Title: A Herald's Wings
Part 2: Death's Ceremony
Author: Dreamwind
Disclaimer: Herald Alexian, YoShen (KazeHa), and the people known as "the lost" are all my ideas and as such are mine to play with as I please. * note: no characters were harmed in the making of this fic. *
Note: The first part also had flashbacks but for some reason the stuff to denote them didn't appear when I posted the story. Gomen nasai.
*Flashback* ::Mindspeech:: when either YoShen or Alexian are talking to the other in their native tongue. These are used for the person who's POV we aren't in. It means we can understand what they are saying but the other characters cannot.
The next morning was uneventful. Herald Alexian had woken up and nearly screamed when he saw the boy standing not more than two feet away from him. Okay, so screaming like a little girl was a stupid thing to do. He couldn't help it. That blasted kid made no noise what so ever. How were you supposed to deal with that, especially when he was standing over your sleeping form? Alexian cursed softly and looked back up at the boy. He was holding out a bowl of something. Alexian just looked at him confused. The boy shook his head and said something low under his breath and thrust the bowl into Alexian's hands before walking to the other side of the fire. Looking into the bowl Alexian saw that it was filled with some type of white grain. Two thin wooden sticks poked out of the food at an angle. Was he supposed to eat with those?
::Chosen I do believe those are supposed to be the utensils.::
Alexian sighed. ::Well how do you propose I eat with them, lady love?::
::Why don't you watch the boy. He seems to be quite handy with them.:: Ylsa's mindspeech was tinted with a smug attitude.
::Smarty-pants.::
Through much trial and error, along with a lot of laughter from Ylsa, Alexian finally managed to get the grain into his mouth. Of course it was in a most undignified manner, he had to bring the bowl up to his mouth and use the two sticks to shovel in the food. Of course he didn't feel quite so bad since it was the same way the boy was eating. Somehow, though, the boy managed to make it seem graceful and beautiful. ::How does he do that?::
::Do what?::
::Making eating like your shoveling crap into your mouth look like some kind of graceful dance?:: .
Ylsa chuckled into her chosen's mind ::Practice probably.::
Alexian finished with the food in his bowl and looked up to see the boy standing over him again hand outstretched, waiting for the empty bowl. Alexian handed it to him and watched the boy clean out the bowl in a small stream near by. Looking around Alexian suddenly realized that their entire camp was already packed up, except for the bowls being washed and the bedding he was currently sitting on. Standing up Alexian grabbed a larger bowl sitting near the boys pack and went to the small stream to fill it. The boy looked up at him briefly before going back to scrubbing the bowls clean. Alexian turned around and walked back to the fire, careful not to splash too much water over the side on the way. The campfire steamed away under the cool water leaving nothing but black charred wood and ash.
*The city had been beyond belief. Everything was white. Every building and street. The people were the most exotic people he had ever seen. Their long black hair was so dark it shone with violet highlights. Their hair was held up in elaborate styles that would make a Taylderas jealous. Their dark eyes were like staring into a still lake under a darkened night sky. They were filled with the same stillness that hides the true depth and dangers of the waters secret. And those eyes were staring at him like he was some sort of filth left behind by a plow horse. That he could do without. Actually there was a lot about this place he could do without. Such as whatever it was that was blocking his ability to mindspeak with his own companion. Then there was the annoying fact that he couldn't understand anything being said and he was sure they were talking about him. Oh well, there was nothing he could about it right now.
A noise startled Alexian out of his thoughts and he looked up to see the men, who if he guessed correctly were some kind of council, were leaving the room with the boy trailing behind them. Not knowing what else to do Alexian got up and followed them out of the building and through a small garden. A stream ran through the garden and they crossed over it on a small curved bridge. On the other side was a small shrine with incense burning beneath it. Here the group stopped and Alexian watched as the boy stripped out of his cloths. His skin was a soft bronze all over and Alexian couldn't help but wonder what it felt like. Could it be as soft as it looked? One of the older men lifted up some sort of brush-fan that was resting on the shrine and began to fan the incense over the boy's body. For a moment Alexian could swear that he saw a pair of glowing wings appear on the boys back before disappearing. One of the other old men approached then. In his hand was a silver tray. On the tray were two small jars of dye and a pile of needles. Alexian was confused, what were they going to do with all of that.
Are you ready, KazeHa?
I am ready, Elder.
Then we shall begin the ceremony.
Alexian sighed. They were talking again and he was once again left in the dark as to what was going on. This was beginning to get on his nerves. The other man began to chant as the man behind the man with the tray stepped forward. The man with the fan stepped back and joined the others in the chanting as the new man lifted one of the needles and dipped it into the jar of black dye. He brought the needle to the side of the boy's face and carefully began to press it into the boy's flesh. They were tattooing him. The tattooer's eyes seemed glazed over as if his mind had gone into a trance. Soon he had finished and where there had been a pale bronze cheek there was now a wild red and black tattoo the stretched from his jaw to just under his left eye. The design was made up of two partial swirls and two small thorns. Alexian had no clue as to what the significance of the tattoo of the whole ceremony was. A wind ran through the garden gently playing with the leaves on all of the plants. The wind danced across the water of the small stream almost seeming as if it was playing with the strange spotted fish inside it.
Turning back to the ceremony Alexian noted that it seemed to have changed. The air didn't seem to be filled with a joyous tension, instead it seemed to hang heavy with dread. A very old man came over the bridge then. His eyebrows hung over his eyes, effectively blocking them from sight. His beard nearly hung to the ground and was very narrow. The robes he wore were a bright scarlet and seemed to hang off his hunched form. In the old man's hands was a pile of white clothing, along with a pair of white shoes. Alexian turned to look back at the boy and the other men. The boys face had gone very pale and his eyes seemed shadowed in pain. The wizened old man stopped in front of the boy and held the cloths out to him.
KazeHa, once YoShen, son of ChiHa, it has come time to pay your last respects. It is with great sadness that we must burry one of our own this day. The old man paused to take a deep breath. It is always a shame when one so young is cast out and lost to us forever. Take these white garbs as a symbol of that which has died this day. Were them in mourning until you have passed the lands of "The Lost" or until you feel as if that which has died need be mourned no longer.
The boy reached out and took the pile of white clothing from the old man. Holding the cloths close to his chest the boy bowed to the old man. Thank you, ancient one. Slowly the boy dressed in the white cloths. First came a pair of loose fitting white silk pants. Over that came a white tank top shirt, which the boy tucked into the pants. Then came the long white over shirt and white silk belt. Once the boy was fully dressed the oldest man stepped back and let the final man step forward. This man was dressed in cloths very similar in style to the boy's except they were black and red. In his hand was a long dagger. The handle was made of the same material as the rest of the city and the silver blade was long with a small curve to it. It looked almost like a miniature sword. The boy turned around so that his back was to the man as he lifted the knife. Tears slide quietly down the man's face as he brought the blade to the nape of the boy's neck where his black hair was held in a leather thong.
It is with great sadness that I must commit my son to the dead. The man swallowed back a sob. May the next life be filled with more joy and honor than this one has. Good-bye, my son. The blade cut clean. Hardly a sound was made as the boy's life was cut away. *
TBC....
Well...I know this one is shorter, but I liked how it left off on a cliff hanger. Besides Herald Alexian hasn't got as much time spent on him so far as KazeHa has. So it was nice to get his POV into the story some more. If you want more you will have to Comment or critique it. I need at least five before I post anymore!
Stay tuned until next time, loyal viewers. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel. .... Wait that's the wrong show. *Sweat drop * Well, stay tuned anyway.
4
Part 2: Death's Ceremony
Author: Dreamwind
Disclaimer: Herald Alexian, YoShen (KazeHa), and the people known as "the lost" are all my ideas and as such are mine to play with as I please. * note: no characters were harmed in the making of this fic. *
Note: The first part also had flashbacks but for some reason the stuff to denote them didn't appear when I posted the story. Gomen nasai.
*Flashback* ::Mindspeech:: when either YoShen or Alexian are talking to the other in their native tongue. These are used for the person who's POV we aren't in. It means we can understand what they are saying but the other characters cannot.
The next morning was uneventful. Herald Alexian had woken up and nearly screamed when he saw the boy standing not more than two feet away from him. Okay, so screaming like a little girl was a stupid thing to do. He couldn't help it. That blasted kid made no noise what so ever. How were you supposed to deal with that, especially when he was standing over your sleeping form? Alexian cursed softly and looked back up at the boy. He was holding out a bowl of something. Alexian just looked at him confused. The boy shook his head and said something low under his breath and thrust the bowl into Alexian's hands before walking to the other side of the fire. Looking into the bowl Alexian saw that it was filled with some type of white grain. Two thin wooden sticks poked out of the food at an angle. Was he supposed to eat with those?
::Chosen I do believe those are supposed to be the utensils.::
Alexian sighed. ::Well how do you propose I eat with them, lady love?::
::Why don't you watch the boy. He seems to be quite handy with them.:: Ylsa's mindspeech was tinted with a smug attitude.
::Smarty-pants.::
Through much trial and error, along with a lot of laughter from Ylsa, Alexian finally managed to get the grain into his mouth. Of course it was in a most undignified manner, he had to bring the bowl up to his mouth and use the two sticks to shovel in the food. Of course he didn't feel quite so bad since it was the same way the boy was eating. Somehow, though, the boy managed to make it seem graceful and beautiful. ::How does he do that?::
::Do what?::
::Making eating like your shoveling crap into your mouth look like some kind of graceful dance?:: .
Ylsa chuckled into her chosen's mind ::Practice probably.::
Alexian finished with the food in his bowl and looked up to see the boy standing over him again hand outstretched, waiting for the empty bowl. Alexian handed it to him and watched the boy clean out the bowl in a small stream near by. Looking around Alexian suddenly realized that their entire camp was already packed up, except for the bowls being washed and the bedding he was currently sitting on. Standing up Alexian grabbed a larger bowl sitting near the boys pack and went to the small stream to fill it. The boy looked up at him briefly before going back to scrubbing the bowls clean. Alexian turned around and walked back to the fire, careful not to splash too much water over the side on the way. The campfire steamed away under the cool water leaving nothing but black charred wood and ash.
*The city had been beyond belief. Everything was white. Every building and street. The people were the most exotic people he had ever seen. Their long black hair was so dark it shone with violet highlights. Their hair was held up in elaborate styles that would make a Taylderas jealous. Their dark eyes were like staring into a still lake under a darkened night sky. They were filled with the same stillness that hides the true depth and dangers of the waters secret. And those eyes were staring at him like he was some sort of filth left behind by a plow horse. That he could do without. Actually there was a lot about this place he could do without. Such as whatever it was that was blocking his ability to mindspeak with his own companion. Then there was the annoying fact that he couldn't understand anything being said and he was sure they were talking about him. Oh well, there was nothing he could about it right now.
A noise startled Alexian out of his thoughts and he looked up to see the men, who if he guessed correctly were some kind of council, were leaving the room with the boy trailing behind them. Not knowing what else to do Alexian got up and followed them out of the building and through a small garden. A stream ran through the garden and they crossed over it on a small curved bridge. On the other side was a small shrine with incense burning beneath it. Here the group stopped and Alexian watched as the boy stripped out of his cloths. His skin was a soft bronze all over and Alexian couldn't help but wonder what it felt like. Could it be as soft as it looked? One of the older men lifted up some sort of brush-fan that was resting on the shrine and began to fan the incense over the boy's body. For a moment Alexian could swear that he saw a pair of glowing wings appear on the boys back before disappearing. One of the other old men approached then. In his hand was a silver tray. On the tray were two small jars of dye and a pile of needles. Alexian was confused, what were they going to do with all of that.
Are you ready, KazeHa?
I am ready, Elder.
Then we shall begin the ceremony.
Alexian sighed. They were talking again and he was once again left in the dark as to what was going on. This was beginning to get on his nerves. The other man began to chant as the man behind the man with the tray stepped forward. The man with the fan stepped back and joined the others in the chanting as the new man lifted one of the needles and dipped it into the jar of black dye. He brought the needle to the side of the boy's face and carefully began to press it into the boy's flesh. They were tattooing him. The tattooer's eyes seemed glazed over as if his mind had gone into a trance. Soon he had finished and where there had been a pale bronze cheek there was now a wild red and black tattoo the stretched from his jaw to just under his left eye. The design was made up of two partial swirls and two small thorns. Alexian had no clue as to what the significance of the tattoo of the whole ceremony was. A wind ran through the garden gently playing with the leaves on all of the plants. The wind danced across the water of the small stream almost seeming as if it was playing with the strange spotted fish inside it.
Turning back to the ceremony Alexian noted that it seemed to have changed. The air didn't seem to be filled with a joyous tension, instead it seemed to hang heavy with dread. A very old man came over the bridge then. His eyebrows hung over his eyes, effectively blocking them from sight. His beard nearly hung to the ground and was very narrow. The robes he wore were a bright scarlet and seemed to hang off his hunched form. In the old man's hands was a pile of white clothing, along with a pair of white shoes. Alexian turned to look back at the boy and the other men. The boys face had gone very pale and his eyes seemed shadowed in pain. The wizened old man stopped in front of the boy and held the cloths out to him.
KazeHa, once YoShen, son of ChiHa, it has come time to pay your last respects. It is with great sadness that we must burry one of our own this day. The old man paused to take a deep breath. It is always a shame when one so young is cast out and lost to us forever. Take these white garbs as a symbol of that which has died this day. Were them in mourning until you have passed the lands of "The Lost" or until you feel as if that which has died need be mourned no longer.
The boy reached out and took the pile of white clothing from the old man. Holding the cloths close to his chest the boy bowed to the old man. Thank you, ancient one. Slowly the boy dressed in the white cloths. First came a pair of loose fitting white silk pants. Over that came a white tank top shirt, which the boy tucked into the pants. Then came the long white over shirt and white silk belt. Once the boy was fully dressed the oldest man stepped back and let the final man step forward. This man was dressed in cloths very similar in style to the boy's except they were black and red. In his hand was a long dagger. The handle was made of the same material as the rest of the city and the silver blade was long with a small curve to it. It looked almost like a miniature sword. The boy turned around so that his back was to the man as he lifted the knife. Tears slide quietly down the man's face as he brought the blade to the nape of the boy's neck where his black hair was held in a leather thong.
It is with great sadness that I must commit my son to the dead. The man swallowed back a sob. May the next life be filled with more joy and honor than this one has. Good-bye, my son. The blade cut clean. Hardly a sound was made as the boy's life was cut away. *
TBC....
Well...I know this one is shorter, but I liked how it left off on a cliff hanger. Besides Herald Alexian hasn't got as much time spent on him so far as KazeHa has. So it was nice to get his POV into the story some more. If you want more you will have to Comment or critique it. I need at least five before I post anymore!
Stay tuned until next time, loyal viewers. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel. .... Wait that's the wrong show. *Sweat drop * Well, stay tuned anyway.
4