Two Birds and One Stone Shy of Ruin [Malik|Whan]

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Character: Malikai Dorran
Stage: Adept
Luck: 18
Creature: Kiandri Dragon x 5
Success Rate: 6 - 100

Win x 5: 25 x 5 = 125/2 = 63exp

Total: 63exp, Levels to 20 with 12/20 exp left over, +5 LUK, +9 stat points to distribute, + 5 Kiandri Dragon Souls

 

[Bronze Coffee]

Character: Whan
Stage: Apprentice
Luck: 1
Creature: Kiandri Dragon x 5
Success Rate: 6 - 100

Win x 5: 25 x 5 = 125/2 = ??exp

Total: ?exp, Levels to ? with ?/? exp left over, +? LUK, +? stat points to distribute, + 5 Kiandri Dragon Souls

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

The edge of the horizon roiled.

Black-grey clouds, thick and chaotic, bubbled over and under one another like a witch’s brew, fighting for dominance in the space in that half of the sky. Malikai stood still, arms at his sides, one hand near to but not quite touching the hilt of his weapon. From his current position, ‘stationed’ just outside of a dark red-brick building, the smell of fish was thick on the wind, heavy and strange to his nose — which was, for its part, far more accustomed to soot, flower, oil, and metal. With the astringent oceanic scent came others too, of course, spices, tanned hide, and the sounds of nearby market activity, if not nearly so bustling as those he was used to.

He did not even know the name of the village he was in, only that it had received a recent series of dragon sightings, and the villagers feared an oncoming attack. To demonstrate its control and protective influence, Ashen City had dispersed with a handful of its city guard and a few training soldiers — Malikai included — to be posted around the village and see to any dangers that arose there. Between the orders of their commanding officer and the rumors he heard from around the ranks, Malik wasn’t entirely sure whether to actually suspect action or not, but in the meantime, he took use of the opportunity to travel and observe the surrounding area.

Despite being from a poorer quarter of Ashen City himself, he had not often been to see the lives of others in his relative ‘class’ outside of the city walls, since he rarely set foot outside them. The freedom to do so, however, and breathe fresh air — see new faces — and appreciate the landscape, was a welcome one. Even if it was threatening a storm and smelled of fish.  

[Bronze Coffee]

Whan scratched his neck under his braid as he looked out at the sky that threatened to fall if something so much as touched it. He was nervous about something. It set his stomach into unease and made the little apprentices's wings flick every now and then before flapping once and tightening against his back again.

He had heard the reports of dragon sightings and most of the other apprentices were excited about the possibility to do their hunts but Whan wasn't. Oh, no. He wasn't going to go hunting alone. He was too secluded (by his own accord) to actually have friends to go hunting with. That, and he didn't think his chances of getting dragon souls were good, especially with another apprentice. He needed someone of a higher level than him. Whan twisted his fingers of his right hand with those of his left as he stood out on the street, watching people prepare for the possible storm that was heading their way.

This was a poor city, the buildings weren't all structured to withstand heavy storms. They didn't know how bad this one was going to be, so the citizens of the town were securing rooftops, windows, merchandise. They were closing up shops and gathering the smaller children.

"Ugh." One hand went to his stomach as it flipped again and then he started wandering toward the edge of the city. Should he go?

The Only Black Uke

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Malikai people-watched for some time. The task set before him wasn’t terribly specific, after all: stand guard and watch. He supposed, though, that perhaps it was to be expected. He and the rest of the small collection of soldiers and guardsmen (and women) sent out to the village were there to defend it should something happen. Until something did happen, the circumstances left them fairly idle. Or, at least he. He could be fairly certain some of the higher officers were finding ways to entertain themselves that did not involve the task at hand in the least — and might well impede their performance, should real danger arise — but it wasn’t his place to judge or complain.

Malikai’s gaze caught on a young boy. A solid half decade younger than him, if not more, but startlingly pale for a commoner. Malik was accustomed to white nobles — marbled, pristine and set in off-tones of pale yellow like a sunrise — but most commoners tended to support a deeper range of bright, overpowering colors in mottled mixes. The boy’s plumage, though, set him apart there, too — so dark, it was impossible to miss.

“You’ve nothin’ t’ be afraid of,” Malikai piped up, both by way of making conversation and to still him, since he looked to tending towards the edge of the village. “But I wouldn’ recommend leavin’ just yet just th’ same. A’ your folks about, then? With a storm brewin’, might be best t’ keep an evenin’ indoors, mm? I could ah…walk y’ there if y’ need it? ‘M Malikai, er…Dorran.”

After an awkward moment’s hesitation, he took a step forward and offered a hand in greeting.  

[Bronze Coffee]

The boy was wringing his hands together, scratching at his knuckles after a moment and then took a deeper breath. This wasn't going to end well for him. Not really. He rubbed at his face again, basically fidgeting and toying with anything he could because this was his first... well, hunt.

Then his ears twitched when the other said he shouldn't actually go yet and that just made him even more anxious than before. He rubbed his hands together and then crossed his arms so he stopped fidgeting again. His wings twitched a little more before he gave the other a thin smile. "Whan. I'm.. Whan. So you're.. ...Dorran or.. are you Malikai?" he was confused on that front. The pale boy didn't know what to call him!

"I can't.. help but be scared," he said, taking the other's hand in his, small hands smooth and not calloused in any way. He squeezed it and shook the other hand before he drew away and crossed his arms so much he basically shoved them in his armpits. "But when do we go if not now?"

The Only Black Uke

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Malikai blinked, observing the younger lad’s clear nervousness — in everything from voice intonation to anxious body language — and shook his head, giving the kid his best encouraging smile. “Malikai Dorran,” he said, clarifying. “Dorran’s the surname, aye? My family name. You c’n call me Malik, though, just as well. Most folk do. An’ a pleasure to meet you it is. Far as going anywhere’s concerned…”

He glanced towards the roiling skyline. Winds skirted down the street as he did, the clouds thick enough that it looked close to nightfall, despite being closer to midday, and the air was cooling. He ran a hand back through his hair, the gesture slipping down to a rub at his nape as he squinted speculatively.

“Well, was just a word o’ caution is all. I’m on post in case anythin’ comes ‘round that the townsfolk oughtn’t have to be dealin’ with on their own without help of our lady’s guard. You, though, look like you ought t’ be stayin’ indoors if any trouble comes, mm? Why don’t y’ let me see you home so your folks know where you are?”

If his guess at the child’s age was anywhere near on point, Malikai didn’t expect his parents would be wanting the kid out and about when things came to a head — whether that meant a storm or worse, but even less so if dragons did make an appearance. He couldn’t be certain, but it didn’t look as though the boy even carried a weapon on his person, which would complicate things all the further if he got caught in the midst of anything more dangerous than a light squall. Of course, Malik wouldn’t abandon him to it, but the more he considered the situation, the more convinced he became that, for the boy’s safety if nothing else, he shouldn’t leave the kid until he knew he’d been safely seen to someplace secure.  

[Bronze Coffee]

Honestly, if Whan could get away with it, he would start whining because... Well, he didn't know what he was going to do on a hunt. He had to do it, it was something everyone did. Whan wanted to be a tough warrior, but it was just so much uncertainty that he was hesitant and almost unwilling.. Could this guy just do the hunt for him and bring him the souls?

That'd... be bad. He rubbed at his face and then looked around again before he bit down on his fingers.

"I ...want to get this over with," he admitted. "I just want to do it so when I have to do it again, I know what to do. Then it won't be so scary." He sighed hard and then just toyed with his fingers more. "...I uh. ..I know I'm really meek, but..."

His wings ruffled and even puffed up as he shifted and then sighed. "..Can we go now even with the weather like this?"

The Only Black Uke

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Malikai studied the kid. From the sound of things, it seemed as though the child wanted to be a part of any action that came up, if it did. On looking at him, though, he seemed far too young — and unarmed besides. Surely his parents didn’t want him out on his own if things happened for the worse? Then again, it wasn’t as though Malik hadn’t started his own training fairly young. Perhaps, despite all the boy’s nerves, he was simply eager to participate in his first test of might.

“I really don’ think you’ll be wantin’ to be around if anythin’ attack while y’ve got no weapons about you,” he said, trying to make the statement as gentle and practicable as possible. “But—”

Before he could finish the thought, a magically induced siren — starting low and building into a shrill pitch that wailed over the village compound — pierced the air, cutting over the sound of the wind and spreading its warning to all corners of the area. Immediately, much like a hive of insects stirred to life by an outside threat, all the remaining persons on the streets broke into action: some running or shouting, others grabbing goods or darting indoors. The slams of many nearby doors could be heard as villagers took shelter, and Malik mumbled a muted swear beneath his breath, hand moving to the hilt of his blade and eyes turning to survey the roiling sky.

There, sure enough in the distance, several glinting gold-yellow shapes — like magnificent, bejeweled birds — emerged from the black grey cloudline, sweeping down from the storm front, and directly towards the village proper. In that moment, Malikai’s attention split, torn between two parallels. On the one hand, he could not simply leave the child there, but on the other, he knew that protocol would best be served if he and the smattering of stationed soldiers there with him at least attempted to move to the village front and draw the bulk of the fight away from civilians.

“Dorran.” The bark of a commanding officer jerked his attention sideways, and Malikai opened his mouth, but before he could, the man was continuing, snapping orders to move to the front. Groaning, Malikai sent up a silent prayer to the goddess before moving as commanded.

“Find somewhere safe, kid, a’right?”  

[Bronze Coffee]

Whan was very eager to join the action. He had to take that first step didn't he? If he wanted to protect the family, or village, he had to do this. But.. Whan was so scared. His wings twitched and then slowly bit down on his thumb ash e looked up at the other again and nodded.

That... made sense. He did need some kind of weapon. Then Malikai was going to say something and that eerie siren sounded. It hurt his ears. Whan put a hand over one of them and just hissed slowly and pulled his wings around him when people started slamming their doors shut. That was never a good noise. The pale boy with his pale hair looked around and then let out a soft noise. What he wouldn't give to have a sword, or a battleaxe, something!

But then he saw the glinting yellow eyes of the things, saw the way the other grabbed for his blade and flapped his wings a little before looking around, out at the horizon again.

And just like that Malikai was making him find somewhere safe. "I ... I w-want to help! D-do you have a dagger?" He could use a dagger, couldn't he? It'd work. He could kill one with a dagger! If he got at the right height. "Let me help!"

The Only Black Uke

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

When a small voice piped up from beside him even as he made it out to the front lines, Malik all but winced. Of all possible turns of events, surely this was among the worst? He didn’t know a great deal about children, but he was fairly sure that they did not belong in the heat of battle unarmed. Aloud, he groaned, glancing back to the boy as he requested a weapon.

Did he have on on him? Surely, somewhere. And while Malik still thought that the child fighting was far from the best option available, if the boy was that determined to participate, he would be better off with something than nothing, wouldn’t he? This in mind, Malik fumbled his hand down over his belt, seeking out a dagger. When he found one, he snatched it from his sheath, pushing it towards the boy with resigned frustration.

“Still think y’ should stay inside th’ wall, y’re too young f’r this…”

But then, the option of backing out was more or less eliminated, one of the kiandris diving in with a feral shriek. Drawing his blade, Malik snapped forward, blocking the path from the beast to the boy and driving forward instead. Dragon magic — or any magic, for that matter — was not Malik’s specialty, but these were lower grade dragons in comparison to what his training had prepared him for, making them less intimidating than worse possibilities. After several dances back and forth, his blade found its mark, burying itself in the dragon’s chest mid-strike and sinking there.

Moments later, the beast disintegrated, leaving nothing but its soul.  

[Bronze Coffee]

Did he just groan? Whan's faux confidence deflated just a smidge. He swallowed a little, sort of winced as there was a silence after that groan. It felt heavy, like a weight starting to sit on his chest, making it hard for him to breath. Regret kicked in like a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and he almost started backing away. Whan knew he wasn't prepared, he was young for this, but f he didn't conquer his fears he was just going to regret it later in life when he was still scared. ...Right?

Then Malik stated again he thought Whan was too young for it but got interrupted by a shriek that pierced his ears worse than anything he'd heard before.

When he didn't get handed a blade, and the other stopped the dragon from coming to him, realization dawned on him. Just how much of a mess he'd gotten himself into just stepping up like this and following the other. All illusions of grandeur were pretty much shattered into a million pieces as his little body started shaking a little.

No! He refused to cry here. He refused to be absolutely no help to the other.

So, Whan ran forward after the dragon dissolved and left behind it's soul. "Look!" ...Did he just pick it up?

The Only Black Uke

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

“Oi, come now, s’alright,” Malik said, a needle of guilt piercing him at how upset the boy looked.

But then, a moment later, he was darting forward, and Malik blinked, keeping himself close and following just at the kid’s heels — no telling what might be coming after them next or when. It took a moment to realize that, given the child’s confusion, he may never have seen a dragon’s soul before or least of all dealt with one himself. Malik offered a sheepish smile. Or, as much of one as the time and circumstances allowed.

“Aye. They’re lovely in the end, yeah? You can take that one, if y’ like. And here, c’mon…” With the extra insistence, Malik offered his spare dagger again, holding it out to the boy and eyeing him. “If you’re gonna be out here — and doesn’t seem there’s any way ‘round it now — y’ ought to at least ‘ave somethin’ on you. Hold it straight and solid and keep close to me, a’right?”

Then, as though the fates grew weary offering them any in-between of peace, another dragon cry cut the air, and Malik readied himself for another attack.  

[Bronze Coffee]

Slowly Whan picked the dragon soul up, looking up to Malik only to see Malik was holding the dagger out for him. With a shaky breath, he grabbed hold of the dagger handle and then nodded at the words the elder spoke. Yes, this was all brand new for the kid, but it was the way of life. If he wanted to be a battler, he needed to know how to do all of these things. Killing dragons was apart of the way this world worked, and he had to get over feeling sad about it. He supposed it really was kill or be killed, wasn't it?

With a firm nod, he pushed the soul into his pocket just in time for the dragon to cry out. The boy jumped, his wings twitched, but he held the dagger out. It wasn't a great way to hold a dagger, but hey, he was brand new at this and he was going to actually try to cut the dang thing!

Fear crept through his stomach and he let out a little noise as he side stepped even closer to the other.

"What do I do? Where do I attack that can kill them easily?" Though... killing a dragon with a dagger didn't seem like it would be possible, but a lot of things didn't seem possible.

The Only Black Uke

 

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

“For now, prolly best y’ try to stay back an’ watch and not fight ‘em unless you’ve got to ‘cause one rounds on you,” Malik said. “But if one did attack, y’ try to angle your blade so its goin’ up under the soft side of the scales — like stabbin’ backwards up their belly. All their scales are like little armor plates, smooth and layered impenetrable from one way, but manageable from th—”

When the next dragon speared inward, Malik moved, abandoning explanations for the moment in favoring of attending to immediate necessities: in this case, downing the beast.

“Wings,” he said, grunting and only just missing being bludgeoned by forward strike and snap of the kiandri as it came to a land, “…are also softer an’ thinner in their tender middle skin than any o’ the rest of a dragon. If you’re real desperate—”

Lightning cracked the air, arching from the beast’s mouth and Malik darted in, burying his blade close to a wing joint as emphasis and following it up with a twist and second jab to finish the job. As it disintegrated, he drew a hefty breath, bothered that no matter how much of this he seemed to do, the process always left one breathless.

“You can turn to that, too. Underbelly comin’ at them underways, wings, and eyes. Also works to go down the throat with a long blade but I wouldn’t risk your arms with such a short dagger. If you’re lookin’ to learn to fight proper…you’ll need a blade o’ your own.”