[Theo's Farm] Dirt Beds (Open)

by **Nashira** on December 10th, 2011, 1:02 am

Winter 11, 511 AV

Nashira stood atop a bed of relatively flat earth. The terrain turned into itself, so as to better provide land hospitable for various forms of vegetation. Whatever the farmer and his people wanted. Being that winter had swept through the city, however, little was left of life. The earth, then, was cold. The ground firm beneath one's step, hardly sinking to allow for a footprint as a marker to where one had once been. The fields were plowed, mounds of dirt gathered into several long strips, before dipping towards the earth's center, and then rising into another elongated mountain. The dips were the few places that seemed capable of holding life, being that the rises kept the harshest winds from those spaces, for the most part.

Even so, not much sprang from those central locations. There were but a few bits of green, scattered along the line. Short plants, no more than a few inches tall. With small yellow flowers, and even tinier leaves, which seemed to be lined by a number of slender, white hairs. Leaves which seemed to curl in a fashion similar to a cactus, as though trying to lock in water, or even heat, now that the temperatures were beginning to drop. Now that the first of the winter frost had begun to lick their edges.

It was upon the subtle rise in the terrain that Nashira stood. The woman staring down at the scattered plants in one of the dips. Silly girl, why did you come here when you knew all the plants would have died? That they could not survive the winter frost? Nashira's mind whispered. What did you think you'd be weeding for the young farmer?

Nashira shook her head, her long, light brown hair cascading over the length of her shoulders, and settling in a place towards the center of her back. Her deep green horns curling alongside her ears. There is nothing here, her brain whispered, as she glared at the plowed terrain. You may as well just go back from whence you came. Unless of course, you like looking out into the emptiness. Remembering just how vacant you are inside.

Nashira sighed. The air was getting cold. Maybe it's time to turn back, help out in the barn or something, she thought, as she began to move in a wide circle, away from the fields.

by **Nashira** on January 27th, 2012, 4:07 am

The Ethaefal's feet dragged across the uneven dirt field, kicking in small portions of rounded hills. Sending various dislodged stones flying in her wake. Scurrying across the terrain as though they were little more than ants to be crushed beneath her boot. Sighing, Nashira forced herself to move along, despite her mounting level of irritation with herself, and her disappointment. She had been hoping to work out in the fields, to get her hands a little dirty, as she soaked up Syna's glorious rays, but it was simply not meant to be. She would have to hope that at another time and date, the opportunity would arise, and she could finally find the time to do that which she had never been able to do before.

As she moved, Nashira scarcely looked up. Hardly bothered to look where she was going, so caught up was she in her own thoughts, her own shortcomings, that she walked directly into one of the farm's buildings. Startled, she took a step back, and rubbed her aching forehead. "When did that get here?" Shira whispered, as her brow furrowed, and she finally returned her hand to her side. "Surely it wasn't here before," she added, as her eyes danced over its expanse. It seemed a simple enough building to her, something crafted out of wood. She wasn't certain as to what it was, but to her, it didn't seem important. What gave her that impression, too, seemed somewhat unclear, but she supposed it had to do with how no noise seemed to be coming out of it, which to her, meant that it was not a place worth being.

Shrugging, the Ethaefal stepped around the building, and continued on her way, wondering what else she would find upon Theo's farm.

by **Nashira** on February 9th, 2012, 8:19 pm

Nashira walked along in silence for several chimes. Simply listening to the delicate whistle of the wind. The tune it seemed to carry as it flowed over her skin. Caressing her wordlessly, embracing her, as it swept her hair off her shoulders, and tossed it about, before letting it back down. Like a child pestering its mother incessantly, begging for attention, before scampering away, ashamed at its own actions. At its unquenchable thirst for love and affection. For another being's touch. She thought she could hear it sigh to itself as it passed. Giggle at times at its own heart, jokes and tales only it knew. Smiling to herself, the Ethaefal wondered what it could be, as it circled her, and then let go over and over again. Embracing her for a time, and then abandoning her, as though it had lost all hope in her. In her ability to love it back, and yet, it always tried again, as though trying to prove itself wrong. But it wasn't wrong. The way it swayed from side to side, and questioned itself, questioned her, was not wrong. For she could never love it. Not as she had loved Caleb, all those moons ago.

Sighing alongside the wind, one last time, Nashira forced her feet to push up against the ground, easing herself over a gentle rise in the terrain. At the top of the rise, was a flat bed of dirt, and the occasional patch of grass going brown for the winter. Their ends frosted over by the cold. Splintering with shards of clear, frozen water. Dripping with disdain, for the first of what this season had to offer. Off to the ends of this lay several large, rectangular containers, crafted by a lighter wood. Every board seemed to be neatly tucked into place. Nailed in by shimmering silver specks. As she studied the containers, Nashira came to realize that they were only, perhaps a foot or two shorter than she. That they were perhaps three feet wide, and that most of their lids were either too short, or too long, causing them to glide uselessly across the air. Silently suspended in space. She supposed this may be a good thing, for rainwater would run off, as opposed to drip inside the containers, which smelled distinctly of mud and earth, but the Ethaefal could not be absolutely certain.

Shrugging, the Ethaefal approached them, wondering what could be inside. As she moved closer yet, she thought she could feel a set of eyes on her skin. Boring into her neck, but she dismissed the thought, as she extended her right hand, and pulled back the flap of one of the bins, just enough where she could look inside. Instantly, the scent of the earth, the decaying, filled her nostrils, causing her to turn her head away as the air of it wafted by. Wavered on the wind. After a time, she looked back to find several brown leaves. Sections torn away from the central spine. Dirt, the occasional worm squirming around. "Compost," Nashira muttered to herself as she closed the lid and stepped away, to find someone approaching.

Judging from the silhouette which cut across the sun, the figure was that of a man. As she stood, waiting, her skin sparkling, Nashira's eyes could only narrow as the figure grew larger, trying to take in more detail. The figure was definitely approaching a little faster now, holding something in his hands, something dark. Nearly holding her breath, the Ethaefal could only wait as the lines rippled. As she studied them, and as the man loomed closer, she came to realize that there was a glimmer in his dark eyes. That the wind brushed his dark hair, as though it were its only purpose within the world. "Hello," Nashira called out to the figure, uncertain as to just whom it may be. The man said nothing for a time, as a smile spread across his lips; a smile that was cast into his eyes.

"Hello," he said after a time, as he came to a halt beside the bins, and gestured for Nashira to open one for him. The Ethaefal quickly obliged as the farmer dropped the contents of his arms inside. "Looking for work?" Theo asked, causing Nashira to nod in response. "I'm afraid there's little to be had today," he commented, as he wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand. "Or for the rest of this season. Perhaps though, if you come back another day, there will be more to do," he finished, as he returned his arm to his side.

"Alright," Nashira replied as she dipped her head slightly, into a respectful bow, before straightening it back out. "Will do," she added, as she gently eased the compost bin's lid shut, and glided past Theo, her shoulder brushing against his lightly without a thought as she moved herself along. Walking in silence until the terrain ceased to roll, to churn, to spit out its insides at her, trying to ensnare her feet. For several chimes, Nashira walked in silence, towards the center of the city, wondering what she should now do. For there was no farm work to be done, and with the winter chill beginning to sink in all the more, now that the sun was slowly falling into oblivion, past its lofty noon-time perch, she knew she wouldn't be able to tolerate the outdoors much longer. As she shuddered at the simple thought of the cold biting at her skin, Nashira couldn't help but wonder if there was a single mind about to toy with. To bend to her will; her desire. Or if perhaps, there was a single foe to be fought with a blade. Sighing, she finally decided, as she folded her arms over her chest to help lock in Syna's warmth, to simply keep on searching until something caught her interest. Sparked something within her heart.

OOCPermission to self-mod Theo granted by Legion.

by **Nashira** on February 13th, 2012, 7:47 pm

After a time spent encountering no one whilst on her travels, Nashira glanced nervously up at the sky. Thick grey clouds seemed to be looming about its edges. The light blue fading as the sun continued to sink. Streamers of yellow darting across it, as darker tendrils circled into its midst. Night seems to have fallen early this day, Shira thought. Or near night rather, for it is not yet here, her mind added as she came to a more central portion of the city.

It surprised the Ethaefal that still, even here, in a place far less remote than where she had been, there was no one about. Shrugging, the woman set her bag down, and pulled off the top flap. She reached inside, extracting several large sticks she had gathered a few days before, and dumped them across the terrain. The wooden bits clicked together as they rolled across the ground, causing Nashira to go darting after them, before returning them to the pile with the others.

Time to start a fire, Shira thought, as she knelt beside the logs, and tugged the smaller, broken branches stemming from their center away. She put these in another small pile, thinking they'd do for some kindling. When she was done, she held two of the larger sticks together. Matching up their ends, and leaning them up against each other, so they formed a triangle. From there, Shira added the rest of her logs, until she had formed a sort of lop-sided teepee, with a small opening on one end. There, that should do, she thought, as she dry washed her hands, dragging the remnants of the stick's bark away. Scattering it back towards the earth. Now for the kindling, she thought, as she reached for her small pile, and pushed it inside the opening, setting it within the teepee's confines, as close to its center as she could muster.

There, now all that is left is to light you, Shira thought, as the wind swept past, tousling her hair a moment, as she reached into her bag and retrieved her flint and steel. She held them tightly. One item in each hand, as she lowered them towards the fire. She held the flint at an angle; a slide that would fall into the kindling if only she let go of it. But Nashira wouldn't let go. Instead, she drew her steel against the flint. Dragging it along its length. Over and over again. Faster and faster. Building up heat, and then, small sparks. Red fireflies that soon dimmed into nothingness as they clicked their heels. Over and over again, they came and went. Refusing to catch for several chimes.

Sighing, Nashira could feel her body sagging with defeat. She could feel her fingers growing numb with the cold. With the strain of pinching her tools more tightly. Drawing them across each other. She could see several twirls of silver escaping her lips; limp pig tails. She sighed again. Maybe tonight will be spent simply sleeping under the stars, without a fire, Nashira thought, as she kept on working at her flint and steel, for a few more moments, until a spark flew onto her kindling. Singeing the edges. Darkening them, as she tossed a few more their way. At which point, a small flame grew. The light of a single candle.

Nashira could just make out its crackle, a small gurgle as it rose. As she put her tools into her pocket, and strained her ears to listen. She could see the small flame wavering. Dancing with the wind. The majority of which was kept at bay, by the small forest that surrounded it. "Come on," Nashira cooed, as she lowered herself onto her hands, and blew on the flame gently. Watching it flicker, as the kindling curled, and the first wisps of smoke reached her nostrils. They flared slightly, as the smoke curled around the branches. Holding them captive for a time, before the wind carried them away.

As she watched, as she waited, Shira could see the fire glowing. Growing, slowly, but steadily, into something more. The heat of it warmed her face. The light of it cast her in its warm glow. Her skin shimmered all the more, as though she had recently been dumped in a pile of glitter. Feeling as though the fire may soon singe her eyebrows, lick her lips as it grew, and came for her, the Ethaefal pulled away, and forced herself to sit up. "Much better," she thought, as she held her hands out to the fire for a few moments, as the sun continued to fall.

Time seemed to have sped up greatly, for as she looked at the sky, Nashira could see streamers of purple and pink, darting across the light blue and grey. The sun seemed a crescent, as it fell towards the horizon. "I will change soon," she whispered, as she got to her feet, and scrutinized the sunset. "A full bell at the latest... into what Caleb seemed all the more capable of accepting." The Ethaefal paused, as her right hand gravitated to the hilt of his old sword. She could feel her fingers furling around the black. "Although, he didn't seem like he really wanted to. Who knows if that could have changed..."

by **Louie Wein** on February 14th, 2012, 10:27 am

Lost in his own world as usual Louie decided to take a break and a change of scenery. The world outside through his window cold as it may be was always serene and calming with the faint white patches which dotted the scenery. Strangely enough sooner or later he caught sight of a growing light the nearby forest that he overlooked. What was it now? A fire there would spell trouble and there was enough of it already. Expecting the worst, Louie quickly tried to get over the window huffing and puffing when he reached the ground because it was just soooooo high. He was already tired and even trying to carry his own body weight up made his arms tired so easily, giving way and making him crash on the ground. "Weakling..." a voice told him seeing the display but with more pressing matters to attend to Louie just concentrated on rushing to the scene.

He expected to see some trees already in flames when that light which was building up spread but all he saw was a woman having a campfire. Indeed Louie could agree with Ciel that "it is cold" and it was only right that the woman wanted to warm herself but "are you mad starting a fire over here? What would happen if it spread around, like to town?" That would be disastrous and force a lot of other people to join her out in the snow as well. That could not possibly be her intentions...could it?

"What are you doing out here anyway? Wouldn't it be nicer to stay at home where it is warm?" Louie never saw this woman before but Denval although it was just a settlement still had a lot of people and he could not be expected to know each of its inhabitants. He wanted to return indoors where it was warm too since he was feeling the cold right now. "Do you need someone to accompany you?" Even if the sun was still up it was going to be dark soon and he knew recently that it was not too safe to be out.

by **Nashira** on February 15th, 2012, 1:16 am

Nashira looked up from the sight of her fire, the sight of the smoke curling into various pictures of her past, and to the sound of the voice. She took note of how tall the stranger was, the sight of his mouth as it hung slightly open. His bottom lip paling in the cold. Its color draining, as it fought to keep the frost away from it too. As it seemed to tremble in the wind. She studied the darkness in his eyes, how large they seemed to be because of the spectacles he wore. The frames, which seemed to have burnt as they were molded into something usable.

Someone seems like a scholar, Nashira thought. A close minded one though, with thoughts like that. So simple, so provincial, a test of these times. A symbol of his people, the hardships they have endured. The sign of simplicity for they simply have not branched out, and allowed themselves to see. There was a slight pause, pity. If only they opened their minds, and let themselves learn, they may have been able to grow into something great.

Shaking her head lightly as her eyes darted away from Louie's, Nashira soon found the strength to whisper a single word, "no." Her reply was kept simple, as her eyes continued to sweep over him, taking in the slightly ruffled nature of his clothes. As though he had crumpled them up recently as he tossed them into a drawer or corner. Or perhaps his attire was simply, rather windswept. Although, as she studied his hair, the short, dark locks, she came to realize that it was strangely well-kempt. Seemingly untouched by the light hand of the wind; its playful, and generally childish nature. Constantly playing pranks, and frustrating the ranks of man. It made her think that he truly, had not been out long.

"Nor would this fire spread, with the ground being so moist from the winter's frost," Nashira went on. "Besides, anyone knowledgeable on these matters keeps water close at hand, so that they may douse anything that gets ahead of itself. Surely, you should know something as simple as that." The Ethaefal offered a delicate smile as her fingers drummed against the hilt of her sword. Her eyes sparkled in the fading light of Syna's stun as she scrutinized him, wondering if the spectacles were merely a facade, to cause himself to seem all the more intelligent than he was. For now, he seemed little more than an uncultured farm boy.

"Do you ever use your eyes, human?" Nashira asked, as she swept her free hand towards the fire. "Can't you see with your own eyes? The eyes the gods let you keep, what lies beside us? That this, if you let it, may keep you warm? That, if you let yourself enjoy its heat. The way it dances, you will?" Nashira paused, as her head tilted to the side, considering him. Whether he was worth her time. The fire flickered in her eyes, as her fingers came to a halt. The crackling of the flame filling the uneasy silence that had fallen over them.

"There is no home to go back to," Shira whispered, as she eyed the fire uneasily. She wished she had kept an extra log, just so she could prod it. She wanted it to spark, to grow even larger. She wanted to hear it roar as it licked the underside of the wood, blackening it. Breaking off chunks of bark. "So no, no need to accompany me anywhere," she added. Her magic weaving itself into her voice. She could sense its dark, sticky web circling her. The air. She could feel it reflected in her eyes. She could sense it, tugging at Louie. Pulling on his arms, as it crawled up their length, towards his mind. Prodding him. Tempting him. Begging him only, to listen for a little, to her words. "No need to worry stranger. Everything is under control. Everything is being tended to. Taken care of. The fire is safely within its bounds, and will fizzle by night's end," Nashira paused, as she opened her mind. She imagined it spreading its arms wide, welcoming the human, as she pushed a thought into his mind. A single image. A fire he had seen before, much like hers. Dying away, slowly in the night.

As soon as the flash had left her mind, and Louie's as well, Nashira's pupils dilated. Their central, dark orbs swirling, expanding, until they touched the upper and lower lids. Sliding spheres of flesh, which left her blind to the world for a time. "You seem cold human," Nashira whispered, as her smile widened. "Why don't you go back home now?" Shira suggested. "Back where it's warm. You could build your own fire. Drown in its heat..."

by **Louie Wein** on February 15th, 2012, 8:44 am

No? Good because "it looks like you can get back to work." A mentality that both Louie and Ciel shared. There were always new things to learn, things to use for...against Denval depending on who was using it. What could Louie do for this out of place looking woman especially with her...horns? Nothing so "there is no need to waste time here" he was reminded again. Why was Ciel demanding all of a sudden? It was like she did not like this woman for no reason whatsoever especially since she apparently suggested that she had no home and thus not of Denval?

Because a citizen would actually have more sense since "there is always a risk of the fire spreading into the town as unlikely as it may be. Someone who is responsible would not allow that risk." Someone like Louie who always had the concern for the town and all the bad things happening to it recently in mind. There was no time to use his eyes as soon as they spotted the growing amber lights from his window but now that she pointed it out, he took the chance to look around. There was her, the sheltered looking woman without a shelter for herself, the sticks and branches which were on fire but no water. Not unless "your plan is to use the snow? How long do you intend to let the fire go on once you find out that you need it" when it becomes uncontrollable?

Louie was using his eyes alright, using it on her with anger flaring up stronger than her fire now that he found out what she was thinking of behind her actions. She did not need that extra log too because Louie's voice was growing harsher. It was no roar but all the same it was bad. "Tell it to h..." and the voice in his head went off into a silence as the djed went to work to make his mind think about something else, diverting away from the madness. It was strangely soothing but he was already so worked up that he spoke according to what she said because he at least listened and the flash that "the fire will fizzle alright because the one who is responsible for it" as she admitted herself to be "is going to put it out right now!"

Did this mean that Louie was going to leave this woman out in the cold? Not quite. He was going to take her to...where exactly? It was already going to be night and there was no way he could help her to the Captain this late to find a place for her like he had helped other newcomers in return for them allowing him to 'talk' to them. Sighing because he could feel the winter on him convincing him that her suggestion was right he mellowed and agreed that "I am going to go home now and you are not starting anymore fires." How was he going to make sure of that? Well not Louie but "any friends you can go stay with for the night I can take you to?" until she could find proper accommodations. Just what kind of person would live off the land in the cold anyway?

No one that Louie would...who was he kidding? He did not want to have a fire breaking out over the whole of Denval while he was asleep and the best way to ensure that was to give an offer of "or you can come with me and tomorrow I can help you find someplace. Don't worry I normally work through the night so you can use the bed" which was true, only he really wanted to sleep tonight. Well, one more day would not hurt so much and the children could use some self study again. While waiting for her reply Louie started surging djed and covering his eyes with them as he started to use his auristics to try and get a feel of the woman. Strange...there was that glow about her which was normal to everyone else but her mouth seemed to have a concentration of a different sort. Interesting...

by **Nashira** on February 16th, 2012, 3:22 pm

Nashira rolled her eyes. "Are you truly that paranoid human? Truly that unwilling to use your eyes? To look past what is directly in front of them, and consider what lays in wait?" The Ethaefal paused a moment, considering him. Thinking him all the more foolish as he continued to open his mouth and express his feelings. "You are with no fool. If you bothered to think for yourself, for once, you hopelessly provincial thing, you'd come to realize that maybe, just maybe, there's something inside the pack. Something like water, which could aid the snow in putting the fire out. Which will aid the snow." Shira paused. "It's unlikely though, that it'd prove necessary. Without anything to prod the kindling, and stroke the flames. With the wind being as fierce as it is this day, it is unlikely the fire will do anything but slowly die down now." Again, Shira paused. "If only you had bothered to look around, to consider, perhaps you would have come to realize that too."

Fool, the magic hissed. "No one is going to touch that fire. Not you. Not me. No one is going to put it out. No one is going to quell the flames. No one is going to make smoke rise in its place. The fire will live. It shall go on." The truth of Nashira's words flashed in her eyes. The fire was there. Growing, reaching for the sky. Sending tendrils of smoke into the air; or perhaps it was merely, her own hypnotic djed, seeping through. Pouring into her eyes so there would be more to draw the stranger in. More at her disposal to manipulate him with. More to make him see. More to help her control him. Pull his strings as though he were a marionette.

"You are going to go home now, and never return to this place. Not tonight. You are going to go home, and never look back. You aren't going to look to see if this fire still roars. How long it takes, throughout the night, for it to fizzle out. To disappear. Fade into nothingness," Shira whispered, her voice sounding no less intense for it. "You shall take me no where, for there is no where to go. No where to be taken to. You shall walk alone. Silently, through the cold. To your home. Don't look back. Don't think of me. Don't think of the fire. Safely dwindling. Fading away, as time passes."

Nashira's right hand circled the hilt of her sword. Her fingers drumming against it lazily as she kept her eyes planted on the stranger. But even so, she could still make out the sun setting. The fire roaring. Pillars of thick grey smoke rising into the air. Being carried away by the relentless winds sweeping in from the north. "No one is going to accompany you as you walk," Shira reiterated, answering questions again. Restating things, so that the magic wove over itself. Strengthening its own web, so that Louie would be all the more likely to obey. "The only one going back to your home is you. The place where you belong. Where you will be warm this night. Safe." Nashira's fingers drummed all the more forcefully against the hilt of her sword. She could hear the soft clicking, even past the fire's crackle. The way it spit out sparks. Fireflies, which circled each of their feet.

"You will sleep soundly in your own bed tonight," the magic insisted. Its silken snake tongue tickling Louie's ear. "No one else. Just you. Until the morning sun rises. Smiling at you. Only then will you wake. Only then will you stretch yourself, and rejoin the world." There was a slight pause.

The living.

by **Louie Wein** on February 17th, 2012, 12:00 am

He could see it flaring up. Not her impatience that anyone could see even without auristics but the djed from her use of magic. Soon, a collection started to appear at her eyes as well just like her mouth. Two separate clumps of auras within her completely new. Plenty of reason for Louie to be paranoid now, even more than what he had when he is hounded by the truth of what may currently be going on in Denval. "A lot like treac..." It may be good that the hypnotism kept interrupting that voice in his head but its effects were not something that he liked either. There was many a time that he has tested other people's patience or auras. At times when his auristics coincided with their other magics he could see it like now. While it may be different, it was the same. A new aura would suddenly appear telling him what he needed to know even if he could not truly know what is going on.

That was enough for him to try and work against the hypnotism when he sternly asked "what are you up to woman?" just like he would with the Academy children because it was the only way to fight immaturity. Is she a fool like she is saying she is not or was she an agent of all the horrible things which have been happening? That was a question that Louie wanted to be answered but if only getting answers was so easy. Life would be a lot easier for him. Now that she has already showed her hand, Louie had no choice but to keep his auristics on in case she tried anything more which proved to be for his benefit. Throughout her lecture he could see the aura of her djed coming from her, the tendrils pushing through his eyes, trying to affect him for whatever nefarious reason.

The fire, it has something to do with the fire! What could it be? When Louie turned his eyes to look at the fire with his eyes like this woman, finding if there was anything special beyond the normal...there was nothing. Nothing special about its aura, just giving off a radiant light like it would if he looked at it normally. Just like the woman in front of him when he was looking at her minus the clumps of her hypnosis. What else could it be he wondered. "It could b..." Looks like Ciel was no help at all too and it was up to the increasingly paranoid Louie to come up with the answers. He concluded since she needed a set place in this secluded forest and a fire to illuminate the place it could be some sort of a signal? It would make sense if she was meeting up with someone.

In his head the suspicious scene was already being played out and something had to be done if that was the case. Unfortunately there was nothing wrong with meeting a person but using magic like that just to ensure the fire remains and Louie to leave was just too strong a point to ignore. She would probably think that her attempts of manipulation would succeed when Louie already tired from the auristics and had to cut it off said "you're right. I should go home" but with how much he already knew and the way she was trying to threaten him with her sword, the hypnotism would not help at all. Nevertheless he could feel the danger especially with her having a weapon and him with none so the best course of action would be leaving for now just so he can remain like she advised, with the living.

Louie was a man who preferred to fight with words and logic after all. The sword should only be used when it was really needed. When there was no other method to protect himself or Denval. Giving the last word he told her that "either way you would end up meeting the captain." Was it a threat of his own? Yes "if the fire spread out of your control and causes damage if you are lucky" that it was all it would be. However what Louie wanted to give advice like he did so many others because "you need a place to live in and probably a job. The captain can help you with that too, though I would prefer to help you there if you don't know where she is" and so that he can be sure that she was not trying anything.

Walking out of sight he wondered what he should do. "You need to take her out before she becomes a problem" Ciel advised him on their strong feelings of disdain for the woman. Louie loathed carrying around a weapon but there was no choice. He reached his home and put his rapier to the side and before going out reminded himself that "the pen is mightier than the sword..." Quickly he took out a sheet of paper and wrote on it what might be his last will and testament should things go sour. Maybe he should have called on someone he knew like Talen but finding his house at night would take a long time and convincing the man probably even longer.

If I am found dead by the 12th, it would be as I feared but at least I did it believing that I am protecting Denval, in pursuit of the truth of all the strange events since the last season. By chance I found a suspicious woman outside the forest near my home tending to a fire. She looks a little bit tanned, and has brown hair like the ground reminding me of trees where her horns are sprouting from. Those are probably the details about her which stand out the most for me besides the fact that she is also a practitioner of some sort of magic. I hope that this information would be enough for whoever who finds it to act on.

LouieW

Finished he moved through the streets around his house he has been living in so long to take the long way around. Even with the darkening sky he knew the turns to take, moving around the forest as he passed by so many houses. When he was stopped by some of the people who were not used to seeing Louie Wein with a weapon at his hip as opposed to a sheet of paper in his hands, he told them that "Denval has been becoming quite dangerous don't you think?" referring back to the infamous murder of the child and attack on the town healer. He should be directly at the other side of the forest now compared to the entrance he took earlier and started moving in. All that time moving through the thinning streets of town and navigating through it took a substantial part of a bell but it was a good price to pay for his safety.

And more time was wasted since he had to navigate a forest which he was not as familiar with compared to the town. With the poor lighting and darkening sky Louie tried his best to look for the telltale signs of the woman which was the fire that she was trying to protect so much. That would work to his favour now. After a long time walking he caught sight of the glow again as he did out of his window. Thank the gods that it has not spread yet. And then Louie started to slowly walk towards it taking advantage of the remaining trees and shrubbery to conceal him from the woman. There was no choice but he had to stop when he caught sight of a feminine silhouette near the fire because if he could see her, she would be able to see him if he was unprotected by his cover. It will not be long now...he would wait until he there was any changes in the situation before risking to move closer.

by **Nashira** on February 18th, 2012, 2:55 am

"Yes, that's right. Go home," the magic insisted, as Nashira's fingertips kept on drumming on the hilt. She was listening to the fire roar. Idly listening to the occasional whistle of the wind, as it swept her hair off of her shoulders. She was growing tired of the man's presence. Of his insistence. His inability to see his own stupidity, and simply, leave her be. Go on. Get going. You are not wanted here. You are not needed her. Go home. Go home now, and don't come back. The magic insisted, Shira's eyes flashing impatiently alongside it.

"No one will be seeing the Captain. As there is no need to," Nashira wore on. "No need to pester her at such a late hour. No need to bring such trivial and mundane matters to her attention. No need to wake her from her slumber. No need to rouse her. Irritate her with your unwarranted concerns." Nashira paused, as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze hardening as the man continued. As he stayed. As he relentlessly wore on with his useless drivel. "There is no need to see her, for I don't need a job. Nor do I need a true home. A place to stay, and call my own. I am fine right here. I am fine without a job. Money is plentiful. There is much to use up. To get rid of, before anyone seeks employment in this place."

The drumming of Nashira's fingers seemed to deaden as her heart sped up the pace. She could hear it hammering. Damnit just go. You need to go. You are not welcome here. You do not belong here...

"We will not be walking to the Captain's domain. We will not be venturing there. Not this night. Not anytime soon. We shall not walk together. You shall travel back home. By yourself, and sleep well into the morning," Shira hissed.

Leave. NOW, the magic roared, as Louie finally turned to leave. The fire crackling triumphantly as it leapt for the sky. Clapping, as it released wave after wave of smoke. Nashira could see the man fading away into the distance, as she studied the dark outline of his form, until he was no more. Sighing, more than happy that he was finally gone, Shira turned back to the fire. Its deafening roar. She raised her right hand, and pulled her hair away from her brow. Allowing her palm to settle across it. It was moist, as though she had rested in the light of Syna's sun for quite some time. Her fingers brushed up angrily against her hairline. The brown strands curling over her flesh. It felt slick, oily. Warm.

Well that can't be good...

______________________________________________

Darkness had fallen several chimes before. Shira had finally moved away from her fire. The light which was failing much as Syna's sun had, as Leth rose to power. As her form had diminished; diverted to its former glory. Or perhaps, simply just its previous state. The life of a Myrian. Caramel colored skin. Green eyes, dark hair. A muscular form, which slowly, glided away from the fire. Slipped into the shadows, into another portion of the city, for a time. Abandoning the element, until she felt the need to return. That the time was right.