Not-So-Alone Time (Marrin)

by **Azira** on November 4th, 2013, 4:32 pm

Marrin didn't take her threat the way she thought he would. She could see the shock in his eyes but after a moment it was replaced by an icy hardness. He gave her a curt reply and she felt like she'd won. The hunter knew that she was capable of it. The huntress had been more than willing to damage his shoulder so he must know that her words weren't an empty threat. However she wasn't the only one who could threaten.

His knife slammed point down into the table, its shiny edge menacing looking. He released it and left it vibrating in the tabletop. Her shock probably showed momentarily on her face but she purposefully wiped the expression away. Her eyes locked with his, narrowing, her nostrils flaring. So he was willing to hurt her too, was he? Well now the teen knew where she stood with her fellow hunter. He acted as if he wanted to be her friend but now he was showing his true colours that was clear.

His gaze was cold and hard as he glared back at her. He meant what he said, this person who wanted to be friendly with her, who wanted a fresh start with her. While she was willing to wipe the slate clean before, she could see that this start was no better than the first. Azira didn't see why she should even bother, after all the huntress wasn't the one who'd wanted to be friends with him. If they weren't friends, that was no loss to her.

She dropped her gaze when he did, glaring silently at the table in front of her as she tore at her hare. He'd taken his knife out of the table and she found herself staring at the deep mark where it had been driven in as she ripped angrily at the meat in her hands. Her threat had been a threat on his manhood and his pride but he had threatened her livelihood. She needed her bow to get food for the city. He'd be willing to sacrifice her kills just to protect his precious...

Petching bastard! she thought, throwing the remainder of the carcass in her soup bowl. She should have flung it at his head. Should have flung it in his soup, let the liquid splash over him. She could spit in it either but she wasn't going to be angry, no, she was going to control her temper.

"I'd like to remind you that I'm not the one seeking friendship here, you are," the young woman snapped, rising from her seat. "It's no skin off my teeth if you aren't my friend. Why would I even want that? Fine, threaten me if you like but do not threaten the welfare of my people! My fingers are more important than your petching manhood, not to mention your pride. Understand, half-breed?" She'd managed to work out that he must be of mixed blood. He had some Inartan blood in him in spite of the hair and she hoped that that fact stung.

Feeling satisfied, she left her bowl on the table, turned on her heel and strode away bringing her pack with her.

x

by **Marrin** on November 5th, 2013, 6:10 am

”It’s clear to me now that you don’t understand at all,” he said, a commanding tone to his voice as she turned to leave. He had to hold hard onto his wits to keep from snapping at her again, jaw tight and set. She’d added yet another thing to the list, the list that would run through his head whenever he was feeling incompetent. Coward. Pathetic. Half-breed. It was something that shouldn’t hurt him, a fact that he had no trouble facing under normal circumstances. He didn’t know his father, and his father wasn’t Inarta, but what did that matter? But the way she said it, with such malice and contempt in her tone, it made him feel as if she had just condemned him to life as a Dek.

He rose from his seat slowly, hoping that she stopped to listen to him. ”That is not so much a threat as a promise, and I believe I’m entirely within my rights to do so. If you’re willing to sacrifice the present and future of my people, so be it. If I can’t walk, I can’t hunt, which means more people will die. And that would be on your hands. The blood of innocent people on your hands.” He cracked his neck, hands gripping the splintered table. He hadn’t looked up at her, he couldn’t bring himself to in that moment. He felt that if he were to look into those eyes, see that shining red hair, that he’d simply go berserk and this would all be for not. ”Wind Reach always comes first, in my every action. And if that means I think you’re less dangerous to my people without the ability to hold a weapon, I will not hesitate. You’ll be scrabbling around with the Dek if you threaten my people again. I will not allow you to starve them to settle some petty grudge with me.”

There was great passion in his voice, and it was plain to see how much he felt like he didn’t belong. He kept repeating ‘my people’ like a mantra, as if saying it enough times would make it the truth. But it was just as plain to see how committed he was to them, how much he loved his life here, and how much he would do to protect that. All of Wind Reach depended on its hunters, but if one of them started making it impossible for others to hunt, they had to be removed from the equation. Such was Marrin’s thought process.

”I like you, Azira, I do. You fascinate me and enrage me and calm me all at the same time and it makes me curious. But that will not keep me from hurting you if I think you are dangerous. Until that time you have nothing to worry from me. I will cause you no problems. But if you become more trouble than you are worth to Wind Reach, you will find yourself making a good many friends in your new caste.” He didn’t have to say it again, the word hanging in the air on bloody strings. Dek.

Slowly, he lowered himself back into his seat, pushing the half empty bowl away from himself. He’d lost his appetite, much to the delight of whatever Dek happened upon this table after he decided to leave. He sat there wordlessly, wondering if Azira would sit back down, run away, or simply begin to yell at him again. ”I hope all has been cleared up,” he muttered quietly, more to himself than to her. There were some things he simply wouldn’t budge on. The safety and security of Wind Reach was one of them.

by **Azira** on November 5th, 2013, 6:46 am

”It’s clear to me now that you don’t understand at all."

His words stopped her as he'd obviously hoped they would, moving back closer to the table. She didn't have to ask him what he meant because Marrin provided her with that answer himself. Azira couldn't couldn't help comparing them: the need to have the last word, the self-righteous speech, the importance of their people. He was so like her but yet they were so different. How that could be possible the huntress had no idea.

That he'd suggest to her actions would result in the killing of innocent people, of murder took her breath away. She couldn't believe that he'd ever suggest such a thing and she was momentarily stunned into silence trying to come up with some counterargument. He was being overdramatic, it wouldn't be that bad that he wouldn't be able to walk and the hunter was a fool for suggesting it. But one word made her gasp, a sound filled with horror, a sound that suggested the maker had forgotten how to breathe.

Dek.

The colour must have drained for her face as it became cold, in fact her entire body went cold, an involuntary shiver running through her. The idea was repulsive in itself, to be such a pathetic creature, but the girl was aware of the additional consequences, the dangers.

The huntress was pretty, desirable and to be a Dek would be...disastrous. She thought of that Endal Samen who had pulled her against him right here in the kitchens. If she had been a Dek would anybody have bothered to defend her? Turrin still would have but the other man would have sought her out after and it would have been worse. She shuddered again, her legs like jelly beneath her. The teen had to sit.

The possibilities had occurred to her before, not so long ago but they had never felt so possible as in that moment. She didn't even really know what else he was saying now, her body frozen in shock. Names circulated continuously in her head, men who could do what they liked to a Dek like her. Lorthen. Samen. Arlen.

A low strangled cry broke through her senses and she wondered vaguely where it was coming from. Her hand had moved to her mouth, her teeth pressing into her index finger as she tried not to scream. The sound again and this time she realised that it had come from her. The Avora bit harder and tasted metal. Her eyes found Marrin then, her fear making them wide as she stared at the person who threatened her with that fate.

x

by **Marrin** on November 5th, 2013, 7:13 am

Marrin had no way of knowing what he’d done to her, and only saw the look of pure terror on her face as she sat again on wobbly legs, biting her finger until it bled. He was taken aback momentarily, unsure exactly what was going on. What she trying to show him how tough she was by biting off her own finger? Was she trying to goad him into an apology in the same manner she had before, by breaking into tears? He could not know for certain, but what he did know was that his words had a profound effect on her, one he couldn’t have hoped for.

The strangled cries that escaped her lips drove him into even further confusion, a state of odd panic that was completely internal. Had he broken the girl by suggesting such a dire consequence? He had no idea, but he couldn’t bare to see her cry again, nor could he give her the satisfaction of breaking his stern tone simply to comfort her. Comfort from him was likely the last thing she wanted, especially after what he’d just said. So instead he maintained his tone, looking her in the eyes as she floundered to come to grips with his threat.

”But you have nothing to fear from me now. Like I said, I like you. I think what you do here is vital for us all to continue living. But if you become a danger, I will not hesitate. I hope that we can help each other. That we can work together to make Wind Reach a good, safe place to live. I see no reason to do something so cruel to you now, so no need to fear. You will not feel my knife in the night any time soon.”

He hoped that would be enough to curb the tension, though it was likely far from the mark. This was only the second time he’d dealt with putting a girl to tears, and he couldn’t remember what he’d done last time to make it better, if he had at all. Every time it was new, every time just as impossible as the last, every time just as unbearable. He couldn’t watch her cry.

by **Azira** on November 5th, 2013, 7:36 am

He was watching her strangely. She knew she had to get a grip on herself. She could deal with this in her room, that was her way. Go to her room and cry. No way was he going to see her cry again, or know that he'd managed to cause her tears.

The huntress tried to focus on her breathing, to calm it, to slow it. She made her teeth release her finger, feeling the sting of the wound for the first time as she tried to ground herself. Her mother's last words cycled around her head to try to calm her further. Be strong. Gradually her breathing began to slow and the girl managed to prevent any more outcries as she tried to absorb Marrin's words.

Opening her mouth to reply, she was surprised by the words that came out without her permission. "In the night? You make it sound as if you'd attack me when I was asleep but you can't mean that. Cowards do that..." She stared up at him in alarm, remembering how he'd reacted to the word coward previously. What was wrong with her? Why had she said that? She didn't know but it'd probably just be better if she left.

Azira got to her feet, a struggle because her legs were still weak and wobbly. She gripped the table for support, wincing when she put too much pressure on her bitten finger. Letting go, she sucked the wound reminding herself of a dog. Dogs went away and licked their wounds. Went away with their tails between their legs. She was a dog now, great.

The huntress moved away slowly then. This time she intended to get away so if he called her back she wasn't going to. Not this time.

x

by **Marrin** on November 6th, 2013, 5:24 am

Marrin merely swallowed as she spoke, displaying to him the words that had come out of his mouth. Without even thinking he’d put himself in a position to be called a coward once more, and he wasn’t sure this time that he didn’t deserve it. In truth, his intended meaning had been that of a surprise assault, though he could see what she meant. Someone of bravery would only hurt someone awake, armed, and prepared to face them rather than being a lone knife in the dark. But as she turned to leave he couldn’t stop himself.

”Cowards also run from problems they’re faced with…” It was a muttered reply, one that neither denied nor accepted her statement, but the meaning behind it was clear. If she didn’t stay, she was a coward, too. No matter what she thought of him, if she left now she’d feel the same social brand upon her cheek. They’d be cowards together, despising each other until the end of time yet too scared to take action. Or, worse yet, scared into perpetually foolish action.

He sat there, staring into his lap, contemplating his own state of mind. He was afraid, afraid of her, afraid of her rage, afraid of himself and of losing control around her. All he wanted was control over himself, and he couldn’t think of any other way than either avoiding this girl for the rest of his days or making their relationship at the very least neutral in nature. He didn’t want to be afraid. He didn’t want to be a coward, a pathetic half-breed coward. All he wanted was to be alright.

He bit his lip, fists clenching and unclenching, nails digging into his palms. He was scared to death of this girl. No, not so much her as what she did to him every time he saw her. Every time his gaze fell upon that long red hair, those golden eyes, those full pink lips his mind went blank. He could be nothing but his emotions, all logic and thought flying in the wind like some bird that had forgotten how to land. She held an odd power over him, one she couldn’t know and one Marrin didn’t fully understand, himself. It was something primal, something ancient in his bones that shook him to the very core. He couldn’t understand it, couldn’t even imagine what it might be, but he was both drawn to the girl and wanted nothing to do with her. He couldn’t stay away yet couldn’t push himself to act. He was all slashing winds and frozen earth while she stood, a great burning pyre and billowing smoke. Together they were powerful, so powerful they could either create greatness or destroy each other.

It didn’t take Marrin very long to figure out which path they were on.

A single, silent tear hit the back of his hand, its occurrence confusing him. Where had that come from? He slowly lowered his head to rest upon the table, suddenly feeling far too tired to act yet far too anxious to sleep. The tears fell without a sound, hidden from view in the darkness of the hall and the shadows his body created. He was glad, glad nobody would see this side of him. Men weren’t supposed to cry. If he cried, if anyone saw him cry, it meant he was less of a man. And if he was less a man than a half-breed, what was he?

by **Azira** on November 6th, 2013, 9:09 am

It was a close thing. Marrin's voice was soft but his voice carried. She flinched slightly at the very idea. She wasn't a coward, she was just leaving. The girl was planning on leaving the dining place as soon as she finished eating do it wasn't like she was running away from anything or anyone so she was no coward. He was wrong about her, just trying to lash out by saying the same way she had said to him.

The huntress felt as if she was running away though. It was probably the feeling of defeat but also the tinge of fear that had driven her away. She was scared to stay with him, suppose he added to his Dek threat or worse, said something to drag up more memories. Just the idea of it again sped up her breathing as she hurried to the safety of her room. Tonight though not even her room would be safe; she couldn't escape her own head.

Slamming the door shut behind her, she all but collapsed onto the bed, the whimpering sounds coming from her once more. What he'd threatened her with was unbearable. Not only would he take away her fingers but her happiness in hunting and shooting, and her caste but then she'd be subjected to such degrading things if she became a Dek. Needless to say she was terrified and she knew if she did somehow manage to sleep that her thoughts would invade her dreams. Her dreams would become nightmares.

x

Scrapbook · by **Harrier** on December 4th, 2013, 4:11 am

Azira

Trapping	1
Intimidation	5
Observation	3

Lores :

Marrin

Observation	3
Socialization	2
Rhetoric	5
Intimidation	5

Lores :

Notes:

Wow....I mean...wow. I am in love with the interaction that is happening between these two. The difficulty Azira has in accepting a mans interest, her resistance to it by acting with intimidation. And then Marrin's longing but inner conflicts! I cannot wait to see more you two.

Completed Not-So-Alone Time (Marrin)