Closed Defining the Different

[Krysanthe]

Angry Endal. Net to the floor. Confused, sympathetic huntress. Determined, well-intended blind man. Out of place Krysanthe. All in all, Krysanthe found the situation very confusing. She had in no way intended to offend the Endal woman. She stood there in silence as Aidara stared down Reila, then turning to face each one of them, daggers in her eyes. Krys didn’t mean to offend her. For a moment, she wondered if she had even mentioned ‘hunting’ out loud, for the woman didn’t seem to react to the statement. Perhaps it was offensive. What if she was just too quiet? Krys just wanted to go outside. She didn’t mean for all of this to happen. Maybe she should still mend the situation. Aidara almost sarcastically asked for introductions, and somehow, Krysanthe could not bring herself to speak. She remained silent, and next thing she knew, Aidara and Aela were storming away. Or at least, Aidara was. Aela just followed her, happy to go hunt as a party of two. Then, of course, the great and mighty Vaas stepped in. Krys had known Vaas since they were in the nursery, and the man was never short on words. He was rather charismatic and almost always knew what to say. Of course, when the blind man got nervous he was quite the rambler and was frequent to stumble over his words, but all in all, he generally knew what to say. He accepted the role of ‘scapegoat’ when required, but more frequently he was the mediator, such as in this situation. Still, at this point, his words did nothing more but frustrate Krysanthe even further. When he stepped forward, she gladly stepped back, sitting on the boulder where he had been only a moment ago, fidgeting with the small net in her hands. What was he trying to say? That she wouldn’t welcome the pair into her home? Of course she would! Vaas should know by now that she never turned anyone away, and yet he had the nerve to put himself above the group by saying that ‘he can’t speak for them, but HE would welcome them.’ It may not be what he said, but Krysanthe heard ‘I know I’d always be nice to you guys, although I can’t say the same for these people here.’ Then he had the gall to say that IF Krysanthe had asked him, he would have said yes. More like if she had been given the chance. Krysanthe had fully intended to ask Vaas to go hunting with her. That was the reason she had come over to him in the first place, more than just his injured foot. Maybe it was selfish of her, but sue her! She didn’t want to be alone. And suddenly, he spoke as if she didn’t even care enough to offer. The smile he offered her suggested that the statement intended otherwise, but that didn’t stop Krysanthe from being so completely overwhelmed by the situation. Then he offered for the others to join him. As if it was his journey to offer. As if the rest of them were no part of it. Krysanthe waited for the response to be something along the lines of Vaas being able to go with Aela and Aidara, and the three of them would go off on their hunting trip, leaving Krysanthe with a stranger and a woman who never ceased to amaze her with her ignorance. It wasn’t that Krys didn’t like Reila. It was just that they didn’t really understand each other. Or perhaps they did, and they were just too stubborn in their own ways to succumb to the other’s. Krys had not intended for all this separation and frustration. All she wanted was to get outside so she could escape for a while, relax, discover something new. She wanted something different, but so far, the difference she was getting was not the one she wanted. She stayed quiet, staring at the net in her hands, listening, waiting, fighting back the instinct that insisted that she should just run away while she still can. OOCThanks, Aidara. xD I have been getting really confused throughout this thread. I've never really done a thread with so many people interacting like this before, so advice like that really helps. Hahah.

[Aidara]

Everything had fallen silent, causing Addy to look back over her shoulder at the group. It was then that Vaas spoke up, and the little woman couldn't help but smile.

"Anyone can come, really. I don't hope for much results but..." Lifting a shoulder in a shrug, Addy offered a smile around to the rest of the group. Yes, they had technically just fluffed their feathers and scared her off but Addy was never beyond forgiveness. Not to mention she hated doing things alone and it was becoming increasingly obvious that she and Aela would have trouble managing this net themselves. "Lets go, but be as quiet as you can."

The road leading from the city was long and winding, but they made good time. Most of the debris from the storm had been cleared, any major damage repaired, so the unyielding trees of the Unforgiving loomed before them in no time.

"Alright, whose here?"


OOCA few people have mentioned the thread to me, so I guess I'll just take charge and lead it. This post is mostly just to see who is still interested.

[Alori Sai]

Aela turned back to face the group as Vaas spoke out. She listened as he made his speech, and although it was a bit moving, the added parts about purple bunnies or winged squirrels were a bit comical, and the little Avora had to bite her lower lip to hold in a giggle. She wasn't sure of what they would find in the wild, but Vaas's descriptions were all of furry, playful types, rather than anything dangerous. Aela looked at the group again, noticing the woman take Vaas's place where he had sat on the boulder. She looked on as the woman toyed with the small net in her hands, and as Vaas continued, she realized that it must have been her idea to go out and perhaps the others had just come along. "Look at you Vaas, Mr. Peacekeeper and all." Aela started to speak, but Aidara spoke first and said in her own way the same thing that Aela was about to so, instead she only nodded, pulling her backpack higher onto her back as she followed Aidara. It would be a long journey, though maybe not as long with good and friendly company. As they left the city, all eyes fell on them, although most were probably looking at Aidara, or in the least wondering how Aela stayed upright caring a bow that was almost the same size as she was. The journey was quiet for the most part, but in following the skilled Endal they seem to have made it for better time. Soon they found themselves at their destination. Not one building in sight and only the sounds of the wilds to keep them alert. Aela turned, looking to Aidara curiously when she asked of who was still with them. It was possible that one of two had slipped off just before they left the city, or even before then. "Do we really need a head count?"

[Vaas]

Vaas hears Aela tease him about being the peace keeper of the group. He turns to Aela, gives her a exaggerated bow, and says with a hint of mock chivalry, “It is just what I do...”After his teasing his friend, he gives Aela a wink, he turn to the Endal woman, and says to her in a respectful manner, “I just want to say my name is Vaas. If I may ask what is your name?” Vaas has never met a Endal before, and from what his teachers taught him about manners. Endals must be treat with the highest respect in Wind Reach, but it doesn't mean they can't be approach by the lower castes. He figures if this Endal woman didn't want to associate with lower castes. She wouldn't be her traveling with Aela. He waits for her response to his question before saying to both of them, “I'll come with you. It might be slow going for me, but I might be able to help. Let me grab some supplies from my apartment. I'll be back in a minute or two.”

After saying his introductions to Aela's friend, Vaas limps back to his apartment door. Once he gets to the door, he unlocks it and closes the door behind him. He leans on the door a moment deciding if he wants to actually go on this excursion into the forest, but he decides to walk over to his chest. He opens the chest and feels around for a medium sized leather pouch. Once he finds the pouch, he feels around the surface. Noticing it is the pouch he was going to use to help him hunt and trap squirrels for Wind Dancer when they are out in the wilderness. He grabs the pouch. He walks to his cabinet and grabs Wind Dancers food jar and decides to give him another meals before heading outside. Once he is done, he heads to the door and heads back to the rock to retrieve his backpack.

When he leaves his apartment, he walks back to the rock, he kneels down next to it, grabs his backpack, he opens his bag, and slides the leather pouch into pack. He can hear Krysanthe toying with her net on the rock, and he says to her softly for only her to hear, “Sorry if I embarrassed you Krysanthe. Honestly, I am not sure how I get myself into these strange situations, but I hope I didn't make too much of fool of myself.” He want to say to Krysanthe because she really gets uncomfortable around a lot of people, and from the way, she blew up at Norien and Reila. He wanted to make sure she was doing alright. He would give her a friendly pat on the shoulder, but being blind made it impossible for him to know where her shoulder is located. He decides to stand up, give her a friendly smile, and offers her a hand, “Shall we find you a pink squirrel, Krysanthe?”

[Krysanthe]

What? Sorry… What? Krys looked up from her net when she heard Aidara welcome anyone into her little hunting group. That wasn’t what she was expecting. Okay. So it was no longer her own hunting party. So what? Krys was actually somewhat relieved that someone else took the lead of this venture. Sure, she had one moment of bravery during the Djed storm, but that meant almost nothing. She didn’t want to lead any group anywhere any time soon. One additional person she could handle, but all of these people (most of whom were almost complete strangers to her) were just too much for her to manage. Yes, Aidara. Let’s go. Following the leader as per usual. As it should be. She watched Vaas walk off to get his supplies, not moving from her spot on the rock. In the time that he was gone, Krys fairly successfully avoided social conventions. She didn’t say anything to anyone else, and no one bothered her. She just sat with her net, waiting without a word, half listening to those around her. Vaas returned kneeling next to the boulder. He must have heard her as she put her small net back into her equally small backpack. He apologized. Krys sighed. They hadn’t talked in a while but he still knew her well enough. Krys shrugged, still a bit frustrated, although the frustration was leaving her. She nearly cursed aloud when she remembered he couldn't see gestures like that. She didn’t say anything until he offered her a hand. Finally, she accepted it and got off her rock, responding simply “Thank you, Vaas.” The young woman couldn’t help but smile as she turned, following Aidara as they walked their way towards the unforgiving. The journey was basically silent. Krysanthe was relieved to be out in open air. She loved days like this when the sun was warm yet the breeze made it cool. The leaves shifted softly in unison with the dull winds of summer. Birds could be heard chirping, bugs were buzzing creatures were shuffling. All in all, Krysanthe was enjoying it. It even smelled like summer. Krys didn’t pay much mind to the others, save for a few glances at Aidara to make ensure she was still following her, and perhaps a gaze at Aela, thinking of her as almost cartoonish with her long bow, and maybe just a glance to Vaas, making sure he didn’t stumble along the way down the path, wanting to help him regain his composure if he did. The path was fairly smooth, but he was blind, and she was paranoid. ‘Alright, who’s here?’ ‘Do we really need a head count?’ Krys looked around. What she saw didn't surprise her. It was four of them. Aidara, Aela, Vaas, and herself. Reila probably left while Vaas went to his apartment, and Norien undoubtedly sauntered away as well. She hadn’t been paying much attention, but the way Reila acted around Aidara, she guessed that the fellow glassworker wouldn’t have been too thrilled at the idea of going on a hunting trip with her. Or it could be unrelated. She couldn’t be sure. She supposed what really mattered wasn't so much the cause of their departure, but simply the fact that they were gone. She returned her gaze to Aidara, not knowing if she should speak after Aela’s comment. She decided just to wait. So far, it seemed that talking had only gotten her into trouble. Best to keep her mouth shut to avoid any unnecessary conflict. OOCSo I messaged Reila and Norien about five days ago and neither has responded. I temporarily wrote them out so we can move on without them. I figure if they come back like super soon, I can just delete that paragraph and not really have any issues. If they come back later, they might be able to jump in again, like, meeting up with the group later. Or… they’ll just no longer be participating. We’ll see what happens. If anyone has heard anything from the two of them PLEASE let me know! Thanks for getting things rolling again, Aidara. I missed this thread.

[Aidara]

A fake scowl was turned on Aela and her sassy remark, tossing the entire net at her in response. Krys and Vaas stood waiting, watching her expectantly as they stood at the treeline. Still not used to being an Endal, as those who knew her best often simply thought of her as the healer she really was, it took Addy a few moments too long to gather her thoughts.

"Alright. Well, I'm sure you all know that you're going to have to be quiet, and this is going to be a lot of sitting and waiting." This was said with a flippant air, a lopsided smile bringing out only one of the woman's dimples before she continued. "We're going to set up some kind of trap to catch these guys in. It will be humane. No killing this time. Not while I'm here." Raising a brow, another glance was cast to see if anyone had any disagreement to this statement.

"Aela, did you happen to grab those collapsable cages with you?" Looking hopeful and referring to the nifty metal boxes that Sira had acquired for her, Addy waited for the response before turning to the other pair. She couldn't really blame Aela if she hadn't thought to grab them. They had been Addy's responsibility to begin with, but here was for hoping that someone else thought ahead.

"Krysanthe, Vaas," If the fact that she knew both of their names startled the pair, Addy didn't let it phase her, plowing right past any odd looks they might have given her. Though they might have already dubbed her with a nasty, uppity Endal attitude, it didn't mean it was true. "Did either of you bring anything with you?"

[Sphinx]

A fair walk into the Unforgiving from Wind Reach was where it made its nest. Beneath a tree, it left a pile of feathers and picked over carcasses, to mark where it slept in the night. Undisturbed while slumbering, it always woke with determination befitting what it had once been, back before it had been ruined by a cruel whim of Fate.

With pained, shuffling movements, it hunted. Deadened, burnt wings, left limp from a lack of feeling, dragged upon loose foliage from trees that dared to release their burden too soon. It's talons dug furrows into the soil as it pushed forward, always forward, to find that delicious scent of prey that filled its nose with the velvety promise of death held at bay for another day. It was keening a horrible, high pitched sound as hunger ate a whole in it's gut.

The Wind Eagle, once so proud and beautiful, was but a twisted remnant of something that should have never been. With her rider's remains still fused upon her back, her dead wings dragging upon the ground, and the hideous sound of her voice, it wouldn't have been farfetched for a person to say they had no idea what monster approached them in the dark.

As she waddled upon burnt claws, this once great creature snuffled for traces of her elusive prey. Her olfactory senses had increased in the wake of so many mutations, such as those that had turned her tail into the glass feathers her rider used to wear in her hair, or the one that had given her the voice of her rider so that every day she could weep at memories stirred by her own murmurs.

The scents she traced led her to them, to those bold and brave children that had come into the wilderness to capture creatures addled as she had been. As she neared, her cries grew more shrill in their ears until they wanted to cover them and flinch away from whatever phantom that approached. The cries of the hunter that closes in upon the mouse below was one few would understand, but Aidara could remember it as a cry Sira shrilly shouted while hunting. Accompanying the crying was an overwhelming stench of burnt leather, feathers, and molten glass. The sound of glass grinding into itself, the cadence of a heavy body being dutifully pushed forth.

Whatever was coming, it was most definitely not natural.

Surprise!:)

[Alori Sai]

Aela curled her lips into a smirk as she stared at Aidara, daring the little healer to match her sass with her own. The witty huntress quickly lifted up her arms to shield herself, as she turned her head away. A light squeak signaled the teen's surprise when she suddenly found herself half way under the net that Aidara tossed at her. "I'm kidding!" For those who didn't know them, they may have thought Aela disrespectful in the way that she spoke to Aidara. But this was far from the truth. Aela knew her place in the caste system, however with Aidara it never came up or even mattered. In the short time that she had known her, Aela had become close to the Endal and enjoyed her company. Their meeting had been one of coincident, and yet in a single night due to circumstances unforeseen, they had grown closer than she would have thought possible. Aela respected Aidara as an Endal, but even more as a mentor and friend. To her, those things were more important than the caste system, although if she had her way, it wouldn't matter for much longer. Another squeak slipped from the Avora as she fumbled with the net to try and free herself. By the time she had the net under control, and had started to attempt a neat fold in order to make carrying it easier, Aidara had just finished her grand speech. Aela huffed softly, eying the bow and quiver at her back. She had imagined that Aidara wasn't out for a hunt, but it wasn't like her to miss an opportunity. Still, if their fearless leader didn't want to kill any of the animals, she wouldn't object. "I brought them, they're in my backpack." She had hoped that Aidara was asking for them, instead of just checking to see if she had them. The traps had made the backpack heavy, and adding the weight of the bow and quiver put a strain on her back and shoulders. Falling silent again, she watched as Aidara asked the other two if they had brought anything useful. She wouldn't have thought that Vaas would have any traps, and she knew nothing of the other woman to say what she might had beyond the small net. "Is this a good place? We're not exactly down wi..." She paused as a loud high pitched loud streaked across the sky and rang in her ears. Dropping the net, Aela spun around and reached for her bow. "What was that?" She looked around quickly, searching the area for whatever creature was near. Aela knew that she had to be ready, if she acted too late it could prove fatal for any of them. Another shrill cry echoed through the forest causing her to flinch and almost reach for her ears to shield them. "Gods, What the petch is that!!" OMG!You are an evil Sphinx, you're doing this just to hand out more injuries!

[Vaas]

Standing by the tree line with Krysanthe, Vaas listens to Aidara tell them her plan, and Vaas leans over and says in a quiet voice to Krysanthe, “This is why she is a Endal.” He giggles to himself and limps forward feeling the uncontrollable urge to say something clever to one of the most respected Endals in Wind Reach. He gives the great lady a impish grin and asks nonchalantly, “Aidara? What if we club the purple horned bunny over the head with my staff.. lightly of course. It might make easier transport back to Wind Reach that way.” Vaas figures the best way to break the ice with her is to make a joke. How she interpret the joke is separate matter. He honestly thinks she has a good plan, and the current condition of his foot. I might be better to set up the traps, set up camp, and wait.

When Aidara asks her question about what Krysanthe and him brought with them for the quest. Vaas takes off his backpack and sets it on the ground in front of him. He reaches into the bag and pulls out a metal kit. He holds the case out in front of him in Aidara and Aela direction. He says to them, “I bought this kit to catch food for Wind Dancer when I take him out hunting. The store clerk said it was a hunting and trapping kit, so if you need anything inside. Just take it.” Vaas just stands there until one of them takes the case from him. He hears a birds sing off in the trees, and he tilts his head to listen to their song. Being outside the city was definitely a interesting experience for him. Is the forest really that dangerous? Suddenly the noise in the woods goes completely quiet, and also Vaas goes quiet trying to figure out the reason.

Suddenly Vaas hears a unnatural shrill sound through the trees, and Vaas hears birds taking off in flight. Whatever it is approaching them. It was definitely not native to the forest. Vaas puts the trappers kit back in his case, and he picks up his staff. He turns his head when he hears Aela frighten voice. He frowns to himself and says to Aidara, “Aidara, I think we should hide before whatever that thing is spots us, but I might need some help finding a good place to hide though.”

[Krysanthe]

Krysanthe watched Aidara in silence, offering no objection to her comment about no killing. Krys didn’t know if she could bare killing an animal anyways. The thought had passed through her thoughts a few times, but when it came down to it, Krysanthe doubted she would be capable of killing any creature. She could hardly step on a spider, let alone kill an animal. Eating was different. Eating she could handle. She needed meat to live, after all. But to actually kill? To watch the life leave an animal? Well, that was something she didn’t think she could manage. So Aela brought some traps, Vaas brought a kit. “I… Um, I have this net… And… some dried food. And… stuff to start a fire… If that ever comes in handy.” It couldn’t be any clearer that she had absolutely no idea what she was doing. It was almost laughable. Still, she was stubborn, determined and patient. If anything, she would at least try to do her best, and that had to count for something. Maybe if she was lucky, she’d actually learn something on this trip. Perhaps it wouldn’t wind up as the failure that her mind had set it up to be. Aela started asking about moving, when all of a sudden a loud sound cut through the air like a blade. Krys plastered her hands against her ears in an attempt to block it out. The sound struck a memory somewhere deep inside her, a memory she did not want to return to. She had only ever heard such unnatural sounds the day of the Djed storm. The smell of burnt leather and feathers of the eagles that flew just overhead, attempting to protect their volcanic city descended upon her once again. With the smell came a hideous, terrifying cry. It was sickening, and it chilled Krys to the bone. She clenched her jaw and nearly started crying at the very sound. It was horrific. Unnatural. But most of all, it was sad. It was broken. It was empty. It was the emptiness that chilled her. She smelled and heard the glass, and her mind was filled with a thousand dark images of what sort of creature could possibly be coming at them. Her eyes scanned the trees but she couldn’t make out what was coming, but whatever the thing was, it was about to arrive. She removed her hands from her ears in time to hear Vaas say something about hiding. But what was the point? They wouldn’t be able to hide if the creature had spotted them already. It could probably smell them. And hear them. As far as she knew it could see them. Hiding was worthless. Judging by the sound, whatever was coming was big and changed by magic, so fighting was worthless. Running was worthless. It was hopeless. They were all going to die. But she couldn’t die like this! No! Not today! She just wanted some petching fresh air, and this is what she gets? No! Not today. She looked around for some manner of protection. She figured that whatever was coming was on foot. If it had been avian, it would have attacked from above. So, praying that it couldn’t climb, she shouted out “What about a tree?” She ran over to a large deciduous tree with a few low branches. It would be difficult for Vaas to climb a tree, but it was better than just sitting here, waiting for their deaths. Unless someone else had a better idea. And they had better spit it out fast.