Flashback Free Time [Arden]

[Krisa]

31st Day of Fall 511AV

Draw. Breath. Ka-thunk. Another arrow into it’s target at the shooting range. Krisa smiled, ignoring the ‘looks’ she tended to get every now and then from anyone who’d known she was a Dek not long ago. As far as she was concerned, they could just deal with it. As long as they left her alone, they could glare all they liked. Ka-Thunk. Another arrow, still two rungs out from the center of the target. Not bad, but not good enough. She wanted it to be perfect. Honestly, these inartens through her dirty glances should be impressed that she was actually using the chance she had been given to improve her skills. Krisa didn’t have to at all.

whatever

Something was ruining what little focus she had now. And it was the niggling beginnings of boredom. Why could she never stay focused on anything. Frustrated, she lined up her stance and forced herself to shoot again. The shot went clean over the top of the target and into the stone wall. “Oh… awesome…” Krisa muttered to herself as though who had been watching laughed. It was time to take a walk, and come back. Maybe there was something more interesting to do. She thought this as she went to retrieve her broken arrow.

A spark of annoyance lit in her green eyes at the next wayward comment thrown her way. It had been just as she was turning her back on the archery range “Giving up so soon, ‘Dek’” He called out. Krisa turned, and locked her eyes onto his. They stood there for a moment like that, both waiting for the other to make a move first. So Krisa decided just to end it.

Rolling her eyes she left him behind, hearing no further comments to head somewhere… anywhere else. Mostly her plan was to just wander aimlessness until she found something that would amuse her. Too much free time. She had so much free time now she had no idea how to fill it.

[Ardan]

Ardan stood silently, watching the archers at the shooting range. He had only been in Wind Reach for a few days, but was already sick of the classism. All of the bigotry had irritated him endlessly. He had always hated racism, sexism, classism, even ageism.

"Give it up soon, Dek!"

Ardan instantly turned to see a man making an insulting comment at one of the archers. He saw her give him an angry glare, and then walk off.

He approached the man, temper flaring. He was not as good at self-control as the woman, obviously.

"What the Petch is wrong with you?" he growled. The man looked at the panther as if he was insane.

"She was a Dek! Why w-"

"And what are you"?

"I'm an Avor-"

"Look, friend, people like me don't much care what you are, from Endal to Pycon. I suggest you run along right now." The panther pulled back side of his cloak, revealing his dagger. The man's eyes went wide, as he backed away into a run, likely going to complain to the guards. Whatever, Ardan had been in worse situations.

Ardan turned to the girl, who was still within view, but quickly wandering away. He jogged after her, shouting "hey" a few times.

x

[Krisa]

Krisa turned slowly, a look of bewilderment on her face. There was an outsider, dark hair and dark eyes, and he was standing up for Krisa. The man didn’t even know what he was talking about. It was lucky the inarten he spoke so disrespectfully to was too stunned to get angry, or things could have gotten ugly. Inartens were proud and hotheaded. She was sure that man would be back for him. The only reason Krisa had self control was because she was… different.

“You’re mad…!” Krisa said, voice low so the others didn’t hear. “You can’t threaten an Inarten like that as an outsider. It’s like painting a target on your head” Besides, he didn’t know that half of it if he thought this treatment was worth causing a fuss about. She shook her head “And mine too”

It didn’t matter. No matter what they decided to throw at her… she’d been through worse. Krisa shivered, mind always going back to a certain event not to long ago. “No matter. Thank-you anyway” She said quietly, making sure that there was some distance between them, like she did indiscriminately with every male. “What’s your name...?” She asked him, unable to think of anything better to say.

[Harrier]

eThe Avora which had been threatened was relatively new to the caste. He would rather keep his caste than be shanked by some outsider; the best thing to do in this situation was get help, and so, he fled! But like Krisa had said, it had painted a massive target on the strangers head.

It was less than a chime before he returned with two others, one of which bore the sigul of Endal. His crest was that of a War Hawk, one of the cities protectors. They were warriors and accomplished fighters of Wind Reach, providing the service of arms when it came to handling day to day affairs like fights between castes or other such disputes that might require a little brute force to break up. An outsider threatening an Avora (or any of the cities residents) was not good, and did not bode well for Ardan.

The young man who had initially been threatened by the seeming human was pointing right at him, short curls of ginger bobbing angrily as he talked in the chirping tongue of the Inarta. Then, the Warhawk was approaching, one hand on the pommel of his talon sword and the other settling on his hip once he came to Krisa and the stranger. His common was clipped and heavily accented, but otherwise understandable as he said, "You need to apologize to Avora Farsom, Outsider, and leave the ranges immediately or you will be removed by force. We will not tolerate such insubordination from the likes of a foreigner." The avora in question came up beside the Endal now, glaring at the man with arms crossed over his chest.
e

(C)Elysium

[Ardan]

Damn it. Ardan's impulsive behavior had gotten him into a problem once again. He hadn't counted on the guard, and quickly regained his humility.

"Apologies, milord. What I said was completely out of turn, and on my word, you'll not see hide nor hair of me again. I'll leave the ranges immediately, but please don't take your frustration of my actions out on the girl. She can hardly be blamed for the impulsive actions of an outsider, can she?"

He knew that they would likely punish the woman in some way. Nobles were like that, never able to contain their arrogant frustration to one person. They just had to let the world know how angry they were, usually by lashing out at those "below" them.

With that thought, Ardan removed himself from the ranges, as instructed. As he walked away, he through of ten-thousand ways he could have resolved that situation, almost all of them better than what he had done.

x

[Krisa]

Krisa backed up away from the scene as much she could not wanting anything to do with the trouble this guy could bring. She wasn’t a Dek anymore, but in the eyes of most, she was not a true avora. No. She had her partner to thank for her caste elevation. Unfortunately, that still made her a open target for abuse. At least the outsider had corrected himself and had started to leave. Krisa took one look at the already riled up Inarten’s and turned on her heels to follow him out.

She was a little curious about him, and his intentions seemed well-meaning, but Krisa felt anxious for him. “You got off lucky, outsider” Krisa told him, passing him by on her way out. It was almost time for lunch at the kitchens, so that’s where she would head. “I’m going to get lunch” She said simply. It wasn’t really an invitation, but she didn’t forbid him from coming with her.

He’d probably have questions about this place, assuming he was as clueless as he seemed about the city he was visiting. Krisa wondered how long he’d been here. She wondered why he was here as well, and where he was going afterwards. Still, she said nothing else as she walked towards the cafeteria.

[Ardan]

"Look, he said, following her, seeing as she was heading in the same direction, "I'm sorry for that. Sometimes my impulses get the better of me, a trait which is obviously not held in high regard here."

He had not been in Wind Reach long, but he hated every moment of it. It was such a sharp contrast to Sylrias. However, he hadn't had a choice. Either accept the deal and stowaway on that ship, or head out into the wilds alone. Not exactly an inviting prospect.

And now he was in a place that literally kept him on the brink of death. He he barely been able to survive, as "outsiders" were held in such low regard. He spent most nights nearly freezing to death, sleeping in back alleys. Every night, he prayed for escape. One day soon, he would find another ship to leave on.

x