Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jauhar's nights were truly a wonderful thing. A gentle breeze swept the trees, causing them to rustle softly, the nocturnal creatures softly singing to the night, creating a lovely lullaby throughout the forest. Eresin usually had no problems sleeping in Jauhar, save for the occasional heat and humidity that prevented him from getting comfortable, however, this night he was too anxious. Tossing and turning every night he couldn't help but keep thinking over and over I'm getting close, I can just feel it... One week of searching for his uncle ever since getting to Jauhar yielded no results for him. Each day, he found it harder to focus because he kept losing sleep over his own thoughts. The desire to find his uncle though made him keep going. He knew he couldn't give up, and when the evenings came, he really didn't want to stop looking. Was it the fact that at night there were much less people to look through? But that doesn't make sense considering he might be asleep, so there is no guarantee I would find him at night either... It was all so frustrating for Eresin. He just wanted to find his uncle Nerio already so he could help Talisia find her brother. Eresin continued to walk through the slowly diminishing crowds as the time for sleep approached once more.

Speaking of Talisia, Eresin figured she was finished bathing, which he felt she needed privacy for back at the camp. I have waited a long while... He started making his way back to camp, and he couldn't help but blush at the thought of the time he almost saw her naked, which resulted in a lovely lump, courtey of the piece of wood she threw at him. Nope. Not doing that again... It was an accident after all... He grumbled out loud as he tried to shake the thoughts from his head. As he lost himself in his silly thoughts once more, he found himself on an unfamiliar path in the woods. Not again... He thought as he looked around. Maybe I'll give her some more time alone... Wouldn't hurt to see where this leads.

Eresin continued to walk, keeping aware of his surroundings. Wouldn't want to end up dying here, would we? Not when we're so close. He thought as he stepped carefully through the trees.

Eresin was taken aback by the sudden mystery assailant. The very fact that even though he was as alert as he could be and still might been assassinated in a few seconds just bothered him. Actually, I should have seen this coming. I'm alone, and in the dark. Not even Peco is with me. He's back at camp sleeping probably... The knife point in his back meant that there was definitely no squirming his way out of this situation. His only other option was to tell the stranger why he accidentally wandered into his territory and hope to the heavens that he wouldn't kill him.

Eresin stumbled on his words, "Oh, uhm... I-" He stopped for a second. That voice... He didn't recognize it right away, but at the same time he couldn't pinpoint it. He'd have to figure it out when he wasn't in a life or death situation, though. "I... Just was trying to find my way back to camp. I didn't mean to intrude on your territory. If you'd please let me go and point me back to Jauhar, I'll leave immediately."

Was that okay? Probably a little pushy given his own situation, but it was already out there and would have to do. Still, something bothered him about his mystery assailant. Something, he had a feeling even, or maybe a resonance with this person. He could sense something familiar, not just the person but also... Magic...! There's more to it than that though. But what...? Once again, he'd have to figure out some other time. He hasn't even seen this person's face yet, and all these feelings could turn out to be false.

"Please, I just want to get back to camp. My companion... She is waiting for me..."

Eresin squinted and scrunched is eyebrows in anger. Oh no you don't. No one is going to hurt her, not even you. Even if I die- At the feeling of the knife easing up, Eresin quickly bashed the back of his head against his assailant, and while his opponent reeled back from the blow, he dashed forward and gained some distance. He then whipped around and raised his staff.

"No one, I repeat, No one! Will harm her! Not even-" upon seeing his opponents face, he realized exactly who he was. "You..." Eresin said in a low voice. There was no mistaking him. The different colored eyes, the dark skin, and pointy ears of an ice earthling. "Ciaran...?"

A slew of emotions raced through Eresin's mind. Anger, confusion, joy all seemed to run through his mind, making him stumble over something to say. "I- You- Er..." He lowered his staff and took a deep breath. I found him? There's so much I want to say... But, did he know I was here? And how did he know I was travelling with Talisia...?

"Okay then Kian... How did you know i was here? Why didn't you say anything earlier? And what's with holding me at knife point? Kinda rude after not seeing someone for so long, wouldn't you say?" Eresin wasn't done. He was going to give him a lecture on manners. "Did you know your twin was looking for you? How worried she's been about you?"

Eresin paused, as he realized how angry he had just gotten at that very moment. His frustrations from the past week all seemed to come out at the same time. "And how do you know my uncle, anyway?" He sighed. He should really slow down and let the guy answer some of his questions. He shifted his stance as a way to say, Well?

Kian's sarcasm was very typical of him. Eresin remembered those kinds of jokes between them as kids quite often. At least that hasn't changed about him... Eresin couldn't help but think about how much this unfortunate soul had gone through. The man was on the verge of death even, and luckily Nerio just happened to be there. The thought put a frown on his face, and a knot grew in his stomach. Kian was right; Eresin was lucky when he was with his parents. Life could have been so much more cruel to him, but instead he grew up learning these "polite gestures", while Kian was getting the short end of life's stick. But is it really so bad? It seems to have made him a stronger person... Who was to say? Eresin would have to save the thought for another day.

"Well... You're right. I don't know anything about your struggles, but what I do know is that your sister wants to see you. That's what she came all the way out here for." Eresin paused and sighed. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty for not being there for his closest childhood friend. He felt some bitterness emanating from Kian, but was there really anything he could have done? I don't even know... He looked into the shifter hybrids multi-colored eyes. He saw pain and confusion. "Look, you should give her a chance. I can take her to you in the morning, or if you'd like, I can take you to our camp. I'll leave it up to you."

Eresin hoped he was doing the right thing. He felt it was the only way to right the wrong done to the two siblings.

Eresin chuckled. "An expert? Me? I wish." Eresin felt the anger die inside him, and the sadness fade away. The only thing left in him to feel was joy. Truly, Eresin was grateful to see his childhood friend back again. Whether or not he was here to stay was a question for later, but for the time being, he decided he would cherish the moment until the time passed. Eresin smiled at Kian. "It's good to have you back, friend..."

He gestured to the hybrid to lead him to his uncle. "I'll see him immediately then. Let's go."

As Eresin followed Kian through the trees, Eresin wondered how much his uncle had gotten older. The last time he saw his uncle, he was a few years younger. That was the time when he realized Eresin's true potential and confronted his parents about it. They fought and the end result was Eresin being shut away from the world. Well, if it didn't happen that way, I might not have met Talisia again, would I? That reminded him. Talisia... The name rang through his mind like the ringing of a large bell. He hoped she wasn't worried about him too much. He wondered what she was doing anyways, or even if she cared much about what Eresin was doing. For Eresin, it was hard to tell what she was thinking or feeling most of the time, since she was the hardy type, the kind that rarely shows emotions. I suppose it's easier that way out here in the open world... It's much less of a weakness. And yet for some reason, Eresin had a hard time letting that part of him go. It was what made him who he was, and that was something his mom always told him. Don't lose yourself, Eresin, or Just remember to be you, Eresin. He knew with how harsh life was out here, even though he was only getting his feet wet. He'd heard stories of people being robbed, taken into slavery, and the most common, being killed. If Eresin would let go of his emotions and learn to be like her, he could be stronger, and maybe be able to protect her better.

He sighed out loud. Who am I kidding...? She really doesn't need me to protect her. It's more likely the other way around... But what could Eresin do? And why was this so important to him anyway? Had he actually gotten attached to Talisia? He certainly wouldn't mind spending the rest of his days travelling with her, regardless of the dangers it would bring. They could protect each other until the end of days. I'd better let go of that thought... She probably wouldn't feel the same way towards me... Would she? What if there was a way Eresin would win his way into her heart? How would he even do that? After all, Eresin knew nothing about love.

Are we almost there yet? My own thoughts are driving me crazy... Eresin shook his head. "Hey, um... How much further?"