Fame in Blood (Open)

[Aerika]

26th of Spring, 512 AV Aerika was a simple little girl, other than the fact she was a kelvic, a fighter, and marked by the gods Kelwyn; if one did not know these things, she would appear a normal, young girl. The little girl had never been properly raised by any parent like figures, so she had to learn how to live on her own. Over the course of a few months, she has most of what life appears to be; kill, or be killed. Aerika lived by this rule, yet she was still a cheerful young girl that had learned to fear nothing. Her white dress reached her knees yet she still wore loose black pants, though it was getting warm enough that she soon wouldn't need them, and her hair was a light blonde, nearly resembling white hair. For some, she appeared to look like one of the mythological women from an island that sounds as though it had come straight out of a children's book. These women were known as konti, living on an island of white, yet to Aerika, it held nothing interesting for her to truly care. She knew who she was, she knew what she was, and she also knew the gods were on her side. Walking down the roads of Sunberth, a few clouds sheltered her from the direct sunlight, yet most of the walk was done with the sun high over her in the sky. She was looking for more food, for she hadn't gotten anything in two days. Aerika was hungry, her body trembling from the empty stomach, yet she paid no mind and continued toward her favored butcher shop. The shop was run by a man by the name of Marty, or at least, this is what he told her to call him. He always had fresh meat, though he never shared how he managed to get some of the exotic creatures he had. His food was always splendid, wrapped up nicely and salted just enough to add a certain flavor while helping it last for a longer period of time. Her stomach growled at her, reminding her she was hungry, so Aerika stopped her thoughts and focused on the task at hand. The kelvic needed food, and she had plenty of coin for it. The coins, won or taken from dead men, a job she had been doing herself either some self defense or for pleasure. Most could live their entire lives and never know the feeling of taking another life, yet here she was, already use to the idea, and taking her blood money to buy food. Turning a corner, Aerika found her favorite shop, the butcher shop run by Marty, and the smell of fresh meat filled the air around her. She approached the shop and saw Marty standing in his usual spot, chopping down on a fresh collection of meat on his counter. Blood dripped from his counter as well as from a few of the animals that were hung by their feet from the ceiling. "Hey there fox! I got some fresh deer meat over there if your interested!" Aerika nodded at his welcome and looked around, the deer clearly visible, yet she wanted a new taste, till something new caught her eye. "What type of creature is this?" she asked pointing toward a rather large monstrous looking creature hanging in the corner. "Ah that?" he asked, giving her an awkward look, "That would be a nothing more than a lion miss, would you like the normal weight?" Aerika give the meat a sniff and nodded her head in disapproval, instead looked around more, finding nothing truly exciting, so she pointed to a rabbit on the counter still, not even prepared yet and said "I'll just have another one of those." Marty nodded his head, removed the animal he was currently working on and instead worked on preparing the rabbit. After a few long moments, Aerika paid the man a couple of golden coins and exited, taking her normal sitting spot to eat the freshly wrapped meat. Once her stomach was satisfied, the small girl leaned back and began to look into the sky, the sun finally hiding behind a few buildings and the clouds were left to glow with color. She found their sight to be comforting, something about them just made her relax, though not even she could figure why. A small breeze of wind rolled through the streets and Aerika began to dose off, catching herself and refusing to fall asleep in a place like that again, she stood up and started off in one direction, not caring were she went. The streets thinned, most would not stay out after dark, but most who would weren't known to be killers. The sun set, the streets grew silent except for occasional people making conversation of mugging, and she kept walking, trying to find a new place to sleep. Something told her she would be up all night, but she refused to listen to such negativity, regardless of how truthful it sounded.

[Roka]

Roka had taken to the streets, enjoying the few days he would vacation inside the city walls. It was not much of a holiday, but the city ceased to surprise him after a short time. It became easy to expect what would not be expected and stay alive. As long as one remained vigilant and stayed anonymous, it seemed to work to your advantage. Though the people of the city were varied and he found that didn't rein true for all its residents.

A scurrying vermin ran past Roka's watchful gaze. Its pattering footsteps echoed in the back alleys just ahead. If it weren't for the satisfying hunt he'd partaken in before coming he would have found this too irresistible a temptation. Even now, the rat might as well have been a roast on legs, to compare it to others sense of taste.

He kept walked, disappointed to not have given chase. There were just too many people present and not enough reason to do so. He had been very selective in who he had given his Kelvic identity to through the years, even if deducing occurred it was not like him to loosen his tongue. He met many like this of their kind. Secretive, cautious, and wishing to live as normally as possible without having to worry about slavers, or judgments that would most certainly reign upon them when they were revealed.

Turning the corner he identified a surprising sight, it had been a while since he'd encountered the odd creature before him: a fellow Kelvic, but not just any, another fox and a rather eccentric one at that. She was of the few he identified that cared not who knew of her true self and transformed willingly and from his short time with her, often as well. He had found her amusing, even in his drunken state when he'd been swayed into a woman’s spell, he still found the humor in her actions and felt some allegiance to her. It was a bond he could not explain and chose not to dwell on. It was that same bond, perhaps their shared species, which compelled him to approach her.

She smelled like fresh meat. He could only assume she'd hunted it. Then again he hadn't seen her in the Northern Wilds, and this smell was a little off. The speckle of blood that dotted her clothing and lip, did not surprise him, she had been a surprise in and of herself and much like the city he expected nothing but what he did not expect.

He wordlessly approached, placing himself beside her with eyes never stopping on her only looking ahead. When close enough for only her to hear he tilted his to her with a careful purr flowing through his throat and smiled widely. A smile full of sharp canines used to rip at meat. A trait they shared. "So how does the blood-stained fox fair these days?" he teased in hope that any hard feelings could be left behind them.

[Aerika]

The small kelvic's eyes were falling, barely able to hold themselves up as she wandered the streets for a new sleeping location. Her feet were much louder than on a normal day, slapping across the ground with a slight echo from the nearby buildings. A rat passed by her, running away from something, but too tired to think, she didn't even care. Suddenly a face emerged next to her's, and Aerika jumped from surprise, adrenaline filled her body, allowing her eyes to open and her body to move. She looked up, a familiar face, followed by a voice that she remembered yet couldn't put a name to. She had seem him on occasion with the Crimson Edge but there was a time before had, something about him was far more familiar, even though she couldn't put her hand on it. He knew her street name, it has been forever, 'The Blood-Stained Fox', the thought forcing her to look at her hands. Blood from the meat she had just eaten still easily visible on her arms and forearms. Her name was a memory, one she could put aside to offer this familiar face a smile, though she could not remember his name. Aerika still offered a warm welcome, "Well hello again, nice to see a friendly face tonight." The wind calmly blowing through, offering a warm breeze, making her hair dance to the side slightly. She tried to think of his name, think of where she met him before, but when she couldn't place it, she tried to think of something else to say, to hold a conversation. "So what brings you here?" the only thing coming to mind, yet she wished she could think of more. The moonlight finally began to show, lighting up the sky just enough to see his face better, similar to the light in the tavern. His original memory came back to her, the kelvic fox that was with the woman that smelled of death. His hair was just as long as it was back them and his voice no different, yet he smelled much better than that day. He was also at the training session for the Crimson Edge, he was with the group and even seen other times. His name was Roka, the kelvic that was seen in his human form more than his true form, an odd thing to the little kelvic girl, but still something he did. She could tell from just meeting him, though she had never seen his true form, he was a much different fox than herself.

[Roka]

Looking over her she seemed different then he remembered. He could not place the reason, he didn't know here well enough to try. She did seem troubled though, and he refused the tug to wrap an arm around her in comfort. He knew he would not take kindly to such an action at her age, so doubted she would appreciate the gesture.

A swinging door opened across the street from their location, shining a light on them. They were so very different at first glance, but underneath it all, so very alike. Her hair pale and icy and eyes like blue glass. His hair was a pure shade of black and grey, and eyes rusty and gold. She was, at least how he remembered her, was innocent, curious, and feisty; while he was withdrawn and quiet. Perfect opposites.

He looked up toward the sky, the glow of the moon striking his cheeks in a pale glow. "I'm just enjoying the change of pace." a chuckle bubbled up in his voice. He would remove himself from the splendor of the wild and unmarred lands, for the desolation of a broken city. It was a strange thing to do, but something he practiced none the less. Just to walk the streets, and come across company upon the street just like now, was something he needed occasionally, if not just tolerated. It was a thin line.

When he looked back to her, he had only noticed how he felt like a tower over her. He'd never been very tall or large, but still being a male had reached decent proportion. This petite fox was very small though. He hadn't discovered his soft spot for another fox until her. She was valued in a way he could not explain.

"So little fox, what are your plans for tonight?"

[Aerika]

Aerika looked up at the fellow kelvic with a strange look, trying to see what he found so interesting in her. "I was looking for a new place to sleep, the Crimson people are too noisy and my usual sleeping spot, well people have started tripping on me." Her eyes were starting to fall again, but she whipped her eyes and looked back up with full eyes. She may have said that the Crimson was too noisy, but in truth, she did not like crowds, she had never had to be in crowds. Even though she knew she was not suppose to, she feared being in a large group, she felt as though she could not see everything, could not move, and forced her to be exposed and alone. The only way she found she could get rid of that fear is to simply not be in a large crowd, she couldn't be fearful if there was nothing to force her to be. Aerika noticed a drop of water hit her head, perfectly in the middle of her forehead, between her eyes, and making it obvious of the up coming rain. She noticed several people ducked their heads and fled to nearest shelter. Aerika on the other hand, stood there, completely unmoved by the rain. Letting it hit her, the little girl's dress began to cling to her body before her pants did. Her body gave an appearance that it had begun to glow, the water reflecting the little light from the streets. The night was still warm, so the rain felt nice, not too cold, and instead, soothed her, made her want to hold her arms out to accept it. Instead, she watched the other kelvic, she was interested to she how he would react to the rain, would he flee like the humans or stand there like she was?

[Roka]

He smiled. He knew he couldn't have ever stayed inside the Crimson Edge camps. The unease alone would drive him mad. He was about to respond when he saw her struck by a small droplet of water. He watched as it slid down the plains of her face. His first instinct was to reach out his hand and wipe the water from her face, with his thumb, but as he went to the droplets began to pour down upon them. He felt them dancing upon his shoulders and seeping into his clothes.

He looked up at the darkened sky, covered in angry black clouds. He wasn't particularly worried about rain, but the storm the city had endured made him shiver less from the chill of the water and more from the memory of that night. It was not a pleasant one. He didn't like large bodies of water and it seems for that night Sunberth had become one, and even though he remained underground, it wasn't very enjoyable. Still, the recent heat and his tired body seemed to accept the rain as a washing of the previous days. He stood acceptingly in it and then looked back at Aerika whom seemed to enjoy it more than him and laughed a sincere laugh that was nearly drowned out by the patter along the pavement.

"Looks like the Crimson Edge should be getting a little soggy by now." he chuckled rain dripping from his eyelashes and chin in constant streams. He thought about the comical sight of the Crimson Edge prospects sleeping upon the ground soaking up the moisture through their shabby sleeping mats.

“So are you heading to the Inn, or do you plan to weather the rain on the streets?”

[Aerika]

Aerika began to think about the Crimson, their tents, without any tarps over them, all of the crew members getting wet plus the ground getting muddy. Sometimes it was good to be different, but it was also bad, proved to challenging to find places to sleep and places to go without someone know her. The small fox was slightly confused by the other fox's question, nearly forgetting about the rain, but unsure what an inn was overall. Aerika remained in her usual pose, looking straight up at the tall man, easily within 'breathing-upon' range, and asked "What is an inn?" Her head tilted as the water continued to take her head. The roads were finally at their darkest, the rain at its heaviest, and the city's streets completely empty. The little girl's ears twitched as the rain poured into the streets, each droplet making its own unique sound. Her attention quickly converted back to Roka as she watched the rain hitting him as well. His body was soaked, his clothes clinging to his body, showing his entire figure, his body looking more bone than muscle, but still very capable. The thought made her look at her own clothing, her dress even clinging to her legs, and allowing her to see right through to her skin. As she noticed her upper body showing, her legs still hidden under her pants, and her snow cloud along with its snowflakes dancing nearly completely visible under her dress. oocsorry for the lame post, couldn't think of much to write

[Roka]

Roka raised a questioning brow at her obvious lack of understanding. "Well, it's a place where people pay for a room for a night, to rest." He struggled to find the appropriate words for a befitting explanation, one that she would understand. "Like the Tavern where we met. That is also an inn." he continued a wry smile crossing his face as he continued to think about what she had asked and he shook his head.

"You mean to tell me, you really didn't know? Even though I'm sure you've been to one at least a couple times?" he asked as a laugh begin to rise in his voice and the more he dwelled on the thought a chuckle rippled over his saturated body, flinging drops of liquid to the ground beneath them.

He tried to remember how he had been when he was learning things like this. How he had behaved and how he must have seemed to others. It wasn't hard to remember but still the comedy of it was quite amusing to him.

He stretched out an open hand to pat her upon her mess of powdery hair, now clinging to her body in wiry strands, much like his, and smile. "Are you hungry you silly girl?" he asked smiling at her.

[Aerika]

Aerika began to think of the Pig's Foot, a smelly place full of strange people, and the very kind man named Merv who owned it. She never would have thought that it was a place people would stay for anything longer than a couple of hours. With Roka's last question, Aerika placed her hand on her stomach, she couldn't remember the last time she had eaten, yet she didn't feel hungry either. She looked up at the other fox kelvic and said "No I'm not hungry right now, but are you? I have spare coin if you need some." Within the small amount of time that they had been talking, the rain had already begun to slow; only a small drizzle continued to keep them yet. The mark of a cloud and her snowflakes started to glimmer slightly as the moonlight touched them once more. Aerika noticed and looked down at it, fascinated with its appearance again. The kelvic looked up again to Roka, wondering to herself why he was even out at this hour.

[Graecus Kaer]

Graecus was walking down the streets while it rained upon him. He had his arms wide and his head tilted back so the rain could easily hit his face and wake him up. The raining slowly began to stop, and he looked back down at the streets. Empty, but how come he could hear talking of two people. A man and a woman. The Kelvic began to wonder to himself what were the possibility that two people would be wondering at this hour, in the now drizzle of rain. He smiled at the thought of getting some coin off of them, maybe if he was lucky some valuables that he could sell tomorrow at the market. Quickly, as the voices got closer, Graecus slid into the shadows in the nearest alleyway. The two seemed to walk right past him without seeing him. Graecus sniffed the air after they passed and he could smell a difference to them then the normal night walkers. They smelled Kelvic. Graecus stepped out of the shadow behind them and matched their pace but kept in unison with one of them so it sounded like he wasn't there. After a minute or two Graecus decided it was his turn to speak. "Well, hello brother and sister of the wild," Graecus spoke in a rather chipper tone compared to the time. "If it isn't nice to see two people whom I share such a close bond to at this hour. Please I hope I didn't startle you. Ah, you two make such a good couple." Graecus spoke the last phrase smiling even if they were looking at him or not.