Completed The Blood That Binds (Naomi)

[Vetari Violet]

As the tiger once again became a woman, or the woman that was a tiger became a woman once more, Vetari could do nothing but blush. This was all very overwhelming to him. Women that could change into tigers? Or, rather, tigers that could change into women? And now she was naked. He had trouble looking away from her, disappointed in himself for his lack of restraint. But then came the condemning thought. She’s so calm and sure of herself that she does not mind flaunting her body like this. I could very easily harvest her now, if I were the kind to- he caught himself before going much further, and a look of concentration and conflict crossed his face. How dare you think such things! There must be other ways, better ways for our race to live than killing others for our survival. Daratur says he once believed as much…but I won’t give up hope so easily. This woman must be protected, from herself if not from my people. He blinked, suddenly remembering there was a nude woman in the room. He blushed again, hastily removing his cloak and holding it out to her. “Please, wrap yourself in this,” he insisted. He had missed what she’d said entirely, seeing her lips move but drowned in his own thoughts at the time. However, by the twinkle in her eye and the way her lips curled, he knew she thought it was quite witty. He chuckled, picking up his deck of fortune cards as a distraction, shuffling them mindlessly. “We truly should get down to business. What sort of reading would you like? I have my cards, here, and know quite a bit of palm reading.”

[B'Naomi Tomva]

Vetari did not seem to have heard her, probably was lost in thought, stunned by her sudden transformation. He offered her his coat, hoping that she wear it. It did not seem like it was built for her curvey frame, but it would serve to cover her. She was perfectly comfortable as she was now, but it was obvious that she was causing thr man some discomfort, though, he had his eyes fixed on her. She doned the cloak with a murrtered plesantry, the red only a shade or two off of her hair. She could still feel the heat from his body lingering in the fabric. The man pulled out a deack of cards and started shuffling them anxiously, telling her her fortune was about to be read. Naomi filled up with exitment and anticipation. Would her fortune be good? What if it was not, would it mean that she was doomed to a life of misery? No, The White One would watch over her, she would be safe in her hands. They were not normal playing cards, they had strange designs on them, flitting into her vison for mere fractions of a second, then dissapearing back into the deck. They way Vetari shuffled was strangly hipnotizing as the cards danced around, seemingly at no effort on his part. She resisted the urge to bat at them playfully, as tantalizing as it was to do so. "What are you doing with those cards? It looks very enchanting," she said, her green eyes full of wonder, shifting from the cards to his face repeatedly. The robe was rough on her bare skin as she shifted to a more comfortable position on the cushion, waiting paciently for the man.

[Vetari Violet]

Vetari smiled, pleased that she seemed so curious. “These are fortune cards. They’re what’s going to help me read your fortune. I’m shuffling them so that Avalis and Lhex can play their hands. I’m but a vessel for the gods, and I interpret their signs.” He knew little of the two gods, save for that they were the gods of divination and fate. He did not need to know more to be sure that they played a great part in his craft. He set the deck before her. “Split the cards, thinking about what you want to know about the future. Don’t tell me, or it may be biased.” However, he already was biased. This woman needed his protection, and he was going to do that the only way he knew how. He was no fighter, but he couldn’t sit idly by as his people harvested this woman. She had to leave while she had the chance. He had to scare her out of the city. Avalis, please, form the future so this girl might live to leave here. Lhex, let the cards fall that she might leave quickly.

[B'Naomi Tomva]

Naomi nodded, and took half of the deck and put on top of the other. She furrowed her brow, thinking about what she might want to know. How coukd she know what she wanted to know if she did not know it yet? She thought about what the burning sensation in her chest was, then changed her mind and thought of when, if ever, she would return to the forest where she was born. The man had talked about his gods, the White One would never aprove. The White One watched over her, ever constant, hanging in the sky at night, while gods you could never see, only when you were dead. It just could not comprehend it. She hoped one day she could join the White One in the sky as a star shape when it was her time. This fortune telling stuff made her think deep thoughts, so she shoke her head to clear them. Naomi had been worried about being harvested every day since her arrival almost a month ago. Which is why she she went everywhere with her Tamo Daggers and a shiv. Oh, and a tiger. All three of which were coated in Bloodroot poison, giving them a redish tint (her claws too). Being merely scratched with one would cause extreme weakness of a full day, rendering the target unable to walk well, let alone fight or harvest her. She could make more of the poison by buying some special roots from an herbalist. Vetari worried for her, a gesture that ment a lot to her, as she had been on her own her whole life, being abandoned at a very young age. She waited for the kind, now robeless man, to speak her future in ever growing anticipation.

OOCBy the way, this is only a few months before she gets captured by slavers.

[Vetari Violet]

She cut the deck, seemingly deep in thought. Vetari waited as she concentrated, shivering slightly. Though he was not completely disrobed, as he still had his wraps and walking clothes on, it was slightly chilly in the cave. It didn’t help that Vetari’s tent was positioned on a rocky outcropping on the wall of the cave rather than hanging like so many of the other buildings he was used to. Though he felt at home in the beauty of the hanging city, there was something about solid ground that made him feel secure. After the woman made her peace with her thoughts, Vetari took the deck and flipped up the first card. He smiled, seeing the card that represented her present state. It was an elegant painting of Myri, goddess of war and battle. On one side of her was an enormous tiger, as tall as the goddess herself was, and on the other she held a bloody sword above her head, as if in victory. “This card represents your present. You’re on a mission, something you hold dear to your heart, and you are determined to accomplish it. Do not get so attached to your ideas that you become blind to the rest of the world. That’s the danger of stubbornness.” He pulled the next card from the top of the deck, glancing at it before placing it to the left of the first. It showed Gnora, goddess of logic and balance, staring at her balanced scales with understanding. “This card represents the past. You have lead a life where things have made sense to you. Something has changed that, and you are out of that place now. Perhaps that’s why you are here in Kalinor. I know not what it might be that has changed your world so much, but you must listen. Change is not always a bad thing. People prefer what they have become accustomed to, but that does not mean that it is what’s best. Sometimes change is necessary for growth and strength.” Though the words may have been more for himself than for her, he still said them. They poured from his mouth like a river, as these prophecies often began to after the card representing the past. He fell into a nearly meditative state, watching her for signs that he was saying things that made sense to her or not. Either way, he continued. “This card represents your future,” he said, drawing the next card from the top and placing it to the right of the other two cards. It was a painting of Nikali, the goddess of slavery and addiction. chained and naked with whip scars across her body and a mask over her face. “You…seem to be headed towards a life of imprisonment, be the chains real or in the mind. Perhaps you will find a substance you cannot live without and it drags you into its clutches. Perhaps you are captured by people who believe you have more worth to them as a slave than a friend. I do not know for certain, but you must be aware of the trappings life offers. Be light on your toes and be aware of what is to come. It’s the only way you might avoid it.” He pulled another card, placing it below the center card. “This card represents the reasons why this future might come to pass.” It was a painting of the goddess Yshul, goddess of thieves and brigands. “It seems your trappings will come in the form of brigands. Perhaps they offer you when ends up holding you in its grasp, or perhaps they take you for themselves. Either way, be wary of anyone who might wish to do you harm. For your doom comes at their hand.” He pulled the next card, placing it above the center card, so to make an equal-armed cross with the five cards. “This card shows us how you might escape this fate, what you can do to change your path so that this entrapment might not come to pass.” It was a picture of Leth, god of the moon and change. He knelt in tall grass and called up to the full moon, enormous and rising above the field. “It seems that to escape this path, you must change something vital to the situation. Perhaps you must change your goals,” he said, pointing to the first card he placed, “as they seem to lead you in this direction. Or, perhaps, you must change the way you intend to accomplish them. Maybe it is a change of the self, your mind set, that must change for this to be averted. I cannot know for certain, but I do know that staying your course now is surely the way to find yourself…” he dropped his finger on the card of Nikali, “…trapped.” He knew what the cards were referring to, and he hoped she could draw the same clue from it that he had. The gods had come together to set this up so that she might live if she listened. Dira was not in the cards. He only hoped she could escape her fate and be free of the Harvest before her steadfast ways brought her to her peril.

OOCPerhaps she interprets the imprisonment card as meaning she won’t return to her home forest? You can’t really go where you please if you’re imprisoned…just a thought!

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[B'Naomi Tomva]

Naomi felt her heart drop to the floor, making her blood run cold. A life in captivity, by marauders no less? No, no, it could not be. There is nothing she feared more than being trapped, as it was against her very nature, being the queen of the jungle. A tear slipped out of her eyes, green as grass, followed by another and another, making them glisten in the faint light. "Oh, th-that is not was what I thought would have awaited me in this life," she sobbed, her face falling with a defeated expression. The man had told her that the only way she could escape this was to change herself, but what change could she make? She was exactly what she wanted to be in this life, a wanderer. Then it hit her. Captivity would mean she would never be able to go home. The realization made a new wave of salt tears flow out of her, dripping off of her chin. Naomi had to leave Kalinor. If she was captured down here, there would be no easy escape. She had to get to a forest or a jungle soon, there she could avoid or eliminate anyone who wished her harm. She would go back to the close town, and find the man had that had helped her get in to Kalinor in the first place, surely he could help her again. “So, what do I owe you for telling my fortune? Thank you by the way, even if it was not the best of news, it is good to know what is coming.” she said somberly, mustering up the strenght to produce a small smile for him, but it did not reach her eyes. “This is kind of a weird question, but, do you know how to get out of this place without anyone knowing?” she asked. The guards would ask too many questions and cast attention on to her, which is something she did not need right now.

[Vetari Violet]

Vetari’s heart broke for her in that moment, seeing the small drops of salt and water drip from her deep green eyes and down her cheeks. He cursed himself inwardly for the task he performed, but hoped that now that she knew, she could change it. This woman was not meant for a life in captivity. Some were, he knew, destined for it and accepted their fate without question. He hoped this one would fight to the end. He took up the edge of his robe, the silken robe she wore, and wiped her tears away with a gentle but sorrowful smile. “There, there, Naomi. Though the cards speak truly, they have shown you a way out. You have come here for a reason, something that would bring you to your doom. But you have changed your path, now. Perhaps this will keep you from this vile…misfortune.” He sighed and hoped he was right. He knew that here she would be captured and used as a surrogate mother, and that she would die of it. He hoped that out there the world would be more forgiving, that there would be none that wished such a beautiful creature harm. He put a hand on hers, trying to comfort her in any way he could. Vetari hated seeing people in distress, and Naomi was no different. “You need not pay me, my lady. I only hope that you might take my words as warning and escape your fate. I don’t wish this upon you, and the…knowledge that you have listened and might escape it is payment enough.” He smiled sadly and patted her hands. In his life very little had come of hope, and it did not buy food for the belly, but he hoped none the less. He hoped that this woman might live. He hoped that his people might find a better way to live without killing innocents. He hoped to one day meet his father. Vetari’s life was built around hope. “There are many ways out of Kalinor, known only to the Symenestra. They are not traveled often, and now is a time of relative peace. Not many will be traveling the secret roads, and I could help you get out. They are a difficult climb, and only Symenestra can navigate them without help. I will help you leave this place, my lady. I will help you make it out of this mountainous prison alive.”

[B'Naomi Tomva]

Vetari’s comfort felt good, and did manage to lift her spirits, if only slightly. He asked for no pay, but she decided she would slip a coin or two into his robe when she gave it back to him. No need to make anyone but herself have hardship. Actually, she could do more than coins. She would slip a small vial filled with two doses of Bloodroot. It did not cost that much for her to make, and it was worth 25 gold mizas in a fair market. The vial was labeled, so he should know what it was, though if he did not, she hoped he would not try to taste it. “Okay, thank you for helping me get out. I will go to my tent and grab my things, then meet you back here, then we can be off, is that alright?” she asked, waiting for a fraction of a second, then disappearing out the tent flap. The red robe fell to the ground, the vial producing a small thump that would be just enough for the man to hear. Right as she exited the tent, an array of golden sparks fell on the web streets as she Shifted into her other, more stealthy form. She tore along the webs, barely making more sound that a mouse on a midnight stroll. Mmm, mice. She soon arrived at her living quarters, where she Shifted again, got to a crawling position and fixed all of her belongings to her back very loosely. Barely a minute passed until she was traveling back to the tent with straps that now perfectly fit her tiger form. She padded into Vetari’s tent, giving him a soft purr as if to say, ‘Hello again, time to go!’ and flicked him with her tail. The tent was illuminated with gold once more, and she repeated, now in common, “Are you ready to go, I have all my stuff here. Lead the way!”

[Vetari Violet]

Vetari nodded in acknowledgement. He smiled to himself as Naomi darted from his tent, embracing the excitement of the moment. He’d never done something so devious as helping a foreigner escape Kalinor, and the way his heart pounded was driving him wild. ”Viratas, hear me now,” he said in Symenos. “I do this not to harm my people, but to save this girl. Her blood is precious, as is all blood, and she will surely die if she stays here much longer. I save her at the cost of one who will never live…as is the weight of my chains.” He looked down, not wishing to admit he was conflicted. He heard a soft thump outside and, curious, he decided to investigate. Upon exiting his cozy little tent on a ledge at the edge of the Bazaar he found his red silk robes in a pile on the ground, and a tiger shimmying its way across the silken bridges that made up the “roads” of Kalinor. He smiled, thinking to himself that the thump must have been the brooch as it hit the ground. He gathered it up quietly and tucked it away inside, as it would only hamper his movements when climbing. He’d discover the presents she had left him after she was long safe. He quickly looked around his tent, searching for anything that might help in their ascent. He had no climbing equipment; he needed none for himself and had never thought he would be helping anyone escape Kalinor. It was said that sometimes Symenestra helped people through the quiet caves, but alone it was nearly impossible for a foreigner. He hoped he was up to the task in helping her make it out. It was going to be a challenge for sure, as she couldn’t scale walls like a Symenestra. She returned quickly in her tiger form with a great pack full of her traveling gear. She flicked him with her tail, and he let out a quiet chuckle. Beautiful, mysterious, magical and playful; this woman was something out of a dream. Sorrow struck him with the knowledge that he would likely never see her again. This would be the first and last time she would grace his life with her presence. He nodded at her comment, heading out of the tent and adjusting his chitinous armor shirt. “You’re going to have to hold on to the edges of this when we get to a place you can’t scale. This is going to be a very difficult climb, and I’ve only been here once or twice.” He started along the silken roads, hoping she would follow quickly behind. He had the grace most Symenestra had innately, but he had never become truly practiced in it. Some days he wished he had the grace of the aerial dancers, spinning and twirling in the air with their colored silks. Today he wished only to see Naomi safe in daylight.

[B'Naomi Tomva]

Naomi blinked in acknowledgment, curious about how strong the strange armor actually was, and if it would hold her weight. He left the room, quickly walking along the great web. A moan of a beast was heard from deep down in the casym, as if beckoning them to fall. But she was having so much fun following him! She danced across the web following him, her bare feet hitting the silken roads gracefully, producing small thuds. She nearly fell off one time, and decided that it was the time to stop. She Shifted, coating the man in gold flecks. Ah, this was much better, so much more traction! She hoped they would not encounter any guards on their way, as she think it might displease the man at the way she would disable them. Temporarily of course. Naomi’s tail flicked back and forth across the thick webbing to keep her balance, seeming to hover a few inches above the ground. She could hear guards walking around on other ropes, and she thought that their paths would not intersect. Soon they arrived at the place she supposed they were going to climb, it looked very tough. There was only a few handholds and cracks on the cliff face, which were far enough apart that it would be a strain to reach them. Her ears flattened to her face as she looked up at the man, green eyes shining. She tilted her head as if to say, ‘Well, you first. You are the one with the climbing hands.’