Closed Over the River and Through the Woods (Aello)

[Rayage]

Fall 15 512 AV

Darkness had fallen upon the camp and the weak willed mortals laid down to rest. It was a shame that they got up so early. Every moment not having to deal with them was a blessing, yes, a gift. He could finally retreat to thought without some idiot knight interrupting him, without people glaring at him, acting suspicious. Even the Zeltivans were cautious around the nuit, who for his version of the cure to the plague, was equally respected as treated with reproach. It seemed that they couldn’t trust powers which they don’t understand, but it that was the contradiction of humankind. No, of mortal’s altogether. They feared power unknown when it is wielded by someone other than their precious gods. Yet, they feared the nuit, but prayed to their gods. It made little sense to the Alchemist, who only wanted to help. At least that is what he is ever going to admit to.

Though even when they were sleeping they were still dreadfully noisy, it made him want to kill them all in his sleep. Those annoying noises which could be heard across the camp called snoring. The sound resonated to the nuit in all different ways; some were soft like the wind, while others were obnoxiously loud. How could one think of ways to dominate the world when there was so much noise, noise, noise? No, it was pathetic how one could not think even in the dead of night, how the humans lived and slept so peacefully, so he assumed, was beyond him. The noise of the camp was just infuriating and so the nuit sought an escape, at least for tonight.

Grabbing H1-A, putting the fuzzy lizard on his shoulder, and getting H2-A the scaled dog, he embarked on a journey to escape the sounds and safety of the camp on behalf of the wilderness which encompassed and surrounded them. Ancient sword tucked under his robes, animals at hand, he felt safe enough. Though was this sense of safety a fools dream as he embarked into the dark wilderness muttering to himself all sorts of slurs. Grabbing a torch outlining the outskirts of the camp, the nuit embarked. Not minding the warnings or looks which he got from the knights on partrol. They were all idiots anyways, unable to understand how he spoke. The Alchemist was still fuming about the dispute a while back. The retarded logic they used against him, that Eridanus used against him, stung his pride. They all will regret the day that they crossed the wizard. Yes, that is what he really wanted to think about and plan, their demise. Daydreaming was so much fun. Though at night could it be called such?

The shadows welcomed him home as he stepped deeper and deeper into the wilderness, H2-A following closely by his side.

oocShort post is short. Left it wiiiide open

[Aello]

Night had fallen early it seemed. Its dark blanket stretching across the sky. A deep blue, a near navy, devoid of stars. Or at least, if they were there, they remained hidden behind the clouds. Just out of her sight. Although the moon itself was another story. The great celestial orb hanging high in the western portion of the sky. Grey craters shining ominously as its milky glow kissed the earth. Scaling mountains, and coastlines as easily as the native creatures that inhabited such areas. The light lent a deep pallor to Aello's already pale skin. Making her seem as ghostly as the dead. As white as the snow. But this she scarcely noticed as the boiled leather soles of her suede hunting boots pressed against the earth. Hardened with the first frost. A hint of cooler weather. They crunched against strips of it. Hardened morning dew. Fallen leaves in several shades- crimsons, warm fire like oranges, bright yellows a mere few hues darker than the sun, and dismal brown. Shriveled, dried, dead leaves. Which crackled beneath her as she put her weight upon them. She could feel their stems molding against moister earth, falling out of the parched soil. She could sense fallen twigs snapping beneath her weight as well as she tread along. The wind whistling through the trees. Swirling. Embracing her before fleeting. Tousling her chestnut colored mane. Splaying several strands across her lips. The fraying edges tickling as her fist tightened around the supple curvature of her father's old bow as she quickened her pace. Her chest rising and falling evenly as her breath grew a little more shallow. Claws scratching at the back of her throat as the crisp evening air bit at it with her inhalations. Nipped at her nose. She could feel her feet going over the rises and falls in the tree laden terrain. Dense portions of the forest filled with small vines, shrubberies and closely packed pines. As the wind blew, the folds of fabric which garbed her rippled. A sea of blue swaying in the breeze. Whipping about her ankles, as the dark Akajia cloak beneath simply billowed. Like a boat's sail caught out in Zulrav's breath. The black cloak she wore over the dress was much the same. The hood pooled about her neck, so that it served more as a scarf than anything else, and did little if anything to diminish her vision. Her pupils having dilated ages ago, turning to two dark, smoldering coals filled with her determination and scarcely hidden intent, helping to illuminate her path, along with the occasional colored tendril. A gaseous mist, risen from the center of the earth. Her muddied irises doing little to conceal what magic pulled from past the veil. What her mastery was able to glean. Twin beds of white through which meandering rivers of crimson pulsed widened as the girl wove in and out of the trees, looking for a creature to hunt. Although, she had picked up on a trail. Hoof marks, from what she guessed. Considering the prints were two crescents turned against each other. The better formed containing a dot on their tops. Deer, she thought. A younger one. Running through the forest, much as she. She followed it half-heartedly, walking alongside. Taking note of any droppings she found. The way its foot had drawn itself across the earth. Trailing clods of dirt. The way the occasional twig had been snapped nearby as she moved along. For several chimes under the guidance of her magic, and the moon. Until a time when the path was no more. And she looked up, to find no deer. Only trees and more trees. As though it had been a trick. A figment of her imagination. A sight, which wasn't there. Only something she had wished to see. Aello sighed, as her fist tightened around her bow once more. As her eyes settled on the tree before her. The diamond backed pattern of its bark. The low lying branches, thicker than her arms, which led all the way to its peak, where dense needles seemed to lie in circular bunches. Perhaps it can be seen from up there, she thought to herself. Or if not that, perhaps a place to set up camp for the night, and get some sleep. She looked up at the sky, taking note of the moon's position before returning her gaze to her eye's level. It is getting pretty late. And there are always leftovers to tie me over to tomorrow. Her thoughts halted a moment as the wind picked up again, rustling all the leaves in the trees. Making the thinner branches tremble. Finally, shrugging, she hiked her bow up the length of her arm, so that it rested upon her shoulder before moving over to the tree she had spotted. Putting her hand on the lowest branch, she paused a moment. Took a deep breath, in through the nose, and out through the mouth before allowing her fingers to furl around it. Like a serpent's form would. She could feel her nails digging into the bark; grime growing imbedded behind them as she took another deep cleansing breath and then pushed up off the ground with her right foot. She placed it on the branch with her hands, which was no more than two feet off the ground. When she had, she raised her hands to the next branch a few more feet up the tree's length, and held on tightly before moving her left foot to the lower branch. She did this again, and again, until she was several feet up in the tree. Her legs aching from the climb. Her hands cold and numb, and her clothes grown sticky with sap. Her heels grated against the bark as she fought for greater footing, attempted to rest her back against the tree. Chips fell to the ground in silent huffs, as she tried to catch her breath. See out into the forest. But she wasn't high enough yet. All she saw were the branches of the tree she inhabited, and several more like it just ahead. I have to climb even higher, Aello thought, as she choked down another breath, and tried to slow the rapid beating of her heart. The increased rate by which her chest rose and fell. Sighing, after she had waited a few minutes and it had slowed, she continued upwards. Right hand leading by gripping the higher branches, as she pulled herself up. Placed her feet on the tree's side. On branches, until her body tensed. Her muscles growing rigid as they rippled beneath her skin. The hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention, as her ears prickled. Strained to listen. Something was coming. She could hear the footsteps, slow, measured and generally methodical. She paused. Kept herself from climbing higher so that she could listen. Looked down, but Aello couldn't see the ground. Couldn't hear anything other than the drumming of her heart. The way her breath came in and out of her chest. Out of her mouth. Past her slowly chattering teeth. So she tried to reverse. Move down the tree. Her leather soles scraping against the side of the tree as her hands fought to find holds. To follow behind as her feet led, while her eyes tried to look past, and aide in the field of guidance. But it didn't work. Towards the bottom, she slipped and fell through the air. Her arms flailing wildly as she kept her hands above her. Finally they caught on a branch. There was a loud thwack, as the limb shook with her weight. As her body slammed against it, paused. She grit her teeth as pain coursed through her palm. Scraped, covered in sap. Warm from the thin river of blood that trickled out of peeled skin. Fallen like an orange's rind. She could imagine it reddening as she dangled from the limb. The left hand holding tightly as her body rocked slightly. As though she were a baby in a crib, being soothed by her mother. Or perhaps a monkey, simply playing a game. Aello looked down. She was no more than ten feet up. She could see the ground, and hear someone coming as well. Perhaps they could help her, or perhaps not. Her body kept on swinging as the sound grew closer and her hand continued to ache. It took all of her strength not to cry out as the stranger crept closer. Closing the distance that rested between them. And with the momentum of her swinging, Aello kept on rocking. Struggling to hold on. She grit her teeth she closed her eyes, and forced her right hand up. Grabbing farther down on the branch with her second hand. She could feel her fingers wrapping around it firmly. Her body swinging a little faster and then stilling. Fingers slowly slipping as the clock ticked. Sliding down the length of the branch. Slowly unfurling, until only the right hand held on. She stifled a cry then, as the sound grew louder. As the arrows in her quiver shifted, and her pack tapped lightly against her back. Her cape billowing wildly about her as the wind blew. Tousling her hair, straining her arms until the pits ached alongside her reddening hands. Now growing cold and then numb with the strain. The force she was exerting to hang on. Dismayed, for she knew she couldn't hold out much longer, Aello looked up. The next branch was too far away for her to reach. She looked down, and realized that the next wrung was a little too far ahead, maybe she could reach it if she were still swinging, and let go at the opportune moment. But now she was not, so it was no use. She was slipping. And she was going to fall. Slowly. So slowly, her fingers unraveled, and then her head had been tossed back. Long hair rippling down the length of her back as her arms flailed and she let out a cry as the stilled air buffeted her form. Trying to lift her. To keep her from plummeting towards the earth's core. But it wasn't strong enough, and within a few ticks, she had hit the ground hard. Her arse ramming into it. Leading her to rub the ache, and get to her feet. To look up, directly into the eyes of the nuit. Her lips shut. Drawn tight. For a moment she said nothing. She simply looked at him. And then she spoke. "You didn't see anything, did you?" Aello asked, as sharp, lightning like pains coursed through her. And then the pins and needles struck each of her legs. Making them feel too much like jelly to allow her to stand. OOCLazy shyke post is both lazy and shyke.

[Rayage]

OOCIt wasn’t bad.

Rayage was heading in no direction in particular. He was wandering, and with it so were his thoughts. There was so much to think about when you have lived as long as he did. So much to ponder, and still so many mysteries left in the world… He wondered if the humans, or even he, can solve them all. Doubting it, he shook his head, even with his immortality, however limited and restricted it is, he had barely scratched the surface of Truth. Though the closer he got, the more he studied Alchemy, the more he learned and experienced, the closer and closer he got to arriving to his exact answer: the truth of reality, the greatest mystery of everything. Something, perhaps, that goes beyond even the gods knowledge, something beyond innate understanding. It was, or would be, a form of enlightenment, a knowing, but not, rather a nature?

Pondering his own thoughts he waved a hand bashing them away, he wasn’t going to get any closer to the Truth tonight. That he was sure. Though, he quickly reminded himself, it would be quite disadvantageous to dismiss any possibility until time has come to pass. The alchemist was quite a couple paces ahead of H2-A the scaled dog who followed his master. It wasn’t that the nuit particularly liked the dog, in fact keeping such an animal was a burden most of the time, but that came with all living things. They needed to be fed and paid attention to and, dare he say it, loved. If it wasn’t for what the pseudo-homunculus represented to him the wizard never would have kept the dog in the first place. Indeed H1-A was the favorite, but only because the lizard did not eat nor require, or rather beg, for attention like the dog did. He found that, the canine’s actions, quite annoying in and of itself. Discouraged, the pup knew that he wouldn’t be getting anything from Rayage that Rayage did not want to get. That is how it is, and that is how it is supposed to be.

The woods got him thinking of the darkness that lurked in between the shadows and those cast by the moons light. It was something darker, something hidden but always present, it felt like the very forest was watching him, anticipating his every movement, hearing his every step, calculating his every thought and guiding him along the way. Symbols jumped out to him, like that particular shadow that seemed to be pointing right. Well, unable to argue with the forest, the nuit would go right. His destination did not matter tonight for he had none in mind, it was only the journey, the journey away from the annoying humans and their excessive and quite irritating mannerisms. He couldn’t get over the fact that even in their sleep they were still annoying. Tonight, to cool down a bit, he would be walking, following whatever path, marked by a road or by something or someone else, that fate would take him down.

A wind whistled through the forest catching the nuit and his cloak from behind as if beckoning them to continue. Blowing them, the branches of the trees swaying in the darkness, the shadows moving, dancing with the moonlight following the winds tune it was a sign that he was going in the right direction, and so he kept on walking enshrouding himself in thought as H2-A so loyally followed behind. It was a strange night indeed. Usually the dog would be barking its head off at the shadows, seeing them move alarmed the poor thing, but tonight was not the night. Was something else guiding their actions? Was the nuit, once again, caught in the web of fate? Was this little journey meant for the both of them to take, and if so what would they find? Though answers to all those questions would be impossible to answer, at least until they found some proof that they were in fact valid questions that applied to the situation at hand. Otherwise it would be dreadful over analyzing, but isn’t that what philosophy is in the first place?

Step after step the nuit advanced through the shifting shadows and moonlight being led by symbols that, perhaps, were only in his mind. Step by step he got closer and closer, a tree presenting itself to him, standing out, oddly, from all the rest. It had a way of calling to him, beckoning him closer as it waved in the wind. Stepping more and more towards his target, hand reaching out ready to touch the tree should he arrive, the undead was interrupted when something dropped in front of him. The sudden appearance of a lady made H2-A jump backwards and bark, growling as the lady asked her question. Another bark when Rayage tried to answer, the nuit threw up his hand and pointed at the dog, giving him a stern look. The dog whimpered a little, before looking cowardly, tail between its legs as it slowly approached the nuit bending lower than usual. Hand touching the scaled head, he pet the dog before looking back at the woman who fell from the tree.

”I see and have seen all sorts of things.” he replied to her, ”What I have seen and have not is up to interpretation. The mind is a wonderfully yet woefully complex thing as such is sight. For me to answer your question I must know what you are asking. It wasn’t very clear.” he said, ”Though if you meant me seeing you fall from the tree, then, yes, I do believe I did see that. Unless you are a figment of my mind as well…” he cut himself short, ”The darkness likes to play tricks on those who wander with no destination.” he said recounting his journey here, to this exact spot where he met this lady who may or may not be real, but rather a product of his boredom as all the other 'signs' and 'symbols' were.

[Aello]

Aello glowered at the cloaked figure as the moon caressed her flesh, giving it a ghastly appearance. Her pupils became two dark, smoldering coals, surrounded by a ring of dark wood that could never be enflamed. "That was what I meant," she said through clenched teeth as her eyes fell to the whimpering scaled dog. For a moment, her eyes paused, staring into its own, as dark as the irises she bore, before crawling down the length of its skin. "What kind of dog is that?" Aello asked, quite certain that she had never seen an armored dog before, and her vision was deceiving her. Uneasily, the huntress managed a smile as the pain that coursed through her system began to lessen. Her leg stinging a little less now, Aello managed to ease herself onto her feet, bringing herself to a level near the nuit's although, he still had some height on her. Thinking herself unsightly as she awaited his comments, the huntress glanced down and wiped herself off, ridding the debris from her body before bothering to look at him again. "I'm Aello by the way," she commented. "And whom might you be?" Strange to find him alone in the forest, this time of year...

[Rayage]

Rayage took a moment to look over this woman who fell from the tree. The moonlight wasn’t helping his vision, but he saw long hair and ghostly skin all veiled in a black cloak with a similar dress under. If the living could look dead in the shadows of this night then he wondered what he looked like, but he didn’t put himself under such scrutiny. He didn’t care to, and didn’t care for this humans opinion either. Nodding at her, hoping that is what she meant and he had answered correctly, he looked back to H2-A when she questioned about him. Apparently she still hasn’t seen the lizard perched on shoulder. He must look very strange, especially in the dead of night.

”This guy here,” he patted the dog on the head, ”is H2-A, Homunculus 2- Animal. He wont bite.” he said, ”Unless you give him a reason to.” he frowned at her, ”Though overall he is a nice dog. Kind of a coward too.” he went on, ”Who ever heard of a cowardly dog? I guess they come in all kinds just like the races do, no?” he joked with her.

The Alchemist made no move to help her, just staring at her with eyes unblinking. In the light of day such a thing would be unnerving because humans were usually watching the eyes, and his eyes watched back with just a little more accuracy than a normal persons. His eyes were not special just he had the advantage of not having to blink, therefor not losing precious seconds to darkness.

Then she introduced herself making the wizard smile, and he debated on how exactly to answer her. Deciding to use the formal title he was given for this quest, nodding, ”Then it’s a pleasure to meet you here in this place of hidden shadows.” obviously, to the mage, there was more to this place than met the eye. He was lead here for a reason, playing his own game was fun, ”I am Professor Rayage. Im representing the University of Zeltiva.” he said, leaving out the other information poorly missed, or maybe it was a miscalculation, ”May I ask what you are doing out here? Oh,” he waved a hand dismissingly, ”and don’t worry, tonight is a night secrets.” he said rather cryptically, ”Our meeting here will be only between you and I, the animals, and shadows of this forest.” he reassured her.

[Aello]

The huntress nodded, although she said nothing as her fist found the supple curve of her father's old bow. It tightened around it, as she fought to breath evenly. The wind blowing through the trees, tousling her hair, as she fought to find the secrets hidden within the depths of the nuit's aged eyes. His intense gaze, causing her to feel as though he were peeling her flesh as easily as one would the rind over a ripened orange. Revealing the juicy flesh which rested underneath the shriveling white pith. Feeling exposed, she hastened to take a single step back, pulling herself into the shadows cast by the coupling of moon's light filtering against the twisted form of the tree she had fallen out of. As she settled into the darkness, she felt only marginally more at ease in the silence of the night. "It would seem so," the huntress responded as her eyes passed over the scaled creature, and the lizard that graced the man's shoulder. For a time, she remained silent as she scrutinized each, and then allowed her eyes to fall once more on the cloaked figure himself. "Forgive my asking," Aello began, "but what is a homonculus?" As the words left her lips, Aello fell silent, listening to what Rayage had to say. As her ears prickled, and the fine hairs that lined her neck stood at attention, her body visibly stiffened. Her muscles drawn taut beneath the surface of her paling skin. Thin lines etched themselves across the length of her forehead, as a single brow arched, falling into the creases. Her thumb stroked the supple curve of her father's old bow as her pupils, two dark coals, began to smolder. They glowed faintly with an inner light as she puzzled over the nuit's words. "What would a man of the University be doing out here?" she asked. "With only those two things to mind him?" she went on as she shook her head lightly, rustling her chestnut colored main. "I do not know of the University sending envoys of sorts to other portions of the world," the huntress whispered. "For often, they seem to keep their treasures close, buried beneath the fine walls of their halls of learning." She smiled weakly, remembering the sight; a vision she had renewed only too recently. Although she had not gone in, she faintly remembered the hints of her old classes. Although, they were few and far between. "In any case, I can hardly suppose you could call me the same," Aello continued. "The city would never mourn my loss. That of a simple huntress often trapped behind these trees. Seeking sustenance for a city who scarce appreciates what it is they are handed." The woman sighed. She did not suppose the nuit would care one way or another about her, and would soon be on his way.

[Rayage]

This meeting could purely be chance, or maybe it was already ordained? The nuit took the other in with increased scrutiny, "For one who seems... so accustomed to the wilderness one might assume her to know more than a thing or two about magic." he sighed, as if it was a bother to answer the question, "Forgive me, but even in the university I am surrounded by idiots, my current predicament has only increased my weariness for questions." he tried to explain answering all of her questions at once, for in the silence which he had allowed her he had been actively listening, taking in not only the persons words, but mannerisms, conscious or not, actively watching. Her movements were trained. She possessed a particular grace about her, not that the current meeting could have, or rather the circumstances of it, could have shed light on it. Though he found her amusing. In a good way. He liked the living.

"You see, the University sent me, along with other representatives, onto Sahova. We are to negotiate for something that University wants for themselves. However, we travel with the most... unruly and uncivilized, plain ignorant band of over glorified warriors." he mentioned the knights in disgust, "They plan to use to force." he laughed, "So I guess that is our Plan B. Though they dont realize how futile their efforts are. Sahovan Wizards are not to be trifled with. Especially by those who are so ignorant as Syliras seems."

"As for the most part, you are correct." he nodded at her, "The stuffy University does keep things rather under wraps, locked away in their halls where only but a few can benefit from the secret knowledge. I ask, what good is that?" if he could spit he would, "They too for all their glory and renown are but fools." he said, "Though most people who I encounter are foolish in one way or another. Is that the curse of being alive? Never knowing, never witnessing the full circular pattern of life..." he seemed to cut himself off, spoken words falling silent as he mused on the topic more in his head. They all were fools, even himself.

"But," he raised a hand, pointing a finger skyward, "to answer your original question a homunculus is one of the highest creations of the magic Alchemy. It is the crafting of new life itself." he told her, "However, these," he motioned to the two creatures with him, "are not homunculi. Rather they are a step in the right direction." he grinned at her, "A true homunculus is something unlike any of us have seen before. An example would be the Pycon race."

[Aello]

The huntress chuckled. "That too, is because they are tucked behind their walls. Like small children into a blanket each night," she commented as her eyes began to glimmer, a curious grin overcoming her pale pink lips as she stood before the undead. "Do you suppose their lord prefers it that way?" Aello inquired. "I'd suppose ignorant masses would be easier to guide to their deaths." She faked a cough. "Er... lead..." The girl's voice trailed off for a time as her thumb graced the supple curve of her father's old bow, and her muddied irises searched the night. Sought for something that she couldn't quite put a name to. "I suppose such would lend to life's pattern," Aello whispered after a time. "A ripe birth which gives to the fruit of life, before one is plucked from the stalk and thrown back into the earth to be nuzzled and nipped at by the worms." Again she paused. "I understand though, what you mean, but still, those things remain queer to me," the huntress continued. "An alteration of natural life." Her thumb grazed the surface of the carved wood. "Are they all you have made? Or has the University decided to store some of your work? For research purposes." "Naturally..."