Just Acquaintances (Cara)

[Cheshire]

73rd of Autumn, 511 AV Farren Frostfawn was by far not one of the better liked people in Avanthal. He was anti-social, painfully in fact. He did not have a single person he would even call his friend, except Daluna but he merely saw her as a confidant. He did not like people, he liked animals and they liked him as well. In truth, the man was shrouded in mystery. Why was he so skilled with animals? Was he Kelivc? He sure seemed bestial enough to be one. Perhaps he was touched by Caiyha herself. Surely her touch was present even in the icy north. Some of Icewatch prayed to her and her daughter Oriana, it was likely enough. The dark Frostfawn was not out to find friends but today he would seek a certain individual out as one, out of necessity of course! Farren did not need friends. As long as he had his animals he would be satisfied. This was a favor to a friend though. A friend who had given him everything that he held dear and he would never deny Her a request. Not after all She had done for him. She had been watching Cara as of late but She was not really to show herself yet. Soon? Maybe, but for now She would watch as Farren made nice with Cara. After all, the two would need to be able to work together if all went well. The man knocked at Cara's door, nerves wracking his body. He was never too good at social interaction but he would try. He swore to Her he would try. From what he had heard of Cara, she was a lot like him. She was not the most social person. In fact, she tended to scare people away a lot. Maybe this would work out. Two ornery Frostfawns working together for the good of nature. "Cara? This is Farren. Are you busy?"

[Cara]

Cara was standing over the charred remains of her mother's body. Drinking in the sight of her flesh as it curled angrily like a potato chip, before flaking off and floating away on the cold Avanthalian winds that whistled by. Circling her in its ethereal embrace as it swept her long, black mane of hair off her shoulders. Some of the skin seemed to drip with blood, while the rest, the portions that refused to flake, sank into her ivory colored bone, lined with a thin sheet of black powder. "This is the end," she had whispered, before another cloud of light blue res had pooled before her, only to be lit on fire. She could hear it crackling as the orange glow it produced cast half her body in its light, and the rest in shadow. She could hear her mother trying to drag in another breath. Her breathing was rushed, shallow, raspy. "This is the end," Cara whispered, as she flicked her wrists in her mother's direction, guiding the flame until it licked at her chest, burning away whatever still covered her skin before it moved onto the rest of her. Cara marveled at the sight, this truly, was the best day of her life. There was a low, knocking sound. Cara's eyes scrunched even more tightly shut as she was wrenched out of the dream. Why can't we ever be allowed to have just five more minutes? her mind growled lazily as she pushed the bed sheets back and sat herself up. Iaera, who had been resting by Cara's feet, opened a single eye, as though questioning why she had been disturbed. Cara stared at her blankly, as she lifted her hands to her eyes and rubbed the sleep crystals out of the corners. She lowered her hands when she was done, and climbed out of bed. She made it up hastily as she called, "no. But I need a minute. Just hold on for a sec," she answered Farren groggily, once her mind had finally processed his greeting. Cara glanced down at what she was wearing. A black nightgown sewn out of silk. The end of the fabric dangled just above her knees, while the top dipped into a low V. The spaghetti straps which held it all up were lined by an edge of black-colored lace. Cara sighed, this certainly wasn't an appropriate to open the door with. Unless she was trying to seduce Farren perhaps, which she wasn't. She'd have to change. Cara strode over to her dresser and picked out a simple lavender-colored dress. She tossed it onto her bed, before she placed her hands at the bottom of her nightgown. She held the silk between her fingertips, and lifted the gown off, before tossing it in the dresser, and quickly changing into her dress. She ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out some of the knots, as she finally closed the dresser and approached the door. She pulled it open. "No, I was sleeping actually. Much as you should be," she said groggily, her voice not coming off as its usual, cold self, due to the level of her exhaustion. "It has to still be dark... the sun can't have risen yet," she commented, as her violet-colored eyes settled on Farren's. "So you must have a good reason for knocking on my door," Cara went on, "at Morwen only knows what hour." There was a slight pause, "something better than your wanting to check up on Iaera, to see that she's being taken care of well enough... something better than wanting to see my pretty smiling face," she added with a bit of a smirk. She could hear her bed creaking as Iaera stretched her body out before jumping onto the floor. She walked over to the door, brushing up against Cara's leg as she sniffed the newcomer. Upon recognizing the scent, her lips seemed to curl into a smile as she leaned forward, and rubbed her head against Farren's leg, before backing up, and sitting next to her mistress. OOCSorry for the blah and morbid opening.

[Cheshire]

Farren stood at Cara's door quietly waiting for her to let him in. He was not sure what to say to her when he actually let her in. He could speak with her fox, although that would clue her in on his little secret. Of course, if She was watching Cara there was a good chance the Vantha would find out regardless. When Cara opened the door Farren's eyes took on a wild topaz color. He was nervous, even a little scared. As horrible as it was, he had no idea how to be around human women. Animals he had no issue with but his fellow Vantha? He was clueless. "Um… I couldn't sleep… That's not why I'm here though." He motioned to her room. "Do you mind if I come in?" "I told a… friend I'd get to know you. She thinks I need to be more social I suppose." Farren spoke calmly and smoothly as he tried to keep focus with the girl in front of him. He had a hard time keeping eye contact with others. In the animal world the meeting of eyes signified a battle of sorts. A test to see who could watch the other the longest without looking away. It was not that he worried he would lose. He knew his will was strong. He just did not want to get into that now. Maybe if Cara knew what it meant he would. Later though. That is if Cara was allowed to see the world as he did. Farren smiled at Iaera when she rubbed against his leg. "Hello Iaera. You seem well. Cara seems to take very good care of you." He ran his hand over her fur, taking in her thoughts and emotions through Nura. She was happy. Extremely happy in fact. The fox loved Cara and wanted to protect her. "I see Iaera is doing well. Not that I expected any less. What sort of Frostfawn would you be if you couldn't take care of your companion?" The words were meant to be kind but they were a bit harsh sounding, not that they were intended to be.

[Cara]

Cara leaned up against the door frame, her shoulders curling forward, into her chest as her eyes sparkled a deep sapphire blue behind a thin sheet of clear fluid. The fluid was trying to wake her, as she folded her arms over her chest, and considered everything Farren was saying. Who could ask him to be more social? Cara wondered. For no one seems to talk to him at all. Not to mention, he doesn't exactly seem the sort to listen to other people. She smiled weakly, kind of like me, I suppose... he likes animals, and seems to understand them, at least, from what I have heard, and with everything he manages to find... He just, isn't so great with people. "Yes, come in," Cara managed, even though she felt it strange to let him into her life; her room in the hold. Even though she couldn't shake the feeling that he was keeping something from her; that he had yet to mention everything on his mind. She unfolded her arms, and pulled the door open a little wider, as she turned to press her back against the frame, and sweep her free hand into the room, bidding him welcome. "Make yourself comfortable... on my bed... Rascal seems to have taken up the only chair," she finished with a small smile, and slight hint of irritation in her voice. After Farren had swept inside, and begun to situate himself, Cara closed the door, and strode over to the bed. She took a seat close to her pillow, as she commented absently, if not somewhat cooly, "that was one of the last comments I made to my mother before she died." As she spoke, she ran her fingers through her long black hair, combing out the knots as her eyes settled on Farren's, and Iaera took up residence by her feet. She had curled herself into a tight ball, and looked as though she would be drifting back into Nysel's realm soon enough. "Anyway," Cara went on as she crossed her right leg over her left, carefully, so as not to hit her companion by mistake, "how did you intend on socializing? she asked. "Because, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not so talented in that department either."

[Cheshire]

Farren was relieved to see that Cara was willing to at least play nice. At least She had not sent him to make nice with someone who was a ray of sunshine. That much he could not do for his friend. He and Cara were a lot alike though. Maybe he could become friends with her. She was an Icemaiden and he was a man the other women of Avanthal would never spend the light of day thinking of. Of course, it was a little early to think about marrying the girl. They had just become formally aquatinted a few moments ago. "Thank you. Your room is nice." What was he saying! All of the rooms were pretty much alike, except Kayin's of course. Trying to brush off his awkward words he walked over to the chair where Rascal was sitting and ran his fingers through his fur. "Tell me about Cara…" The words of Nura were whispered to Rascal through the man's touch and the creature whispered back, emotions filling Farren's senses. The red panda was happy, although this was somewhat new. He did not take to Cara like Iaera did. This showed a great deal of what She was looking for though. Cara was a friend to the animals. A model Frostfawn if Farren could be so bold as to say. Sitting down on the bed, Farren looked at Cara. She was alluring, he had to admit that. He needed to stay focused though! She was counting on him. It had been so long since he had been treated so kindly by a woman and of course, how long could a man go only treated kindly by a single woman? Yes, that woman was more than man could dream of but She was not his! "Your mother died? What happened… if I may ask?" Farren's own mother had died. That is where his problems had started. He lost one mother and gained another, although he couldn't tell others about Her. Not yet at least. Farren looked down for a moment nervously. He knew that his idea of socializing was a bit odd but it would be a good way to ease Cara into his friend's eyes if the girl agreed to go. "I was thinking you could accompany me to the Wastes. I like to go out there sometimes to get away from the city." He looked at her nervously, his eyes turning a bestial gold. "Are you up to coming? You can being Iaera or Rascal with you."

[Cara]

Cara's eyes glimmered a deep violet as they settled on Farren's hands, watching them settle into the fur of her companion. "Well, if you truly want to know..." she began, her voice trailing off, "she tried to kill me. A few times of course," she went on as her lips curled into a small smile. She continued to run her fingers through her hair. "Since I'm not so easy to kill." Cara paused for a moment, pulling her fingers out of her hair and lowering her hand into her lap. She closed her eyes a moment, picturing the day her mother died before envisioning her djed; concentrating on it as it sat in the pit of her stomach. A coiled snake, resting within a hole in the ground. Waiting to be called upon. It was Cara's wish to bring her djed to life now. Slowly, the snake-like djed awakened, and slithered up the pit of her stomach, into her lungs, and upwards, towards her throat. It split in two there, and poured out into each of her arms. Winding down their length until it reached both of her hands. At that point, she freed it, allowing slender tendrils of light blue res to pour from the the fingertips of her right hand. The res rose a few inches above her flesh, pooling into a small orb, no more than one inch by one inch wide. After a few seconds, Cara stopped freeing her res. Her heart was racing with the pleasure of it. Releasing it. Watching it hover before her, waiting to be turned into something destructive. Cara lifted a single finger, the pointer, and finally, ignited the outside of the res orb. It burst into flame. Casting the area directly surrounding it in its warm, yellow glow. It crackled, as it sent slender spirals of grey smoke towards the ceiling. Cara lowered her finger, and curled her hand around the flame, although she never touched it directly. It seemed to caress her skin, as she caressed it. "You see Farren, my mother and I are both known for playing with fire... many moons ago, she taught me," Cara whispered, her voice cold, and somewhat menacing. "But she grew to resent that, to resent that after the death of my sister. Years ago... by her hands. I left shortly thereafter. I trained, grew strong. I met my companion Rascal in the Misty Peaks, and then, together, we returned... we fought three times. Until she died by my hand. A rather painful, death by the light of my fire." Cara snapped her fingers, and instantly, the fire went out. "A death which she more than deserved... I'd do it again. In a heartbeat, if given the chance. Watch with pleasure as her flesh sank into her bones. As her lips melted..." Cara's irises had turned a blood red. "It was rapture, to watch her burn," she said, as she stood up, surprised she had told him. "How did your mother die, if I may ask. To be fair... we are, after all, swapping stories," she added, with a sick smile, knowing that the man was not strong enough to destroy the one who had made him. Her gaze passed from the other Frostfawn to Iaera, as she awaited his answer, before replying to his last request. "If you insist... Iaera could use the walk... although Rascal is unlikely to come along. He does enjoy his beauty rest, you see," Cara answered, as she got to her feet and grabbed her cloak. She whistled, calling Iaera to her side, and put the garment on. "Come, perhaps if we hurry, we can see the sunrise," she whispered, her voice betraying her annoyance at having been awoken, at what she deemed such an early hour. With not another word, Cara strode towards the door, and led Farren and her canine companion outside. From there, the group headed to the front of the hold; away. OOCCara would have ignored the comment about her room... not interesting enough to her.

[Cheshire]

Farren listened to the girl with wide eyes. He was not sure what to say back. Should he tell Kayin what had happened? It was quite obvious that one did not kill another person in Avanthal without being thrown into Svanhildur. She trusted him though and she let him see even the darkest part of her. Maybe this was a way to be close to the girl. To hide her secret for her. If it was ever found out and it was known that he knew what happened but never told, his crime would be no better than hers. He would keep quiet though. If She took notice of Cara, She who could see everything the plants and animals could, then the girl could not be all bad. Could see? When Cara let her fire burn over her finger, Farren watched it with a look of curiosity which seemed more akin to a wild animal than a Vantha. It was not that he did not know what reimancy was. He was not that detached from the world. He just found it interesting, his eyes holding that same wild yellow color. "That is too bad. It is good you are safe though." He smiled awkwardly before stifling the emotion. He did not want the girl thinking he was stuck on her or anything. "It is always best when the Frostfawns can manage through hardship." The words sounded like a bit of a cop out he has tried to make sense. He was not used to making conversation for this long. Especially with someone who actually seemed like they wanted to talk to him. As strange as it was, Farren would have been perfectly fine sitting as listening to the gory details of how Cara had murdered her mother if he knew it would keep the Vantha from asking her own question. She wanted to know about his mother and that was a topic he never talked about. His eyes seemed to drain of color, settling at a strange light green. "We'll talk on the way." This was all he said before he walked to the door. When the pair reached the snowy morning air, Farren pulled up his hood, leading the way to the wastes. It was clear the man did not want to talk but he knew he should. Cara had bared his soul, he would have to compensate. "My mother was killed." Farren's eyes were settling on the frozen ground. "It was one of those times when Icewatch was not able to hold back the animals after a flux in population." Farren had never told anyone this story except Daluna. He had wanted to keep it that way as well. "My mother and I were heading to the stables when a wolf that had made it past Icewatch crossed our path. I think it had wanted me. I was smaller and had more meat on my bones than my mother." Farren's eyes were darkening with every word. Shifting from that ghostly white-green to a blood red. "It wanted me and my mother sacrificed herself because she knew it would only have time to kill one of us." He could see the sight before him. His mother being torn apart, limb by limb. Her skin getting chewed off of her bones like a midday snack. "It was my fault. I should have been strong enough to save her." The truth was, Farren had only been thirteen when it happened. Farren had never opened up like this. Not to anyone since his mother's death. "I miss her… a lot." He wanted to scold Cara in a way. She had a mother and she got rid of her. He did not know how bad the pair had been, he only knew that he would have done next to anything to bring his mother back. Caiyha was his mother now, or at least he liked to view her as such. She took him in after his mother had died. "I've never been the same since her death… but I'm sure that is the talk of the town." Farren knew what others thought of him. He might have been more quiet and detached but he knew. "Anyways… That's not important right now. We need to get to the wastes." As the pair moved closer to the Wastes, Farren seemed to become more and more at ease. It was clear to see he was more comfortable in the wilds than the city. "You know… It was nature that took my mother from me and yet, I am more comfortable when I am immersed in it than when I am with my own people." His eyes turned a light shade of blue as he spoke. He felt comfortable with Cara. She was like him. She was not the same family loving, song singing, poetry writing Vantha as the rest of the Vantha in the city. People saw her, much like they saw him, and knew she was not like everyone else. "Very depressing irony." Once in the wastes, Farren looked at Cara. "I was asked to find some animals. I offered to get some Caribou for Daluna and we also need to find an arctic wolf. How good is your tracking?" While Farren did not worry about being attacked, he could not call the animals forward. He needed to seek them out. He was skilled in tracking but having another at his side with the skills to track would only help his effort.

[Cara]

Cara lifted a single brow, but kept herself from turning to face Farren as she continued onwards. "It's understandable enough," Cara commented, her voice relatively neutral for someone with her nature. "Your mother was kind to you; she's something actually worth missing." She paused for a moment, as she continued walking, allowing her brow to return to its more natural state of being. As she glided through the snow, Cara left several tracks in her stead. The line of white that traced around their edge dipping into the hollow space in the terrain. Cascading over its length as though it were a waterfall, serving to fill it as though it were a water basin. She could hear the wind whistling, as it caused the folds of her cloak to flutter in its stead. As it rustled Iaera's fur as the animal padded next to each of them. When they finally reached the dividing line between the wastes and the city, Cara smiled weakly. "It's far easier to get along with the animals than with people. For one, unlike our race, they don't talk back to you," she commented, her voice taking on a hardened, cold edge. Something Farren should find familiar enough. "Secondly, they know well enough when to shut up," she finished, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk. Perhaps that would be enough for him to get the idea, she longed for silence, at least for the time being. It was far too early in the morning for a lengthy conversation. The silence seemed to last no more than a few seconds. Inwardly, Cara sighed. Why must humans be so bloody stubborn and so bloody stupid? Cara wondered, as she rolled her eyes, and growled a response. "Not very good. I am far better at caring for animals, than hunting them down. I leave such things to the men of our hold... it seems a silly occupation, bringing animals far larger than ourselves down for the sake of our stomachs." With that last comment settling into the air between them, Cara picked up her pace. "We could always have Iaera sniff them out for us, no?"

[Cheshire]

Farren could not argue with Cara's logic, at least about his mother. She had been a wonderful woman. Clearly, more so than Cara's. He watched the girl carefully. She sounded neutral but was she really? He could never claim to really know anyone. He did not really understand humans as much as he wished he could. Animals, maybe. They tended to be more open, although when one communicated through emotion and thought, it was hard not to be. Animals were blunt, humans were the crafty ones. As Cara spoke, Farren chuckled slightly at her words before he had the chance to stop himself. He knew he shouldn't have but he could be a bit impulsive at times. The animals could talk back, although not to everyone. As she went on, the light smile on his face wained at her words. He understood what she was saying, even if it was a bit more rude than he deserved. He thought he had found someone who he could confide in. Cara seemed like him. Alone and ostracized. Farren was starting to see they were two people on completely different planes. Farren was alone because of his past and his pain. Cara was alone because she wanted to be. To Farren, she was not looking for anyone at all. She thought she did not need anyone, that she was too good, to witty for everyone. She wanted to wallow in her own pain and Farren would let her. Perhaps he didn't need to find a companion in her. "Animals really are interesting. The fact so many can adapt to protect their softer spots is amazing." His eyes flickered a deep scarlet as he spoke. "I think turtles that duck into their shells when a danger come too close are really a work of nature, although the porcupines have to be one of the most interesting." He watched the girl with a light smirk as he spoke. "They cover themselves with quills on all sides so no one can see the soft scared rodent on the inside. So no one can hurt them. They can only hurt others." His eyes lightened to a magenta as he spoke. He was sure the girl got what he was hinting at since she seemed to be in such a metaphorical mood. "Nature's design truly is interesting." Since the girl did not know how to track Farren would have to do it on his own. She did offer the help of her vulpine friend though. "The animals are not for eating. The caribou are going to be sold by Daluna and the wolf will be sold by me." The joking tone was gone from his voice. Farren had never been a hunter. He knew how to hunt and if he needed to, he could and with skill. His occupation was more like Cara's, if Cara's work was an occupation. He took care of the animals, gathered them, and sold them. There was an essence of hunting down the animals, but he did not hunt. He tracked and retrieved. "Iarea will do." Farren knelt down on a knee and ran a hand over the animal's fur. The fox understood and would help in the tracking down on the caribou and in time, with the wolf. "No more idle chit-chat then. I'm sure miss porcupine would like to get on with this. Morwen forbid I bore her." It was unclear if Farren was talking to the fox, or her mistress. Either way, the words were said with a biting but joking tone. Farren was a bit annoyed with the girl. Especially after he had shared so much with her. He could not expect all people to be kind though. If she wanted to be cold and brash, he was fine with that and would reciprocate. The Frostfawn walked ahead of Cara, motioning for the fox to follow. At this time, Farren had little use for Cara, just her companion. The extra pair of Vantha arms would be useful in getting the caribou back to the city though. He could use her for that. "Tell me if you see any tracks Cara. Even wolf tracks could be helpful. If we find those, they might have been doing some tracking of her own." The girl might not have known how to track but he was sure she had enough common sense to know how to look for animal tracks. After a bit of walking, Farren spotted a small group of tracks heading east of where they currently where. "Cara, were are going to follow these tracks. These are the tracks of a caribou." The girl claimed she did not know how to track he'd show her. He was a bit nervous at the fact she would probably snap back at him for even thinking of trying to teach her something but the least he could do was try to help.

[Cara]

Cara rolled her eyes. "Never said she'd be eating them. Just helping us find them. Unless of course, you'd like to give her a strip of meat off the flank?" the Vantha asked, not truly specifying whose flank she'd strip the meat from. Her lips curled into a slender smile as she walked no more than a pace or two behind Farren in silence. She was happy to finally have it. To be able to hear nothing other than the beating of her own heart, and the nearly silent steps of herself, the other Vantha, and her companion as they made their way through the frozen wastes. Cara's happiness was short-lived, however, for Farren simply had to break the silence... again. To point out a set of tracks, something that appeared far too large to be a caribou, at least in her opinion. The woman bent a little closer to them, noticing the gentle curve of the hoof. How cleanly it had been imprinted into the newly fallen snow. The pinschers, and the knobs beneath them. "Are you sure?" Cara asked, as she pointed to the outside line of the hoof, tracing its length with her finger. "You don't think something larger than a caribou make these, a moose perhaps?" The woman would wait but an instant for an answer, and listen half-heartedly should Farren reply, before shrugging, and continuing on through the Northern Reaches. Following the tracks Farren pointed out, until they came to an end. Unless of course, she was stopped by her companions first, in one way or another. OOCIf you look up caribou tracks on google, you'll know what I am talking about when I describe everything.