[PRP] Terentia & Hisoka

[Perky Persocom]

The sun was setting. The vibrant sky erupted into colours of many spectrum of the rainbow. Purples oranges the most dominant of the lot. Although there was pink and black and blue. Painted like a canvas. Although not even the most talented of artists could paint this sky there was only one. However he was not part of this world he resides in the heavens and of cause everyone knows of his name. Not his face nor his face. His name and the presence of his spirit on the earth.

Bells could be heard. As commonly heard when an angeni was around. Down from the sky Terentia landed softly on the ground, her long hair and fur stroking it until her glide turned into a gentle walk. A smile came onto her lips as she flicked her mane and tried to get herself in a presentable order. With her head held high she made her way down the path which she followed to get home. She smiled and hummed she was in a happy mood. The problems she was faced with did not seem to be bothering her today for once. Maybe she was getting over it? she wondered but then decided it might be best not to think of it. A nice nights rest would make her feel better and tomorrow she would get on with her duties.

Soon the snow white angeni came across the forest area. Her expression remained positive as she started to enter its borders he needed to come through here to get to her home in the mountains. However the spirits had something different in mind for her today. She did not know this yet though. Making her way through the tall dark trees she did not seem to sense anything sinister. This place was scary to most people at nights. She had no reason to fear it. She had no bad experiences with it. She had never been given a reason to be scared. One who did not know of anything to fear was very foolish indeed however one who had been brought up in total paradise and given no reason to fear. Was someone to pity.

 

[Nisshou H]

It was no easy task lighting his lanterns every night. It required something that Hisoka was incapable of producing himself: fire. The humans possessed fire and it was this that had the stallion on his belly outside a tiny two-legger encampment. A group of mice worked to light the lanterns without setting him or themselves on fire. Once the task was complete he stood. "Arigato..." He murmured slipping easily back into his native tongue before stalking away from the camp.

It had been several months since he had taken to playing the game in these lands and there were many things he was not yet accustomed to. The scent of the air. The sound of names. Even the taste of the grass seemed different. He sighed then quickly realized that he was loosing focus and shook his head to clear his mind. There would be time to reminisce later. At that moment he needed to...

Figure out what that sound was.

His brow knit together in mild confusion as his ears flicked backwards. It sounded almost like bells but not the ones he knew so well. That was no surprise to him given his current situation. What did surprise him was that his search had already proven to be fruitful.

A horse, white as a mountain snow, was heading his way. He smirked hearing cheering in his ears. Tonight's job would be a quick one, he just needed a way to catch her attention and draw her near. All at once multiple cries of "distress", "trouble", "worry" and other things reached his ear and all of them seemed like wonderful ideas to the fox.

Wiping the smile from his face he replaced it with a look of fear. Quickly he began to pace back and forth swaying his head about, feigning uncertainty. He had grown quite skilled in acting scared to earn trust and a good portion of the time it worked beautifully.  

[Perky Persocom]

Terentia continued on her walk. Her mind half in the realm of dreams yet a little bit of her attention was on the road ahead of her. Until she saw something move. She blinked and then looked up to see someone else was nearby. He was passing back and forth and the look on his face suggested to her that he needed help. She smiled thinking for a moment before taking in a deep breathe and then approaching the male with a soft smile. Almost as soft as the gentle way she spoke. Coming in a close range of him she tilted her head to one side her long flowing hair stoking the ground like a long veil.

"Hello there. Is there anything the matter?"

She asked always willing to help anyone who came her way. She chuckled and tilted her head trying to lighten the mood the atmosphere around her was pretty dark, she was trying to act like a beacon in this darkness. As was her duty as a angeni. As was the path which was chosen for her the moment she was born. It was a noble path yet not one she was always happy about. She she knew that there was nothing more of a blessing than being what she was, than doing what she did. Yet sometimes she wished she could just be normal. How selfish she was.

Her orbs scanned him, something did not seem right to her. She ignored this feeling after all she had nothing to fear she was sure. Her father had always taught her to trust and to help. She believed the spirits would protect her from anything. She knew it like most people knew limes where green or the sky was blue. Yet she was going to find out today that the sky can be many shades indeed.

 

[Nisshou H]

He could hear her drawing near but did not lift his head and kept at his pacing until she spoke. At this moment he stopped as if startled and turned to look at her with wide and purposefully fearful eyes. Deep in the golden irises rested a dark and cheerful gleam that one would only see if they were to look closely. After a moment he let his eyes return to normal and drift downwards, shyly. Sadly.

"No...is nothing..." He said with a sigh turning away to take several steps away from the mare. He ignored the mocking words in his ears. It was not as though it was really him anymore. He wouldn't be that way any longer, he didn't need to be. He waited for a five count before turning to glance nervously over his shoulder at the mare.

"Really...I...drop something..." He frowned and bit the edge of his lip. It was to easy to play at innocence sometimes. "Down hole...could...could..." Hisoka sighed softly before shaking his head. "No...don't mind...is okay...no worry..." There was silence in his head. Would she take the bait?  

[Perky Persocom]

Terentia looked at him with a small smile before she nodded. She thought she understood what he was trying to say he had lost something down some kind of hole. Maybe he wanted her to go and get it for him. If he was talking about the deep pits that were around here than she could probably go down and get it she knew this place well. She smiled and then stepped towards him a little more.

"Where did you drop it. Really I do not mind? what was it?"

She asked softly. She did not want him to think she was being too pushy and in fact not only that she did not want to come off as bring too loud because he seemed to be a shy and timid person. She thought his modesty was quite cute actually. The way he did not want to ask for help. Something still was not right and she still could not put her finger on what it was. She just assumed that it was because of the scared way he was acting. She knew she did not like to see people suffer and it sometimes made herself feel rotten. Just being around people she could help that was probably the reason why she found herself helping people so much. She just could not live with herself if she did not.

It was dark now but the glow from his lanterns and her ribbon made it so both of the soquili could see clearly. The stars were also glowing down on the land with a great beauty. How the night was amazing. Too bad the sky was covered up by the many layers of trees. They seemed to be ghostly claws eating up the sky. The shadows like those of monsters scratching and eating up the land to reveal nothing but darkness.

 

[Nisshou H]

'Bingo'. He hid the smirk from his face as she took the line. Why couldn't all his jobs be so simple? Letting out a little sigh to hide a giggle he shook his head. Just because his fib had worked didn't mean his prey would stick around once the truth came out. For that reason it was best to keep up the charade and it was also that reason that kept him from answering immediately.

Hisoka worried his lip between his teeth for a little then shuffled his feet around as though fearful of accepting her offer. It was only when the voices screamed at him for being foolish that he stopped beating around the bush.

"Mother's pendant...dropped in that place..." He said slowly turning his head to look deeper into the forest. In that direction he knew was awaited them and the thought sent a pleased tremor down his spine. He took a hesitant step towards the path that they would be using. "You really want help...?" The groans in his ears were loud and disapproving. He ignored them. This could 'seal the deal' as the saying went. If he seemed to willing to lead her it could raise suspicion, he didn't want that.  

[Perky Persocom]

Terentia smiled. A pendent that hit a note with her. Her father gave all of his children some of his items, she got a necklace like his and would not know what she would do without it. It was her good luck charm. It was not until after that she got the ribbon to take after him even more. She did like her items but was not one possessed with her looks. That was more of her sisters thing, man. Neria would be heartbroken if she ever lost her pendent. For this reason I guess you could say she was even more blinded into his trap.

"Yes. Of cause I want to help. My name is Terentia. It is my job as a angeni to help people in trouble. So please it would be a pleasure."

She smiled and nodded. It was true she had always viewed her breed as one who would need to do there best to protect those of the land. It is something she was always been brought up to believe. This was far from life threatening but she needed to keep up there good name and if she could help this person today she could sleep happily. Knowing she made a difference to that persons life only a little one. Still it was a good days work. Not every day could be a crusade.

"So where did you loose it?"

She asked with a comforting smile waiting for him to show her. She only hoped she could help after all she did not want to get his hopes up for nothing.

 

[Nisshou H]

A smile crept onto his face as he turned his head away from the mare. It was thin and deceiving. If one were to see only the smile they would read it as happiness, one look into his eyes would tell a different story. "So helpful angeni..." He murmured softly before wiping the almost smug look from his face. "Is this way..."

The bait was taken, the trap had been sprung, now all that was left was for Hisoka to collect the spoils. Or at least he wished it were that simple. First he had to guide the foolish mare to the pit without her taking notice of his true intentions. Then, he would need to cripple her. He had encountered one of her kind before and knew well that the wings were not just show. There would be time to consider how to take action later but for now he figured a direct approach would be best.

Slowly he moved down the secret path towards their destination. His powerful legs pushing through the undergrowth without a trouble. The light of his lanterns cast a glow all around them painting eerie shadows on the trees and ground. He had almost completely stopped his little act choosing to focus on things to come in the future instead. The hissing in his ears told him that he was making a very poor choice. They demanded that he speak again before things went wrong, but what did he say?

"Hisoka." His gaze did not waver from the path as he spoke settling on the typical introduction. "Namae...name...Hisoka." That would be good enough to keep suspicion to a minimum right?  

[Perky Persocom]

"Oh, thats a nice name does it have any kind of meaning?"

She asked him as she still followed one hoof after another. She was foolish. Anyone who trusts a stranger must be. Its a lesson her parents did not teach her. They so no need because they imagined her staying in there safe haven forever. That soon went out of the window on her adulthood now she hardly every saw her old home. She missed it sometimes. Although other things were on her mind at the moment. Like her forbidden affection towards her best friend.

A small cringe came down her spine before she looked behind her. A crow set off from the bushes its red eyes seeming to glow on the way past her. She let out a small scream as she ran and buried her head in his side like a small child... she was small... and young.

 

[Nisshou H]

He snorted lightly at her question unable to disguise the disgust that he felt towards it. His name did in fact hold a meaning as most names did, however, he would never feel any fondness about it. It had been a cold hearted man that had decided that the only name to suit him was 'secret'.

He could her the angered chatter of 'them' in his ears. They demanded that he answer. They demanded that he do his job and forget about the past since there was no place for it here. They demanded that he do something before the mare decided not to follow and run. All their demands did not seem to matter in the slightest as the mare screamed.

Hisoka's eyebrows popped up in shock as he turned quickly to see what was going on. He hadn't done anything to her yet. What was she screaming about? He was unable to even get his head turned back to look at her when he felt her pressed up against him.

It was uncomfortable. He shifted slightly unsure of how to react. There were two options: continue playing his role or do what he truly wanted to and get away from her touch. His golden eyes wandered over her petite and fragile body. They weren't near enough for him to be considering crippeling her just yet but for the first time he imagined doing such a thing would bring him a small amount of pleasure. It would be payback for once and not just a job.

"No scared." He said as gently as he could nudging her softly. "Just bird." Even for an act this was going too far for him. It needed to be done but this sort of gentleness had only ever been for one person. She was not that person.  

[Perky Persocom]

Terentia looked up at him and then looked back with a small smile. She felt a little foolish jumping over a bird. Something was just creeping her out whilst she was here she had a bad feeling but for the sake of her friend she would just shake it off. She wanted to help him. Even though the feeling in her stomach where making her feel more and more sick.

"Hmm. Okay I am sorry. I am just a little jumpy. I have never been here at night you see. Its nice though in some odd way... the feeling is different. Please come on lets carry on. I am sorry"

She stated and looked up at the sky with a small smile. She looked down and nodded deciding to just carry on and follow him.

 

[Nisshou H]

Slowly he nodded his head eying her as though expecting the mare to rush back to his side any moment. He contemplated sidestepping her if she tried it again. Something like that could, after all, be easily passed off as an accident and he'd had enough of sappy emotions, even false ones, for the evening.

After a moment of studying he and the voices agreed that it was safe to press on. That was exactly what he did.

Once more he fell into silence and took the lead. Despite the advice of the voices he refused to force any more idle chatter. They were growing nearer to their destination. When the wind blew it came towards them and brought the rotten scent of death with it. A grim smile crept across his lips at the smell and vanished barely a second later once the breeze dissipated.

"Little close..." He said glancing over his shoulder at the mare. The sense of unease that had once filled him performing this sort of work no longer plagued him. He was calm as he awaited the moment that he would show the truth behind the secret to the mare. At that point it would be too late for her, that's how it had always been at least.  

[Perky Persocom]

Terentia continued to follow him blindly. The winds surrounding her made a small chill creep down her spine. Then she heard rain, the threes where so thick that only a few drops came through although by the sound of it outside the protection of the wild roof a typhoon was em-brassing the lands. She was happy that she was under cover in a odd way. Although she liked the rain the way it stroked her skin was nice.

She took a look at the stallion in front of her and smiled humming a tune to try and pass the time. She nodded as she worked out he was telling her it was only a little bit closer. She hoped so or she might not be able to find her way back and she would hate asking him for help to find her way out of this place. She would not want him to go out of his way or anything. The silence was something she was not used to but thinking he was one of little words, maybe though nerves, she would wait for him to address her. Until then she would carry on humming her happy tune.

 

[Nisshou H]

A small trickle of water ran off the edge of a tree branch and dripped onto Hisoka's ghostly white nose. He sneezed then turned to peek up through the foliage. There wasn't a thing he could see but he could hear the storm and knew that before too long they would be able to see it as well. This posed a problem for him.

The 'fox' peered over his shoulder hearing the mare humming. She had no idea what fate awaited her, they never did. He quickened his pace praying that they would reach the small opening in the trees before the rain soaked the earth too much. As much as the rain posed a problem it also seemed to help him. the scent that usual hung about the area had lessened thanks to the sky shower.

'Hurry...' The voices advised and he quickened further. The white hairs the covered his legs slowly grew more brown in colour as the trees thinned allowing rain to fall. 'Hurry. Hurry!' He knew why they rushed. If the storm was to bad and the mud too slick then doing his job would put him at too much of a risk. "Hayaku!" He snapped, panic slipping into his voice. "I...quick...please..." He tried to calm himself down and keep her following. The situation was teetering on a dangerous line. His success or failure could be determined by precious seconds and that knowledge put him on edge.  

[Perky Persocom]

Terentia stop and her eyed widened as she heard him shout. Then soon enough he was telling her to hurry. She wondered why he had made such a strange move. Maybe he was worried with the storm his mother pendent would get lost in the mud. That would be awful. She was beginning to doubt this creature for some reason. He seemed on edge but she did not want to judge she would keep her opinions to herself because everyone was innocent before proven guilty.

She smiled as the down poor began to get her a little wet. She liked her hair wet it seemed to be straighter and it cooled down the air which was more than needed. She was a foal at heart and on the way made sure she stepped in every puddle on the way. Making her feet feather wetter and wetter man when she got back she would need a bath.

She put her attention back towards the other realising she was lagging behind before rushing slightly to catch up with him.

"Hey wait up!"

She chuckled clearly happy in the rain.