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 Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:45 pm
Darke SaysVS 3 Erlkin in Finding Snow: Part 2 - Done!
While sitting at home doing absolutely nothing, Darke wonders if Mae has ever seen real snow. When he admits that he hasn't, the two set off on a quest to see real god-given snow fall!
We ran into some strangely vicious fish, but no snow. And since the weather will be warming up soon, I don't imagine we'll find any this year. I mean, there's always next year, but that's forever away! I was excited to see some now... My only hope of seeing any is to get to Aisko... But it is pretty far away, and Mae is getting heavier every day... How will I ever make it? Results: 2 Victories, 1 Loss!
Words: 1138
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:20 pm
Darke SaysAdventure in The Citadel's Library - Done!
Darke grudgingly decided to follow Mae to the huge library in Ashen City. The only reason he's tagging along is because Mae assures him it will help them later in Aisko...
It's kind of a chore, really. I have no use for libraries, because I can't read to start with. But I do so much hate to leave Mae by himself, and I know he's also more comfortable when I'm around. I tagged along and perused the shelves while he hunted for some Aiskalan knowledge. Believe me, I was surprised when he actually found something useful! A map! A map for Aisko... Now, maybe he'll have more of a reason to venture there with me... Especially if there's treasure involved! Results: Mae obtained Icy Treasure Map
Words: 802
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:35 am
Darke SaysAdventure in Herb Hunting - Done!
Mae read of a mysterious and powerful herb that grows near Lake Tyluafel. Curious of its properties, he heads off in search of it. Naturally, Darke joins him.
I know it's really just an excuse to get us out of the house. But that's fine by me. I do bore easily, so the prospect of a type of treasure hunt, no matter how small and insignificant, is kind of thrilling! We followed the instructions as any good hunter should, a naturally, we were rewarded with a strange glowing plant. I've certainly seen more impressive things, but at least it was something! Results: Mae obtained 2 Golden Petalia.
Words: 686
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:36 am
Darke SaysAdventure in The Marketplace - Done!
Mae has recently obtained a potential source of revenue. Why not use it in Ashen City's marketplace? Darke's not sure he likes the idea...
I wasn't too sure Mae should be using any type of gift as a bargaining chip. It seems rude to the person who gave it to him: his mother. Oh well. Like usual, he didn't listen to me. And he did pick up some stuff that might be useful one day. More useful than a few rocks, anyway. Results: Mae obtained 2 Silver, 2 Copper Bars, and 2 Plain Cloth
Words: 1754
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:51 pm
Darke SaysOpposite, But... Similar in the Strangest Ways? - Ongoing
Darke convinces Mae to finally go to Aisko with him. But Darke turns weary during the flight, and they make a pit stop on Eowyn, instead. They run into an Oblivionite girl named Rowan.
Darke's thoughts. Results: Met Rowan.
Words: ???
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:58 pm
Family Solo
Fairies on Eowyn
Eowyn sure was... dusty. And dirty. And bright. Maybe even brighter than Serenia, in Mae's opinion, because at least Serenia had trees to shield him from the sun's overwhelming rays. He tilted his head back, glaring up into the clear blue expanse of the sky. Not a cloud in sight. Not even a bird spiraling overhead. Just... nothing. They sat along the outskirts of the city of Taliuma, festering in the heat like two sores. And while that was... dull, neither boy, nor Alihora could muster the energy to make use of themselves that day. It was too hot, sapping away their energies like a leech. But then, they couldn't stay in the city, either. Darke generally loathed the cities, no matter which continent they were on. They made him feel cramped. Not to mention someone would always be watching him, trotting along behind a young Orderite boy.
Mae turned to spare a glance at his companion and had to hide an amused chuckle. Darke was doing everything in his power to make sure none of his feathers even so much as ghosted across the Orderite's skin, despite wanting to be near him. The Aiskala lay sprawled on his back, his claws hanging up in the air, and everything exposed for the world to see. 'Be quiet.' Darke scoffed mentally, unable to crack open one of his baby blue eyes to glare, or even to give Mae his usual annoyed tail flick. 'You of all people should know that I don't do well in this type of heat.' The Alihora snorted.
"Well, do you want to go down to the beach, then?" Mae asked, dragging himself into a sitting position. Eowyn's beaches were probably much more sandy, delightful, and sunny than Serenia's. And it certainly seemed hot enough to splash about in the cool ocean water... But Darke only groaned, twisting his neck away from Mae and his horrid ideas. The Orderite rolled his eyes and leaned over to ruffle the drooping feathers on the Alihora's side. "That's alright. I can go on my own" He said with a dramatic sigh, rising with painful slowness to his feet and dusting himself off.
He'd only traveled a few yards before Darke was (grudgingly) back at his side, his sky-colored wings dragging dejectedly along the ground. Their travel to the beach was filled with the Aiskala's sounds of unwillingness. Sighs, grunts, gripes, and moans of complete and utter displeasure. Mae could only smile in bemusement. Darke's lack of enthusiasm meant they had to walk the whole way on foot. Mae didn't mind too much, since being on Eowyn kind of reminded him of his younger years, when he and Darke were first starting out together... And they spent a time here training, after they met that horrid hybrid woman...
The sounds of the ocean reached them before Mae expected it. He smiled as the shimmering water came into view, and he ran head, pushing through the brush that shielded the sandy beach from the rest of Eowyn. But as he neared the edge, he paused as something glinted at the corner of his vision. Just sand? No... He leaned down and rummaged through the coarse grasses for whatever had sparkled. He pushed aside the fronds to see two perfectly smooth, round orbs glinting in the sun. "Darke! Come check this out!" He called, lifting the two spheres up in his hands. They weren't very big. Certainly not big enough to be Khehora eggs... On of them was black and orange, and the other a faint greenish-blue with purple markings...
Darke, sensing Mae's excited urgency, bustled over. "What is it?" He inquired curiously, looking over the Orderite's shoulder. Mae held up his two shimmering finds, teal orbs widened in pleased surprise. "Erm, what is it?" Darke repeated, not entirely sure what he was seeing.
Mae pulled the treasures closer to himself with a shrug. He didn't know, but maybe he could sell them or barter with them, or... As he inspected them closer, the black and orange orb cracked, creating a sharp noise that had Mae recoiling in shock. As he watched, a tint black head emerged, uttering soft thrills as it shoved its way free. For a brief second, the Orderite's mind was blank, and all he could do was stare without seeing. "It's a Fae!" He squealed in delight, scooping the thing up in excitement. "I've read about them! But I thought... they were rare... Look! Darke! Two of them!" He almost shouted, making the black Fae wince and even... scowl...?
The Orderite hardly noticed as the other orb split, and a similar, if only different-colored Fae emerged to greet him. "Agh! Darke, look at them! Look at these little guys!" Mae gushed, running a gloved hand down smooth scaly bodies. The second fae trilled in glee and rubbed back. Mae turned to darke, his eyes sparkling like the orbs he'd just found. "Let's get these little guys something to eat." He suggested, still sounding a bit dazed. Results: Acquired two little Fae Dragons!
Words: 837
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:04 pm
Darke SaysAdventure with Tohru in Cave of Dragons - Done!
Mae and Darke are preparing to leave Eowyn when a thought strikes them. Why not try the Cave of Dragons, again? Surely they've gotten strong enough to face it alone! But they run into a young Kiandri Dovaa near the entrance.
So... It turned out to be not just me and Mae taking the Cave on. But... Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. The little Dovaa that came with us was shy, quiet, and pretty cute... He was a bit hesitant to use his magic, but once he started, the three of us turned into a pretty good team! Until right at the end, where we lost. That's alright. We still did pretty well, all considering. 25 Victories, 1 Loss
Words: 2784
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:07 pm
Darke SaysVS Tohru in Show Me Your Training! - Done!
Mae, Darke, and Tohru barely escaped the Cave of Dragons. Despite coming so close to the end, they still failed. Mae hoped to further toughen up the young Kiandri Dovaa with him be challenging him to a battle!
I would consider what Mae did to be classified as 'cruel.' I warned him not to make any advancements on that poor boy, but he did anyway, and he sent that little Dovaa away crying. Well, pretty much, anyway. Poor little guy... I wish we could've parted on better terms, but it's too late. Next time I won't let Mae hit him like that! Results: Mae battled Tohru
Words: 992
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:08 pm
Darke SaysWatch the Skies - Done!
Mae and Darke finally depart Eowyn after finding a flyer for an enormous star shower that is to take place on Ayr. Mae is skeptical of the whole event, but he does manage to find an old friend, Raemos amongst the crowd.
The show definitely would've been better if Mae and I were watching it alone. Y'know, without anyone else there? Especially not some suspicious, goggle-wearing two-legged brat... I could've put up with the rest of the crowd, so long as that kid wasn't there. Whatever. We didn't talk for long, and he darted off right after the show. Probably to plot Mae's downfall. Hmph! Doesn't he know I can stop anything he throws at us?! We'll have to see what happens tomorrow... Results: Met with Raemos on Ayr.
Words: 776
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:09 pm
Darke SaysVS 7 Ayr Argaroo and 8 Ayr Alkarai in The Mission on Ayr - Ongoing
Now that he's been reunited with an old friend, Mae and crew set out to explore Ayr and cause as much trouble as possible along the way.
Darke's thoughts. Results: 15 Victories!
Words: ???
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:11 pm
Orb Solo
Branching Off
Mae still didn't like it. He'd only been here once before, for the exact same reason he was here now. He'd had a very young Darke in tow at the time, too. The little Alihora had probably been too young to remember their first trip here... It seemed like forever ago now. Mae hadn't enjoyed it then, either. Not then, and not now. The Citadel of the Order. The place where the person he probably despised most in the world lived and taught. Aevah Avi. And he was about to walk up those stairs and have a direct meeting with her.
Sometimes, he really despised his life.
He disliked Aevah, not because the thought of one all-powerful Orderite deeply annoyed him, but because he didn't trust her. The texts he'd read said the war, The Great Engagement, had been waging for centuries. Centuries was a long time, ever for an immortal goddess like Seren, to hold a grudge. No, it was especially strange for a goddess as loving and kind as the goddess of Light to hold a grudge against for so long, while the very people she created continued to fall.
Something about that was just... off to Maeron.
He'd already convinced himself long ago that Aevah was lying to the Orderites about the need to continue the war. That she was sending them out to do battle and merely instigating continued combat because of her pure unadulterated hatred for the other races. That was all fine and dandy, because even Mae was... wearily suspicious of any non-Orderites. He certainly didn't want to see his city flooded with them. He had to admit that the ones he'd met... Well, they hadn't necessarily been hostile, just different. But then, they came from different customs, cultures, and beliefs. Maybe not at the rudimentary level... The point was, maybe after a period of adjustment, they could end this facade of a war for good. And put it in the past.
In truth, it was all a very complicated mess, and Mae wasn't daft enough to think he could fix it on his own. Especially since every other Orderite he'd ever met, and even a certain Oblivionite, adored Aevah and hung on her every word. What nonsense... The only reason he was here was to toss some orbs at her and officially go up in rank. Maybe if he gained a little prestige, people would actually listen to him, even if it was hard to hear.
As Mae put his boot on the first stair and prepared to ascend, he felt a heavy maw brush between his shoulder blades. He turned and spotted Darke, ruffling his feathers as though he was brushing the too-deep thoughts away. 'I'm really here for you this time.' The Aiskala nodded affirmatively, his icy gaze shimmering with understanding. 'So let's just get in and get this done!' He commanded, giving his boy a gentle push forward.
Maeron could only roll his eyes. 'You were here last time too!' The Orderite scoffed through their mental link as he headed inside, through the enormous double doors and across the bright white marble floor. He waved to a few of the guards who recognized him. Although, he couldn't really say they knew him. As a purple-headed, Khehora-bonded, painfully obnoxious Orderite, he was kind of hard to miss. Either way, it meant he was permitted to enter Aevah's study without much of a fuss.
And once he stood before her, a wave of annoyance washed through him again. He'd been a mere child the last time he stood here. Even then, he hadn't wanted to spend too much of his precious time in her presence. But despite how flippant he'd been to her at that time, she still smiled as he approached.
It drove him mad.
"Maeron. Imagine seeing you here." Aevah said smoothly. And the boy wondered what about it was such a surprise. Maybe she hadn't expected to see him again. Did she think him so much a failure that he wouldn't return to advance once again? He tried not to dwell on it. "And look." She murmured, gesturing to where Darke stood behind him. "Your little one has grown. You must be very proud." Yes. He was proud. What of it? Ugh. It seemed everything she said was either agonizingly frustrating, or annoyingly grating. He didn't know how much longer he could stand her. "I see you've also grown a bit since we last met. You really must come around more often."
Was she... Patronizing him? Taunting him? She probably knew of his distaste for her... He tried to hold the most blank, passive expression he could manage. "Ma'am." If she deserved to be called that. "I'd just like to drop off a few of the orbs I obtained from my trip to Eowyn. I haven't been home in a while, so if you don't mind..." He trailed off, knowing his voice sounded clipped. Hopefully just from his long time away from home. Whatever. She'd probably go for it.
The woman blinked, then nodded in understanding. "Oh, of course." She held out her hands to receive Mae's orbs, and he promptly deposited three of his hard-earned Peisio Dragon Orbs, as well as two Aiskalas into her hand. Well, they touched her skin for a moment, anyway. Then her light magic picked them up and floated them across the room, to where they could be stored with the rest of the Dragon's souls, a small cabinet full of treasures.
Another stab lurched through Mae's gut, and he tried not to hiss in annoyance. Instead, he spun on his heel. "Thank you for your time." He rumbled in a low voice. "I suppose, if everything is final now...?" he spared a glance over his shoulder, just to make sure he could see her nod. "Good." With that, Darke backed out of the room, and Mae followed.
Results: Mae lost three Peisio, two Aiskala Orbs
Words: 985
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:13 pm
Growth Solo
Heartbeat Growth Prompt Mae and Darke stumble upon a meeting of some strong Oblivionites as they are finalizing plans of assassinating Aevah Avi. What do they do? Maeron holds no love for his people's leader... does he ignore this and hope that they remove the person he thinks is lying and leading his people to a war they could avoid... or does he try to warn Aevah? He may try to fight them here and now, but there are too many of them and all are stronger than him (they are, after all, powerful enough to try and take on Aevah.) If you go that path, what happens, and does Maeron manage to at least get word of the incoming attack after he flees(or is left for dead)?
If he doesn't try to warn anyone, he'll hear word of a failed attack.... Aevah lives but two young boys turning in orbs at the time were killed in the combat.... what would his reaction to this be?
If he does try and warn people, Aevah does get word in time and the two boys are badly wounded, but do not die.
What is Darke's reaction to this as well? How does he view his bonded's actions? The day was warm, the sky was bright, and the trees rustled melodiously. 'All in all, not a bad start to the day,' Mae thought as he stripped off his boots and vest before tip-toeing to the edge of the lake.
'You're going to regret it.' Darke scoffed. The Alihora was nowhere to be seen, using his free time to hunt rather than glower into the water that he would not enter. Darke didn't care too much for getting his feathers wet. Mae knew he wasn't far, but certainly not close enough to be in the Orderite's splash zone. 'It'll be too cold for you.'
The boy snorted as he waded out into the water, rolling his pants up to his thighs as he went. 'The cold doesn't bother me.' He informed his companion, skimming his fingers across the top of the water. It was a bit crisp, but nothing he couldn't endure. He lay his palm flat across the surface, then ripped it away, watching the droplets leap forward like it did for the Peisios, then plopped back into the lake. Mae sighed. 'I saw some tomes in the bookstore. Y'know, magical ones. It would be kind of cool if I could use them. D'you think it would make me look good?'
Darke's chuckle reverberated through their link. 'You're worried if you'll look good?' He questioned in amusement. Never mind that he tried to hide the pang of sadness he felt from the thought that his magic wasn't good enough for his boy, anymore...
'I dunno! I'm not a Dovaa. I'd look weird, wouldn't I?' Mae demanded, jerking around in a tight spin through the water that sent a spray of moist flecks leaping away from them. As he spun, he thought he caught sight of a black splodge against the golden trees. But it was gone quickly. Mae could only shrug and continue about his business. Darke's magic was indispensable, of course, and Mae had enough control over his own to formulate a defense out of it, but hardly enough to attack. he just couldn't help but think it would be pretty amazing to have some magic of his own to really use, even if it was from a book.
With a shake of his head, he stepped from the water, plodding back to don his garments. If he wanted to get one book just to try it out, there was no harm in that, right? Even Darke hummed a pleasant approval to his thoughts, although the majority of the Alihora's attention had shifted to some small, furry prey animal. It probably wasn't long for this world. Mae tugged his vest over his head, then started to pull on his boots. Another black shadow whisked across his vision before disappearing again.
Was he seeing things?
Maybe. Guess he wouldn't know until he checked it out. 'Do you need me?' Darke whispered smoothly, a twinge of his companion's curiousness entering Mae's own thoughts.
'Nah. I can handle anything out here.' Mae retorted, striding into the treeline. As he came near where he'd spotted the shadows, he slowed his pace, creeping silently through the greenery. Everything seemed painfully still and quiet. And normal. When a voice on the wind whipped over to him, he almost disregarded it. It wasn't unusual for warriors to be hunting in these woods, but a familiar name caught his attention... The name of a woman he wasn't particularly fond of.
With a frown, Mae slunk closer, tucking himself into the golden protection of a nearby tree, close enough that he could make out what was being said. He turned just a fraction from his cover, laying eyes on a small gathering of people and held perfectly still to listen to their conversation.
"Once she's dead, the Orderites will lose their will to fight. Taking Serenia from a people without a leader will be child's play. Our Apprentices could do it blindfolded." The speaker was a short woman, with hair cropped to the nape of her neck. At least, Mae thought it was female. All he could see of her was her back. There were at least three others in the group, though shadows around the clearing made him think there was more. She turned ever so slightly toward him, revealing dark indigo skin and eyeless sockets. Mae's heart froze.
Oblivionites.
In Serenia.
Plotting Aevah's death, if what he was hearing was true.
'I'm on my way.' Darke's voice was like a soft breeze, drowned out by the force of what Mae had just heard. But the sight of them was enough to put the Alihora on alert, and draw him unhesitatingly to Mae's side.
Killing Aevah? The Orderite's fists clenched as he slipped back behind the cover of his tree. Could he allow that? Did he want that? He despised the woman, yes, but out of all the Orderites that had ever existed, he was probably the only one that felt that way... If she were to die at the hands of a group of Oblivionites, then his people would actually have a reason to fight. They'd have a reason to engage in war. Rather than showing them all what a horrible liar of a leader Aevah was, she'd become a martyr.
And that was something Mae could not allow.
He turned back to the group, in hopes of hearing a few more details. Anything that could help him stop them. When his orbs lifted back to the scene, he was met, not which a group of scheming Oblivionites, but with one green eye floating just an inch away from his own head. Mae's breath caught, and his hand instantly snapped up to the hilt of his slingblade. As the realization that he'd been found shot through him, Darke's voice came urgently, 'I'm almost there!'
Mae's eyes widened. This group... If even one of them had this ability... He stared back at the eye. Whether Darke was here or not would hardly matter to his life. 'No.' Even his voice sounded hesitant. He wanted Darke at his side with fierce intensity, but... The Alihora was the only thing they didn't know of. Ashen City needed him more. All Mae had to do was survive until then. 'Go to the Citadel. Tell them of this treachery.'
Darke's response was an immediate stab of refusal that transcended anything words could've accomplished.
'I'll be alright. Please.' Mae begged, as the woman giving the speech appeared from the trees nearby.
'You cannot hide anything from me, Mae.'
'Then you understand. Be quick about it!' He commanded. The Orderite had no way of knowing if Darke obeyed except the grudging acceptance that brushed his thoughts.
The woman had obtained a bow and quiver from somewhere. It was drawn and an arrow notched. All that was left was to shoot it. "He's just a child. Look at him. Doesn't even have his second set of wings yet..."
A singe of rage bristled down his spine, and his retort came to his lips before he even had the chance to think on it. Not so much that I can't prevent a few of your kind from invading my city. He spat.
"Ebele."
The voice came from the side, agonizingly close. Mae knew he had to look, but couldn't tear his gaze away from the woman. She was the one with the weapon. He grit his teeth in frustration. Already he felt trapped. There had to be a way to escape this... He spared a quick glance to the masculine voice, finding a man taller than he was, though seemingly not quite as strong as the woman. Just an inch toward the man and Mae would have the tree as cover. he could make it. He could take the guy.
He dove toward the side, concealing himself in the cover of the trunk as an arrow zinged past him. His fist collided with the male Oblivionite's face, sending him backwards with the force of Mae's blow. As he stepped forward with the momentum, he left his protection. He stopped with only a milimeter between himself and the second arrow that shot by. Mae turned toward the woman. he had only a second to reach her. Only a second while she reached for her quiver and found another arrow. A second. He was willing to take it. Surely that was all he needed...!
Mae lurched forward. From what he knew of Oblivionites, they were precise, practical, and analytical. They valued strategy and planning. And if they had a plan, all Mae had to do was break it. He could only hope that it depended on having all six of the Oblivionites active and present. Because if that was the case, he didn't need to kill any of them. He simply needed to incapacitate one of them...! With this thought, holding it as his only goal from this encounter, Mae moved. He flicked his slingblade from its sheath, taking only a few heavy, brisk steps toward the woman.
Until he felt long, slender fingers tangling in his hair and the cloth of his shirt at the back of his neck. Mae was yanked to a halt. He mentally berated himself about not checking his surroundings more frequently. He hadn't even known another of the dark-skinned individuals had been that close to him... He flipped his blade over in his hand and stabbed backwards. The Orderite had always thought that he was quick, decisive, unpredictable. Qualities that should aid him in combat, especially in something fast-paced like this.
A hand snapped out to catch his wrist, crooking it up and forcing it toward the small of his back. His weapon fell from his grasp, and he heard what he could only assume was the sound of a boot hitting the hilt and kicking it across the grass and away from him. The first real stab of fear pierced through Mae's chest, and his breath caught. He'd never had nothing to aid him in a fight. No Darke and no slingblade... He'd never faced a group of people who hated him and genuinely wanted to kill him. He'd never shivered in terror for his life.
The hand in his hair gave a sharp twist and the one holding his wrist shoved forward, dragging him to his knees before ultimately slamming his face into the grass and holding him there persistently. The Oblivionite crouched over him, pinning one of his wings with a heavy knee and the other beneath his foot.
Naturally, Mae protested this treatment. He writhed, desperately stretching back with his free arm to grasp and claw at the appendages restraining him. His best efforts yielded nothing, not even the ability to twist his head back far enough to see who had him pinned. But even these futile efforts were better than laying still and doing nothing. His heart raced. His breath came low and shallow. He struggled until the toe of a black boot entered his vision. No matter how he twisted, he could not catch sight of more than that. Although, somewhere in the back of his mind registered that it was a woman's boot. The archer from before..?
His thoughts were solidified when he heard the faint brush of her fingers against the string of her bow. He heard the arrow click against the lacquered wood as it was notched into place. Heard the weapon groan as she easily pulled the arrow back. Mae's world froze.
She was going to shoot him.
From this distance, with only a foot separating them, she wouldn't even have to try to kill him. He was finished. No matter his struggles, there was no way out of this. But if he died... Darke... And Aevah... How would the Orderites respond...? He squeezed his eyes shut. Grit his teeth and clenched his fists. He could do nothing.
The whip of the arrow leaving the bow reached him what could have been eons before it should have. He expected instant blackness, to feel his soul ripped from his body. Maybe a light at the end of a tunnel, or to float free of his body, so that he could finally lay eyes on the group that was responsible for his death.
He got none of that.
Instead, the weight of his captor lifted away from him, and he heard soft footfalls stepping steadily away. Confusion lanced through him. But if they were willing to give him even the slightest chance to move into a more defensive position... The instant he so much as shifted his weight, a bolt of agony speared through him, so harsh that Mae could not suppress the screech that bubbled from his throat. It severed any remaining awareness he had of Darke's progress and actions.
He gasped out in shock, twisting his head around to see what had caused this suffering. His teal orbs landed on the feathered shaft of her arrow, protruding from the tip of where his right wing met his shoulder blade. Mae was suddenly afraid to move, blink, twitch, breathe. That arrow had pierced his frame like a fish through water, pinning him to the dirt like a butterfly for inspection. And now that he'd physically seen it, even the minutest of shifts sent a fierce burn racing through his nerves.
But now that his hair had been released... He turned his gaze back to the woman, Ebele, tipping his head back to see her properly. Like all of her race, she had no eyes. But the tilt of her head, the quirk of her brow, and the set of her lips suggested... pity, as she stared down at him. A surge of humiliation and shame washed through Mae, bringing a fresh wave of heated blood to his pale cheeks. He was forced to tip his face back into the grass to avoid her gaze. Only seconds later the soft swish of her boots striding by reverberated around him. She stepped by him without another word. Her and her people were off to complete the mission they'd planned for themselves, heedless of the young Orderite they'd left behind.
Mae clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt. He was not even worth killing to them. An annoyance, yes. But a hindrance? Something that could stop them? No. He was not that special. Just... He rested his forehead against the cool grass, inhaling the familiar scent of the home he'd known for so long.
He had to get up.
Every movement hurt. He wished that woman had just finished him off and saved him the agony. But she didn't.
He had to get up.
Slowly, he pulled his legs under himself. He could feel his skin tugging and sliding against the arrow, and it in turn dragged at the earth. It would be a lie if Mae said he was quiet about it, but he did his best to keep it mostly to whining gasps and low growls. He bit into his tongue as he wormed a hand beneath himself, shoving two fingers into the hole created by the arrowhead to dislodge it from the earth. He locked a finger around the shaft and lurched backwards, pulling it from the ground with a stiff jerk.
He sat back, tossing his left arm out to lean against while he caught his first look at the actual hole in his chest. His vision swam, and he had to blink several times to clear it. A surprisingly small amount of blood oozed from the wound. Although, Mae suspected that was just because the arrow was still clogging it. It was all he could do to stare at it. Too afraid to remove it, but feeling incapable of movement while it was still lodged inside him. The shock of the moment was starting to ebb, leaving him breathless, bleary-eyed, and in pain.
He was up. The arrow was out of the ground. He'd sent Darke to warn Aevah, and he couldn't do any more than that. So, if he really wanted to just... close his eyes for a minute or two... The Orderite shifted to the left, leaning toward his uninjured side. He was hardly aware of his arm giving out and his body flopping limply onto the grass.
~~~
"Mae." It was unusual to hear the voice from the outside, rather than against his own thoughts. Had he died? That would make Darke dead too, so maybe... they could still communicate in the afterlife? Just not through thoughts. "You can open your eyes." It took a few seconds for the words to sink in, but when they did, he obliged, slowly cracking open his teal orbs to see a blurred world expanding before him. Half of the world was that beautiful shade of sky blue that he was so familiar with...
"Darke?" Mae croaked, instantly finding it too difficult to reach for him through the haze that was the Bond. He felt a sleek feathered maw lay in his hand as an affirmative. "Where..?" His vision was starting to come into focus, revealing pearly white surroundings that the Orderite could hardly identify. Mae shifted slowly into an upright position, wincing slightly as a residual soreness spread through his right side. He glanced down to see that he was no longer impaled, the hole having been covered by stark white bandages, wrapping across his torso and around his shoulder.
Darke's nose skated lightly up his arm, sniffing his neck and face and then settling reassuringly against his shoulder. "We're in the infirmary." There was a pause. "Aevah instructed me to bring you after I informed her you were hurt. But... You were not the only one brought here."
Mae groaned softly, shaking his head. Darke was being to cryptic, too wayward. He just needed to hear things like they were, especially now. "Just tell me what happened." He ordered.
So, Darke obeyed, lifting his head away from the boy as he spoke. "As you instructed, I flew to warn Aevah of the planned attack. She believed what I told her and had a few Guardians at the ready." Darke's gaze shifted away, and he almost looked like he was pouting. "But you are my first priority. When I lost track of your thoughts, I had to find you..." Mae could understand that. Since he'd successfully delivered the message, he'd done what everything the Orderite asked of him. "You were passed out when I reached you. But since you were... hurt, I brought you back to the city. Aevah found me looking for help and directed me here, where she'd just been checking up on a few young boys that were caught up in the attack."
Mae blinked in surprise. Young boys? In the infirmary? So the Oblivionites hadn't killed them, either... Maybe they really had just been after Aevah... He raised an arm to rub at his shoulder. "So... No one died." He murmured.
Darke shrugged. "I wouldn't really say that. Aevah... dispatched of the Oblivionites herself."
The news wasn't surprising. The group had tried to kill Aevah and injured three of her potential warriors, Mae included. But for some reason, a pang of remorse went through him. They hadn't tried to kill any other Orderites, just... removed a few that were in their way. So maybe they didn't hate their opposing race. In that respect, they were... kind of like Mae. With a sigh, he leaned back into the sheets, laying his head on the pillow and wondering if he'd hurt more than helped. Results: Survived an Oblivionite attack...
Words: 3257
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:14 pm
Guardians Solo
Teammate Guardians Prompt Maeron, while he is recovering from the beating at the Oblvionite assassin's hands, wakes up one day to see a Gaili Dovaa in shining plate mail sitting next to him. Seeing him awake the Dovaa grins and introduces himself. "Good morn to you! I am Seraph, a knight of the Guardians. Good work getting word to Aevah about those assassins. It arrived just in time and gave Aevah just enough warning that she was able to defeat them with out any of ours dying. My page is alive because of your quick thought of sending Darke." He puts up the book he was reading and sits up straighter in his chair. "Do to your actions, we've decided that you have potential to be a great asset to the Guardians. While mostly Orderite, there are other races in our ranks." He grins, "myself being one of them! We help those who are in need, and while some say we are mercenaries, we are honorable ones. People who will go above and beyond the call of duty in helping others even at a cost to ourselves. " He stands up and smiles down at Maeron, "As you have just woken up and this may be a bit much for you, I'll take my leave and let you mull over what I've said. If you are interested in joining, we have an office just outside the main gates to the Citadel."
-- Maeron must consider the offer, think of why he should join, what would be any consequences or problems of joining and if he actually wants to join. If he joins, have him enter the office and talking to Seraph again. Seraph is the local leader "Captain" of the Ashen City section. He coordinates the surrounding areas and sends out patrols to keep the area safe, he also is the one that farmer's and merchants contact if they need guards or a beast hunted down. The light danced across his eyes, leaving him seeing bright yellow-green spots against the inside of his eyelids. His face was warm, almost uncomfortably so. And even while laying still, he could feel the lethargy in his bones, like a weight dragging him down. He wasn't even aware of the tiny groan he released as his mind realized that his body was waking up.
"Thank you for waiting so patiently. He's been sleeping less now that he's getting better. I didn't think you'd have to wait so long..." It was Darke's voice. Speaking out loud. Who the crud was he talking to? A nurse? Maeron cracked open one teal orb, turning just enough to see the sky-blue coloration of the Alihora's feathers. That was about all he recognized; the color. With a groan, he slowly pushed himself into a sitting position, rubbing his eyes a bit in the hopes that it would clear his vision enough to at least be able to make out his Aiskalan companion. With a sigh, he opened his orbs again.
"Ah!" Mae squealed as he shoved himself backwards and away from a horned stranger who was sitting a little too close to his bed, and staring at him to boot. Horns...? A Dovaa?! They were in on it too! The two races were conspiring to rid Magesc of Orderites! Where was he?! What was going on?! Why hadn't Darke staved them off?! The fuchsia haired boy scrabbled about for the short bedside table nearby, where his weapons lay waiting for him. They seemed painfully far away now...
"Young man!" Mae's eyes snapped up at the sound of a woman's voice, landing on the familiar blond curls and bronze spectacles of one of the older nurses. He'd seen her a few times now. Not enough to know her name, but enough to recognize her features even in his perturbed state. "This is a hospital! If you cannot control yourself, you won't be allowed anymore quests!" With a flip of her hair, she trooped back down the hallway, her heels echoing against the tiled floor.
Guests...? Mae's eyes veered back to the stranger, wondering what kind of Dovaa would be freely allowed into Ashen City. What kind of Dovaa could gain Darke's trust so quickly? "Who are you?" The Orderite demanded tartly, his teal gaze skeptical and weary as it scrutinized the armored Dovaa.
"Ah! Sorry for the start! Didn't mean to give you such a jar. I am Seraph, a knight of the Guardians." For some reason, Mae instantly felt a lurch in his gut, the feeling he got when he knew he was caught for doing something wrong. He couldn't imagine any other reason a Gurdian would come to see him while he was in the hospital... "Good work getting word to Aevah about those assassins. It arrived just in time and gave Aevah enough warning that she was able to defeat them with out any of ours dying. My page is alive because of your quick thought of sending Darke." Yep, Mae was sure the sugar coating was only hiding a reprimand. He tried not to grimace as the man flipped shut the book his was reading and focused his full attention on the Orderite. Here it comes... "Do to your actions, we've decided that you have potential to be a great asset to the Guardians. While mostly Orderite, there are other races in our ranks." He grinned. "Myself being one of them! We help those who are in need, and while some say we are mercenaries, we are honorable ones. People who will go above and beyond the call of duty in helping others even at a cost to ourselves." He stood and smiled down at Mae, the Orderites orbs wide with confusion and just a touch of wonder. The fact that anyone wanted him to join any kind of group was miraculous. "As you have just woken up and this may be a bit much for you, I'll take my leave and let you mull over what I've said. If you are interested in joining, we have an office just outside the main gates to the Citadel." With a polite bow, the man stood and departed.
By the time Mae collected himself enough to respond, the Dovaa was gone. A part of him wanted to call Seraph back and ask him everything that popped into his little fuchsia head, but he resisted. He didn't want to sound desperate, after all... Instead, he rounded on Darke, teal orbs blazing in annoyance. 'You could've told me what he was here for before I made a fool of myself!' The Orderite snapped, glaring at the Aiskala. He'd probably looked like some deranged little squirt, scrambling about to grab for his weapons in a place meant for rest and recovery.
Darke's tail flicked, and he rolled his eyes at his companion's aggression. 'Nothing I said could've saved you from that.' He retorted mercilessly. 'Besides, did you forget what he just said?! Mae, we could be part of a team. People could look up to us and ask us for help... We'd be like... role-models!' Darke declared, ruffling his wings in excitement.
Mae glanced into his lap. It would be nice... To be looked up to, to have a team to adventure with, to have helpless people begging for his help... But... 'We wouldn't be able to run off on our own whenever we felt like it, anymore.' Mae reminded him. 'We'd have an actual job. People depending on us.' He leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head. 'Is our freedom worth that?'
Darke leaned his head down to Mae's level, resting his chin atop the mattress. His sky orbs found and locked with the boy's, seeming to hold him there with no hope of escape. 'What do you think?'
~~~
After only a few long and torturous days in the hospital, Mae was released with a clean bill of health. He'd thought about the Guardian's offer. And although Darke had tried to keep his own impressions off of the Orderite, Mae could still clearly feel his companion's desire to be part of a team. Khehora were clan animals, after all. As Seraph had said, the Guardians had an office just outside the Citadel. Mae found it with no trouble at all. Really it was hard to miss the big building, where traveling Guardians stayed on their missions, and where individuals accepted assignments.
Mae strode up the steps with Darke's claws clacking behind him. A surge of butterflies fluttered through his chest as he pushed open the doors and stepped inside. People bustled along, chattering and laughing at each other, and a familiar man standing near one of the hallways was giving directions to two younger lads. Seraph... Sucking in a breath, Mae approached him. "Excuse me." The Orderite said, catching the Guardian's attention. Seraph turned to acknowledge him, already grinning.
"I've thought about it, and... I will join you." Results: Joined the Guardians!
Words: 1163
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:16 pm
Shopping Solo
Attic Endeavors
'I really don't think you should be up there.' Darke hummed through their link as his head poked through the small square opening that led into the attic. He had his front paws braced on the third stair, and he refused to go any higher than that. In all honestly it was a wonder the thin wooden planks even held him that much...'The floor will fall through, and you'll hurt yourself.' The Alihora informed him tersely. As he looked on from his perch, he could just barely make out Mae scrounging around in the darkness near the back of the large, open area, with only his faintly glowing palm to guide him. 'What could you possibly want from up here, anyway? It's so... dusty...'
Mae sighed as he shoved another box away from him. He crouched near the back of the space, where all six boxes of the family's stowed belongings sat. For some reason, he'd always thought there were more... Maybe there had always been the idea for more, since the attic was certainly large enough to accommodate, but neither of his parents were home frequently enough to fill it. And now, Mae wouldn't be either... He ran the hand he wasn't using for light across his face, and huffed out in annoyance. "I just want to see if there's anything useful up here." He said aloud as he glowered at the two boxes he had yet to look through. So far he hadn't found much. Mostly decorations and weird books, plus a few mementos Mae's father kept. It was all painfully useless, as he feared the last two boxes would be.
He sighed and pulled the second to last box toward him (with no small amount of difficulty, considering that it was quite heavy). Curiosity tugged at him, but he tried to stamp it down for fear that this box would be as useless as the last. He unfurled the cardboard lid, and held his faintly glowing palm up to see the contents. Just... More books and loose papers. Mae groaned. He picked one up with a peculiar gem on it and flipped it open. He could hardly see the words in the dim light, but he didn't have to be able to understand them to realize that the book contained magical incantations. He sucked in a breath. "Darke, look!" He shouted in excitement, bolting to his feet and dragging the box across the floor and over to Darke for inspection. "These are Magical Tomes!" Mae exclaimed, thrusting one of the books under Darke's nose.
The Alihora was skeptical. "Don't you think it's weird that you found these right after you mentioned wanting to take up mag-"
"I can't believe they were up here the whole time!" He knew he was grinning like a doofus, but he didn't care. Not one bit. "Here." With an extra heave, he shoved the box over the edge, making Darke yelp as he moved to try and catch it, then realized the futility of the effort. "Take those into the living room so I can see 'em better. I've got one last box to check." The Orderite told his companion. Darke responded with annoyed grumbled, but he slunk to do as he was bid, leaving Mae with the sixth box.
Anything inside would surely be a letdown compared to what he'd just found. But he may as well scavenge, anyway. So when he opened it and spotted, not more junk, but an assortment of glowing feathers, paper talismans, and weapons that may have been his parents' at one point, he squealed in glee. This box was heavy, but not nearly as much as the last one. After testing it a bit in his hands, Mae concluded that he could probably carry it down the stairs without hurting himself.
As he made his way into the living room to see Darke shuffling about with the Tomes and Recipes, Mae couldn't help but beam. Despite what started out as a fruitless endeavor, the adventure to the attic had certainly been worth it. Results: Mae found all the supplies listed here!
Words: 679
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:08 am
Tailor Training Solo
That's Craftsmanship
"It always was amusing to see you surrounded by so many books." Darke chuckled as he watched the fuchsia-haired man spread nearly all of his recent findings out on the floor. It was impossible for him to have everything he wanted within arm's reach, but it was cute to see him try. The Alihora perched on the outskirts of the blossoming mess, unable to keep his amusement from slipping through the Bond. It had been even more adorable when Mae was smaller, and Darke could hardly find him amongst the debris, but this sight did give him a rather welcome feeling of nostalgia. Better than what the past few months had brought them, anyway.
Mae shrugged. "I can't help but be curious." The Orderite admitted, picking up a bound book and flipping through it before setting it aside. There was just so much to go through... He hadn't been aware there was so many useful items up there, or he would've checked sooner! Now he just felt overwhelmed... Excited! But overwhelmed. He shuffled a few loose scraps of paper into a pile, then pushed them to the edge of the mess. As he sifted through a few more books, he found another slip of paper that had manages to escape from the rest of them.
"Hey, look. We actually have all these supplies!" Maeron said eagerly as his gaze flicked over the slip of paper. He dug around in one of the boxes, pulling out a whole mess of thread and a sowing kit.
Darke snorted in amusement. "Wait, wait. Don't tell me you're going to try and make something with all that!" The Alihora chortled. "You're just not that dextrous, Mae." Darke informed him.
A dark tinge of flustered annoyance ghosted across the Orderite's face. "W-well that's not true! I can definitely do it! Look, the instructions are right here! Anyone can do anything with instructions!" Mae snapped, violently shaking the strip of paper in Darke's direction. The Alihora only snorted out another bout of laughter and padded off in search of somewhere less cluttered to relax.
How dare Darke not think he could follow a simple list of commands? It didn't look like a challenging article to make, and he really didn't need a lot of stuff, either... With a huff, Mae plucked up his supplies and headed over to sit at the slightly less cluttered table. He had a few bits of cloth from his trip to the marketplace. Heh! He knew they'd come in handy! Darke had disagreed then too.
Mae hummed in self satisfaction as he cut the cloths into the appropriate shape. That part was easy! All that was left was to stick 'em together! But the Orderite man quickly realized that the sowing portion was actually... rather difficult. It probably would've been easier when he was younger and his fingers more smaller and more dainty, less calloused from frequent use of his weapon. Just threading the needle was almost an impossible challenge to overcome. But with persistence, a refusal to let Darke be right, and a little spit to straighten out the threads, the hardest part was done. Mae stitched away, trying to be as accurate as possible, doing his best to follow the pattern given to him in the instructions.
It was a little harder than he thought it would be. But he'd never say that out loud. Instead, he stripped off his usual t-shirt and vest and pulled his own personally hand-made article over his head. With a triumphant grin, he strode off in search of his companion. "Well?" He demanded tartly as he posed in the doorway. "What do you think?"
Darke looked up from preening himself, his sky gaze skeptical. "It, erm... fits you?" He offered uncertainly. But... overall it was a little sloppy... The stitching was mismatched, and loose threads hung out everywhere. It didn't even really sit against his shoulders like a vest should... As he'd thought earlier, Mae should probably leave this to the professionals. "Maybe you should just put your other clothes back on..."
The Orderite huffed and spun on his heel, heading back to where he'd deposited his casual wear. Maybe this one wasn't perfect... It was his first shot! What did Darke expect! He'd just have to keep practicing to prove that negative Alihora wrong! Results: Mae crafted a Simple Stitched Vest!
Words: 722
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