no doubt that she would be probably on par with him, give or take a few. However, he was the best and he knew how to spot individual weaknesses. Jegan was probably Shura's co-captain to the Rune Knights, he remembered. Ah, yes, he's seen them around the Court before. It had been a time before he met Seryel. But, he couldn't live with the idea of Seryel looking at him like the way she would, if he were to kill Resee and Jegan. Actually, she would rather die than to let two other lives end because of her. Sometimes, he wondered if her compassion for other people was too much, but it had been one of those traits that had helped him recover who he was. He had walked back into the camp and decided on a resolution; he would still try to go to the Strata Mountains to find the serpent and save her, without the aid of those men. With this in mind, he thought back to Resee's behavior earlier and realized the reason why she looked paler than usual wasn't due to her injuries, but rather, what had happened while she had been away from camp. She wouldn't normally stumble that much to tripping just due to rocks... What had happened while she was alone? Edited by DarkAngel013, Mar 11 2010, 01:36 AM.
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^Clicketh on thy picture. =] Call me Niko-chan~ ![]() ![]()
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| Seiss | Mar 11 2010, 08:40 AM Post #414 |
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
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He's your fledgling, no matter the circumstances... so I'm sure it'd be worth it..." It sounded as if she was having a bit of difficulty trying to stay awake. "If it's possible for him to be saved, it'd make me feel a whole lot better and it would most probably soothe the instincts you must be feeling in your gut." His gaze slid to rest on the mage, one gold eye staring down without the downward tilt of his head. For a moment, he regarded her thoughtfully, shielding the tumult of emotions and instincts roiling against his logic. Soft you are, he whispered, just the lightest brush of thoughts to illustrate his point. There is a chance of failure no matter the possibility. A faraway look entered his eyes. You tempt me.... Mirai had said his judgement was muddied by his own lies. She had said he was not accepting truth. She had pointed out that it affected his performance with regards to his duties. Lies. Another lie? A false being was born, somehow, with his blood. He had always been careful with women. Even if the fledgling was a product of a union with a human, he knew the awkward match wouldn’t have led to such a great fault in the young. It made no sense for such a capable hunter at such a young stage to be so scrawny. He had seen the fledgling feed.... Yet it appeared malnourished, hungering for something. For... Sayuri? Mana? With my power, I can grant you one. Just one. For who? He blinked, head turning and bending to look at Sayuri with both his golden, glaring eyes. He will suffer if he lives. Just like all with impairments at birth. For what it’s worth, he has to die. Shura delivered the words gently, almost firmly to convince himself as well as she. His ears flicked back as he reared his neck to look at the still mass before them, wistful, regretful and slightly pained but the regal hoist of his head marked determination. Rest. I will take care of it. If he had to kill the fledgling, Shura didn’t want Sayuri to see it. His wing shoulder rolled forward, cocooning her entirely in darkness. ------------------------------------------- Seryel woke earlier than usual, troubled by her discovery of Resee’s condition. Tryst had already risen, always earlier than she was. Sometimes, she used to wake first in the past. She couldn’t manage that now. Resee had said not to tell.... She kept her silence, not speaking a word to Tryst, avoiding his gaze altogether. When Jegan had gone to the river to wash, she sat straighter, legs crossed beneath her skirts. There was no worry on her expression now, only a poor mask of indifference that barely hid the slight hurt, indignation and anger that kept her warmed. Her voice was steady, soft but missing its meekness, “I couldn’t say a word to you last night, because I didn’t want them to overhear.” Her eyes were focused on the hem of her skirt. It was rare for her to experience anger against Tryst. She couldn’t face him, for fear he could strip her of it with the barest efforts and make her feel a child. A timid anger, she knew, but he should know not to take advantage of her soft spoken nature. “You said you knew! How could you hide it from me?” she breathed, a trembling note entering her voice. There was a faint sting in her eyes she knew were tears. Oh how ridiculous this was! She couldn’t seem to master enough anger to hurl at him. Somehow, it always hurt to scold. “I could have- I could have helped her sooner.” The fight was leeched out of her, her shoulders sinking with it. Resee could have died, will die if she hadn’t learned. How long had it been for the blood to turn so dark? Hastily, she brought the heel of her palm to clear away the moisture in her eyes. A shaky breath left her lips and a sudden roll of exhaustion washed over her. A life was at stake, yet he chose silence? Why? She couldn’t accept it- perhaps it was her years of saving lives that made them mean so much to her. Tryst was a soldier, once cold blooded elite who killed when he was told. And Resee- the mule of a woman was throwing her own life away! Seryel’s hands fisted over her skirts. Tryst cared, didn’t he? Edited by Seiss, Mar 11 2010, 06:16 PM.
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许? 天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。 欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。 君应有语,渺万里层云, 千山暮雪,只影向谁去? 横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。 招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。 天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。 千秋万古,为留待骚人, 狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。 | |
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| DarkAngel013 | Mar 12 2010, 12:26 AM Post #415 |
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Sleepy Inspiration
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Soft you are, he whispered, just the lightest brush of thoughts to illustrate his point. There is a chance of failure no matter the possibility. A faraway look entered his eyes. You tempt me.... Sayuri only smiled weakly before trying to steady her breathing. She opened her eyes again slowly to look at Shura again as she replied, "I know; you've only mentioned that a million times." Even while injured and extremely fatigued, she managed to bring up some sarcasm. "If there was no failure, then there would be no success, Shura." Transporting them had completely drained her to the point that she felt that she couldn't move. Her entire body ached with pain, added to that was the injuries that were inflicted on her, from both Shura and the fledgling. But even though Shura no longer had the injuries, it still remained on her own body, as if healing him had transferred the injuries over to her. She didn't understand why the injuries suddenly appeared on her body as it had never happened before. However, she knew what was going to happen to her injuries that were with the fledgling should it die. He will suffer if he lives. Just like all with impairments at birth. For what it’s worth, he has to die. She didn't see the glare for she had her eyes closed to try and gain some more rest. Her breathing was ragged now, the effects of the magic no longer able to help as she began to drink in more magical energy. She opened her eyes sharply when she heard the way he had said the last sentence as she turned to snap at him wearily, "Must you say it like that?" She turned her head away to close her eyes again as she rested against Shura's form. Rest; I will take care of it. "Are you sure?" she asked softly. She felt his form move as she then could no longer see or even feel the sunlight anymore. She felt like she had been entirely wrapped in feathers, like a cocoon and knew that Shura was going to do something that he would rather not let her see. Her body shook slightly still from the injuries, but wrapped in his wing, protected, the warmth again radiated off of him and transferred heat into her body. She felt warm and safe and felt as if she ought to fall asleep. But she knew that she shouldn't, not yet at least. She wanted to keep him company long enough so that he would not be alone in killing his "first" fledgling. Mildly, Sayuri wondered what would have happened should Shura have a wife that was human and she bore a child. Would the child be like Shura? Would the child become a griffin? Better yet, would the mother survive giving birth to such a magical creature, were the child to be born? If there was a union between someone like Shura and someone like her, what would happen? Would the magic that practically made her entire body make an even more powerful griffin? But she knew that she could choose whether or not to give the child magic or not; that was the first thing she learned when the Mages of the Royal Court was teaching them about magic and marriage. Her thoughts then wandered a little more as she began to think of the possibility of marrying Shura, should he reciprocate her feelings. How would he ask for her hand? What would be his feelings in asking? And if they had gone passed the formalities, what would he be feeling should he find out that his wife was pregnant? Or even… what would the child look like? Wife… she thought blankly. To become his wife would be something out of a fairytale book… as lovely as it sounds, it's impossible for he does not return my feelings. At the thought of rejection, she remembered that marriage was inevitable when she were to return home to Rania. Were she to return, that would mean she fulfilled her mission and duty, and that she would become the most honored and sought after mage in all of Rania. Many men would be asking for her hand and the Kingdom of Rania would be saved. And by then, even the other mages of the court would stop scorning her and would at least give her some sort of credit, no matter how much they may deny it. And I'll never see Shura again… * * * Her voice was steady, soft but missing its meekness, “I couldn’t say a word to you last night, because I didn’t want them to overhear.” Tryst raised an eyebrow as he was packing away their mat and was cleaning up after their breakfast. He tied the mat to the horse as he continued to listen to her speak. He could sense her anger and knew that this had to do with what she had discovered last night. “You said you knew! How could you hide it from me?” she breathed, a trembling note entering her voice. There was a faint sting in her eyes she knew were tears. “I could have- I could have helped her sooner.” He packed it onto the horse and rested his arm against the horse so that he now leaned against him. He knew that she was angry at him for hiding it, and he knew that she hated to be angry at him; therefore, felt better when she wasn't looking at him. "Because you would become like this and worry to no end," he murmured softly. His smile hid his real emotions that seemed to be in turmoil. "And even had I told you, Resee would not have let you treat her so easily, remember those other times you've asked?" His voice was soft, but firm and steady. He knew not to anger her further as she was in the state that she was in. That and also he never liked to see her angry. "Sery, it's not that I didn't care for her welfare, but it was also Resee's decision if she wanted to be treated or not. I had no right to interfere into someone else's business, especially when Resee had already become so annoyed with Jegan pestering her about her health enough as it is." His mouth twitched into a laugh as he remembered how much Jegan had been nagging Resee for the past few days. It had lessened a little bit, but Tryst could still see the worry clear on his face when he looked at her. There were other times when he was looking off into the distance, apparently worrying about things that Tryst couldn't fathom, but guessed that it might have to do with Shura. After all, it had been awhile since they last saw each other... Although, he might want to murder me at the first chance he sees me, he thought. He then decided to watch for her reaction, to gauge how she would react to his position on the matter of this sort of thing. |
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| Seiss | Mar 12 2010, 04:03 AM Post #416 |
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
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He waited patiently, a low hum that resembled the quiet purr of a feline thrummed in his chest. She would sleep soon, and she would never hear, never see the passing of the fledgling. Sometimes... it wasn’t worth letting a young soul, yet to ink its first mark on the living world to suffer long years with its heavy impairments. He could almost smell its decay- something missing and wasting. How should he save something that is already gone? Why? Just to sate and quiet his instincts? Selfish of him, and foolish to let instinct rule. How else was he supposed to say it? I am sure. No success without failure. How true. But one. He couldn’t afford failure. ----------------------------------- He laid still, the only unmoving shadow in the shade of the trees. His fore arms folded over the other, neck drawn in a proud curve even in rest. The dark velvet of his eyelids were closed and his ears were at ease. One unfolded wing lay in a lazy stretch over the mage. It was a dangerous veneer of a beast at rest. Breath breezed out of his nostrils in a slow rhythm, but Shura was not asleep. His senses were alert, thrown over the parameter, like woven net to sink in the environment. He could smell the spicy musk of the soil and the mixture of unique fragrances of herbs he didn’t really like. It was pungent to him. Then there was Sayuri’s scent- he identified it as a lure. One that always beckoned ‘Follow me’. Being near wasn’t enough. It was a familiar thing. He knew why. Dai’ Gahara. A whisper that seared the mark of ownership onto his soul. A mark that was no more and was now a ghost that urged him with compulsion and duty. His thoughts were his own, within private recesses. I will come.... Dai’Gahara... help me resist temptation. Erralahnin. Another to knot in exchange to tie the union. Rightfully his. He sighed softly, a rush of warm breath through his nostrils. One eye drifted open to peer at the figure under his wing, noting that she had yet to wake, he closed it again. --------------------------------------- She was not relenting. Perhaps he did not know, or perhaps he didn’t fathom to consider. Seryel shook her head slowly. “It is her choice. If she dies, she will have none. I cannot... bear to know that someone died because I was ignorant. I have the knowledge to heal.” If a life can be saved, she would save it, even if it means forcing a hopeless person to live. She would! If Tryst pleaded for her to let him die, she would never grant him that wish. “Worried? I should be frantic.” Seryel had put several patients to rest before. But she had only agreed- reluctantly- because their lives were at an end. She would cut the pain for them, but never before! Never before their time! She was faintly surprised that her anger continued to burn, yet her tears did not follow. They dried as if scorched by the heat of her ire. She remembered when she could hold firm, but it was so long ago, before she met Tryst, fell for him and let him sweep all resistance away. She did not regret it because she had chosen him and loved him for it. She was still seated rigidly, refusing to meet his gaze. When Jegan and Resee returned, they were on the move again. Seryel allowed Tryst to help her mount, but instead of leaning against him like she always had, she sat stiffly, holding her posture determinedly. |
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许? 天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。 欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。 君应有语,渺万里层云, 千山暮雪,只影向谁去? 横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。 招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。 天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。 千秋万古,为留待骚人, 狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。 | |
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| DarkAngel013 | Mar 12 2010, 04:42 AM Post #417 |
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Sleepy Inspiration
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Sayuri couldn't resist the sleep that was calling to her. Soon, she fell asleep as her body lay waiting for the anticipation of what was to come. When the fledgling passed, sparks flared and healed all of her injuries, licking it clean. When Shura had rested, she slept peacefully, her face no longer creased in suffering and her dried tears still remained on her face. When he had lifted his wing to check on her, she moved slightly as when he covered her again. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing warm ruby orbs that for a moment, was alarmed when she thought she couldn't see, but her fingers came in contact with his feathers and sat up. She pushed his wing a bit so that she could stand up and poked him gently through his mass of feathers. When she spoke, she no longer sounded like she was in pain nor was she out of breath, "Shura, I'm awake now." She felt sad though, that Shura had made her go to sleep. She wanted to keep him company, but she guessed that it was for her own good. Shura was... probably a bit overprotective in that retrospective. He always kept saying that she was overly fragile and she admitted, she was. But because of that, her magic was what protected her and backed her up. She had made assumptions recently that the reason why she had such poor stamina and was weak and fragile as she was, was to make up for the huge, immense power that she possessed. Everything that she had, her tattoo, her attacks, and even that strange symptom of coughing up blood, was all probably in regard to her enormous capability of wielding such magic. She still had so much to learn; so much to understand. When she moved, however, she noticed the dried blood that was on her clothes and realized that if she were to walk into town with this, it'd look very bad. She touched her chest again, sending another ripple of magic throughout her as her clothes were cleaned of blood. She wondered what she ought to do with and dropped the liquid blood into the ground. She quickly made it evaporate and turned on her heel to check herself and make sure she had gotten everything. Luckily, her clothes weren't torn from her tripping earlier... only dirty. "Shura, how are you feeling?" she asked in that soft, concerned voice of hers. * * * “It is her choice. If she dies, she will have none. I cannot... bear to know that someone died because I was ignorant. I have the knowledge to heal. Worried? I should be frantic.” Tryst only watched her expressions. He knew now that what he had just done had made her extremely angry; angry enough to not even tear up like she usually did. His eyes were sad then, and even his normal smile had almost disappeared for a moment as it was replaced by the same one that he usually wore as a soldier; he spoke so quietly, that it was barely audible, "This is where you and I differ in opinion." He didn't feel the need to explain because his life as a soldier had removed that feeling of helping another... maybe if it were his comrades and such, but he believed that if they really wanted help, they'd ask for it. Yes, he'd feel betrayed if his comrade did not tell them of their injuries, but he had learned the hard way that if he wasn't at the best of shape, he would only bring the others down. He learned how to treat his own injuries that way as well as the view point that if someone confessed they were injured, it would only lessen the swiftness of their mission; it would only distract others with unneeded worry. He loved her, yes, that was true, but to be willing to change himself to the point where he would share with her the same understanding about helping others was difficult. Living in such a harsh environment was already almost next to impossible. It was already a miracle that he was like the way he was now; to be able to show all kinds of smiles and warmth whereas, before, he only had on a very cold, stoic, barely visible psychotic-like smile. When Jegan and Resee came back, he knew that the conversation was going to be put on hold. Pulling back on his regular smile that hide his thoughts and emotions, he prepared the horses to leave. If Jegan and Resee were trying to figure out what was wrong with the atmosphere, they would be unable to read anything that was different about him. Tryst helped her mount and then sat behind her. He wasn't expecting her to lean back, but he had helped her almost the same way he had when he first met her; brief and indifferently. At heart, he was still a soldier and will forever be, a soldier. Edited by DarkAngel013, Mar 12 2010, 04:49 AM.
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^Clicketh on thy picture. =] Call me Niko-chan~ ![]() ![]()
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| Seiss | Mar 13 2010, 02:36 AM Post #418 |
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
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He lifted the outstretched wing when he felt the small shove, stretching the appendage forward, accompanied with a great yawn from him. His wings shifted and fluttered to rearrange the feathers before folding them to his sides. Snapping his beak lazily, he crawled onto his feet. Fore claws dug into the earth, rustling dry leaves and branches. He stretched one leg back, slowly, to avoid harming the trees, then the other. His large form had taken up the entire clearing. A good thing the forests of Enfram didn’t have thick trees. Most were thin, tilted from the wind. When he was satisfied that his hindquarters felt less cramped, he laid chest down and curled his spine in a languid stretch. There was no trace of the fledgling to be seen. Shura had snapped his neck when he was still unconscious. A quick and painless death. He had gone to dig a grave for him and laid him to rest under a cluster of scrawny trees. He regretted and he was repulsed by how readily he’d kill one who shared his blood. But the fledgling’s defect- the inability to absorb mana- was a clear reminder that he did not father him. The question is- whose hand was behind it? Why? How? So many interruptions with his mission. Mirai would handle this one. A few stalks of black feathers were clutched in one clawed forepaw. He would give them to her. Now the trouble is how to get back without walking naked. I am fine. Have always been fine. His head swung towards the mage, piercing, predatory eyes boring into hers. I’ve been meaning to ask, what bond have you established with me without my knowledge, much less my consent? There was no heat in his tone that hinted at cold anger, but there was a firmness. There was a foreign scent entering the forest but focused on the mage, Shura let it pass. His instincts did not raise alarm. ------------------------- The chill of evening air seeped into her skin and flesh at the smallest opening of her cloak whenever it flapped with her movement. But the iciness didn’t touch her at all. From the moment they had found a spot to camp, Seryel took off, alerting her travelling companions with a curt explanation of the need to search for herbs. It sent Jegan and Resee into a quick rush of activity- setting down their belongings, hurrying so either one could accompany her. Resee and Jegan had been confused with Seryel’s sudden distancing with Tryst. From what they had seen, she was always warm, loving tenderness towards him. Yet in the morning Seryel appeared almost cringing away from him. It had been obvious she was attempting to put distance between Tryst and herself. What brought on this unexpected change? A quarrel, perhaps? But about what? They had never shown disagreements to spark one. Resee stood up and dusted her hands needlessly when she was finished with scuffing dirt on the ground for their fire. She looked to Jegan with a frown, then. Her gaze shifted with indecision- from Jegan, to Seryel’s retreating back and finally to Tryst. Jegan had only given a helpless shrug to tell her that he was clueless. Should she follow, or just let the couple sort this out themselves? Heaving a sigh, Resee set out in an off tangent direction to Seryel. Well, she needed to keep moving. Might as well scout the perimeter. She wouldn’t be too far from the healer should she need help. Jegan sat and watched Tryst expectantly, though it didn’t take long for him to look slightly distracted. |
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许? 天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。 欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。 君应有语,渺万里层云, 千山暮雪,只影向谁去? 横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。 招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。 天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。 千秋万古,为留待骚人, 狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。 | |
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| DarkAngel013 | Mar 14 2010, 12:06 AM Post #419 |
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Sleepy Inspiration
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Sayuri watched as he stretched, a smile lingering on the edge of her lips. He was still very much like an animal, yet, human enough that she could distinguish his thoughts. While he was stretching, she looked over the ground for the black mass of feathers that was the fledgling. She no longer felt it among them and felt a little bit sad. She took her shirt and cleaned her face of her dried tears. Something had been very wrong with fledgling, and she hadn't been able to figure out why. It stung to know that such a young creature had to be killed... but it had been for its own good. I am fine. Have always been fine. His head swung towards the mage, piercing, predatory eyes boring into hers. I’ve been meaning to ask, what bond have you established with me without my knowledge, much less my consent? There was no heat in his tone that hinted at cold anger, but there was a firmness. She blinked when she turned to face him again from searching. She looked away as she pondered. "Well... I didn't make it," she murmured. She almost sounded confused. "I've always had this ability to feel the pain of other creatures, especially those of magic... like you or any sort of creature like you. It's been with me for as long as I could remember." She hadn't been able to figure out why; it had always just been a sort of thing that came with... she figured out that she had this connection when she made friends with Eve for the first time. Sayuri sensed something enter the forest and turned her head at the new presence. Sensing that it was not dangerous, she turned back to Shura, "I really don't know how to explain why I am connected that way..." * * * When they came to a stop that night, after again riding hard during the day, Tryst found that Seryel quickly left to collect some more herbs. He only sighed before beginning to set up camp. He noticed Jegan's gaze and sighed as he observed Jegan's expression. Smiling as usual, he asked in a slightly concerned voice, "What's the matter?" |
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^Clicketh on thy picture. =] Call me Niko-chan~ ![]() ![]()
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| Seiss | Mar 14 2010, 08:25 AM Post #420 |
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
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He cocked his head to one side, one black, velvety ear lifted slightly higher than the other to portray curiosity and uncertain disbelief. Something in-born? The acuity of such an ability was bordering fatal, not to others, but to herself. What if there were more than ten magical creatures were injured at the same time? What if they were grave injuries? Shura was assuming distance between the creatures and her would lessen the pain and most probably won’t affect her at all if they were far away. How did she survive this long otherwise? In a place where creatures of magic and myth roam free, where there was a chance for mortal enemies to clash, and struggles for leadership in packs and constant fight over territories would have caused at least a few dead and several injured. He couldn’t imagine her frailness bearing it all. She was already rolling on the ground, sobbing her heart out and bleeding with his injuries when they hardly hindered him at all. However, he understood- somewhat- the ability to feel another’s pain. Memories and experience confirmed that to him. But the pain should not have affected her badly at all. It should have been someone else’s pain and someone else’s wounds. Not having them as her own. Shura had never encountered anyone with involuntary physical sync- to hurt and bleed when the other does. There must have been a bond bridged, perhaps unconsciously achieved on a one sided. He would see it undone, somehow. You were injured unnecessarily, he enunciated every word and paid special effort on a single one. If this continues, I’ll have to be far away from you. I don’t know if it is possible for you to find a way to stop it, but when we get back, Mirai will take a look at you. He lowered his head, one large, gold mirror eye shifting to focus on her. The darker, richer shards that rimmed the iris shrunk and expanded to adjust his vision. He had clearly expected her to argue, but he would tolerate none of it. Perhaps a little- Shura could simply drag her to Mirai if need be. The breath from his nostrils gusted over her shoulders and swirled a few of her blood red strands in the air. So close, his sense of smell was nearly monopolized by her scent. It was an odd thing. While females do have a more... spiked scent, none had been as overwhelming as hers. It felt as if someone shoved a bottle full of concentrated perfume right under his nose. Thankfully, though, she didn’t have the pungent, repelling punch reminiscent of strong perfume. That would have made him stuff his beak into the soil and still be grateful for the metallic sting of the earth. It wasn’t until he lifted his head, did he take note of a trespassing scent. He blinked, nictitating membrane sliding over his glassy eyes so swiftly that the motion was a brief blur as he scanned the trees. The long, wispy feathers at his throat slowly fluffed when he opened his beak to make distinct chirping noises. Thank the gods for Mirai. She had always been intuitive, knowing what he needed and hurrying for his sake. He had seen her, albeit briefly the day before. Mirai was sickly pale and had blood smeared at her cheeks and jaws. Shura felt a touch guilty for it. A trilling whistle answered his call. It sounded again, closer and he replied with the same chirping. It didn’t take long before Mirai appeared, picking her way through the undergrowth delicately in her usual plain brown dress. Her green research guild cloak hung on one shoulder, strapped to the other with a lean leather buckle. Under the crook of one arm, she held a bundle of something in a small sack. She looked much better, though there was still paleness about her cheeks and lips. When she saw them, her expression was of open relief and exhaustion. A thin sheen of sweat dampened her forehead. Shura blinked and studied her. He had been wrong to think she was just unwell. Mirai appeared worse for wear. You should be in bed, he commented, but worry was unmistakeable in his eyes. He spotted the pads of cotton apparently stuffed into her ears and tilted his head in question. “It took a while for me to chance on the right direction to find you. I had been walking for a while,” she said a touch breathily. Her voice was quiet, just above a whisper and she appeared to be trying to speak in whispers. “The healer says my ears will heal, though whether or not I can still hear as clearly, I’ll have to hope and see. I can’t raise my voice... it hurts if I do, so pardon me.” Mirai smiled pleasantly, as if her damaged ears were just a minor inconvenience. He snorted in displeasure and shook his head, feathers ruffling and standing to make him look larger. I am sorry to have you hurt again, in the process. Then he lightened his tone. But I swear it wasn’t my doing. I don’t scream like that. Mirai only rolled her eyes and tossed the bundle at his face, scandalized by his oh-so-subtle insinuation. “Go put some clothes on, you beast.” She flinched from the stab of pain in her ears when she had forgotten to lower her voice. Glaring at him, she touched a hand to one ear delicately. He caught the bundle in a sinuous lash of his neck, bundle in his beak. His feathers fell neatly back in place as he gave her the most innocent look a griffin could manage. It wasn’t much. He simply looked... intimidating, as usual. Thank you. Once he had gone some distance away to shift and change, Mirai turned her attention to the ambassador. She was surprised when she first saw the hint of red in her hair, but now it was obvious that the previous Lady Sayuri had returned. “How are you, my lady?” she asked out of courtesy as well as concern. “You were... not quite yourself since you woke.” ----------------------------------------------------- Jegan nearly chuckled at the multiple sighs Tryst breathed. If the man had not shown any sign of worry with his wife’s sudden distancing, he sure did now. “That should have been my question to you. Your wife appears upset- if I might be so bold; I hope it is nothing of consequence,” he said sincerely. They were a wonderful couple, everything perfect he could imagine the most well matched pair. He hadn’t known the timid healer was capable of being angry at her own husband. Then again, there were always bumps and hurdles in all relationships. His eyes drifted to stare into the distance, but his eyes, though blank, appeared to look inwards. While he was on this mission, there was much to think about if he returned to the Order. Knights had approached him and expressed, however subtly, their support for him. None, barely any mentioned Shura’s name at all, as if they wanted him forgotten. There were a few of course, who held their council and faith in their suffering Captain. Since Resee and Jegan’s return to the Royal grounds to assure the King that the false griffin wracking havoc was not Shura, the General had nearly collapsed with relief. The hard man had a soft spot for Shura. There was another separate, secretive division within the Rune Knights, who had chosen who they wanted to take up leadership. They were mostly ambitious, atrocious even, to assume that they could take over like some succession. And... there was Resee and the mage. Thinking about them made him want to cringe at himself. “How do you know, Tryst...” he asked wonderingly, “that she is the one? Have you ever thought you couldn’t decide between two?” Resee had never been the same since Keira’s death. He wanted her back, and somehow the desire for it was growing stronger each day. He wanted the old Resee back- the clumsy, happy and bubbly woman who could still manage to act an innocent child. He couldn’t figure out how. She avoided him- avoided all of them and clearly wanted to be left alone. Her health was turning for the worst, whether it was heartache or something else. Sayuri had been gone a long time. He missed her sweet, gentle nature and the spark of fire whenever her passion was roused. She was what she was- a mage who was enchanting even when she wasn’t using magic. He hoped she was well and wished Shura was not harsh with her. The mage seemed to be something within his reach, yet he couldn’t touch at all. Where was she now? Somewhere above the two men, the mournful call of a nightingale sounded. Out in the fading twilight, Seryel shivered, hunching slightly in an attempt to keep warm. The herbs she needed were hardly available. The few meagre stalks in her pouch were would hardly do any good at all. She had a rough idea of the nature of Resee’s poison, but she didn’t know with absolute certainty what it was. The only way to treat it was through deduction. A number of different herbs were needed for that. But she persisted, if only to bury the hurt that had come from her previous anger at Tryst. Rubbing her arms to keep warm, she searched the undergrowth more thoroughly. Her fingers had gone slightly numb from the cold. She was disappointed again when the clump of wild plants had nothing useful. Seryel felt like was combing through mud to find a pin of gold. She was starting to feel the exhaustion too, other than the cold. After a few more combs through several patches of tall grass, Seryel gave up. Frustrated, cold and trembling, she grudgingly traced her way back to camp. Frustration waned with every step, however and she was more saddened than anything else. Edited by Seiss, Mar 14 2010, 08:26 AM.
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许? 天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。 欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。 君应有语,渺万里层云, 千山暮雪,只影向谁去? 横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。 招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。 天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。 千秋万古,为留待骚人, 狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。 | |
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