Ocean's Last Breath [Nathan Longstride]

by **Cachet** on September 29th, 2011, 11:53 am

The woman wiped the tears away from her eyes when he asked what he was getting into. It seemed to relieve a great deal of pressure from her. So much that she almost managed a smile…almost. She then spoke again to him in a low tone.

“Her gifts have been torturing her, she sees things that she can’t explain…horrible things. And she is gifted in projection. Just keep her alive until I return with help.” She said as she then took off toward town leaving Nathan with the woman in need.

The woman was looking down at the blade she was holding in her hands. It was steel and had runic markings in it. But was interested Nathan the most was the dark interesting liquid on the cutting edge of the blade. It wasn’t blood…thankfully. But it was something else. Maybe a poison or something? When he drew close he would hear her whisper just loud enough for him to hear. “She worries…but it will all be over soon”

It was strange she seemed serene, almost like there was no way what the other woman said could be true. She was calm and collected. But then again many people who were set on action were indeed calm in knowing what they were going to do. There was a sense in finality in her voice. Like she was indeed going to take a course of action, and none were going to stop her. She knew what she thought had to be done. Her mind was scattered and she was done being tortured by what she saw and heard. She looked at the blade, her face and emotion hidden from Nathan by her long blond hair. She was breathing calmly, breathing in and out slowly. As if to gather herself for action.

She did look up for a little out over the ocean. She closed her eyes listening to the waves of the ocean. It lulled her some and helped her calm herself. She was debating something, that could be seen in the way she was acting. She sighed some and then after a few moments looked back down at the dagger she was holding. She felt it’s weight in her hands, it would be her release in all this. She was done with this place; with this torture. She was sure none would stop her now.

by **Nathan Longstride** on September 29th, 2011, 8:48 pm

The assumption that the woman was crying was proven when she wiped her eyes while Nathan spoke. He wondered if the woman kneeling threatened her, or it was because the woman threatening herself? Even with the explanation from the dismayed Konti, he was confused. As he watched the woman to town, Nathan tried to piece it together, and if fell through his hands like sea water. What gifts of this woman was torturing her? Nathan saw things all the time that he can't explain, but suicide was never his thought the end it. And what was projection? It sounded magical, something Nathan knew little about.

Nathan walked over to the woman kneeling, and crouched down himself. He studied the blade in her hand, the steel carved with runes. He was quick to notice the liquid on the sharp edge of the blade. He had seen blood before, and he knew that wasn't what was on the steel dagger. Nor was the woman wounded. So what was it? Poison? And than the woman spoke, mentioning that "she" was worried. Not her herself, but a she that the Konti knew. A shiver went down his spine, chilling his bones, and it wasn't from the autumn breeze.

Besides gazing at the ocean once, the Konti woman let her blond hair fall over her eyes, hiding her face from Nathan. But she had saw him first, and she could probably see his boots, so there was no doubt that his presence was noted. But she never once glanced at him. She had eyes only for that dagger. The dagger was what needed to be seperated from the woman.

"That's a nice dagger you have there. I actually collect daggers, and would love to buy it from you. So maybe if you hand it to me, I'll pay some miza, and we can talk this out rationally. Maybe I can show you a hobby less dangerous, like swimming." Nathan didn't take his eyes off the woman. His right hand hung at his side, ready to lunge if she made any move to plunge the dagger in herself. Or him, for that matter. When men see red, they stopped when blood was drawn. When women saw red, you might as well tie the noose yourself before she can get ahold of yourself. But, he pushed that all aside, and gave her a small smile. "My name is Nathan. May I ask for your's?"

An odd sight, a Konti and human crouched near the ocean, one holding a dagger ready to use it. When Kelwyn had their bouts of random desires, they sure delivered.

by **Cachet** on October 3rd, 2011, 12:02 pm

The woman laughed a little under her breath obviously not playing into Nathan’s little ploy. She shook her head side to side and then spoke barely a whisper among the breeze. Again Nathan would hear her, the words soft and melodic to him. Her voice smooth and even; again driven to action. She still didn’t make eye contact with him. No, she wouldn’t look into the eyes of this random stranger who came to her for no reason.

“She would like that wouldn’t she? This dagger is worth far more than you have to offer me, the sweet release from all this is worth more than coin to me.” Her words were to the point, but she was indeed speaking them almost as if rehearsed. As if she had toiled over them for a long time before she said them. She kept her stature kneeling in the sand looking downwards at the blade she had in her hands.

The tension between them was palpable, so thick you could cut it with a knife. It was a sour taste in his mouth; who knew what would happen. This woman did indeed seem unstable to him. And too many others as well. What could cause her to decide to take this route? Why did she act this way? All questions he would likely need answers to in order to find out how to get her to lay the dagger aside. She was fixated it seemed. Driven to this course of action for some reason or another. She still hadn’t looked at him since she saw him coming to her originally. Maybe this was to distance herself from the rest of the world; to make this easier for her. She sighed and nodded a little as she pondered internally. There was a battle going on inside her head. A dangerous one that could end in someone getting killed. As far as who though…well that depended on how everything worked out between her and this random stranger. She posed a question.

“What brought you here Nathan?” She asked as she continued to toy with the absurdly sharp dagger in her hands.

The question would surely buy Nathan some time, but the woman did seem curious as to what brought this man to her. She was secluded and there usually wasn’t anyone on the beach at this time. That other woman had followed her here when she noticed she was missing. She grew tired of being followed around like a puppy. So she began to wonder what brought this man to her exact position. How he had found her, what had driven him here. She still looked downward as if looking at the sand; but Nathan knew better. She was looking at her release. At her supposed way out of all of this. It was ironic, this Isle seemed so peaceful. So serene but even here there were hidden horrors among the people that many never saw. But when one tempted the gods they could get more than they beckoned for. Especially when dealing with the Twins. It did seem that at times they took pleasure in throwing those that called on them into very awkward situations. What happened next depended on how the follower responded to the situation at hand.

by **Nathan Longstride** on October 3rd, 2011, 9:35 pm

Out of all the responses he expected from the woman, laughter wasn't one of them. She actually laughed at his offer to buy her dagger. Of course, with her response of sweet relief, she probably needed it more than money. Sure, Nathan wanted her to put it down, and speak rationally with him at a dagger between the ribs was not the way to go. But, he always liked buying new things.

Watching the woman, she never once bothered to look up at him. Still watching her, he drops onto his buttocks. Who ever said an interloper couldn't rest during his meddling? But was it really meddling? This woman was ready to kill, and he was considering his actions meddling. Sweat rolled down his forehead, catching the loose bangs and sticking them on his face. But he didn't bother wiping it off; until this situation was solved, the sweat would still roll. Across from him, the woman nodded once, only drawing Nathan's attention more. Could he grab the dagger if she tried--

"What brought you here, Nathan?"

Had he heard her correctly? She held a dagger ready to impale herself with, and she wondered what brought him here. Watching her as she stared down at the dagger, Nathan shrugged. Whether she saw it or not was unimportant, as he went right on and answered. "Well, I could lie and say I followed you here. Not for the benefit of you not knowing why, but to save me from embarassment. But Miss no-name, I'll go on and tell you. The wind whispered to me." The last sentence rolled off his tongue, but he continued. "I don't quite understand it myself. To better explain it, I'm marked by the twin gods Kelwyn. One prayer for something new, and I find myself listening to the wind, eventually coming upon you and the other woman in a stickly situation. That, I'm sorry for intruding, although I do believe it was a good thing I had."

Nathan brushed some sand off his robe, taking a deep breath. It was always hard to ask questions, but he was about to attempt it. "Why are you doing this? The woman told me your gift troubles you, and something about projection. You don't have to worry about me knowing too much because I know nothing of your gift, nor what projection is. Kelwyn threw me into this, and I'd like to know what it is which I fell into. 'The cliff diver always wants to know how deep the water is below him before he jumps.'" Nathan watched her, hoping she would open up. Women never deserved to die except in her bed at an elderly age. And this woman was no where near elderly. He pleaded inside for Kelwyn to find this a mistake, and make it good like they did for him four years ago. Atleast, one could only hope they knew how a god would react.

by **Cachet** on October 5th, 2011, 1:02 pm

“That was not the wind whispering to you Nathan.” She said as she looked to him. Her bright blue eyes almost wild as they settled on Nathan.

The sound had brought him to her, even in the middle of the city he was brought here. None else had heard it except him. Or maybe they were just not listening intently enough. That was possible, but unlikely that any would ignore such a thing. So it may have been directed right at him. HE was the sole individual who had heard it. But why him? Maybe it was the Twins and their almost sick sense of fate? Maybe he was meant to hear it and meant to come here and help this woman. That made sense but why him? Of all the people on the isle he was new and hardly understood this place. And yet he seemed to be the only person who could help this woman.

Her eyes were still fixated on his as she spoke the next words very carefully, “you heard me Nathan” She said as she then looked back at the ground when he asked why she would want to do such a thing.

She shook her head and spoke. “My body isn’t mine anymore.” She said as she sighed.

“I’ve sought help, there is none to be had. And my mother…my birth mother had the same problems, and died a horrible death as she slowly lost control of her entire body. I will not die that way Nathan. I will die with some dignity.” She said as she sighed and turned the blade over in her hands. It was becoming increasingly obvious that her goal was becoming more and more solidified by the second.

But this provided some good insight for Nathan, if he put the pieces together he would have a course of action. The information about her mother sat in his head. She had lost control of her body. Meaning she couldn’t control her movements very well. As he watched the woman he would notice that she had small spasms every now and then. Indicating that she too was slowly losing control of her body as well. Maybe she had lost control enough for him to make decisive action. But then again maybe she had not. Her grip on the dagger seemed strong. But she was a small woman, much more frail looking compared to him…what course of action was best here? Could he talk her down?

by **Nathan Longstride** on October 5th, 2011, 8:18 pm

Nathan understood little about women, he was slowly realizing that Konti Isle is not the best place for him. One woman was bad enough, but a whole island? Besides the crew he came with, Nathan had seen no other men since arriving. A fantasy to be stuck on an island, and be one of the only men there, but to Nathan, he was trapped in a nightmare conjured by Kelwyn. And besides horrible deaths, bad gifts, and loss of control of your body, Nathan was reaping the excitement. From anyone else, god or mortal, Nathan would've been frightened by the scene unfolding, but with Kelwyn, he was never sated. Always something new, and always enjoyable. Boy, was he crazy in the head, enjoying someone else's suffering.

But instead of trying to help this woman, he could've walked away. The knife wasn't pointed at him; this woman probably couldn't, and wouldn't stop him. She wanted to die, and he wanted to help her by preventing it. He could only assume that he enjoyed what he did by the hand of Kelwyn. Whatever happened, happened.

Nathan watched the woman as she explained her predicament. It was sad to hear the same tradegy had occured to her mother. Death was never good, and Nathan would probably never die for anyone except to save Kelwyn if one of their schemes backfired. But why would someone kill themself? Nathan was only ninteen, and he was sailing halfway around the world to travel to a city he knew nothing about. Adventure was always there. Someone only had to take it.

A jerk of the woman's arm caught Nathan's attention. Spasms occured when you lose control of movement of that body part. Which possibly meant she too was losing control. But the doubtful voice in his head told him she might just have a muscular twitch. Nathan sure hated his doubt. It wasn't that he was pessimistic, but he hardly believed anything without proof. Yet he followed wind--the woman's voice here. Oh, how he hated how complex everything was when women were involved. If the heavens had no goddesses, Mizahar would be much simpler.

Nathan shook his head indecisvely. He criticized the woman for having arguments in her head, when he was arguing about women leagues away from him. He foucsed on her hands, gripped tightly around the dagger until they turned white. He wasn't the strongest person he knew, nothing like his five foot six father who could lift a hundred more pounds than his weight. But who could believe Konti had strength behind those slender arms? Maybe if he snatched it away, it would all get better. Or it could all get worse. There was only one decision.

Nathan holds out his right hand, palm open, and says, "Miss, give me the dagger while you still have a chance. To die with dignity is in your bed at an elderly age. Or on the battlefield when defeated by someone more skilled with the sword. Or even when the pickpocket slips the dagger between your ribs, and you break his nose with your fist before death overtakes you. That is dying with dignity, not like this."

If only a painter was nearby to document the scene. With the blue ocean in the background, and young man is waiting, hand outheld, as the beatiful Konti decides to either give over the dagger, or perish with a horrible end to a long life. It could even be called Ocean's Last Breath.

by **Cachet** on October 7th, 2011, 1:14 pm

The woman remained kneeling as Nathan spoke. She seemed to be toiling over all of it in her mind. She thought she knew what she wanted. But there was some truth to Nathan’s words. But could she common the strength to face the prospect of dying like her mother? Could she out herself through the pain of death like that? This death was much more appealing to her. It would be fast and relatively painless…but there was no dignity in it…But was there dignity in dying like her mother? In suffering like that? She remembered how much suffering her mother had. How her body contorted and how she fought death off till the very end of it. Until her mother’s last breath she fought. Would she want her daughter to take her life? But would she rather her daughter suffer like her? Neither option seemed good to her right now. Every option no matter how wonderful it seemed just looked like it lead nowhere.

She sighed again still she hadn’t plunged the dagger into herself. Her grip loosened slightly her knuckles turning back to their original color. She shook her head. As if confirming that she knew there was no dignity in what she wanted to do. But she wasn’t ready to give up the dagger either. She still clung to the idea that she could end the suffering NOW. She wouldn’t have to fight death if she killed herself. She all she had to do was accept death if she did it now. And she had already done so. As she looked up out to sea the stunning beauty of Mura calmed her. The wonderful ocean spread out endlessly before them. It was awe inspiring…and indeed many painters had painted scenes on the beach. But none like this one. No this was the darker more hidden side of Mura and the Konti people. She was debating really turning over decisions in her mind. If Nathan kept pressing he could get her to do what he wanted…if he was gentle. She was showing remorse. She was showing a willingness to enjoy what was before her. She knew she didn’t know what to do anymore. She was scared of the future. Scared she would find herself like her mother. She didn’t want to face that death. She didn’t want it to end like that.

But did she want to be remembered in this way? As the woman who took her own life? Even when her grandmother pleaded with her to not do it. Even when a stranger came to her and tried to talk her out of it? Or did she want to die fighting death’s cold grip to the end. Facing death bravely and with stern sincerity. She still felt the need to hold the dagger, but her grip was loosening on it by the second. Nathan could see this definitely. IT was no longer held sternly in her grip. It was hardly hanging there. He could reach for it. Or he could have her hand it over. He was ALMOST there.

by **Nathan Longstride** on October 8th, 2011, 8:14 pm

Nathan sighed softly when he saw the woman's knuckles return to their normal color. His gentle approch was working, sending the woman's thought wild on whether or not she wanted to do this. This was what he desired. He was never a violent man, using his daggers only when he absolutely had to. Sure he wrestled with his dad as a child, but that didn't mean anything. Unlike some men in this world, he had a heart. Tears wouldn't run when he heard of some love story, but he still handled things better than some men.

This was the reason Nathan didn't lunge his hand out as the woman slowly released her grip. She still held it barely. Instead, Nathan cleared his throat, and began to speak to her. "You know, I don't understand what you've going through. I don't have your gift, or a lick of skill in Projection. But I do know the feeling of wanting to give up. Four years ago, I got into some trouble with Zeltivan thugs. I was wounded, surrounded by them, and I believed I was about to die. I didn't think I'd ever live to see my sixteenth birthday. I only saw their daggers piercing their skin. But Kelwyn saved me, and marked me as their follower."

Nathan pulls his hand back, and uses it to roll up his sleeve, holding it out so the woman could see it. On his forearm was a juggler, throwing up seven balls with master skill. And the tattoo, or gnosis, actually moved. The arms moved with blinding speed and skill, never once letting the ball drop. Nathan didn't know if the ball would ever drop. "I'm not a god, just a follower. But when Kelwyn can save one person, they can save many more. And just because they rule over the lost cause doesn't make anyone who they had saved anymore lost than others in the world. It just makes us unique. We can't talk to ghosts, or control the wind. Instead, we can change anything with one of these," Nathan taps his gnosis. "and some of this." Nathan stops talking again, tapping his heart.

Nathan rolls the sleeve down, looking back at the woman. "And no one ever said you have to stay on this Isle until you die. There's a whole world out there to see. So instead of worrying about the future, live your life now. Heck, meet you a handsome man like myself." Nathan smiles. She was beatiful, and Nathan did like girls who could handle daggers. They always had good hands. He holds his hand out again. "But you have to take life one step at a time. And your first step starts with giving me the dagger. After that, it is up to Kelwyn and fate."

by **Cachet** on October 11th, 2011, 12:57 pm

The woman was listening closely to what Nathan said. He could feel her toiling over what he told her. He could sense she was coming to. She spoke in Kontinese to herself. Nathan wouldn’t be sure what she was saying but it was respectful. Or it sounded that way. Then what Nathan had wanted all along happened. He saw the dagger fall from her hands and hit the sand. The woman then stood and without any kind of warning she hugged Nathan firmly and buried her head in his chest, and wept openly. It was such a strange yet heart wrenching occurrence for the Konti woman. She couldn’t control the rage of emotions that were going through her mind and body right now. She clenched to him like he was her last hope at salvation…and indeed he had been just that.

Her sorrow for what she had plotted to do just poured form her. He could feel just how weak she was. She needed help horribly. He could feel her shake some and he felt how weak her legs were, hardly able to sustain her elegant frail figure. She just wept until Nathan interrupted her. He could feel her body just release, almost like a runner who was finally able to relax after a grueling marathon. She was beginning to relax and unwind. All her horrible thoughts flushing from her system. She finally realized how horrible what she was wanting to do actually was. All the negative consequences…all the people she would’ve hurt from her untimely death. All she could do was weep.

If he was worried about the dagger it was laid out on the beach where she had been kneeling. It was indeed an elegant and wonderful blade. Obviously Konti made due to its wonderful engravings and markings. It was a work of art not just a tool for death. It was made of both steel and ivory woven through the blade and handle. He likely wouldn’t be able to find a way to grab it as long as the woman remained clenched to him crying.

by **Nathan Longstride** on October 11th, 2011, 10:16 pm

Nathan hoped to be a trader one day, and that was a profession that required a silver tongue. Whether it be to bargain prices down or to insult someone for a horrible offer, you still needed speaking skills. And Nathan had little experience in persuasion to call himself even a novice, but for some reason, this Konti kneeling in front of him saw logic in him. It made little sound in reality, but to Nathan, the dagger landing on sound was the loudest thing he had heard in a while. Louder than his beating heart. He had talked this woman out of her worst mistake ever.

And as if the dagger was the switch to the floodgates, Nathan found himself tackled as the woman buried her face into his chest. He didn't quite understand why she stood to do so, but she needed comforting, and he offered it. Stroking her hair softly, Nathan waited while she let it all out. Tear stains were easier to get out of his robe than blood anyday, so Nathan didn't care. And as he held the woman, he could feel her frailness. She truly was tired. He wondered if she could walk?

Nathan glanced at the dagger, admiring its beauty. He truly wished he could hold it, but the woman's weight was preventing him from reaching for it. But would she let him have it? It probably wouldn't be good to give it back to this woman, and he truly thought it was good. But instead of shifting her off of him, Nathan whispered in her ear. "Shall we wait for the woman to return, or should we head back to Mura on our own? And you do you need assistence getting there, or is walking still possible?" Nathan understood the woman's weakness. She just had to decide between life and death with the control of her body slowly seeping away. And Nathan felt the same grogginess. No one said it would be energy consuming to persuade someone from suicide, but it was. But he would be the stronger man, and made due for this woman.

So he waited for the woman to decide. He settled on staring at the dagger as it rested it in the sand. He was so close, but the woman came first. Oh, it was so beautiful. . .