Sorry – made mistakes in the last Chapter by spelling 'Erin' instead of 'Eyrien'... Opps!
Two years later, in the forest bordering the Village Terion, Ebon Askavi.
"Kalan!" I carolled into the unresponsive surrounding forest. It was my turn to be 'It' for a game of hide and tag. I mean, although Kalan'drios is a centimetre off beating my door's height, he's pure white and the fact that you practically can't miss him, it's amazingly strange how good he is at hide and tag. We figured, after a year, give or take, that he wasn't a tiger – tigers didn't grow that large. Oh well; I didn't mind. He had three minutes to find a hiding spot, before I went to find him.
He usually chose something that wouldn't give him away – like standing one top of a branch, with a invisibility shield on, because he'd be blocking too much of the wind. So trees was crossed off my mental list of where about's he could possibly have vanished too.
I bent over a broken twig and brushed it lightly with my fingers, trying to trace any scent of Craft, smell or tell-tale signs. The twig had no scent of Craft, or smell, but it did have a strand of fur resting on the brim of the tip.
I stood up, and following the way the fur seemed to point, I studied the path for Kalan. We liked to think of ourselves as almost the top hunters; the wolves were beating us constantly at that, and for that we respected them. We were second, prior to our senses as the wolves said mine were, 'Perfect for a two-legged'. I was, as I had seen, better than that of a Landen, but worse than some animals, but thank-fully not far off.
"I'm going to get you... where ever you are..." I taunted into the wind. I heard a very noisy rustling sound, coming from just behind me. Sometimes, Kalan couldn't help if there was a very irritating scratch on him, and would usually rub against something to ease the itch. Thankfully, this usually let me pin point him.
I sprung down into a crouch, and with a push sent myself straight to where Kalan was busy relieving an itch. "Gotcha!" I announced with a small laugh, pinning Kalan's thin, pale arms to the side of his head. I stared, wide eyed, into the golden-blue eyes of someone that wasn't Kalan.
She had long, wavy black hair that was pulled into a very loose bun. Her over-alls was covered in dirt and tangled with the bush that was digging its way into my shoulder. I pulled a face and jumped backwards slightly off the woman, who was clearly older than I was – about seventeen. A burst of raw Opal jewelled power was sent in my direction at the same time the girl through a shield up.
I stretched out my arm reflexively into a position that looked as if I was pointing without effort at the stranger. The Red power counteracted with my Red shielded finger, cancelling themselves out against one another without me having to lift a finger. Sort of.
I threw a Summer Sky shield around me, with a Grey shield backing it up like a second and third skin. This should, hopefully, make her feel unthreatened, although that stunt that I pulled off would probably not go unnoticed... "You should watch where you are treading in these woods, my lady. I'm afraid this isn't the safest place in the three realms." I began politely, keeping my face un-emotional.
"Yes, I am quite aware of that, thank-you, but I mistook you for somebody else. Sorry for any disturbance in the...thing you were doing." She threw a fake smile at me, and began to get up from her position of being entwined in the weed bush.
I was about to turn and walk off, which is what I wanted to do, when I began to notice how frail and silly her attempts at detaching herself from the common weed bush was. I felt sympathy for the lady, thinking that she probably was a long way from her home, and had no idea about any plant around her.
I sighed, knowing I would regret this later, when I turned back to the lady and walked towards her, keeping a firm check on my sight shield around my Eyrien wings. She stopped what she was doing for a moment, and looked up at me with wide and fearful eyes. I returned the blunt fake smile she had given me earlier, and reached my hand over her head and down to the root of the bush. With a small grunt, I managed to pinch the fauna. All of the weed bushes sticky leaves, prickly flowers and long stems vanished into the root of the bush within a split second.
"Thanks." I heard her mutter, before I leaned back away from her and gave her a good look over, to make sure she hadn't injured herself with her unintelligence of the world around her. No cuts, and nothing serious, but just a bruise behind her neck, where goodness knows what happened.
"Are you lost?" I enquired after a few moments of silence. She gave a dry laugh, keeping her eyes at her feet. "Of course I'm not." She informed me, sounding like she was telling herself this, not me. I shrugged lightly and started to pretend to turn.
"If you're not lost, then I'm sure I can leave you here then? If that's the case, than nice...meeting you." I exaggerated the word 'that's'. I found it very amusing how her eyes widened a bucket load, her nails dug into the earth and she looked momentarily shocked. She and I both new she was 100% lost. "Okay, okay. I'm lost." She huffed, obviously annoyed.
The corner of my lips pulled up a slight bit before I extended a hand to help her up. She took it with a moment's hesitation, and I yanked her up probably hard that I should have. Her face was inches from mine before I let go and took a step back, apologizing with a quick, "Sorry."
"You're strong." She observed, sounding amused and pleased. I felt confused – why is that a good thing, for her type anyway – she doesn't have to hunt for food for her brother, or use her skills to track him down in typical childish games. "Brothers." I shrugged her comment off and started walking away from where I had found her, and over to the Western direction; I knew there was a road there for the Blood, and even a Wind to catch above it.
She huffed loudly and suddenly looked more relaxed. "I know what you mean."
I hiked onwards at a reasonable pace, but she kept seeming to slow down, like my pace was difficult. I thought all Blood where as fit as me... I thought, confused again. "I'm Claudia by the way." She declared in a huffed tone. I really must be walking too fast for her.
"Nice to meet you." I nodded, but didn't do much more than that – I haven't been around another person since mother died, and I didn't plan on it since then. Kindred had been my thing since then; my family. Kalan was my brother, but the local wolves were like extended cousins. I knew what to say to them, knew what offended then and what was okay to say. Blood... well... Not really. Everything before meeting Kalan is like a blur – there wasn't anything useful or life changing back in those days anyway...
"And you name is...?" Claudia prompted, sounding childish, and extremely huffed. "Let's just stop for a break." I suggested to her, changing the subject entirely. The wolves believed that giving you name to a Blood was like giving them your soul, so no names were given to any outsider until they had a high reputation with them. That's why they howled to the moon, because the moon was surrounded in Darkness, so they believed the moon was the Darkness's messenger, and they sent their names to the moon as to prove their faith to the Darkness; that the Darkness could control them.
I had howled to the moon one night, joining in with the wolves and Kalan. I am the first outsider, other than Kalan, to be told the names of the wolves in the pack. I'm seen as a mother figure, and by younger pups, like a saviour. Being with the Kindred so long has grown on me; like the fact that I don't like giving out my name often.
Claudia collapsed next to the nearest tree and took in very loud and very deep breaths. I was starting to wonder why she was breathing so loudly; that could give your position away in a lot of games, and when hunting. I shrugged her strange behaviour off.
After a few minute of waiting, she asked me, "How come you're not tired?"
I shrugged again, not looking at her. Out of the corner of my eye, I'd seen she had long, beautiful and neat black wavy hair, golden-blue eyes and tanned skin; unscarred and smooth looking. I, on the other hand, had shoulder-short black straight hair that was constantly messy, honey golden eyes and vey tanned skin. I feel as if I'm horribly ugly compared to her. "I am, I just walk a lot so I'm not as tired as you." I explained.
Claudia grunted and I frowned at the hill in front of me – the Kindred wouldn't have found that insulting. "Come on. There's a road over there with a Rose Wind over it." I sighed mentally and physically – Kalan would just have to wait for another half hour before I start to get back to him.
The road trek came slow than I thought; either because of the now mute company I had or because we were walking at such a slow pace. Both? I'm not sure...
"Well, here's the road, that's the Wind, and good luck." I turned around and sighed, gratefully, when I heard the steady beat of unnaturally large wings. I felt the hairs rise on the back of my neck as I slowed to a halt, hearing the wind beats slow and cut off, knowing that the person had landed. Another Eyrien means temper; temper means males; males mean unwanted attention.
"Daemonar!" I heard Claudia guffaw in a gleeful tone. I felt suppressed and completely aware of my surroundings. No matter how bad I wanted to move, I couldn't. It was like glue was sticking me to the ground, and I hated it. I noticed vaguely that Claudia didn't notice my still being there, but I knew this 'Daemonar' wouldn't act the same way.
"Who's this?" I heard a strong, husky voice ask. I knew it; I wish I'd left Claudia to herself once I'd freed her of the weed bush. And it was a common weed bush too – what a silly lady not to know about the simplest things.
"I'm not sure." Claudia's voice mumbled quietly, sounding just as confused as I felt. "But she helped me get untangled from a bush." She said, in a louder and lighter tone. I narrowed my eyes and grinded my teeth together when I felt the approach of more Blood. Three more, but whose counting? A Sapphire Jewelled, a Red and a Green. Curses.
I swore under my breath and kept myself facing away from the oncoming three others, and away from the two I could sense physically. The idea of escaping not only dissolved instantly because it was silly against such odds, but because that was also not in my nature to flee. I stood my ground, mainly because I couldn't move, and listened out for any physical trace of the other three standing no less than ten meters from me.
My jewel was tucked quiet safely back between my bosoms, and that's the way they where going to stay – hopefully, unless I am about to get raped. In that case, I'll see them all in Hell, I thought childishly, an impish grin spreading across my face.
Daemonar huffed angrily. "Do you even know where you've ventured off too?! Luckily your mess of destruction was easy to follow, Dia. And to think you walked off with a stranger in the middle of the woods!"
My eyebrows knitted together as I felt a pang of anger. I'm not about to go rape her if that's what he meant. Fortunately for him I'm not into any of that sort of stuff, but Kalan said it would only be a matter of time. Kalan! Oh no!
I swore, and louder than I was meant to. I felt the three other moves so they were standing behind me, in between Claudia and me. I bit down on my tongue, cursing myself for forgetting Kalan. He probably thinks I've wondered off on him, and he's either going to be very mad or very upset once I get back to him; depends on where he was hiding and for how long.
Oh, my poor ickle brother!
I spread my hidden wings slowly, as not to alert anyone, although I think I was moving them to fast; I could here every move they made, but maybe because I'm concentrating on them so hard. My feet still felt glued down into the earth, so I probed the area to discover Craft – Red Jewelled – holding me in place. Thankfully, I could escape from it, but the person who cast the spell would notice instantly.
"It's not my fault I want to get away from a group of males who watch my every move! You guys don't even let me into any of your games! 'Go explore' he says, 'See the world' another says! Well I did and she's the first girl my age I've actually talked with for more than an hour – everyone else goes on and on about 'that one's looks' and 'his abbs'!" I heard Claudia snap, and I suddenly connected one with one and got the outcome – Daemonar must be her brother, and the three behind me must be friends, attractive and who she was talking about.
Hate to break up their conversation (or argument, I thought glumly), but I did anyway. I broke the Red Jewelled spell around my ankle at the same time I pushed my wings down and dropped the sight shield on my wings; I was sent soaring into the sweet blue sky, the-
Hey!
Something wrapped around my ankle and weaved its way around and up my leg like string, or a growing plant. With a thrust it pulled me violently down, and I had no choice but to oblige; spreading my wings would either snap them at the should because of the friction verses gravity, or be scrapped on the twigs and branches as I fell to the ground.
I hit the ground, landing painfully on my bottom, facing the five standing in front of me. I felt furious; I helped her and her companions rip me out of the sky for my reward?! I glared daggers at the five in front of me.
One, presumably Daemonar, was an Eyrien with dark, black, burly wings and a sun kissed tan. His golden eyes spelt the message that he was hazardous, white his sooty black hair that fell over his eyebrows seemed to tell me two things; he was attractive and a bad boy.
The one closest to me had fiery red curly hair with matching leafy green eyes that confirmed intelligence and mischief. With his golden tanned skin he looked loyal, loveable and Scelt.
The one next to him had white blonde hair that looked almost metallic. He had pointy ears with emerald green eyes that made him look tough and deadly. With all of these traits and his pale skin marked him De al Mon.
The fourth male had luxuriously gorgeous brown locks; sun kissed skin and bright blue eyes – probably a mixed breed. He looked beautiful and untouchable.
All four of the men where powerfully built, Warlord Princes and around the age of fifteen to twenty. Joy.
I felt two of them dancing towards to killing edge, with Claudia well hidden from my view. I grinded my teeth together, spread my wings to make myself look huge and glared emotionlessly at them. My bottom and leg felt to be throbbing; it felt like I'd broken something. I had hit a tree on the violent way down, and so my check was stinging from the cut that was now there.
Claudia's face stuck around to look at me, her face saying she was confused, annoyed and scared. I glared at her and as a consequence got a snarl, a male on the killing edge, daggers sent my way and the summon of three deadly weapons.
Suddenly two giant paws were in front of me, white fur rubbing against the top of my hair and a body so large that my wings were forced down. A low rumble echoed through the woods as I hissed at the body over me.
Kalan was on the killing edge, dangerous, deadly and any push the wrong way could result in everyone's death; he had, after all, an Ebon-Grey Jewel, but my temper was dangling by a thread.
"Kalan." I growled warningly. I felt one of the two-legged males back from the killing edge as I sat under the giant tiger. Well, he's not a tiger.
*Elayn, stay there.* Kalan'drios growled to me. I narrowed my eyes and, ignoring what he said, slipped out from under him. *Elyan.* He snarled, keeping his eyes on the other males. "Oh go sit on a snake." I muttered, undiscouraged from the fact that I wanted to move and he wasn't going to do anything about it. I felt an Ebon-Grey shield go around Kalan and myself, as he turned his body into an attack position.
My head turned instinctively when something appeared in the corner of my eye, then again, and again until twelve other people had suddenly appeared from what seemed to literally be the Darkness. I threw three more shields up and moved behind Kalan so I was protecting him from rear attacks. I looked around at the people and Kindred, hearing a growl low in Kalan's throat.
"Mother, Aunts and Uncles." Claudia said, in a shaky but commanding voice.
I glared around and with a hiss, said, "Shit little brother, what did we get ourselves into?"
We were like a sandwich – Kalan and I stuck between two halves – Apparently discovering aid in the middle of nowhere was seen as danger to these people, these high ranked people, and I could only sense five. Trying to leave wasn't the smartest move on my part, putting their stereotype to the test, and worse when Kalan appeared from seemingly nowhere. All these seemed to prove to these people that we were a threat to their children, their women and their family. I was confused, dreadfully pissed and angry.
I felt lightheaded, my leg felt numb yet agonizingly and I watched apprehensively as twelve or so people added to those around us; it was a wonder I couldn't sense any of them before hand, even if they weren't under a sight shield. There were eight on two-legs; all looking like they could be the parents, which I guessed they were. There were three Kindred: Two medium sized dogs and a tiger – an actual tiger, not whatever enormous breed Kalan'drios was.
The inside of my skull felt like it was dancing, causing me horrendous amounts of pain, and I grinded my resilient teeth together to keep myself fully concentrated.
But that all changed as everything blurred, I felt myself aggressively swaying, and the ground turned murky as it rushed towards me.
What's happened?! Oh my goose!
Please Review for me – even if its comments, ideas or insults. Though insults aren't exactly what I was aiming for... :) I'll give you all a cookie if you review ^.^
From,
~~ToySoldier~~
