read and review. Closing in on the piece that i left off and i am looking for ideas on where to take this story.
The Soulc'at Eldar were still amassing in the large clear space between the large abandoned buildings. The moaning wails of the dying echoing eerily from the stone and metal structures. Talks of human bodies and pools of blood being found around the area were spreading quickly and the Soulc'ats were becoming nervous and agitated. To come so far, to have left the Warp, and yet they still seemed to be in danger. "It is obvious there is war here! If we do not leave then we could be caught in the cross fire!" "So what do you suggest we do? We have no way to get off world. And there's no way for us to know where there's a 'safe zone' to take the wounded. We don't even know where we are or what is going on! How will we know who the enemy is?" in the center of the steadily growing group of survivors, the least wounded and strongest of each faction of Eldar stood debating the next course of action. But with no formal leader things were going slowly. It had been discovered that the Flight Captain and all those on the flight deck including the only remaining Wraith Lords of the Ly'ctan Shi had died during the crash. All communication terminals destroyed, all smaller vehicles stored in the haul destroyed or rendered unusable. And most were unlikely to be able to move long distances without risking furthering their injuries or possibly death. In other words, they were hopelessly stranded on an unknown world during what could be only guessed as a large battle without a mode of transportation, limited numbers able to fight or otherwise, little to no ammo, and no leader. Though plenty were trying to assume the role. "We must find a safe place! Wait all of this out. There has to be someplace-" "And how do you suggest we move everyone? Most can barely stand! There's no way we could move everyone without some sort of vehicle-" "What vehicle? Every single one has been destroyed! We are lucky our single prowler survived! We're lucky any of us survived." Makyl strongest of the Shining Spears, Siihn strongest of the Dire Avengers, and K'asan strongest of the Howling Banshee all yelled back and forth amongst each other along with a few other Eldar thinking they would try and contest with three of the strongest Eldar amongst the survivors of the Ly'ctan Shi for the position of leader. "Do they really think that arguing here and now will help us any?" Aelwyn the Howling Banshee sighed, leaning into her lover Leeal's side "They certainly seem to think so." he responded flatly, watching the three of them squabble over something so paltry while so many still lay wounded or dying and still Warp daemons inhabited the burning structure of what used to be the Ly'ctan Shi and a search party yet assembled to search for survivors was... disheartening to say the least. "Well we cannot remain here much longer. Undoubtedly our crash must have drawn attention. If we stay here much longer we risk attack." Aelwyn checked behind her as if she expected something to pop out at her from the shadows. Spending so much time battling in the Warp, countless days without rest fighting for her life, it had made her edgy. Even Leeal's sudden movements made her tense and jumpy. She felt on edge and her hands itched to hold her blades in them "What we need to do is organize." Leeal grumbled, running an ungloved hand through his matted hair as the three strongest warriors argument looked as if it might start to get violent soon "A group to help the wounded gather for a march, staying here is not an option so it is a given. Another to search the wreckage for more survivors. And finally a patrol to keep lookout for hostiles with runners to look for a possible safe point were we can bring everyone." Aelwyn looked into her lover's eyes and a hint of a smile turned the corners of her lips "That is the most reasonable thing I have heard all day. You should-" "He should just shut up!" the sudden intrusion of another in their personal mind link brought the full attention of both Aelwyn and Leeal towards a bloodied and wounded Avenger. Half of his body covered in deep gashes that leaked a horrible smelling greenish liquid even through the bandages that looked as if they had been hastily tied "We should just stay where we are!" his thoughts and emotions bored into other minds and more turned towards him as tears began to flow from the corners of his eyes "We should stay here and hope that Khaine's justice is swift and merciful!" "What are you talking about man?" one Eldar asked, the fight between the 'strongest' now beginning to be ignored "I'm talking about remaining here and doing the honorable thing by accepting the death that should have befell us when the Ly'ctan Shi crashed!" many thoughts and emotions pushed to be heard until Aelwyn signaled Ji'ang. He nodded his great horned metal head and slowly rose from where he had been lounging lazily away from the others. Almost like the large cat like creature his mechanical body was designed to resemble. Leeal wondered for a moment if Ji'ang had done such things before when the Prowler rose on his hind legs and then slammed back down, the force cracking the stone under him and shaking the ground. Everyone became silent, several hands went to weapons. Ji'ang surveyed them all with his slanted glowing blue eyes, slowly moving forward as if he were stalking prey until he stood near Aelwyn, then he simply laid back down and began to study a small pile of rubble his task complete "Now what is it that your babbling?" Aelwyn asked the wounded Eldar male calmly, crossing her arms across her chest "Fool!" the wounded man spat, slowly propping himself up to stair Aelwyn in the eye even though it seemed to cause him great pain to do so "Do you not see? Do any of you see? We deserve a death that has already claimed so many of our brothers. Oh Khaine forgive us! Forgive us for we have become that which we have hated and fought against under your name!" "Explain the meaning of this or you shall have that death which you speak." "Yes kill him! It is obvious the Warp has tainted his mind." "It has tainted me!" he wailed, tears pouring from his eyes in earnest "It has tainted us all! Look! Look at yourselves! The evidence is clear that we are now all Warp touched!" people threatened him, some even tried only to be stopped by others around them, some started and stared... and stared. "Khaine preserve us. He's right!" "Oh Gods! No! No no no!" "We survived through all of those hardships only to-" Leeal watched as Eldar began to fall to their knees, praying, wailing in despair... he turned slowly towards Aelwyn who was watching people she had fought alongside for centuries with a look of disbelief and disgust. She looked as she always had. Long slender limbs encased in the signature black and silver armor of the Soulc'at Howling Banshees, the twin mirror swords sheathed at her hip, her skin still pale and smooth as glass. Her hair still that platinum blonde fly away mess she always kept it. Her ears the right size and shape. She had all of the appropriate number of fingers and toes and other extremities and no extras of anything like eyes... her eyes. They were... He remembered them being a beautiful shade of crystal blue. But somehow they were... Around the pupils it was a bright and vibrant fiery orange, darkening as it went outwards. Darkening till it was a deep crimson at the rims. Now that Leeal thought about it... subtle things like a sudden large improvement to his sight and smell. His strength, though he had credited it towards his long days fighting in the Warp... if he thought back to those times he had displayed seemingly impossible feats of strength... "After all we have suffered..." he looked down at his hands, thinking back on all the things he had done that should have told him that he was becoming tainted and changing "To think we have come so far only to... to be cursed in such a way. It's just cruel. The Laughing God surely had a hand in this." "It doesnt matter!" Leeal turned to Aelwyn who glared at him, her eyes flashing "Warp touched or no we are still alive and I intend to stay that way for as long as I can! With you and with everyone else! We are Warp touched, but we are still Eldar of the Soulc'at Craftworld. And for that we can and should take pride in still. No matter what our time in the Warp has done to us we are still who we have always been if not in body than in spirit." Leeal blinked, surprised at Aelwyn's passionate words. She who had always shown no mercy towards the fallen worshipers of Slaanish or daemons was saying that even though she was Warp touched she still would go on "Leeal tell them! Tell them that they dont have to lose hope! Tell them that there's still something to live for and that we can still go on as we are! Take charge and lead them!" Aelwyn grabbed his hands in her's and he felt the warmth in her hands even through the light weight armor of her weighted gloves. He looked into those strange eyes of hers and did not see someone Warp touched. Only Aelwyn. She was right of course. No matter the changes their bodies had gone through in the Warp, they were still who they were. Leeal released her hands and turned on his heel to march through the crowd of Eldar to the center with determination. "Listen to me brothers and sisters!" he called out to all, raising his hands to gain the attention of those around him "This- whether or not we are Warp touched does not matter now!" "How can you say that? Of course it matters!" "Does it? Even if we are this way can you truly say without hesitation that you are willing to die just because of this? Can any of you say that you will give up your lives because we were simply tainted?" "Simply tainted? We are Warp touched and therefore, no better than the daemon scum that comes from that foul place!" "Truly? Even if you say that, I still feel a need to live, I still feel as if I am still myself and do not wish to die but live on no matter what." more and more Eldar turned to listen to him. More faces turned to him with hope in their eyes "Brothers and sisters! I purpose that we continue forward! We must take action now! All those on this planet for miles around must have seen our ship crash. We must do our best to find any remaining survivors and prepare the injured for a quick march! We must act quickly and we must act now or be attacked while arguing amongst ourselves!" "And who are you to make such decisions?" Makyl, 'strongest' of the Shining Spears stepped forward, his hand openly gripping his weapon as he came to stand infront of Leeal. Makyl was an older fellow Shining Spear and Leeal would have preferred to back down from Makyl before fighting him. But Leeal could see the heat in Makyl's eyes was not for the betterment of the survivors of the crash, of his own people, but anger for having challenged his right at leading the Soulc'ats and for the promise of battle "The one who hopes to lead us all to peace and safety." Leeal answered honestly standing his ground and forcing his hands from going towards the spear at his back. He wanted to keep this peaceful if he could. Already so many had died. To add more to the body count over something like this... "Hmph- well you've certainly grown very brave to think you have the right to make such a bold statement. And what do you have to... 'back up' your bold words hm?" Makyl's hand gripped his spear tightly as he pulled it out and twirled it with a flourish over his head and down to point the long curved blade of his spear at Leeal. Leeal only gripped his hands tightly till his nails dug into the palms of his hands just to keep himself from reaching for his own spear and going on the offensive. He expected his words would have met with some indecision and difficulties like this but... it seemed even Siihn of the Dire Avengers was gripping the shuriken blaster at his side as if he would also fight for leader. And K'asan who was smartest of the three smiled knowingly as she would most likely wait till the battle was near its end to kill the remaining two when they were weakest and not expecting it and come out victorious. Leeal felt his heart beat faster as a fight to the death seemed imminent, his eyes quickly checking for the best way to evade and possibly counter without hurting someone or tripping over something. Makyl would have the upper hand. His weapon was already pointed at Leeal's throat, all he had to do was thrust forward and the blade would be in Leeal's throat- "He has my blades!" Leeal turned to see Aelwyn stepping through the crowd to stand beside Leeal, her blades were not drawn but her hands gripped them tightly and though her posture when standing next to Leeal seemed relaxed, she stood in such a way as she could push Leeal out of the way, block Makyl's first attack, and the step inside his guard to cut his head from his shoulders. Her intentions and confidence in her abilities clear in her eyes as she stared him down. Makyl clicked his tongue in annoyance lowering his spear from Leeal but not backing away "Big words from another so young and inexperienced in these matters." he glared down at Aelwyn, thinking quickly of a way he could incapacitate her before Leeal could pull his spear out and attack. Leeal was a decent fighter, better tactician than anything. It was Aelwyn who was the strongest combatant between the two of them. Makyl would give the little she daemon this, she was strong, probably the strongest out of all that had survived. But only in close combat. Which is where Makyl would defeat her. With his spear he had reach and the ability to keep Aelwyn at a distance. If he could just make a cut to her leg, something to slow her movements... "True we are young compared to you Makyl but we are stronger and have the interests of others in mind instead of our own." "You dare?" K'asan of the Howling Banshees stepped forward as well, feeling all the sting of that last comment "We are the eldest! Therefor the task should fall to us to-" "It would have, if you did not all prove yourselves incompetent and incapable of putting the lives of others before your pride and selfish desires!" Aelwyn snapped, her stance no longer relaxed but clearly a defensive stance. K'asan started and stared silently at the younger Banshee. It was true K'asan had some few hundred years on her, and the experience that came with it. But Aelwyn was a natural fighter. Evident since she first started down the Path of the Banshee. She had quickly learned, adapted, survived and got stronger. She was a fierce fighter. Fast, agile, and her voice could confuse and disorient even the most strong willed of enemies. And everyone knew it. She had respect within the Ly'ctan Shi, even after its destruction K'asan had heard some stories of how a Banshee had bounded into battle, killed all enemies with quick fierce accuracy and then bounded away again. The Banshee was rumored to have wielded twin mirror blades so it could have been only one person. K'asan bit her lip in anger, knowing fighting Aelwyn would be suicide. K'asan had experience true, but Aelwyn had strength and speed and would cut her down before she could even raise her own swords. "You go to far woman!" Siihn growled, his hand on his blaster "Do I?" Aelwyn took her hands from her swords and crossed her arms, K'asan saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned. The Prowler Ji'ang was slowly pacing back and forth outside of the crowd, watching everything intently. K'asan's blood ran cold. So, was that how she was going to play it? "Very well!" K'asan spat "We shall let your whelp lover have the opportunity of proving to us his capabilities of leading. But should he fail, we shall proceed accordingly." Makyl and Siihn argued at first of course, but when K'asan brought the Prowler to their attention... Leeal was recognized as acting leader. He wasted no time either, those that were not still praying to Kahine for forgiveness for becoming Warp tainted, or wounded to much to be of use, were rounded up and grouped together in large parties. One was to be sent with the Prowler to search the ships for more survivors. Another team to help the wounded to prepare for a forced march for someplace safer. Or at least further away from the ship crash. And the last team to keep patrol and have runners look for a safe point. Aelwyn placed volunteered to do patrol, not to lead but to be led. For all of Aelwyn's power she surprisingly had no desire to lead anyone. "Spread out, be alert, sound the alarm if you find anything. Anything!" Aelwyn saluted her lover, giving him a reassuring smile and a wink as she bounded off with the others to search for hostiles. Leeal shook his had as he watched her go and wondered where she got her energy from. Aelwyn and the patrol party spread out over a wide area, there was few of them so they had to search large sections by themselves. Aelwyn was sure to remain close enough to be heard if she shouted or screamed as she searched around and inside buildings for something, anything. She found little save personal items left behind in a hurry. It only added evidence that this place had quickly became a war zone and whoever had been here was now long gone. Aelwyn walked across a stone wall, twirling her shimmering mirror swords lazily as she thought. Makyl, once his loyalty gained, would not be to much of a problem. Aelwyn had confidence in Leeal's ability to lead and knew that once Makyl saw him as his better he would not question him. Siihn was a different matter. He was stupid... by Eldar standards. Hot tempered and quick to act without thinking. He would not be as easy to deal with. Perhaps the only way with him would be to actually fight him. As for K'asan... she would have to either be killed, or... well Aelwyn couldnt think of any other good way to deal with her. K'asan was a schemer, she would try to make Leeal look incompetent as a leader even if she had to sacrifice a few to do so, then make herself leader. And Aelwyn had complete confidence that she would too. Not much she could do about it now though. With tensions high and the Eldar just starting to view Leeal as their new leader, it would hurt more than help to have K'asan suddenly turn up dead. Aelwyn would just have to wait and watch. Deep in thought, it was only Aelwyn's ability as a warrior that helped her to notice the sudden movement of shadows just to the left of her. "Hello! What's this then?" quietly, with the stealth she acquired after years on the battlefield, she rushed forward soundlessly jumping from the wall to the ground and gripping her swords ready to strike. She turned a corner and almost ran into two "Humans!" the large one turned and raised what seemed to be a large gun of some sort. Aelwyn stepped to the side to avoid any projectiles and with a twirl of her blade, sliced the human's gun cleanly in half. The other by then had also pulled out a longer larger gun and aimed it at Aelwyn, she jumped up, clearing the human's heads and twisting in the air to land on her feet on the stone wall infront of them, her blades aimed at their throats "I search and I have found you!" Aelwyn laughed, her heavily accented High Gothic slightly rasping with the disuse of her voice. "Never seen humans before." her blades so close to their throats, one twitch and their throats would be cut. She studied them closely, thinking, wondering... "So, I have two choices here I suppose." she said slowly, looking intently at their faces for their reactions "I could either kill the two of you and add your life's blood to the soil of the earth or... Allow you to live." she tilted her head, looking for anymore weapons the two humans might have on them. The large one had a knife still and what looked like primitive grenades strapped to a large belt around his waist. The smaller one with eyes almost the same color Aelwyn's used to be had his gun still, and probably a knife as well as those grenades. "But you would be more useful alive I think." she spun her swords in a wide arc near the two human's heads so they could hear the soft hum of her blades cutting through the air and feel the wind they created as they spun before she twirled them with a skilled deft flick of her wrist and sheathed them back in their scabbards at her hip "I need answers and my people need help. So I offer hand of peace as it were and hope you dont use this opportunity to kill me now that I dont have my swords." Aelwyn swung her legs down so that she could sit and lean back as she waited for the humans to either put their weapons away or shoot her. Or at least attempt to shoot her. Aelwyn had become faster than ever before while in the Warp. Her speed and ability to read movements in split seconds is what had saved her in the Warp and she was confident it could save her now should things get violent. Besides, after facing Warp daemons for days on end at least double her size, what were two humans to her? "So what shall it be humans? I have little time to waste here I'm afraid."