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."
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.
Thoughts Waxing Random
Emalia made herself content in the herb garden by laying amidst the pots and fragrant scents that wafted on the slight breeze. She took in a deep breath and let it out in a quick sigh, wondering briefly if the breath would actually reach the sky before it was completely dissipated. She really felt like a child when she spoke anymore. Not in control of herself, really, but not out of control.
Who honestly needed to have someone to be with when one had an entire family with which to spend their lives? She saw what love had done to her mother, she saw, too, that the lack of it didn't necessary spell the end of the world. Elbryan and Jayden seemed absolutely fine, as did Hellstrom.
"Why do I feel like something is still missing, then?" Fizz trotted up, sniffling her with his soft nose, the stiff little whiskers on his chin tickling her even as the hot breath (which smelled curiously like timothy and carrot), moisted her skin. "What more do I need, Fizz, outside of you, healing, and the Guardians?"
She sat up, patting her pet on his broad cheek. Her thoughts then swayed to Hellstrom and the idea of sleeping beneath the stars. She truly was homesick, though she'd not admit such a thing to anyone. The stars and sleeping beneath them - watching the occasional star arc through the midnight sky - wondering where it was off to in such a hurry. She'd spent so many warm nights beneath the sky with nothing but herself, her thoughts, and hopes that her mother would get better...how life could change.
"Ah, Fizz. Perhaps we should take a journey home and forget the woes-" A sudden thought struck her. She was home. The Cavern was no longer her place, but her mother's... and father's. Slowly, she looked at Fizz. With a sad smile, she patted him again - got up - and left for the confines of her small room. Once there, she lay in the bed, simply thinking.
Who honestly needed to have someone to be with when one had an entire family with which to spend their lives? She saw what love had done to her mother, she saw, too, that the lack of it didn't necessary spell the end of the world. Elbryan and Jayden seemed absolutely fine, as did Hellstrom.
"Why do I feel like something is still missing, then?" Fizz trotted up, sniffling her with his soft nose, the stiff little whiskers on his chin tickling her even as the hot breath (which smelled curiously like timothy and carrot), moisted her skin. "What more do I need, Fizz, outside of you, healing, and the Guardians?"
She sat up, patting her pet on his broad cheek. Her thoughts then swayed to Hellstrom and the idea of sleeping beneath the stars. She truly was homesick, though she'd not admit such a thing to anyone. The stars and sleeping beneath them - watching the occasional star arc through the midnight sky - wondering where it was off to in such a hurry. She'd spent so many warm nights beneath the sky with nothing but herself, her thoughts, and hopes that her mother would get better...how life could change.
"Ah, Fizz. Perhaps we should take a journey home and forget the woes-" A sudden thought struck her. She was home. The Cavern was no longer her place, but her mother's... and father's. Slowly, she looked at Fizz. With a sad smile, she patted him again - got up - and left for the confines of her small room. Once there, she lay in the bed, simply thinking.
Khyron to the Rescue. Hi-Ho Your Wildest Fantasy Awaaayyy!
There were books everywhere, a few neat stacks but mostly haphazard piles littering the floor. Khyron stood in the center of the room surveying the mess, idly wondering what manner of creature left his study in such a state; fully aware that he himself was to blame. The books were largely historical volumes dating back as far as the time of Nethril, and further. Khyron let out a sigh at the daunting task of organizing the texts before beginning to do just that.
As he began placing the books in new piles, based on time period, he became aware of a sense of worry abruptly disturbing his thoughts. Despite being an experienced wizard, Khyron was not superstitious as a rule and deemed the feeling illogical and continued to organize his study. Suddenly he stopped, something wasn't right. The feeling was unusual; it felt as though he were experiencing someone else's worry. Khyron gasped as realization set in, it was some form of telepathy; Dorian was in danger. He dropped the books he had been holding beginning to chant even before they hit the floor. Gray mists swirled up as he finished the incantation and vanished from the study.
Reappearing on the shore of Willow Lake, Khyron immediately felt Dorian's presence. Khyron looked around; nothing seemed to disturb the tranquility that always seemed to reign here. No, that wasn't true; although it looked tranquil a sense of evil tainted the air. He forced himself to calm down and surveyed the scene again, the grass was wet under the tree Dorian often sat under and was slightly matted down in the direction of the lake. Running quickly to the shore he looked into the lake and spotted Dorian. Again, nothing strange could be seen but yet there was something there, pulling Dorian deeper into the lake. She did not appear to be struggling, and it was impossible to tell whether she was conscious or not. The presence seemed powerful, but it was difficult to be sure. A levitation spell came to mind, although afraid it wouldn't be powerful enough Khyron decided to try it. To his surprise, and relief, the presence did not fight back, simply letting go and vanishing. He pulled Dorian from the lake and laid her gently on the grass a short distance from the bank. She was unconscious and, surprisingly, was breathing fine.
Although Dorian did not appear to be injured, Khyron was no healer and couldn't be sure. Picking her up again he frowned in the direction of lake, watching the serene waters for a moment before returning to the main hall to take Dorian to the healer.
As he began placing the books in new piles, based on time period, he became aware of a sense of worry abruptly disturbing his thoughts. Despite being an experienced wizard, Khyron was not superstitious as a rule and deemed the feeling illogical and continued to organize his study. Suddenly he stopped, something wasn't right. The feeling was unusual; it felt as though he were experiencing someone else's worry. Khyron gasped as realization set in, it was some form of telepathy; Dorian was in danger. He dropped the books he had been holding beginning to chant even before they hit the floor. Gray mists swirled up as he finished the incantation and vanished from the study.
Reappearing on the shore of Willow Lake, Khyron immediately felt Dorian's presence. Khyron looked around; nothing seemed to disturb the tranquility that always seemed to reign here. No, that wasn't true; although it looked tranquil a sense of evil tainted the air. He forced himself to calm down and surveyed the scene again, the grass was wet under the tree Dorian often sat under and was slightly matted down in the direction of the lake. Running quickly to the shore he looked into the lake and spotted Dorian. Again, nothing strange could be seen but yet there was something there, pulling Dorian deeper into the lake. She did not appear to be struggling, and it was impossible to tell whether she was conscious or not. The presence seemed powerful, but it was difficult to be sure. A levitation spell came to mind, although afraid it wouldn't be powerful enough Khyron decided to try it. To his surprise, and relief, the presence did not fight back, simply letting go and vanishing. He pulled Dorian from the lake and laid her gently on the grass a short distance from the bank. She was unconscious and, surprisingly, was breathing fine.
Although Dorian did not appear to be injured, Khyron was no healer and couldn't be sure. Picking her up again he frowned in the direction of lake, watching the serene waters for a moment before returning to the main hall to take Dorian to the healer.
I'm Worried About You
Dorian sits on the banks of Willow Lake watching the birds flit. As she sits she contemplates what she has heard. Slowly the waters of the lake expand, crest the banks and then reach toward the tree and the esper that sits beneath it. Silently, slowly, the waters grab the esper and pull her into their depths. As that happens Dorian calls out to Keldon . . . "Keep hidden. Don't trust them . . .Keep safe!"
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