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 Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:01 pm
"Oh." Lyrus blinked, then rolled his eyes. The people were friendly. ....it certainlly didn't seem that way, but alright. "I wasn't going to hurt them." It wasn't like he could it he had wanted to. He had had to leave his knife with Kilah. He simply wanted to be sure he could hurt them if he needed to. Kilah's trips to this island hadn't had the best results, from what he knew. Despite what the bat girl said, he doubted these people were all that friendly. "Anyway. Nice or not, I doubt they'll just help us out of the blue. Do you know anyone down there?"
---
Once Kilah had taken the blindfold, Jaxom stopped paying attention. His eyes were focused thoughtfully on her arm, and, even though she attempted to hide it, he noticed the strain it cause her. Not that he could do anything about it, of course. But maybe Atear... Well, they would have to ask later. Snapping back to reality in time to hear her comments to Sassy, he rolled his eyes and, after nodding his thanks to the pegasus, climbed up behind Kilah, looping his good arm around her waist and awkwardly holding his 'spear' with his injured hand. It would do until they reached...wherever they were going. "How long's the flight?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:18 pm
She said nothing, but nodded with more enthuasium than she'd showed so far. Despite being Noharu's daughter, she didn't seem like the type to lie. Too young, too cute, and too quiet. Still, it was amazing that someone could tell any of them apart when they all looked basically identical. Sure, there were scars or something that would make one a bit different on occassion, but it went no farther than that.
"That way," she instructed, pointing toward a hut a reasonable distance away from them.
---
"You know, falling from a pegasus would do a lot more damage than falling out of a tree. If you don't want to know for sure, I'd be quiet the rest of the way, hm?" Sassy rolled her eyes at the bickering as she soared through the air. Judging by her fall earlier, the pegasus wouldn't put it past her to just push someone... She and this boy certainly didn't get along.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:36 pm
"Right. Good." Well, at least the girl didn't seem quite so shy anymore? That was a start. Still, it felt odd for Lyrus to be the follower, given that this girl was about half his size and overly cute and innocent. But she knew the way, at least, or knew of someone who could help them. To keep himself from dwelling on that fact, he let his eyes wander the 'village' as they headed for the hut she had pointed out, eyes narrowing slightly anytime the passed too closely to one of the fox people. One could never be too careful...
---
She wouldn't really knock him off the pegasus. Right? Right. ...Right. "I'm sure of it," he replied idly, peering over Sassy's side for the ground. ...How cool was this?! Surprisingly, he was silent for a while after that, simply enjoying the sights, but after a short while, without looking up, he offered, "You know.. I bet Atear could do something for your eyes. Maybe bring them back or something, if not ensure that they'd work." Not that he had actually seen the kitten do anything of the sort, but Jaxom wouldn't be at all surprised if he could. Quite the contrary, Jaxom would be extremely disappointed if the kitten couldn't do anything like that. What use was he if he couldn't regenerate body parts? No fun, no fun...
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:51 pm
Down they went, into the village. The people were mostly carrying baskets full of fruit back and forth, but there were a few taken on other tasks such as repairing roofs and the likes. No matter what they were doing, they'd at the very least pause to glance toward the two of them--they certainly did stick out.
It seemed like forever before they reached the proper door...or, where a door would've been had any of these huts had them. "Hellooo?" Karoko called softly, peering inside. When she got no answer she gazed up at Lyrus. "Grrrandpa live here."
---
The weight wasn't any big deal, but when Kilah was suddenly close to ripping out half her mane she snorted angrily and jolted the two of them a bit, a clear threat she'd knock them both off. She didn't have her name for no reason.
"Sorry," Kilah apologized quickly, loosening her grip. Her teeth still grinded loud enough to be heard, and her voice lacked anything but hate when she snarled back at Jax. "If you suggest that again, I'll kill you."
Touchy subject, apparently.
"I'm not some labrat to show off your stupid kitty cats abilities," she hissed, calming down a noticeable amount, still angry just the same. "I don't want your pity or your help. I don't even want you here."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:06 pm
Lyrus' steely glare met each glance in turn, and faded only once they reached the hut, then more curious than annoyed. He was extremely tempted to peek in after the girl, but figured they would be entering shortly anyway and didn't bother, waiting patiently after she called for a response. There was none. "Grandpa? Well, then he won't care if we intrude." He had better not, anyway. Some grandpa. Before the girl could respond, Lyrus had stepped around her and into the hut, calling out. "Oi, is anyone here? We need some help."
---
"Pardon me for being nice," Jaxom muttered, but didn't back down. "And I wasn't trying to show off or anything. It'd just be easier on you to not have to bother with a blindfold, right? Can't you suck up your pride for a minute and let someone actually help you? You're not all powerful, Kilah, and you're certainly not immortal, and some day you're going to have to face that or you'll just get worse. And then when you do need help, no onell give it, because you're such a b***h whenever they tried before."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:22 pm
"Not therrre--EEK!" The tiny girl screeched as someone suddenly lifted her from the ground. It took only a second for that terrifying sound to mold itself into a fit of giggles and clapping of hands. The man holding her chuckled loudly, patting her between the ears. "Well hello, batty, good ta see ya!"
His English was slurred, but still better than Noyama's. In reality, he was only in his twentys, but considering the race aged so quickly he looked about forty. His hair was purple, not surprisingly. His skin was a bit darker than the others, his eyes the same blue that Noharu's were.
The guy was big enough to hold Karoko with one arm, reaching another bulky hand up to scratch his beard, eyes traveling over Lyrus. "Well, seems there's a little boy here with you. Who's this, eh?" The accent didn't seem to fit with the island.
---
"Easier? EASIER?" Kilah spat, kicking Sassy in the side harder than nesscary. "Down," she demanded. The pegasus shot her a vicious glare, but obeyed, and soon they were on the ground. Once Kilah was sure of it, she pushed Jax away and jumped down onto the grass. a*****e.
"Sassy will still take you there, I'll find Gizmo. I don't want to be near you. You have no idea what you're talking about, you little b***h. I don't need help, and you can't help. You don't even know what HAPPENED!" Tightening the blindfold around her arm then the one covering her eyes she continued, "I've been beaten, almost drowned, and had to have my eyes ripped out to save my griffon, and I survived it all without help. I help my friends, I don't want them responsible for me."
"You, again, are clueless. You're an idiot. It doesn't work the same for me as for everyone else, do you not GET that? The second I let my guard down even a little it'll become 'Oh, gee, let's all help the blind girl!' And, you know, maybe I am a b***h. But it's not like I can cry about it, now is it?"
Waving one hand, she turned. If she ran into something...oh well.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:36 pm
Lyrus whirled around at the screech, one hand snatching for his dagger, and cursing under his breath when it wasn't there. Dammit, why hadn't he found a way to sneak it in? This was irritating. The boy relaxed only when the squeal faded to giggles, but eyed the man warily nonetheless. Any relative of Noharu's (except for maybe Noyama) couldn't be trusted. ....not right away, at least.
Straightening up, Lyrus folded his arms across his chest and went straight to the point. "I'm Lyrus. Me an' Karoko escaped from that prison place, and now we need help getting off the island. I'm supposed to take her to Noyama. Noharu said so. ...Who're you?" he added. Not that he cared.
---
Sighing heavily as the pegasus descended, Jaxom was otherwise silent throughout Kilah's tirade, watching her almost boredly from Sassy's back. Only when she began to walk away did he bother to react.
"Wait," he commanded, and, fully expecting her to do exactly the opposite, slid off of the pegasus to land on the ground. After taking a step away from Sassy, he slipped and hand in his pocket and withdrew the gem, making as if to hand it to Kilah, but thinking better of it and simply dropping it on the ground. Let her find it herself if she didn't need help.
After shifting his spear to his good hand, he turned and started back the way they came. It would be a long walk after that flight, but he would find the way sooner or later. Atear could always meet up with him if needed. "You don't want my help, you won't get my help. But everyone needs help sometime, Kilah." And off he went, adding back over his shoulder:
"...Oh, and kick Lyrus for me before he dies."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:47 pm
"Oooh, you're Akilah's friend, aren't you?" For seemingly no reason, he laughed again so loudly it wouldn't be at all suprising if the Earth around them shook. Judging by the reaction he got, which was none, the islanders knew each other well and therefore expected nothing less from this man. "Yes, she told me about you. Funny, you look different than Noyama explained to me."
Shrugging, he scratched his beard again and 'hm'ed. "Escaped, eh? I knew there was something goin' on up there! Guess you need to be leaving here, then?" Oddly enough, he didn't question Noharu's where abouts. Whenever Karoko had been seen before, it was clinging to her. "Hmm. Well, the ruler isn't here, but I'm sure there are other ways."
---
Kilah's eyebrows narrowed the second he'd called for her. Considering the situation, and what she could only refer to as a 'time limit', she was plenty ready to let it go and move on. Lyrus. Find Lyrus. Bring back Lyrus. That was what she needed to focus on, but...
His last words had gotten to her. Too much. Combined with her temper as it was, it was expected she'd spin around and scream. "YOU'RE SUCH AN a*****e JAX! YOU PREACH TO ME ABOUT BEING A "b***h" AND THEN TALK TO ME THAT WAY! YOU WANT TO HELP? GO DROP YOURSELF OFF A CLIFF! I HATE YOU!" With that said...uh...screamed, she gasped for the air she'd lost and grabbed her arm again.
Either she'd forgotten about the gem or decide she didn't want it, as she didn't bother looking for it and instead attempted to locate Sassy again. Her hand grasped the mane soon enough, but instead of pulling herself up she buried her face in it and breathed heavily. "I can protect them..."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:10 pm
"Yeah, I am." Lyrus blinked, and almost seemed to stagger slightly with the man's laugh, letting his arms fall back to his sides for balance instead. He quirked a brow as the man continued, and actually managed a grin. This guy seemed nice enough. He was too...er...jolly to be dangerous, right? "I grew recently. Didn't have hair before. And yeah, we need to get back to my house. I can find Noya's from there, I think, so you don't need to worry about Karoko."
---
Jaxom had expected that sort of reaction, in all honesty. It was his way to telling himself he had gotten out ahead; she had lost her temper and exploded, he had remained calm and walked off, head held high. Not that he felt at all good about it, but he wasn't about to help her after that, nor did he feel she warranted a reply. It was going to take long enough getting home. He didn't have time to stand around and yell at some overly proud girl who refused to see sense.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:18 pm
"Alright then. Hmm." Jolly, yes. Smart, probably not. Scratching the top of his head, he set Karoko down and motioned for them to follow him. "Alright, I'll get you back then, follow me. By the way, how did you kids get here to begin with?"
He led them to...another hut, identical to his own. No wonder everyone seemed so uptight. This place looked awfully boring. "Well, no matter, go on in there and talk to the lady. She'll help you. Speaks better English than I do, too, and she's got them...magic stuff."
---
Fine, let him walk. Getting her to explode was no accomplishment anyway. Someone without a temper, maybe, but not her. That was one of the few things she had. Kneeling down behind the pegasus, she wrinkled her nose and grumbled. Alright, what to do...? For some reason just going where she thought was the right place didn't seem so appealing anymore..
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:25 pm
There was a big difference between trustworthy and smart, and one didn't have to be both. Besides, Karoko had called this man 'Grandpa', and that would make him Kilah's Grandpa too, right? Because Noyama and Noharu were sisters? And Noyama wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but she was trusthworthy, so her father would be too. Good.
He followed in silence, already tired of seeing hut after hut and people who all seemed to look alike. When they finally reached their destination, he nodded in agreement and started inside, muttering "C'mon, Karoko," before raising his voice to call whoever 'the lady' was. Hopefully she would be home... "Hellooo? Is anyone here?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:29 pm
"Yes, dear, come in!" A woman's voice insisted. Expect the unexpected, and this woman was certainly that. Even Karoko's 'grandpa' had appeared fairly young. This stranger, though, looked almost eighty at the youngest. Her eyes were covered with a blindfold, dark purple in color. Her skin wasn't tan, but pale enough to rival that of an albino. Her hair, too, was pale, long enough to touch the floor.
The room wasn't as plain as the others had been. The many decorations were odd (and some a bit disturbing), covering a large portion of the single room. The woman sat on a colorful pillow in the center of the room, her shaking hands folded neatly on the table infront of her. "You're not of this island, child, why have you come here?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:56 pm
Expect the unexpected nothing. Unexpected was an understatement. This woman was about the last thing Lyrus would have ever imagined, and for that reason alone he didn't trust her. Not one bit. but at the same time, something told him honesty was the best policy in this situation... Plus, she was old, and he doubted she cared exactly who he was anyway.
"I, uh.." How to explain? "Some shape shifter girl thinks me an' my friend stole a gem from her, and was threatening Kilah and gonna take her here, but I came instead 'cause, er...Well, Kilah gets hurt a lot, and I didn't think she should again. But then I escaped with Karoko," he pointed back towards the door, "and she took us to her grandpa who took us here. We need to get off this island. Can you help?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:09 pm
The woman waited patiently for Lyrus to finish. Once he was done talking, she was silent for so long it could've been annoying. When she finally spoke again, at first it was a mere 'hm'. After a cough, she cleared her throat, "Ah, yes. Noharu. You feel much anger toward that girl, I can tell. Be not angry with her, child, for she has reasons for her hatred."
Lifting a hand, she waved it infront of one of her eyes--the one Noharu was blind in. "Her mother has sacrified her for that of her sister. It was she who pushed her between that arrow and her sibling. Her eye is forever pierced by that."
"Hmm. Kilah. Yes. Akilah is the blind one, she has been here many times. The blindfold she has was a gift from myself. I can feel her calling. She's very worried for you, child. She's hurting here." With the same hand, she tapped her arm. "She's trying to call you. I'm afraid her magic isn't strong enough."
Again, she quieted, much shorter than the first time. "I'll send you home, child, but for the spell to work you must trust in me. Any doubt or distrust that plauges your mind will cancel out this old womans magic."
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:19 pm
Lyrus was stunned. Noharu's mother had pushed her infront of an arrow? To save her sister? That was like... Well, someone like Banda shoving him in front of Jax. Yes, Lyrus certainly would have hated quite a few people if something like that were to happen to him. It was a bit easier to understand Noharu.. Just a bit, mind. Some things that had happened during his infancy were irreversable.
However, he nodded slightly inunderstanding and relaxed his guard a bit, moreso once the woman began speaking of Kilah. Creepy or not, her voice held a wisdom that all but proclaimed honestly, and drew trust towards it. Kilah was hurt and trying to bring him back...?
Lyrus considered his options. Really, what reason did he have to not trust thie woman? She was going to help him. Send him and Karoko home so they, in turn, could help Kilah. She knew of Kilah, she had given the girl her blindfold, and she had told him a part of Noharu's past that, in all likelihood, he never would have heard otherwise. "I trust you," he replied after a moment, almost surprised to hear himself say it. "Do I need to do anything? And you'll send Karoko too, right? I promised Noharu I'd take her to Noyama."
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