Out of Sight (Xalet)

[Aello]

Winter 46, 511 AV Location: Lost in the Wilderness Aello lifted her right hand, and cupped her palm, raising the crescent over her brow, so she wouldn't have to practically close her eyes just to look upon Xalet, who was sitting comfortably upon his horse. She could still feel herself squinting, her eyes watering as she looked over his shoulder at Syna's glow, the way her rays caused his armor to sparkle in the light. It was beautiful to her, to look upon the sun, at the golden streamers that trickled through the spaces between her fingers, but it hurt her so. It seemed a curse to her, for a goddess to hold so much beauty, such brilliance, that no one could bear to gaze upon her directly. Biting her bottom lip nervously, Aello cast her gaze to Xalet, into his eyes. "What do you say to a bit of a challenge Xalet?" Aello asked, as her grip tightened around her father's old bow. "What do you say you ride off in that general direction," she went on, as she moved her hand away from her forehead, and gestured out behind him, past the stomping of Parchello's feet. "And I go off in this general direction," Aello continued, gesturing behind her, "and in say half a bell or so, we turn around and start looking for each other. Hunt each other down... and well, see how much you picked up the last few days?" Aello paused for a long time after that, simply allowing her offer to sink in. Her challenge. "Interested?" Aello finally asked after a time, her eyes sparkling mischievously, as she returned her hand to her side, and simply, waited for a response from the squire.

[Xalet]

Xalet pulled gently at the reigns, causing his mount to come to a halt as Aello went about explaining her next big plan. Getting involved with Aello was dangerous. Not that Xalet minded a little potential bodily injury in any training he did, but he was never certain that Aello had the same instructors finesse as any one of the many Knights that had taken the time to show him the various facets of Knighthood. Out of everything they had done together though, this seemed to be the least risky, with no one appearing to be attempting to stab, shoot, or slash the other.

He pondered on her request for a moment, his hands drawing into his lap as his head twisted slightly atop his broad shoulders, trying to evaluate the area they were currently in. The squired believed his senses to be fairly sharp, all things considered, although Aello clearly had some practice in silencing herself and her movements. Finally he decided he could find no fault with a little practice. "I'll accept this proposal." he voiced his acceptance finally, wrapping one side of the reins around his fist before turning his horse in a semi circle, "I've been becoming more at ease with the forest."

Tracking and surviving was certainly not his top most layers of knowledge. Xalet felt more at home with a sword in his hand and a shield on his shoulder than he did tracking some person or creature and struggling against the wilderness of Sylira. He wished he could put some of his own personal knowledge into the spotlight, and perhaps reverse the roles in order to show Aello a thing or two, "After this day I would like the chance to show you a few things myself. Though I may not have an advantage in bladework or with a bolt or arrow, I think I might be able to instruct you on a few useful things."

[Aello]

"Very well," Aello responded, as her grip tightened around her bow. "See you within a bell then," she added, as she turned abruptly on her heels, and strode off into the forest, weaving in and out of the line of trees until she could no longer hear the gentle clicking sound of Parchello's hooves against the ground. Could no longer hear his snorting, his tail swishing. The occasional clanging of Xalet's armor as his body shifted with the gentle rocking of the horse's body, and his saddle beneath him. Sighing, Aello eased her body against the ground, her back against a tree. Now all there is left to do is wait, she thought, as she crossed her right leg over the left, and folded her weapons across her chest. She smiled weakly, wondering how Xalet was fairing as she glanced up at the sky, figuring no more than a few chimes had passed, giving her plenty of time to waste as the squire lost himself in her challenge. Her eyes glimmering, Aello moved her hand over to one of the gnarled roots of the tree she was leaning up against. She could feel the rough bark beneath the tips of her fingers. Watch it winding. The diamond-like pattern of raised brown edges poking her smooth flesh. Her cool flesh. Slowly, the girl closed her eyes, but kept the picture of the root in her mind. The winding shape, slithering across the forest floor as though it were a snake. She kept the feeling in her mind, and imagined, a sticky lavender colored goo spilling from her hands, encasing the tree. Blocking out all sound. She imagined the goo expanding. Crawling across the root until it had stretched even further than her hand. To the length of two of her hands, and then three. Aello imagined the shield dripping into the hollowed out spaces in the tree root. Imagined the shield pooling, and offering those areas extra protection from the sounds that filled the forest. After several more chimes filled with her concentration, and expansion of the sound shield, Aello opened her eyes to find the tree glimmering a bit more in the light. More than was natural. Seems like it worked, at least, in part, Aello thought, as she drew her hand away and simply stared off and into the distance.

[Xalet]

The tall squire was in no hurry, and certainly his mount appreciated not being pushed toward any great lengths. While the cool winter air kept the thick boned equine from over-heating, simply keeping Xalet aloft for any period of time was a task in itself. The squire's body shifted slightly as he road, but he couldn't help but feel himself becoming more familiar with the workings of a horse. It had been so many years, and now he was truly comfortable atop the beast. His mind didn't wander toward the disasters of falling or being trampled by his own companion, but instead how to best maneuver in more complex ways, most notably with any speed through the forest.

When the prerequisite amount of time had passed Xalet turned Parchello around on his hooves and pointed back into the direction he came from. The path was fairly simplistic, thanks to the pathway the winters carpet had made for him. He just needed to follow the tracks. As early as it was, the tracks he had just lad down with his horse were still extremely fresh, easy enough to follow for someone with his limited tracking capabilities. "Very well then, let us show her why possessing a mount is always the superior choice. We'll be back there in a quarter of the time. Hyah!" he called out, his canyon like voice booming. In response the horse reared up, though Xalet kept his grip and shifted his balance forward instead of rolling to the rear and falling off. Just like that, Parchello was off down the pathway with Xalet steering his reigns.

Trees, limbs, shrubs, rocks, all of it passed so quickly. He maneuvered the horse like never before, with more confidence and skill then he had as a young boy. His upper body nearly hugged against the creature, his elbows stayed close to his body, and his eyes closely watched the landscape. A tall root extended from the ground and instead of slowing, Xalet squeezed harder, pressing on. Like the majestic creature he was, Parchello lept up and over the inconvenience, his hooves slamming into the ground and spraying powder everywhere. With only a few steps of imbalance from the snow, the horse was back up to speed in short order.

It wasn't long before Xalet had reached the place he and Aello had started from, as he could just barely make out her tracks heading away from their original scene, and the circular pattern his horse had carved out from pulling slightly in a circle before taking off. Following that trail was going to be difficult, however. Aello made much less of an impact on the environment, though Xalet was lucky enough to have the keen sight that he had. Bringing the warhorse to a walk, the squire glanced around his surroundings and began to lead the horse in the general direction of Aello.

[Aello]

Aello passed her hand over the shield, wiping it away before she got onto her feet. Her hand tightened around her bow's frame as she crept forward, away from the tree. Stepping over its roots, as she forced herself to then leap from what ground one tree, to the next, so as to minimize the parts of herself she left behind. And so it begins, Aello thought, as she absently pulled an arrow from her quiver, and laced it onto her bow, preparing herself, for the moment when the squire reappeared. Her fingers trembled as she held the arrow in place, as her feet pushed up against the roots of another tree, and she soared through the air, before sinking onto a flat rock bed, and running, onwards and upwards. Over a gently rolling slope, into the arms of more trees. More roots. Hopefully this works, Aello thought, as she kept on running. As more and more silver tendrils escaped her lips. As her heart beat faster and faster, and her body grew all the more warm. But... it shouldn't be too difficult to find you, not when you have chosen to keep to your horse, it seems, Aello thought, as the colors came to her. Illuminating the forest, the areas she could not see with only her eyes. We will find each other yet... I will have you yet, she thought, as she jumped down from one rock, onto a lower-lying one. Landing with an awkward thud, a grunt, before picking up the pace again. She simply, could not stop. Not until she had accomplished what she met to. I hope you're ready for this Xalet, Aello thought, as she prayed to Dira for deliverance.

[Xalet]

Parchello stepped slowly as Xalet slung his crossbow off from over his shoulder. A leather clad hand backed with metal plating reached into a belt pouch, removing the worn leather leash before pulling forth one of his bolts. Resting the stock of his crossbow upon the lowest portion of his chestplate the squire quickly wrenched the cord backward and placed his bolt between his teeth. His eyelids slowly lowered only to raise and view the world in a new shade of color, the inner radiance of all things shown through in the spectrum of infrared.

"I can't stay quiet. I won't stay quiet even if I tried. I can do this through training alone. Perception, focus...I just need to focus..." he told himself as he reached outward with his Evantia Aura. It was still so immature, but with the help of his enhanced vision and his relatively keen observation he had the potential to wield his senses with a great proficiency. "Can you see her...Parchello?" he whispered to the animal, whom rightfully said nothing in return, "Me either." the Akalak replied in an understanding tone.

"That's far enough." he decided, pulling upon his reins in order to command his horse to stop. Rather deftly he slid off from the saddle and pulled Parchello over toward a tree, lashing the straps about it's narrow circumference. Better to not get the horse tangled in all of this, for Parchello had dutifully fulfilled his obligation of bringing his rider to the field of contest. Hooking his forearm beneath the underside of his crossbow, Xalet lowered the bolt down onto the plate, sliding the shaft up into the groove. It was a movement he had performed so many times that his eyes were free to look elsewhere, centering in upon any tracks left behind by Aello. All around him he considered his areas of cover, and planes with which to retreat in order to gain better ground.

[Aello]

The girl's pace never slowed. If anything, it simply continued to speed up as she pounded the ground relentlessly. Her arms held in a controlled swing as her fingers inched the bowstring back, and then, held it tight, not allowing it to move but a fraction of an inch as she wove in and out of the towering trees. Her magic swirling about her, billowing up from the holes in the ground; like vapors form a geyser. Aello watched the colors waft around her idly as her eyes glided across the forest floor. All seemed barren, unnaturally quiet as she strode along. Only the sound of her feet, and her thundering heart breaking the striking still. Her chest rose and fell all the more rapidly as she caught sight of Xalet off in the distance. Several chimes away still, judging by where his aura flickered off in the distance. A deep blue of varying shades. Some slightly lighter, others darker, fighting to be the largest portion of what only a few gifted individuals could come to see and to know. Aello could tell that he had already loaded his weapon, and was pointing it towards the east. Thus, if she kept on running from her current angle, she'd approach from his right. The girl sighed, as she watched the nearby Parchello swish his tail, that simply wasn't good enough. She wanted to take the squire by surprise. Coming in through his peripherals would simply, not deliver the message, or rather the point, she was trying to get across. Therefore, she would have to do something slightly more drastic. Come from behind perhaps. Or something, else...

[Xalet]

Xalet's elementary knowledge of tactics went to work. His skill at understanding a battlefield and it's advantageous positions wasn't finely honed, but it was better than any amateur. Years of scholarly understanding involving tactical advantage and disadvantage mixed with physical and practical application had given him a suitable base to build upon. Blading his body slightly his left shoulder led the way as he stepped and advanced. He could see some tracks, old and faded. Were it not for the winter's dust the squire would have nothing to go on at all. Simply best to follow them for now.

The soft cushion of the snow crunched with only the slightest audible response. At a slow movement his plates kept mostly quiet, although the chainmail beneath rustled as his shoulders turned atop his core. His shield lay upon his back, strapped into place by his guige strap. "Watch carefully, look for the heat amongst the snow. Look for her breath." he reminded himself. The tools of a predator were at his disposal, he simply had to grasp them and put them to good use.

His most glaring disadvantage was not understanding the type of magery Aello had at her disposal. Although his Evantia Aura could tell him things within it's range, her Auristics had a distance that made the fifty foot radius available to Xalet seem trivial. To his left movement was detected within his aura, he turned quickly in order to observe it...nothing. A branch simply succumbed to the weight of snow and ice and bent far enough to allow several pounds of frozen precipitation to fall down to the forest floor. "Stay loose, prepare to react. Watch the rear. Understand the proximity of cover."

[Aello]

Aello's feet pounded against the terrain. Snow crunched beneath her step, as flurries were thrown in her wake. A sloppy trail even the most unskilled of hunters could easily find, and the most rudimentary could follow right to her. If only the wind weren't but a trickle through the endless line of trees, perhaps it would not be so. But what was a simple mage to do about something so simple, so pure, when faced with a wild rush such as this? The thrill of the chase; and impending kill. Or in this case, perhaps a minor wound. After all, it was not her intention to kill the squire, merely teach him so that in the future, he would not be caught unprepared. As she was certain, he was about to be. Aello's lips curled into a knowing smirk as she watched Xalet through the eyes of her magic idly. The colors swirling like vapors off a melting bed of snow; only, the snow wasn't melting. Her fingers slid slowly along the length of her arrow's shaft as she glided along, and then paused. There was a sound in the distance, and she soon realized if only she bothered to look up, that she could see a small flock of dark feathered geese flying by on their travels to warmer climes. Calmly, the girl studied their wings flapping. The rounded ends of their feathers jutting out of their outstretched wings; like an unfurled fan. She could see their shadows, at times, flickering against the snow-slicked trees; their nearly inaudible calls as they passed. She wondered then what it would be like to fly. To swoop down on her opponents, clutch them in her claws, and flutter away. Only to drop them back down when she felt them too heavy. Aello sighed as she shook her head. She was being silly, and there was no time for such things. She was in the middle of a battle; the end of a war. A vision of victory was in sight, and all she had to do was reach out and grab it. Take it for her own. She smiled as she glanced back down and kept on running. If only...

[Xalet]

Slow your movement. Quiet your breath. Silence your thoughts. A Syliran Knight trained in the way of the Warrior was never meant to sneak up on their foes. Instead their senses had to be trained to preempt stealthy attempts upon them, both with intents to attack and to gain information. Xalet didn't give himself enough credit, more than fifteen years of listening to the words of his instructors, watching the flow of battle, participating in mock trials, and honing his sharp Akalak senses had left him more than capable of detecting even those with substantial skill at staying silent. In the quiet of the forest, with only the snow and the wind, once he completed the necessary steps of self-peace his elongated ears could hear further. They could grasp the subtle sounds of steps softly packing powder.

He had a direction, that was good enough. He laid his crossbow upon the ground and instead of pulling forth his shield, drew both of his short blades, so simplistic in design. The faintest hum resounded from their lengths and a soft, massaging vibration moved through the grip into his palm. Ivkai and Kasai, the blades from a God. Even though he he held them in his possession, he knew so little about them, except that they were impossibly sharp. "Hnn!" he struck a tree, it's base sickly and rotting with his left arm, before drawing back and striking with his right. His sword swing was unlike others, as without the limitation of technique he needed only to use his vast supply of strength to penetrate deeply into the weakened wood.

Preparation, tactics, battlefield knowledge. He could wield those tools, if he would just let himself. After a few strikes he withdrew his weapons from the tree, leaving the weight of it's shaft creaking from it's battered connection to the ground. Aello would get the jump on him, one last time. That was his intent. He looked down toward the chopping blows he had made, his eyes tracing a line toward the sounds he heard of a running Aello. He cast his eyes to the side, glancing at the rest of the forest that lay around him. Near the base of the tree he moved some snow, utilizing the edge of his shield like a shovel, simply sweeping enough onto his crossbow to leave it hidden from view, save for the edge of the stock. With his hand securely placed upon the top of his heater shield he thrust it into the ground at an angle, as if he were prepared to face of against an opponent at a direction nearly ninety degrees from the movement he had heard from Aello.