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 Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:10 pm
A shadow passes through the heavy ground fog, the briefest movement. Silence hangs in the damp air, broken only by the faint creaking of branches and the gentle dripping of the moisture off pine needles. It is a peaceful sort of quiet here, for the most part. The barrows gleam damply in their solitude, more inviting than sad or sinister this day.
A bit of sun momentarily beams through the overhanging cloud cover, causing dew to glitter like tiny diamonds in its rays. Beads of light coat the crudely carved amulets and strangely woven sticks that adorn stakes and branches. Reflected rainbows briefly shimmer on the heavy mists that drift through a small clearing among the darker trees.
It is then that a tiny shape moves forward, materializing from the shadows, a bit of tan and mahogany drifting through the glistening grass. A tiny face looks about the clearing warily, framed in dark locks of silky hair. Little ears, nearly hidden by the flowing mane, flick to catch any hint of discordant sound. The diminutive demoness moves with older grace than age belies, gaining confidence as she drifts past cairns and crosses. She seems to concentrate, pause, close her eyes in thought... then moves along again with purpose. There is sorrow on her tiny child's face, her features almost pinched with inner pain.
Kanika can sense the sadness and grief emanating from some of the newer cairns. So many have been added, so many needlessly lost. Some have identifying spells swirling unseen around them; any demon can tell who's spirit rests there. Others are silent in bleak abandonment. Still others don't house a resting spirit at all; but the hopes of the loved ones that cannot find their missing family members and fear the worst.
Tiny paws make no sound, well versed in stealth with every movement. Kanika stops suddenly, turning left, liquid eyes catching in the sun as they almost glow with a deeper insight. Her gate gains purpose, she has found what she has come for. There at the edge of the small clearing she has crossed, a pine tree, similar to the others yet more perfect in shape, grows with quiet dignity.
Kanika bows her small head as she comes to a stop before this tree. It is bare of marker, save a small carved wood she-demon figure dangling from a lavender ribbon on the lowest branch. The little miss pauses, then delicately pulls a shimmering golden ribbon from the strands of her thick mane. Lifting herself up onto hind legs, she places a fore paw against the craggy bark of the tree. She drapes the ribbon carefully over the bowed branch, then closes her eyes as if lost in thought.
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Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:48 pm
A darker shadow materializes at the edge of the clearing. But the figure has only stood, observing silently the scene in the clearing. Staying close to the trees, barely noticeable as he blends amongst the trees and darkness, Kayin makes his way cautiously toward his small daughter.
His guarded crimson eyes follow her every move as she trails through the meadow. Scenting the area, he is down wind of her, but feels wary none the less that something could easily approach her from any side. Irritation flickers across his features, She has left herself so open, she did not check the perimeter... She's not even noticed I'm on her trail... Just as he is about to call her, Kanika raises herself and pulls her tiny offering from her mane, and his heart clenches in unexpected grief. For a moment, he allows himself to dwell, picturing not Gwenevere their fallen sister, but Vienna, his lost love.
Shaking himself, Kayin quells that pain. I will not allow that thought, she is not gone, just ...lost. I'm going to find her still... His mind whispers of doubt though. Its been so very long. The love in his heart retaliates with hope though. Now that they are Earth side once more, someone must have seen her... Bristling his fur a little, Kayin shakes it off , clearing his head of the inner turmoil that has plagued him for ages in the Inbetween. Eyes once more on Kanika, he steps forward.
"Kanika." She startles from her thoughts, turning the tiny round face that he loves completely toward the sound of his voice. The love he feels and the sadness he sees in her eyes nearly melts him, but at the same time he forces himself to buckle down.
"I've told you, so many times, not to wander off! This was irresponsible...I wasn't even trying and caught you off guard." His demanding presence is met with wide eyed sadness and a gentle defiance as Kanika straitens her stance. Suddenly the elder demon feels himself filled with overwhelming grief, sadness, and profound loss. A picture of Gwen surfaces in his second sight. He clenches his physical eyes closed, a scowl crossing his features.
"Kanika.." Starting to chastise her, Kayin is interrupted as another image materializes in a new wash of grief; Vienna's pale face, eyes sparkling with amusement and love. The elder draws his breath, trying to harden his emotions against his daughter's telepathic barrage. Opening a liquid red eye, he sees her own staring accusingly at him and filling with tears. The little creature has wisdom and grace beyond her small stature, but, she is still a child in most respects. He can take it no more, and kneels before her, nuzzling his face into her amber hair that is so like her mothers. A tear spills over her freckled cheek before Kanika buries her own face deep in her fathers soothing fur.
"Do not lose hope so easily, runt...don't mourn your mother just yet." Letting his guard down, he focuses on soothing the distraught.
"We just made it back to this plane, we will find her here among the other survivors .." Kayin tries to reassure her, but the doubt and hopelessness whisper still in the back of his mind.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:39 pm
Time passes for the living... Kayin strolls along, vacantly lost in contemplation as his smooth stride takes him along a familiar path. It takes no conscious effort, he's been up here so many times over the last year and a half or so since they had made it out of the Inbetween.
A meandering, slightly worn path trails up through the trees and grasses. The Barrows are typically a quiet and forboding place, with few visitors, but some come here to pass the time, or feel a closeness to lost demons. Some hold superstitions that whatever separates this world from the Inbetween is thinner here, and things work differently.
Kayin, lost in his own thoughts, arrives at the tree that he and Kanika had visited, so very many months ago. He does not realize it, until he steps on something that makes an unusual crunch sound. Shaking his head to clear the memories, he looks down as he lifts a large paw. There are crumbs all over, and od little ..fish shapes nearby. A bemused smile flickers across his face as he wipes the "offerings" he knows Kanika has left here. Goldfish crackers.
"She insists on feeding you... you know. " He says aloud, with a final flick of claws to rid himself of the crumbs. "I know you're here.." He adds, casually looking over the piles of old crackers, trinkets, and oddities that adorn the tree. Kanika liked to bring little presents and treats for her lost auntie, but both he and Gwen had decided it was best she not know that the dead demon lingered on in the Blackwoods.
There is only silence, even the birds hesitate to hang about the place very often. A breeze lifts the dark brown hair at the edges of his mane. Kayin eyes a likely patch of clover, then gracefully settles down to a relaxed laying position. His ears twitch, highly alert for anything around, but as usual he hears nothing of her approach."Why are YOU here this fine day...? You're looking haggard, you really ought to sleep more!"Her voice seems to materialize from all around him, and the elder glances around mildly. There is a sort of..shivering feeling to the air, and there she is, standing nearly true to life. Gwenevere tosses her mane haughtily, then grins a most mischievous smile down at her old friend.
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