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 Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:27 am
[ Yes, Beast: A Sought Out Rendezvous ]
“There’s no harm in just--- going out for a little while,” Nera reasoned out loud, into the humid morning emptiness. Lucijah, her star-born treasure had expressly commanded her to stay in the safety of the nest she had built for them yet the white-locked brute was gone; again. How was she supposed to stay entertained if the only other person that knew where she was kept running off to save face with her savage tribe? What dignity could wild creatures such as those Lucijah called family possibly have, did they even understand the concept of what honor was; they were philistines compared to her people really they were just animals that could walk-upright and speak. What rights did that really give them as a whole, if they bowed and allowed themselves to become leashed perhaps the sovereign heirs of the world her Oban people would be lenient on them; regardless her beloved was safe at her side. “But I am so bored.” Irritably whined the lean-figured redhead as if she were arguing with someone other than herself. If she wanted to leave she simply could! That was all there was to it, no further debating the point at hand. “But what if she comes back and finds me gone, she will be so vexed.” One-sidedly countered the short-haired Oban with abhor directed at herself in her rising pitch. “But it is so early in the day, morning still,” a contemplative pause lingered as Nera stroked the curve of her cheekbone in thought. “Yes, still just morning. Maybe if I were to make it up to her somehow. A carefully made dinner or lunch, maybe some fruit and nuts. Oh and fish, of course. I could go to one of the streams catch some fish, smoke them right there then come back before she even knows I am gone. And besides I don’t need her permission to do anything. I’m leaving whether that she-beast of mine likes it or not.” Upturning her crooked nose the former desert dweller set out to prepare for her harmless day excursion, slender hands tugged at her backpack and found time to scrawl a hasty note saying that she wanted to catch some fish and would be back before nightfall, not that she was worried her twilight-skinned lover would be upset, totally not the intention of the message at all. It just so happened it was because of manners, purely unrelated manners of her upbringing.
Bare feet scrapped along rough bark and newly calloused hands gripped thick purple and red tendrils that jutted from unknown origins just beyond the crest of the canopy, testing each one as made her way along the tightly knit limbs the boyish prentice found herself venturing further out than what she had originally planned; each stream she found lacked activity then there was the fact she kept getting distracted by clusters of succulent nuts and ripened fruits that seemed to appear just a little further out from where she planned on stopping. Hours rolled past and with it came the muggy heat of the afternoon rainforest, the spike in temperature and the growing miserable dampness that washed over the short-haired youth altered the Nera to exactly how much time had passed since she first began her endeavor to cure her lonesome monotony. “This place looks, sorta familiar,” kneeling down onto one of the lower hanging branches the lean-figured prentice surveyed the surrounding area, a groan escaped the tree limb as weight shifted along the shaft making the edge buckle ever so slightly and droop towards the ground. “There is no way that I traveled that far out.” Sneering insipidly into the overgrowth pink hues narrowed into concerned slits as she dropped to the forest floor with a thump. If she had backtracked as far as she was beginning to suspect then that meant there was the possibility of an Oban encampment just a short distance away from where she was standing. Nera of course wasn’t scared by this information it was just the fact that she had been gone for so long that without a doubt her mother had orders to detain her upon sight and as much as she wanted to lie to herself the thought of going back to Oba and away from Lucijah made her stomach sour and her chest ache. “There is no way that I went out that far; if I did there would be a stream just---up---there,” the comment fell away from barely parted lips hitting the air so gently Nera wasn’t even sure if she had spoken or not. “So maybe I did go I little bit further out than what I had planned but that doesn’t mean the troops are even still in this area, they probably already moved on. There is no reason I shouldn’t go fishing.” Pushing the sole twisted braid of wound crimson hair over her rounded ear the petite built teenager approached the muddy shoreline and stared down into its clear depths. Translucent crystal water revealed the undisturbed sandy riverbed that teemed with small fish circling around each other nipping at the mossy growth and algae that collected on the rocks that littered the watery floor. Throwing a glance off to either side Nera lowered the leather pack from her shoulders onto the embankment with careful precision, there was absolutely no reason she shouldn’t take advantage of the plentiful situation before her, kneeling down onto the muddy shore the lithe-framed redhead crawled into the body of water so that she didn’t break the surface tension; the little beasts wouldn’t know what hit them.
Nera’s swim left the prentice feeling tired while the fish roast she had going over a small bonfire stirred a deep bellied hunger that made her insides contort with a dull pain, the only thing the youth could think to distract herself from the sensations that she felt was the urge to simply explore the area further. The familiarity of the region implored the redhead to retrace her steps that she had once taken when she first arrived in the rainforest. So much had happened in such a short length of time, in honesty it was astonishing, Lucijah, the escalating war, really it was sometimes too much to even fully comprehend but Nera did the best she could and kept moving forward, it was what her mother trained her to do yet here she was walking in her own footsteps, revisiting something that she knew for a fact she had already outgrown the need for. Kneeling down into the tangled uplift of roots Nera peered into the darkness of the warren that she had once used as shelter. Staring back multifaceted eyes glistened in the dim light of the crystal glows. “Essd be praised---- you’re still here, you poor little fella…how pathetic are you? Surely you haven’t been here this whole time.” The question hit the air tenderly causing the small beast to let out a breathy noise, in reply the Maglardilla cuddled closer to the lump of dried fish that occupied the den with him and deflated noticeably as if forfeiting his will to live. Lowering herself onto her belly Nera squirmed in closer to the golden-tinted insect. “Hey there, no need to get sulky. Remember me, little jinx? That fish was from me, remember? You cuddled me in the middle of the night, scared me half to death when I woke up, remember?” Cooing softly at the bleak critter the redheaded Oban simply laid on the ground in front of him while making gentle clicking noises against the roof of her mouth with her tongue.
A horned-head slowly rose while bejeweled eyes focused on the girl’s pointed face, he did remember her! She came back! Fuzzy mandibles shot open in what appeared to be an expression of pure shock and elation. Scrambling forward the Maglardilla let out a high-pitched squeal and pushed its way right into Nera’s face, nuzzling the side of its head against her exposed neck and shoulders. Happy wet gurgles erupted from the small hard-shelled beast as it pushed itself further against the masculine-figured prentice. “Hey there--- hey, it’s okay, calm down you ninny. I’m glad to see you too,” Wrapping her arms around the excited lump Nera eased her way back out of the warren and reclined against the side of the toppled over tree. “I’m not going to leave you again, little jinx. I think it is high time you had some good luck.” Squealing happily and nibbling along her forearm in loving playful bites the insect agreed and the two were off to the collect the roasted fish and back to the nest the girl called home.
[ 1,451 words ]
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:46 am
[ Branded and Shattered: The Capture ]
[ As much as I really wanted to make this a lengthy post I just can’t find it in myself to do so ]
Rolling the ball a few feet away from her the tan skinned Oban smirked brightly as the golden-shelled Maglardilla wiggled excitedly and let out a series of gurgles and shrill chirps as he scurried to fetch the plaything. All morning the pair had been practicing the new trick of pushing the toy along the platform just outside of the nest then scooping it up with his mandibles and returning it to his owner, at some point learning the trick had become more fun than taxing and Nera fully enjoyed watching the little bug bumble over the ball and prod at it excitedly before bring it back to her. Lucijah had explained to the youth time and time again that while she was away it was of the utmost importance to remain hidden in the nest she provided and if possible to do so silently, Nera however had never learned how to do anything in a hushed manner especially something she considered fun. Cheering loudly for Jinx each time he fetched successfully the redhead drowned out the ambient sounds of wildlife within the rainforest with her jubilant outcries until finally the golden insect dropped the ball in front of the girl and laid on top of it to prevent her from tossing it again.
The remainder of the day went at is often did, slowly but filled with moments of comfort yet longing for the homecoming of her twilight-skinned lover. Nightfall descended upon Jauhar bringing with it a briskness that kept along the vines and settled in the woodworking of the nest only to be warded away by the flames of the fire pit and the furred blankets that donned the home, a stew of fish meat, hearty-nuts and mushrooms comprised the lean-figured Oban’s dinner before she stoked the hearth and pulled her favorite blanket near the heat before cocooning herself in its folds for slumber.
“Filthy desert scum.” the words jarringly cut through Nera’s sleep laden dream cloak and threw the youth into the cold reality of the situation that was developing suddenly around her. Strong hands found themselves wrapped around Nera’s slender neck and the full weight of his muscled frame pressed down on her abdomen completely severing air flow into her lungs, evoking complete and utter panic in the redhead. Large thumbs pressed firmly into the girl’s windpipe before jerking away with a small yelp. Jinx hissed loudly at his owner’s attacker while ramming his horn repeatedly into the man’s ribcage, snatching the beast up by the singular antler on his head the leaf-earthling snarled back at the creature and before hurling it off to the side.
“Leave him alone! Don’t hurt him!” Nera found herself hoarsely screeching at the man before finding a fist smashing into her face, the feeling of her lip splitting against her teeth sent heated waves of shock coursing to the back of her skull. In the darkness of the nest from the glow of the flames caught the predatory glint of ivory, weakness, glorious female weakness.
“You don’t want me to hurt it, huh,” he scoffed loud and took a fistful of short red locks. “You belong to me now and you’ll do as I say!” Yanking on her hair the man forced Nera into a standing position before grabbing her arms and forcing her limbs behind her back and binding them with a rough braided vine.
[ 565 words ]
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:48 am
[ Branded and Shattered: The Torture ]
Due to sensitive content this solo has a trigger warning which include violence, abuse, and rape, please, please read with caution.
[ 745 words ]
[ total word count for part one & two: 1290 ]
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 10:39 pm
[ Tis the Season: There and Back Again an Oban Holiday ]
Winter had descended upon Tendaji, most people in the various regions had been caught off guard and for one boyish Oban the snow that settled like a downy quilt in the rainforest of Jauhar brought about a turn of events that she never believed would occur willingly; her return home--- to her mother. Lucijah had explained that staying in their make-shift nest during the cold-snap would be dangerous and attempting to bring the redhead Oban back to her village would be even more of a challenge and visa-versa, for the time being the two came to an agreement. First thaw would signal for their lover’s hiatus to come to an end, they would meet up back at their little treetop bungalow and begin anew, the winter was just too brutal to wager each other’s lives for the sake of being within close proximity. It still hurt and plenty of tears were shed when they both said goodbye but knowing it was just for the winter made the ache more tolerable.
The red hue of the desert comforted the mauled prentice, her sandals protected her scarred soles and the stiffness in her feet and calves seemed to lessen the further she ventured across the familiar heated sands. Traveling the distance that bridged her from the capital city took longer than the lean-figured youth recalled, it was as if the journey seemed longer, more arduous; like the very ground beneath her feet was purposely opposing her. “Jinx, I have no idea how my mother will receive you. I promise I won’t let her hurt you though but you must try to behave. Super behave, understood. I know, you’re a good boy most of the time but you really have to work on not making noises. I was never allowed to have a pet as a child that was the one thing she never let me get away with. If she tries anything I will just find a kennel for you. Is that okay, Jinxie?” Nera’s tone was soft, listless, reaching up to her neck the girl gave the small insect a scratch on his jaw and his frothing mandibles chittered noiselessly while taking the digit into his mouth and rolling it against the fuzzy false-mouth he had there. The love nibbles reassured the thinly built prentice that her companion fully understood what she was asking of him. He was high-strung, excitable, and dopy it wasn’t his fault or hers for the outbursts that he normally displayed, truly it was just his nature but he was her responsibility and as such she needed to prepare him for what she expected from him.
Fingertips rested just inches away from the ornately carved door that separated her from where she figured her mother would surely be, in the early evenings just before the temperature plunged into a savage chill General Talia normally would reside within one of the local taverns that specialized in catering to the soldiers of the city. Oxygen inflated constricted lungs pinning the organ heavily against the inner workings of protective ridges of bone, the deep breath of air steadied her nerves and with a deep exhale Nera pushed the door open and peered inside the well-lit brewery-den. Pillows lined the sides of one of the far walls with small, low-built tables mounted into the floor, across from what was apparently the lounging area a high-topped counter with elegant no-back stools horseshoed around what appeared to be the centralized libation distribution area. Seven men all wearing Oban armor with various rank knots and specialized weaponry sat there at the bar, some were rowdy and hammered their fists along the stone countertop while guzzling tankards of spiced ale, others seemed more subdued and casually took pulls from their canters of liquid while engaging in light conversation. One figure however stood out from the men, a helmet sat in the stool next to the long-haired figure as if silently claiming it or perhaps signaling for required space, for a moment Nera almost didn’t recognize the person until she turned her head and Nera caught sight of the woman’s regal profile. Cheekbones sharp enough to cut through obsidian with a petite pointed nose and a calm, neutral expression set on the other’s face instantly assured the youth that the woman with long-flowing crimson hair was indeed her mother. Never in her life had she expected her mother to grow her hair out, especially in such a short period of time, normally General Talia kept her red-mane cropped and slicked back the very picture of what was expected from a military woman. Yet here she was, casually dressed in uniform with the least amount of armor required of her while in service, her weapon sheathed on her hip with cascading tresses of red running the length of her back loosely knotted at the end. Niiribi root, no doubt.
“Mom,” the words tumbled awkwardly away from the girl and the moment they hit the air the tavern’s noise level dropped to near nonexistent. Several men tensed while one even went so far as to pull himself into a standing position to have a better look at the intruder. “I made it home, mommy.” The wet crack of her voice startled not only General Talia and the men around her but also the speaker. A small hand reached up to touch her lips as if the action would ease the shock of hearing the wavering emotion come from her mouth, pale pink hues abruptly felt prickles of stinging moisture gathering upon her bottom eyelashes and threatening to spill. Silence, complete, utter silence crept into the mead-hall, sounds of slight shifting and the ambient shuffle of workers continuing on in the backrooms were the only noises that fell upon Nera’s rounded ears. This was a mistake. Issd be saved it was a mistake to come back!
Standing from the sleek chair the long-haired general turned to face her daughter, the normally dank expression that she wore seemed to be scrubbed away by the torrent of feelings that washed over her and flooded into her face. Briskly Talia walked towards the smaller-female, Nera wasn’t certain if her mother was going to strike her across the face or yell at her point blank but when strong arms enveloped her into a crushing hug the prentice felt her heart explode against her ribs once again and heat surface to her eyes then trickle down her cheeks. “Nerad be praised. All the Gods and Goddesses be praised!” Fisting a hand into short-red hair the woman smoothed her lips over the girl’s forehead and temple before just coiling closer and shoving her perfect nose against her daughter’s unruly tresses and deeply inhaling the scent that greeted her. “I knew you would be back, I knew that my Nera would make it back to me,” pulled back Talia wiped at her own eyes before barking towards the men at the counter. “Didn’t I? I said she would be back!” Grinning broadly the woman peered down at her dainty built child, she had lost weight yet built muscle in her shoulders and arms, Nera had always been fit especially around her middle but with just a quick glance it was easy to tell she had become accustom to utilizing different parts of her body while she was on her on in the wilds. “Come, sit with us. Let me get food and drink into you, tell me are you alright? Should we see a healer, Malik is a healer he can be of use. Can’t you Malik?” The words came out less matter-of-factly and more of a cold threat towards the particular individual, squinting at his leader the man gave a hurried nod while setting down his tankard, Nera however stopped him and waved off the attention.
“I’m alright,” she paused for just a moment before making her way over to the chair that held her mother’s helmet, moving it aside she claimed the spot and feebly laughed. “Well, better really. I was hurt… for a while but…its better now. I’m better now.” She gave a nod at her own words, her tone foreign to her mother’s ears. Ever since she was a small fiend Nera had spoken with the volume of a full grown man but now she was hushed, collected, oddly elegant with the regality that her new pitch formed. It was a sultry sweetness that the general never even believed her daughter could obtain if she tried. Worry formed over the features of not only Talia but of several of the men in her ranks, there was a lot to be interpreted from what she had said. Hardened soldiers knew exactly the sort of things that could happen to a girl during wartime and the way the prentice shifted at their gazes and failed so miserably to fasten on a wavering smile let little doubt in their minds at the ordeals she had faced on her own.
“You know what,” haphazardly stated one of the men to lessen the tension of the group. Clapping his hands together he forced the corner of his mouth into a jovial smirk that revealed rows of sharpened teeth. “Tis the season, we all should celebrate the return of Mistress Nera with a round of Soldier’s Gambit, how ‘bout it?” The question hung on the air for fraction of a breath before the men clamored together and pounded their fists on the stone surface and threw beseeching expression in Talia’s direction. A nod came from the tall, thinly-built redhead, signally her approval. In reply her present company roared with elation and praised Nera and her mother’s names. Soldier’s Gambit was something that the youth had heard of, it was a tradition among the Oban military members, stout mugs filled with drunken-spiced cider would be brought out accompanied with a large bowl filled with Menk. The small fishes normally kept as tranquil pets would be scooped from the bowl by hand from the drinker, slammed violently into the tankard startling the creature into trashing in the confines before being chugged down in a single gulp. It was an honor to be given the chance to swallow down one of the fish and even more impressive if one managed to keep it down, Nera truly didn’t appreciate the symbolism of the tradition but that wouldn’t stop the girl from joining in the folly.
Fisting the scaled beast into her cup was an easy task for the girl that mostly lived off fishing for the past few months, feeling the mug in her hand suddenly throttle in her grip however was startling, the more the menk attempted to break from the alcohol confines the richer the foamy froth of her cider became, mulled spice tickled her crooked nose as she released her grip on the lip of the canter and drew the contents up to her mouth and quickly took the liquid down her throat. Clutching at her neck Nera felt the need to swallow twice just to get the sensation of the flopping beast out of her mind, she had been afraid the creature would lodge itself in her mouth or gods forbid in her windpipe but the little fellow simply went down fighting all the way, viberating the insides of throat all the way down her belly where she felt it manically flailing more violently then suddenly stilled. It was sensational, a bit sadistic but completely extraordinary!
After what seemed like hours of drinking, bar games and eating until her stomach hurt Nera was relieved when her mother bid farewell to her company. Walking side by side the pair made their way towards their lush, inner-capitol home. The chill in the air had finally settled and a thin layer of frost covered archways, steps and the sides of buildings, normally it wasn’t cold enough for the icy breath to leave traces of its presences but now that winter had arrived everything seemed just a bit more harsh and frigid. “You know,” Talia began, her wine-red eyes flickering from the path they walked upon towards her daughter’s face. “I’ve not said one word about that creature on your back. May I ask about it or is that just some barbarian snack you saved for your travels?” A faint smile tugged at the corners of the older woman’s mouth yet reframed from spreading further until she heard her daughter’s explanation.
Staggering closer to her general mother Nera choked back a laugh. “Pet,” she blurted out then scrunched her eyes closed and laughed at how dumb her voice sounded in her ears. “I mean, his my pet. His name is Jinx, I know you don’t like animals,” she began before the woman beside her cut her off gently.
“I don’t dislike them. I just don’t see the point. Especially something like that, it’s not even fluffy,” Talia scoffed at the insect looped around her daughter’s narrow shoulders receiving a haughty expression from the beast and a waggle of clackers as if it was debating giving her a piece of its mind for the insult. “Moderately smart though, knows a good put down when it hears it. Anyhow,” waving off the line of thought she had found herself falling into she started over. “I always thought you deserved better pets. Something strong, fierce. It took me a long time but I found a Janarim breeder that met my criteria. I always knew you had a way with beasts. I didn’t want to nurture that part of you, I wanted you to be a swordswomen like me but you are the way you are. It took me a life-time to realize that, I’m so sorry that I forced you into the military, I’m sorry for a lot of things Nera.” Pushing fingertips through her pinned back hair Talia pulled the girl close to her again and shared what little body heat she had. “If you want, we can go there tonight, I was waiting until after you returned home from war to let you pick one out but you’ve already earned your choice, you’ve earned so very much and I am so proud of you.” Silence fell between the pair for just a moment before the older Oban continued on. “I’ve heard stories you know, about you. I also read reports that said you had been captured, I lost faith… then I lost the war, I’m not behind this new king, he has done nothing for me, for us as a nation. I still will fight for this land and our principals but I do not have to like the sovereign nor his reign. Obans are not soft, we are not cowards, he had no right to usurp the throne, he made us lose everything, even our way of life.” Gritting her teeth Talia fought with herself, alcohol loosened her tongue and made her quick to temper but she needed to reel those feelings in, now was not the time. “So, do you want to pick out your Janarim cub? The breeder is exquisite with how he raises them, it is a small selection but only the best. He should be there for a while yet.” Daftly Nera felt herself nodding while her face stretched so taught with a smile that she physically hurt and felt an ache settle in her jaw. Laughing at her daughter Talia gripped onto the prentice’s elbow and lead her in the direction that she sought.
Within moments the two arrived at a small dwelling with a fenced off exterior and what seemed to be a single story building around the back of the house. The two were greeted half way up the steps that lead to the main entryway, the man was curt but respectful in his own way, he took Nera and her mother into the stales where the smaller Janarim were kept, his studs lined one side of the hallway just before the weaning chamber the female beasts nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t unusual to keep the males the separate from the females yet Nera had wanted to see both lines of heritage. “There are only two in this litter old enough to be spent off, the others aren’t quite there yet.” He informed the pair as he opened open the pen where the two young Janarim rested. Both were large, especially for their age, one was a shade of sandy yellow, like undisturbed dunes while the other seemed more earth like granite or flint, both gorgeous in their own way. “You should wake them up, see which one takes to you more. At this age they are curious and tend to know what they are looking for in a master. Don’t be distraught if they ignore you or try to bite, we can break them of biting and force them to notice you if need be.”
Peeling Jinx from her body Nera handed the small golden insect over to her mother so that she could approach the two sleeping beasts. Lowering herself to the floor the boyish Oban prodded both of the cubs with the heels of her hands while focusing on their faces. The yellow one snapped awake in an instant, the light blue markings around his bright red eyes stood out the girl as he snarled and drew himself backwards away from her out stretched hand, the other, stirred slower and gave his massive head a sound shake once he realized that some lowly thing was touching his perfect face. He wanted to lash out, rip the throat from her body but he couldn’t move, he could only stare back into those gorgeous pink eyes. Thrashing his paws forward the one that had backed away bound towards the female that sat in front of he and his brother, what sort of creature did she think she was rousing him and his pack-mate from their slumber, didn’t the little female realize they were the males that they---they----stopping his line of thought the Janarim lowered himself and let out an enamored guttural musing. Whatever the little female was, she had to be his, her scent alone made the base of his skull buzz with elation and the intense expression on her beautiful face made his pulse rate spike. She had to be his. Crawling forward on their bellies the two Janarim offered themselves to Nera, gruff noises escaped them and their eyes roamed her face and her body in a way that made her feel empowered and important.
“I’m taking both,” it was a statement, not a request and at it the man laughed, guttural and hard. “What?”
“You can’t have both girl. I doubt your mother is willing to pay the price for the pair and besides a little thing like you wouldn’t know the first thing to taming two males, they don’t listen easy.” The insult was veiled with a polite fact as if that somehow made it less offensive. Balling her fists at her side Talia found herself on the cusp of assaulting the breeder but before she could even open her mouth Nera was snapped her fingers, the sound delicate yet command, wordlessly the two cubs lunged to their feet, confused for just a moment yet something in them knew exactly what the little female demanded of them.
“One, I deserve them, two do not speak your mind of my mother as if you know her and three, they already listen to me without me need to say a damned word. We’re taking them. Essid and Amir are their names and they now belong to me.” Pulling herself into a standing position Nera smirked venomously towards the man while directing the two cubs to come in front of her and stand their ground. Snarling and flailing their bludgeon like tails warningly in the air the pair made it very clear they made their choice in whom they wanted.
“Spoken like a true Oban,” offering a sneer like smile of her own Talia joined in. “You heard her, we are taking them. No negotiation, I will pay the flat rate that we had agreed upon for both plus a gracious bonus for your time and service.” With that said the woman turned to her daughter and her new pets as she held Jinx in her arms. “I do believe it is time for us to head home, I have a spot prepared for your beasts, let us go.” The comment was final and needed no furthering. Reaching down Nera stroked both of the Janarims faces and backs receiving delighted noises from the duo before she turned and followed suit after her mother. It was good to be home for the holidays.
[ 3,465 words ]
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:50 am
[ Class Quest ]
The unseasonal desert rains had long since come and gone, the thin arid mornings were once again replaced with the gentle warmth of night’s frigid veil being removed by the rising sun. Many Obans remained in their beds until just a few hours longer when the heat of the day began to grow stiffing and unbearable, when the sheets of their beds grafted to their skin and the dampness of their bodies roused them unpleasantly from the embers of slumber into the scorch of reality. Then there were those that were productive, the ones that were already out enjoying the placid dawn; starting their day off properly and acclimating to the growing heat accordingly. Nera fell somewhere in between the two types of desert dwellers, long limbs remained still while bright pink hues combed the woodworking of the ceiling directly above her bed as if looking for something of moderate interest. Despite logic gnawing at the girl telling her to pull herself from the confines of her lavish cot took backseat to the comfort she felt basking between Amir and Essid’s strong, scaled bodies. Neither Janarim were sleeping though, the pair simply relaxed against their beloved in a vain effort to help her unwind, throughout the night she awoke mutely screaming or trembling like a cub lost in the dunes. Steady hands idly played at memorizing the subtle differences between the males’ natural leather plates, Amir the smaller of the brothers was less pliable under her thin digits whereas Essid’s held a silken waxy texture that she couldn’t help but relish adoringly.
“Nera,” Talia’s voice cut through the gloom of her daughter’s bedchamber snapping the young-adult from the dazed stupor. Tearing her gaze away from the craftsmanship of her ceiling the redhead forced her eyes to seek out the shape of her mother standing in her doorway. Cascading locks of crimson neatly slicked back and knotted near the end caught Nera’s attention first due to the fact the dim glow of morning sun filtered through the hallway catching the tresses illuminating the older woman’s hair like an ablaze wildfire, immediately though the prentice’s gaze proceeded to soak in the colored plume of smoke that haloed around her mother’s head. Thick floral scents mixed with fruits merged together then exploded as Talia took a long-pull from the hooked pipe then exhaled through her nose; ribbons and ghostly wisps coiled through her nostrils and rushed to exit from her lungs as she spoke with a bit more volume but the same amount of gentleness towards her child. “My lovely, it’s time for me to take the beasts to the veterinarian, I’ve left you breakfast in the sitting room as well as heated some water for a bath if you desire it.” Pausing for a long moment General Talia shifted her weight from foot to foot, rolling her shoulders along the archway of the doorframe before pushing off against it and padding into the room nonthreateningly. A large sandy head jerked up questioningly at the entrance of the woman and a neutral petite groan formed in the base of his throat in enquiry.
Patting the length of his spine Nera soothed the smaller male, letting him know the woman meant no harm and she was allowed to share their living space. “I had forgotten all about that,” a small sigh tumbled away from the girl’s pouty lips, forcing herself upright the lean-figured youth trudged out between the silken sheets and feathery-soft blanket that covered her nearly-bare physique; everything was a blur and the serenity that she had once felt drained away leaving the prentice feeling uneasy and hollow. “Thank you for thinking about me, I will bath right away. Please be careful with the boys, if they give you any trouble just tug their ears a few times.” Casting a glance towards both Janarim Nera wordlessly gestured to the pair signaling for them to stand at attention and follow her mother. In response the older woman took another deep pull from her water-pipe before turning in place with both creatures at her heels; sweet-scented smoke trailed from the contour of the General’s perfectly sculpted nose and upwardly caressed her high-set cheekbones as it drifted over her head and left a thick colored trail to the front door. Talia paused for a just a moment after pulling the door inward to spare a half-smirk towards her daughter and a subtle nod of encouragement before turning to leave her child alone for the first time since she returned home from the war.
“Well this is going to fun,” Nera mused, her pouty mouth curved into tight-lipped grin, one that was forced rather than sincere as if the action would trick her into believing the lie she was attempting to pacify herself with. The effort to distract herself was more than a vain struggle; thin fingertips toyed with the length of her braid while the dark-skinned youth found herself pacing up and down the hallway; the next course of action undecided but increasingly needed as an interruption from the growing swelter that radiated from the confines of her lower chest and began to control the rapid shallow breaths she pulled in desperately through her agape mouth. “I have a bath and breakfast awaiting me; I should probably tend to those before they grow cold. Mother shouldn’t be very long before returning. Essd grant me strength, I don’t know what to do with myself now that I have some free time on my hands.” Again Nera found herself pacing the length of the hallway, a growing unease washing over her petite yet muscled form. The heady scent of sweetened smoke lingering in the confines of the air made it impossible for the prentice to escape the repetitive movements until the fragrance completely dissipated leaving her without the olfactory escape she subconsciously clung to desperately. Nera hated to admit it to herself but she was all too aware of how fragile she felt without the strength of her beast next to her, the raw power from their beings fueled her confidence and kept her balanced despite the lack of internal stability her resolve contributed on its own. “Regardless,” forcefully interjected the redhead from her own internal admittance. What little pride she had left pleaded for her to push past the frailty that manipulated her emotions and governed over her actions; the weakness that she felt and the darkness that clouded her thoughts surely were only temporary predicaments, ones that she would overcome if she simply tried harder to cope. “Right, a bath first then--- hm, I wonder. Jinx? Jinxie! Lemme know where you’re at buddy.”
Over the course of the last few weeks with the constant down pour and near flooding the little golden Maglardilla had found himself enjoying staying in the rafters of the house and nesting between the crawl spaces between the walls, the normally clingy insect’s absence did not go without notice and even though it stung for him to show some signs of independence the fact that Jinx made it a habit to check in with his owner relieved the youth considerably; even if it wasn’t as often enough as she would have liked. Pointed nubs hammered away somewhere above head denoting the shiny-bug’s location followed suit but a high-pitched shriek of delight that quickly trailed off into muffled scraping noises and barely noticeably thuds. Sighing appreciatively Nera gave her head a shake as she made her way towards the central bathing chamber that was located across the manor on the first-subterranean level completely separated from the rest of the compound save for the lone hallway that connected it to the main building. Small bare feet glided across the smooth surface of the flooring before pausing as she came to the set of stairs that lead down into the bathing chamber; the heat from the pool below radiated upward warming the bottoms of her scarred soles while a thin mist tickled the lowest part of her ankles making her bronzed-skin prickle ever so slightly. The next few moments seemed to dissipate, loose clothing littered the floor near the lip of the bathing pond and various oils gleamed on the surface of the water, Nera wasn’t sure how quickly she had rushed down the stairwell to meet the heated water or if she carelessly ripped the thin fabric of her garments while tugging them off in opposing directions; the only thing that mattered to the youth was the cleansing liquid submerging her lean-figure up to her neck. Water was her safe place. It was where she could relax, uncoil muscles that she hadn’t known were tense while simply enjoying the feeling of having filth purged off of her frame. Water had been the constant source of happiness and survival while she had been in the wilds of Jauhar, stretching out the full length of her height Nera chuckled to herself while palming a handful of water that danced with a gradient of scented colors before letting the immiscible liquids coat her digits as it escaped her grasp effortlessly.
“I miss you,” the words bubbled up from the back of her mind as images of her lover fondly played out in her head. “Lucijah.” Bright pink hues squeezed shut all too tightly for a moment; even though the shifter was a source of comfort to the girl their bittersweet parting left her feeling anxious and ashamed. “If we had just tried harder.” Nera reasoned with herself, her voice soft yet tight in her throat. “We gave up to easily. The winter was harsh but----“ she trailed off, sinking lower into the heated water and gurgling loudly with annoyance. “It was harsh and it would have killed us, you prideful s**t.” Glowering at herself the redhead splashed at the surface of the water sending an arch into the center of the pool. She felt incompetent and weak, she was well aware that surviving with Lucijah was something that neither prentice was capable of, even with each other to rely on the lack of food alone would have been enough to send them both to an early grave much less the fact the nest they resided in was susceptible to exposer. Why did it upset her so much though? “Because---,” she began. “You would have rather of died in her arms than think she might not come back to you once spring arrived.” It was the truth. Their survival even if they had prepared properly would have been taxing on the pair but she had been willing to take that risk for just a moment before she and Lucijah had agreed to part ways. The memory was seared into her being; the shifter’s skin held a near purple hue from the cold and her full lips had been pulled tight as her teeth chattered repeatedly despite her attempts to cease the motion. It had been in that moment that Nera decided that Lucijah’s wellbeing was more important than her pride and her happiness. Sighing deeply Nera pushed away from the side of the bath and stood, her dark statuesque body glistened like polished marble and her wet red hair clung wildly to her damp skin making her seem fiery and untamed but the hollow expression on her face shattered the poetry that was her outward appearance. “It’s almost spring and I can barely find the strength to leave the house, how am I supposed to find you again, how? I don’t want to go back out there, not right now but I am so scared you aren’t even going to come looking for me. You wouldn’t do that to me would you, darkling-mine? How can I doubt you like this? The moment I walked away from you I doubted us, I doubted everything we had, everything we might have had, if you give me another season I will be strong enough to make it work. To make us work. Just prove to me this was the right choice star-born, please be stronger than me and make it work this time.”
Draining the pool and redressing came as a blur, normally bathing settled her nerves but for some reason the happy thoughts of her lover eluded her and simply made her analyze aspects of her emotions she hadn’t even realized existed. They had tried. They had both been strong and intelligent but it hadn’t been enough to make things work on their own, in truth they were just children playing at being adults and that was exactly what pained her so much. She had wanted to be independent so badly that she was reckless and quite possibly ruined a chance at starting her own life. Not only was that thought alone horrible but the fact that the person that she had grown to adore, the person that she wanted to spend that life with might not even bother to find her, she didn’t want to think that it was just summer love, some experience for her to reflect on fondly. It killed her inside knowing that she doubted the woman she cared for but it hurt even more knowing that her doubt was founded in logical reasoning.
Toweling her hair dry Nera made her way towards the sitting room, the fabric of the cloth absorbed the moisture from her unruly mane and provided a cooling dampness against the base of her neck as the heat from the waking desert aggressively asserted dominancy over the residency. “You’re gonna hard boil up there Jinx.” Nera called out into the vacant room that was lined with large seating pillows, various hosed smoking pots and canters of fermented beverages expertly placed in cutaway shelves for added living space. In reply a soft thud echoed out and the prentice couldn’t help but scoff with amusement. He was such a ditzy creature but she loved him anyway. Throwing a glance around the room Nera stopped deftly on her heels which earned her a twinge of pain from both feet and a dull throbbing to radiate up the length of her cnemis on both sides. A wince played at the corners of her lips before she forced her expression to remain placid, lowering herself onto one of the cushions the youth relaxed her legs and feet before focusing on the warming stones that held her breakfast. The rounded disks of heated slate contained in a small pit caught her attention for some unknown reason before she pulled her gaze away from the rocks and took notice of what her mother prepared for her meal. A small kettle of Niiribi tea rested off to the side of the dining tray highlighting the platter that contained roasted meats, finely sliced, paired with a bowl of hot cereal, the porridge was thickened with milk and a sweetened sap that the girl favored and lastly two eggs dotted either corner of the plate in what Nera assumed was her mother’s attempt at an esthetically pleasing presentation. Thin fingers plucked a sliver of red meat from the tray, the hot moisture seared her digits and instantly Nera was backpedaling across the room like a feral animal, wide-eyed and panicking.
“Essd.” She cursed while sucking on the fingertip that predominately stung the worse, beads of perspiration collected on the girl’s forehead and above her top lip as she attempted to settle her erratic heartbeat. The wave of unease slammed against Nera, gripping her by the ribs and forcing the air from her lungs brutally. Only occasionally did the redhead find herself physically immobilized by the horrors that dwelled just below the surface of her skin, nightmarish memories that reoccurred behind her eyelids when she blinked or lay in the suffocating darkness of her room at night. It never stopped, some days were better than others but generally the sensation of dread never fully evaporated, only when she was with Lucijah did she feel more at ease and once she was gone she found solitude in the power that her Janarim offered her. A vicious comfort that proved enough to keep the rising tide of illogical panic at bay. He couldn’t hurt her anymore but that didn’t lessen the pain that he already caused. Nothing would ever fix what damage he brought to her. A hand went to her stomach and idly caressed the flat abdominal walls it found there, at least that had been one blessing bestowed upon her, nothing grew from the emptiness that her torturer had created within her. “At least I have that. I would kill myself if I actually had gotten pregnant.” It wasn’t an exaggeration but it also wasn’t a topic she wanted to think about either. It was in a box in her head labeled ‘what if’, a pile of questions and scenarios that normally fluttered into her thoughts when she was at her most vulnerable, in the darkness with sleep eluding her. So many dark thoughts passed through her synapsis that even when she managed to succumb to slumber the thoughts still played out in her dreams making her wonder if she would ever have any reprieve whatsoever.
Plucking her burnt finger from her mouth Nera gave a breathy sigh, she was attempting to reason with herself, to muster strength that she knew that she no longer possessed. Rocking back and forth were she sat Nera figuratively tittered back and forth on the cusp of opening sobbing and a violent fit of pure frustration. The next set of actions manifested in a rush driven by automation, weak-kneed the girl shot up from where she lay prone and dashed from the sitting room down a long hallway and into the confines of her bedroom, tear filled eyes limited the redheaded Oban’s vision as she dove into her bed and coiled around the limbless pink childhood plushy named Mister Google. Slim hands pushed the soft creature into her face while she shrieked into the plump stuffing that made up his pudgy belly. “It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! If I had just fought him! But I didn’t! I’m a failure!” Nera was in hysterics, the words tore away from her throat and every time her pitch rose she wince and whimpered out of fear of being punished by the Leaf-Earthling for her disobedience. Ever since her return to Lucijah the girl couldn’t help but be haunted by the events that happened to her during her capture. Being tortured and abused, branded and broken left Nera a shell of her former self, prior to the incident she had been loud, rambunctious but now she was soft-spoken, oddly-observant, not only of her surroundings but of others, even herself. Yet nothing was ever gained by the scrutiny, her thought process wouldn’t allow it. Just like with her feelings of guilt with abandoning Jauhar and her lover Nera felt shame and disgust for what happened to her at the hands of her captor. She blamed herself instead of accepting that it wasn’t her fault, that in no way was she responsible for what had happened to her and yet the man’s words and actions carved liability into her very bones, no matter how she attempted to view it, she was the victim that deserved everything that she received and no amount of reasoning would make her think otherwise.
The mixture of emotions that the girl felt coupled with exhaustion overtook her trembling form sending her into an uneasy sleep that lasted for only a few brief hours. Midday heat struck the youth roughly across the face and chest as she rose to her feet. Pink hues squinted and adjusted accordingly to the light filtering into her room. “Breakfa--- dammit.” Gnashing her teeth together Nera smoothed out her hair while she headed back towards the sitting room to clean up the untouched remains of her forgotten meal. The last thing she wanted was to worry her mother, padding into the room Nera made quick work of clearing the tray away, here and there she snacked on the still warm meats and idly broke the yoke of the eggs and licked the yellow goo from her fingertips, hunger gnawed at the back of her stomach but she suppressed it with what few morsels she enjoyed before throwing the rest away. Pouring herself a cup of the herbal tea Nera made her way back into the sitting room just as she heard the front door open immediately followed by General Talia letting her presence known, without realizing how tense the noise made her Nera relaxed the moment her mother called out to her and the sound of eight paws padding on the smooth tiles of the floor hit her rounded ears. The scent of anxiety still hung heavily in the air and both Essid and Amir whirred in the backs of their throats as they sought out their beloved with urgency, the sandy colored Amir checked the bedchamber first while Essid simply followed his snout and tracked the girl to one of the backrooms. Moments later the smaller of the two males peered around the archway of the door and hung his head dejectedly at being bested by his brother, regardless one of them had found her and the heady aroma she produced eased his knotted muscled and caused his claws to retract ever so slightly. “Well, well, look at my boys, how did you two do?”
As if waiting for the question Talia made her presents known by entering into the sitting room carrying a small box that smelled heavily of sweets. “They’re beasts. Healthy ones though,” a grin tugged at the older woman’s lips as she sat the parcel down near where her daughter sat and eased onto the floor beside her. Reaching over Talia trailed her fingertips along the girl’s jaw then up her bangs before brushing them to the side so that her gaze was unhindered by the loose tresses. “C’mer, everything is going to be okay. You’re so strong.” Strong, slender arms encircled Nera’s shoulders and the longhaired Oban pulled her into a tight embrace. For a moment Nera wanted to shove the older woman away but instead she found herself clinging onto the woman as if she were a tether keeping her fastened to what little sanity she felt she had left.
“You’re getting pretty good at this motherly stuff.” Nera teased while she nuzzled her mother’s arm and dug her fingertips into the fabric of her shirt. Talia chortled dryly and Nera felt her shrug.
“It took me a life time to realize I was capable of being both a solider and a mother. I’ve lost a lot of battles with you, my darling but I think I know who is going to win this war.” Pulling back the General swept her thumb over swollen eyelids and put on a brave face for her daughter.
“I think this is the first time that you’ve ever been behind a peaceful treaty.” Repositioning herself Nera offered an expression that was akin to a smile towards the other Oban. In reply Talia rolled her wine-red eyes and pulled the box that she had set to the side and placed it in front of the girl, removing the lid the woman reached inside to pull out a round pastry then quickly shoved it into Nera’s mouth before the prentice had a moment to argue.
“You’re lucky I love you, if anyone else made a treaty joke right now I would punch them in the throat.” Smirking broadly Talia offered a wink before waiting for her daughter to reply in some sarcastic way but instead the girl giggled and happily chewed on the confection before leaning against the older woman and idly petting both Janarim in alternating patterns.
“I love you too.”
[ 3,964 words ]
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