Hollow Tree (Fantasy/Medieval) Role-Play

[Lorelei_Melusine]

"Peaceful..." Sombra whispered. In her mind she saw the village again. The happiness and peace that seemed to suffuse all who lived there despite the threat that hung over them should the Order find them. "I never knew peace," she told him. "Lymil showed me the possibility of it. When I wore the collar and you saw us in the village. She made me think, and remember, and yearn again. Such things have no place in the world I was raised to be in. None of the Stalkers clan ever yearn for anything more than power. Maybe that's why they tried to beat it out of me." A shiver wracked her whole body for a moment before she could stop it. Then she slid from Hawk's arms. She went over to the packs they had made and started shoving things in harshly. "Damn you both for making me think of it again! I haven't wanted this since I was a child. And now you are offering something and I can't..." With a shaking hand she touched her face before turning to look at Hawk. Tears were slowly filling her eyes and falling. "Why? Why me? Why offer all this? I have failed at virtually everything I have been asked to do! I am a useless abomination. I'm not worth all this!"  

[shans]

Hawk was taken aback, he didn't mean to bring old memories flooding back. He sighed in understanding and reached out to wipe a few tears away. "Maybe, you weren't good at these things for a reason. Maybe you failed because you were destined to live a different life. Because you lack in one aspect does not mean you are less deserving of the things you want in life." He said while stroking her cheek.

"They only things in life you need to be good at, are the things you want to be good at, and apparently that wasn't hunting and killing for your clan." He looked away for a moment, thinking.

"When an opportunity prevents itselfs, one does not question whether she has earned it or not, she seizes it without hesitation because it is something she wants." He concluded, trying to make her see that even if she lived her whole life in pain, that it doesn't mean she can't feel bliss. "So, ask yourself again, why you? Because you have survived thus far, and the opportunity now lies at your feet. All you need to do is pick it up and hold it close. Yet something is holding you back, maybe you should ask yourself exactly what that something is?"

 

[Lorelei_Melusine]

That single action, his thumb stroking her cheek, proved to be the last straw. Sombra stared into Hawk's eyes and found herself answering his question. A single sentence she had been beaten for uttering flowed from her. "I am half human. My Trues mother died giving birth to me. My human father was shocked I existed and wanted nothing to do with me. By day the Order taught me and trained me and used me. By night the Trues came and tortured and trained me. Never allowing me to reveal that. Or that I was to truly work for them." She lowered herself until she knelt on the floor. "There were times at night, before they came, that I would stare at the stars and dream. And yearn. I think I might like that again." She wiped hte rest of her tears away and took a deep breath. "Tell me more about this book and how it might help."  

[shans]

Hawk turned, created a small fire and gathered some water. Meanwhile he heated it to make a soothing cup of tea for Sombra he began his story.

"Once upon a time a prince was thrown from his castle. This prince had a brother, a brother who delved more into writing and science. Had this brother become King the land may have been prosperous and a rebellion not brought together from hate." He paused to soak the leaves, and search about for something to add a little sweetness.

"This brother had a book, a book filled with many secrets. Secrets of every half breed and full breed alike. He watched, studied, and befriended many. I think, for reasons I do not know, that scrawny silver haired boy has that exact book." He filled a cup and handed it to her, hoping to sooth her heartache.

"If we can get this book, I'm sure there is some weapon, or technique, too ultimately overcome the Trues and their mysterious powers. After all, if their wasn't, why haven't we taken over the world yet? Our clan leaders must know something, or else they wouldn't hold us back with missions like slaughtering innocent children, or order members in high positions." He proceeded to make his own cup.

"Getting this book is like a key to the door to freedom, no more order, no more trues, all the secrets would be ours. There is only one thing stopping us, or I should say, like 7 - ish things stopping us." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Now, we've tried attacking them, taking the book. Perhaps a new idea. Perhaps we aid them in whatever ridiculous task they are on, and in the end they lend us the book. It may work, and it may not, however I doubt any of them would trust us so we'd have to put our lives before them. Save them, or something from some tragedy. That is how I hear it work in stories all the time."

"If not this, then perhaps we can scheme of a different way, what do you think?" He said, taking a long swig of tea. It was warm and calming.

 

[Lorelei_Melusine]

Sombra sipped the tea as she considered what he had told her. Scheming again?? Didn't feel right. Not really. But she had a feeling that dealing with that group would involve listening to the part of herself that the Trues had tried so hard to squish. And it was speaking to her now. "We can tell them the truth," she told Hawk softly. "Your curse, my mixed blood. THey may not trust us, but helping them won't be enough to get their help in return I think. They will want more from us and perhaps the truth of us will help."
She drank a little more, her eyes darting as she continued to think. When she locked her eyes on his, Sombra felt a shift inside herself again. One man and one woman had brought her to the point of openness. While she may never be able to repay Lymil, she could give as much of herself to Hawk as she had ever dared. How and when were questions she had yet to answer.
"How do we find them?" she asked at last. "And do we use the shadows to get to them? It would be faster, but I don't know if the clan can track me that way."  

[shans]

Hawk scratched his chin, there was a patch of stubble growing. He had yet to shave, and thought perhaps a change would be good. He'd never grown his facial hair, nor had he ever wanted too. But then, his face was always cold. He pondered this thought while Sombra spoke. He nodded now and then for her to continue as he considered every detail.

"Doubt they'd listen, but I guess we have no choice." He sighed. "As for the tracking, shadows would be fast, but maybe it is safest for now to ride on horse." He paused and took a deep breath. "As for their whereabouts, I think I remember hearing something in Hollow Tree fortress. Something about an expedition to the snow region. This may not be them, but I have a feeling it probably is. They've got a long ways ahead of us no doubt. But I'm sure we can catch up." He said, going back to scratching his chin and sipping his tea.  

[Lorelei_Melusine]

Sombra nodded and finished her tea. "We should get going then. I know we'll need more supplies. A horse maybe and definitely warmer clothing. The sooner we find them the better." She rubbed at the light scarring on her neck. If she wasn't careful, someone might think someone had tried to hang her. Not everyone would think the best of that. "We can always take the shadows if the need arises. But I'll go with your judgement for now.

~

Lileyna revelled in the feel of the wind beneath her wings. But she didn't lose focus on what she was out here for. It was an hour before she spotted what she wanted. With a dive a hawk would be proud of, she struck. It took effort but she lifted both herself and the hare into the air again. THe flight back to the cave was much faster now that she had what she wanted. She landed and shifted back. The hare was easily the size of her phoenix form. Maybe not a huge meal for them all, but every bit helped. "Here," she said coming in the cave. "It was a mile or so out. Pretty big but not enough for all but its a start. Want me to go out again?"