Flashback: A welcome companion.. [The Rose Cavern] OPEN

[Asara Willow]

Winter 10th, AV 507

Asara scowled as she clung to the wall, the hooks on her thin fingers offering her purchase on a surface any of those Dra- could not follow her up. Her pale silver eyes were luminous in the dim light, her bared fangs were extended to their full length, and her chest rose and fell with quick, agitated breaths.

They had no reason to mock me because of my size. Half of them are barely better off than I am! I wish they'd all fall and crush themselves below the city. It'd serve their mother's right for diluting the proud blood of our species.

The hateful thought lingered in Asara's mind as she slowly crept her way further up the cave wall, finding a nice secluded alcove in the glittering ceiling and perching up there, looking for all intents and purposes like a large white spider holding still on its web.

A fleeting headache, a soft whisper of kindness, and Asara felt herself settling down, losing her anger. The calming voice, although meek and quite pathetic a lot of the time, was actually a great help. Like an imaginary friend, like an only friend, the voice was always welcome. It was reasonable, sweet, and gentle. Filled with childish innocence, and stupidity, it was a beloved companion.

Gazing down, Asara's pale gold eyes set upon another form entering her safe haven below. She only hoped it wasn't one of the half breeds of Symenestra mothers.

[Nisana Curare]

Nisana slowly walked into the Rose Cavern, her amethyst eyes slowly glancing back and forth at the bright colors of the various flora and fauna present in the cavern. It had been years since Nisana had last visited hear, but a bit of melancholy had drawn her back today.

Dressed in her typical dark crimson body wrap Nisana quietly walked up to the pool in the floor and crouched down. Normally her movements were swift and sure, she was the first born daughter of Valvessa Curare and a capable huntress in her own right after all, but today she just wanted to be away from all of that.

Lightly trailing black claws through the water Nisana gave a heavy sigh that echoed lightly through the cavern, followed by a single named crawling out in symenos, "Velarian..."

[Asara Willow]

Asara's small, emerald-green wrapped body tensed at the arrival of the other Symenestra female, her pale gold eyes scanning the form quickly. She wasn't acquaintanced with this woman, and curiosity coaxed her down somewhat. She skillfully crept down when the other's back was turned.

She was tempted to startle the intriguing female, who seemed to be in a down mood... Maybe they had the same problem?... But she didn't want to get hit with anything and risk breaking something.

So she spoke, as softly as she ever had, tensed to crawl back up into her little alcove if the other proved hostile. Her Symenos was lilting and as entrancing as it was when anyone else of their fair, talented race spoke it.

"Hello, there..."

[Nisana Curare]

Nisana's melancholy thoughts were interrupted by a soft, whispered, greeting in a feminine voice. Quickly blinking away the faint moistness that had formed in her eyes Nisana turned in the direction of the voice. Amethyst eyes regarded the younger, smaller girl that was tensely crouched nearby.

"Hello," Nisana responded just as softly in Symenos, a faint smile touching her lips, "I had not realized someone else was here. What brings you to the Rose Cavern this evening?"

Judging by the girl's tense stance, not to mention the faint distortion of her lips that her extended fangs caused, it seemed that she had been agitated. Perhaps something unfortunate had happened to her recently. The thought gave Nisana a faint feeling of kinship with the girl, as Nisana had been very much the same way when she first visited the Rose Cavern. Perhaps this time Nisana could be the one to offer some kind comfort to an unhappy Symenestra.

[Asara Willow]

Gold eyes met amethyst and Asara's head tilted almost quizzically. This woman seemed to be on the verge of crying, and as far as Asara knew, there should have been no reason to give in to that. She wondered what had bothered this woman so much that she would feel the need to spill tears.

"I have a place to hide when I come here..." Her voice was soft and a small smile formed across her lips. She mainly used that place to escape the cruel taunts of the Dra, the taunts she returned just as harshly. She had such a great relationship with most of the unfortunate ones in Kalinor that she now had to take to climbing walls to escape them. Maybe it was her fault why she couldn't enjoy life on the ground for antagonizing them so fiercely, but she wouldn't admit that to herself. She disliked half bloods too much to even think of herself as less than perfect when compared to them. "Why are you sad?"

Tact was not one of Asara's strong points. She didn't ever allow herself to regret a decision, and so she hadn't learned that maybe being considerate to another's plight would be a good way to make friends. She was trying to be nice though, even for an incompassionate girl like her.

"I came to escape..." She said this quietly, lowering her golden gaze. They flashed back up to the other's face almost immediately after. "What is your name? I do not believe that I've met you before."

[Nisana Curare]

"A place to hide? Who are you hiding from?" Nisana couldn't help but let slip a bit of surprise in her voice at the girl's vague explanation.

Kalinor was not a dangerous place, unlike many of the other race's cities in Mizahar, and she had not really known many to need somewhere to hide in the city. Out in the wilds was a different story, but currently the two of them were in the heart of Kalinor.

The sudden personal question caught Nisana a bit off guard, and she hesitated a moment before answering, "I am... Just thinking of old and sad things. Nothing to concern yourself with," her pleasant smile after a few moments.

"I am Nisana Curare," Nisana gave her name with pride, and such pride helped push her own sad thoughts away, "Might I know your name?" as she asked her question her Amethyst eyes searched the girl's face for any hints of what she might be hiding from within Kalinor.

[Asara Willow]

"From the Dra..." The words came in a soft hiss when she had set upon the ground, looking up to the older Symenestra through cool gold eyes. "They can't follow me when I go up there."

Suddenly, she smiled at the woman and nodded slowly, showing that she acquiesced. Her eyes glitteree ominous gems, however, for the explanation didn't eliminate her curiousity.

"My name is Asara Willow. It is a pleasure to meet you, Nisana Curare. I don't believe I've met anyone else in your Web." Her voice had become pleasant, the words lilting and musical with her amusement. She was much more lighthearted when those half bloods weren't around. "I haven't seen many people in these caves. I didn't expect anyone to come."

[Nisana Curare]

"You were hiding from the Dra?" surprise was plain in Nisana's voice, along with a bit of confusion, "Why would you need to hide from the Dra?" her lips curved down into a displeased frown, "Those half-bloods have no right to cause problems for a pure Symenestra."

"We are mostly hunters," Nisana's frown faded as the girl brightened as well, glad to move on from the subject of those unpleasant half-bloods, "Perhaps you've heard of my Mother, Valvessa Curare? She is quite famous for her hunts and harvests," as always Nisana's voice was filled with pride as she spoke of her heritage.

At the girl's words about not expecting anyone to come to the caves Nisana couldn't help but smile softly at her, "That is the very reason I came here myself. The first time I found this place I was very sad, and just ran until I came upon it. When I found it practically empty I came to think of it as my little sanctuary, a place to go hide when I did not want to deal with the world," her smile grew a little warmer as she focused her amethyst eyes on the girl, "Much like you. It seems we have the same taste for places to hide."

[Asara Willow]

Asara nodded slowly, her gold eyes glowed with contempt for those miserable half-bloods. She wouldn't explain why she felt the need to escape them, because she didn't want to feel pathetic compared to another of her own race. She had problems with her height. The others did not.

A smile caught her lips and she listened to this fellow Symenestra talk about her Web. Her mother's name, Valvessa, did ring a bell and bring memories to mind of her brothers discussing the woman. "She hunts and harvests? Those are both enviable skills." Asara herself was interested in the Harvest. It would bring her great renown, and maybe those pitiable Dra would no longer be brought to life in the pale city of Kalinor. "You're Web must be a great one, Nisana." She smiled again. She was much more at ease. There was no sign of those Dra, and she was in the presence of a greater Symenestra that could help her learn. "My mother was a great practitioner of poisons, and so I follow after her."

"I've found this to be the best place to go when one wishes to be alone... I'm glad someone shares that view." She glanced out over the very blue waters.

[Nisana Curare]

"It is," Nisana replied to Asara's compliment proudly and with a pleased smile, "We have a tradition of many great huntresses, and also great success on Harvests. Myself," she brought her hand to her chest in a very small show of humility, "I have already shown my skill at hunting, and when my younger sister finds a mate then I will leave on my first Harvest to continue our lineage."

Realizing she had been focusing a bit too much on herself she turned her gaze back to the littler Symenestra next to her, "Poisons are also a very impressive family tradition to follow. I have heard it can be very difficult and dangerous to get the mixes right and not harm yourself. You must have a very steady hands Asara."

Listening to the girl as she looked out over the waters Nisana gave a soft laugh, "Though, we are not alone at the moment. I suppose it is alright to share a private place like this sometimes though, especially with someone who can understand your feelings," Nisana's own gaze wandered out over the water, pausing as a Ryzowska came to the surface to snap at a fallen larva.

"Have you ever used the boat to just drive over the lake?" Nisana asked after a moment's silent contemplation, gesturing towards the small craft anchored nearby, "It's not the breading season so it would not be a problem if you wanted to try," she offered another smile to the girl, wondering if she would enjoy it as much as Nisana did.