Ancient Rite, Unbroken Stone (AELLO)

[Imass]

Imass stared wildly at the woman spirit as she pointed up the mountain path. Slowly, his frantic gaze followed the tree line and up the ridge the forest sprite had pointed up. He memorized landmark in the distance, because he had no other means of help other than this hint. Thoughts flooded his mind; he had many questions to ask before she was gone again, however she vanished before Imass even turn his head back in her direction. The great mountain spirit worked in mysterious ways he realized.

The Knight stood verily for several moments, blinking in a daze of heat and sweat. The sun was high and the air was cool, but nonetheless runnels of dirty grime escaped his pores in sheets of sweat. The buzz of flies started to gather around the man’s head. The sounds of the woods and the mountain began again. Imass took a long, deep, breath and continued his climb; there was nothing else to do now but continue the climb.

With a great heave he started up the path employing the same method of traveling up the deer path. He could not judge the distance to the ridge that Aello had pointed to, but it would undoubtedly take the rest of the day to get there.

~*~

It was a long and arduous journey, however there was little danger from Caiya’s nature. The novice mountain explorer had not to fight the wilds themselves; the struggle was with his own mind. The march to the mouth of the mountain was an internal battle of the mind and soul against itself. Switchback after switchback he climbed. His place clambered to a slow crawl before long. He was so drained and exhausted that he needed to stop and rest every stone’s throw. It was absolutely disgusting how the altitude sickness was affecting his very function. Thirst began to set in too. He wished for water with each and every step. He just wanted the cool liquid to grace his lips. Before long he was having trouble even staying conscience, but the Akalak body was tougher than most humans. Just as he was about to pass out, he received a blessing from Yahal and was given a great second wind. Air rushed into his lungs and his brain turned on again revitalizing his muscles. There was hope still yet as he drugged to the top of the last switchback.

Looking over the top of the path, Imass suddenly realized he had reached the basin. Melancholy lifted from his soul and he rolled down the slope. He used the last of his energy to kneel at the lip of the pool. Although his mind was scrambled and he was in a sunken state of conscience, Imass was still able to remember the advice of the mountain spirit. Before the sweet water touched his lips, he needed to burn the top.

Dread ran through his body like a slow primordial ooze. He didn’t even know if he had enough time or energy to even produce a fire. Producing some flint and tinder in one hand, it took him a few moments to realize he needed kindling. Gathering all the energy he could possibly harness, Imass activated a third wind of desperation; he stood to his feet with the divine intervention of either Yahal or Sylir. This was do or die for him now.

Scrambling forward, he almost fell over himself as he raced to the edge of the wood. His body gave out at a pile of fallen branches, where he feel with a loud crash. The world was spinning; he was dazed and confused, but instinct took over as he grabbed a handful of dry leaves. Literally laying on his side, Imass lit the dry leaves by striking his flint. Several tries later he got the leaves burning. Two hurried breathes later, he rolled over and found more twigs. Lighting the twig proved difficult though; they blackened and charred, but would not catch aflame. Imass’ eyes bulged open in disbelief. For some reason the mountain did not want him to start the fire. The kindling went out. The smoke stopped. There was very little hope, but Imass would never give up. He would continue fighting until death took him up to Yahal.

In truth, the type of plant Imass tried to burn was to blame, it would not burn. In fact, it was actually the defense mechanism Caiya employed to stop the spread of wildfires. Imass was ignorant to this fact, so he silently cursed the mountain spirit -- Aello. His third wind was still going strong though. Crawling to his feet, Imass fell ontop himself as he sprinted to the next location searching for some viable alternative. After a dozen strides fortune found Imass in the form of dry branches that had fallen earlier in the year.

The Knight was convinced this was a sign from Yahal. During the summer, finding such easy kindling and fuel was unimaginable. Fate turned up for Imass, this was not coincidence! Striking his flint, the knight got a decent fire going. He was grinning ear to ear now. The stars had aligned that night.

Work was not done yet. The next task was to build the fire up. Right now Imass cared only for cleansing the water, so he did not anticipate any preventive measure (i.e visibility, smoke, or smell) instead he just built it next to the banks of the waters. Anyone would be able to see what he was doing from miles away no doubt.

Finding a rock he leaned larger branches across at a forty five degree angle. Putting the lit kindling under it, he only needed several puffs to get the crackling wood going. Filling his travel bowl with water, he set the flame to the surface. The top of the water literally popped and smoked as vile diseases or evil magic was released into mist. A whole day's struggle ends in success! Imass finally sat down after many hours of torture and drank deep.

The cool water felt absolutely refreshing and invigorating. Imass let out a vocal prayer to Yahal, he did not care who was listening, “Thank ye Yahal! I had faith in you and you delivered me! You are my guiding light!”

The Akalak paused then looked around, “Thank ye great mountain spirit, for without you I would have no direction to push my faith towards!”

A great rumbling sound echoed from his stomach. Imass needed some form of food now.

[Aello]

Aello lurked in the shadows, watching the man she had beaten to the top, having followed the creature's trail, only to find its carcass. A larger beast having supped on the meaty flesh. Torn muscle and sinew away from ivory colored bone. Leaving her merely to sigh and groan in silence as she filled her roaring belly with simple traveler's rations. Chewing lazily as she set her belongings aside and breathed deeply. Enjoying the warmth of the night's air. For a time, she merely observed as the Akalak struggled and made a fool of himself. It was difficult for the huntress not to laugh, but thankfully she managed. After several chimes had elapsed, the woman grew bored, leading her to pluck her belongings off of the ground, and string them back into their rightful positions. After having swept her muddied irises over the uneven terrain the huntress trailed out of the inky obscurity cast by moon's light. "You're welcome," she called out as a smirk crossed her lips, and her grip tightened around her father's old bow. Her hips swaying alongside the carved crescent, dipped in silken sheen. "Did you miss your lifeline?" Aello asked. "The little voice inside your head?" The huntress chuckled. "For it seems as though you were doing well enough without me," the woman fell silent as she bent her legs at the knees, and eased herself down beside him. Her body rested upon curled toes, soles scraping against stone as her eyes danced over him. Sparkling with fire's light. "Considering your station... we would have thought you long dead by now. One of the wolves perhaps, having grown hungry enough for an Akalak shank steak." Again, Aello chuckled. "It does have a nice ring to it, does it not?" she ended, as she allowed her bag to fall from her shoulders, and her bow besides. She waited a moment before retrieving her waterskin and drinking heartily. Several transparent beads trickling down her chin and the length of her neck as she near drained it before putting it back. Wondering how he would react. OOCSorry, all my posts have been complete rubbish lately.

[Imass]

Imass' head snapped to the sudden voice that spoke in the darkness, but to his relief it was the great mountain's spirit again. She took the form of the same petite woman as before, but this time she looked different. The moonlight pierced through veiled clouds and shined on her producing a glowing effect. She looked unnaturally beautiful as the light fell upon her athletic, yet strong curves. Her green dress was almost mystical looking in the Akalak's delirium. Experienced, intense eyes looked over the distance that spanned across them.

The Knight knelt silently and looked straight at her. Naturally he was fearful, however respect and truthfulness was imperative. The last thing he wanted to do was piss off the great mountain who had been helping him graciously so far. The spirit stood there laughing to her, asking him some tough questions about his own livelihood, with a defiant ring of sarcasm.

The spirit of the mountain sat down next to Imass, which almost made him jump. He was sweating under his chainmail. His body was tense. The way he looked at it, this was a test from the Yahal themselves.

Imass took a deep breath and answered from the heart. There was no point in lying for not only would it lead to problems later on, but it would also anger his patron god Tyveth. He looked into Aello's eyes with a stolid stare. A genuinely bright smile slowly came upon his face, almost cheerful. He spoke with honestly and conviction. He spoke slowly; for every word carried the weight of his being, "This journey hath not dwindled my spirits. My faith in Yahal, Tyveth, and Sylir has only increased. This nature, this wild untamed beauty... I have survived it because of divine intervention. Do you know what this means? The interests of my lord are aligned with thee great mountain spirit..."

Imass slowly sat up, still loving into her eyes; His face was lit dimly underneath by the embers of a measly fire. His face was in sheen of sweat. He ultimately feared this little woman, because what she represented was beyond even his understanding. All he could do was submit him to faith and trust she would tell the truth too. He had to make the leap of faith that Yahal demanded. He would lead him through the narrow pass to Tyveth's will. Imass would pave the way of civilization even if it meant dying.

There was a moan in the night. A dozen birds perched up in the trees scattered. The awful, sickly noise came from something across the basin. Imass looked over the moonlit water and took a deep breath, before turning to Aello, "What is wrong with the mountain? I can feel it in the air? What shall we do?"

The Knight was quietly trembling when he spoke, he was experiencing fear. Despite this though, he needed to ask her, it was his sacred duty. He would do the right thing, no matter what the consequence.

[Aello]

Aello raised a single brow as her wrists settled on her haunches, hands cascading over the length of her knees as she sought some semblance of sense in the knight's words. But, there was none to be had, leaving her to mumble under her breath. "If you say so," before falling silent, listening to the sounds of the forest. The unsettling moan, each of their breathing, and the crackling of the knight's fire. Her brow fell back into place as her muscles instinctively tensed. Pulsing beneath a bed of flesh glistening a soft white in the moon's light. Red from the fire, and then veiled by thin tendrils of grey from its smoke, which wound around Aello's form as easily as would a snake about a tree. The girl's lips parted slightly, as her muddied eyes swept over the knight. Making a note of how he trembled at the slightest of sounds. "Nothing is wrong with it," Aello replied simply. "That moan is the sound of one of your kind, or perhaps, one of the forest's wounded creatures." She paused. "If it were the mountain, its words would have been whispered by the winds." For a moment, she fell silent as she clutched her things, pulling them closer, righting them. "All the same. Something has stirred the element's unease," Aello whispered. "Come Akalak knight, let us investigate," she said as she came to her feet and turned from him. "Quell your fire, for it is best not to leave it unintended, and follow along," she finished before crossing the camp. Allowing the heat of the blaze to leave her back. Allowing the darkness to consume her.

[Imass]

The Gods would give him no rest tonight. He turned quickly towards the Forest Spirit and nodded in agreement. Kicking the dirt over the measly fire, Imass ate two full mouthfuls of jerky. With the swiftness of a hungry bear he drained the water and food within seconds. Imass took sword in hand and clasped his shield close to his heart. The game on the mountain began.

The Akalak began to jog northwest around the lake. He would not dare the waters or run any faster. The soft clinking of his chainmail would undoubtedly be heard, but he was an honorable warrior and would not hide himself in the darkness. If anyone heard him, then so be it. He couldn’t speak for Aello though. The Forest Spirit would do as she pleased.

Tension rose in the air like melancholy of a mother who has lost their first born son at the hands of a loved family member. A feeling of dread passed through Imass; it was déjà vu divinely incarnate. This was the beginning of the nightmare of his vision. The trials that lay ahead would undoubtedly test all of Imass’ virtues; duty, honor, faith, courage would all be tested this night. There was an overwhelming feeling of fear in his blood. He was all alone in the wilderness and getting ready to fling himself from the cauldron into the fire.
Imass glanced at the small, nimble woman, and thought to himself, ”I am all alone… except I have her… Yahal bless me…” In the end, the Knight would have one ally. He would have to put his faith in her.

Whether Aello knew it or not, Imass drew inspiration from her innately, just by the role she had allowed him to pin on her. Imass gave a short prayer to Yahal, “I believe in thee of most sacred Yahal. I lift up my heart to thee. I throw my fate in your hands. I have faith in thee.” He said this ten times in his head.

Imass continued, “Lord Tyveth. You lay down the tenants of my life. You have sent me on this most sacred quest. I can only trust in your wisdom and do what you ask me. If I die tonight, know that I have done it honorably and with great chivalry. I commend my life and spirit to your honor and justice. All that I ask you to do is guide my decisions.”

“Lord Sylir. I do not forget thee. Never. You are the lord I serve. I shall do whatever you commanded on your most loyal subject. I go on this trial to better learn the tenants of Tyveth, but in the end it is only to make me stronger for your cause. If I return to your most sacred city, I will champion your cause and use whatever gifts I gain on this journey to further your cause,” Imass pleaded with Sylir.

What needed to be said was done. He had offered his prayers to the gods and would now focus entirely at the task at hand. If he died, these would be his last prayers.

Imass turned to the Forest Spirit and hailed her, “Spirit of the Mountain. This is the beginning of my vision. What we are about to get into will certainly be worst than worst nightmare. There will be no peace for the rest of the night. The trials ahead will test my honor and chivalry. If you come with me –“ Imass dared to rebuke the spirit, “you too will undoubtedly be tested as well… I have faith in you. I think you are my ally, so I ask no words or oaths. As a mortal and an honorable knight though, I give you my word – an oath of fealty oh Mountain Spirit!”

Imass waited for response.

~*~

And thus the two characters reached the other side of the lake.

"I do not like this place."

The scene before them was grizzly and smelt of disease and death. Black shapes laid and sat around a cluster of tree right near the water. Some of these shapes stood clinging to trees or grasping damp earth underneath them. Pain, despair, and defeat filled the air. Getting closer to the scene, the two could now see that these shapes were in fact a group of wretched men dying. Calling them men would be too generous; they were not even men anymore, but the empty husks, black shadows of starvation and inevitable death.

Edging closer, the scene grew more and more detailed. The stifling hot air left a sick after taste in the tongues of all who where around. Sickly green light reflected off the basin’s water here, giving the area an even darker feeling. The morbid shapes twisted grotesquely and moaned in pain from starvation and broken bones. They could not move and had nothing to drink but the foul water. They were in a cycle of death they could not escape. They were too weak to even kill themselves. Several bodies laid sideways at the edge of the water, sipping up their only life blood.

None paid attention to Imass or Aello as they went through the area. Many questions started to arise in the Knight’s mind. Kneeling down by one of the men by the water’s edge, he dared not touch him for fear of pestilence, however he gave a hard look into the man’s eyes. They were completely devoid of life. His pupils were dilated and a milky white color. It looked like some sort of foul magic. The Knight looked away in disgust.

Imass spat. The man was completely naked and thin to the bone. There were great inflaming knots where his body had been broken. Imass inspected the wounds and noted his findings to Aello, “These men breathe and move, but all the life is gone from the body,” Imass took a deep breath and pointed at the brain dead man’s eyes, “…The eyes…” The Knight then stood up and sheathed his blade, “Their bones are broken by cudgel or staff."

The worshiper of Tyveth jabbed the guy with his toe and spoke, “Hey… Wake up,” he tried in common, then in harsh Tukant, “Akeway, akeway,” The shadow’s head tilted over to the side and he mumbled something unintelligible to the Akalak.

The Knight turned his head slowly at Aello and spoke the words on his lips without thinking, “What say thee?”

[Aello]

Aello said nothing during the course of their travel, no matter if she were meant to respond. She supposed it had to do more with instinct, for when stalking through a forest, you shut the petch up if you didn't want to be caught. But, even with the clinking of the man's metal, which surely would have given away their position, she could not bare to part her lips. Despite the gravity of their situation. Perhaps she was simply sick of dealing with stupid. It wasn't until they had stopped by the brackish water's edge that allowed herself to whisper as her eyes grazed over the dying bodies. The parched skin. Twisted and gnarled over bone. Blackened about the edges as though they had been burnt. "A staff seems more likely," Aello began as the colored vapors rose from withering flesh. "But most of them seem to be overcome by water's poison. Some sort of earthen born substance seems to have tainted. A plant... a fungus?" she almost asked as she circled a nearby body. Wondering if it'd fall if only she offered it a swift kick. But she wasn't in the mood to tarnish her boots. Uneasily, she looked up at the knight. Her muddied irises sweeping over his form in an instant. "We shouldn't linger here long. For what they have is passable," she added, as her thumb strummed the supple curve of her father's old bow. "We should leave them for Dira to claim... they're good as dead... nothing we can do to so much as ease the passing. Unless... you intend on taking a blade to their throats. Shriveled targets as they may be." The huntress sighed as she kicked a pebble down the world's soft, undulating soil. Watched it skip across the water. The shallow ripples it sent crawling across its length before it dove beneath the surface. "What say you knight, have you had enough of this?" Aello asked, as her noise wrinkled against the scent of decay.

[Imass]

Ser Imass stared at the Mountain Spirit as she said her words. The womanly figure explained that a plant was more than likely the reason they were withering away as such. Innately it seemed, the mountain spirit was able to see through nature, but she could not explain who did the blunt force trauma wounds got there though. These men were beaten half dead and Ser Imass would bring Justice to the victim’s attackers.

"There is no honor in killing these wretched fools," Ser Imass responded in grim righteousness, "Duty dictates that I investigate further to find the source of their battered bodies. Justice dictates we destroy those who committed these terrible crimes. Chivalry dictates that I walk forward boldly and righteously. Tyveth decrees this in our Knightly Oaths. The path is clear for me. My visions are coming alive. I Believe in it. It is the Truth."

Ser Imass scanned the area with his infravision, which let him see everything in the night with great detail. He didn't see any vomit on the floor or any suspicious looking plants. After a minute or two he looked up and saw a steep cliff side. It was possible that they came down from there.

Imass took a step back and tried to take in everything around the steep side; there were rocky spiral paths that lead to a giant moss covered granite rock. The top of the protruding piece of granite mountainside was out of line of sight, but based on his best guess, there would be a rough cause-way up that path.

Suddenly, Imass had a terrible feeling of deja’vu. For some reason he remembered looking up at this location in his dreams. He knew it! It was a thought in his mind sometime before (although he couldn’t pinpoint when exactly) and it was coming true. He knew it! There was something other wordly about the staircase as he saw it.

"Up this way," Ser Imass aid pointing at the top of the granite thumb, "In my visions I saw these natural paths winding up the basin. It is all coming together now. I am certain that is the way to go! The slaves therefor climbed down into the basin seeking water,” Imass paused, “Only to find poison… Let us go find who did this to them!” The Knight set off. He did not command the mountain spirit. Nay, he wasn’t that stupid. If she disagreed with him, she would say it openly he concluded. He began to run up the basin in faith.

Climbing his way up the natural path, the Knight stared at the floor in front of him the whole time as he ascended. Occasionally, he would look up towards the tops of the trees and the granite rock, however all his energy was focused on climbing. He used his feet to pick the surest stone to place his weight on so that he would not fall. If he felt himself falling, he would pick up his feet and move faster. If something looked particularly hard, he would stop altogether. Imass was no experience and he was not going to twist and ankle.

Occasionally, in particularly steep areas, Imass needed to uses his hands. Thus the shield and sword were sheathed long ago. The climb wasn't particularly hard, but Imass needed to pay extra close attention about his footing. Often time he would even test out a step by jiggling the rocks with his feet. The heavy three hundred pound Knight was not about to injure himself without cause. The faster he up this bloody rock slide the better.

The top of the granite rock was much higher than expected, but he reached it none the less. The woman was nowhere in sight. Perhaps, she had gone ahead or had dissolved back into her spirit form. Either way, Ser Imass knew it was unwise to wait for her. The Akalak had uttermost faith that she would appear when needed. Other than Aello missing, there was nothing else in sight. Perhaps, the mountain spirit really did run ahead of the slow Imass. Perhaps, she abandoned him knowing full well there was nothing here anyways, she was the mountain’s spirit after all. For a fleeting moment he felt the doubt of his dark side telling him that the path he threaded was fake, however his conviction was running high today and he did not falter. Ser Imass went back to work.

Gazing the area in three hundred and sixty degrees, Imass suddenly realized that the top of the basin on this side of the mountain was lower. He would be on another slope before too long. The Knight must have been getting close to something. Or perhaps the mountain Spirit was. None could tell. At first Imass looked for the obvious signs of a path or any other clues. He scanned every point in the group from afar. He hoped his infravision would help with the task, but he could find nothing. Without any clues, Imass picked a path that seemed to look the most worn and the most credible. He didn't have any consciences ideas for what a good choice would be so he sort of went with the floor and followed a ridge up that looked to go somewhere.

While jogging Imass made one, two, nay three switchbacks before he heard a sound in the night. Although far and faint, the Knight believed he was observing a thin string of light further up the ridge and noises. Ser Imass didn't know whether it was his mind playing tricks on him or for real. He wandered silently where the woman had gone… Perhaps she had picked up another trial? Perhaps she was scouting ahead? Regardless Ser Imass wished he had her by his side to help with the situation. Why was he even thinking of her at all?

After catching his breath for a moment, he began again. He was on a limited supply of energy, so it was imperative he conserved it. Controlling his heart rate was one of the main strategies. Breathing in deep and exhaling loudly, the Akalak used meditation techniques to facilitate his running and maintaining his breath. The Knight took it to another level beyond that though, he took as long as steep as possible when he ran. He took long strides. By his logic, if he was going to use the energy to take a step, it might as well be a long one.

Rounding bend after bend, Ser Imass climbed his way to the top at a moderate pace. He could feel the runnels of sweat running down his arms, but he was nowhere near exhausted yet. Should he fight, however, that might prove differently. That was no matter now though. He had come a whole two miles from the water when he finally came across the corpse of such at the basin. Imass looked at it for a few seconds, but made no further attempt to investigate the specific body. He was on the right track and needed to continue longer.

Now, his intuition was confirmed. The path he had chosen was leading him straight to the source of these corpses. The dead man on the floor was proof beyond a doubt the gods were lighting Imass’ path.

The Zealous Knight stared to the sky with a grim face, "Tyveth Wills It."

[Aello]

"Visions?" Aello whispered incredulously as she shook her head, tousling her long mane of chestnut colored hair. "So now you're mirroring the skills of the blondies?" She rolled her eyes. "Greaaaaaatttt... I really needed a crazier knight." She smiled uneasily as she padded away from him. Leaving the knight to follow a trail that she could not see, and was near certain was merely a figment of his fanatical imagination. Instead, the huntress followed a set of older prints. Scarcely noticeable now that the wind had been blowing for several days. Scattering the leaves that had fallen from the trees, densely packed needles, and hard grains of earth over them. Into them, so that they began to fill; making them all the more difficult to discern. Luckily for her however, she had her magic to aid her in her quest alongside the meandering trail that led through the trees, up the face of a mountain, of sharp incline, hard packed soil, and larger rocks. Some smoother from weather's ware, and some rougher; those sheltered from the elements, or exposed to other bits of earthen make falling upon them, and shattering into several smaller pieces. The boiled leather soles of her hunting boots pressed against them with ease, as she leapt from each. Pushing herself along as she followed the tracks. Grip tightening around her father's old bow as she kept her eyes peeled and made her way up the mountain's face. Until a point where the air grew thinner, causing her throat to sting each time she tried to draw in another breath. Causing her chest to rise and fall even more rapidly as her heart drummed out a quicker tune by which she could march, as the backs of her legs began to ache. The muscles straining from the walk; rippling beneath the bed of her pale skin. Shimmering unpleasantly in the light of the moon. At this point, the girl stopped, and looked up at the night sky. The silver stars sparkling as the moon hung by their side. She smiled weakly as her nose wrinkled, the scent of blood and decay having reached it. Drawing her out of her observance of the sky to the field that rested just before her feet. But, her eyes could not see them, nor could her magic sense their presence but she could smell them. So, although disgusted, she continued along until she found the first. Darkened, shriveled forms, the same as before. "Damn him," Aello muttered under her breath as she set herself down for a rest. Allowed herself to brood over the body as her eyes took on a far off look. And soon, the colors fled, and she wasn't truly seeing at all. But she was listening- to the sounds of the forest both near and far. And finally footsteps. She waited silently several paces beyond the body, until the midnight form came into view. His eyes soon taking in all that she had already done. Soon, the knight's voice was carried on stilled winds to her ears, where it reverberated against the drums rather unpleasantly. "What does Tyveth will Akalak knight?" Aello inquired, although she made no motion to get up to greet him.

[Imass]

The forest beyond the moonlight was completely black, but Ser Imass could still see with Infravision. Regardless, he did not notice the Mountain Spirit sitting beside the tree until she spoke. He was totally focused on the corpse, so she frightened him a bit.

The Knight's head went up immediately at first sound. Already his heart was pumping and he was trying to regain his breath. The Mountain Spirit had indeed frightened him a little, but he was grateful that it wasn't 'another' surprise. Blinking a few times, he paused before answering. He gathered his thoughts and spoke clearly and loudly. He did not want to show any fear in his voice,

"I took this path based on intuition alone. Tell me Mountain spirit; are there any prints or tracks leading to this location?" Surely the Mountain spirit knows every portion of the land? Yes. She knows. "Look at me; I am a creature of the plains. I am big and strong and fast, but not nimble or agile enough for these mountains. I come because Tyveth has inspired me to explore this area. Please, tell me what to do next. What does this path lead to? Must I draw arms and fight? What is the goal? Surely you must know."

The Akalak stood gaining his lungs back after a hard-breathing response. He placed his hands on his head to open up his lungs up. He breathed deep into his stomach first, inflating his lungs downwards, and then he topped off by breathing in with his chest and breathe out loudly. After about twenty to thirty seconds he would be breathing normally if he followed this technique.

The Knight had spoken with great confidence, but fear still filled his face at the moment she spoke; he flinched ever so slightly, but he flinched none the less. He wandered what the Mountain Spirit would think of him and his questions.

[Aello]

Pink petals furled into thinly etched lines against a fresh, pale sheet of parchment. Muddied orbs sparkled knowingly as lips became a delicate smile. "Why wouldn't there be?" Aello inquired as she leaned forward a little, moving closer to the Akalak, although there was no true distance breeched. It was as though she were motioning for an intimate discussion, although she maintained her ground, so far very away from where the Akalak knight now stood, entirely perplexed, as far as the huntress could tell. She gestured to the nearest corpse with a subtle jerk of her head. "He had to get here somehow, didn't he? And as unlikely as it would be, even if someone had dragged or carried him here, there would be marks on the ground." She paused, considering her words. "He definitely didn't fly here either, for he has no wings. Nor are there feathers lining the ground about him; suggesting that they had been clipped." Her lips curled into an even wider grin then, as the wind swept through. Causing the folds of her simple cotton attire to ripple in the breeze, as her long chestnut mane was carried off her shoulders. Tousled delicately, before let back down upon her shoulders. Where the frayed edges tickled her bare flesh. Gingerly, the huntress eased herself onto her feet, as her fist tightened around her father's old bow. Her thumb idly stroking its supple curve as she sauntered over to where the Akalak stood, staring down upon her pale flesh, glistening in the light of the moon. Her dark eyes settled on Imass' own, as she came to a halt a few paces before him. "The path you tread leads to much the same, to the eyes of the untrained. An endless walk of corpses. Their bodies blackened as though they had been thrown amongst the ash of quelled flames, shriveled as though the very blood that makes them had been drained from their veins." The woman risked a single blink from formerly unflinching gaze as she extended her free hand and set it upon the left pectoral muscle of the Akalak. She could feel his midnight flesh. Warm, as though the sun still shone upon it, yet moist, as though he had just taken a shower, or stepped out of a swim in the sea. Her eyes sparkled, as salted beads of transparency trickled through the spaces left between her fingers. Running against the length of her skin. Aello could just make out the sound of their hearts drumming against each others beat, as her ears prickled. Straining to listen. She could feel his hammering against her palm. Feel it punching her flesh. She stifled a knowing chuckle as she looked up at him. "It will be much the same for those who truly see, but not for those who uncover stones, and truly bother to look beyond what floats upon the surface of turbulent waters," the huntress continued as her fingers furled, her nails brushing against the man's flesh, so lightly, that it was like to send a small tremor through him, as opposed to a soft wave of pain. Her fingers trailed towards her palm, where they halted just above her knuckles, before falling back to where they had lain before. "Knowing this, it remains up for you to decide whether or not to continue down this path, or to turn on your heels, and walk in the opposite direction of where it may lead you." Gingerly, she ran her hand down the length of his chest as she pulled the heel of her hand away. So that mainly her fingers cascaded down his coiled muscles. Pulsing lightly beneath her touch, before she removed her limb altogether and returned it to her side. "Now Akalak knight it is up to you where you will go, and what you will find you. If you should wield your weapons in the field of battle, or leave blood unshed," Aello whispered as she took several steps back into the darkness. Until only her eyes remained in the light, and a small section of her right cheek, while the rest was bathed in shadow. "Choose wisely, and do not forget..." Aello's voice trailed off as she finished sinking into the shadows. Moving as swiftly as her feet would carry her, so as to be rid of the peculiar Sylirian knight once more. OOCThis is the one time I honestly hope he didn't put his shirt back on... Darn... I can't remember. How awkward...