Closed Nightmare Creatures

[Kalesserimamoru]

Timestamp: 28th of Winter 513 AV

Night had fallen upon Kenash and the rain had gotten worse in the passing days. What started as a light sprinkle had erupted into a full storm. The land around the Grey cottage was slushy, and small puddles of water had collected in different places where the earth was already soaked deep down. The sound of the hailing rain thudded against the roof of the cottage and trickled off the slopping side to drop down with a ticking sound towards the foundation of the home.

Mamoru stood in the room in silence, with the thumping rain and crackling fire comforting him. He was shirtless, his robes thrown to the side and wearing only a pair of tan pants. His katana was held in his right hand, arm down with the point of the weapon aimed towards his bare foot. The Dhani took a cool breath and lifted his sword up and attempted a forward thrust with it. The blade made a singing noise as it cut through the air, and he turned his arm slightly as he slashed outward while pulling it back around his hip.

The Katana was a very unique weapon he learned, the blade was sharp and held the strength to slice through Dhani scales as if they were butter. For all his long years he had believed that Dhani scales were of the toughest make and yet this blade made easy work of them. There was a very interesting story behind how the trickster came to own the weapon, though he rarely spoke of it. He had to be careful with the katana and concentrate, for one wrong move and he might be without a limb. Perhaps it would be possible to grow the limb back with morphing but he didn't want to find out.

Mamoru moved swiftly, one foot sliding forward and his other leg bent to support most of his weight. His lifted the katana with both hands, bringing the blade level with his shoulder before he swung it outward in a curved slash in front of him. The blade continued to sing as it cut the air in front of him, and he could feel his muscles tighten from the quick and sharp movements. The Dhani stamped his foot into the ground and turned his body into the swing. Following through, he turned his wrists right and brought the sword into an lower arch as he made another cut into the air around him.

[Shayna]

The room she had been given to use was sufficient for her needs and then some. Since having been purchased by Mamoru Shayna had enjoyed many things that she had previously never enjoyed before. One of those things was the quiet. She had always lived in the slave quarters of either Blacksugar or the farm that she was bred on. There were always slaves upon slaves, and very little quiet. Here there was ample quietness whenever her master was doing business that took him away from here and she remained. Or now, when he was occupied doing something he did not need her for and she had finished the chores he set about for her to do. It was nice. She sat on the floor, back against the wall near the bed, her knees curled and hugged to her chest, her chin resting on the tops of her knees.

Her oddly colored green eyes watched her master as he practiced with the funny sword, appreciating the lines of his body but also appreciating the skill he seemed to possess. She had never seen a sword like that, and being a slave she of course never laid hands on one, but the blade itself looked wicked and dangerous. She remained silent for the most part, watching and waiting not wanting to distract him. Instead she gathered her questions, sorting them quietly in her mind on level of importance waiting for her chance. She had learned that he didn't mind her questions, and especially after their time at the Den she had slowly become more comfortable with him. Able to offer thoughts without being asked, to ask questions when they were alone when she had them. Some masters were stingy with information but not hers, which in its own way made her happy.

When it didn't look as if she would startle him into slicing something important Shayna spoke from her little corner of the cottage, "What is that sword called M'Lord?" She doesn't uncurl from her position, she simply asked her question quietly. There was no real reason for her to know, at least not that she could think of, other then she just wanted to know. "I have seen a few swords, mostly when a Dynasty wanted to impress another, but none were as thin, or curved like that."

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From outside, two figures dart through the rain, one grumbling under his breath as he helped his partner run from tree to tree. The other swore under his breath when a particularly large clout of hail hit his arm, causing it to sting and likely would have a bruise there in the morning. The one who was doing the helping, his arm slung over the other one, spoke up "Just a little further. No one has lived in that cottage for years, we can hole up until this gods forsaken storm lets up. Then we can continue on to camp when we can see something." The cottage he was talking about was still a good mile away, but it was easily found when one knew the swamps as well as he did.

[Kalesserimamoru]

Mamoru made another strike with his katana, the movement almost exactly like the one that he did right before. His body tightened, the muscles awake and limbs lively. Long dark, hair whipped across his shoulder in the turn, and his loose pants wrinkled around his knees as he bent them. The Dhani side stepped, as if he were dodging an invisible opponent and lifted his weapon high with both hands and brought it down singing towards the floor. The overhead, arching swing slipped through the air quickly before he stopped it's movements right before the blade would strike the floor.

The trickster had causally noticed Shayna watching during one of his turns and swings, but he didn't say anything to her. Most slaves were likely used to being told what to do for every chime there was in a day, but Mamoru didn't see the need in that. Perhaps it was because he wasn't from Kenash, and wasn't born with his foot on the neck of a slave, or maybe he just lacked the leadership for it. Either way he only required certain things from Shayna and the rest of her time was her own. He had given her cleaning duties around the house, and she was always to be on the lookout for strangers around the home. Besides that there was the Intel work he needed, his extra pair of eyes around the city. On occasion he might ask more of her, but whatever time was left, she could do what she wanted.

"It's called a katana." He answered her while looking over the blade. "I doubt you will see this often, this blade hails all the way from the jungles of Falyndar." Lowering his arm, Mamoru walked towards her and leaned down while placing the tip of the sword on the floor. He held it only by the tip of the handle so that she could get a good look at it."It is splendid, isn't it? A fine blade to use to cut up Rujaro, hmm?"

Mamoru stood up then, turning his body to swing the blade away from her as he offered her his hand to help her stand. All katana were made in the same shape as this one, but this blade bore the use of magic and it's ability to slice through Dhani meat caused him to be extra careful.

If Shayna would take his hand, he will pull her up and lead her across the floor. It wasn't a tugging motion as a parent might do with their child, but more of a friendly pull, as if they were about to dance. Once they stood in the center of the room, Mamoru took her hands and pushed the handle of the weapon into them. "I know that slaves aren't supposed to use weapons but..we're alone and you'll do as I say." Smiling, he moved behind her pushing his body against her and sliding his arms over hers. The Dhani cupped her hands with his and slowly moved their combined hands together. "What do you think? It is a nice feeling isn't it?" he asked as he leaned down allowing his lips to brush her ear.

"There is a power in knowing you can defend yourself, a power in knowing how to fight." Still cupping her hands around the katana handle, Mamoru slowly moved it around again, making a slow crossing strike into the air in front of them.

[Shayna]

When he moved towards her, Shayna straightened her back and lifted her chin from her knees. Black brows raise when he offered his blade for display, and she noted the sleekness of the steel. She had never been very close to weaponry ever, and she wasn't sure just how sharp the blades were but she had heard once that a slave she knew saw a man once slice right through another with one. "Fal-yin-derr" She tried to pronounce, another land that she had never seen or heard of perhaps. "Is that where you are from M'Lord?" She queried even as she slipped her smaller hand into his willingly enough.

It wasn't until he stopped where he had been practicing and tried to place the sword into her hands that she faltered, her eyes widening and her head shaking. "M'Lord it is highly illegal. I can't...Slaves aren't allowed to touch weapons M'Lord..Freeborns aren't allowed to teach slaves..the punishments.." Yet he didn't give her much choice, sliding behind her as she held the blade loosely, almost as if it were a snake that would bite her. Her face was filled with concern, this was something in her training that she had never expected to come across. Disobeying her master, or disobeying Kenash city orders. Both she and her master could be severely punished if anyone found out.

Whimpering just slightly, her body very tense against his, but her arms moved with his even if they were just a little tremulous. The brush of his lips against her ear as he spoke, sent a different shiver though her. When he spoke of the power of being able to defend herself, she allowed her eyes to close and just for a tick allowed herself to imagine being able to stop something happening to her that she did not wish. It was in that tick that her body loosened and she more easily allowed him to move her arms. "I am afraid M'Lord. You should be too.." She whispered tilting her head up to look at him.

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The two men moved steadily onward, the hail more annoying then damaging. Yet when they topped a hill they saw the house in the distance, with the swamps getting there would take another thirty chimes or a Bell but it wasn't the distance that caused the men to pause and look at each other. In the dark, with the rain they couldn't be sure but they thought they saw a tiny flicker of light, as if someone had a fire going. "Did someone else get caught in the rain?" One asked the other, whos answer was a shrug. "That is that old doctors house. The Freeborn in the city won't touch it for fear of ghosts or some such non-sense. It has to be one of our own. Come." So they continued forward toward the house.

[Kalesserimamoru]

"Close enough dear, close enough." He replied when the girl tried to pronounce where he was from. He learned quickly that this girl had a hunger for knowledge and he wondered how much he should tell her of his home land at a time. There were some things that wouldn't have been hard to understand, but there was something that would take time to not only understand, but to stomach as well. "I am from Falyndar. It is very different from this place and more dangerous. Where I'm from we had more dangers in the jungle than a bunch of rogue slaves. There were giant cats and dogs, venomous serpents, and monkeys twice the size of your Magistrate."

Mamoru smiled when Shayna protested, but that didn't stop him from placing the weapon into her care. Her body was tense, and he could feel her tremble with uncertainty. But after a movement she seemed to relax and the Dhani tugged her just a bit tighter against his body as his lips rubbed against her neck and cheek. "I'll decide what is allowed here and what you can do." Smiling, he moved their combined hands , slowly demonstrating very basic slashes across the air in front of them. "I'm going to teach you many things and if you must be afraid, then use that fear to your advantage." With her eyes on him, he leaned in just enough to let his lips brush against hers without planting a full kiss.

He attempted to move their hands again, drawing her hips back against him as he showed her the form to use when attempting a forward thrust. "When I'm not here, I will need you to watch this place and guard it from anyone trying to get inside. If someone saw you with this in our home, well...you wouldn't have to worry about them telling." He left his meaning open, but Mamoru had a feeling that she knew what he meant. Once he had showed her a few things, he moved his hands away to allow her to hold the weapon herself. He didn't move away however, instead wrapping his arms around her body to give her strength just in case she decided to drop the weapon if he moved. "Give it a try..swing."

The men continued towards the house and as they drew closer, they noticed the smoke rising out of the chimney. Someone was there for sure, and given it's location they continued on thinking it was a settle slave. "You know, I wonder why no one has set up here before? We could use this location to hide out if we get into trouble." One said to the other. "Maybe they have. " The other replied. "Hurry up!"

[Shayna]

Her eyes were wide, both from the information that her mind immediately filed away for later perusal. Giant cats and dogs, monkeys bigger then the Magistrate -which for now was an Akalak so that was fairly big- all seemed fascinating to her. Of course with her short stature and slight build many things seemed large comparatively.

Yet he did not relent in his insistence on her learning this weapon, of her holding it. It seemed at once foreign and dangerous in her hands, and fear of repercussions continued to course through her veins. She had been raised on knowing her place, raised on knowing the rules, raised to follow the rules. He was asking her to ignore all of those rules, barely putting her above the Rujaro status in the eyes of the law if she were caught. With his lips grazing her cheek and neck, each touch sending a gentle shiver combining with the fear she had to struggle to focus on his words and not simply on their bodies and her work with the sword at his behest.

When let go of her hands, immediately the tip of the Katana dipped to the floor, her hands not letting go but her arms not stiffening to hold the weapon up. His arms ensured she didn't step out and away, though that was not a conscious desire to do so, though her body was tightly wound thrumming almost with tension. When he bid her to swing, she settles her feet which caused her hips to swing gently, even as her tongue wet her lips and she gave him an uncertain glance before she flexed her arms to raise the sword. Her wrists rotate slowly, to bring the blade downward in a wobbly motion that screamed her inexperience, and fear.

"M'Lord I am afraid. Of many things, but I am not the only one that would be punished should I be caught.. " She knew that there were infinite uses for slaves, and guard duties were amongst those uses. Those slaves are generally the most trusted, but even then they are taught unarmed skills things that did not use weaponry. Shayna also knew and accepted that slaves did not generally choose what their duties were. So whether he required her services as guard to his house, housekeeper or even duties in the bed she would without hesitation comply even if she was not trained per say in whatever the duties he needed. However part of the duties of a slave was to watch after their master's well being. "You would be punished as well, not to mention be out the costs of a slave."

She shifted again in his arms, just a simple settling before she once more tried to execute the forward thrust he had shown her. The sword was a lot heavier then she imagined, in her mind swords seemed to whiz through the air without effort. The reality was that the metal was heavy, not so much that she had to struggle but it was definitely heavier then she had thought.

[Kalesserimamoru]

When most people held a weapon for the first time there was fear that they would harm themselves. But after holding and testing the weapon out a few times, people normally got used to it and even started to like using it. It was like this for him, and even though he was far from skilled with the katana, he felt better about using it. For Shayna it might take longer given the girl had more fear than normal. She was more afraid of being caught and punished than hurting herself. But the trickster had a plan to take care of that and to keep her from hacking off her own legs.

Mamoru smiled when she held the blade on her own and took a swing with it. "Good." he said in a low tone, his hands sliding down to hold her hips, giving her more room to move her arms freely. "Blades can do a lot of damage on their own. You just have to make sure that you stay in control of it and keep it aimed away from your body. Wouldn't want you to cut your delicate skin." He added while sliding his fingers just inside the rim of her pants.

"Your concern for me is touching, but don't you worry. I didn't come all this way just to lose everything I've worked for..and everything I've gained." It was times like this when he felt the urge to really show them all what he was capable of. No tricks, or illusions, but his true strength and power put on display so that they all would see just how helpless he could make them. But that wasn't like him to do so, and there was a pride in holding onto that secret, even if he probably wouldn't ever truly reveal himself unless he didn't have a choice. "As for you Shayna my pet, you're not going anywhere. I am fine to leave them to their delusions as long as they stay out of my personal business."

With a grin, he pushed his hand down further until the trim of her pants hugged and covered his knuckles. She was always so warm, and soft, a different feeling all together from what he got from the rough and tumble monkeys in the jungle. Once she had practiced the forward thrust again, Mamoru hugged her arms as he had before. He pulled her back against him and lifted their combined arms up towards the ceiling to help her try an over head slash. With her holding the weapon over her head, he allowed his hands to slide down her arms, curving along with the slender shape of her body. "Arch your back here." he added while pressing against her lower back. "Put your body into the swing, not just your arms."

Stepping away to make sure that he didn't get sliced up, Mamoru moved to the side of the room and watched her from there. He had shown her a few thing to try and he would let her try it now without his guidance. "Do you feel stronger yet? You look stronger." he said lastly to help boast the girl's confidence.

[Shayna]

When his hands slid to her hips, Shayna felt the strength of him leave almost as if he was feeding her arm his strength. When his fingers dip into the rim of her breeches that he had purchased her she let her breath catch in her lungs even though she continued to move through her motions. Yet when his hands pressed further, his skin not quite so warm but not uncomfortably cool, her body stiffens for a tick before she forced her arms to continue through. She didn't find his touch unpleasant, only unnerving. Like so much that has happened since he had purchased her, it was another dimension that she had never expected to have to learn.

"If you say so M'Lord." She says unconvinced, though she did try to give him a convincing smile. She knew that blades could do damage, though she had never in truth ever seen one do any damage. Most that she had seen were Dynasty or Freeborn carrying them around the city. "I just wanted to make sure you knew the dangers to yourself." Her body moved just a little more freely with his now, the weight of the blade becoming something that was accustomed, his own body so close to hers was not quite a new thing, and as long as he was still having her work at the blade then surely he wouldn't expect her to learn yet another new skill such as how to please him.

Her arms moved up easily enough, though it caused her body to stretch just a little against his, and for some reason that Shayna didn't quite understand when his hands glided down her body, her own body temperature raised slightly. It made listening to his words a little more difficult, but not impossible. She was trying to practice concentrating on one thing when there were distractions since she had failed at that when they had been watching the freeborn outside of the Den.

"Like this?" She asked, one lip tucked between her teeth, bringing the sword down from over her head. Her back curves forward, her fingers tighten automatically on the grip and the tip of the Katana barely brushes the floor before she straightens and looks at him expectantly. "No, I don't feel stronger M'Lord..I feel silly as if anyone who sneaked up here on me would die of laughter before they could even worry about my prowess with the blade." She answered him truthfully, without a hint of anything that might have seemed as if she were pandering to him. However she smiled afterwards and went back into another slice, her movements still jerky and unsure but there was a little less hesitancy in her movements.

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Outside in the rain the two Rujaro moved up to the house quickly, all thoughts of anything but getting out of this mess from their mind until the first one -the smaller of the two- pulled on the other one's arm. "Hissssst" He whispered, "wait..something's not right here.."

Slowly the resumed their trek, now close enough so that fi they wanted to they could have thrown a stone and hit the cottage. Their steps sunk into the muck around the cottage, making a suction sound but they avoided the walk where it would be obvious of their arrival. "If these were ours, they wouldn't be here without a look out..and we have gotten too close for them to have a look out."

The other nodded grimly, his hand falling to his hip to loosen his stolen knife from its sheath. "I don't see any carriages or buggies.. though I suppose it could be pulled on the other side of the house."

[Kalesserimamoru]

There were some things he liked about the girl, her smile was adorable, even when it was fake. However, he didn't mention it to her and just allowed her to practice. No amount of talk was going to convince her, she would have to learn it and feel it in herself. Mamoru also knew that certain weapons worked better for different types of people. There were those that liked smaller, lighter weapons, and those that preferred the bigger ones, and even some that didn't like weapons at all. Luckily for Shayna, Mamoru had another weapon he could teach her as well as wrestling techniques.

Of all the impressive things about unarmed combat, when it came to wrestling it had to be the submission style. The act of grappling a person and twisting and stretching their limbs until they were no longer useful. It was a very good and affective tool to use when in a fight, and would keep the more agile fighters grounded without the use of their speed. For what ever happened, Shayna's world was about to change and the sooner she came to terms with that, the sooner she could get to being a more useful pet. Mamoru stood with Shayna in his arms and watched the way she moved the weapon and the way her body moved in general. "That's right my dear, you're starting to understand now. I do say so, and I also say that those Dynasty are in for a world of trouble if they cross me..that I can promise."

Mamoru wasn't a teacher in the art of blade wielding, but he could show her a few moves that might save her life if she found herself being attacked. He doubted the Rujaro had any fancy or heavy weapons, much like the Myrians in the jungle only carried swords and bows. A katana was a level above an average blade and his particular katana was deadly. While Shayna lifted her arms to prepare for the over head strike, the trickster took the moment to enjoy her scent as his fingers massaged her hips. The Dhani had never been shy about affection or lust and so far his little pet had been a pleasure to keep around.

"Just like that girl, think of the blade as part of your arm instead of something that's going to bite you." He cackled softly as he moved to and leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "You have a lot to learn my little pet, but trust me when I tell you that being underestimated is a good thing. If they're standing around laughing, then they are only paying half as much attention to what you are doing..and then you strike." He stood by for another moment and watched her test out the blade. Then just as he was about to suggest they do something more interesting, he was sure that he heard something...voices coming from just outside.

Mamoru moved off the wall and stepping closer to the side of the room where the sound came from. He didn't look directly at the window and listened. It was faint but he could hear feet pressing into the muk and lightly splashing in the water around the cottage. "Looks like someone has wandered too close to our location. Stay here..I'll take a look." Grabbing his Naginata from the wall, the trickster opened the door and stepped outside to have a look.

The rain still poured and without his robes, Mamoru quickly became soaked, but he continued out into the night and looked around. It was pitch black out, a scene that reminded him of his nights in the jungle. He turned his weapon downward, allowing it to line up with his arm as he moved around the side of the cottage.

[Shayna]

His fingers on her hips caused her to smile just a little, mostly because he had a way of making her feel as if she wasn't a defective product. The way he touched her, the casual way he gave affection went a long way toward bolstering her flagging confidence. Before her run in last season she had been confident in her ability to please her Mistress, had been prideful of her ability to judge the moods of her owner. After she had lost much of that sense of self, which as a slave was all she ever really owned. He never asked after her scars, and didn't seem to care that she had them any more then she cared that she was short or freckled. It only made her loyalty to him that much stronger.

Which was why she didn't just drop the Katana the moment his hands left hers, many slaves would take a beating before they would break Kenash law. Beatings tended to be better then hanging. So when he speaks she listened, her odd eyes watching him even as she slowly moved through the motions he had shown her. Each one became just a little easier, though for Shayna she still felt awkward. When he moved away she didn't immediately straighten, she finished the forward thrust she was practicing again, her right leg moving forward with the thrust her arms extending a little too far. However once that was finished she straightened and turned toward him, the Katana held gingerly in front of her. She parted her lips to speak when he moved away from the wall, and something in his stance gave her pause. The awareness and edge that entered his body was not missed by Shayna and she froze trying to listen. All she could hear was the pounding of the rain, and her heart.

When he instructed her to stay here, she moved quickly to the wall and leaned the Katana against it and backed away quickly as if it was a live snake, her hands raised half way as if there were already someone there to catch her. Yet she returned to where she had been standing, this time without the katana. She would stay here, unless she thought her master was in trouble, because he had told her to.

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The men, one with a dagger the other picked up a heavy limb, dragging it for now behind him. The one with the dagger gripped it tightly, before he pressed himself up against the cottage, giving the one with the tree limb a look and a jerk of his head meaning for him to slip around the cottage side.

Both had the Rujaro brand on their face, a unique brand because it was burned on top of their former slaves brand, making a mess of their face but something that most Rujaro wore proudly. The man with the limb moved around the side of the cottage, followed quickly behind by the man with the dagger. These were run away slaves, yes, but they were more then that. They were survivors. They beat the swamps every day that they survived, they beat the Dynasty every day that they remained free, and they were not shy about physical violence, nor were they simple beaten men. These were men that practiced daily, whose bodies were hardened by their life.

One more corner to turn and they found themselves face to face with Mamoru, and for a moment neither said anything before the one with the limb lifted it high over his head to try and smash it down on the Dhani's head. At the same time the man with the dagger darted low, trying to sweep the blade along the Dani's legs to incapacitate him. It was a one two combo that they had worked on and practiced quite a bit.