{The Stone Garden}Rewinding the Clocks {Open}

[Tara]

Timestamp - Fall 76th, 511 AV.

Tara walked into the empty garden, through the white-stone pillars that were at the end of the wall that surrounded the garden. She looked silently at the beautiful patterns of wave-tossed cobbles. She walked silently along the outer path. A vivid memory passed through her mind unexpectedly. She was much short, and her hair was only just passed her shoulders. She had only been a few months old, mentally and physically around 7. A little girl with bouncy blonde curls and huge bright blue eyes was talking about something. "This is where all the Syliran Knights who died are 'membered" she was saying "and daddy says that my grandaddy is here somewhere". She had looked at me and grinned. "You gots a good nose, maybe you can find the one that's his by sniffin' it or somethin'" she told me. I had laughed, and told her it was impossible. We had both gone home then. Tara was brought back to reality with a gasp. The memories she had managed to suppress for over a year were coming back. She couldn't handle it. She let out a sob, before quickly composing herself. This is what she came here to do. Before she could move forward she had to stop running away from her past. She walked forward a bit until she had completed a lap of the garden. Then she sat down by the entrance she had come in and sighed. This was harder than she had expected it to be. Léoné was the little blonde girl. Tara had been given to her for her eighth birthday. Léoné never had many friends, even though she was a sweet child. He parents never trusted anyone else. That's why they bought her a Kelvic, to give her companionship and maybe even protection. The two bonded quickly, soon become less like owner and pet and more like to young children playing together. The stone garden was a favourite place of Léoné's, and soon became Tara's too. However, after only 6 months of Tara living with the family Léoné became extremely ill. Everyone did everything they could but after a short while Léoné had passed away at the age of eight and a half. Tara fled soon after, and went into a deep depression before shutting out all the memories from her mind. She heard herself whimper a little and before she knew it she had started to cry silently, huddling up in a fetal position by the stone wall, surrounded by autumn leaves that had fallen from nearby trees. After a couple minutes she dried her eyes. She couldn't let anyone see her so weak. To calm herself, she began to focus all of her energy on her right palm. She held it out and quickly quickly a glowing green mist swirled out of the centre of her hand. She closed her fingers around it and willed it to become water. It did and she swirled the little sphere of water around her fingers, passing it from hand to hand. This calmed her spirit and allowed her to compose herself. She quickly got rid of the water by sending it to the small pond and stood, leaning against the wall and looking absent-mindedly into the rows of stones.

[Ethne]

Ethne had decided to go to the old stone garden to play her music quietly, but upon glancing around the corner, she spotted a girl standing by the entrance. Catching her breath, Ethne pulled herself back, careful to not be seen. Glancing back again, she saw the girl create water in her hands through magic.

Ethne was immediately enchanted. She had never seen anything like that before. It was something strange, beautiful, and amazing. Then, her white ferret Fauzi jumped off her shoulder and began slowly trotting towards the girl. Ethne clasped a hand over her mouth and drew herself back, fearful for her ferret but not wanting to be seen.

The small ferret, however, showed no fear as he trotted up to the girl. Stopping in front of her, he stood up on his hind legs and crooked his head. Silently staring her in the eyes.

[Tara]

Tara was taken by surprise as the little white ferret looked at her with it's red tinted eyes. Tara's usually sharp senses had not been alerted to the presence of the creature and it confused Tara. She was most likely had been caught up in her thoughts, but Tara glanced back around. She did not like the feeling of surprise, as it didn't usually occur seen as her senses were heightened to those of a cats. She took in a coupe quick sniffs. There was a human here, but the wind would not let her find whoever it was. Tara assumed the ferret belonged to whatever was here. She thought of eating the little creature, as she used to in the forest, but it was covered in human scent. She knew from experience that humans were very attached to their animal companions. As it was, Tara did not let whoever else was here know that Tara knew they were there. She was curious as to why it would not show itself. She bent down and picked up the little ferret by the scruff of it's neck. She didn't whether it would bite her or not but either way she didn't risk it. Tara raised the little creature to her eye level. She had never seen a ferret like this, most were musky forest browns. But this one was bright white with red eyes. Albino, most likely. She had heard from people in other villages that albino children and animals were evil spirits of the devil. Tara did not care for human lore, but she was curious.

[Ethne]

The ferret didn't move as Tara picked him up, nor did he fight back. He was curious, he could clearly smell a cat-like scent from the girl, but she appeared to be like a human. He was not afraid of cats in the least, ferrets are semi-violent creatures and are known to attack if defending something. He had fought cats before, and won. Yet, still this human perplexed him.

Ethne's fear for her ferret overcame her fear of people. Stepping forward, fiddled with her Shakuhachi behind her back with one hand while holding out the other and asking.
"Please, could you set him down?"
Holding out her hand, she added.
"What are you doing here?"

[Tara]

Tara looked over and saw a young girl. She had red eyes, like the ferret, and white hair. Her eyes went wide in surprise. She dropped the ferret and turned to face the little girl. She became mildly defensive, an instinct she had developed over the years. "I could ask you the same thing" she said, staring down the girl. "Why were you sneaking around like that?" Though she had been surprised by the girl, she could not help but think of those stories of the albino children and how they did not seem to apply to her. The child was innocent and had wide eyes. She was only young and yet she was all alone.

[Andresciel]

The Knight of Syliras, Andre, stepped from the shadows "And I could ask you both the same question." The words were soft, as Andresciel's plate armor flashed in the light from overhead. He made no offensive move, and wore no weapons. Only the armor could give him away for what he was. His dark eyes stared from under his hood. "But all are welcome here, so long as they do not make others feel unsafe."

Andresciel looked to the two girls, and then the ferret, before kneeling down and making soft sounds. He was calling the ferret to him, trying to help calm the tense situation.

[Tara]

Tara turned abruptly to see the knight approaching. His armor gleamed, showing he was a Syliras Knight. At a young age Tara had learned to respect them and not the anger them. She smiled, hiding her nagging fear. She had not sensed him approaching... Nor had she sense the young albino child. "I am here to recall old memories is all" she said quietly. And it was true. She did not intend to harm the girl, but Tara was not used to being surprised like that. Her senses had been dulled since she came to Syliras. The sheer amount of people was enough to overwhelm her nose with scents. And the noise of all these people had reduced the accuracy of her hearing. She could still here the humans in the centre of the town, making their way through day to day life. This is where you used to live she reminded herself.

And it was true, the place brought bad memories back from the sealed cave at the edge of her consciousness. Tara blinked back tears that came to her eyes as she thought of it. She flicked her black hair out of her eyes and looked away from the two. "If you'll excuse me" she muttered and started walking away with here head down and hair covering her face.

[Ethne]

The ferret, upon being set down, stayed still momentarily. When the Knight called to him, he first gave a glance up to Ethne, before quickly trotting over to the Knight. The Ferret could smell many things from the Knight. However, the strongest smell was of courage, and courage was something Ethne did not have much of. He felt no fear as he stopped by the Knight's leg, grasping the armor with his tiny paws and sniffing his knee.

Ethne, however, had fear pounding through her heart wildly. The only thing that kept her from bolting away was the fact that Fauzi went up to the Knight after glancing at her. She knew that she didn't need to fear the Knight, and had heard many stories of their great bravery and strength, but his shining armor and imposing figure still struck fear into the small girl. She slowly stuttered out her words.
"I, w-was just lo-looking for a quiet pl-place to play m-my music..."

[Andresciel]

He smiles at both girls as he slowly lifted the little ferret, sitting down cross legged on the ground. He watched as the first girl walked off before turning to the second. "Well, come. Lets see your music." He blinks and chuckles "How rude of me. I am Ser Andresciel of the Mage Order. An honor to meet you." He stated, as he strokes the ferrets head with a single finger.

He sat there in his armor and cloak, his fingers dancing over the ferrets head and back as he watched the young human girl. His dark eyes flickering back and forth as if watching in case of a nip. He once had a pet ferret himself, he knew that they liked to bite playfully. Of course, he also knew how to play with them. He was waiting now though, to hear the girls music.

[Tara]

Tara walked to the opposite end of the garden and stood, leaning her back against the wall. She looked back to the small child and the musical instrument. It reminded her of things she didn't like to be reminded of. She quickly dipped round a bend in the garden, out of sight. She was curious, however, about the child. She was afraid of the unknown in general so the sooner she became acquainted with the child she could leave it alone.

She figured the best approach would be in a different form. She undressed and folded her clothes and left them in a corner under a small bush, lying her sandals on top. A bright glow of white lights erupted from her, dissolving her form and reappearing into the white bath of light was a smaller, stealthier form. The form of a silver cat spotted with black markings and green eyes. The only sign on her transformation to the child and the knight was a bright light emitting from that area, but it lasted less than 10 seconds and since the sun was shining so brightly it was hardly noticeable. Tara quickly gained control of her body and crept out of her hiding place. She stalked past some pebbles and then trotted casually out into the open. She sat within hearing distance of the two and started to clean herself. She licked her paw and ran it over her face a few times. She kept her eyes away from the two so to avoid looking interested in them.