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 Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:19 pm
Annually, the Atwood's held a fox hunt in Wardwood, both as an excuse to gather, and for the sake of tradition, an event to welcome the change of season and Samhain. For generations it was held, and without change, everything laid out exactly as it had been done the first time, by Caroline's great-great grandparents. But given current events, the Atwood's felt it imperative to tweak tradition.
Since the masquerade ball, Gwyn's threat, and the Queen's call to arms, Caroline had been on lock down, forbidden from straying far without escort, and Oldcastle was completely out of the question. Her parents were terrified, her mother especially frantic; until know, she had never believed, had barely grasped the fact that her dear, darling Caroline was a chosen. Her father, a believer in the old ways, had always been more open minded, but had always worried for different reasons, and now, his nightmares were coming true. The wardens would be called to stand and fight, and he feared Caroline might be forced to stand among them.
But Caroline, while she should have been dwelling on the inevitable as well, could only replay that night in her mind, and worry for Thorne. She had not seen him since that magical, horrible night, and residing so close to the Wardwood, she worried everyday for his safety. At least he has not been chosen, she told herself. It was her only comfort in these dark days.
So, rather than make the trip to Wardwood, and to spare themselves and their guests, the Atwood's decided that this year, and perhaps the years to come, the would host the hunt at their estate. They had a large plot of land, complete with streams and dense clusters of trees, and felt, given the circumstances, it would suffice. Caroline, eager to see Thorne again, and feeling this was her opportunity, had sent him an invitation, detailing the day, time, and location. She could only hope he would show.
The day of the hunt was a warm and clear early fall afternoon. Gentlemen stood among themselves, boasting and showing off their horses and hounds, while ladies milled about on the lawn, gossiping softly. Servants made their rounds, trays heavy with drinks, appetizers, and sweets - provided mainly so the ladies had something for themselves, while the men hunted.
Caroline sat on one of the quilts laid out on the lawn, legs tucked, hands folded on her lap. She wore a deep green gown with lace trim, and white embroidered flowers that bloomed across the skirt of the dress. Her ginger curls rested over her shoulder, cheeks and lips delicately rouged. Elowen rested beside her chosen on the quilt, the enchanted cluster of pink flowers from Beltane still fastened to her left ear. She had been unsure of the embellishment at first, but Caroline adored the look so much, that Elowen allowed it. Leaning gently against Elowen, Caroline searched the arriving guests, looking for those grey eyes.
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Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 2:46 pm
To say that Thorne had been anticipating the hunt since the day he had received a letter from Caroline would have been an understatement. He had stared at and reread the paper several times, eyes tracing over her delicate script as if perhaps someone were playing an elaborate trick on him. Finally he had decided that it must have been a genuine invite, informed his guardian of their trip, and had begun to prepare for both the journey and the hunt right then.
It had been some time since he had seen her last, and since then he had finally lost his father to his strange sickness and been picked out by a seemingly inconspicuous totem. In the months that had followed that night the animal had grown and matured, and Thorne thanked whatever strange being had given him a friend to keep him from being left alone.
Valerian walked alongside him now, toting a small satchel of supplies for his chosen. Thorne had been surprised at his growth; while Caroline's deer was sinewy and sleek, his had grown tall and strong. The deer's hooves clacked softly against the cobblestones approaching the estate, but he made no other sound. The hunter shifted his own gear; his crossbow was slung along his back, a curved blade sheathed along his thigh. He praised the good weather (although he certainly could hunt a fox in the rain, of course), wearing comfortable clothing that was easy to move in. His boots he had replaced over the summer months; they ran below his knee. Thorne had debated over the rest of what to wear for considerably more time than he had anticipated; finally he had settled on a simple shirt lacking the sleeves, paired with a set of leather gloves that came below his elbow. A half-shawl he had worn while traveling still hung over one side of his shoulders.
It had occurred to him part way to Palisade that upper class men likely wore fancy clothing to such events. He had snorted out loud at the thought, promising himself that he'd show them all a thing or two on proper hunting technique.
Following the ushering of one of the maids as he reached the Atwood residence (a beautiful estate, as it were) Thorne came around and gave everything a quick glace over; hounds baying in anticipation, ladies in fancy dresses, a deer, several horses, some more maids... a deer. His gaze refocused and he immediately recognized Elowen's delicate pattern on her hide. He fought back a grin as he carefully picked his way towards her and her chosen.
"Caroline," he called, attempting to reveal himself before he came too close and scared her out of her wits, "The summer was kind to you, I see."
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:56 pm
Elowen noticed Thorne before Caroline, mainly because she had sensed Valerian. Elowen locked eyes with the new guardian, expression softer than the one she reserved for humans. She turned to nudge Caroline, and at the exact moment, Thorne called out to Caroline, having just spotted her himself. Caroline perked and glanced around, and when her gaze landed on Thorne, she smiled, and she and Elowen stood. It was clear the woman only had eyes for Thorne in that moment; she took in the sight of him, visibly relaxing and blooming in his presence. She blushed at his compliment, and laughed softly, happy to see that he himself looked good. He always did, but something seemed different. He seemed stronger, taller, a little more sure of himself. "Mr. Grey. I am so glad you could make it." So very glad. She had needed this - needed to see him. A shame their reunion was so public, and took place so long from their last meeting. She wished they could be masked and dancing again, able to blend in with the masses and forget they were worlds apart.
She blinked, and finally noticed the grown guardian at his side. Her eyes widened, taking in the magnificent sight. The stag was larger than Elowen, with an imposing presence. How had she missed it before? She blushed, feeling foolish. She took a small step forward, eyes on the guardian. "Oh my! I -" "That's Ms. Atwood, to you, commoner."
Caroline was not given a chance to ask about Thorne's newest addition, when a male voice loudly interrupted. She paused mid sentence, and paled, recognizing the voice immediately. From the throngs of guests, a young man stepped forward, heated gaze fixated on Thorne. He was pale, tall, and lean, with hawkish features and deep black hair, slicked back from his forehead. He was handsome, in his own right, but his overall aura cast him in an ugly light. He was arrogant, entitled and elitist, nose in the air, and lacked respect for anyone. He was Caroline's fiance.
He stopped beside Caroline, and though he stood as tall as Thorne, he did his best to look down on the other man. "Really darling, I can not fathom why you insisted on inviting such riff raff. It is simply unbecoming. What will people think?" He spoke as if Thorne wasn't standing feet away, though he looked directly at him. Caroline, while she blossomed for Thorne, withered beside her fiance. She glanced down at the ground, biting her bottom lip. She wanted to say something...wanted to shout him down, tell him he was being rude. But she couldn't seem to find the courage.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 3:53 pm
Whatever butterflies he had been housing in his chest dissipated as she greeted him. How many evenings he had sat at home, simply wondering if she had gotten dragged into the whole mess of preparing for whatever the spirits and wolves had in store for Sunderland- and the country's chosen. To see she had been allowed (presumably her father's doing) to continue on in relative safety nearly made him sag in relief.
Valerian's eyes focused on Elowen, expression bright. The buck was entirely more interested in a fellow guardian than whatever strange activities the other humans were doing; although he stuck close by the hunter as if unwilling to leave him. The excitement was almost visible.
Thorne had been about to introduce her to the buck at his side when another voice met his ear. Whatever softness he allowed on his face for Caroline vanished, eyes narrowing as its owner came to them. He caught the way her expression faltered and noticed how she seemed to wilt. Without having to ask, he was certain of who the man was. Thorne rolled his shoulders back with a crack and straightened, meeting his stare with a steely gaze. He certainly hadn't thought he'd bump into him so soon.
As if the deer alongside him knew what he was about to say before he did, Valerian let out a low grunt, bumping against Thorne with a knowing look. Not now, he seemed to say, and the hunter knew he was correct. He certainly couldn't allow her fiance to have the satisfaction of making him angry. Tactful words would work better than empty threats.
"You should worry about the hunt, and less about me," he growled, not breaking eye contact, "What will people think when a commoner is the one to catch your quarry?" He offered a charming smile, although he hoped that the man fully understood it was not genuine. He would much rather have leapt at him to pound his face into the dirt had they perhaps met at a different time. Thorne had no desire to embarrass Caroline on his behalf, however, not when her fiance was doing such a good job of smothering her on his own. He could only ensure that he backed up his words when they released the hounds.
After all, he reminded himself, it had been he that ensured her safety and danced under the stars at the Queen's masquerade, and not him.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 6:33 pm
Caroline's fiance scoffed, visibly taken aback by Thorne's retort. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting a fight, but rather, had expected the usual; to throw around a few rude remarks and then walk off victorious. For a moment, he merely stared back, eyes narrowed; a game of silent chicken. He sized Thorne up, really looking at him now. A minute passed, and before it could be revealed what he might do or say next, a gaggle of pompous gentlemen called out to him, luring him back. The hunt would start soon.
Taking advantage of the excuse to leave, Caroline's fiance half turned away with a 'hmph!', and with one foot out the door, looked back to Thorne. "See you out there, commoner." He snarled with a menacing grin, and then without even looking to Caroline, walked away, re-joining the men off to the side.
With her fiance gone, Caroline finally looked up through her lashes, but kept her head titled slightly downward, ashamed. She should have said something. Alas, she was a woman, a proper woman, and proper women did not talk back, or raise their voices. Especially not to a man; her betrothed, no less. Thankfully, Thorne had seemed more than capable of handling himself. Where had that fire come from? It was not a side of him she had yet seen. Was this new guardian behind his new found confidence?
"I am sorry..." She whispered. "He had no reason to be so rude. A-And...And I should have...Should have said something." She admitted, shaking her head. Elowen stepped closer to Caroline, pressing up against her chosen, in an attempt to comfort the girl.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:11 pm
His words did little to disturb Thorne, and as her fiancee swept away a satisfied smirk crossed his face. Once he was safely out of earshot he returned his attention to Caroline, expression softening. He had no need to put up a front for her, after all, not when she was always so genuine with him. "Caroline," he said gently, "It's all right. You have no need to apologize for him." His fingers itched to reach to her, even to give her arm a reassuring squeeze, but he resisted. It certainly was not the time nor place given current company. As if to direct his attention elsewhere, the deer at his side bumped against him pointedly.
"Oh! I apologize." He ran his hand over the buck's shoulder. "I hadn't thought to write this summer because I did not... want you to worry." An apologetic look crossed his face, and his other hand ran through the loose strands of his hair in his typical nervous fashion. "This is Valerian." The guardian reached his head out towards the young woman, sniffing intently. Unlike Elowen his attitude towards others was entirely more open, although his fierce dedication to Thorne remained as strong as ever.
"I think it was less than a week from the ball, I was foolish enough to fight it." The deer snorted next to him, and pawed the ground briefly. "He's been keeping me company. I understand what you meant when you told me the connection between guardian and chosen is not something you could otherwise fathom." The word still sounded strange on his tongue, even after the time that had passed. Aside from the deer that had been his sole friend over the spring and summer he didn't feel any different. Confident, perhaps, although the fact that he no longer had someone that relied on him at home could have something to do with that. He wasn't sure, and he wasn't one to question what had so far been a good thing.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:00 pm
Caroline released a subtle sigh of relief, and smiled, finally looking up; she was so glad he had not been angry or disappointed with her. She didn't quit agree with his words, but that was neither here nor there now. As if intending to bring them back to the moment before her fiancee had come barging in, Thorne's guardian nudged him, and Thorne's attention was captured. Caroline's smile widened at the introduction of the guardian, Valerian, and as it inclined it's head toward her, she reached out tentatively to softly and quickly stroke his nose. "So lovely! It is a pleasure, Valerian." She curtsied for the guardian, and laughed, turning toward Elowen. "Now, why can you not be as friendly toward new...or even old company?" She teased, and Elowen snorted, eyeing her chosen.
Laughing again, she looked back to Thorne, expression soft and vulnerable. She found it difficult to keep up with formalities in front of him. "I am glad for you. It is a wondrous thing, being a chosen." True, she was happy he had been given the chance to experience life with a guardian, and she herself would never wish for a different circumstance on the matter. And yet...at the same time, she had hoped he would never be chosen, and now that he was...Her heart clenched painfully. Bad enough that she would inevitably face the front lines of the war, but now, Thorne would be there as well, as likely to die as she...
Subtly, she shook her head. Why were her thoughts suddenly so dreary? Thorne would not die; he was strong and smart. He would see the end of the war. Suddenly, before she could stop herself, she whispered, "I wish you had written..." It was a bold statement, especially in such a tone. But she was feeling increasingly trapped and suffocated by impending doom and deadlines. She was to marry, they were on the brink of war...She thought she had all the time in the world to figure out what she wanted from Thorne, but now...Who knew how long they truly had?
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:26 pm
Thorne smiled, expression unguarded. Of course Valerian was bold in new company, where he was not. He had grabbed every book that spoke of the chosen of old that his father had read and poured over it in the days where a rambunctious fawn had wreaked havoc around his cabin. Most pairs had balancing qualities, and perhaps that was completely at the whim of the guardian that picked their human. It came as no surprise when he had heard of forced choosings that left the bond incomplete and tenuous.
He picked up on her change in face, a frown tugging at the corner of his mouth. What he would give to read her thoughts... what he wouldn't give for anything, really. Thorne almost missed what she said next, and her words caught him off guard. Surprise crossed his face, but not unpleasantly so. His heart felt like someone had gutted him in that moment as he suddenly realized how worried she could have been the past few months. For all she knew, he could have been... no one knew what could be lurking in the Wardwood these days.
"I..." he hesitated, eyes flickering to the other people to ensure there were no lingering ears. "I should have." His voice cracked, and he quickly cleared his throat. "And... I am sorry if I worried you." Thorne's gaze dipped to the ground briefly as he fought the clenched feeling in the pit of his chest. "There was a while where I was... not alright. If I had written you I fear I would have only added to your anxieties, and I would never want to do that to you." His eyes returned to hers briefly, pained, before they flickered off towards the woods he would soon be entering. He had never been good at masking the expression in his eyes.
"The day I gave in to the pull of the guardian was the day that I lost my father." He hadn't intended to share this tidbit of information with her, but he truly wanted her to realize that he had not forgotten her the past few months. Anything but forgotten. Thorne regretted not sending a letter her way, but... he was here now. "Fate has a curious way, it would seem."
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:10 pm
"Oh!" She jerked her head up, curls tousling, letters forgotten. She hadn't even asked about his father; he had had to tell her. She felt incredibly foolish; where was her head today? Her expression was mournful, and she reached a gloved hand out toward him...But paused before she could make contact. She struggled internally for a moment, and then slowly, dropped her hand. She could only imagine what people thought of them; what would they whisper if she were to touch him? "I...I am so sorry. I had hoped..." But she had known his survival was unlikely. Thorne had known it to, she thought. But she imagined it hadn't made the passing any easier.
She wondered, given his last statement, if the timing had been intended. She had never given much thought to the higher powers at work, but she wondered now if there was cause for all of this, for everything. The war, the passing of Thorne's father, his being chosen shortly after, their chance meeting...Did they truly have the ultimate power in deciding their fate, or was there simply a grand, unwavering plan behind it all?
Her gaze had drifted as she had lapsed into thought, but she brought it back to Thorne now, staring up at him wistfully. She parted her lips to speak again, but once more, was interrupted. This time, by the blowing of a horn, the sound echoing across the fields. Startled, she looked away sharply to witness the men gathering, mounting their horses. It was time.
Hurriedly, Caroline looked back to Thorne, and against her better judgement, she stepped close, stood on tip toe, and planted a soft kiss against his cheek. "Good luck...Thorne." She whispered, loud enough only for him to hear. It was the first time she had ever uttered his name out loud. She stepped back with a shy smile, allowing him to pass.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:33 pm
The memory still stung as if it were fresh, but he would survive. "He's not suffering any longer," he murmured, voice soft, "I take comfort in that." Thorne had known for some time that a miraculous recovery would be unlikely. In a way it had almost been a relief, although he sorely missed the man. That was life, he supposed.
A horn blared, and his eyes moved to where the others gathered. Despite their flurry of activity, he remained calm, composed even. The hunt was in his blood, and when he came back with that fox in his hands he'd rub it right into her fiance's face. His name suddenly caught his attention (had he ever heard her say it?), and Thorne was stunned still by her bold action, his heart skipping a beat. His fingers touched the spot her lips had grazed, a slightly dazed expression in his eyes. Slowly his face broke into a grin.
"This will not take long," he said, hands running over Valerian's neck. With a swing of his weight he slid up onto the deer's back with a practiced ease, guiding him with seemingly no touch. It was almost cheating to use something that could read his mind, but the rest of the men didn't know that. The deer had accompanied him on every hunt since the day he had suddenly appeared in his home; they were well prepared.
Glancing to Caroline and offering her a reassuring smile before turning his gaze towards the other group, Thorne approached the edge of the activity. He shifted his crossbow against his back, loosening the strap so he could swing it free, and settled to await the start. His eyes glanced over the others; he was surprised some carried a gun (though he certainly shouldn't have been). They were clumsy, unrefined instruments in a delicate hunt, of course. The majority of them boasted elegant swords he was more than sure were saved just for such events.
Oh, he'd show them how to hunt.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:17 pm
Caroline watched longingly as he left, his smile promising he would return victorious. And she believed he would; he knew animals and the woods better than any of the other men present could ever hope to. And yet she worried still; worried her fiance might try something out there, might try to hurt Thorne. The men left, and the women flocked, squawking about fashion and scandal. Caroline's mother came to her daughter, making a noise of disapproval in her throat. "Come daughter, let us wait together. With any luck, your betrothed will taste victory, and return to lay his kill at your feet." Caroline resisted the urge to snort. Ya. Right.
The men lined up, and most laughed aloud as Thorne came up, settled comfortably on Valerian. They barely held their tongues for Caroline and her Elowen, but this? Riding a deer into the hunt? "Ridiculous." Caroline's fiance laughed louder than the rest, riding up to settle near Thorne. Caroline's father rode up silently on his own horse, expression guarded, eyes hard. As a believer in the old ways, and a supporter of guardians and their chosen, he did not quite appreciate the disrespect. "Gentlemen. Are we here to hunt, or as we here to point and gawk?" He said, voice deep and commanding. Most of the men fell silent, but Caroline's fiance continued to fixate his smirk on Thorne.
Finally, the horn came again, and the hounds were released. Brandishing his gun, Caroline's fiance charged forward, the rest of the men following. While there must of been roughly thirty men in the hunt, spreading out as they entered the woods, it was clear this had become a personal competition between Thorne and Caroline's fiance.
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Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 4:25 pm
If the off-handed comments and laughter fazed Thorne, his face did not show it. His eyes were focused on the terrain ahead of him, making mental note of large groups of trees, thick underbrush, and water. Frightened animals fled for cover, and he had tracked and chased enough over the years to comfortably predict the outcome here. The fox would get a brief head start before they released the hounds, and then the animal would seek dense places to hide... the perfect place to get hit in the face with a branch if you weren't a skilled enough rider.
That was precisely the advantage he had over those on horseback; their animal had to receive a cue before they reacted to the terrain, which relied on the skill of both rider and horse. With adrenaline pumping Thorne already knew how quickly Valerian would react to his thoughts, requiring the barest of touches to make the correct movements.
Being a sentient creature and not livestock helped, as well.
He cast a subtle sidelong gaze at the owner of the deep voice, coming to the quick conclusion by the way most of the others reacted that this was the patriarch of the Atwood household. Caroline's father. He wished a silent thank you as the gossiping and noise died down, although he did not miss the look on her fiance's face.
"Val," he murmured softly into the guardian's ear. It swiveled in his direction to listen, the only inclination that he was paying attention to his chosen. "Keep an eye on him." A soft whuffle came from his nose, just as the hounds were released with another loud call from the horn. Instantly an explosion of activity began, the majority of the men heading in the direction that the hounds had moved. Thorne knew they hoped the dogs had gotten a scent. Unwilling to throw himself into the middle of them he followed at first before branching off from the group; the guardian's legs were swift and nimble, and could carry him where a horse could not find proper footing... a place where a fox was likely to hide.
The baying of the hounds continued somewhere to his left, and Thorne worked quickly despite his want to settle and track. Valerian was sure of foot beneath him, and although the autumn air whipped at his face and eyes the hunter knew he would not be led into any branches that crossed their path. Avoiding the other riders would be another task altogether, should they decide to come down on the odd man out, however.
Now, to locate the fox...
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:01 pm
Lawrence Bickerton was not a man of morals. He was competitive, possessive, and unafraid to stoop, in order to ensure his success. So when he paused to watch Thorne, the commoner who was far to friendly toward his fiancee, rush into the woods away from the direction the others had headed, well, he just had to follow.
Lawrence followed at a distance, and as quietly as was possible. He pushed his horse forward slowly, watching the hunter through foliage and tree branches. The sight of the man on his deer disgusted Lawrence; how he hated those guardians. Their chosen always acted as if possessing a deer made them so important, like they had knowledge that others could not fathom. Caroline was no exception; she was a silly, ridiculous women, treating her damned deer as if it were human. What a stupid woman; he almost couldn't believe he was fated to marry her. But it mattered little; as soon as they wed, he would banish her beast, and hear nothing more on the matter of guardians or chosen.
But first, he needed to dispose of the despicable commoner. He could not have his woman fawning over trash; it would tarnish his reputation. Nor could he have the same commoner catching the fox before he. The commoner had slowed, presumably to scout the area and decide on a heading, and Lawrence seized the opportunity. He urged his horse forward an extra few feet, and then stopped. Lifting his gun, he took aim....and fired.
ooc: Bickerton xD Makes me laugh every time.
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 4:45 pm
As he slowed and carefully surveyed the area around him, Thorne's eyes caught the white tail of an animal slip quickly through the underbrush ahead. Reacting on instinct he was about to surge forward when a crack ripped through the fall air. Pain surged through his shoulder, and the force of the hit sent him off the side of the deer. Valerian spooked at the unfamiliar sound and shied away, nervously trying to locate where it had come from.
Thorne lay curled in the leaves for a moment, panting in shock as a sickly warm sensation began to seep down his chest and arm. Somewhere nearby Valerian let out a loud bellow, snapping him to attention. Clutching at the wound with his free hand he struggled to gain his bearings and sit up, a low grunt escaping his throat at the effort. How had he been caught so off guard?
He tried to calm down, but the growing anxiety that he could be lined up for a second shot was not helping. If he couldn't get out of here... he didn't want to think about the alternative. Bleeding to death in the woods was not how he had imagined it. "Valerian!" he gasped, seeking the deer. The guardian was there in mere moments, still nervously prancing around. His chosen's pain and fear had him worked into a strange state, but at Thorne's urgent tone he lowered himself enough to allow easier access to his back. They had to move. His eyes squeezed shut in pain as he tried his best to hoist himself upwards, the wounded limb clutched close to his body.
Just as Thorne's view came over the back of the deer, his eyes widened; someone was approaching on horseback... and quickly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:39 pm
A shot cracked through the air, not far from the edge of the woods, and Caroline jumped, sloshing the liquid in the dainty glass she held aloft. Blue eyes, wide with alarm, sought out the cause, despite already knowing. A gun shot. Someone had fired their gun. Dread coursed through her frame, knowing Lawrence had taken his gun, and she feared he might have thought to use it on something...sinister.
In the woods, Lawrence hollered victoriously, having hit his mark. Well, maybe not his exact mark, but...close enough. He had hit the man, and in the moment, that was all that mattered. Unable to simply walk away from the scene, Lawrence rode forward, his horse trotting around the fallen man and his guardian. Lawrence grinned, wide and menacing, as he peered mercilessly down at Thorne, gun still drawn. He cared little if the man died or lived, only that Lawrence won, and winning would constitute never seeing Thorne again. Pulling the reins on his horse, he stopped the animal, and dismounted, walking closer to Thorne, mainly for a better look. Blood seeped from the wound, staining Thorne's clothing. It delighted him.
"Oh dear, clumsy me." Lawrence cackled, clearly not sorry. "But what can I say - you hardly look different from any other beast out here. It was an honest mistake."
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