Closed Letters and Words (Kali, Ximal, Shang, ZANDELIA!!!)

[Ana Sol Starris]

Fall 90th, 512AV Near Grath's Rest, Close to Midnight Ana had done the neccessary things beforehand, she had replied to Wrenmaes letter before contacting the others to meet her near Graths Rest, at night close to midnight, and just outside of Graths Rest towards the side. It was dark, of course, but she would be waiting for them one by one until finally they would all be there- if need be she would search for them herself if they seemed a little lost. In her shirt, she kept Wrenmaes letter there, but just accessible so she wouldn't have to reach in all the way and draw attention to herself. There she waited, for Sahashkalila with her fang in a pocket, for Shadowfang, the Zith or otherwise known as Robert, and finally for the big olf Ximal. The ex-thief had all she needed to proove she had recieved word, without actually having to show them the letter. If they pushed hard enough, she would present it to the three of them. Until then, it would remain hidden away in her shirt; there was no Jakobi nearby for the ex-thief had contacted the three beforehand and told them to meet her there within three days time. Having of removed herself silently from the premises to travel into the Spires, silently, with stealth on her side. Leths moon was out, and presented a lovely glow across the landscape, the small woman thought as she pondered over the stars and moon. How far away they were, if they were ever reachable, if perhaps- she could be a star too and away from all the grief life caused. Maybe in her dreams, but sleep never came to her, she was always awake. The days beforehand had rustled something inside her, churned her stomach, and made her feel ill to the point she couldn't take it much longer. Her gut was warning her of something, she was sure of it; and she had been right once that courier had came by, handing her said letter. The look on Jakobis face then, had worried her, he had asked who the letter was from and she had just crumpled it up in front of him, saying it was nothing. Ana knew he didn't believe her, the look in his eyes had said it all, but he didn't stop and force her to tell him; maybe it was for the best that this happened. It would add to some closure for the others, but for Ana? Wrenmaes letter only reminded her of who she was, what she could not be. Being a homely wife? Pah, she was having trouble with that in the first place already. Ana was not suited for such tasks, she never had been, she was always the adventerous type, always trying to get to the bottom of things, curious to a fault. The ex-thief thought, her mind straying to past memories, before finally watching one by one, each of them turned up- there she stood, with her hood down, and hair impecably bright against the moonlight- it would be hard not to see her. To have their attention, she felt a little scared; but how would she lead anything for Wrenmae if she didn't brave up? Even if he did refuse to lead the rest of them, with his next letter- if she would ever recieve one again.

[Zandelia]

It had been a strange time for Zandelia, one within which she had experienced the bitter pangs of loss once more, everything that she had worked for seemingly torn asunder in one season. She had made plans, calculated potentialities, armoured herself with steel and others with ideals. Yet, she had still failed in her ambitions. She was not entirely sure whether it was a grand cosmic joke, designed to propel her on some deities path, or whether it was simply that she was ill equipped to place wagers on a large scale. If the truth be told she could find little within her to care one way or the other.

The Crimson Edge are finished, its leaders dead or disgraced and its members mostly torn asunder, the others dispersed. Even those which whispers place within the Spires seem to have given up – only Ana fighting on for a dream as fleeting as the smoke rising from a fire she thought to herself bitterly, her feet taking her to the meeting place.

It had not been difficult to discover the gathering, or rather the plan of the gathering. Even in the Spires much remained the same about their habits – taverns a nice shelter from the storms of reality. It was interesting to her that, though shadows lurked everywhere, that ground of gathering was nearer to civilization than necessary. It was almost as if Ana wished for them to be discovered, as if a flailing portion of memory tried to claw back the past – summon it into existence. It had to have been Ana to arrange it, of course, her own poor network of eyes in the Spires content to tell her for free that it was the young girl who tried to form unity from the chaos. Other news on her return, however, had been more troubling.

Shadowfang missing an arm, Sahashkalila growing closer to that horse Kelvic and so less likely to take risks with a mercenary band, the ice setting in. Our resources grow even more scarce it seems. If there even is a ‘we’ these days

Cade was dead, that much she knew already. She suspected the others in Sunberth were either exterminated or driven underground as no word had reached her from Mok, or any of the others. Still, she was curios and curiosity was something innate to her that she could never ignore – for better or worse. She had decided to attend, though in fashion not appealing to the others. In fact, they may not even discover she had even been there. She had arrived earlier than even Ana, watching her sway gracefully through the murky shadows – she had grown indeed, slightly more curved and walking less like a boy every day. She wondered how long it would be until she fully sprouted, idly imagining her supple form.

Smiling ruefully from her hiding place, above in the branches and rafters that the ‘buildings’ of the Spires that was loved so much. Easy architecture to traverse if one was careful enough. She breathed deeply, concentrating her energies into her chest and pushing it up into her eyeballs. Slowly, ever so slowly, the world shifted and her perception was one of colours rather than light and dark. Vibrant, throbbing, pulsating colour. She focused, sifting through those wandering until the familiar aura of Ana coalesced into view. It was larger than before, though whether that was due to her growing older or perhaps for some other reason she could not tell. She knew well enough that users of Djed held larger auras, however she had never known Ana to use such things – though she had been away for some time indeed. She filed away that titbit of information as she focused fully upon the colours themselves. Shifting reds, some dark royal blues and light lilacs comprised the most of it.

“She is angry about something, though upset at the same time it seems,” Zandelia whispered to herself, “and trying to put up a front of…confidence? Petch it all! It’s been too long since I tried this power” she shook her head, trying to remember what the various hues meant to her.

She sat back, contemplated and waited.

[Ximal]

What did ana want with him? Normally she would have avoided him at any given chance but no now she was requesting his presence. Something nagged in the back of his min...And this time it wasn't liro. Sfting through the ever colder growing streets of the spires xi headed towards the tavern. His hands growing tight in grip still he, couldn't quite place the source of his angst. He could feel his skin crawling and as such something wasn't sitting right. As Xi neared the door of the tavern he gripped his hood raised and his gaze sharp and scanning, much like it had become since his joining as a guard. Slow rhythmic breathing bringing his djed to the fore front Xi pushed it into his muscles, just in case he needed it for any reason. Stepping around the bar Xi rounded the tables in an attempt to find ana, despite ow good his scanning of a room had gotten even with her it was still a challenge to find her. Adjusting the bow on his shoulder he took not of her, and being perfectly honest he hadn't expected to see her. Then again ana had called him here so it wasn't exactly a "normal day" Xi shot a look around the place a look, of intimidation and deterrence. Why she wanted him there Xi did not know. Taking strides towards her, he sat down in the chair to her right, into a chair big enough to fit a jamoura, and almost glowered at her but not leering. As he spoke he raised hit tone a little but kept his voice low "Any particular reason you wanted me here ? Or did you just miss my company ? Xi smiled lightly and awaited a response from ana or more people if she had invited any. Xi coughed lightly and massage his temples. It'd been a long day as always but still. Xi swung his gaze around the area just glancing to occupy his time until she spoke to him but he caught a glimpse of someone he didn't expect to see. Zandelia. Xi blinked three times and then ...lost her. was he slowly falling into Liros grip? ws his grasp geting stronger over him ? Or was the work load really getting to him? What ever it was. He could have sworn he just saw her.

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila pulled the hood of her cloak lower as she slipped quietly out of Nature's Nurture, making sure that her face was covered as she began to make her way through the city. Not that anyone could really see her anyway, it was close to midnight, a strange time for her to be traveling. In fact the whole situation she was in seemed to be strange to her. She had received word a fee days earlier to meet and old traveling companion and friend at this hour, and at first she was confused. Stigandr had been equally puzzled and suspicious when she had told him about it, and didn't want her to go. The only reason that Kalila could come up with was that Ana was in some sort of medical trouble, something that she didn't want anyone else to know about. Kalila had immediately assumed after that conclusion that she was with child, and was having some complications while carrying it. It didn't explain the strange hour, but the woman had always been a little strange, and after assuring Stigandr that she would be fine that night she decided to go and meet her. 

Her medicine bag felt heavy on her shoulder, seeing as she had packed it with a few extra herbs to help if pregnancy was the case. Kalila didn't know if Jakobi was aware of their meeting, but then again she didn't think Ana would tell him she was in trouble seeing as the little blonde wanted Kalila to meet her near midnight. That did not sit well with the healer, but it was not her place to say what went on in other households. And so she continued on her way while the rest of the city slept, hefting the bag a little higher on her shoulder and pulling her cloak tighter against the chill of the night. 

Upon nearing the meeting spot she paused, voices reaching her through the dark as she got closer to the inn. To her surprise, it was a voice that she recognized, and one that she didn't expect to hear. It was Ximal's, and her suspicions grew as she came up to them quietly. This was not looking good. "I wassss not aware othersss would be here, Ana," she said quietly, stepping deeper into the shadows, pushing her hood back a little so they could see her face. Ximal was obviously asked to be there, given what she had overheard, and Kalila refrained from saying anything impolite. "I have sssusspicionss asss to why I am here.....becaussse I ssseem to be called when help iss needed. Are you....sssick Ana?" She didn't want to outright ask if she was pregnant, not with Ximal there. This was a talk for women, unless he was somehow involved in it. She turned her head to look at him and arched a delicate brow, her hand tightening on the strap of her bag. "Trouble sseemss to follow you Ximal, and I asssume that thiss iss a delicate ssituation at besst,"she said, keeping her eyes on him a few minutes more before looking back at Ana. "Are you very far along?"

[Shadowfang]

Despite everything - namely losing a potential mate to Kelvic, not to mention almost his entire left arm - Shadowfang did not feel sad. He was someone who lived in the now, and right now he was awake at night. It was annoying, having to change his sleep cycle so that he could function in the daytime for the convenience of his non-Zith companions, but now an old gang member had called him to meet at Grath's Rest at midnight. He could not help but wonder why, but at this point he did not really care. His idle mind, however; had come up with a few reasons; some he liked to think about and some he would prefer to push to the back of his mind. 

The one-armed Zith glided lazily through the night sky, completely in his element. He was still getting used to having to fly, fight, and generally do things with only one arm, but he was getting better at it. It just took a little extra work. Suddenly he folded his wings inward and began to fall. His face was pointed at the ground, his body straight like an arrow. The smells of the Spires began to meld together as the wind pulled at his face, laying his fur flat against his skin. He simply watched the ground rush towards him with the disposition of a nail watching a hammer being swung. At the last second he spread his wings and flapped hard. He felt the air yank at his back as he slowed, pulling up in time to avoid crashing into the ground, and flew straight, slow, and level. Eventually, he began to flap hard again, rapidly moving his wings to slow his speed, pointed his feet at the ground, and landed with an audible thud! 

Bringing himself up to his full height, he wrapped his wings around his body, clutched his stump with his right hand - a habit that he had developed - and walked the rest of the way. He looked down at the ground as he walked, letting his nose lead his way. He picked up Ana's scent near the Rest but to his surprise, there were other familiar scents in the same spot. He walked in, his night vision easily identifying the sources of the smells, all former comrades. Ximal whom he met with a cold growl, Kalila whom he simply stared at for a while, looking the cloaked healer up and down, his eyes lingering where her neck - and that mark - were. Looking at her, his mood changed for the worst, though he did not show it. Finally, there was Ana, whom he had all but ceased talking to and who had called this meeting. Having heard Ximal and Kalila ask questions from a distance, he decided to stay quiet and simply let Ana speak. 

However, there was another smell. Another familiar smell that did not come from anyone within the small group. His hand slipped through his wings to brush long raven strands of hair from his eyes, looking into the jungle around them. He knew that scent. He knew it like the back of his own hand, but he just couldn't pinpoint where or what it was. He decided to leave it be for now and simply keep a watchful eye to the shadows. He sniffed deeply. It was a particularly one of a kind scent that made filled his being. If he could only remember what it came from... He turned his attention back to Ana, his arm disappearing once again under his wings, but always with his wary nose shifting through the many smells this wonderful jungle had to offer.

[Ana Sol Starris]

"Hardly, Ximal. Just wait and see" Ana breathed out a whisper in the air, not looking at him as they would all begin to arrive. Upon saying that she heard Sahashkalila's voice, the healer that had tagged along with the Crimson Edge past spring, and undoubtedly saved Ana's life when she had been very ill back in Sunberth. The thief greeted Kalila lightly, using the moonlight to pinpoint her approaching form; of course Ana had not divulged anything to the healer. In fear of words travelling faster than the air itself, Spires, it really acted like the hub bub of information- travelling from one ear to another. It was crazy. It hadn't occurred to Ana that by not telling Kalila about the purpose of the meeting, there would be dire misconceptions. The look on the thiefs face was that of confusion at the healers words, what did she exactly mean about that? "No, I'm not sick Kalila.. What do you mean by far along?" The question seemed misplaced in the seriousness that the thief felt, tilting her head to the side as her mind tried to work out the meaning herself. For the life of her the thief could not figure it out; she tried to associate the phrase with the bag which Kalila now had on her. Shaking her head. Snapping her eyes at another figure which was now by Kalila, t'was Shadowfang, or at least from what she could tell from the darkness acting much like a shroud. Clearing her throat she threw her hood up, all were accounted for and she may get this meeting started. Feeling ever so slightly more confident when her face was hidden, and turned to an angle for them to have trouble seeing her "I am... However.. Glad you all could make it.. as well as grim," she started out, a crack to her voice as she formulated what she wanted to say, as slowly, and concisely as she wanted to with as much confidence as she could "I will be honest, I've never had attention on me like this before.. So bear with my less than adequete presentation, and social skills." Best to be honest; half truthes were always more believable than actual lies. It put people off gaurd. "Before I can begin, I wish for a vow of silence on this matter...If not, then leave now... And disassociate yourself with this meeting." Ana sighed, and hugged the cloak tighter to herself, feeling rather... Worried over this entire thing, she didn't know how any of them would act... And she could feel it, Shroud had not been the nicest of people.. So she could only ponder on what he may have done, and what their reactions may be to his apologies.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia watched them arrive, one by one, from her hiding spot in the tree and foliage. It was a new experience for her, spying upon those whom had already at least partially earned her trust. However, if her recent life experiences had taught her anything it was that she should now be suspicious of everyone around her – friend or foe. Whilst her skill had developed over the years, she was beginning to see that her perspectives had remained the same, stagnated into defunct ideologies. She appreciated the need for allies, that much was always true, but she was now seeing that allies could be fickle and that they should be watched more than enemies. It was with this consideration that she froze, noting that Ximal has paused and looked her way.

He saw me? Intersting she thought as she froze, watching and waiting. He moved onwards without taking issue, her breathing returning to normal as he greeted Ana.

She took out a small flask of dark wine, uncorking it and swigging it a few times before replacing the stopper and secreting it about her person once more. She leant back against a branch and kept up her watch, certain others would arrive soon enough. True to form within minutes Sahashkalila and Shadowfang had also made their entrance, both dramatic for different reasons. Shadowfang was always dramatic when he swooped in to land – poetry in motion some might call it perhaps. Sahashkalila, though, used words to make her mark. She thought Ana was pregnant. That was interesting also, for it meant she was aware there was a relationship somewhere to beget such a situation. Zandelia filed the information away into her mind for future exploration.

And now they are all here she noted as she used her Djed to focus her unique sight once more.

She could not focus upon more than one aura at a time, however she knew them well enough to distinguish which aura belonged to which person. There were many colors, conflicting for the most part. Ximal was colored with tiredness, but also she thought with exasperation. Shahashkalila seemed to impart concern as well as suspicion. Shadowfang, his aura was different. She always had difficulty reading his aura, however she noted with some confidence that he was intrigued, or perhaps surprised. She let her Djed ease out of her eyes, the colors of magic dissipating gently as tiredness set into her. She had reached her limit for her skill this night. Still, she focused her green orb upon Shadowfang and noted he was…sniffing.

Not sniffing! Smelling….he knows I am here. Or rather, that someone else is. Damn his nose! she thought as she let her eyesight shift back to Ana and listened to her words filter up to her.

She had offered a binding oath of secrecy, therefore something of import must have occurred. Her aura was one of pensiveness and stress, if Zandelia had been any decent judge. The night was shaping up to be full of intrigue and party politics. She smiled to herself at finally finding something worth her interest. She did not reveal herself, not yet, not until she knew what Ana wanted to discuss.

[Ximal]

Xi leant back in the chair just trying to ease away some of the stress of the day, e wasn't enjoying the fact of working all day and fighting liro all night for sleeep, it was beginning to grow tiresome and weary. still Xi beheld the arrival of kalia with open ears. The statutory elongated s' inflected upon her speech was something he'd picked up on even in their first meeting and whenever he herd that he now latched onto the at voice. She wasn't aware there would be others here, but then again, Ana hadn't told him that there would be others either, so xi just sighed audibly as he heard Kalia speak. Thought she thought ana was sick and then her attentions turned to wards xi himself with a rather prudent and rude but very very true comment of " trouble seems to follow him" that was true, at least as far as he could remember trouble followed him like a very bad hangover. Though her next words shot through Xi's head like a bolt of lightning. " are you very far along ? " what in the world did she mean by that ? Was Ana...What the petch where the heck had he been ? Though her rebuttle towards it made him immediately calmer. Sighing out a breath he kept leant back in the chair and held his eyes closed. Then a thud mad he head snap up before he spotted shadowfang a bit shy on anatomy...All Xi could do was make a short and rather sharp joke towards shadowfang. "Shadow fang...Your looking a little off balance. Are you missing anything by chance? " The short sharp biting joke was followed by a small smile by all came after the growl. Xi just let it hang in the air that he was lightly mocking shadowfang before ana spoke again. She wanted a vow of silence over the matter that she'd called theme there for? Xi yawned before flipping his gaze towards her. Xi let his eyes bore into her, his deep black blue eyes, drilling into her. efore finally he spoke again."Alright, i'll abide to this 'vow' Now spit it out, why the heck did you call me here at near midnight after a 14 hour shift. You better have a damned good reason." Xi wasnt the most impressed about this but then again he was one of the hardest workers in the spires at least, in his own profession. Shutting his mouth and slipping his gaze from person to person in the group, he caught wind of shang sniffing the air. what was the bat boy doing?