Past Defense (Solo)

[Aello]

Timestamp: Winter 80, 511 AV Aello stepped across the snow. The bed of white, tainted with the tree's waste. Speckles of brown and black. Flakes, from their curled undersides, gone dry with the incessant howling of the wind, the cool touch of Morwen herself. The air itself, so dense within the forest, despite the sparseness of all the surroundings, was icy too. Clouds of silver sprouting from the girl's lips as she tried to draw it into her lungs. As she forced it to pierce her chest, cutting against the inside of her throat as it slid down into the soft expanse of fluttering pink tissue. She could feel herself choking on it really, as she struggled to make it sustain her. As she struggled to keep moving, as her feet left large dips in the terrain. Prints in her wake. She could feel the moisture sinking into her toes as her nostrils flared. The edges growing red with the cold as the folds of fabric; of her dress, fluttered in the nearly inaudible winds, cast by the relaxed rise and fall of Zulrav's chest. His own life force. After a few chimes spent in silent motion, Aello paused. Coming to rest towards the center of a small, snow-lined clearing. Tufts of sparkling white crawling up the length of nearby trees. Settling into the small hollowed-out spaces. The diamond backs. The aurist smiled weakly, as the wind delicately swept her hair away from her shoulders, lifting it on a gently undulating current for a time, before replacing it. This is as good a place as any, Aello thought, as she pulled her hood onto her head, to help block the incessant nipping of Morwen and Zulrav combined from getting to her ears. Considering the rest of them shouldn't be up for a time. Not until the sun has had more time to gather its strength, and poke its head out from behind the clouds. The soft grey patches, which dotted the sky. Covering the big blue. Sighing, Aello thought it best, considering she had not traveled too far from where her friends lay in wait, that she should do her best to be quiet, as she made use of her time. Just in case, they hadn't woken up since she left them, or they had, and were simply hoping to get back to sleep. Knowing that each of their ears possessed a strength that her own did not, Aello felt it best to simply shield the soles of her boots, so as to minimize the crunching noise she made with each of her swift movements. Slowly, without sound, the aurist closed her eyes. She pictured the forest. Walls of trees surrounding her in every which direction. Their dark, gnarled trunks and branches, barren, reaching for the sky. She imagined their roots, jutting out of the forest floor, winding over each other as though they were a pit of snakes, reaching for her. The newly fallen snow, a glistening white when graced by the sun, dusting everything. Keeping it shrouded in its soft coat. Aello pictured herself. Standing in the midst of it all. So seemingly out of place next to something so grand. Another of the world's creations. Another sort of life. She felt strangely insignificant, as she pictured her size in comparison to the whole forest. In comparison to the trees. Even the younger ones, with trunks she could easily snap. Or perhaps, chip away at with her daggers. She felt small, thinking of her tiny feet resting against the uneven earth. Wiggling in her boots. The edges of the snow it warmed, seeping through the fabric, through her socks, dousing her toes with its cool touch. Its playful licks. She could feel herself shuddering a little, as she stood. Her toes dancing as they tried to keep warm. Her eyelids fluttering, as she forced them to remain shut. She could feel how hard the ground was beneath her. How strong; sturdy, unwilling to fall, to break, or otherwise, let her through. For, unlike the snow, it didn't want her to leave its mark. The memory of her, the pain of her step as she eased herself along as gracefully as she could manage. Aello took a deep breath, in through the nose, and out through her mouth, as she pictured her foot. What rested behind the thin veil of soft leather and cheap cotton fabric. She pictured her pale skin. Her toes, wiggling. All of them, from the fat one to the pinky. Her soft pink nails. The wobbling bone which made them move, running towards her ankle. The gentle arch of her foot, the rise of the knobby bone. She smiled, as she thought of her toughened soles, from all those years ago, on the rocky shores of Zeltiva. The place from whence she had come to be. What the sun light felt like there, in comparison to here. How it felt on her feet to run across burning sand. She could feel her face burning, and then lose feeling, as the first of the shield trickled out of her skin. Slipping across the bottom of her boot, just below her boot, and then, to the outer sole. She could sense it trickling, covering every inch in its gel. A consistency rather akin to soulmist, but, not at all the same. Aello concentrated deeply, imagining that this shield would block out all sound. That it would cover the sole of her boot in its entirety. She imagined the gel spreading. Gliding along as though it were water perched at the top of a window pane. Raindrops, awaiting their chance to fall. To have the time of their lives, before they fell away into oblivion. The girl's lips curled into a small smile as she pictured it all. The shield, growing, expanding. Shimmering in the light. So softly, it was almost unnoticeable. She pictured this for so many chimes. Strengthening the image, and the shield within her mind. But after a time, enough was enough, there was only so much that could be done, and finally, Aello opened her eyes. She looked down at her feet, to see nothing out of the ordinary. Shrugging, Aello took a step forward, and found that the crunching of snow underfoot was not as deep. Not as loud, not as booming. Smiling to herself, she realized that her shield had worked. Although, it was a bit uneven. Even so, she felt as though it would do, and decided to head onto far less trivial matters.

[Aello]

Aello's hands slipped past the slit in the fabric. The narrow fold that fell away, exposing her pale flesh. Shivering in the cool air, as goosebumps rose against its length. Her fingertips brushed up against the skin. The nails gliding across the gentle bumps. Caressing it, as small tremors shot up the length of her thighs, into her hips. Her head fell back, her neck extending as her hair dripped down the length of her shoulders, past the center of her back. Her legs were growing numb now, as her fingers reached the edge of the daggers. The dark hilts. Her pale, trembling skin morphing against the side of them. Bending to their will. To compensate for their presence. Slowly, her fingers glided along, curling around the hilt of each dagger, until her palms pressed comfortably against its whole. She could feel herself circling it hungrily, as her head rolled along her shoulders, back into place. As her smile widened knowingly, and her eyes sparkled. Reflecting the light cast in the snow. Gingerly, the aurist lifted her weapons from their sheaths; sending their familiar metallic ring, their first breath of life, into the harsh winter air. As she cast them at her sides, their sharp ends resting just below each of her elbows, her thumbs danced. Trailing across the length of each weapon, as she twirled them idly, marveling in their familiar weight before returning them to their more natural position. Before bending her knees a little, and easing herself into a half-hearted crouch. As soon as the girl had slipped onto the balls of her feet, she took a cautious step forward, as she brought her right hand up. Sweeping the cursed dagger from its low-lying place, into the air, as though she were trying to draw her clenched fist against the lower portion of someone's chin. Seconds later, Aello was repeating the simple motion with her left hand, as she stepped forward again, ignoring the prickling of her ears as they picked up the subtle sound of her step. The nearly inaudible crunch as she pushed the snow beneath her. She thought idly of her foot, of that little portion of her shield, which wasn't doing as she had intended. The hole in her work, which needed to be filled. She imagined it filling, and took another step forward, bringing her arms out to the sides, holding them on either end of her head. She could feel her shoulders falling back, her chest coming forward, as she listened for the crunch. That stupid crunch. The reminder that she had failed, at least in part. The crunch that was still there, for her magic would not obey. For it was still her master, and she, not the master of it. Growling inwardly as her brow furrowed, frustrated with herself, with her many shortcomings, Aello swept her arms in. Bringing her clenched fists together. Her gaze hardened, fire rising in her eyes, as her chest began to rise and fall a little more rapidly. Her blades flashed angrily in the sunlight, dangling before her eyes. The metal on constant display, as they pushed outwards. Directed at either of her sides. As she bit her bottom lip, to keep any sounds from escaping her, Aello pushed her hands up a bit, as far as she could stretch, before circling them back down. Driving them angrily past her slender form, their points cutting through an unseen opponent which had settled behind her. As soon as her blades had come to the edge of their swing, Aello brought them forward a little, so that they rested at her sides, before taking another step forward, and raising her left arm. She brought it across her chest, towards her right shoulder, before following up with the cursed blade. Bringing it under her left arm, and towards her center. The metal twisting outwards, to rake another foe. As soon as her foot hit the ground, Aello's body turned, back towards the direction it had come from. With the swift movement of her foot, came the even more rapid movement of her right arm, which twisted away from her left, which had lowered a bit. To cut defensively across her chest. The dagger rested across the length of her arm, as her arm whipped about. The blood of the cursed dagger sinking into the metal, seemingly sliding towards its tip as it cut through the air with a soft whistle. Its end dancing away from the girl's flesh, as it threatened to sever all ties which held the air together. Aello's arm seemed to fly, threatening to get away from her as she turned a little more, the fabric of her dress fluttering along with her, as she forced herself to halt, and pull the cursed dagger back into her side, as her left hand shot forward. Punching the air directly in front of her, before she forced it out, and towards her left side. Her coiled muscles jumping as her heart began to beat a little faster, as she stepped forward once more, and brought her untainted blade to the far right, past her right shoulder, before bringing it back around. Sweeping it in a wide arc, that matched the gentle curve of the previous night's moon. Aello could feel her heart drumming in her chest, as she paused a moment, to simply peer around at her surroundings, and catch her breath. This never does get any petching easier, she thought, as she scanned the line of trees, wondering if anything was about. Sensing nothing, she glanced down at her feet. Her boots scattered with flurries of snow. She could sense her shield, she thought, if she truly concentrated. The uneven nature across her sole. The holes. The empty spaces. The numerous imperfections that existed when still a novice. Or in her mind, a failure. Or perhaps, even just an amateur. Pulling her eyes away as a low, guttural sound rumbled in her throat, Aello brought her left hand back down to her side for a moment, before slowly raising it. It slid across the length of her chest, forming a protective cross as she stepped forward, and punched the air with her right hand, before bringing it back down, towards her left hip, as though trying to rake it across the body of something vile. Faster, she told herself, this will never do.

[Aello]

Instantly, Aello's right hand shot up, towards her left shoulder. The metallic edge of the blade shimmering in the sunlight, as the blood seemed to cower in fear. Dripping away into the recesses as Aello's breath came a little faster. As her heart hammered out a tune for her to move by. As soon as her blade had reached its peak, she drew it back out, in a relatively straight line, towards her opposite shoulder, while her left hand inched away from her chest, and then cut out. Her arm sweeping out towards her side, as she slowly turned her body again. Easing her foot's movements into those of her upper body to the best of her ability. Her head turned slowly, peering from left to right. Her glare settling on many of the trees, their spindly branches trembling in the wind. Again, Aello turned, her arms twisting with her slender form, as she glided uneasily across the terrain. Her feet sloshing, and sliding through the snow. After another few calculated steps, Aello drew her left hand back in, tucking it in against her chest. The blade's end resting silently by her elbow, as her right hand crept out. Flinging outwards, towards the opposite end of her body, Aello turned. Her body twirling through the snow. Leaving uneasy circles in her wake, as her head began to spin along with the rest of herself. Bile seemed to rise within the girl's throat. She could taste it. Feel it stinging as it slid up the narrow passage. Suddenly, the girl forced herself to stop spinning. Her stomach churned, lurching with the ongoing momentum, before falling silent, awaiting another step to guide its travel. Slowly, Aello drew her right hand back in. Forming a protective "X" over her chest with the aid of her left arm, and the dagger it held. The girl stepped forward slowly, as her right hand slid up, next to the side of her face. She could feel her knuckles delicately brushing up against her cheek. So cold; that it sent tremors down the length of her spine, before she lost all feeling. With trembling fingers, Aello forced the blade out to her side, before stepping forward, and bringing her remaining dagger out of its tuck. She forced it forward, swinging it from its lowly place, into a position far higher. The metal edge raking out, towards the air's chest, as she brought it up, past the opposite end of her face. As soon as it had reached its highest point, she lowered it a little, holding her arm in front of her chest, as she stepped forward, and punched outward, with the opposite arm, before dragging it back in. That's it, the aurist told herself. Keep going. Faster and faster. Push yourself, Aello insisted, as she stepped forward again, before swinging her leg back around. Twisting her body, as she thrust both of her blades out, and to her sides, before pushing them upwards, and then drawing them back in. She could feel the cool air her knuckles forced against each other. Buffeting her, torturing her with their incessant biting as they came close, but never enough to touch. To feel the gentle caress of each other's skin and bone, fitting perfectly into each other. As they neared, Aello swept her hands down, before whisking them back up, the right diagonally past her right shoulder, and the left in the opposite direction. Now finish this madness, Aello instructed herself, her eyes flashing as her shielded soles ran across the snow. Crunching almost inaudibly as flurries flew in her wake. As she brought her arms back down to her sides, and then, tucked her left arm in, across her chest. Her right arm came down, slashing past her right hip, before coming to the center, to join her other arm. As soon, as they had come close, Aello twisted her blades, pointing them out, towards her sides as she darted forward. Her arms swinging a little as her legs pushed frantically up against the ground. She could hear herself gliding a bit as her body dipped, as her chin fell against her collar bone; as she tucked it in. She could see her body spinning, as her arms came out, as her palms, holding the blades, hit the ground. As her legs pushed up against the ground, one final time. Sending a rain of beaten snow into the air, as they became suspended in the air, and then slowly, pushed towards her head. Swinging like a wheel as her hands pushed up against the ground, pushing her whole body away, she twisted, coming forward, and then, fell to the ground. Her weapons held in her hands, her arms splayed by her sides. Her shield slipping away; her boots slamming against the ground with a loud thwack. Her head cushioned, her back too, by the endless bed of white. So much for that, Aello thought, as she pushed her arms up, and twisted the blades towards the ground, before pulling them back down, the tips running through the snow. She could feel the muscles in her hands rippling as her flesh jumped. As her entire body tensed; as she eased herself into a sitting position, and forced herself onto her feet. Ignoring the snow that clung to her skin, turning it red. Ignoring the snow that clung to the fabric of her dark cloak, and to that of her simple dress. She ignored everything, the crunching of snow underfoot, the rapid rise and fall of her chest, her thundering heart, her shallow breath, as her eyes locked onto a gnarled old tree. With deep roots, running through the ground. Snaking towards her. She could feel her blades coming up, flicking away droplets of moisture as she ran for that tree. Her arms swinging, rising all the more until she stopped. Dead in her tracks, all of a sudden; her fingers unfurling as she thrust both daggers at the center of that tree. She watched them spin, glowing gold as they went after their target. As the first lodged in the tree's hollows, and the second swept past its side, only to imbed itself in the roots of another. Grunting, Aello muttered under her breath, "that will do." She straightened herself out slowly, and glared at her daggers. Sheathed within the world. The flesh of something so unkind, it seemed, in that it surrounded her always. For so many moons now, that she had lost count. "Yes, that will do," she whispered, as her eyes sparkled, and she retrieved her things, putting them back in their proper place, before she lost herself in shadow. Slinking off to go and find that which she had left behind, for a time.

[Emblem]

Congratulations! You Get Glorious Experience! Aello Skills Dual Wielding- 5 XP Shielding- 4 XP Acrobatics- 3 XP Meditation- 3 XP Lores Pushing Oneself Blocking the Cold Comments : A very nice thread as always Aello. Hopefully the XP makes sense to you, and if not, go ahead and shoot me a PM!