(Flashback) Guardians (Bina)

[Ilaeari]

1 Summer, 498 AV Ilaeari turned over in her sleep. Her eyes were scrunched tightly shut, and her copper-colored skin seemed darker as usual, as though it were imitating the dark images that swirled around in her mind. All she saw was a vast desert laid to waste. If such a thing could truly be said of such a harsh climate. There was no food, no water, no end in sight. The sun's golden rays seemed to be shining more brightly than usual, nearly blinding her. It seemed to be burning a thousand times over, the heat it produced so intense, that Ari couldn't help but feel that it would cause her face to melt and drip down the sides of her freshly-exposed, milky-white bony chin. Her whole body had been reduced to little more than skin tightly spread over bony flesh. Her whole body felt so exhausted and worn out, that she was certain she could not go on any longer. She was certain that she would collapse, and that in a few day's time, or a few week's at the latest, when whatever remained of her corpse began to rot, the vultures would come and fight each other over clumps of her hair, and disintegrating skin. Her blood, her bones, her lungs, liver and heart. Every tiny morsel of her flesh. Ilaeari turned over again in her sleep. Her body was beginning to sweat not knowing that what she was experiencing was only a nightmare. Her heart felt as though it would burst, all she could feel was trepidation seeping in through her skin, settling into her bones. There was a low howling off in the distance, that only grew louder and louder. Ari began to stir. She rolled onto her back, just as the skin that encased her neck began to melt, at least, in her dream. The howling grew louder. Ari's body was melting faster and faster. A-wooooooooohhhh. Ilaeari gasped as she awoke with a start. Her heart was pounding in her chest, beating heavily like a drum. Her face was covered in several beads of sweat. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open. Rapid and shallow breaths entered her nose, and then exited through her mouth. "It was only a dream," she whispered, as she raised her right hand to her heart. She could feel it thumbing, pounding. Pumping blood. The blood seemed to be pulsing rapidly around her temples, around the outside of her ears. The sides of her head. It sounded as though it were keeping in tune with the wolf, or coyote... whatever was howling outside. "It was only a dream," Ari whispered again as she lowered her hand from her heart, returning it to her side, and looked around her empty tent. The coast was clear, she was safe, she thought, as she slowly got to her feet. Her legs felt stiff, so she shook them out a few times, simply to loosen them up. When she had finished, she lifted her pack off the floor. It was sitting in the corner of the tent, to the left of the door flap. She threw her bag over her shoulder, before lifting the door flap and walking outside. The flap swished shut behind her. As soon as she stepped into the sunlight, Ari lowered her eyes. No matter how long she lived in the desert, she simply could not get used to the bright sunlight in the morning. The sand beneath her bare feet felt warm. It squished between the tiny spaces between her toes. Tickling Ari's skin. Ilaeari took a few steps forward, allowing her feet to sink into the sand each time. Ilaeari looked around, from left to right. Had she overslept? Ari wondered. The sun didn't look that high in the sky. She couldn't have. But, if that were the case, then where was everybody she wondered? For there was no one else around. The only thing that remained was her own tent, and of course herself. "Hello?" Ari called. Her voice seemed to echo, to ring along with the incessant howling she could pick up off in the distance. It was the only thing that seemed to be keeping her company. The only thing that reminded her that she wasn't alone. Not completely...

[Colombina]

The voices came from the other side of a low dune, rising in a wordless melody. Ilaeari was briefly reminded of a working song her mother would sing soft and low. It called to her drawing her from her lonely tent, and suddenly Ilaeari knew today was her day. She had never witnessed a searching ceremony, but she knew the process of secretly whisking away at night. The high dune cast a shade over a solemn circle of female family members and respected elders. They were decked in finery: black feathers swirling with tints of pink and emerald, polished bone and shining quartz. Their faces were painted a stark white, the color of death, and their eyes were shut against Ilaeri. As an untried youth, she would not be acknowledged. One elder stepped out from the circle, making a slim doorway for Ilaeari to enter the ring of bodies. A delicate lotus petal tumbled out on the sand, tempting her to look within.

[Ilaeari]

Ari smiled shyly, and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She took a few steps towards the circle, before stopping to watch the petal fall. It seemed so delicate; so out of place beneath the harsh sun, and atop the sand that swirled beneath their feet. When it had tumbled a few times in the sand; courtesy of the wind, Ari took a few more steps forward. She nodded at the man who had made way for her, before bending down to pick up the lotus petal. Ilaeari held the petal between the thumb and pointer finger on her right hand, it felt so soft. She straightened herself up, and then walked into the center of the circle. Instantly, the man returned to his place, and closed the circle behind her. Ilaeari took a half a step forward. Sitting cross-legged in the center of the circle was a man, a bronze bowl of water rested atop his lap. He held the bowl on each side with his hands. The man was surrounded in lotus petals and flowers- red ones, pink ones, the occasional orange and bright yellow. They were plants Ilaeari recognized, but didn't know the name of. She simply nodded at the man, and then knelt before him. Her knees instantly sank into the warm sand, as the sun beat down on her face. Her heart was quickening, she wasn't feeling nervous, just excited. She smiled pleasantly to the man, who seemed to smile back. The man seemed to be only a little older than Ilaeari- perhaps eighteen or twenty. His hands and his face were painted completely white, the only thing they left their natural tone were his eyes, and his nostrils. His eyes were a solid black, and the skin that was left exposed, mainly the lower length of his arms and legs, displayed his smooth, copper-colored skin. The man's slender face was framed by long, straight black hair that tumbled just below his shoulders. His body was rather well-built up for someone so young, that was apparent, even though most of his body was hidden behind a series of furs, and feathered necklaces, anklets, and bracelets. The man, however, wore no shoes. He seemed inviting enough, and well... handsome, Ari thought as she rubbed the flower petal she held between her fingertips absently. Today was the day that her life would change, she thought, as her eyes glimmered excitedly. OOCI would have included a really awesome picture, but, my search engine skills are lacking, and my plans have been foiled. DARN!