Welcome to Gaia! ::

It wasn't long before the beast was gone, in his place stood a man. "Since we are leaving, I no longer need to hide myself." Turning he wasted no time in pull the door open and stepping out. Waiting only long enough for her to catch up to him. He ignored the eyes, the words that were loud enough for even her to hear. "Which direction?"



"No, now." She didn't touch her armor, simply grabbed hold of her sword and walked towards the door. Pulling it open, there was an instant before blood ran from her blade. Her eyes empty of thought as she stepped out. Her mind curling away from the outside world as she took purposeful steps.

"Are you coming," her voice carried back. "If I die here, so do you," the words like her eyes carried nothing. Just emptiness. Each guard which didn't bow out of their way was laid out a pile on the floor. Each person that approached them was cut down with inattention. "One more deck," her feet carrying her up the stairs. This was why they sent her to battle, this was why they put her at the front of their charge. "Does it surprise you?" She didn't turn back as she spoke, "that a woman so broken can do this with ease?"

He glanced back, then turned his eyes towards the sky. The blue sky was lit with the rising sun. The colors blending and fusing into the clear blue that was their world. "Tell me, about yourself." He didn't look back when he spoke, his steps smooth and precise. Each measured step carried him just fast enough so she wouldn't have to run to keep up with his long strides. "I know nothing of your origins."



She stopped when she stepped through the door. Lifting her arm to wipe a splash of blood from her cheek. She only succeeded in smearing the color. She showed nothing as she stared at the group of soldiers before them. Behind them stood a man with hair the same color as her's. "Tell me, Vara. Is it your wish to see the commander of this army dead?"

He stood there staring at the two women, his eyes narrowed. "General Brunhilde! Why is it that you go against father's wishes? You know as well as I that he wishes to see his eldest guide his army to victory!" When she didn't respond he turned his eyes towards the winged woman. "Who are you? A prisoner?"

Scowling, that damned attendant was a problem. He knew it, it was by that damned clerics word that she was spared. No matter, she would be killed as soon as he reminded his sister of her duty. "What is it that drives you sister?"

"I was born some years ago, how many I no longer keep count. A beast in mind and soul, a living spirit of the forest. I gained power as I aged. There isn't much else, it is how all demons are born." His voice was soft for gruff nature of his words. "There was no mother or father, there was just living. Surviving against the world itself." Taking in her expression, "does it surprise you?"



"Watch, don't turn your eyes away," she took a step away. The wind blowing across the deck tossing her hair to the side. The loose top she wore flapping in the wind. "Know that in this moment, I will throw everything away. So you can have your vengeance."

There was no battle with the guards that faced them, they parted as she drew closer. The words she spoke only heard by the winged woman. When she drew close to the man who commanded this vessel she didn't hesitate. In an instant the blade arced through the air. Sending the fine red mist into the winds. The scream pierced the air, everything stilled for just a moment. Each motion practiced and smooth. Blade after blade, even as shallow cuts tattered her clothing she cut a path back towards Vara. When she stood before her.

"We can leave."

Turning his head to look at her, he tipped his head slightly. "West." A single brow raising in question.



Maria didn't open her eyes, only when the ground didn't meet them as she thought it would did they crack open. Staring down at the trees which sped beneath them, slowly growing closer. There was a light feeling disappointment when she realized this. Closing her eyes, waiting for something. Then the ground came, skidding and jarring.

Looking down at the sword she still carried in her hand, uncurling her white knuckled grip on the hilt. Letting it drop to the ground, turning to look back she smiled ever so slightly. "I've never been outside of the palace of off that ship for anything more then battle."

"Yes," stepping from the trees. "It is very hard to keep pace with a being that can glide through the air." Plucking a single twig from his hair. Shuffling closer, "I hope you will take responsibility Vara. She isn't someone who's used to being outside of a palace. She's always had someone at her beck and call." Fussing over the torn clothing for a moment before reaching into his large dragging coat, pulling out a set of folded clothing and an unmarked chest plate.

"There now, I have to get back. There are things that must be attended to, a replacement needs to be found until your brother heals."

He watched her loosely, never truly taking his attention away from his path. Lifting his hand to rub his shoulder absently. He pushed the thoughts away, the irritating need to protect her, the clawing want to ensure her safety. She wasn't wholly incapable of protecting herself but it seemed that if nothing else she would need the help. At least she wasn't human, "why did you wish to go west?"

He scoured his memory of this direction, thinking of each village or small town that he came across. It was mostly desolate land on the edge of mountains. Once they crossed the pass, if they went that far, it would be nothing but desert for miles. It mattered little to him, though she would have issue with traversing the land.



Shrugging the plate over her shoulders. Bringing the edge of her fist down on the metal, smashing the edges closer to her stomach. "It's armor made for a man," she hissed. "Useless." Looking around she wasted no time in grabbing up the largest stone she could find and began bashing away to deform the plate into a more comfortable shape. When she finally dropped the crumbling stone, tugging and pushing at the plate for a moment longer before she seemed satisfied.

"At least the clothing is mine," he hummed eyeing the thick blended fabric. It fit her much like a training outfit, clinging to her sides and arms. Reaching under the armor plate and pulling out a short knife, she tore the sleeves off. "Better," turning her eyes at the slightly bemused expression of her companion, "what?"

((Sorry it took so long. I didn't have everything finished yesterday and spent most of the day writing. And trying to stay awake.))

"What," his voice rang from above her. It was deeper and thicker, nearly growling. Floating just above the water, in a manner much like the sprites was the same beast which guarded the door. His three tails lazily waving in the air, the only thing strange about his sudden form was the fact that he cast no shadow.



"We're in the center of his territory. Actually, the only thing he doesn't keep and eye on it the desert to the west." Turning her head and frowning, she kept turning this way and that. "Um, I don't know which way to go." She seemed stricken, her face lined with worry. Her fingers began fidgeting, "I learned in school how to find direction, what was it..." Quickly she was flitting about looking at trees and smaller plants. Then looking up towards the sky, the sun sitting high in the very center. "I don't know," her voice sounded panicked.

Once she finished her lounging, he landed feet first. Brushing his hair back with a single hand. His eyes narrowed, eyes settled on the edge of the forest. "Move back towards the water." Tipping his head sharply to the right, his neck popping loudly. "Do no leave the water's edge," his voice commanding.

From the edge of the trees walked several humans and dogs. Each carrying a weapon of some sort. All watching Keira over paying attention to him, scenting the air again he released a deep bubbling growl.



Steadying herself, "I'm alight." Setting her face into a calm expression, a few deep breaths. Even though she said it, her hands still shook. Her eyes still hadn't stopped flitting from one thing to the next, it felt strange to be out in the world, the wild. She no longer felt like she was being watched, she no longer felt the safety that her war prison granted her.

"I think I prefer war, where dying is what's expected."

He didn't watch the humans and their animals, he could smell them. The fey and the demons. They were here but he couldn't find them. Taking several steps back himself, lifting himself to his full height. "Leave." The word carried no feeling, to him it was nothing more then a pointless sound. Again, "leave."

"Do you see any fey?" Snarling as the humans and their animals took another step.



"It'll heal. It'll just take some time," her steps were sure as she moved at her own pace. "You know, I never thought I would fear anything. Never thought I would have to," taking a deep breath that almost sounded like a sigh. "How do you stand being so far away from everything," her question was met with the roaring of the massive metal flying machine overhead. It didn't slow or attempt to stop, quickly passing them over as it raced north.