Be Careful Where You Look (Karc)

[Aello]

Spring 30, 511 AV Location: Wilderness just outside Ravok Aello was kneeling in the grass, the slender bright green stems tickling the pale skin that shown from between the area where her boots and her dress came to an end. She was chewing on a blade of grass, what appeared to be a blackberry, and a small piece of cooked rabbit from the creature's life she had taken earlier in the day. The strange mixture of food items was rolling back and forth upon the girl's tongue, going from a tough mixture of slightly sour and burnt tasting food, to a pile of mush with an indistinguishable but generally revolting taste. And you haven't even added the blood yet, Aello thought, as she forced herself to chew. Aello was sitting largely in silence, merely listening to the various sounds of nature- the birds chirping above her, the grass and the leaves of the trees swaying slightly in the wind, Yune sleeping in her lap. She could feel her long brown hair fluttering around her in the wind, sense the sun rubbing its eyes and just beginning to show the earth its inner flame; its intensity, which fell only during the night to the milky moon. Its golden rays felt warm on her cheeks, and helped to distract Aello from the nasty taste which lingered within the confines of her mouth. The taste which seemed to cling to her teeth so desperately, that she was certain it'd never let go, even if she washed her mouth out with several glasses of fresh water. Just add the blood, and get this over with. How else are you to test the bones? Aello asked herself as she flicked the mixture over her tongue once more, desperately trying not to vomit. She could still taste the berry juice; so very sour, not at all ripe. She could taste the burnt edges of the meat, a subtle reminder that she seriously needed to practice her cooking. Slowly, carefully, so as not to wake Yune, she pulled her cursed blade from concealment. The blood seemed to glow in the morning light, and the girl smiled wickedly. What is a little more blood to it? Aello wondered, as she twirled the blade slowly from left to right, admiring the crimson red, and crusty brown blood that was smeared into the silver. It made the blade seem far colder; angry. It had a life of its own. Gingerly, Aello pressed the blade into her left pointer finger. She could feel her blood pulsing beneath it; waiting to be let free. Waiting to fill the air with its familiar metallic scent. Waiting to be made into the mist. Slowly, she pushed the blade a little deeper. She tilted her head back as she felt the first sting, the first tiny little cut. The first warm drop of blood. Her long brown hair tumbled off her shoulders, and traced her spine. It came to a halt in the center of her back. The vein's in Aello's neck seemed to bulge, a pale green. Vines, wrapping around an old tree. Aello closed her eyes, and pushed the blade a little deeper, releasing a small, steady stream of red. Let yourself taste it, her mind told her, as she raised her left hand, to her pale lips. Let it linger on your tongue. Slowly, she turned her hand over, so that her palm was facing her mouth. Aello put the dagger down on the ground before her. Her blood was dripping off the tip, onto the grass. It was only a second before the first drop of blood reached her tongue, with the smallest of splashes, the quietest of sounds. Then the second drop came, and then a third. That is all you should need, Aello's brain whispered as the fourth crimson red droplet poured onto the edge of her tongue. Slowly, she lowered her hand, and opened her eyes. She tilted her head forward, so that it was more level; in a natural state. She began to chew, as she wiped her bloody finger off on the grass. The mixture was worse than before. It was getting harder and harder to keep going. But you need this, to test the bones. Do not let the taste get to you, do not spit it out. So the girl continued to chew, and chew, in silence as her bird slept on her lap, oblivious to what was going on in the world. Several minutes passed before Aello's mouth began to grow cold. She smiled weakly, knowing that the first part of her torture was over, and that the mist was ready. Aello reached for her bag, and pulled it closer to her. She ripped the flap open, and then rummaged through the bag. A second later, she produced the four rabbit bone ghostnails she had created a few days before. Well here goes, she told herself as she let the mist roll over her tongue one more time. You will need to connect the nails if you want them to be effective against ghosts, Aello told herself. Just pluck a few strands of hair from your head, they should suffice. The girl's chest rose and fell heavily. That would hurt. But she needed to do this. Slowly, she inched her right hand upwards, and ran her fingers through her knotted hair. Several strands came loose, and as Aello inspected her hand, she realized that the six she had gathered would be more than enough. Aello's teeth began to chatter, and the edges of her face were turning green. Her lips were a pale purple, and she knew, she would have to hurry or she may vomit; no matter how hard she tried not to. Delicately, Aello lifted the first ghostnail, and a single strand of hair. She began to tie the hair around the ghostnail. A second later, it had been secured by a tiny knot. Good, now keep going, and don't let your hair snap. Aello reached for the next ghostnail, and soon, had tied that particular strand of hair to the next nail. She plucked the next strand of hair, and continued in much the same way, until all the nails were secured by her hair, and they formed an enclosed shape- a sloppy circle. Now you have to infuse it with the mist, Aello told herself as she pressed her hands together. Pinky into pinky finger, pale flesh into pale flesh. They were cold, her hands, and sent a chill up her spine. She had been sweating, nervous with anticipation. The moment of truth was almost there... just a few more minutes now. Slowly, Aello raised her cupped hands to her trembling purple lips. When the back of her hands, where the wrist met the appendage, met her lips, Aello parted them ever so slightly. She blew only a little bit, and noticed that a cold, off white gel was pouring out of her mouth; soulmist. The mist was cold, and caused her fingers to tremble. Her mouth felt like ice; like a blizzard had just passed through. But Aello ignored this too; knowing it would be over soon. When all the mist had left Aello's mouth, she smiled. "Now we just have to rub this on the bones..." she whispered, as she pressed her hands into the set of ghostnails, and slender hairs. When everything was coated, the mist seemed to linger for a moment, causing everything to glow, before fading away. Fading into what she had made. "That should do," she whispered, as she picked her creation up, and began to press the nails lightly into the dirt. Small clods of brown rose up around the ivory of the bone, keeping them in place. Within a few minutes, Aello had secured them. They made a bumpy circle. Aello delicately plucked Yune from her lap, and placed her in the right hand corner of the circle. The bird didn't wake. "She has always been a sound sleeper." Next, Aello laced her bag back onto her back, and then picked up her bow in her left hand, and her dagger in her right. "It should call the ghosts to us soon enough," Aello whispered, "all we have to do is wait." OOCSo Karc, you may be the first pc to find Aello using her magic. Well, spiritism anyway. Congratulations! Know that if Aello finds out, she may also try to kill you! Hooray! And she is bound to find out... So yeah, good luck in the wilderness. And sorry this post is such a monstrosity.

[Karc]

"Hrmmf, your a heavy one." He heaved the corpse of the wolf onto the wagon. "Thats the last one." He walked towards the front of the wagon. "My pay please." Barn's nodded, and handed over the agreed payment for the task. "Pleasure doing business with you." He slapped the horses rump, and the wagon jerked and slowly moved away. Karc pocketed the coins, glancing behind him as the wagon rolled off. As the wagon rolled out of site, he quickly rushed over towards the den that the wolves had dug out. He rummaged inside of it looking for something clicking his tongue all the while. He emerged, he whistled and there came an answering cry as a eagle dove and landed on Karc's arm. "Hello Aero, can you find those pups for me?" The bird made a screech and flapped its wings. Karc shrugged and started to wander through the forest, his mind wandering. Barn's had hired him to help him hunt some particularly troublesome wolves that had been attacking travelers as of late, but Karc couldn't make himself to kill those pups, but he also had made a contract to fill, so he wondered if he could keep them, or sell them. Aero had flown off circling the area looking for the pups, as the bird saw the strange girl, small bird, and weird creation he let out a screech, and started to circle. Hearing the sound Karc, turned his head and sprinted towards where Aero hovered. He made much noise as he crashed through the underbrush, he had thought simply that the pups had better sense's than him anyway so there was no point in trying to sneak up on them. He finally came into the clearing his, abruptly stopped but the momentum that had sent him forward, seeing the ground coming rushing forward he curled himself into a ball, and rolled then sprung up trying to, see what was going on here. His head whirled trying to take it all in...eagle, bird, girl, thing, no pups..."Wha?"

[Aello]

When Aello heard the rustling of leaves and the slight sway of grass, she looked up to see whatever had made the sound. She was surprised to find a man that looked little older than herself, and some sort of large bird of prey. She could still hear the heavy breathing of her bird, the slight chirping sound Yune made after each of her exhalations, and knew that she would more than likely have to protect her own pet from what appeared to be Karc's companion. Her eyes darted back and forth between man and over-sized bird, but soon stopped when she realized that the bird was less of a threat than the man. When Aello's eyes stopped on Karc, she finally spoke, and said, "welcome to the wilderness," in an icy tone. "And who might you be, and what brings you here?" Aello raised her blade only slightly, so that it was pointed at the center of the man's chest. "And what precisely, do you think you have just stumbled upon, hmmm?" Aello asked. "For surely you have seen what lies around us, the bird and the archer." There was a slight pause, "the bone that has been pressed into the ground," as though to signify the grave of that which has already died. Surely he can't see your fine brown hairs from where he stands, clearly surprised to see another living being out here. "Does it scare you, bone?" Aello asked. "That which lies beneath the flesh of every living creature? Their very essence. So very much so like their blood. But colder, signifying their death more than their pitiful lives." Aello took a step forward, crossing the barrier between ghost protected ground, and that which was not. She delicately turned, and placed her bow down inside the protected ground, along with her bag, before turning back to Karc. Her dagger was still raised, and the silver blade seemed to glow in the golden colored sunlight, while the blood that lined it seemed to sink into the blade. "We too can be stripped down to little more than bone," Aello whispered, deciding that she'd give the man a chance to explain himself, before determining how to proceed. Before determining if she should rid him of his very flesh; his crimson red blood. It would make a lovely addition to her collection... OOCStuff in bold is what Aello is thinking. And yes, Aello is kind of crazy. You know, just a little bit. P.S. I am using dagger so she doesn't kill you and your bird. Note: if your bird goes anywhere near Yune, Aello will grab her bow and shoot the thing out of the sky.

[Karc]

The woman glanced at him, raising a blade in one hand level with his chest, she then spoke in an icy tone that made Karc shiver."Welcome to the wilderness, and who might you be, and what brings you here?" Karc tried to regain his composure by brushing out the twigs and mud in his hair and clothes. Aero hovered and as he saw his master and the woman conversing he simply decided he would have a snack while they talked, but Karc seeing the bird and knowing him as he did, he whistled for Aero to come to him, the bird circled slowly then finally gave up and landed on a branch of a tree, in a foul mood. The woman continued. "And what precisely, do you think you have just stumbled upon, hmmm? For surely you have seen what lies around us, the bird and the archer. The bone that has been pressed into the ground." Karc looked puzzled he glanced around, he saw that weird bone thing sticking up out of the ground, he glanced at her now completely confused. The woman then continued in her scary tone. "Does it scare you, bone? That which lies beneath the flesh of every living creature? Their very essence. So very much so like their blood. But colder, signifying their death more than their pitiful lives." Karc's brow furrowed. This women is crazy he thought. The woman the took a step forward, Karc took a step back his hand coming to rest on the pommel of his kukri. She put down her bow and pack then, turned back to Karc. Karc's eyes strayed to the blade she held in her hand, and it seemed to glow in an eerie light, it looked very creepy. "We too can be stripped down to little more than bone." The woman whispered. "Erm, hello. I was looking for five small wolf pups. I thought my eagle had found them when he screeched. I am sorry I stumbled upon you during your... ceremony?" Unnoticed by ether Karc or Aello, the wolf pups where hiding in the underbrush near by, brought by the smell of meat. As the human talked they approached the bone, and the bird, slowly. But as Karc glanced behind the women again, his breath caught in his throat. OOCFeel free to control them, all I want are two of them the others you can kill or whatever if you like.

[Aello]

Perhaps Yune had heard the wolf pups coming, or perhaps she was ready to get up, of her own free will. For within seconds, Yune lifted her eyelids, exposing two beady black eyes, which seemed to still be glazed over by a thin sheet of watery grey, denoting the fact that she still lingered somewhere between Nysel's world, and that of the waking. The bird, however, more than likely a little scared now that five wolf pups were licking their lips and headed her way seemed to ignore this fact. She straightened her body out rather quickly, and then flew onto Aello's left shoulder for safety. The young spiritist could feel the bird's talons lazily pressing into her flesh, and in truth, it tickled a little, and then stung. But the girl paid it no mind, after all, there were potential enemies closing in on all sides. Aello's eyes rested upon Karc, trying to take him all in. Him and that bird pose a threat, you know. Do not let yourself underestimate them. But then again, if the bird does anything stupid, he can easily be shot from the sky. A small smile crossed Aello's lips, as she simply stared at the man. It was only a few moments before his aura came into view. But, as opposed to a more typical shape, a mist that hovered around a person's form in a large oval, this man's aura formed a misty question mark. The mark began at the top of his head, and ended at his toes. It stretched a few inches farther than his frame on either side of his body, and it glowed the palest of blues. It seemed to sparkle from time to time, like the stars did in the night sky. He uses some sort of magic largely unknown to you. There was a pause, and he knows not what he sees. What you are. Aello's pupils had dilated, and when she closed her eyes for a moment, her concentration broke. The aura she had once seen faded away into the cool air, leaving her in a familiar place; for she had been there only moments before. "You do not know what you have stumbled upon, do you?" Aello asked, as her eyes ran up and down his body. He seems scared. "What the bone signifies?" The words seemed to run off Aello's tongue like a cool stream over rock. They flowed nicely, one word coming after the next. "What they mean? What, it makes the woman who stands before you." Aello took a half step forward as a low growling sound reached her ears. Her smile widened as she felt small, hot streams of breath on her ankles. Something was trying to discern her scent. One of the wolf pups walked around her, and stood just in front of her feet, peering up at Yune with hunger in its eyes. Yune seemed to inch a little closer to Aello's cheek. The girl could feel her feathers tickling her cheeks; her chin. She will not leave your shoulder, she needs you to keep her safe from their eyes; their lips. Aello tightened her grip on the blade, preparing to launch into an attack should the need arise. "Well, whoever you are, it doesn't seem like you have to look anymore, now does it?" Aello inquired, "for they young ones have come out to play. To feast, haven't they?" Surely they know a thing or two about blood and bone. OOCUm... yeah good luck with the taming or whatever you're trying to do. Aello is standing between you... and uh... any sudden movements on your part, or that of Aero will launch her into even higher alert mode. Which means, she will more than likely try to seriously injure you. Advice: tread lightly, because my pc is psycho. =)

[Karc]

The bird fluttered on to the womans shoulders. Ok I have to tread carefully. All i want is the pups, and mine and Aero's life intact. "You do not know what you have stumbled upon, do you?" Karc shrugged, he could talk his way out of this. "What the bone signifies? What they mean? What, it makes the woman who stands before you." "Well no, I can admit I'm quite befuddled by this whole thing, but maybe you could enlighten me? And if not I understand we all have our secrets. He flashed a white toothy smile. The woman took a step towards him, but he saw as a few of the pups where sniffing her. "Well, whoever you are, it doesn't seem like you have to look anymore, now does it? For they young ones have come out to play. To feast, haven't they?" He decided it was best not to show fear at this time, besides he wanted to catch the pups. He took a slow step forward showing his hands. "Miss I mean you no trouble. If you wish me to leave I can just take the pups and leave." He would reach down slowly to grab at one of the pups. The pups would nip at him and scatter. "Petch." He would curse. "Miss would you mind helping me catch these pups? It will mean, I will be gone sooner, and you could keep a pup or two if you wanted."

[Aello]

Aello laughed. "You do realize that should the secrets you have stumbled upon be revealed to you, the noose around your neck will tighten. You do know, that if you wish to learn, if you wish to understand, you must be destroyed for that very knowledge," Aello explained. Her voice was rather neutral, simply stating a fact, what she believed somewhere in her heart, was true. What she had been taught must happen. "Are you sure you want to be stripped down to your bone so soon? Are you sure you want your breath to be snuffed out? Your body to turn pale, your eyes to close, permanently?" There was a slight pause in Aello's line of questioning. "Surely you don't consider this the end of your life? Surely you don't consider this your time?" There was another small pause before Aello finished with, "because, of course, you seem only a little older than the person you are currently speaking to." Again, Aello's voice was fairly neutral, although, around the edges, there seemed to be a lingering sense of ice, of passion for how she spoke, and what she spoke about. Her eyes always lingered on Karc, watching his every move, his growing level of frustration. It was difficult for the girl not to laugh as she watched him struggle to pick up the wolf pups. Their tails always wagging, their lips always slightly parted, displaying a few pearly white teeth that glistened with saliva in the sunlight. They seemed to be stepping around the man in wide circles, taunting him. Keeping just out of his reach. To keep herself from laughing, Aello bit her bottom lip for a moment. When she had gained control over the bubbly feeling in the pit of her stomach, her urge to laugh, she finally stopped. "Is it really so hard to catch them?" she asked. "After all, they're only children. Their bodies are small, not fully developed, which must mean their teeth are the same way. If you weren't being such a coward, then perhaps you could manage, for you seem to slink away whenever they open their mouths as if to bite you." There was a slight pause, "rid yourself of your fear, whoever you are, and perhaps you may manage to accomplish what you seek." The bird is more ferocious than this fool. They're puppies, just pick them up, throw them in your bag, and be done with it. There was another slight pause as Aello considered the last of his words. Her eyes pinned on the center of his forehead, more than likely boring two tiny holes into Karc's head; marks that would burn for a long, long time. Even after they had both finally gone their own separate ways. "Now, would you care to mention just why you wish to capture two of those things? What purpose they could possibly serve?" Aello inquired. "Considering that they grow up to be potentially dangerous, blood-thirsty creatures with a spirit that never seems to die. They're not like your average dog, you're unlikely to be able to tame them. Especially when you seem to know nothing about them, what they are and how they work. It would not be surprising if you endured more than a few hardships while in their company, should you manage to capture them in the end."

[Karc]

Karc stood up rubbing his forehead, for some reason it seemed to be burning. “Ok, Ok, I get it you don’t want to tell me anything.” He gave her a queer glance, “Your quite an odd person aren’t you. Talking about death like that. Death is a part of life, when I die it will be the gods will. I will just spring back in a new life anyways. Though this is not to say that I wish to die, it is more that when death comes and there is no other option, I will embrace it.” He scowled at the pups, “For your information, it is not as easy as it looks. They may be children, but there small and fast, which makes them hard to catch. Their teeth have nothing to do with it.” His scowl shifted to Aello, “And I am not a coward, I’m not afraid.” His hand shot out and grasped one of the pups scruff, he dragged him towards him holding him like a prize in the air, triumphantly smiling at Aello, then scowling at the pup “Got you, you little devil.” He reached behind him and grabbed the burlap sack that he a swiped from the back of Barn’s truck, stuffing the pup into the sack. “My charms and good looks can charm any animal. My plan is to try and train them, to become my bloodthirsty killers and companions. And as to the fact of me not being able to train them, its irrelevant. I will sell them if I cannot train them if not I could let them go free, or even kill them if need be.” He shrugged as he quickly grabbed another pup, stuffing it in the bag. “Now Miss, are you going to help me or not?”

[Aello]

"Help you? Now why would someone do that? After all, now that you have swallowed your fear, you seem to have everything under control," Aello replied. "At least, you finally managed to grab one of the little buggers." Aello's eyes sparkled playfully as she watched the Drykas work. "And as for training them to kill for you... well, that wouldn't be a first now would it?" Aello took a step closer to him, "but then again, it'll prove dangerous. They may not listen." There was a short pause as Aello took another step forward. "Now, as to why anyone would help you capture a creature you could potentially use against them at a later time and date, beats me," Aello continued. "So as far as that goes, you're on your own. Surely it shouldn't be too difficult to catch another one." Her voice was cool, calculating. Should you truly let him do this? Those things could really hurt somebody, when they grow up. They could easily kill Yune, and if Alenias should cross their path, while in her bird form, she too, would be at great risk. Aello crept even closer, leaving her things behind, you should end this madness now, destroy him, and possibly the pups as well. Should they prove foolish enough to stay and generally get in our way. And should that bird try to help save its master... shoot it out of the sky. Once it's down, pluck its feathers out one by one, and listen to it screech out in pain while the Drykas lays lifeless by its side, Aello thought, a wicked smile crossing her lips. Covered in his own blood, and perhaps some of yours. Should he prove fast enough to make an incision or two in your flesh. It seems doubtful though. He doesn't even seem armed... Aello was standing only a few feet away from him now. "You do realize that you are putting yourself in danger by remaining here. As much as you would like to gather your prize, you may want to leave them... for it is in this way that you are most likely to leave with your life," Aello warned. "For if you stay, you will face this bloodied blade. Do you understand?" she inquired. She knew the change of heart had little to do with the pups. It had little to do with what they may grow up to be, after all, she could kill the damn things if she had to. No, this had to do with what Karc had seen. How long he had lingered. Although he didn't understand what he had stumbled upon, Aello knew that it could only be a matter of time before he pieced it together. It could only be a matter of time before he told someone about her, and they, perhaps, sent someone to destroy her. Sent someone to break her body, and spill her secrets. You need to end this now, before it gets out of hand. Before he gets out of hand... and those things. Aello shuddered as she took a half step forward. "You have seen far too much," she whispered, as she stepped forward again with her right foot, and swung her right arm around in a wide arc. The blade shot out in an angle, and was headed directly towards the tip of Karc's chin. He will crumble beneath us... OOCOh the insanity of my pc... you gotta love it.

[Karc]

As the girl talked he gathered his third pup. He pups where getting to heavy so he tied the end and placed them down, but he turned to see the woman flashing the blade towards his chin, he leaned/stumbled backwards away from the blade, the blade just clipping his chin making a thin shallow gash. He fell to a crouch sweeping his leg towards Aello's legs.