Chapter 11: Madness and Meetings

Chief Shaman Battle-Commander Tomoe, Fearless Champion of the Host had a long title that summed up in one word: powerful. As she looked out onto the vast desert of Barren's Plain with a mixture of apathy and annoyance, the leader of the Host Tribes allowed herself a few minutes of weakness. Being the leader she was, she had to maintain the image of powerful and sturdy. Now, her authority had been compromise by that blasted Elf and her Spindræ Arak'Nathal and Tha'Tzul who traveled beside her, and had not left her side except for standing outside her door while she slept.

The other irritation she faced was the amulet she had given to the priestess. Though it provided her with a detailed view of everything happening aboard the Princess, she was bombarded by the thoughts and musings of the wretched priestess all the time she wore it.

Now, it was safely stowed in the saddlebags of her horse- or what was left of it after she had killed it, sent it to the Abyss, went after it and brought it back to this plane. The troupe of Orcs followed behind her, plodding along at their excruciatingly slow pace. The sun was high in the sky, and they still had many leagues to cover until they reached En'Terrek. The Alkatryz city was free game- they housed Host or Allied, as long as neither attacked each other. Nao had asked Tomoe to meet here there to further discuss the action taken to recover the Princess and her Halfling.

Tomoe's thoughts strayed to the Princess. She had known of her a long time, since she was a small girl. Tomoe's unique parenting meant that she was no immortal, but aged at a tenth of the rate of humans. Shizuru was simply exquisite- she possessed the unreal perfection and beauty that was so uncommon of humans. Tomoe had scryed her endlessly before this mess, watching her day to day actions with interest that bordered on obsession. She couldn't help it. Tomoe had to have Shizuru. Nao wanted only the Halfling- Tomoe could have hazarded a guess at the reason, but she was honestly not bothered with what the Dark Elf had in mind for little Natsuki.

Natsuki. The name made her blood boil. She unconsciously reached first to her lopsided hair- it had still not grown back on the side where he had cut it- and then to her chest, where the long jagged scar he had made rested above her heart. She could see him now- teal hair matted with blood, but his amber eyes set blazing on her as they lunged and parried, weaving a complex and deadly dance of blades. She had been defeated by him- though they were, she thought, the last left in Roedrenmon. Natsuki. Could he still be alive? Was he still how trying to foil her?

-Eastwind Forest-

Natsuki awoke to the smell of drying grass and dew. Her head felt heavy and strangely disconnected from the rest of her body. She touched her neck and immediately recoiled- it was painful. Looking around, she noticed she was on a bed of moss and grass, beneath a huge tree she could not identify by sight alone. A few paces away, Shizuru lay on a similar bed, sleeping soundly. Her face looked so peaceful and untroubled- childlike, almost. Natsuki had the sudden urge to touch it. She almost did, but as she reached out she caught sight of her hand, pawlike, claws barely noticeable as they were retracted. Thick fur, a few shades darker than her hair, covered her arms from the elbow down. It was shaggy and dirty. Natsuki got up quietly, wincing at the cracking twigs under her feet. She roamed around the forest a while, sometimes on all fours, sometimes standing. It felt marvelous to frolic around the forest with no care for danger. It was early morning, and the winter birds were beginning to emerge from the knotholes in which they slept. The perfect time to take a wash. They called out to Natsuki; wary of the odd presence they hadn't felt before. In reply, she cowered and spoke to them in the bastardized form of Earthentongue that she remembered and added to over the years. Natsuki had not forgotten the language of her people or the Plainsrunners, though she had trouble remembering more complex words. Earthentongue was a strange language, split into two distinct dialects- tame and feral. Tame was used when speaking to family, friends, other humanoids and superiors, and was complicated and speech-like. Feral Earthentongue was considered simple, but it was quite the contrary. It contained thousands of noises, body movements and facial expressions that could be used to speak to the members of the Animal Kingdom who had the ability to communicate. Birds were one of these.

Natsuki explained that she wished them no harm and continued to a small pool of river-water. It was fed by a small waterfall over a rock ledge on one side and let out in a bigger one, though less steep. Natsuki quickly stripped and jumped into the water, relishing the freezing clarity it brought. Everything was confusing- Nagi… the Wraythe thathad possessed Magthor, Shizuru… Since the war there had been no simplicity for Natsuki. But now, with no potion to hide her and no clothes to restrict her, thoughts flowed freely.

Images of Shizuru flashed from her memories, and though she wanted to, Natsuki did not suppress them. Seeing her for the first time in her bedchamber, hugging on top of the bell tower, the beautiful song she had sung, filled with such sadness… she was lonely, Natsuki realized, even surrounded by maids and nobles and men that clamoured for even a glance at her. Natsuki wanted to feel guilty. She killed Shizuru's father! The Wraythe would have eventually sucked all of his life force, that much was true, but he had still died at her gunpoint. It was odd. Natsuki told herself over and over again that she had killed Shizuru's father, but still no guilt. She had felt some initially, but all there was now was a faint sense of unease.

"Mind if I join you?" came a voice from the other side of the pool. Shizuru stood there, stripped to nothing but her undergarments. "Natsuki looks so content drifting here, I thought I'd attempt to reach the same state."

Natsuki turned red. She wasn't wearing anything. Her fur did not cover all of her body… she didn't want Shizuru to be exposed to her like that. "Uh…Ah, Shizuru, I-I'm not w-wearing anything!"

Shizuru smiled in a mischievous manner, bending down to test the water. "Of course. Do you expect me to bathe in my clothes? I did not suspect Natsuki did."

Natsuki was about to protest again when Shizuru dropped her undershift and pulled off her corset in one swift movement. Shizuru had thought about asking Natsuki to undo it, just to see the look on the poor girl's face, but had decided against it- she was probably still smarting and confused after last night.

Natsuki's eyes clamped shut faster than she could slit a throat and she turned around, blushing the colour of the red bricks that the furnaces of Windbloom were built from.

"Natsuki does not want to look at me?" Shizuru asked, her voice hurt. She knew she was teasing, but she could not resist. The Halfling needed some fun.

Natsuki stubbornly stayed turned around. "It would be a breach of your privacy."

"So Natsuki cares not for her own privacy?" Shizuru asked, looking at the girl's back. She drank in the lean muscles, the porcelain skin and the gleaming raven hair that reached to just below her shoulder blades. There were many scars, though they were faint and hardly noticeable against the whiteness of Natsuki's skin. Her body was subtly curved, not overly so, but she wasn't stick thin, like the fashion amongst young ladies of court of recent years. Shizuru thought it was so ugly, to starve oneself. Natsuki was thin, yes, but the difference was the in muscles that Shizuru saw under that ivory skin. Natsuki was by no means… what was the word that one of her suitors had used? Buff? Possibly, but the Halfling was imperfectly amazing.

Natsuki became conscious of Shizuru's eyes on her. She blushed further and sunk into the water, hiding herself. The pool was only waist-deep, so she sat on her knees.

"Natsuki, turn around. I wish to speak to you," Shizuru said, sinking under in a mimic of Natsuki, hoping that hiding her modesty would make Natsuki turn. "I am covered."

Slowly, the Halfling turned and let out a relived sigh. She felt a little… disappointed? Had she wanted Shizuru to continue teasing her? She shook the thought off. Since showing Shizuru that memory, Natsuki had been a little confused. Her father had taught her at the tender age of six summers how to share memories with people. He had told her that if there was ever a great battle and he was to perish, she should hold some memories for him. The problem was, she had forgotten the memories.

She had shown Shizuru a scene that still haunted her. She had looked up at Natsuki, seen his eyes stare lifelessly out at the sea of graves and bodies that had yet to be returned to the earth from whence they came. Back then she had been Natty. It stopped confusion between her and the great Halfling leader. He had looked at her tenderly, gripping her hand as if it were his lifeline. His face was haggard, and a head injury was bleeding somewhere, staining his hair an unholy shade of rust. She hadn't cried, just taken it stoically.

The other part of the memory, however, she'd kept from the Princess. Natsuki had turned to her hand led her off at a run, to the cover of the trees. They had waited for what seemed like an epoch. Leaves had crunched nearby. Natsuki had suddenly gone very still, his eyes wide with fear. He had held her then, she remembered, and spoken those last words.

"Live for me, Natsuki."

He had kissed her forehead, cementing her existence in Earth. There was a ripple of heat around, and before she could fathom what was going on, Natsuki had thrown himself over her with a cry and the whole world had gone up in flames. She felt wetness on her back and wondered if Natsuki was crying. The flames kept coming spreading out from a focal point near the last Halflings. Natsuki felt a terrible sensation of dulling, and then a thick cloud of smoke obscured her vision. Something crunched near her. She saw a pair of red eyes, gleaming with the reflection of the flames.

"Tsk, tsk… Natsuki. Hunting my kind to the end, eh?" He scooped her from beneath his corpse. He was blackened and charred, flesh crumbling. She, on the other hand, was unscathed. She looked at her hands in wonder. There was no fur, no baby claws just starting to sprout. Her teeth were flat. Her hearing was terrible and what little nose she had left could only smell smog. She was human.

No. That was a lie. She was a Halfling, by blood, by upbringing, by Lore. The red-eyed magician picked her up. She was surprisingly light in his arms. He smelled of thick incense and burning. "Hello, little one. What would your name be?" He asked mockingly. She coughed.

"Hurts…" she could get out, her throat dry and paining her, lungs filled with smog. He regarded her, obviously seeing her pain. Suddenly, it was gone, the air around her clear and free.

"I can't understand you." He said, cocking his head to the side. "Say that word again?"

Thinking it best not to disobey the man who could destroy an entire forest in one shot, she repeated herself. "Hurts…"

Hey smiled in triumph. "Ku..ga. That's what you said. Kuga. Not very girly, but at least you have a name." He smiled, though it was not the smile of a man who was fully sane.

"I am Barren. Wonder what a little human's doing amongst these savage beasts?" he mused. "He was probably hunting you. Bastard animal. Killed so many good men who were fighting in the name of justice. Tsk, Tsk. What am I to do with you, little Kuga?"

He slung her over his shoulder and walked through the wasteland that, from that day on, was known as Barren's Plain.

Ten years later, Natsuki looked at herself in horror. Claws sprouted from her fingers and sharp canines pushed thought her gums. The cramps in her stomach did nothing to help the immense pain. Sergay rushed into her chamber and clamped his hand over his mouth in terror. Someone screamed- then there was just pain and memories…

"Natsuki?"

"Wake up, Na-tsu-ki…"

Natsuki's eyes slowly drifted open, to meet a red pair that stared down at her in amusement. Shizuru sat by the side of the pool, hair damp, but thankfully clothed in a fine white shirt with a crème waistcoat and a tunic underneath both garments, reaching to mid-thigh. On her feet she wore a sturdy pair of traveling boots with little ivy leaves sewn into the leather. At her hip, she wore a belt with a small, simple dagger. She saw Natsuki's eyes on her and smiled before explaining.

"You honestly did not expect me to dress like a Princess on the road?" she laughed. "I may not be a trained assassin, but I know how to use a dagger. Where do you think I went when I skipped sewing lessons? I watched the street fighters and learned a few tricks."

Natsuki found that she was floating on the pool, her modesty covered by a blue cloth that she recognized as her spare cloak. Had Shizuru seen anything? She blushed and sat up hastily, holding the cloak to herself. "Where are my clothes?" she asked. It came out angrier than expected.

Shizuru didn't seem to notice. "Here," she pointed to a pile of clothes a few paces from her.

Natsuki grabbed them and slinked into the cover of the trees to change. When she walked back to Shizuru, she noticed the girl regarding her hands with confusion. She was feeling a little uncomfortable after her memory-dream thing, and so was in a bad mood. "You break a nail, Princess?" she asked, nearly smirking but feeling a little guilty.

Shizuru turned to look at her with surprise. "Natsuki should not sneak up on me like that."

"Shizuru should not refer to Natsuki in the third person," she retorted, a little angry at the girl's antics. She had still not forgiven Shizuru for her slander of Roedrenmon. She ran her right hand through her hair and winced as it tangled. She'd have to steal a hairbrush.

"Does Natsuki want me to brush her hair?" Shizuru's voice came from behind her. Without realizing it, she had been walking away. Was this what she did to all of her problems? Run away and try and forget them?

"No."

"But it's tangled!"

"So? Shizuru, we have to get out of the Allied Lands. There's probably search parties all over the place."

Shizuru pouted but resigned to the assassin. Natsuki had not asked how she obtained the clothes of the dagger, so she had not felt inclined to tell. Jumping up from the rock, she grabbed the pack containing the rest of their gear and jogged along after the girl, who was taking a swig of potion.

"Does Natsuki still have to take it? It really doesn't make us less noticeable…" Shizuru asked as she reached Natsuki's side.

"Yes, I do."

The Princess sighed and shrugged, oblivious to the reason for Natsuki's strange mood. She felt guilty for some reason… she had woken up that morning on a bed a soft grass next to Natsuki. The girl must have woken up and done that for her. Shizuru could only remember Natsuki coming to her rescue, Nagi sending her into an unconscious state and a group of men surrounding her. She must have blacked out, but she remembered shouts and blood. Natsuki must have woken and dealt with them.

-En'Terrek, Arena City of the Alkatryz-

Eni's pointed ears perked up at the sound of hoofbeats along the west road. Usually she wouldn't be around here, since her house was nearer the south road, but she had been taking advantage of the cooler weather and taking a stroll around the city. The hoofbeats got louder, so she quickly melded back into the shadow of a tall stately house by the side of the road. The passing troupe was unlike anything she had ever seen, and Eni had seen a lot for an average Alkatryz of sixteen summers. The leader rode tall and proud, green eyes darting from side to side. Her darkened skin contrasted her shaggy red hair that curled around her face. At her back was the finest bow Eni had ever laid eyes upon and a quiver stocked full of arrows bearing the sigil of the Dark Elves. Behind her rode four other elves, all female, all with the air of someone who did not have and trouble marching into a city of those who distrusted them somewhat.

As they drew nearer to Eni's hiding spot, the leader glanced directly in her way. Eni felt a rough tugging at the back of her shirt and before she knew it a powerful animal took her by the scruff of her neck and threw her out before the troupe.

The leader smirked as her pet returned to her. It was a Spindra, standing taller than both the horse and rider.

"What have you dredged up, Julia?" the Captain asked, smirking down at Eni. "A little street rat, perhaps? A pre-dinner snack?"

Eni stood up and dusted her simple attire off. By no means was she a street rat! She was a member of the Second Circle, a group of families with good political standing in the city, second only to the First Circle. The lavish insignia on the chest of her shirt proved this. Though the very sight of this Dark Elf made her quiver, Eni stood tall and strong, like the fledgling fighter she truly was. "I am Eni, of South-West Second Night," she stated, hoping the Captain knew of the social structure of the city. She peered down at the insignia on her shirt to confirm this.

"How kind, they sent us a guide," She smirked. "Take us to the Host Borough, girl. Any tricks and you're dead before you can turn around."

Eni nodded and began running through the hot stone streets. She knew the Host borough- her friend Nel of Third South-East lived next to it. He had expressed disdain for the area, however- it was not a slightly place, to say the least.

She wove through the streets, all the time conscious of the trotting Dark Elves. When she did eventually reach the Host Borough, the Alkatryz was panting a little. The Dark Elf Captain gave her a snide look and trotted off somewhere. Eni stood there, wishing she had the map she had given to Tate. It had a list of all the ruling bodies of the major races on it. She could have found the name of the Dark Elf.

"Eni'Rok?" came a familiar childish voice behind her. Eni idly wondered if Nel's voice would ever break, as he neared sixteen summers. She turned around.

"Nel, how many times have I told you- it's just Eni, okay? Rok is so… so what I'd call Ony or Da." Eni grimaced at the shouting she got from her instructor or father when she failed to address them with the correct honorific in public.

He was about to object when there came a might crash from inside the Host Borough. Eni and Nel both ran to inspect the commotion.

"I'm sorry! They're hard to catch, you know how hard Halflings are!" The sound of a bone crunching caused Nel to whimper beside Eni. He was always squeamish. Eni crept around to get a better view of the scene. The Dark Elf Captain had another woman's fist clenched in her hand- bones jutted out of some of the fingers. Eni did wince. She did know of this woman- she was Tomoe, Host Champion.

"Nao, please… I promise to do better!" she whimpered as the more cracking sent her almost crying. Nao (as Eni now knew the Elf was called) released her hand and stepped back into the shadow of Julia, the massive Spindra. Two other Spindræ stood behind Tomoe, their hundreds of beady eyes glistening menacingly along with their pincers moving erratically. Their drool seemed to erode the packed earth below.

Eni almost laughed. The Host Champion looked weak and fragile next to Nao- the Dark Elf could easily usurp her throne of power over the Host Tribes. Nao, however, did not seek public glory- Tomoe was her front man and puppet, and everything she did made life better for the Dark Elves.

"Fine," Nao drawled. "Just get me the Halfling- I want her alive. The pleasure of finally annihilating that wretched race is all mine, understood? Take that human girl if you want-" Tomoe… blushed? Eni could not belie her eyes. She lusted after the Princess? "-For I know you want her, but leave Natsuki to me. I will ensure he gets his judgment."

Eni frowned. His? The Natsuki she knew of was female- the young Halfling had come with her father and stayed at Eni's Dwelling on Ambassadorial business. She of course had heard of the Halfling Leader Natsuki- who hadn't? But she had assumed her was dead. Interesting.

"The Allied King is dead. For years the more foolish of us has sought to for a treaty with them, but I disagree. They are weak- they do not allow women to take the throne- and we should strike as soon as possible. Once we have the Halfling, we can safely take the Allies with little resistance. First humans, in their disarray, and from Windbloom, the rest of the Allied Lands. Then, perhaps, here? Who knows…?" Nao finished and Eni's alarms were blaring. The Host was going to take En'Terrek? She would not allow it. She needed to find the Halfling and Princess and alert them of the danger they faced, for Nao and Tomoe were by no means enemies to be underestimated.

Nao walked off towards the grandest of the Host Stayhouses, leading her mount. Tomoe, left behind, walked slowly back to her troupe of Orcs, flanked by the two Spindræ, and nursed her shattered hand. She concentrated on it, and it began to glow with soft blue light. The bones receded and the hand returned to normal shape, but the skin was still punctured and oozing. She barked at one of the Orcs to bring salve and bandages.

Eni receded back to where Nel watched the scene from further away. "I have to warn the Halfling and Princess. Did you hear the plans?"

"Aye," he said, looking a little pale. "I'll come with you!"

Eni shook her head. "No, Nel. You're not sixteen summers yet, you can't travel without your instructor. And besides, by myself I can make good time. I know where I'm going. You saw my maps."

"I could read them!" he protested.

"You can't- I gave them to Tate back a long way ago, and the one I had left is too rotted to read now."

Nel looked at her pleadingly. He was going to badger her into submission. Eni sighed and resigned herself.

"We catch the next ship to Orner."

0-0-0-0-0

AN: Um, lots of stuff here. Lots of explaining, lots of… stuff. Some ShizNat, which I promise, WILL develop. It will just take a while. Some Nao, some Tomoe. And Eni. I love her. I'm writing about her at the moment, check my FictionPress (I gt by the same username) in a while for the story. It's not up just yet… Sorry if you don't like OC. I could have used Haruka and Yukino, but I may have other plans for them… I think. Dunno.

ALKATRYZ NOBILITY SYSTEM

4 quarters to the city- North-West, North-East, South-West, South-East.

1 first circle family per quarter, e.g.: "I am Ryn of North-East First."

2 second circle per quarter- one Day, one Night. "I am Eni, of South-West Second Night." Shortened to "South-West Night."

4 Third circle families per quarter- "I am Nel, of South-East Third Autumn." Though in the US you call it Fall. Named for each season. Shortened to "South-East Autumn."

1st circle is the most important- practically the ruling council.

2nd circle and also important, 2 reps on council per house.

3rd circle have 1 rep per quarter, whoever is in highest favour that year. Not very important.

The rest of the citizens are commoners. They are not peasants or slaves or anything, they're just not nobles.

You can be born into a house or enter one by winning a duel with a member of the house. That member has to leave, but can try to get into another house. En'Terrek is a very fighty place. The main feature is the central Arena built on top of an oasis.

Sorry for that long explanation, just thought you might want it. BTW, the Alkatryz are all mine. Yes, their name is like the prison. But not intentionally. I didn't actually know that until my sis (Beta-kinda) told me. Muhahaha! And yes, they do mostly have 3-letter names.

Reviews? Any suggestions? You want more action, more fluff, more darkness, more Eni and Nel? Tell me, I'll take it into consideration. Bear in mind I can't answer all reviews- we're hotel-hopping in the states and some don't have internet. I'm in Annapolis ATM, going to the Naval Academy tomorrow! Really exiting since I'm a Cadet at my school CCF and I love sailing.

~Emiri