|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:45 pm
Apparently his question was going to be left unanswered. Once the stranger realized they were awake, they left, without speaking so much as a word to them. It should have made him worried, but Ryan was too sore and too tired to care. It didn't matter anyways. If whoever was there was planning on killing them it was merely trading one death for another.
With that in mind and now that the 'watcher' was gone, Ryan started to doze off again. Though each time he tried, his sleep was interrupted. Either by reoccurring nightmares, or the pain caused by his burns or hunger even. Neither of which allowed him to truly sleep. So by the time the 'others' arrived, announcing their presence with a loud clank, Ryan was fully awake and aware.
He could see a little better, now that his eyes had time to adjust. But even with regained eyesight, the location was so dark that he was only able to make out the barest of details. Nothing was visible. Not even those that arrived. Though if there was one thing that was notable, it was the scent that clung to the owner of the voice. Some sort of floral smell. Not unpleasant, but it also wasn't something he expected in a desert and yet it was vaguely familiar.
"Humans," Ryan's fingers twitched at the word, but his body remained still. "You have travelled a long way from your abode: please, I am rather curious as to your arrival here as well. Tell me everything, and leave no details behind. We mean no harm to you as long as you follow out ways."
Well that certainly narrowed things down. The fact that they referred to both of them as humans meant that it was probably safe to assume that the one addressing them, and those behind her, weren't. Not exactly good news, considering the alternatives.
There was a light scrapping noise and Ryan noted the small offering. Which as tempting as it was, and it was very tempting, remained untouched. After all, he had yet to decide if these strangers were worth trusting.
"How do you know where we're from and..." A pause as he waited for the tingling in his throat, a sign of another coughing fit, to subside before he continued. "Why did you save us?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 2:24 pm
With no answer from the figure, and only the sound of their footsteps fading into the distance, Kat slumped back down to the ground, welcoming the feeling of cold stone against her skin. No doubt, she probably looked like s**t right now, as would any who were stuck out in the Sahara.
Over time, her eyes slowly began to adjust to the lighting, or lack there of, giving her some form of vision. So they were in some sort of prison, huh? Ryan was no where to be seen, but judging from when he last spoke, he was off in a separate location, not too far from where she was herself. Sitting up, she pressed her back to one of the walls, wincing from the pain. She had had sunburns before, but nothing this severe. She was gonna be sore for a month! If she was granted that much time to live.
At the sound of footsteps returning, Kat struggled to see who it was that was approaching. There were more than one, obviously, but she couldn't make out anything about them, save for one was a woman. Tensing as she stepped closer, she fixated her gaze on the woman, making out her figure only, followed by the floral scent.
"Humans, you have traveled a long way from your abode: please, I am rather curious as to your arrival here as well. Tell me everything, and leave no details behind. We mean no harm to you as long as you follow out ways."
Humans..? Were they not..? Oh..
Slowly things started to click, while reality began to sink in. She had a guess of who it was that was there, but she dare not jump to conclusions, even if she mostly sure.
Glancing from the woman, to the bread and water offered, and back to the woman again, she resisted all urges to swipe up the bread and gulp down the water. Never before would she thought that stale bread would look so appetizing..
"How do you know where we're from and... why did you save us?"
Pursing her cracked lips together, she had a wonder if they really had been saved, or if this was just the beginning of the original death Caelius had planned for them. If this was the horsemen's lair, and that was Medea, then she knew far too well what happened to the last hunters that had fallen victim to her.. "hospitality."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 11:18 pm
Somewhere in some room giving some Hunters lectures about responsibilities and consequences, a certain Death lead might have actually been very pleased to hear that the two had outdone themselves this time, right out of the oven and into the frying pan. Satisfaction after all, was measured in levels of suffering.
The current apprehender however, had no idea of the events prior, though she was both highly curious and mildly suspicious. While Hunters in general were something of a species that enjoyed jumping off cliffs repeatedly in droves just to make a point, she highly doubted these gifts were for free. "Weaponless Hunters still carry the scent of their kind," She elaborated patiently, "We did not save you, you were found and thus in our prisons. You are here because you potentially, perhaps, may serve to and with us in greater purpose, or perhaps could be our undoing. Now that you have asked your question, I will ask another: what exactly do you think we are saving you from? Yourself perhaps? Or perhaps your own kind, who would cast you away, forgotten, in exile or a slow death? What treason could you have committed that makes your own kind betray you or have you come here to prove a point?" Her eyes glittered. Curiousity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:06 am
Meanwhile Ryan was laying on the ground, still cursing a certain death lead.
"I'm aware of that much." He growled out. Tired or not, he was still angry and had plenty of anger to spare. Though even with all that anger, it was all directed at one person in particular. "I'm not so foolish to believe that you've saved us from our immediate death in the desert out of good will alone. I'm asking what you're saving us for."
Potentially serve? Their undoing? The first seemed unlikely and the latter he had yet to hear about it if that were the case. As far as he was aware, Caelius just took pleasure at the idea of the two of them receiving an even greater death than a mere public execution.
"As far as I know, we're just trash to be rid of."
There was a small, bitter laugh when she asked again. "Insubordination, caring too much... A number of things. To put it bluntly we went against 'his' orders and fought to protect something... someone who was ordered dead and in doing so we even fended off--attacked," he corrected "our own allies." Now his eyes focused on the floor. Guilt perhaps? "Afterwards..." Afterwards he turned on Caelius. The one who made the order. The one who stood there and did nothing to help save Bix and Ceres who fell victim to the insanity. After all, why would he? They were mere pawns. Sacrifices at his disposal. The thought filled him with anger again. "Lets just say, I bit the hand that fed me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:23 am
She would sooner walk into Caelius' scythe than even considering helping a horsemen, for any reason. Surely, even the priestess could tell that much? No matter how much she hated Caelius, there was no way she could turn on them in this way. Not by her choice. Not ever.
Allowing Ryan to finish, she sat more upright, tenderly wiping some of the sand from her cut. "Hunters that cannot follow orders, or attack their superior.." she croaked, wincing as she tried to speak "are not much use anymore, are they? But I don't regret my choice, one bit. He was an a**." She was, however, concerned for all the other hunters that were still at the mercy of that psycho.
"So.." she started, eying the priestess, or what she could at least make out. "Are you planning to kill us?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:48 am
"It is natural for humans, even those of Fear to, in their youth, question and define themselves, seek their own paths and stretch their wings, is it not?" The visitor smiled, all pleasant teeth against tanned skin, however menacing the prisoners wanted to interpret the gesture themselves. "You live because you are of purpose: of what exact purpose perhaps you can dispell further, though you live the purpose of all Hunters who dare tresspass our territory, that of our sustenance, that which fuels our Fear. However, your stories suggest that you are no longer a Hunter, which means you do not have to seek nor follow their ways as prisoner."
She shifted slightly. "Paths indeed change over time, allies, comrades, choices, morals perhaps. If you were given a second chance however, if you seek purpose in a second chance here, with us, you will be welcomed as guests, not prisoners." She extended her hand, palm open. "Death is not always the absolute answer, for you have not yet found your own path and purpose. Your kind would lead you to believe we are cruel, though not as cruel as those who spin the stories themselves."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:02 pm
He wanted to believe her words. He wanted to believe in something. Was there some truth in what she said and that they weren't the monsters Deus made them out to be? Or was it merely lies in order to get what she wanted? He knew that Caelius and Deus itself were cruel in nature. They had to be. But ever since the last mission, Ryan began to wonder just how much of that cruelty was really necessary.
It was at times like this that Ryan would have welcomed Locke's annoying chatter in his head. Anything to distract him from thinking too much. But ever since his partner had been taken from him, thinking was all he could do.
"I don't know who or what to believe anymore."
Should he stay loyal to those who tossed them out and left them for dead? Or should he try and put a little faith in those that took the time and effort to at least drag them out of the desert? If he took that hand, would he be betraying his friends, betraying the people he had started to think of as family?
"How do we know if we can trust you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:52 pm
Natural for them to question? Yes, that may be so, but they were hunters. It was their duty to follow orders, something of which they clearly had ignored.
Her gaze lingered on the priestess, listening in silence as she spoke. Not as prisoners, but as guests? Because they were no longer hunters? Or..? It was hard to tell if she was genuine or not. She believed that all horsemen hated humans, even non-hunters. Could they have been wrong? But.. then there was the past mission--the rescue mission--where they had all infiltrated this lair to get back the hunters taken and tortured. After seeing that, it was hard to think of them not being cruel.
Dammit..! I don't know anymore!
She didn't want to sit down here and rot in a prison for the rest of her life, nor did she want to betray her kind. Even if Deus had turned their back on them and left them for dead, she didn't want to take it further and actually betray them by accepting the horsemen's generosity. There was a reason why they fought these horsemen, she wasn't sure that trusting them was wise.
But what were their options..?
Either way, she would wait to see what it was the priestess had to say before she even considered answering her. One way or another, this might be a good chance to learn more about the horsemen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:59 pm
She laughed, just slightly, at Ryan's question. Colourless laughter. "How do you know we can trust you?" The door however, was open, a second also folding open. "If you can even trust yourselves, through curiousity or perhaps a fleeting understanding of why you are still here, then you will see there is no harm in following me. You are not equal to us by far, you are Human, and yet, is it not a relief to you that we deem you as harmless? There is nothing we fear from you and thus, there is nothing we consider a threat from you."
She continued to walk, slowly, trailing behind at times, waiting for the two to follow. Underneath the lighting, the hallway outside, while still dim, at least revealed her features better. Keen blue eyes, black hair curled tightly into knotted braids. There was a strange air, a fragrance about her that was so different, almost exotic, that seemed entirely out of place compared to the stifling cavern walls and narrow twisting corridors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:05 pm
She had a point. As they were now, the horsemen had absolutely nothing to fear from them. Hunters were powerless without weapons. They had a little more training perhaps, but still powerless. Besides, staying here in the dark or following made no difference now.
With that in mind and a quick look in Kat's direction, Ryan followed; thankful that Medea kept a pace that they could meet. Even the simply motion of walking was torture. It made him want to just curl up on the cold floor and sleep. Though the further they got, the more curious he became and the more he began to notice the difference in the air. It was--
"Where is this? Its... different." Different from the desert air at least. It made him wonder if they were even still in the desert.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:48 pm
Touche. she though, mentally applauding the priestess.
A little hesitant, Kat rose to her feet, and stepped towards Medea. She was nervous, sure, but if they wanted them dead, they could have done so at anytime. She might as well follow and see things for herself for a change. Besides, she had to admit, she was wanting to find out more about these horsemen.
Glancing over at Ryan when he cast a look in her direction, she gave a slight nod and followed them out. Part of her just wanted to lay back down against the cool stone of the cell, the other part of her wanted her to keep going.
Medea was kind enough to not move too fast, and leave them far behind, giving them both time to catch up with her. Pausing here and there, Kat took the time to get a good look of the area before pressing on. It would be good to know the way, in case something should happen later on.
Looking from Ryan to Medea, she too grew curious to where it was they were headed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 11:45 pm
A light sizzle interrupted their attention, the Head Priestess turning yet another two corridors before she stopped, all distant smiles, similar to an absent-minded parent addressing their two delinquent children. "There is still time before you make up your mind on such matters, before a new day, your new day turns over. We will begin our ceremonies soon, the priestesses and I, our traditional rites we carry, as death blesses and becomes us. The invitation to our ceremony is open, but your appearance...." She trailed off, and then smiled again, ever so vaguely, "... You will need to become more presentable yourselves."
The hisses were getting louder now and it became obvious the second she urged the two into the room, hot steam emitting from the enclosure from behind thick lavender-scented curtains. Strange cavern formations covered the cave-like room in delicate crystals though its most poignant feature was the natural heated water coming from several layered basins.
"After you have finished bathing, a basket will be waiting for you with appropriate robes." She stretched her smile a little thinner. "The guards will escort you when you are ready." OOC Hot springs bath time! The water has natural healing properties that make it easier on blistered and burnt skin, soothing it....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 12:26 am
Struggling to keep up, she almost wished she had made a grab for the water and bread before leaving the cells. She felt hollow on the inside, light headed even, but there was no chance that she would go all the way back for the food now.
When Medea stopped, Kat halted her movement as well, almost swaying where she stood. In attempts to keep herself from falling on her face, she placed a hand against the wall while listening to everything the horsemen said. Ceremonies? Ceremonies for what? Too tired, she didn't bother asking about it now. From the sound of it, they were to find out for themselves. Which then brought Medea's attention to their.. appearance. Blinking, she quickly looked herself over, before glancing back up at the priestess. She didn't look that bad, did she? Er.. okay, maybe she did, but she blamed the sandstorm.
When urged into the room, Kat wobbled on her feet, quickly taking in the scent of lavender when she entered. She was never one for floral smells, but this room.. it smelled nice. So this was what a hotspring was like? Huh.. she had never seen one before, but she definitely saw why people found them so relaxing.
Glancing back at Medea, she gave a slight nod in response. This was the part where she should say 'thank you', but.. nerves got the best of her. Instead, she tried a small smile of her own, even that she was sure she botched.
Stepping towards the water, she dipped her hand in it, expecting it to sting as soon as it made contact with any blisters or cuts. It didn't. Instead, it soothed her skin remarkably. It took all her strength to keep from just flopping down into the water now.
Sliding off part of her strap to her tank top, she paused, and shot a look at Ryan. "Over there. Way, over there." It was obvious that he was not allowed to bathe anywhere near her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 2:01 am
The sizzle caught his attention long enough that he almost missed the head priestess when she turned a corner. Fortunately, even now, she kept her pace slow so that he was able to catch up without having to run and yet each time he found himself lagging behind. Pausing on occasion to look at different things. Or at least until Medea spoke up.
He didn't ask what the ceremonies were about. He assumed they were just something like any other temple might hold. Just some spiritual gathering. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to attend or not. But curiosity usually got the better of him. As for appearances, well... Looking at Kat, and assuming he didn't look any better, they looked as though they got in a fight with a furnace and lost. Given that, he wouldn't say no to a bath and a change of clothes.
Though like before, the further they got, the more his gaze wandered. Only this time, it was drawn towards the sound of hissing. Sounds which only grew louder as they approached their destination. Which, after the recent discussion, was not hard to guess and sure enough, the sound of hissing was soon accompanied by both steam and some other floral scent. All of it was all quickly put to the back of mind, however, when the horsewoman began giving them instructions. To which he should have shown more gratitude. But unlike Kat, Ryan didn't even manage a smile. Not even as awkward as hers had been. Instead he gave a small appreciative bow of his head.
To be honest, he wasn't sure how to react to this kindness. Not when it came from someone who was a former enemy.
"Do you think its true what she said?" He asked Kat, once the head priestess was gone. "Do you think Deus was exaggerating about them like with those Halloween creatures?" Just spending the little time with them that they had now... in a way, it felt no different then hanging around humans. Were they really as evil as they claimed them to be?
He turned to look at Kat, hoping to hear her opinion on the matter, but looked just as she began peeling off her shirt and shot him a look. Warning him.
"Like I want to." He sniped back and took himself far enough away that he couldn't see, but close enough that she could still speak to him if she wanted. Though if his face hadn't been as badly burned as it was, it would have still been a deep red.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 2:36 am
She only shook her head and shrugged before giving a small reply on the matter. "I honestly don't know what to believe anymore." These horsemen didn't seem so bad right now, but this could all just be a facade of some kind.
At his comment, Kat splashed at him, hitting his back as he moved to walk away. With some satisfaction, Kat waited till he was out of her range of sight before she set to removing the rest of her clothes and dipping into the hot springs. There was a slight sting on her leg, from where she had cut herself, but like everything else, the pain dulled moments after. It was no wonder people would spend a lot of money on hot springs. Just a few minutes of soaking in this, she was already feeling more relaxed than she should.
Tenderly picking some of the sand from her wounds, she began to start on washing her hair. Dragging her fingers through it, she could already fell a mass amount of knots and tangles thanks to being out in the sandstorm. For a few minutes, she attempted to tug some of the knots free, only to give up when she found several more only moments after. Bloody hell..! she loved her long hair, she had never cut it, not even once, but..
Once completely clean, she reached for a towel, wrapping it around herself as she stepped out. It wasn't long before she noticed the robes that Medea had promised, as she walked on by them. Until she had dealt with this hair, she dare not get dressed. She would only soak herself, what with no hairdryer about.
Clawing at the tangles further only began to frustrate her further, until she noticed a pair of scissors close by. Pausing in her actions, she hesitantly moved towards them, picking the crude object up. Staring long and hard, she finally came to a decision, and began snipping away at her hair.
By the time most of it had been cut away, she could feel the difference in weight, though she was sure she didn't do quite as nice a cutting job as she had hoped. Dragging her fingers over her hair again, she could definitely feel some hairs were far longer, or uneven then they should be. Sucking in a breath, she furrowed her brow and gripped the scissors tighter in annoyance.
"Ryan, I need your help, please." Not bothering to answer any questions he might have right away, she practically shoved the scissors into his grasp when he came over. "I can't see from behind, so I'm going to have to get you to do the rest."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
