"A Klutz!" Hellstrom mutters to himself as he walks out of the clan Coffee shop. He could hear the owner giggling about something as he walked away but he didn’t quite catch what was said. Taking the portal to the city of Torregianno, Hellstrom headed west out of the city and into the forests south of the city of Vector. He ran a good portion of the way and his bear had elected to stay behind, but Hellstrom knew he would eventually catch up. "Seriously, what fool fumbles with his weapon like a first year novice!" Hellstrom thought to himself angrily as he looked down at his long handled woodsman axe strapped to his waist.
Hellstrom worried about the upcoming trip he was supposed to take Emalia on in the forest. If a couple of minutes in the coffee shop could turn him into a fumbling fool, what was a full day or more in the forest going to do to him? He was supposed to teach her how to survive in the forest, but he couldn’t even manage to hold on to his weapon around her much less speak a straight sentence. "I need to do something about this..." Hellstrom muttered to himself. "But what....."
Some time later in a clearing after working the practice combat maneuvers his elven trainers had ingrained into him and taking a dip in a nearby pool to clean off, Hellstrom felt a little better. With his confidence restored, and feeling a little bit more calm, he headed back to the Guardians sanctuary. "Ill talk to her about it." Hellstrom thinks aloud to himself. "That’s what I will do."
Eyelight Twinkle
Emalia wore a coy smile on her face as she strolled through the city. Her thoughts were not on where she was going, but on the sunrise, and the way the light played on Hellstrom's eyes. Odd that she would remember the sparkle. It was as if the stars had come down to sit right before her and she had been given the best of both worlds... sunrise, and night, all in one.
The smile faded as she stopped in Market Square, biting her lip. What was she thinking? Her trip wasn't about Hellstrom, it was about clearing her mind, being by herself, choosing her life's path - the one of being alone. At the very least she could call on Colin to tell him about her night. He had wanted to hear her report when she returned, and in short order, she linked to him mentally and steered him to Market Square.
Colin recommended a nice, relaxing place where they could speak, and it came as a small, hidden surprise when he lead her to the park in Westbridge. All around them were couples in various stages of necking, kissing, holding hands, and hugging. They were a goodly distance from all the others, and sitting a friendly distance from one another as Emalia began raving about the starlight.
Stars turned into sunrise turned into Hellstrom. In a simple breath, she spoke a sentence worthy of any woman in a fairy tale, "We watched the most gorgeous sunrise."
Colin's expression went unnoticed, but the sentiment wasn't. "Hmmm.. I thought you were making a private trip." "It was going to be... and until I woke, it was." "See... I thought it might be a good idea to have someone accompany you. Advise you against sleeping on the cliff edge and so forth."
Colin's tiny grin relaxed Emalia, and it wasn't until Colin spoke next that she realized something. "I must admit I was rather lonely without you. Nobody to share my chicken with."
Emalia deftly changed the subject. As the sun set, Colin offered to walk her home. His face fell as she declined the offer, opting instead for the instantaneous magic granted by having clan membership.
After she waved to Colin for a final time, Emalia arrived in the Guardian's hall. She felt relieved as she made her way to the Swiss Miss, but as she entered the cafe, the familiar green cloak greeted her. Though he wasn't large and muscular, she felt some sort of pull to Hellstrom; quite contrary to her idea of leaving behind the love business in trade for the life of a celibate healer.
They only made minimal conversation and Emalia had barely time to turn away before the clatter of Hellstrom's axe hitting the floor turned her back. "Everything alright?" "I'm fine. I'm... just a klutz is all." "A klutz..."
Hellstrom nodded, and Emalia stood there for a moment. How could someone sent to hunt cats, someone who lived in the forests for so long, in fact, someone who was to teach her the ways of the woods, be clumsy? She, however, wouldn't deny him dignity - though she couldn't help but make a remark in jest, "I can perhaps teach you how to hold onto your axe... perhaps when you teach me about woodland safety."
It rather seemed the blushing was mutual as the two parted. Emalia to her quest, Hellstrom to spend time given to him by Elbryan to have a "break". She turned to the Swiss Miss to say goodbye, and the knowing smirk the woman held on her face said it all. "Oh, no no. It's not like that." "Please," the Miss replied. "I've seen it hundreds of times. You can't think I'm that blind." "Well, no, I... I don't think you are, m'lady." The Miss waved her hand. "Drop the m'lady." "Well, alright. But it's not what you think." "Then what is it?"
Emalia stared at the Swiss Miss, apparently long enough to warrant a smarting slap to her cheek. "Wake up. Go kill the pixie, girl." "Oh... sorry... I'm... I'm sorry."
The Miss had a point, and as Emalia cast a spell of relocation, she was wondering... What *is* it?
The smile faded as she stopped in Market Square, biting her lip. What was she thinking? Her trip wasn't about Hellstrom, it was about clearing her mind, being by herself, choosing her life's path - the one of being alone. At the very least she could call on Colin to tell him about her night. He had wanted to hear her report when she returned, and in short order, she linked to him mentally and steered him to Market Square.
Colin recommended a nice, relaxing place where they could speak, and it came as a small, hidden surprise when he lead her to the park in Westbridge. All around them were couples in various stages of necking, kissing, holding hands, and hugging. They were a goodly distance from all the others, and sitting a friendly distance from one another as Emalia began raving about the starlight.
Stars turned into sunrise turned into Hellstrom. In a simple breath, she spoke a sentence worthy of any woman in a fairy tale, "We watched the most gorgeous sunrise."
Colin's expression went unnoticed, but the sentiment wasn't. "Hmmm.. I thought you were making a private trip." "It was going to be... and until I woke, it was." "See... I thought it might be a good idea to have someone accompany you. Advise you against sleeping on the cliff edge and so forth."
Colin's tiny grin relaxed Emalia, and it wasn't until Colin spoke next that she realized something. "I must admit I was rather lonely without you. Nobody to share my chicken with."
Emalia deftly changed the subject. As the sun set, Colin offered to walk her home. His face fell as she declined the offer, opting instead for the instantaneous magic granted by having clan membership.
After she waved to Colin for a final time, Emalia arrived in the Guardian's hall. She felt relieved as she made her way to the Swiss Miss, but as she entered the cafe, the familiar green cloak greeted her. Though he wasn't large and muscular, she felt some sort of pull to Hellstrom; quite contrary to her idea of leaving behind the love business in trade for the life of a celibate healer.
They only made minimal conversation and Emalia had barely time to turn away before the clatter of Hellstrom's axe hitting the floor turned her back. "Everything alright?" "I'm fine. I'm... just a klutz is all." "A klutz..."
Hellstrom nodded, and Emalia stood there for a moment. How could someone sent to hunt cats, someone who lived in the forests for so long, in fact, someone who was to teach her the ways of the woods, be clumsy? She, however, wouldn't deny him dignity - though she couldn't help but make a remark in jest, "I can perhaps teach you how to hold onto your axe... perhaps when you teach me about woodland safety."
It rather seemed the blushing was mutual as the two parted. Emalia to her quest, Hellstrom to spend time given to him by Elbryan to have a "break". She turned to the Swiss Miss to say goodbye, and the knowing smirk the woman held on her face said it all. "Oh, no no. It's not like that." "Please," the Miss replied. "I've seen it hundreds of times. You can't think I'm that blind." "Well, no, I... I don't think you are, m'lady." The Miss waved her hand. "Drop the m'lady." "Well, alright. But it's not what you think." "Then what is it?"
Emalia stared at the Swiss Miss, apparently long enough to warrant a smarting slap to her cheek. "Wake up. Go kill the pixie, girl." "Oh... sorry... I'm... I'm sorry."
The Miss had a point, and as Emalia cast a spell of relocation, she was wondering... What *is* it?
Rest and Relaxation
The setting sun over the mountains was dazzling as Hellstrom watched the rays of light shift to all of the varying hues of red. This was the same spot that Hellstrom had found Emalia asleep the night before. Now he understood the draw. The sunset here was amazing. His thoughts had been confused and clouded all day since his and Emalia's talk after she had awoken to find herself not where she had fallen asleep. She had sat with him for a long while with her shoulder touching his.
Hellstrom was grateful for the time Elbryan gave him to sort this out for himself. The dealings with Lharka Therru and other pressing matters had left Hellstrom little time to think of anything else much less matters of the heart.
Normally the quiet noises of the forest would settle Hellstrom's mind, but this day it was not the case. His mind should be on the dealings with the Talosian woman, but again not the case. Instead his mind kept returning to the sunrise he had shared with Emalia.
Finally some time later after the sun had set, Hellstrom went back to the tree he had rested against while watching over Emalia. He sat down and slipped into the dreamless sleep like state that was the only rest he ever allowed himself the whole while analyzing that morning.
Hellstrom was grateful for the time Elbryan gave him to sort this out for himself. The dealings with Lharka Therru and other pressing matters had left Hellstrom little time to think of anything else much less matters of the heart.
Normally the quiet noises of the forest would settle Hellstrom's mind, but this day it was not the case. His mind should be on the dealings with the Talosian woman, but again not the case. Instead his mind kept returning to the sunrise he had shared with Emalia.
Finally some time later after the sun had set, Hellstrom went back to the tree he had rested against while watching over Emalia. He sat down and slipped into the dreamless sleep like state that was the only rest he ever allowed himself the whole while analyzing that morning.
Meetings
Elbryan sat leaning back in his chair at his desk as Hellstrom finished his tale of his encounter with the Talosian woman Violent. "She said to tell you that she is glad you are well and that she knows about how Lharka was rescued." Hellstrom said distractedly his cheeks slightly flushed. "She also accused you of killing one of their priests." Hellstrom finished off.
Elbryan sat back and thought this new information over for a few minutes while he watched the gears in Hellstrom's head turn furiously. "Something has got you frazzled Hellstrom." Elbryan stated politely. Hellstrom looked up from his hands and started to stutter something about a girl but Elbryan laughed and stopped him mid sentence. "It's Ok Hellstrom, I will look into Violent's issues, she is still angry with me about scrambling her brains no doubt." Elbryan said with a chuckle. "Now go take some time off and deal with your.... issues." Elbryan finishes. Hellstrom stands up and starts to stammer some objection, but Elbryan just waves his hand in a gesture of dismissal and Hellstrom nods his head with a look of gratitude on his face and leaves the office.
With a smirk on his face Elbryan thinks to himself as he listens to Hellstrom's footsteps going down the stairs, "He's gone and gotten himself involved with some girl." And then as the footsteps fade away his thoughts turn to the Talosian woman and her accusations. "Somehow I knew I was not to be rid of her after the dealings we have had." Elbryan muses to himself. Elbryan relaxes for a few more minutes then stands up to put on his armor and grab his sword belt as he heads out the door. "I suppose I should find out what lunacy Violent has for me today."
Elbryan sat back and thought this new information over for a few minutes while he watched the gears in Hellstrom's head turn furiously. "Something has got you frazzled Hellstrom." Elbryan stated politely. Hellstrom looked up from his hands and started to stutter something about a girl but Elbryan laughed and stopped him mid sentence. "It's Ok Hellstrom, I will look into Violent's issues, she is still angry with me about scrambling her brains no doubt." Elbryan said with a chuckle. "Now go take some time off and deal with your.... issues." Elbryan finishes. Hellstrom stands up and starts to stammer some objection, but Elbryan just waves his hand in a gesture of dismissal and Hellstrom nods his head with a look of gratitude on his face and leaves the office.
With a smirk on his face Elbryan thinks to himself as he listens to Hellstrom's footsteps going down the stairs, "He's gone and gotten himself involved with some girl." And then as the footsteps fade away his thoughts turn to the Talosian woman and her accusations. "Somehow I knew I was not to be rid of her after the dealings we have had." Elbryan muses to himself. Elbryan relaxes for a few more minutes then stands up to put on his armor and grab his sword belt as he heads out the door. "I suppose I should find out what lunacy Violent has for me today."
Waking
Shock. It's really the only way one can describe waking up in a place that one doesn't remember. That, and fear. Emalia woke from her sleep beneath the stars to find herself not on the overlook where she had fallen asleep - but in a bed of moss nearby. Her immediate thought was she had done something in her sleep that she didn't remember. She then realized that she must have been moved.
Emalia slowly sat up and noticed a forest green cloak had been thrown over her. Would, that she could have claimed she knew the owner, but she didn't. "Hello?" she called.
"Good morn Emalia."
Hellstrom. Emalia smiled, deeply relieved that it was a fellow clansman that had shifted her while she slept. Sanria rose and walked to the tree where Hellstrom sat, seating herself against the same arboreal being, shoulder to shoulder with him. With the appearance of a wild cat in the area, Hellstrom felt obligated to watch over her as she slept. A fact she found quite curious. Of all the woods in the realms, of all the trees, of all the cliffs... he happened upon her.
Emalia found it easy to chat with Hellstrom, and when coupled with the sunrise over the eastern horizon, her morning was completely free of any troubles or burdens. It was wonderful.
After the promise of a lesson in, what Emalia would later regard as Forest Safety 101, Hellstrom escorted her back to Westbridge. As they parted, she could have sworn she caught the faintest hint of rose on his cheeks - a sight that sent her thinking about him for quite a while.
Emalia slowly sat up and noticed a forest green cloak had been thrown over her. Would, that she could have claimed she knew the owner, but she didn't. "Hello?" she called.
"Good morn Emalia."
Hellstrom. Emalia smiled, deeply relieved that it was a fellow clansman that had shifted her while she slept. Sanria rose and walked to the tree where Hellstrom sat, seating herself against the same arboreal being, shoulder to shoulder with him. With the appearance of a wild cat in the area, Hellstrom felt obligated to watch over her as she slept. A fact she found quite curious. Of all the woods in the realms, of all the trees, of all the cliffs... he happened upon her.
Emalia found it easy to chat with Hellstrom, and when coupled with the sunrise over the eastern horizon, her morning was completely free of any troubles or burdens. It was wonderful.
After the promise of a lesson in, what Emalia would later regard as Forest Safety 101, Hellstrom escorted her back to Westbridge. As they parted, she could have sworn she caught the faintest hint of rose on his cheeks - a sight that sent her thinking about him for quite a while.
A Mission Diverted
The woods were silent as Hellstrom stalked through the night darkened forest. His bear a mile or so to the east had seen nothing of the cat they were tracking either. The farmer had said it headed in this direction, though Hellstrom always had trouble tracking the cats of this forest. Far too elusive for a human to track. However, Hellstrom had told the farmer over the corpses of his dead livestock that he would do what he could to ensure it did not happen again. So here he was in the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night, and tracking a cat that could kill him quickly if caught off guard.
Hellstrom sighs to himself as he starts off again into the wood. The cold of the forest floor felt good under his bare feet as he stalked through the trunks of the old trees. Up ahead he could see a opening in the woods evident by the amount of light coming in through the trees.
As he silently steps around the trunk of the last tree he notices a form sitting with her legs dangling over the edge of a cliff in the mountainside. It was decidedly female and he could smell the faint traces of a familiarly scented soap. She lay down on the grass and closed her eyes. Hellstrom recognized the face from the edge of the wood. This was Emalia, the young girl that had just gained admission to the Guardians.
Hellstrom watched a few minutes as the young girl lay in the grass sleeping. He could not just leave her here with that cat roaming the wilderness in this area. Hellstrom waited patiently in the shadows until he was sure Emalia was fast asleep until he crept up to her side and lifted her to carry her away from the possibility of a long fall and lay her in a bed of moss not far from the forest edge. He carefully unfastened his cloak and laid it over Emalia to keep her warm. With this done he silently crept back to the edge of the wood and sat down at the base of a wide oak tree and let himself slip into the half sleeping half still aware state of those trained by the elves, while watching Emalia sleep.
"She is really quite beautiful." Hellstrom thinks to himself as he drifts off listening for the sounds of the cat in the wood.
Hellstrom sighs to himself as he starts off again into the wood. The cold of the forest floor felt good under his bare feet as he stalked through the trunks of the old trees. Up ahead he could see a opening in the woods evident by the amount of light coming in through the trees.
As he silently steps around the trunk of the last tree he notices a form sitting with her legs dangling over the edge of a cliff in the mountainside. It was decidedly female and he could smell the faint traces of a familiarly scented soap. She lay down on the grass and closed her eyes. Hellstrom recognized the face from the edge of the wood. This was Emalia, the young girl that had just gained admission to the Guardians.
Hellstrom watched a few minutes as the young girl lay in the grass sleeping. He could not just leave her here with that cat roaming the wilderness in this area. Hellstrom waited patiently in the shadows until he was sure Emalia was fast asleep until he crept up to her side and lifted her to carry her away from the possibility of a long fall and lay her in a bed of moss not far from the forest edge. He carefully unfastened his cloak and laid it over Emalia to keep her warm. With this done he silently crept back to the edge of the wood and sat down at the base of a wide oak tree and let himself slip into the half sleeping half still aware state of those trained by the elves, while watching Emalia sleep.
"She is really quite beautiful." Hellstrom thinks to himself as he drifts off listening for the sounds of the cat in the wood.
Stars
The valley sprawled for what seemed like miles, full of trees and waves of grass that shimmered and bent in the wind. Emalia sat down at the very edge of the overlook, unafraid to allow her feet to dangle over the edge. To the west, the sun laboriously eased itself into the crook of the mountain. Eventually, the rays of the sun could be seen and the bright blue of the daylight sky turned purple, then faded to dark. The eyes of the sky burst forth in all their glory, and Emalia was there to see it.
Crickets sang in chorus as Emalia lay there, her head on one of her arms, while the other rested at her side. All in all, it had been a good evening. She and Colin had enjoyed chicken at the Crossroads Inn - courtesy of her magic. The fire was warm, the parlor was cozy, and the conversation was nice. Most pleasing was Colin's choice to begin again. Now, Emalia could be comfortable with him.
How long she would remain here, Emalia wasn't certain - but the fresh air, the whisper of nature, the twinkle of the stars - reminded her of long ago. Back then, the only one that needed her was her mother, and she felt connected to none but her. Now, however, seeing the people of the realms - her mind had been changed. There were so many people that needed help. So many. But here the song of the night relaxed her and not even realizing it... Emalia fell asleep.
Crickets sang in chorus as Emalia lay there, her head on one of her arms, while the other rested at her side. All in all, it had been a good evening. She and Colin had enjoyed chicken at the Crossroads Inn - courtesy of her magic. The fire was warm, the parlor was cozy, and the conversation was nice. Most pleasing was Colin's choice to begin again. Now, Emalia could be comfortable with him.
How long she would remain here, Emalia wasn't certain - but the fresh air, the whisper of nature, the twinkle of the stars - reminded her of long ago. Back then, the only one that needed her was her mother, and she felt connected to none but her. Now, however, seeing the people of the realms - her mind had been changed. There were so many people that needed help. So many. But here the song of the night relaxed her and not even realizing it... Emalia fell asleep.
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