Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 2:07 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Hiromi watched on in professional silence, but he could tell that the deepest soft spot his sister had was being pressed on in the most effective way by The Mother.  Neither of them could have children lest they wanted to carry on their family’s curse, and while Naota was coming to terms with that in his own way, he knew the pain was much greater for his sister…she’d already had more taken from her than he could ever imagine, and that added blow just made it all worse.  Angela could not have chosen more perfect words to speak to her had he directed her himself. 

Hiromi gave a short nod, her eyes drifting over to Naota and Holly, awaiting further instruction like a trained soldier that caught even him off guard.  For even he was left blind to the true intentions of her tayuu house and had no idea that his sister was in truth an assassin, used to much stricter orders than these.

He looked down at the necklace that rested against his collar; laying over the now empty vial that had held the antidote.  The two belonged against each other seeing as they were intended for the same use: to help her as she healed. 

As of now he wasn’t sure what he would do with either item once her healing was complete and their significance was no longer there.  Most likely he would give them to Holly, wanting her to have as many reminders to never do this to herself again as was possible.  His lips parted when The Mother moved herself to the floor and he dipped his head down in respect, eyes staying on the floor until her head lifted back up. 

Only then did he nod in thanks and gratitude.  She could have been much more cruel.  Had she wanted to she could have forced his hand to wake her daughter, not done any of this to make it easier on him, but she had done so with ne’er an argument.  “I give you my word that she’ll be able to protect her and help her heal…”

When he righted himself back up it was to see Hiromi moving with the floating grace that only her kind could manage towards them.  Her arms reached out and he carefully moved Holly into them, not surprised that her weight had no effect on Hiromi in the least.  Hiromi’s arms kept her cradled just as his did, though her hands rested on her shoulder and thigh in a way so similar to holding a child that it surprised him.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:51 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela watched them put the necklaces on and smirked. "My dear Naota, the magic I put into them will vanish. The amulets will remain intact but they will lose the special features. What you do with these gifts is up to you and up to you." She looked to Holly. "I believe that Fate has a special string for you two. Whether it is being friends or something more I would take these words wisely." She leaned in close. "Never let go of that fate string. You are still being introduced to each other. Grow stronger from this and move forward through the fields of life. When the time comes I want you both to come to my temple. You two will know when that time is."

Looking over to Hiromi she smiled and nodded. "You may take my daughter with not a Goddess's blessing but my blessing as a mother. Her mother. When I ascended centuries ago I killed my husband and my children in a freak accident. I wouldn't trust my children with just anyone. They are my precious treasure, all hundred and sum of them. No matter what mistakes they make in life I will be there for them. I will survive the great falls of the World Tree and remain here for them as their guide. My only regret will be watching death take them. Immortality is terrible like that."

Thinking for a moment the Goddess brushed her daughter's hair. Finally she backed up and got down on the floor. The room was alone. "Naota, please take care and let your kin take care of my daughter. This is my request as a mother. Not a Goddess. Not a queen. Her siblings and I make this simple request, protect her and make sure she gets better." She lowered her head to the ground and her red hair spilled around her. Finally she stood up and smiled. "I can do that much as a mother."

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:39 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

All he could do was watch in awe as The Mother did her work.  He’d heard of how she could turn any ordinary object into an artifact, but he’d never actually seen it done.  Even now, with it right in front of him, it was almost hard to believe.  He pulled Holly closer as if she would be in danger when the magick spiked, he just couldn’t help it since it was something he wasn’t used to.  His eyes watched as each step followed the next and he wondered what it would be like to wear something like that around his neck, even if it was for a brief amount of time against his long life. 

When instructed, he moved out of the water with her, keeping her cradled easily despite the added weight of the water.  He stopped in front of her, eyeing one of the necklaces, knowing that soon he’d be wearing it and his eyes widened when he saw that it had a pulse to it.  That would take some getting used to for sure.  He moved one hand out, still able to easily support her as he did so, and took the two necklaces: draping one around Holly’s neck and one around his own.  Now that he was wearing it he was able to tell that it wasn’t his heartbeat at all, and as he watched her necklace it all became clear: they felt each other’s heart beats.

He said nothing to that, though for him it felt a little too intimate for his liking, but if this was what was going to help her heal then he’d be fine with it until the time came that they were no longer needed.  “Is that to say that when she’s healed from this, the necklaces will break…?  What do we do with them when they’re no longer needed…?”   He highly doubted that they should be sent to a rubbish bin, and he would have felt wrong for doing so in the first place.  Something with this much power wouldn’t have surprised him if it needed something specific to aid in disposing of it.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:12 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela took his hair and held it separate from Holly's. She moved to a table and set it down. Bringing her hand up she formed two crystals. Taking the crystals she put them down and looked between the hair and them. She began to sing softly as she separated the crystals and began to beat them into dust. She weaved the hair together and placed each braid inside of the dust. She waved her hand over it and the crystal was now formed around the braid. Her singing got louder as magic began to flow from the earth through the crystal and dance around Holly and Naota.

The magic shifted colors as it danced and  Angela raised her hands for a moment as more magic came from the earth. It was much more large and visible compared to what the average person could do. This was a blessing. Angela's voice got louder but it flowed through the earth and through the magic itself. It would tickle Naota and Holly as it came through them and braided. "Bond these two until the time comes when it is no longer needed. By my grace as a member of the Triune and Goddess to the Tree, I bless these two by magic, aura, life force, and bond them by these pendants." The pendants started to glow and the magic in the air disappeared. The two necklaces were on string now as she held them in her hands.

"They are ready. You can come out of the water now." The pendants were an odd thing. They beat like each other's heartbeat. "Don't be afraid of them. They will break when the time comes when everything is alright once more. I am the Mother and I wish no ill will on either of my children this day. Naota, my wayward son who is plagued by many things and not born of my blood and Holly, my run away daughter who is also plagued by many things. By the time these pendants break I hope that you find answers to some of the things that plague you."

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:42 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Someone had told her already…?  Who could have done that?  His lips parted, trying to recall if he had ever noticed or sensed another presence whilst being in the dream world with her.  Right now he couldn’t remember, but he’d look into it more at a later time.  If Minasé would cooperate then he might be able to aid in that, after all: he was always in his mind, watching things from the inside as if by a window.  Though he doubted the daemon would do anything to help him unless there was also a chance of it bringing him trouble.
 
At the end of the day it was hard to trust anything he said.  Hiromi didn’t seem to have much better luck with her daemon, but her psionic abilities when it came to the mind were greater than his own…she might be able to offer some help.

He pulled her closer, hoping that some of his body heat was able to transfer to her despite the chill of the water.  She was right, he had changed a lot.  In physical state there wasn’t too much of a drastic difference since he’d only gone from nineteen to twenty three visually, but mentally…?  She had no idea.  Despite that, he attempted a smile, they may have their differences but he was glad that she was awake and hoped that she’d be able to grow stronger from the experience.

Angela’s smack to her made his eyes widen almost comically.  He couldn’t say that he was surprised by it, his own mother would have beat him nearly back to death if he’d ever done something like this.

Careful not to let her sink further into the water, he cradled her under one of his arm so that he could lift his other hand up to his hair on the back of his head.  He gathered a few strands and twisted them around his fingers before pulling them out and extending his hand towards The Mother.

It might take a while, but at least it was something that could work and help.  He sighed, moving his arm back under her to give her better support against himself.  “It’s all right, do what needs done…”   He looked back down at Holly, checking to see if she was still having trouble keeping awake.  They’d gotten this far, he wasn’t going to let her slip back into that place if he could help it.

Author: Holly, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 9:07 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Holly seemed like she was going to go back to sleep. She was exhausted from waking up and it showed so heavily as her eyes went from wide eyed to slit. She tried to shift herself in the water as she shivered. "I know," the girl now a woman was hardly the fool she had once been. "Someone told me already." There had been someone else watching over them. Someone else that had connected their dreams and allowed them to see each other. Perhaps it was fate or just someone looking to do a good deed but she gave a slight smile. "I know you're leaving. I just can't remember who told me. My head hurts Naota." She held onto him and shivered more.

"I'll trust her if you say so." Her silver eyes tried to look around but she found herself strained as she tried. "Naota?" She looked up at him and smiled. "You've changed a lot." Maybe the dreams had done their damage on the inside but on the outside it was much like how she use to be. It was too awkward for her to just remain silent. Closing her eyes she lost her smile as she leaned her head back. "I'm so tired but I don't want to sleep." Her voice was tired now as she yawned and tried  to push herself against him.

When the time came to bring her out Angela checked her all over. "First thing first," Angela slapped her daughter across the face. "Never and I repeat never do something this stupid again! If you have a problem come home and your family will help you deal with it." Holly nodded and didn't seem to mind as if she knew that were to happen. "Second, Holly's body hasn't regained all function… She's not going to age anymore or grow anymore. What you see is what there always will be. No bust growth, no height change, nothing." Angela ran her magic down Holly examining more. "Her magic is on the frizz but that should be alright for now. I can make the amulets for you now if you would give me some of your hair Naota." Angela took strands of Holly's hair. "Might take a little bit to get them constructed. This is powerful magic." Finally Angela kissed her daughter's forehead. "Don't think about leaving us again."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 8:53 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Just as he had expected she began to thrash.  His arms wrapped tighter and he knelt in the pool of water, trying to bring her into the water as much as he could so that it could aid in keeping her pain to a minimum.  Or as much as it would be able to.  Hs jaw locked with his resolve and despite himself he gently shushed her until her body stilled in the waters.  When her scent spread around them he looked back towards his sister, making sure that such potency wouldn’t affect her too much as it could be known to do with vampires.

A set of fingers wrapped around his wrist, bringing back his attention.  Looking down at her he saw her eyes for the first time in person.  They looked so similar in the dream world but now, in their true lives, he realized how far off they had been.  His lips parted as she touched his face, his hair, and his heart pulled in sympathy for her.  He had come to wake her, but just as he had said before, it wasn’t for the reasons she might have hoped for.  This was hardly the time or place to bring that up though, so instead he closed his eyes and gently exhaled. 

“Right now, let’s concentrate on getting your body healed…”   It wasn’t going to easy and it certainly wasn’t going to be pleasant, but for now they had to remain in the water so that her body could recuperate as much as it would be able to before she was sent with his sister.  The Mother still needed to make the artifact from their hair, and he wasn’t sure how long that would take but hoped it wouldn’t be too long.  The longer he stayed around Holly, the harder it would be for her when he had to leave, and her body was going through enough pain as is to have that kind of emotion added onto it.  It wouldn’t be easy for anyone, much less someone coming back to life.

“I’ve brought someone who’s going to help, she can be trusted.”

Author: Holly, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 8:12 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

There was a heartbeat first.

The quiver of her lips seconds.

That first gasp of breath.

The flutter of her eyelids as she tried to come back into the world.

Then there was pain.

She was thrashing about as her body came to life. She was no longer numb as she felt a stinging sensation around her. The water glowed around them as it tried to soothe and heal her pain. It would do nothing more than make her more numb as she kicked the water. Her fingers sprung to life and clenched Naota's wrist.

Naota.

Panic now set in as she screamed. Her scent filled the area like a flower's aroma. She stopped as she opened her eyes and leaned back her head. There was peace as she tried to remember his words. Her throat was dry and her voice had cracked several times. Her arms were so weak as she tried to pull herself up to him but she just couldn't do it. Her eyes were regaining all of its vast silver color. Life. Her skin pulsed a bit as it set about healing itself using the water's healing properties. "Naota…" Her eyes filled with tears. "Naota." Her hand came up and she felt his face and then his hair. "You really came for me."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 8:05 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Holly began to shiver and he looked down at her, lips parting.  He hadn’t expected her body to react and for some reason it made all of his much more real.  She had appeared dead, that was all and he knew that, but seeing her move even though it was so slight…no, it was more than real, it was surreal.  He nodded, listening to her instruction as he pulled the vial from around his neck. 

For nearly forty years it had stayed closed, and he felt oddly naked without it around his neck.  He carefully removed the stopper, keeping her cradled against his chest as he did so and then gently parted her lips with his thumb and tipped the liquid into her mouth.

Once it was all out of the vial he moved it back around his neck: the stopper also replaced into the top.  From here on all he could do was watch and wait.  There was nothing he could do now that the antidote had been passed along and his breath caught short in his chest as he waited and watched her features.  Angela said it would be her body coming back to life, it didn’t take knowledge of magick or this race to know that that would be quite a painful experience. 

For her sake he hoped that it wouldn’t last too long, but just in case there was a risk of thrashing he was sure to keep both arms around her.  She was kept close to his chest, arms around her with enough firmness to keep her steady just in case but gentle enough not to cause her any actual harm once she came back into consciousness.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 7:17 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela nodded, "I don't need to warn you to be careful. As strong as she should be… What time has done to her muscles has actually made her quite weak. She will be easy for you to control. It will make her tired though but try to keep her awake. We don't want her back in that dream world yet. From here on out the job is yours. While I can give instructions it comes down to the two of you."

The woman stepped away from the water and nodded to him. "Give her the antidote. I'll make the artifacts after you both are out of the water. Do not leave before I have the chance to do so or else her going with your sister isn't going to have its full effects. Alright?" Holly's body shivered as it entered the water. It was the properties of the water that gave the girl the first sign of life Naota would have seen.

"The water will help but only so much. Her consciousness is still gone. Give her the antidote and try to speak to her. Your voice will bring her out of it. The dream world has a hold on her much stronger than it does you are me."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 7:05 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Hiromi’s lips parted to speak but he held Holly close in one arm and rested his other hand on his sister’s shoulder to keep her words held back.  She looked at him, her eyes trying to shift to red but resisting just around the pupils…the likeness was so similar to Angela’s iris that he was taken aback.  But the red faded back into emerald and he gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before releasing it.  Not without pushing his thoughts into her head, “It’s as I’ve said Hiromi…you don’t have to trust them.  Just trust me.”

It was still asking a lot, her distrust towards anyone who had ascended was almost as strong for his of the vampiric race.  Unlike him she had not had years to ponder over this scenario and the entire situation was still raw.  But he didn’t want this to get any bumpier than it had to, they hadn’t even started yet. 

As they followed he took notice of how her eyes never left The Mother, not even to blink…her eyes needing no moisture to keep them healthy.  He was so accustomed to seeing her put on such a good show of humanity in her courtesan house - Kakusareta Jōnetsu no Ie- that any reminder of what she truly was always made his stomach tighten.  She was tense, this was apparent and now that the child was gone there was no need to hide it, but thankfully she held her tongue.

“All I need to do is step in and give her the antidote…?”   Although he knew it wasn’t as simple as that, he still felt compelled to ask as he moved towards the water.  The catacomb like setting that the girls were in was much cooler than the desert outside, but even with that it was still nice to feel the water soaking through his clothing the deeper he went in. 

His arms kept Holly close to himself, a natural reaction to her going into the water, as if she was able to feel the coldness from it.  He turned his head towards Angela, watching her and Hiromi on the edge as he awaited an answer and any further instruction that there might be.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 6:50 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela listened to them for a moment before sighing. "I can understand you. Let me set your concerns aside. We have no reason to trick you. You are waking my child up, a princess of this country. We owe you for this and not only this if I wasn't an elder goddess I would be on my hands and knees thanking you. Holly trusted you with that vial for a reason and we trust you because of that. Otherwise don't you think I would have hunted you down and brought down the heavens onto you for this? I'm not an evil woman but if I was that would have crossed my mind. Instead I waited for you to be ready to do this because Holly trusted you." Angela felt comfortable explaining to them.

Taking them down into the spring she lit the torches. They seemed more like fireflies in a jar then fire. The water was almost glowing with a blue light. "This place is imbued with magic. From the times before The Wastes were desert." She turned her head to them. "Gods have always had their place in history and not all of us had good moments." She took her hand and blew all the magic torches lit in the area. "Normally only the oracles get to do this but Bryony isn't the nicest person to be around. Take her down into the water and give her the antidote. Hold on tight because this is where things get a bit rigid. Pain doesn't begin to describe what they go through. The poison she took… The child had little knowledge of it but we're about to start her body back up."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 6:37 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

He watched as Iva left with the oracle, eased that she wouldn’t have to watch what was about to happen.  No matter what, he doubted there would be much pleasantness to the situation once she was woken up.  Without a word he moved over to Holly, remembering what he had been told thus far, how he would have to do everything from this point until she woke up.  Despite the arrangement that had been made he was still hesitant but forced himself past it to lift her up.  She was light, almost completely weightless, and either because she’d been so stationary for so long or because he’d grown that much stronger over the decades he wasn’t sure.

Once she was in his arms Hiromi was next to him, a hand resting on his arm and eyes filled with concern when she looked at him.  She was worried yes, but the line of her jaw was locked sternly and she spoke to him in their native tongue, “Are you sure you can trust any of this?  I’m here to help you but you can’t blame me for wondering if any of this could be a trick to trap you.  What if none of this can work and you’re just being told what you want to hear so that you’ll wake her?”  

The thought had crossed his mind, but he was trusting them because the chances of them being truthful held too much positivity.  It was the best outcome, and he had to go towards it.  Worst case scenario it would be him made to do all of this for Holly…and it would seal his distrust in the family enough to never have anything to do with them again when all of this was over.  He replied to her, keeping to their tongue, “You don’t have to trust them…Just trust me.”

That was all he had to say on the subject before following with The Mother to head to this spring.  Right now he couldn’t afford to have any more hesitation to any of this than he already felt.  If he allowed it then none of this would be able to get started.  As it was his heart was pounding, but he continued on: moving one foot in front of the other.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 6:15 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Iva squealed with joy as Hiromi addressed her. "My daddy told my momma before he died that it means life." She jumped around and looked over at Holly before looking back at her mom. "You are going to make me leave now aren't you?"

"You know it. Bryony I think I can handle the rest of this. Please take Iva outside and find some of the city's children for her to play with. By the mother I know she needs to be around children her own age more often. And stop listening into my conversations." She pet the girl's red hair and Iva was beaming.

"By Hiromi… and Naota you guys come play with me sometime okay?" She ran off with Bryony while Angela looked back at Holly.

"I've overseen some of these wake up rites before. It's not that hard and I would rather be here then leave with Iva. Holly is my daughter too and I've left her here alone for too long." She motioned to Holly's body. "Naota please take Holly and we'll go to the spring that's a bit deeper here. It's one of our more sacred places in Arri that we don't usually show outsiders. Water is life in the desert."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 5:17 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Convincing her to come here had taken more effort than he had anticipated, but he would never be able to show her how very grateful he was that she had agreed.  She’d given him a good smack when she’d found out and it’d taken it without protest.  But she was here, she would be able to help, and for the first time in ages he was at ease to have her near. 

Amongst all of this sadness having someone new to the mix had the potential to lighten the load everyone felt.  And luckily, aside from her relation to him, she had no emotional connection to any of this…hopefully that would make it easier for her.  She was kind, gentle, but had a very firm hand and was an expert in tough love. At least from the years he’d known her that’s what he had noticed. 

It was always strange to see her so delicate and fragile when it came to her clients, but so feisty when she was on her own.  All for show, but it got the job done.  He still couldn’t help the protectiveness he felt towards her at working in a courtesan house, but at least she was at a high enough rank to refuse should she want to.  Vampire or not, she was his sister, and that natural instinct was there.  She also felt the confliction of fearing for the men’s necks…What with her diet.

Once they were through the entrance to Holly’s area they were bombarded with questions and his eyes widened, looking over at Hiromi.  Her eyes were wide, but he caught their red hue just before they cleared into emerald.  Children was a subject neither of them ever breached and he spoke so that she wouldn’t have to, “There’s no need for apology…”   He shook his head and moved his hands into his pockets, a nervous smile forming on his lips if only for the little one. 

Hiromi, however, seemed completely content despite her surroundings and smiled for Iva, that natural charm that came from years of working as a tayuu aiding her interaction, “Hello Iva…Such a pretty name you have.  My name’s Hiromi, I don’t believe we’ve ever had the chance to meet before…”

Yes, it was good that he had asked for her assistance.  His eyes moved to Hiromi’s lips, unable to hold back the natural urge to check and make sure that her fangs weren’t elongating, but so far they weren’t.  “Hiromi’s going to help…”   He looked back to Angela, “Should we get started…?”

Author: Iva, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:30 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Iva moved to put a flower into her sister's hair and she found herself pausing for a moment. "But momma if there are so many people in the world why Naota?" The child was beginning to get on her mother's last nerve. Her mother told her it was just how Holly preferred. "But why?" Again there was a deep sigh as the goddess patted the girl's head. 

"Okay Momma but why did Holly want to go to sleep? Why did she chose Naota? What is icky boy love and why is it so special? Why? Why Why." The questions kept coming as Iva kept her mouth just a going while Hirmoni and Naota appeared. Iva hopped off her chair and came over.

"QUESTIONS! IT IS NOT THE GODDESS YOU SHOULD FEAR BUT ME THE MIGHTY IVA!" She put her hands up like a monster and gave a roar. "Why is Holly here? Why is Holy asleep? What is love? Why is love so important? Why does the tree make deities? Why does this place exist?" There was hardly any breathing as Angela gave them a sympathetic look. A vine came down and picked the child up. "I'M NOT DONE ASKING THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS! MOMMA!" Iva began to twist and turn in the vine until she was hanging upside down.

"I feel the blood rushing to my head momma. It's a funny feeling. Why does it feel funny? Why does blood rush to the head when you hang me upside down? WHOA Naota and his sister? LOOK TOTALLY AWESOME FROM THIS ANGLE. Are we going to get Holly today? Is she going away again? Can we give her presents? Will she snuggle with me again? What are her dreams like?" Angela covered her mouth. 

"Believe me when I say… I am so sorry," the goddess was honest as she said it and Iva was still trying to talk through the hand. The vine let her go in her mother's arms. She finally let her go when the questions stopped.

"HI I'm Iva." Iva waved to both of them and Angela groaned.

Author: Hiromi, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 4:14 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

For so long she had been trying to make herself a part of his life, and every time she was able to wedge herself in he’d find a way to shut her back out.  It wasn’t his fault, it was that…family.  Their fault.  They raised him this way and it was because of them that she was having so much trouble getting close to him again.  And now, when he was coming to her, one of the very rare times where he came to her first, it was because he needed a favor.  Her first reaction was anger as well as annoyance.  But her second was relief that he was even trusting her with something like this at all.  All of a sudden she felt as if she were the younger sibling chasing after him, when in reality she was five years his senior.

But he had explained it to her, the reason for his urgency and such short notice.  He certainly had gotten himself wrapped up in something complicated.  Not once had he told her what the vial around his neck was for and now that she knew she couldn’t help but wonder if she would have tried to snatch it from him long ago. 

As it was, she was dressed in a more casual set of robes, her face clean from any of her make up other than winged eyeliner and a dash of red on her lips.  Luckily with her status as tayuu she was able to deny any pursuers for the night.  Seeing as it was a desert they were going to she was sure to wear a set of robes that she wouldn’t mind being sand torn.  When they appeared at the catacombs her hand went to her mouth from the scent of such stagnant blood.  So many women, so much dankness, she couldn’t imagine coming down here on a regular basis.

Normally she did her best to stay away from the affairs of deities, even if it only involved their children, but her brother needed her and that was what kept her from turning and leaving right then and there when she saw Angela Rose herself next to her lifeless daughter. 

She pulled her robes around her tighter, her eyes –normally the same shade of emerald as her brother’s- bled crimson at the sight of them.  Deities tended to make her…nervous.  But there was a much younger child and that kept her from letting out any sarcastic remarks to the situation.  Instead she tried to keep her focus as far from the child as possible, resisting the urge to move her hand to her own stomach.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:26 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela had seen how uncomfortable he was with her. It was something he would need to work on. "I'm always around for you to ask. When you come back I'll make sure you have something of mine to find me. We've entered the spring season so I'll be all around Revaliir blessing the crops and what not. You know all those duties." She gave him another smile. "Now go get her. I'll be in with Holly and the others. Hopefully not explaining to my youngest anything too complicated."

All the goddess could do was nod as she came back in. Iva was bounding with questions as the elder goddess came in and tried to answer all that she could. "IVA breaths in between your questions please!" She groaned as she took the child next to her sister to decorate and brush her hair. "Iva! BREATHE!" The child's questions continued until Naota returned.

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:13 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

All of these maternal touches were almost too much for him.  Even when he was a child his mother had never been extremely hands on when it came to coddling.  She was a very caring woman, but physical touch like this had always seemed to make her uncomfortable…most likely because her hands were usually used for such violent things.  He could understand the fear of touching your child with the same hand that had been used to kill another person.  Thankfully he would never know that fear, as children weren’t a prospect for his future, not with the curse that carried on with him.

A child shouldn’t have to visit their father at their grave…  But he didn’t say that, not wanting to draw attention to it.  It was incredibly sweet that she was able to see her father’s grave in a positive light, but it didn’t change the unfairness that he had been sent there so early in the first place.  His eyes briefly closed when she kissed his forehead, bringing about a flurry of conflicting thoughts and feelings.  He knew what she was, who she was, and while a part of him urged him to attack her from drawing so close, a greater part reminded him that she as an individual was not bringing any harm towards him.

He stood almost quickly, eyes opening and readying himself, “I have more questions than you could possibly imagine,” Which still somehow felt like an understatement, “But I must find her, speak with her.  From what I’ve grown to know about her, she can be a very direct person…I wouldn’t expect to be more than a few hours.”

He pulled a rolled up map from his vestments and pulled it to tautness between his hands.  Years back he had woven a lock of her hair into it so that he would be able to find her should he need to, and her location showed itself in a light blue glow on the next continent.  He wasn’t too surprised: it was where the courtesan house she resided in was.  “As for your daughter…”   He paused, thinking about the pros and cons that speaking to her before leaving could cause.  Not just for him, but for her as well.  “….I’ll talk to her briefly before leaving.”   The map was quickly rolled back up and replaced before he swiftly teleported away.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 4:04 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela watched him and laughed. "Iva? You should meet her. Everyday she brings flowers to where he is buried. She is a bright light in a world that is so dismal. She is the hope that everyone needs. Sure she is a pain in the ass and constantly tests my damn nerves but she is a good child. When she was little Holly use to sit at her crib and play her violin. She was learning from her older sister Calanthe who is also a bard."

The goddess gripped his hand a bit and leaned over to kiss his forehead. "You have to wake her. At least let Holly see you. While you had time for your feelings to subside hers have not. I just hope your sister understands the situation. It might be a bit depressing for a while but we'll all get through this."

Thinking on the situation a bit more the Mother smiled at him. "I'll need to make the necklaces afterward. They will remain until the situation is dealt with but it should allow you to do whatever you want and not be around her. Artifacts are my speciality but they only last a certain amount of time. I can lace your hair with hers and form a crystal around it and pull some special deity magic  on it." She ran her fingers through his hair.

"Are you ready? Or do you want to ask more questions?"

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 3:50 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Despite her gentleness he couldn’t help the instinct to pull back when she touched him, but he managed to halt his draw back halfway through.  Though his heart raced faster.  He was too on edge, far too on edge right now with everything that was going to happen.  Even though he would no longer be the one meant to take care of her, he worried about his sister’s…condition.  Even as Angela spoke he tried to take it in but there was far more than simply being raised to think one way about this group of people. 

He’d been hired against them for decades now, seen what they could do, been hunted by them in return and he couldn’t help but wonder if the damage was done too well.  Though time with Hiromi had been helping, that was just with one person…Angela was right: vampires were individuals just like humans, but so far he’d hardly been shown a reason to trust them.  After all: look what they’d done to her people.  He kept that thought to himself though.

His eyes moved down to her hand when it touched his and he kept his focus there, taking in how gentle she was.  Well, he knew that she could be gentle, but with her daughter’s well-being on the line he had expected more hostility.  That in itself helped…towards Rosenites at least.  It was difficult to listen to her story, to think of the little girl, Iva, and how she would forever be fatherless.  Life always found a way to be cruel, he’d learned that over the years.

“Fate…can be cruel.  For your daughter’s sake, more than mine, let’s hope that it’s within her favor this time.”

He looked back up at her, not moving his hand away from under hers.  It had been a while since he had felt a maternal touch even from his own mother…it made him wonder what his birth mother had been like.  Hiromi never spoke about her, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with him personally.  “I’ll reach out to her…send her to you so that she can wake your daughter unless it’s by my hand that she has to at least be woken.”

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 12:50 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Watching over young Naota she gave him a smile and looked off into the distance. "That would work. I can make sure to give you something that can enforce it. Normally when it comes to Sularia I keep my deity powers to a minimum, however, I am a mother first. I can make necklaces of both of your hair, Holly and yours. It should strengthen it on top of your sister's."

Thinking about it for a moment she reached over and brushed her fingers over his hair. "Vampires are like people, like humans Naota." She propped herself up on her knees. "Whether you want to believe it or not. There are good and bad. My twins Nerezza and Lucian have a father, who is a vampire. He is bound by honor and correcting the mistakes in his past." Her presence was much like a mother towards him now. "Sometimes when we are hurt or trained to loathe those we don't completely understand we lose sight of the fact that all individuals are different. Sometimes it takes putting yourself out there to feel the person and moving past what makes you uncomfortable to see what really is. Don't lose your sister because of that heritage."

She moved her hand to his and smiled. "I lost a lover once. He came to me in the shortest amount of time. Even shorter than Holly and yours. He asked me for a child and I granted his request. I kept him alive but I could not cure the illness that plagued his body. He died but not before granting our child the name Iva which means life. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life than the day I lost him. I knew him for nine months. Nine months out of my entire two hundred years of being alive. I raise our daughter every day questioning on if I, the Mother, am doing a good job. Love has no time limit but it can come when you least expect it. I hope you find it."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 12:12 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

He nodded, following with her as she spoke.  I’m not going to put this on you.  Each syllable rung out loudly in his head and he finally felt himself relax.  Now all he had to do was hope that his alternate idea would work…Even though he and Holly were no longer close, he still worried for her safety and while his sister was trying her best to remain a part of his life, she was still a vampire and he couldn’t help that there was a level of distrust towards her merely for that.  But she, like himself, had her own code when it came to killing, hopefully she’d honor that.

“Only a few short years after your daughter did this to herself, I was approached by a woman.  That woman led me to someone whom I was told was related to me by blood.  Directly.  A sibling.”  Even now he barely spoke about it with his parents…his adoptive parents as it were.  After all of this time it was still almost too much for him to wrap his head around, but that wasn’t what was important right now.

“I have a sister.  She’s a few years older than I am but like me she’s frozen in a youthful physical state.  Mine was due to our heritage.  Hers…”  While she also would have stopped aging, she unfortunately never made it that far for it to happen.   “She was bitten and sired…She claims that she isn’t dangerous, and so far I’ve yet to see her go against that.  I believe that she would be able to help your daughter.  But I haven’t even been able to speak with her about any of this…for all I know she could decline.”

He looked down at her, feeling wrong at standing while she sat, at being above her in stature.  Even if he was having conflicts with her family he still respected her as a deity and moved to sit next to her, though a good half foot apart out of respect.
“Would something like that even be able to work…?”  

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:40 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Angela watched him a calmly and nodded. "Naota, we need to talk away from Iva. She doesn't need to hear this." Taking his arm she walked with him and thought about his words. "Did you know her uncle was the God of Fate? She wasn't born during his reign but I've always taught my children the lessons that he had to offer. Things never happen for a reason… Maybe in her mind there was something at work and she took it at full grasp. That might have been my fault. I know a little about you but your meetings sound like something he would ponder on for long periods of time."

Thinking more so she stopped them outside of the vault and stared at him. "My daughter did a selfish thing but she was but a child. She will come to understand her actions but like most of the others who take the rite, she was immature. Holly has hardened and I don't know if she will be the same person you knew or not when she wakes up. She is a bard and her music revolves around happiness and I just think she's stripped that herself. For whatever reason she took how you reacted to finding out what we are and applied it to how everyone must feel. It's not that she entirely loved you maybe lusted but you made her realize we're not natural. We're even more unnatural than vampires."

She found a seat and stared up at Naota. "I'm not going to put this on you. I'm also not going to scold her when she wakes up. If you have a solution lets hear it. I want my daughter awake and Iva misses her but I'm afraid that Iva does not understand fully what's going on here and I would rather keep it like that. I also don't want her with Kalyani either, that woman has a monstrous hag coming after her. Holly needs a place she will be safe and looked after. I do want you to keep in mind what Frey use to say as well. Things happen for a reason and sometimes Fate doesn't even see it coming. There's a reason you two are woven together like this. Just think about it. You both have long lives."

Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:00 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

The second he heard the child’s voice his footsteps paused.  He recognized her even though he’d only encountered her one time prior to this during a festival.  If not for her being a child he might have continued walking but on top of that he knew that her mother had to be close by.  He looked upon Angela as she entered and only then did he move back into the room that Holly was in, though he stayed close to the entrance at all times.  He said nothing about waking her, even as she made a clear point that she wanted it done today.  

Despite all of it, despite how so many people were being brought in for the action of one, his sympathies still went out for her mother.  Hopefully one day this entire ritual would be bested and none of them would have to worry about it again, but that wasn’t his responsibility and he couldn’t add it to his list of worries.  His resolve had already been set in what he wanted to do, now he just needed to find out if there was a way for it to be possible.

“My sympathy and condolences go out to you Mother,” He used the term as her title, it always seemed to be the most fitting for her in his eyes which is why he had been so concerned that he hadn’t seen her through this ordeal.  Her being here eased him, but only slightly, despite what she was.  He continued on, “But this is something that cannot be dealt with in the way that I’ve been told.  I cannot care for someone for a minimum of two months –possibly more than that-, not with my profession and not with my condition even if I wanted to.”

He breathed out slowly, his muscles finally relaxing as he closed his eyes, “I know that your daughter is a good person, I know that she succumbed to a moment of weakness when she made this decision but this decision was made decades ago.”  His eyes opened and he looked back at her, “I’m no longer 19, I’m no longer a boy even though I look like this.  I have aged.  I have grown.  My life has changed, and that has been without her there.”  

His voice softened, “She is not my wife…she is not my lover, she is not my daughter or sister.  She is a girl I knew nearly forty years ago during a brief season.  Great Mother the two of us did not even know each other long enough for me to love her…it could have happened, but at that time it was not what was in store for either of us.”

There was still at least one thing he wanted to say before any of this went any further, “After her attack I reacted to her in prejudice…and for that I do apologize.  It’s something I’m still struggling with to this day, getting through that forced bigotry of my upbringing, and if I could take it back and spare any of this from happening then I would have, but I cannot.  And neither can you…When Holly drank that poison she not only affected her own life, but she made a decision for me without even realizing it…or perhaps she did.  I can’t say that I know.  I did not force the poison down her throat, no one in this room did, but the moment it touched her lips it affected my life.  It is trying to force my hand.  And while I wish to help her I will not allow my life’s path to be manipulated.”

His fingers lifted up, lightly scratching the back of his neck, “If it is my genetic make up that will make the healing easier then I know of someone who would be able to aid her.  Someone that would be much more fitting to do so, but I need to know what options there are.”

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:25 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

The goddess had been listening for a long while and knew that Bryony had already detected her. Or maybe it was that time of the week when Angela came home and brushed her daughter's own hair. "Momma!" She put her finger to her lips but realized as Iva yelled that they would have been heard. Pulling the little one with her Angela came up behind Naota. "We've tried to stop it. Since the rite began all those years ago. Some woman did it and left the damn rite to her children. That spread to the others. We've tried to stop it but every race has its downfall. I definitely did not want my free spirited daughter to fall prey to it over some boy!"

Iva pulled on Angela's sleeve and suddenly the rage was gone from her. "You will be waking her up today because we will talk now." Freezing up at seeing her daughter in the background she shook her head and looked towards Bryony. "Watch the girl." She patted Iva's head and sent her off to visit. The girl yelled Auntie Brybry and jumped into her arms. "Come."

Away from the Oracle's ear shot she sighed a bit. "Bryony is cold. Holly wasn't much of a shut in more so I worried about her and set limits. Obviously she didn't like to listen." She looked over Naota for a moment and frowned. "She is a good girl you know. I try to feed her good dreams but my area isn't in that expertise sadly. I am a mother that is not able to help her child. I am a mother first before all else. I have an alliance to this place before my alliance to Revaliir. This is my home. We've been wronged many times. Raped, pillaged, you name it and we've had it happen here to our people. We've become fighters. Yet for everything we win against… We lose against ourselves. This rite as Bryony calls it started around the time she was born. She more than anyone else remembers how much it hurts our community. Taboo as it may be, I think it is the fear that the women who wake up may spread it to others. We're not invincible. We fear for our daughters and our granddaughters."

Author: Naota, Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2016 4:10 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

The more she talked the more his heart began to race.  This was so much, too much.  How could he have been pulled into and made a part of something that he knew so little about?  And while his heart pulled for anyone that would end up in exile, he couldn’t help but think that how all of this was dealt with was extremely unhealthy.  What worried him more was the possibility that she had taken a high amount, enough to need assistance from him for what could be months, possibly years.  He didn’t know.  He needed to know more about this before he got himself into something.
 
He looked down at Holly’s still form, so seemingly peaceful but he knew it was anything but.  Even if he wanted to care for what would most likely be in action the same as an infant, he couldn’t do that.  Not with his profession.  As it was he had enough of a time keeping himself alive, much less another person that would be too weak to do much for themselves.  It wasn’t safe, not for him and most certainly not for her. 
 
Differences or not, he wouldn’t be able to let another person be put in more danger than himself.  This wouldn’t end well and he felt trapped.  Trapped by a decision that he hadn’t even made, a decision that had been made for him the second that poison touched her lips.  Resentment was forming, but he pushed it down.
 
It wasn’t his place, he knew that, but he couldn’t hold his tongue as he looked back to the oracle, feeling only slightly guilty that she was the one that had to hear his opinions in the first place, “No matter what decision I make, I hope you all realize how incredibly unhealthy this is.  And I’m not speaking of the poison or this demented rite.”
 
He looked back down at Holly, hoping beyond anything that all of this would be able to come to fruition for all parties involved with as little heartbreak as possible.  That chance seemed to dwindle more and more as time went on, “A shut in.  She was barely sixteen years old.”   He looked back to the oracle,
 
“Mental stability or not, this is a form of enabling.  When a person has fear that they will be alone forever then the proper way to help them is not to surround them forever as if they were a child.  I can’t begin to understand the parental fear of having one of your children a risk at suicide or performing this insane ritual again, but I do hope that some affirmative action comes from all of this.  She needs help, actual help.  Fear of being alone should not cripple a person for their entire lifespan, and she needs to be with a person that can help her see that rather than allow her to wallow.”
 
His jaw locked, he could feel his body temperature rising and he closed his eyes as they turned to bloody crimson.  All of this was too much, and while he had no idea of the many intricacies that went into this ritual, there was one thing for sure: “I’m not waking her today.”   His eyes opened and he moved away from her motionless body, walking away from this room with purpose.  “I need to speak to her mother.”

Author: Bryony, Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 6:08 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Bryony stopped when he asked her too and she looked back to him. "Two months at the least and we don't know the longest but Holly is very healthy so it should only be two months. You can leave her with my niece afterwards. Holly will be safe away from here especially with another… exile." Bryony sounded sad for a moment.

"My niece exiled herself after being shunned by the elves here. Long time ago they thought like most do about vampires. She started fortune telling another taboo thing and… recently she may or may not have stolen from a hag in the middle of the rainforest. I should have that taken care of by the time Holly is better. It may also be beneficial for those two. Kalyani is looking for her mildly homicidal maniac of a boyfriend though so… when he shows up Holly will have to go home or come here. If she comes here she will be a shut in but her mother and I have agreed she shouldn't be left alone by herself after this."

She was still being treated like a kid after all this time. Bryony was going to walk away but something stopped her. "She used a piece of you whether a hair or something to bind the poison to you so that's why the antidote can't just be given away. It's what makes each poison different from the last. The antidote helps the poison and you staying around her to help will lessen the bonds on her body. How long that takes to up to how much of that stuff Holly drank. No one knows that but Holly and she wasn't letting the oracles into that part of her mind."

Author: Naota, Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 10:49 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

He listened as she spoke, making sure not to interrupt.  There were many things he could have said, many he wanted to say, but all of them stayed behind closed lips.  What was important was waking her, but as he followed her there was something she said that kept sticking out in his thoughts.  Questioning it was forgotten when he was able to see her though.  She looked exactly as she had the last time he had seen her, the same as she was in that dream state, aside from her hair and pallor complexion.  Who could do this to themselves…?
 
He moved over to her, pausing next to where she lay and looking back towards his escort, not following her.  “Wait…”   From this point on things were being left too vague for his liking, and he was a person that needed to know exactly what he was about to agree to before doing so, “You say this rite requires me to care for her for a while for it to be effective?  Explain to me exactly what that means.  I can help her when she first wakes, I cannot care for a person for a timespan as vague as ‘a while’.”
 
This wasn’t the oracle’s fault of course, but seeing as she was the one that knew more about this rite than he did, she was the only person he could direct his questions to.  All of this was something he simply would not have the capability to do, personal reasons aside.  And until his questions were answered he had resigned himself not to move from this spot, though his gaze and stance stayed calm. 
 

It seemed that Holly had done much more than affect her own life when she swallowed that poison, and his thoughts kept returning to her mother.  Before this was all said and done for he’d need to speak with her.  For now though he stayed still next to the spot where Holly lay, not lifting her, not so much as touching her as he awaited an answer.

Author: Bryony, Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:31 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Bryony stared at him strongly for a moment as she thought about it for a moment. "She can't stay home than." She wrote notes down past Holly's name. There were three more that had been admitted while they had awaited Naota's arrival. "Holly is physically strong but mentally I'm afraid she is scared of being alone forever. That is why she can't stay here or go home. Her mother has far too many things to do, however, I might know a person. A halfling. That is for another time. The rite requires you to care for her for a while to be effective."

Pushing herself up she examined him. "We hate vampires too you know. The way they tricked our ancestors into making us was dreadful… However, we were able to take that and make use of it. We were able to live without the things that make vampires so despicable. Maybe that is why the hate is returned." She turned herself and got a torch down off the wall. "We know what she knows." 

She moved her head as if beckoning him to follow her. "What the poison does is freeze up the body's natural healing. It somehow throws the body into a deep sleep and drains the energy to move. Like hibernation. Each poison is made differently so we can't just heal all of them." She cut corners and aligned on each wall were more and more bodies.

Finally she came to a small corner room. "Here she is." Holly laid there in a very pale state. Her hair was longer more so than the last time he had seen her. "From here on out you will do everything. Please pick her up." She got over away. "Follow me once you've done that."

Bryony left the room and went down a set of stairs. There was a deep pool of water and she waited for him get there. "Get in it with her. The pool has healing properties. Once in it please give her the vial."

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:07 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

All he could do was watch as he was led to the catacomb like facilities that kept the bodies of the young women sheltered. It was eerie to see their pale bodies, so still, still as death, laying in neat rows. There was a normalcy to it that made his stomach twist in knots. Even as one was moved away, her time here finished in the most unfortunate way, he felt his heart pull. Their existence conflicted with his upbringing, but loss of life over something so tragic was a horrible fate even to him. No matter who it was. And he didn’t want that for Holly.
 

Even if the two of them were having their differences, even if he was a completely different person and saw her through much darker eyes than he had in his youth, he still wouldn’t let her waste away here. Not when he could wake her. His infatuation with her had past, perhaps one day it would return but such notions weren’t at the forefront of his mind.
 

His attention was brought back by the woman before him. He knew what she was, a Rosenite just as the rest of them were, but his self-control was strong enough that he had no noticeable reaction, though his heart was pounding to be surrounded by so many of them. Even if they were unconscious.


"What do I think it will accomplish…?" His eyebrows rose to such a question. There wasn’t too much to say to that other than what appeared, to him at least, to be the obvious.
 

His fingers pulled the vial from around his neck, up and out of his shirt so that it hung against his clothing instead of his skin, "I hope that it will accomplish her waking to realize that rejection, of any level, is not worth doing this to herself. I hope that she can grow to love herself enough to go on for herself. Times get difficult. I know this well. When I met her as a boy she assured me of her strength. I want her to assure herself."


He pulled at the chain, removing the vial from around his neck completely now, and feeling oddly naked without its constant press against his sternum, "Now. What do I need to do to wake her?"

Author: Bryony, Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:01 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Holly stared at him with empty eyes for a moment. "There is no pain greater than that of a wounded heart." Physical pain would leave but her wounded heart would stay. The only reason he was waking her up was to get rid of the burden on him. Two selfish acts would lead to her being awake. The first was her putting herself asleep and forcing him to carry her pain. The second was Naota waking her up to get rid of the burden that he helped cause.

She turned from him and began to walk away into the plains of mud. "I'll be ready as much as I can be." Shaking her head she left him standing there as she returned to her cavern and huddled in the cold. The stench of mud was thick in her nostrils. 

–

This duty was beyond dull for her. It was a sad thing first of all and second she could tell which ones would never even wake up to begin with. Their fate strings were lined out and she could tell the stories that were not hers. "Make sure that their hair is knot free. They don't move often and if one is dead… Inform what family may be alive still." Bryony's words sounded harsh as she moved through the catacombs.

Bryony was more tan than most Rosenites but that was because her parents had come from Malmak. Her deep blue eyes tossed and turned like the waves of an ocean as they flickered about books outside of the vault. There was a quill in her hand as she began to mark down those who had recently been pronounced deceased as of that morning.

As Naota was escorted down to the vault for his task the oracles stopped him at Bryony's desk. Her judging eyes looked up as a dead body was carried out of the vault. The girl's skin a deathly white and the ivory dress the same as in Holly's dream world laid on her body. "Isele is her name. Born three hundred years ago. She was abandoned by her husband and she had been in a sleep for almost all of it. She ended up losing their baby because of her husband leaving. He had decided to smash the vial she gave him because he didn't want anything to do with her and hardly cared what that meant for her." She flipped the page and wrote deceased next to her name.

"I've been here since this rite started. I've been alive longer than I care to remember but their stories all stay with you. Rosenites who can't handle the loneliness of our way of life. Only a small few actually wake up from this and when they do they are often shunned. Many commit suicide and others we're able to submit to our healing quarters. We Oracles are useful in the fact that we can catch the majority before they do something else stupid."

She licked her fingers before turning a few more pages. Holly's name was there. "I know why you are here. The question is what do you think this will accomplish?"

Author: Naota, Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 11:46 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

All he could do was look at her, calm and quiet, and above all: unmoving. While there was still internal conflict when it came to dealing with what she was, he still wasn't eager to put someone else through so much pain. But he had already come to his decision and he would go through with it. Not to be cruel, but to be firm.
 

This was a responsibility that he could no longer shoulder, were there a way to pass it on to someone else he would have. It was difficult to admit that to himself, but he knew it to be true: he had no right to hold so much say over someone's life and how it was lived, whether they chose him or not.


And while he wouldn't admit it, there was also a part deep within himself that wanted her to pull through this and gain the strength of having gone through something painful and survived. So much time had gone by since she'd put herself here, time that she would never get back. That could not continue on, it was unhealthy.


He didn't want her to have to go through so much pain, but hopefully it would serve as a reminder for her to never again do something like this to herself. Were he not concerned with how he would react given the stress of the situation as well as his conflicting feelings then he would have approached her mother. More than likely she would be the one he'd take her to when the time came to leave her, "I am sorry that you will have to go through such pain, but this is what needs done."


He shook his head, breathing out gently in relief of knowing that this would all be done soon, "I won't simply leave you, of course not." No matter what she was, as of now she had yet to harm anyone and it was against his nature to simply leave her to her own devices in the state she'd soon be in.


"I do however suggest that you prepare yourself as much as you possibly can while you're here. I'm not sure how quickly time will pass by once I'm awake again." For her it was possible for it to all happen instantly as soon as he left, though really he had no way of knowing.

Author: Holly, Posted: Thu Feb 4, 2016 6:16 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Holly felt a sting in the back of her mind. Something was wrong with every word that came out of his mouth. How would she cope with what he was telling her? “You shouldn’t be there. You know you are uncomfortable around us,” her words were soft as she showed concern for him. “I don’t want you to be as uncomfortable as you will be tomorrow.” There was hesitation in her voice. Was she actually tell him to leave her there to rot? She was and that was a hard pill to swallow. 

Her silver eyes looked up at the rain washed the dirty water off her face. She blinked a few times as drops hit her in the eyes. “I’ve heard few stories about what will happen when I take the antidote… None of them good. I’ve heard it feels like your insides are being torn out or rearranged. I’ve heard that is the price to pay for being selfish and not just dealing with the pain of being what I am.”

The lightning and thunder continued as she hugged herself. The white dress now covered in dirt and mud clung her frail looking body. “I wonder if I can still play? How long will it take to even speak?” She turned her face to his. “If I will be able to walk. I’ve never asked about it. It’s always been a taboo subject to our people. Only the weak take this way out.” She didn’t stumble over her words as she admitted what she was.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Their fates seemed intertwined so badly that they ran into each other even in the furthest reaches of Revaliir. “Will you feed it to me and walk off?” She wondered what he would do.

Author: Naota, Posted: Thu Feb 4, 2016 11:16 AM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

She was covered from head to toe in mud when he saw her approach him. Over the years he’d grown more comfortable with being physically close but there was still that lingering warning in the back of his head, despite this all being in a dream like state. So much had happened over the past few decades, all of it leading him to his state of mind and view on the beings whose blood ran through her veins. His prejudice was still intact, though it had dwindled greatly. But that in itself was a big enough problem and was the very reason he was here,


"I’m in Sularia." Despite how frayed his thoughts towards her may have become over time, he still knew that she had to know what that meant for her. "Your vial is still around my neck and I intend on using it tomorrow. I’m unsure of whether or not what you have done here, what you know now, will affect you upon waking. On the chance that it will, I at least wanted you to have some preparation."


His head tilted to the side, looking at her for a moment: she appeared exactly the same as the day they had last seen one another before any of this had happened. What would her body look like now? There was very little he knew about this process other than that the antidote he had been given was the only thing that could wake her from her self-induced slumber. Would all of her years come back on her once she was woken? Although he wouldn’t admit it, he hoped that that wouldn’t happen to her.


So much time had been spent here for her, this was a chance for her to have a fresh life, a good start, and there was a small knot of guilt in his stomach for having left her here for so long. For having taken so long to come to this decision in the first place. For one reason or another their paths always managed to cross, perhaps that bit of luck would keep up with the years to come. Only time would tell, and goodness knows he had plenty of that.

Author: Holly, Posted: Wed Feb 3, 2016 3:40 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

It happened every night. Just like Glaciem came after Venti he came to her. Sometimes she hid from him and watched him from a distance. Other times she talked to him through a wall but there were others when she got brave and faced him. She wasn’t scared or upset but those were the times when her dreams were centered on a beach. Most likely she had been fed a calming potion but it was not always as the oracles did not want her addicted to such things. 

Happiness wasn’t something she could offer up any longer. The dreams went on and on. While the beaches were never guaranteed she at least wanted to run through the water and feel the hot sand beneath her feet. However, her happiness sapped out and she felt the hot sand turn ice cold. Her smile disappeared and the reality of her situation sank in. There was no longer any room for joy in this world of dismal light. 

Her silver eyes upturned to the shattering skies and she held her breath. There was nothing to gain from being trapped in this place. Over the years she had been stuck here with Naota as her unwilling company she had never forgotten what he meant to her. There were bits of glimmer in the air of her dreamland as he came to see her. His voice sparked lightning around the gray skies.

It was down pouring onto dying grass much like a barren savanna. His words crawled through the thunder claps and a shiver raced down her spine. There was a sense of panic as she crawled out of a small cavern. Her dreamworld had her covered in mud from all the rain but she did not shiver. There was a harden look on her face. “I’m always here but here isn’t there. What you do here doesn’t effect the real world.” Holly reminded him. Her cheerful demeanor had diminished over the years and it faded much like a painting left in the wind and rain.

The downpour flattened her hair but those silver orbs stared out as streaks of mud came from her scalp running down her forehead, nose, and cheeks. “What do you wish to talk about.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Wed Feb 3, 2016 3:13 PM, Post Subject: The Bard and The Hunter [P][R]

Ever since the first time it had happened, whenever he got ready to go to bed he felt anxious. It could happen at any time and he had no idea why. Luckily it all remained in the dream realm, but not knowing when it would happen was what made it the worst. And each time when he woke back up he felt no relief from having slept. It was beginning to wear on him and he could take it no longer.
 

He’d traversed for days through the desert, his skin already darker from such long exposure to the sun. The natural healing of his body was the only thing keeping him from getting burned and for once he was glad to have the demonic blood running through him. It had been thirty years since he’d learned about what he was, and while that pill was still taking time to swallow it was nothing in comparison to the struggle he’d come face to face with regarding vampiric beings.


In fact it was due to vampires that he was even going to Sularia in the first place. He’d found temporary lodging for the night and it felt good to be in the shade of an enclosed room, but now he was having the battle with going to bed again. Being so close to her he knew, just knew that it would happen again tonight. He was still resigning himself to his decision to release her in the first place. It wouldn’t be a very positive interaction, but it needed to happen nonetheless. He only hoped that she would understand.


No matter what his feelings were for her now, in the past, or in the future, he’d had decades to mull this choice over in his head and in that time he’d grown far past the boy he’d been when they had first met. What was time like for her in that comatose state…? Hopefully she would understand. Or, more so, hopefully she would understand some day.
 

He pulled his shirt over his head and eased back onto the bed, reveling in the cool touch of the sheets against his back. It didn’t take much more than that to put him to sleep, despite his mind’s constant worrying. And just as he had thought would happen: he’d awoken to a different place but was just as lucid as if he were in the real world. It looked different, but it always did, each time he came it seemed to get darker and darker.
 

By now he was able to understand that it had to do with her, while his thoughts weren’t always sunny when coming here, her emotions always ran further than his and much more immediate. His eyes rose up to the sky, watching the cracks and crumbling of it as he called out, "I know you’re here. It’s time we talk."