Crickets cooed rhythmically as the cool lake water lapped at the moist bank. The moon was half waned as it rose over the forest balcony, gently lighting the mud and stones on the lake's edge. The night was mild, yet not warm, causing mists to rise over the waters as the evening settled. The winter had hardly been harsh, yet the night air was brisk to the skin. Perfect.
Shallow steps squelched along the cool bank, softly padding and tracing along the water's edge. Dark, tattered robes draped low around the ankles, as each step dragged along the mud. There was no haste in the step, no seeming need to tread to any particular destination, and hardly any sound. But the presence was there.
This town, this place....why? Why bother with the chaos.....yet, they were there. Both of them....
Should one look from afar, the figure was naught but a shadow. Yet it paced.
Gentle lapping could be heard, barely noticeable to those not paying attention, yet keenly soothing to the sensitive batlike ears. So much like home....
Akon then stopped and lifted her gaze, letting the hard red eyes settle on the water's edge. No smile edged the thin lips, sitting starkly against the pallid skin. It wasn't often a smile was found there in particular. It wasn't in her blood, or at least it wasn't taught to be. Hood settled back along her shoulders, the warlock stared across the gently undulating reservoir, the only movement now being the quite thoughts that roamed across her eyes. Her hands rested evenly on the ceremonial dagger at her belt, kept deceptively clean and pristine. Yet even the dark metal of the warlock's blades did not catch the moonlight's glint. All was motionless, as she stood in quiet contemplation.
Glimmer quietly approaches the two lugging a large sack behind her. She seems to do this very well until a twig snaps and sends Glimmer into a fluster "Well by the WINGS I say! If you would all just come along then. I don't have time for all this gathering and messing about. Frustrating little buggars!" Glimmer plops down loudly on her sack and shoves 4 cookies in her mouth. Upon seeing Morzoth and Akon, she seems to speak as if nothing has happened out of sorts. "Helllllerrrr friends. Why are you two down by the water on such a dark night? Am I interuppting? I can go away. Though I was coming to wash my nuts you see." Glimmer swallows her cookies and pats her very large bag. "Want to help?"
Akon chuckles lowly at Morzoth's reply, grinning slyly to herself in such a way that would make one question whether or not it really was just a jest...or if she was honestly amused at the thought. Her red eyes then glance towards the Fae at the sound of her approach. And then she sees them...those most delectable little morsels the townfolk called 'cookies'. At the Fae's question, Akon begins undoing the black leathered bracers that lined her forarms. "Mnn, I suppose help could be arranged....for a price." She smirks, still keeping her amused tone.
Glimmer hops off her sack of nuts, dusts of her tutu and hikes it up. She looks to Akon and hiccups. "With you in a minute dearie. Morzoth hasn't ever had any cookies." Glimmer then turns to Morzoth and says "OPEN WIDE!" She digs into her pouch and brings forth a handful of approximately three cookies. She prompthly shoves them into Morzoth's mouth and says "They are tasty and delicious! Let's get to it!" She then turns to Akon and hands her a small pouch of cookies and tea packets.
Glimmer lugs the sack closer the the waters edge and begins meticulously attempting to dunk the sack into the water.
Akon takes the cookies and tea packets greatfully, offering a small smile and nod in thanks. "I vould have helped you regardless miss Glimmer, but I do indeed thank you for these delectable morsels." She smirks slyly, watching Morzoth casually. " I find that many of these peope do not understand my sense of humor." She chuckles slightly to herself. Her uordeq accent seemed to be slipping through more as she seemed a bit more at ease, though a dark undertone still flavored her words.
Glimmer looks to Morzoth with a look of sheer happiness. "OH BY THE WINGS I SAY! THANKS THANKS THANKIES THANKS THANKS! That's really all they needed. Just a quick little dunkeroonie in the water." Glimmer then turns towards Akon and says "Well. Now that you seem at ease, where have you been all this time? I daresay you missed quite the feast. Kirell and I roasted a bear in the Crimson Quarter."
Akon keeps her sly smirk. "That vould explain the smell then. It did indeed smell like quite the fine roast." She smiled at the Fae offering to help in what ever way she could before continuing. "You must forgive me for my absence. I generally attend to my affairs privately. Force of habit I suppose. But I have been in the field of battle gathering the remains of the fallen undead and cursed of Scorch. I've also been scouring for the necessary regeants for a Soulseeing ritual. I am close, my dear Glimmer, to performing the feat. It is a delicate matter, but should I prepare my mind and perform the necessarily steps properly, I aim to see into the minds of the fallen collectively, to learn how they were turned, where, and maybe get a glimpse of why. I hope to learn more of the foul winged creature that plagues our town so when he yet returns to exact his vengance, we may be more prepared to equally meet him." (Commune corspe and spirit to be carried out in another thread.)
He looked different. His appearance was the first change that one would notice, but also his eyes. Eyes that has learned from experience. He follows the distance voices lithely, like a wind. He now held on his back a shield with his scimitar on his belt. As he neared the voices his hair catches on a tree and he belts out a number of curses as he untangles himself.
Valez came upon the trio after he untangled himself from the trees. "Well met" he said eyeing each of them. He paused on the Fae, never seeing this one before. He thought little of it though. He would soon find out. He took a couple of steps forward and took a seat in a moss patch near the water.
Noticing the others, as Glimmer flits back over to them when she emerges from the lake, Katri snickers once more at the shivering Ohren with a small shake of her head and follows the fae over to the small group. With only a smirk and a nod to her fellow Uordeq, Katri turns and greets Morzoth, Valez and Glimmer with a small smile, "Good evening, all."
"Ohren, do you not have clothes? You're going to freeze." Katri sighed, watching the soaked Angori stand there shivering in nothing but a loincloth. She slid her cloak off and threw it at his head, wondering if it would catch on his horns. "Cover yourself up with that as best you can, for the love of the Immortals."
Glimmer giggles at Ohren and pulls a tutu from her bag and passes it to him. It is three different shades of pink and ties with glittery pink ribbons. She then pulls two spare ribbons from her bag and begins wrapping Ohren's horns in the glittery fabric. "To keep your horns warm dear."
"Of course, Miss Glimmer," Katri replied beginning to gather a small armload of sticks, bark chunks and some dry leaves and pine needles. A short time later she neatly stacked them as best she could, leaving pockets for any spark that caught to breathe. She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of flint and a stone. Several strikes later, a spark managed to catch on some of the brittle dry needles and shortly after a fire began to envelope her stack of tinder.
"There you go, a fire started. We can make it larger gradually now," The girl said to the Fae in her thick accent, before laughing and looking at Morzoth, "You mean you don't have any? I thought Angori always had ale!"
Chataya walks through the woods, slowly heading towards the lake. It's no surprise that this is the first place she heads after being away in contemplation for months. She is always attracted to water because it was so scarce when she was growing up in Sirison. She loves to stand there and watch the ripples lap at the shore and finds that it a good place to think. She glances up and notices a small fire near the lake and halts. It takes her a moment to recognize the figures in the pale light, but when she does, she settles down on a log quite a ways from the lake. Having intended to come here to be alone and having been in solitude for so long, she isn't sure if she's ready to enter a group of people yet. She doesn't expect to escape the sharp eyes of the Warlock as the pale light is sure to catch her gold skin and her white garb (In hindsight she thinks darker garb would be a good idea, but in Sirisin, to wear anything else would mean a slow roasting where you stand, and it's what she's worn her whole life. To change now would make her feel a different person.), but she settles down anyway to see what happens with her acqaintences and friends at the lake's edge. She listens to the faint unintelligable sounds of the group and looks directly at the Warlock and waits for her to notice her, with peace replacing the animosity that used to reside there.
And indeed the Warlock had noticed the presence of the Ixifar, batlike ears picking up on the subtle sounds of approaching footsteps in the distance. But she made no outward hint that she was aware of anything in particular, standing amongst the small gathered crowd, listening silently to their conversation and bantering. Her gaze was kept calmly on the placid cool lake waters, eyes only shifting once to glance over Katri and return her nod with a slight nod in return. The warlock look otherwise reserved and contemplative, thoughts kept to herself as they most often were. The only movement was the slight drag of the breeze tugging at the tattered and battleworn ends of her black cloak resting under her drawn back hood under the moonlight.
But after a long moment of hearing the approaching footsteps halt, Akon glaced casually back over her shoulder. Eyes seeking the Ixifar's own, she yet waited, as she momentarily settled her gaze on Chataya.
Katri rose from where she knelt by the now well-burning fire and stretched out her back. She moved away from the orange-yellow glow, uncomfortable that she was clearly sillohuetted against its light. Taking a sip of her own flask, in spite of noticing the one Valez had tossed, she glanced at Akon once more. She was looking off in another direction. Katri's own, sharp eyes followed the woman's gaze to see an Ixifar she herself would need to talk to before too long, if her information served to be true. She said nothing, though, as she stared back into the fire.
"Oh, and you know Ohren, I do want my cloak back eventually." A quiet chuckle could be heard in her voice, even though she never raised her eyes to him.
An audible growl from the slight Uordeq's stomach made her sigh and turn to the Fae, "Miss Glimmer, do you happen to have any of those sugar cookies I made left?"
Having seen the two deckies stare off in the distance, Glimmer follows their gazes and sees the figure in white. With a squeel and a jump, Glimmer throws cookies to Katri and bolts off, flitting quickly towards the figure. When she is within arms reach and confirms that the figure is, in fact, Chataya; Glimmer holds her arms in front of her and tackles Chataya with another squeel. "Where you been? I haven't seen you in FOOOOR-EVERRRS! Have some cookies!" Glimmer digs in her pouch and produces a handful that she shoves towards Chataya. "Why are you being creepy? Sitting over here in the dark in all white isn't a good idea, you know? Why don't you try pink? Or black? Or green? Any color but white is a good idea. I has ribbons galore. Let's decorate you. Now then. Where you beens?"
Katri catches the couple of cookies tossed at her and begins to eat one absentmindedly. Her attention follows the quickly moving fae toward Chataya. She quickly swallowed her mouthful of the sweet baked good to keep from choking on it because of laughter when she sees Glimmer tackle the other woman. Recomposing herself after one last snicker at what was going on between Ixifar and Fae, she watched on and finished her cookies.
Chataya met the Warlocks gaze, and offered a nod and half-smile. When she saw Katri look her way, she knew there would be no avoiding the group now, even if that was her wish. When she saw the fae rush towards her, she started laughing, and realized that her solitude hadn't granted her what she was looking for, and was surprised to find that she had missed everyone. She allowed the fae to tackle her, and giggled delightedly, shoving a cookie in her mouth to avoid answering the fae's barrage of questions until she has a moment to collect herself.
"You're right, my friend. White is not good for hiding. I don't think ribbons would help me escape notice either, but feel free to decorate me all you want. I'll wear them with pride." She glances at the group. "And I guess I was being a bit creepy. Sorry about that. I've just returned from wandering. I was spending some time alone, thinking about everything that's happened here and talking to Istensia."
She stands and gathers the cookies and her belongings and heads towards the fire, grabbing her friend by the hand. "Now then, come with me. Let's get into the light, Glimmer. It's so good to see you again. You'll have to tell me the news." As she reaches the group, she seeks out everyone's eyes and greets them all with a warm smile. She at last looks at Ohren and starts laughing so hard that she clutches her stomach and sits on the ground.
Glimmer hugs Chataya in a warm embrace and says "Goodness how I've missed you. Do you like my latest project?" Glimmer flaps her wings in Ohren's direction and giggles "He was cold so I gave him my extra tutu!" Glimmer pauses to chew a cookie.
"Now then dearie. What sorts of wandering did you do? I go talk to Haven when I get lonely. She listens, I know she does. And all you behind me can quit thinkin' I'm out of my head. I'm not daft and recognize she's a statue. But she's my friend. And there isn't much news about, Other than Akon and Morzoth helped me wash my nuts."
At that, Glimmer sits down and chomps more cookies as she pulls a small flask of water from her pouch. She then looks to Katri and says "OH DEAR OH DEAR OH DEAR! I don't have a pot to put the water in for my tea. I will simply sit here and suffer without tea. I must go find a pot! Well wait. Katri? Can you rig a device that will just hold my teapot over the fire?"
With a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh, Katri responds to the fae, "Your work crew tonight, am I , Miss Glimmer? I shall see what I can do. It shouldn't take more than a few sturdy sticks."
Katri turned to the trees, an idea that should work already in mind. She returned a few minutes later having cut three branches from a tree. Two were forked at the end and she had carved them to a point at the ends where she had cut them from the tree to make them easier to stick into the ground on either side of the fire. the third was a little longer than the two and was straighter. She began to test the set up of the simple device. It became clear that she had cut the forked sticks a little too long. She tapped them with the hilt of her short sword to drive them a little further into the ground and then laid the third stick across them, setting the ends into the y-shape niches. It appeared to be just around the right height. Nodding, she marked the two sticks that had been a little too long and then took all three and went back in to the trees.
At last, she came back with three extra sets of sticks with the first, all cut in an identical fashion and drove them into the soft ground side-by side to create a small platform just high enough above the fire to heat a teapot without the sticks themselves catching. She stood back and ate her last cookie. "There, that should work well enough. Its just a good thing I don't use this sword much, because I believe I've dulled it considerably between my time traveling to and from Woodhaven and tonight," she gave a small, almost dark, chuckle.
Akon gave a single gentle nod to Chataya in return, no particular expression on her face. Then again, the warlocks' expression was often as bland as her complexion. Her gaze then returned to the sky above, sparp eyes catching sight of the silent-winged flight of the bird above. Then she felt it, the arms of the angori embracing her in what was known in these lands as a "hug" or deatgwish in Uordeq tongue. It was hardly suprising that her arms didn't move to return the guesture. Uordeq don't hug. They would rather see another's hands at all times. Instead her plams rested on the hilt of the delicately crafted and orinate dagger tucked into her belt. It wasn't until the angori began shivering that she finally moved. Her fingers lifted to unclasp the cloak about her shoulders and after removing the angori's arms from herself, she threw the tattered black warcloak over Ohren's shoulders, wrapping it about his frame. "Go closer to the fire, and you shall gather warmth." She directed, tone as bland as her expression.
He watched closely. The way one touched her weapon when another got close. How one seemed to be the warmest though he was shivering.The way the other bounced about. Valez kept note of this, some times even taking out a worn journal and writing in it. It reminded him of his days back in his homeland. He would spend hours watching people. He tried to judge their strengths and weaknesses. He could only speculate. These were not the obvious warriors he was familiar with, but shadows. He remembered his wine skin-untouched. Valez got up, tucking his journal away then came closer to the fire in order to pick up his drink.
Sighing at her cloak's new use for Ohren, Katri shook her head and settled herself in to a comfortable position on the ground, half sitting and half crouching. She took another sip from the flask at her hip and licked a dark red drop of liquid from her lip. She looked at the group around the fire and asked, "How has this winter been treating you all?"
Glimmer pipes up and says "Thank you Katri. I shall forever be in your debt for my tea pot sticks. Well wait. The last Urodeq I said that too didn't turn out so well. Pesky man he was." Glimmer stuffs more cookies into Katri's small but able hands and turns to Ohren. "You look like a silly beast and I adore it." Moving around the group, she continues to Valez and says "Have some cookies. I'll have some tea ready soon, and since we haven't met, it's only proper that you join me. And don't tell me you don't like tea. That's offensive." She continues to Chataya and proceeds to make several silly faces and dances around her wildly while hiccupping. She stops just in front of Akon and looks at her. She moves iniches closer with one eye closed, as if studying the Warlock. "Why do you always hate hugs so much? It's un-natural. Silly deki. Maybe you've never been hugged properly. Come here to Miss Glimmer now." At that, Glimmer swoops Akon off her feet and squeezes her as a bear would it's cubs. Once she's decided it's been a proper hug, Glimmer plops Akon down on the ground with a tea cup and more cookies, before plopping down beside her.
Within a moment of being grabbed, the Fae felt not in her arms the thin frame of the Uordeq, but a puff of purplish black smoke, the warlock appearing right beside glimmer with the same smoke drifting off her blackclad frame, and smelling a bit of brimestone (Teleport). Brushing herself off casually beside where the Fae had plopped down, Akon answered just as casually. "You are correct Miss Glimmer, I doubt indeed I have been hugged proper. However, it is considered a sign of trust for me to both allow some of the townsfolk to 'hug' me, as well as me not hug in return. Keeping my hands at my side is a sign of humility in my lands. I only do as is customary for me. " At last the hell burnt eyes of the warlock turned to gaze dully down on the fae. A small genuine smile wandered across her lips, "I mean no offense of course." She continued to hold her slight smile, which was a lot for Akon afterall. She then dug one of the cookies out from the folds of her robe, gently taking a small bite of it. "And I thank you for these. You make them fabulously. I am growing rather fond of them. Just don't let it get around." Akon winked playfully, an ever so subtle hint of humor lacing her dry tone.
A small glint of light bounced off of the orb that was his eye. He spotted the small, cheerful blaze upon the shore of the lake and gazed longingly at it, but refrained from taking any step closer. He lifted his hand to the bandage around his other eye and gingerly unwrapped the black cloth from around his head and opening the previously closed eyelid, the man's abnormally colored iris shone with an otherworldy glow reflecting white light that seemed to come within, rather than without.
With his enhanced view of things, he could make out all of the figures grouped around the fire as well as the puff of black smoke that had previously bore the mass of Akon. The man smiled at her little trick, for it was definitely Akon-eske to do such things.
He missed the town. He missed it dearly, but it was still too early to return formally in to the welcoming atmosphere of Jastrey. He replaced the black cloth around his eye and tied it behind his head. Taking one last look back at the party on the shore, he was sure that at least the Urodeq had felt his gaze coming from his direction, but he cared not. Even if they tried to investigate it would take them a few minutes to get to the other side of the lake and, by that time, he would be gone.
He then turned and set off towards the woods, gently brushing the large black pine tree with his hand as he walked past.
It seemed to Katri that she was blending in with the shadows at the edge of the fire light a little to well and her voice appeared lost to the night air. She was not sure the group's lack of notice in regards to her presence even bothered her as it once may have in the mests prior. Sliding easily to her feet from her comfotable half-crouched position, Katri quickly and quietly brushes herself off, wincing noticeably as she accidentally touches her left wrist. She stretched out her back once more and glanced around at everyone one last time.
She nearly cringed at how much she would have to wash her cloak before she would be willing to wear it again, as her eyes lighted on Ohren and she merely wondered at the audacity of the fae. Her gaze drifted around to Chataya and Valez and Morzoth before landing on Akon last.
Her eyes would appear strangely icy and her smile would seem wry. To any one looking on, it may seem that Katri held a deep hatred for the woman or that she perhaps knew something the Warlock did not. It would be hard to read, but very clear that the look was not a friendly one. The younger Uordeq held the look for only a moment longer than her gaze had been on the others, before she turned and began to walk away into the night.
Chataya giggled at Ohren and Glimmer's antics and tried to get a word in edgewise to answer both Glimmer's and Katri's questions. However, she was more content to just chuckle at everything instead of trying to stop the talking going on. She realized that everything felt more... natural than before. Things had changed.
When Katri got up and left the fire, Chataya stepped away from the fire and called out to her as she was heading towards the woods. "Katri, if you don't want solitude, I'd like a chance to speak with you and learn what has been going on in my absense."
Katri stopped yet again and turned back to look at the Ixifar, "Solitude bothers me very little these days, but you are welcome to join me. I'll answer any questions I can for you, being that I have been gone for a short time myself, if you don't mind that I have a few of my own for you."
She walked a few paces back toward the others and waited for Chataya.
Morzoth walks to the water tired and and unnoticing of the urdeq. He neals down at the bank and starts to wash his hands. as the moon light reflects off his blueish skin you see the suit covering him from head to toe slow start to wash away to reveal burn marks and scalds covering his arms. he looks up to see Akon staring off into the darkness .
"well miss it seems this spot is taken ill find somewhere else. if you wish to be left alone"