The Frozen River (Closed)

[Cara]

Spring 88, 511 AV It was time. Cara could feel it in her bones. Her mother would be there, the one place she had never bothered to leave; Tanvalis River. Cara was stepping silently through the freshly-fallen snow. She had left Iaera home. Surely her companion wouldn't want to see the possible destruction of her Vanthan counterpart. Or even, the death of Cara's mother, even though it was more than likely that the fox could sense the darkness that lingered in the woman's heart, the one thing she seemed to pass on to her daughter, other than her looks. "Hopefully her face is as I remember. It has been so long since our eyes have met. So long since that day when Lhavit became my destination... since I was deemed nothing more than an Icemaiden," Cara whispered into the wind. It was swirling around her ominously, at times seeming to push her back towards her hold, and at others, to push her closer to the frozen river. It was as though the winds reflected her inner turmoil, her growing sense of confliction. Of course, the Vantha wanted nothing more than to see her mother begging for her mercy, just before she claimed her, and Dira shepherded her soul away. Yet, she couldn't help but feel as though she would regret her actions, simply because the witch was her mother. Surely the bond of blood meant a little more than Cara had let on. More than she wanted it to. "Hopefully it won't be so difficult to decide when the time comes," Cara whispered as the wind whipped her long, black woolen cloak wildly about her slender frame. "Especially if she is anything like Nysel's nightmares." Cara stepped over several snow banks as she headed to the west. The sun was high in the sky, and hidden behind an expanse of fluffy white clouds, which seemed to have rolled in with the winds. Perhaps it would snow again later, Cara thought as she walked along. But hopefully not before someone's life had been ended. Cara had walked for a long time. But it didn't feel that way. She had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she hadn't even realized how time whizzed by, how she had reached her destination; the frozen Tanvalis river. "Well here it is," Cara whispered to the winds. "The place where fate shall either shine down upon me or my mother, and end this once and for all." Cara approached the river, and walked towards the south, perhaps she'd find her mother farther down the line. Cara's movement left footprints behind her; flattened portions of snow that signified her presence. Hopefully no one would think to follow wherever they led. Cara walked a little longer, and then saw something up ahead. At first, it seemed nothing more than a black blob against an expanse of white snow. "Perhaps that is her," Cara said as she kept walking. With each step, Cara was able to see the figure with more and more detail. It was a woman, older than her, clothed in the same way as she. Cara stopped when she was twenty feet away. The woman's hair was a salt and pepper, with a dark purple streak running along the right side. Her eyes were a bright emerald green, her skin sagging around the edges of her eyes. Her features were small, and rather delicate. Yet, she seemed old and broken, what Cara may some day become. Cara swallowed the saliva that had gathered at the back of her throat. She remembered how her mother used to take her out to stare at the river, much as she was doing now. But that was before her sister had been born, when her mother had still loved her. It had been her mother's favorite place to go when she needed some time to herself. Something to inspire her even. "Hello mother," Cara called, silently hoping she had the wrong person. Perhaps now was not such a good time for this. The older women was silent for quite some time before she turned to face Cara. "Hello Cara. It has been a long time, hasn't it?" she said, her voice so similar to Cara's own, that it sent a shiver up her spine. Cara's mother smiled wickedly as she got to her feet. Her eyes were flashing menacingly as she turned to face her daughter. "Come to end it Cara, just like you ended your sister's life?" her mother taunted. "Have you returned to let me avenge her?" Cara winced. That was not something she wanted to talk about. Her mother, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying it. "What is it Cara, don't like to think about the past? How she burned?" Cara shook her head angrily, her cheeks were growing red, and the right half of her face was hidden behind her long black hair. "She was never like us you know... people who played with fire. It consumed her so easily..." her mother said. "SHUT.THE.FUCK.UP!" Cara cried. Her mother merely cackled. "Make me," she taunted. "Gladly," Cara hissed as her eyes flashed dangerously. The young sorceress was concentrating deeply on her djed. Instantly, a familiar tingling sensation was spiraling through the length of her arms, it originated in the bottom of her chest, and made Cara feel strangely powerful. It crept up the length of her arms, and to her fingertips. Soon enough, an orb of translucent light blue res was hovering above the palm of each of her hands. Of course, despite her old age and withering looks, Cara's mother was far faster, she was already hurling fireballs at her. Petch! Cara's brain screamed, as she quickly side-stepped to the right so she wouldn't be hit. As she did, Cara lit the edge of the orbs of res she held on fire, only the very center remained unlit. The fireballs glowed a warm orangeish-red color, and emitted a thin trickle of thick grey smoke into the morning air. Cara's mother was already holding another two fireballs, and was getting ready to launch them at her daughter. Perhaps you should wait until she had made her move, Cara's brain advised, as her mother hurled the fireball in her right hand at her. It sizzled past Cara's right ear and landed in the snow. It pushed its way through and was soon lost to the white expanse. Only a thin trickle of smoke remained, circling lazily around the fireball's grave. It seemed to be hesitating, knowing it should rise into the morning sky, even though it didn't quite want to. As though it wanted to mourn the loss of its mother before it was swept away by the wind. Perhaps you should be more careful, otherwise you're toast. Cara rolled her eyes rather quickly. Thanks for that, the remaining portion of her brain replied.

[Cara]

The two reimancers seemed to side-step slowly. Each circled the area by moving to their right, drudging up lines of slow with their cautious steps. Cara's mother had formed another fireball in her once empty hand, while Cara, on the other hand, was still working on her first batch. Each seemed intent on merely staring at the other. Each of their irises a blood-thirsty, ruby red. Mother and daughter, old and young. Experienced and naive. Staring each other down, sizing each other up as they circled, both waiting for the other one to make a move. Cara's bottom lip seemed to tremble while her mother seemed strangely detached, almost happy that the end was near. She seemed so pleased, so satisfied with the thought that her daughter may very well crumble beneath her, as she once had all those moons ago. Cara, on the other hand, was starting to regret her decision more and more. Not because she didn't want to see the end, but simply because she wasn't so sure she was ready. Her mother seemed far more skilled than Cara had remembered, a mistake she promised herself she would never make again, should she survive. Cara should have known though, that her mother would have practiced. Another fireball passed by Cara. It landed in the snow behind her with a hiss, instantly extinguished. That is going to happen to you soon. Cara's brain whispered, it made her feel far more confident in her abilities... especially now that she realized how her mother was on the offensive, and she was on the defensive. It was as though she had totally forgotten about the fireballs hovering over each of her hands. "Aren't you going to try and hit me?" her mother taunted. Cara growled as she lifted her left hand, and hurled the fireball at her mother. The fireball flew straight for an instant, but soon started to dip. It landed at her mother's feet, and was engulfed by the white snow. It left its mark though; a delicate trace of grey snow lingering around the edges of the hole it had made on impact. Like a crater on the moon. "Surely you can do better darling. That didn't even come close. I want a challenge Cara, otherwise it'll be no fun killing you." Cara's eyes narrowed as her cheeks flushed. That bitch is going down, her mind screamed as Cara raised her right hand, and hurled it at her mother. It flew through the air, and singed the side of her mother's cloak. The fire took, and soon, the cloak was engulfed by orange flame. Her mother, who had quickly made a new batch of fireballs after dispensing them, dropped each of the two she had been holding. They fell uselessly to her sides, and were put out by the snow. Instantly, the witch's hands flew up to the pin that fastened her burning cloak in place. She quickly unfastened it, and threw the cloak to the ground. A few seconds later, water seemed to be sprouting from her fingertips, and soon enough, the flame that was claiming the woolen black cloak was dying down. The fabric had frayed at the edges, curled, and darkened, if such a thing were possible. During all of this, Cara had more than time enough to destroy her, and yet, the young sorceress was immobilized. Her eyes were wide as she simply stared. The bitch has got water now too? Well dear, you're fucked. If she wasn't quite so stunned, perhaps Cara would roll her eyes, but this... this, even though she had realized her mother must have been practicing a little earlier, THIS the sorceress was not expecting. This the sorceress was not prepared for. As soon as she had put the fire out, her mother turned back to Cara. "Surprised Cara that your mother has learned new tricks?" she asked. Cara gulped, and her eyes grew wide. "You shouldn't be." She paused. "Remember when you were a little girl, and I told you that a good sorceress keeps practicing her magic?" Cara nodded, if somewhat reluctantly. Her mother's eyes were glimmering, "well Cara, I have been practicing." With that, a stream of fire erupted from her mother's mouth. It was headed straight towards her. A swirl of deep oranges and reds, encased by a stream of black smoke. Cara's eyes grew wide, "Petch!" she screamed as she pushed up against her feet and dove out of the way. She crashed into the snow two feet from where she had once stood, landing on her hands, which were spread out ahead of her. She seemed to push the snow away, as though she were diving through it as she fell. That bloody women is going to kill you! Cara's brain screamed as her mother closed her wide-open trap and the fire stopped. "I know," Cara whispered, as she reluctantly got back on her feet. Perhaps it was better to stay down. The end seemed to close, yet so very far away.

[Cara]

"Tired yet Cara?" her mother taunted. "Not at all," Cara replied as she concentrated deeply on her right hand again. A translucent light blue mist had appeared above it. More res for Cara to ignite and launch at her mother. Much like her mother was launching another fireball. Cara ducked. Would she cut it the heck out? She is going to burn Cara's hair, and that would not be a pleasant sight! As soon as the fireball had soared by, Cara straightened herself up again. The res was still hovering over her hand, waiting to be given a purpose, before it was hurled away from the young sorceress, and towards her mother's general direction. Each of the women had continued to side-step to the left. Slowly circling each other, eyeing each other predatorily. This was a fight to the finish; someone was going to die, and Cara was silently praying to Morwen that it wouldn't be her. "Come on Cara, fight me!" her mother growled as she threw another fireball at her daughter. It landed at the girl's feet. A steady stream of smoke emitted from the molten projectile as it sank into the white snow, causing the edges to turn black. The woman is nuts! Cara thought, as she simply stared at her mother's latest attempt at killing her. How many more of those does she have at her disposal? Cara wondered. Doesn't she get tired or anything? Now that she thought of it, her mother's eyes had seemed to go red. Not just her irises either, they were blood red. As though she hadn't slept in days, and had just a little too much to drink lately. The little girl inside of Cara crept out of the shadows that lingered within the young sorceress' heart. "Mom?" she said worriedly. It reminded her of the first time she had spoken her name, after finding her mother and father in a fight. Her mother's mouth curled at the edges. She seemed strangely amused, in a sick sort of way. Another fireball was hurled in Cara's direction. It caught the end of her boot, and she rapidly had to stomp it through the snow in order to put out the flame. Great, now you need to buy some new clothes. Seriously, you are not walking around Avanthal like that. Cara rolled her eyes as she stepped to the left again. All it did was darken the front of her boot. If she survived, it could be her battle scar. "You should never allow your feelings to get in the way of your fighting," her mother coached. Cara grunted, at least she still had the slightest semblance of a heart. "Trust me when I say that I will never make that mistake again," Cara growled as her eyes narrowed. "Especially not with the likes of you." With that, Cara ignited the res that had gathered above her right palm, she immediately hurled it at her mother. The fire flew through the air, directly at Cara's mom, but the women had to dodge her, AGAIN. Petching women needs to learn how to die properly. Cara took a moment to roll up her sleeves. Surely another fireball would be coming her way any moment now. You just have to be ready for whatever she throws at you, literally. Another ball of fire had appeared above Cara's right hand. She was surprised that this time her mother had formed a ball of water. What the petch is that going to do? Cara wondered as her mother smiled wickedly and emitted a low, guttural sound, before she began to cackle. "Come play with me Cara," she cooed. Cara stopped moving. She turned her body around so that it was squared with her mother's body. Her mother did the same. "Ready Mom?" Cara called as she raised her right hand and let go of the fireball. It flew straight into the air. At the same time Cara had let go, her mother threw the ball of water. The two projectiles met in the middle of the space between the two witches. A loud crack could be heard as each of the orbs burst, spilling water and fire into the sky. Sparks flew, and several drops of rain sprinkled down to the snow. Light blue, and a bright reddish-orange oozed from the spot where they had met. Cara took a half step back as the projectiles sizzled together, and then seemed to explode. Cara turned her gaze away, and covered her face with her right arm. The expanse lingered on her forehead as she closed her eyes, and the scent of smoke filled the air. When the girl heard no more, she turned back to face her mother. A thick spiral of grey smoke was floating into the sky. Figures we'd make quite the mess. When the smoke had finally cleared, Cara looked down at the space where her mother had once stood. The witch was gone, but how could that be? Cara looked wildly around her from left to right, but the witch was no where to be seen. Cara stepped forward and looked down at the ground. There her mother was, lying on her left side. Body curled like the crescent moon; a sleeping cat. Her skin was deathly pale, her eyes closed. She looked strangely peaceful as the palms of her hands rested in the snow; like she was sleeping. The little girl that had been trapped within Cara's heart crept out once more. "Mom?" she whispered, as her bottom lip trembled, and she crossed the snow to her side. When Cara had reached her, she nudged her mother's back with her right foot. The witch moved forward with the foot, and then back again when Cara moved it away, and planted it back in the snow; safe against its counterpart. Bitch is dead. "Finally," Cara whispered as a single tear fell from her left eye, and trickled down her cheek. Her irises were a sapphire blue now. She had done it, her mother was gone, and yet, she didn't feel as happy, or anywhere near as satisfied as she had imagined. Was this a mistake? Cara wondered, as she stood over her mother's body for a few minutes. Not another tear fell as she stared at the witch. She wondered what exactly had killed her. She hadn't exactly hit her after all. Perhaps it was the over-giving. Surely reimancy can do such a thing. After Cara had looked down upon her mother's deceased body long enough, she turned around and trekked back home through the snow. A few flurries were fluttering down through the sky, as if it were too, crying, at the loss of another being. Yet, if Cara had seemed sad before, she was far more immune to the emotions now. She felt nothing as she crossed her arms over her chest and headed to her Hold. No pain, nor sorrow. No relief or pride. Nothing at all. ----------------------- When Cara had gone halfway to her hold, two eyes opened. They were almond shaped, with red irises, bloodshot. The snow had fallen into them, and caused them to look sickly. Or perhaps their owner had drunken far too much, or cried for far too long. The figure sat up as the snow fell around her. "CARA."

[Cheshire]

. Character: Cara Experience: Observation +1, Reimancy +3 Lore: Seeking Revenge, Planning Murder, Fighting Family Additional Note: Great thead! Cara's mom looks like she will be fun to play. Keep up the great work! PM me if you have any concerns.