Welcome to Gaia! ::

Marael fell slightly behind Ichnel's long stride, but said nothing. She kept glancing back to the humans to make sure they hadn't lost anyone yet. As they went through the village, there were many stares but soon they were nearing the clearing. Marael shifted slightly as the magic in the area nearly doubled, making her skin tingle. She looked around the group in surprise. She'd felt the magic in the humans, but was still surprised. This was going to be an interesting afternoon.

Suddenly Ichnel stopped, and Marael, who was directly behind him, nearly ran into the dark elf. She caught herself and quickly took a step backwards and slightly to the side, regaining her balance. Along with Ichnel and Emmia, Marael bowed equally low. She didn't know this particular Elder, but most of ones around her home were rather uptight about "youngsters" showing the proper respect. It was instinct to bow while in their presence.

Jao quickly dropped to one knee, bowing his head to show respect. He wasn't sure of Bredian customs so it was safest to present himself as humble as possible, keeping his now light orange eyes fastened to the forest floor where he wouldn't mistakenly make a sign of disrespect.
The scent of magick hung cloyingly in the back of the dark elf's throat as he waited for permission to speak. Suprisingly, the strongest source of it seemed to be coming from the humans; especially that of Earth.
What potential they hold, he thought to himself. He didn't recognize the familiar feel of magick that lay in healing like his own, but perhaps he could help the young students master their own elements.
If I'm allowed to even stay...

((Gwah I can't stand waiting for Ammon's bio to be put up anymore so I'm going to go ahead and post with him. I can delete this if it's a problem Destiny >.<))

The Shalodian Elder lay dying. The attendants bustled around him, smoothing the sheets or straightening books, but they assumed this busy and purposeful manner because they had no way of helping him. For one with the disease that wracked the Elder's body, there was no help. The sickness had progressed too much; it beyond even the most elite of the healers' powers.
A young elf slept propped up in a chair beside the Elder's bed, his burnt black hair swept around his pale face like a shawl. Loosley, he held one of the Elder's sickly, wrinkled hands in his own. The contrast in the health that seemed to ooze from the younger elf's skin to the dying elf's palid coloring was stark. The Elder was going to die, and everyone knew it.
"Jao..." The Elder muttered. The young man startled awake.
"Elder? Can you hear me?" He rasped. Sleep deprivation had sapped him of the strength to speak louder. He'd sat beside the Elder for a week straight, catching only minutes of sleep at a time.
"Jao?"
The elf's heart sank. "No Elder. It's me, Ammon."
"Where is Jao?" The Elder murmurred.
"He's... He's not here." His eyes narrowed. If he were he could have healed the Elder. He could have sacrificed his worthless life for their beloved Elder.
"Then... Then you must do something for me."
Ammon leaned closer. "Yes? What is it, Elder?"
"You need... to bring him home. Jao must assume responsibility of the village." The Elder whispered. Ammon's red eyes widened.
"Do you mean..."
"...Yes. Jao must take over for me."
A deep pounding pulsed through Ammon's ears as his blood turned so hot it felt cold. Jao?! The Shalondian traitor?!
"But... Surely not...." He started.
"I have made my deciscion." The Elder interupted him. "Do as I say."
Ammon dropped his head in resignation.
"Yes... Father."

Marael straightened and looked at the Elder, surprised. He sounded so casual! She raised an eyebrow as she saw him gazing appreciatiavely at the human girls. Definitely not the kind of upright Elders she was used to! She smiled to herself at his joke about his age.

After looking around at the nervous humans she decided to start the introductions. She nodded to him.

"I am Maraelia Dawn Rivka, from Wistia, Eld-...uh, Caranthir." She stumbled, feeling the need to bow again. She shook her head and stayed upright. If he wanted informal, then she should respect his wishes. Gabe slipped from the back of the group to sit like a silent shadow next to her, leaning against her leg comfortingly. She felt rather foolish. The Elder wanted to see the humans, not her. Well, someone has to lead. She thought, fighting not to fidget. She was not really a crowds person.

(('... but they were a necessary evil.' Lol, I love that! xd ))

Emmia smiled brightly at the Elser's replies and laughed a little at his joking comments. It seemed that both Caranthir and herself shared a common disliked for formalities, though Emmia felt it would have been disrespectful if she hadn't shown, at least, the effort to bow to her superior. Either way, she stood upright again and listened to the rest of his words with a grin on her face. She did, however, notice his prolonged examination of the human girls. Even if she pretended she hadn't seen, it still bothered her a tiny bit. She was starting to realize how protective she was of them. Like they were her and the other elves' responsibility now, whether or not they could defend themselves.
But Emmia could remember a day not too long ago when this very Elder had taken his sweet time, gazing at her own visage. She shook of the memory and looked around at the humans, trying to determine their reaction to him.
She noticed the one called Terra, who seemed to be trying to hide.
"Come on, now. He won't bite, I promise." she murmured, winking at the girl while gently nudging her forward.

Terra turned to cast Emmia a pleading look, trying to explain her embarassment through her eyes. It was then that she wished most to have the elves' mood-sensitive eyes. But alas, her look was wasted, for she had already stepped forward and was now in perfect view of the Elder before them. Great. Now to introduce herself.
"And... I'm Terra." she said softly in her rich, musical voice. "It's very nice to meet someone of such importance here. Bredia really is lovely, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that our stay here thus far has been wonderful. Your people are all very kind and the land is beautiful." she said, unable to stop herself from rambling on. Managing to shut herself up, she proceded to smile kindly while tucking back some loose strands of her wispy caramel colored hair.
It was then that Noren took it upon himself to make his presence known. He had been standing silently next to Terra up until this point and was now getting bored of all this talk that meant nothing to him. Getting impatient, he started to paw at Terra's exposed legs and made a sort of gruff yelping noise in his throat. Green and icy blue irises connected once more as Terra looked down at the great white wolf in annoyance and noticed the shallow claw marks he had just left on her tan skin.
"Oh, right, and this... is Noren. I'm not sure where he came from, but when we got here, he kind of... found me. And hasn't left my side since." she added. As Terra explained, Noren looked back at Caranthir, his tail swishing against his human girl while his crystal eyes met with the Elder's.

Raizer watched the human Terra ramble on about the village and smiled as she reminded him of his mother but his eyes quickly changed to black as the memory brought back the pain of her loss, he quickly bowed his head in a hopes that nobody else would notice.

He regained himself and forced his eyes back to their original green as Jao introduced himself,he was as taken aback as everybody else by the fact that he was of Shalodian decent seeing as they normally kept to themselves and certainly never found themselves with a group who was clearly not of Shalodia, but he ignored the thought he doesn't even look Shalodian, this is going to be an interesting day he mused to himself.

Finally after Jao had finished his introductions Raizer stepped forward "I am Raizer Hunter of Graensia" he said only just managing to stop himself from bowing again "and can I say it is very much a pleasure and an honour to finally meet and Elder who doesn't like formalities" he finished smiling and taking a step back.

Caranthir couldn't help but laugh merrily after all the introductions. What fascinating people they were!

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Marael. *Tae o vasaji os os caes eil shi shaer. Os cysti air os cysti," he said with a nod in her direction.

When the young human male introduced himself, he made an elegant bow that Caranthir was surprised one of his age could pull off. If he remembered correctly, humans lived for a tenth as long as the elves, which practically made this young man before him an infant by his race's standards. The Elder bowed his head in acknowledgment.

The human girl front of him, Terra, was most definitely that of Earth. With all the raw magick pouring out from her, Caranthir wouldn't be surprised if a miniature forest would start to grow around her.

"Hmm....if Terra's trained right, I'd be willing to bet she'd even Ichnel a run for his time," he thought.

Out loud he said," There's no need to be nervous, dear. I'm glad you enjoy our home. And as for you, Noren, you keep on protecting your human." He smiled at the wolf.

He'd been fairly surprised that Jao was of Shalondain descent. He let his eyes cooly glance over the raven haired elf. The Elder was willing to give him the benifit of the doubt, but, the treachery of the Shalondian elves was well known and not based on just prejudice. Shalondians were experts in deciet, vengeance, and violence. Caranthir knew not to completely judge Jao by his parentage, but until the young male proved himself worthy of trust, the Elder would not give it freely.
So as not to offend Jao, he nodded and gave Ichnel a look that said Watch this one.

Caranthir laughed outright during Raizer's introduction. What pleasant fellow!

"Yes, formalities are rather bothersome, but needed." he agreed. He looked over the group and nodded. They would do.

"Now I'm supposing that you're all wondering why I called you here, formalities aside," Caranthir said.




((*May you partake of our hearth and be well. Our home is your home))

There are no such things as coincidence.