"I'm going to find you and you know it!" Maeron called out from her spot behind a large oak tree. The silken sash tied around her eyes, was growing uncomfortable in the wamrth of the forest. There wasn't a cool breeze to weave throughout the trees tonight. Pure silence, except for the huff of her breath. She couldn't see but the grip around her epee pressed indents into her palm. The cold metal slipped as her sweaty fingers struggled to get a tighter grip.
Shuffling her feet into the leaves in front of her,the view of the ground became clearer. Her senses were finally picking up, the faintest sound could project a picture of the scene ahead. Leaving the safety of the oak tree she stepped into the open. The ground smelled like spring, the promise of a humid day and a deep earthy aroma filled her nose. A twig snapped and she whipped her head around towards the noise.
The picture of the forest around her was in clear view thanks to the small sound, she had to move before the sight faded. She tugged the sash up so it didn't fall from her eyes. Beads of sweat made an appearence on her forehead only causing the silk to slip ever further. Jabbing the epee into the dirt, Maeron quickly retied the knot on the sash and hastily retrieved her weapons once again,raising it higher.
Her sight had once again dissipated, and she was left in complete darkness. She found herself praying that another twig would snap, or a leaf would crumple,even a gust of wind would blow. Anything to aid in her mission. And her chance came as footsteps echoed in the open-ness. As the steps continued her vision grew brighter,crisper,clearer,and there ahead she could see everything. As if the blindfold wasn't present at all.
The corner of her mouth curved as she raced forward, sword in hand,prepared for attack. Within a moment there was the clash of metal and scraping sound of two swords brushing past one another. This noise,was good. Her attacker stood inches away,rapier poised. These were not clashing weapons, so as Maeron stood back, the epee in her hand was sent forward in a forceful jab. He parried gracefully off to the side,letting the foible strike into air.
Maeron re-oriented her stance swiftly darting back to her oponent. Remised, and continued forth. The sounds of the metal clanking seemed to wake up the dark forest. He flicked the foible with such precision that Maeron was nearly skewered to a nearby tree. She made sure not to let him see her gasp,had she not moved fast enough. Their feet kicked up dirt and leaves,creating a whirlwind in the quiet path.
She rushed forward letting her forte slam into his,pushing the two back in opposite directions. She could see the mili-second of surprise on his face at the dispay of power she showed,but in a moment his face was set again. After a few feints and coule's the two were a few feet apart. Maeron took a gulp of air before running forward,only for the man to dissapear. Her head flicked around to try and catch him running or darting behind a tree,but she could see nothing.
After a few seconds of silence her vision began to fade out again. "No!" she said behind gritted teeth. Whiping her epee up she slammed it against a close tree. The echo and leaves swishing gave her just enough sight to move from one position to the next. Looking up towards the sky there was a rough movement above and next things she knew the man was back,dropping to the ground in front.
He smiled and made a quick parry,to which she counter-attacked and they were once again locked in combat. she could see again and sighed in thanks for that. Lunging with all her might she drove the sword forward,making for his chest,but in a flash of white he was gone and her epee plunged instead into a large thick barked tree. Maeron tugged but the blade wouldn't budge. Her super-human strength had burried the weapon all the way into its quillion.
She hissed,yanking on the pommel but to no avail. Kicking a boot against the tree in hopes to get some leverage she heaved once more, but it was no use. She was done for. With that thought she felt the cold press of the blade's point in the middle of her back. "You lose." the smug voice was dripping with hubris. Rolling her eyes,Maeron ripped off her blindfold,turning to her opponent.
"What else is new?" she shoved the silk into his hands and moved back to the tree hoping her favorite epee was not lost forever in the barky abyss.
"You did very well tonight Maeron." He said folding up the sash and placing it in his pocket. "Had the tree not been there you very well could have won." She ignored the slight chuckle that followed his compliment. the tree must have been eight feet around and over two-hundred years old. Yes,had it NOT been there.
"I don't have time for your quips right now Kurai." the words were ground out as her hands once again tightened on the hilt. She pulled,and felt his hands grip around hers as the both attempted to save the sword. With a loud pop and spurts of bark shooting out the two fell back,epee in hand. She let it fall to her side,and looked down,meeting Kurai's eyes. The dark blue seemed to shine in the moons light back at her,and his lips curved into a side smirk.
Face going red,Maeron put a hand on his chest hoisting herself up from her laying down position. He sat up as well,the two still awkwardly tangled but neither moving in a hurry to get out of it. "See? Got your sword back." He stated blankly,his eyes decieved him,that was not his concern at the moment,and she knew. But glancing at the epee,a large portion of the tree was still pierced on its end and the standing giant had a large hunk missing from the front now.
"Yes,thank you." Time seemed to drift by lazily now, and she realized they were closer than before,noses only centemeters away. Her dark eyes sought his lighter blue ones. Letting her hand movie from its resting place on his shoulder,it trailed up along his neck,caressing his face, fingers gently tangling in the hair at his temple. A warm languid feeling swept over her normally chilled body,eyelids growing heavy.
His lips overlapped hers gently,sending a shooting feeling of warmth through her,tingling over in waves. All thoughts evaporated from her mind and her world shrunk down to him and her and their embrace. Melting into his arms she barely noticed the sun rising ever so swiftly. Her heightened senses seemed to dull at his touch,numbness was left as they pulled away.
"We have to go." Kurai said after a moments pause,he had noticed the sun when she hadn't and helped Maeron to her feet. She nodded and retrieved her epee and followed after him absconding from the sunrise,but the memory of the moonlit forest was still there.
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