The farther Xilarn walked away from his home, the more anxiety swirled in his stomach. Maybe he should've asked one of his friends to join him, or even his brother or sister (as much as he would've loathed asking for either of their companies). Anyone was better than going alone, no matter how much more inconspicuous a solitary Earthling was. But as the comfort of the familiar desert faded away, giving rise to bright green grass and even lush trees, the Fire Earthling couldn't help but remember that they were in the midst of a war... And anyone he met would probably attack him sooner than greet him. And if that was the case, he didn't really want to drag someone he cared about into that.
It was easier to keep going when he didn't think of such things, though. And... it was easier when the sun was up, and when the trees weren't so thick that they blocked out whatever light the sky had to offer. By the time Xilarn realized that he was terrified, he was standing in the darkness of the rainforests of Juahar, with no idea where he was or how he planned to escape. Frankly, he was lucky he could even see at all. His muddy red clay colored orbs were used to the bright intensity of the desert sun. But here there was only the faint shimmer of luminescent fungus.
As if that made it any better.
Every footfall, every rustle of trees or creaking of the insects set his spine on edge. He would almost swear something was following him, but even when he glanced back, there was nothing, nothing but looming darkness and faint shadows, and terror.
He couldn't see. Too many strange noises. War. He was going to die.
Xil started running. He didn't know what he was running from or where he was running to, but he ran.
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:36 am
Fluffesu
WADANA (pl. Wadani) - These massive insects are covered in a hard armor that is incredibly difficult to break. From their faces, two large, sharp pincers protrude, perfect for digging into the hard ground and attacking opponents. They burrow just beneath the surface of the soil to hide, where they await their unsuspecting prey.
Xilarn was correct. He was being followed.
Hijil had taken to scouting in the Jahuar wilds around Neued, reporting back occasionally. Although not familiar with southern Jahuar, she was familiar with surviving in the jungle alone, and used it to her advantage. She had already spotted and informed on several incursions - some dealt with by the warriors in Neued, some not. Some had been devoured by the jungle itself - it was a rough place, especially for an army.
She lurked in the trees, at home in them as any shifter was, and worked alone. She preferred to be alone - less complications that way. In addition, she was accustomed to it. Further, she was not ready to deal with alkidikes on a more than professional level. Not yet. There would be a time for her search, but war was not it.
She had spotted the lone Oban as he had entered. She had been following him since the start of Jahuar's trees, leaping from tree to tree with a grace and silence that her large size - big and broad for an earthing - wouldn't seem to allow. She was used to the darkness of Jahuar's eternal dusk, and followed his bright, shimmering, colorful crystals easily in the luminescence.
She was puzzled. Her first thought had been that he was a scout of the Obans, but he seemed very young - too young to be trusted with such a mission. He had no back up, no partner, nothing.
He didn't even have a proper weapon on him, and seemed afraid of the jungle around him.
He was alone. He was scared. He was unprepared. It was a situation painfully familiar to her. Hijil wondered what had driven the boy to this land. Was it Duty? Escape? Because she wasn't so sure he was here for war anymore.
He began to run and she followed him swiftly in the trees, concerned now for this youth lost in the wood. No, she wanted to tell him, not that way.
He was running towards a known Wadani - infested area, and she doubted that he knew the danger that the ground-lurking insects posed...
Xilarn was not built for long bouts of running, especially in this horribly humid forest, where he was lucky he didn't trip over roots or crash into trees. In what was probably only a few yards, the Fire Earthling was gasping for breath and sticky with sweat. He could handle heat, but the sweltering moisture that hung in the air did absolutely nothing to aid him. He stumbled to a standstill and cast another glance behind him. As if his eyes did him any good. Whatever was following him... It hadn't attacked yet, for some reason. Was it waiting for something? Maybe it thought he was too strong to attack while awake, so it was waiting for him to fall asleep...
Or something like that.
So... he shouldn't sleep? He was doomed to wander this forest for as long as he could keep himself alive...? Xil groaned as he braced an arm against a tree to support himself. He was already tired, hungry, and disgusting. He wanted to go home and leave this place behind once and for all... Heh. Yeah, he'd be lucky if he could find his way back home. He took another few steps, already feeling pitifully exhausted and wishing for a nap.
The ground rumbled.
Xil wasn't sure if that meant he should start running again, or if he was supposed to stand absolutely still. He didn't know the rules of this blasted forest and its stupid creatures! So when some armored insectoid creature emerged from the soil with its pincers snapping, it was all Xil could do to freeze and stare at it with his mouth agape.
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:44 pm
Fluffesu
Hijil wasn't sure what she would have done if the Wadana had gotten him with its initial attack. Would she have watched as he was killed? Would she have tried to save him from the jaws of death? She favored the latter. She would have tried to rescue anybody from such a fate, Alkidike or Shifter or whatever they were.
But he was an Oban, an enemy, here for an unknown purpose. Would that be the right thing to do, to try to save him?
Yes. said one part of her mind. No. said the other. She wasn't sure which to listen to.
Fortunately, the Wadana had missed, and she had another chance. She leapt to the branch above him, her black skin still camouflaging her in the dark understory as the ground rumbled again beneath the sturdy trees.
The Wadana would not miss again, and there was likely more than one beneath the Jahuar soil. She had to decide, fast, or else he would likely be ripped apart.
She decided.
Hijil steadied herself against a branch and reached down, grabbing the Oban by the arm and pulling him up just as sharp, inscrutable insect jaws snapped below him. She reached with her other arm to pull him up the rest of the way onto the bough as the Wadani sought their prey below.
He wasn't as heavy as she thought he'd be... or perhaps she had gotten stronger? Either way, she managed to get him safely on the branch and out of reach.
Xil sucked in a terrified breath as his feet stumbled away from the large insect's first snap. He nearly tripped over a root protruding from the base of the tree, but he somehow managed to steady himself against the trunk. What was that thing? He'd certainly never seen anything like that in his home. It was big enough that it could probably tear him apart, if he didn't get away. he leaned away from the creature, pressing his back against the tree as it honed in on him again and attacked.
The Oban yelped in alarm as his feet were wrenched from the ground. Whatever it was, it attacked from the sky as well. Xil didn't think about how whatever had gripped him by the arm felt suspiciously like fingers. All he knew was that he didn't want to die, so he swatted at it as it hauled him ever upward. When he was planted on the thick branch, his clay-colored eyes darted around in the darkness. Stupid black forest was impossible. It was dark yes, but he wasn't dead. He held his arms out protectively in front of him until he thought he could make out the outline of a person. "Who are you?" He hissed out softly, barely keeping his voice from quivering.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 12:03 pm
Fluffesu
Xilarn was fortunate that Hijil couldn't be brushed off by frantic swatting. The scars on her arms attested to her being able to take a far worse beating.
She regarded him on the branch, ignoring the snapping sounds and clickings from below. The Wadani would move on soon - when their prey was in a tree, they had no hope to catch it.
Up here, on her branch, he seemed even younger, even smaller, and even more scared. She felt her heart reach out to him, enemy or not. Poor dear. she thought, watching him.
She didn't answer when he spoke - she felt no need to. She just watched him, half warily half thoughtfully.
Well.
She'd saved him. Now what. She had an Oban at her mercy, who she wasn't just going to kill. But should she take him prisoner? He likely knew very little. She knew he would likely be tortured or at least harmed in the outletting of rage and grief that many in the camp had. He was too young to even vaguely deserve that fate.
Let him go? He wouldn't be very dangerous... but chances were, he'd die. She frowned for a moment, then beckoned him to follow before leaping from branch to branch.
She stopped, looking back to make sure he did follow. If she had to carry him to safety and to a place where she could figure out what to do, she would.
She didn't answer, just continued to stare at him. Xil felt his pulse quicken. He could practically feel it hammering in his throat. What was she thinking? She'd saved him from those insects, but why. Those creatures had just wanted a meal, he probably could've expected to die relatively quickly at their claws and pincers. But from someone he assumed had some degree of intelligence, should he be bold enough to expect mercy. He hadn't personally fought in the war, but it was his people that instigated it. He could only expect that would hurt him here.
From the edges of his vision, he registered movement. It was hard to make out her dark skin against the blackness of the forest, but he was pretty sure she was moving away from him now. He scanned for her blue crystals and saw her perched patiently on a branch. Waiting for him to follow? Was that even remotely smart of him? Who knew where she was leading him.... He could probably head off on his own, but... If the past few minutes were any indication, he probably wouldn't make it very far.
The best he could do was follow her with as much fearless dignity as he could muster. No matter where she took him, he was still surely more knowledgeable than any tribe she was apart of. He could outwit a bunch of barbarians, right...? Sucking in a breath, he hesitantly walked along the branch to get a bit closer to her, before he hesitantly clambered onto the branch she occupied. He certainly didn't have the same maneuverability in the trees as she did... That and... falling would probably suck. "Where are we going?" He asked softly.
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 11:51 am
Fluffesu
Hijil waited patiently as he caught up to her. Where was she taking him...?
Good question.
Her home - the hidden seaside haven that would be her base of operations for finding her friend- was too far both north and West. She didn't know if she should take the Oban that far into the jungle. She didn't know if he would survive.
At the same time, Neued was not an option. But where?
She hopped to another branch, gesturing to follow again, not answering his question. She was taking him to her temporary home, a shelter she had made in the trees not far from Neued.
She'd figure out what to do with him from there, but at least she would make sure he was safe.
The fact that she never answered him was quite unsettling. There was the chance that she was just stupid and really did want to help him, but just couldn't articulate it. She could be mute and have either good or bad intentions, who was he to say? There was the off-chance she could speak and simply refused out of some sort of... feeling of superiority? He didn't deserve to be spoken to, or something?
Xil huffed. He may be alone and outmatched in this forest, but that certainly didn't put him beneath anyone. "Now you just wait." He commanded in what he hoped was a firm, powerful-sounding voice. The Oban leaped one branch closer, then stilled. He steadied himself on the thick branch and stood up straight. "I am not taking one more step-" Jump, climb, whatever. "Until you tell me where we're going." He demanded as he crossed his arms over his chest. He could turn and leave her... As long as he stayed in the trees, he'd be safe from those bugs. Still, he had crossed the border to meet and observe these barbarians, so... if he actually got in good with one or two of them... And that would be challenging if he was weak.
No. No weakness or hesitance now. He needed to show her that he was serious. Xilarn scowled.
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:24 am
Fluffesu
She waited for him on the next branch, watching him cooly and (unintentionally) eerily. She honestly did not mean to scare him, but he should be scared. Of her, of the forest, of the war... of lots of things really.
He was scared. She could tell by the way he was demanding, tantruming and crying out like a child. It was actually kind of cute, in a sad way. Why was a mere boy like him this far into the jungle all alone? Had he lost someone? Had he been part of an Oban unit and had gotten separated or worse? She hadn't seen any traces of a larger group, but that didn't mean that there hadn't been one.
She waited for a time and it became clear that the boy wasn't going to move. She had to smile softly at that - it was cute, and she had to protect it. Even if he was Oban.
"A safe place." she said finally, turning away and moving on to the next branch, waiting for him there.
Xilarn was hardly aware that he held his breath while he waited for her to answer. He didn't know what he expected her to say or even what he expected her to do once he'd informed her that he wasn't going to just surrender his position so easily. But when her gaze landed on him and held, he was suddenly swamped with regret. Regret for questioning this stranger who could probably kill him no matter what kind of escape he tried to plan. And then regret because... Even in this dimness, he didn't think he spotted malice in her gaze.
'A safe place' could be anything, anywhere, with anyone. It literally meant nothing to him. But it didn't matter. She'd had time to hurt him, kill him even. Heaving another breath, he scrambled after her, until he was standing on the same branch as the strange woman. "Okay," he hummed at last. "Okay... Then, just who are you?"
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:24 pm
Fluffesu
Hijil was pleased that he seemed to be cooperating, and relieved. She wanted him to live, and she had been willing to do... drastic... things to keep the young man alive. She was glad that she didn't have to do drastic things, like knocking him out and slinging him over her shoulder or... Anything like that. "Hijil." she said simply. That was her name, that was what she was.
"Not far now." she commented. It wasn't. A few trees away was her temporary home, and a good place to figure out what to do with this poor child. For this poor child. She moved to the branch above him and leapt, so as not to upset his balance on the branch, waiting again on the next branch. "Can you keep going?"
Somehow, it was... liberating... to break her silence and speak to him. She wondered why it had been so hard before. It would be easier - she realized - to get him to cooperate and stay safe if she spoke. She felt like an idiot for not using her voice before, but it was so hard to talk... not hard, so much as... she just didn't want to.
She'd actually answered... He'd half expected her not to. It had seemed hard enough getting some vague answer of where they were headed out of her, so he'd kind of doubted she'd give him something so personal as a name. It was only polite to offer her the same courtesy. "I'm Xilarn." He told her as she moved above and ahead of him again. And this 'safe place' was apparently close by, though for all of Xil's scrying and squinting through the trees, he saw nothing. Just endless blackness. Better than seeing a barbarian camp, he supposed.
He inhaled a calming breath, then steeled himself as he jumped to the branch beneath hers once more. "I'm fine." He huffed curtly. "I certainly don't need to be carried." Xilarn informed her tartly, doing his best to keep how much the comment had offended him out of his voice. As if he'd need some woman carrying him through the trees like a young infant. He had more dignity than that! Even in this forest! He craned his neck to peer at her from beneath her branch. She hardly looked capable of doing such a thing. Yes, she was well-built and obviously far more accustomed to the trees than he was, but, still. She wasn't that much larger than him, height-wise. Anyway, the sooner he made it to this safe place, the better. He didn't want to slow her down and risk an animal coming to pick them off, or anything...
With that in mind, he hopped to the next branch, casting a look over his shoulder at her in a silent urge for Hijil to continue the lead.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 11:24 pm
Fluffesu
Xilarn... she'd remember it.
She smiled at him. "Good." she said. His indignation was adorable, in the same way as a child's frustrated tantrums were adorable. Poor baby, out alone... Well he'd be safe soon.
He moved ahead, and she moved forward too, letting herself go faster now. Faster was good - it meant she wouldn't run into another patrol. That would complicate things more than she would have wanted to.
It occurred to her, as she waited for him to catch up, that it would do more than complicate things. They would treat him as an enemy combatant. They would yell at him, bind him, and maybe not mistreat him but... they would treat him as an adult, as a spy, as someone capable of doing them harm. But he was just a child alone and weaponless in the woods.
She waited on a branch, letting the concept mull over in her mind. No. She would not turn him in, or allow him to be caught. "There." she said, pointing to her shelter. It wasn't much, just leaves woven into a roof in a tree and held in place by vines, with a blanket and some food stores, but it was safety and home, for now. She had a portable firepit too, in a clay bowl and surrounded by rocks and ash to keep it from escaping its confines. It would be cozy.
Xil swallowed nervously. She'd smiled at him. Should he be afraid? The woman could be plotting something unsavory. And if he walked into it, than he really was a dunce... No, Hijil didn't really seem scary, now that he knew her name. She was obviously stronger and quicker than he was, so if nothing had happened yet, it seemed unlikely that it would at all. He did his best to keep up with her, as awkwardly as he traveled along the branches. Obviously, she was quicker than he ever would be and more often than not, he caught himself rushing to try and reach her side.
She pointed out at something through the trees. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Xil thought they must be at least closer to the canopy, where more light would filter through, since he was actually capable of making out the crude shelter. A part of him wanted to argue with her that he couldn't stay somewhere like that, but he squashed the notion before it had a chance to bubble to his lips. He'd come out here to learn, and that meant attempting to immerse himself in their way of life. If that meant clambering through the trees and sleeping in a shelter of leaves and vines where he could be eaten alive by bugs, well fine. Surely Hijil knew what she was doing, at least.
Okay. he was going to do this. If that was the case, than he should probably try to treat the savage woman with some kind of respect. She obviously wasn't at his social class, but she was wise enough to try and help him, rather than hinder him. "Thank you," he rumbled out in as convincing a voice as he could manage.
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