Its just business, nothing personal. (Mok)

[Carina]

Time Stamp: Summer 45, Year 511 AV OOCI posted this thread in the Wildlands because Mok, Kiara, and Carina will be doing most of the thread in the wild lands. And because... there isn't anybody to grade threads in Sunberth... That evening the sun made its slow descent behind the mountains that rose from the horizon. Appearing to be nothing more then jagged silhouettes, it looked as if a god had come along and torn the bottom of the sky away, revealing a purple blackness contrasted against the sky. The sunset was a red blended upwards into an orange, and eventually a dark blue color. According to superstition relating to the suns rising and setting, tomorrow would not be a good day. And to an extent it was true; of course somebody would have a bad day, even if that somebody wasn't her. Watchful green eyes looked on, complacently, at what she thought was a beautiful sunset. How could somebody call this masterpiece a bad omen? While she gazed upon the colors and warm light, it entered her vision and was trapped, giving her eyes an luminous glow and intensifying their beauty. But before too much longer, the sight would disappear along with the suns warmth. Further proof, was the bright specks that started to appear far up in the dark blue sky. The appearance of the first few stars was to announce the coming of Leth, the moon god. But they would be hidden soon as well, if the clouds began to multiply. Though there weren't many at the moment -- just enough to accent the moons glow when it came. And slowly they changed their shapes at the winds will. Well... the wind was more of a breeze, but still strong enough to rustle the tree leaves. Like the leaves, the breeze played with Carina's golden tresses, twisting and moved them over her neck and shoulders. Behind her and across the floor, her shadow stretched to three times her height, as did the shadows of any solid form. When the last sliver of light disappeared over the horizon and the land was over come in a growing darkness, Carina shut her eyes and listened. The nights activities were just getting started now, one could almost feel the air become livelier. Musicians began playing an up beat tune to get people in the celebrating mood, and the conversations grew louder in an effort to hear themselves over the music. While people that needed to travel, or had places to be, passed in front of Carina. The sound of wooden wheels and the clacking of hooves against stone was a rhythmic sound, and one that she enjoyed. Then there were those that couldn't afford a horse or carriage who took to walking the streets to destinations of minimal distance. Some of them would hobble by her, already drunk before the moon had even peeked in the sky. Carina stood just outside the entrance to an, already full, tavern. Paying little attention to those who passed in entering or exiting, her eyes were fixated in the direction of Sunberth's entrance. Past that was the wilderness -- a place full of danger, and her current destination. One of her delicate hands rested, unconsciously, on a dagger she had concealed under her clothes. Perhaps as a form of reassurance in uncertain times, or out of habit, she couldn't be sure. Then she broke the silence that had been building over several minutes. "Is it time to go yet? Yes, I think so." When she spoke, she did not turn to face the listener, but instead, readied herself. Bring her hands up and behind her head, she pulled the hood of her cape up and over to conceal her face in shadows. When she turned to face Mok, her curls loosed from within the hood, falling out past its cloth and draping down over part of her chest. "Are you ready to go? Its time for our special midnight rendezvous." When she spoke, her voice was warm and held a hint of seduction to it, and her lips held a smirk, both of which carried over into her next sentence. "Its a half days travel from here, so whisk me away; I'm yours for the evening." Of course Carina knew what the trips purpose was, but was there any harm in trying to have fun along the way?

[Mok]

The cloaked myrian waited behind Carina as she looked at the sun set in the horizon. Mok decided not pleasure himself at the sight, he could watch the setting sun anytime. As far as he was concerned, Syna would be there forever, far after he was dead and his bones had become ashes, the sun would still set. However, the woman that he was guarding was slightly less eternal. Luckily, Carina was wearing a dark cloak this time and wasn’t bringing any attention. Usual attire for the woman made the most sensible men – well let’s just say she was not one easily ignored.

Momentarily the green eyed woman turned to Mok and indicated that she was ready. The words she picked made Mok smile and raise an eyebrow, “Solat – Lets go.” Mok had no idea that she was flirting; he spent most of his life in Taloba and myrian women did not “flirt”. The foreigner concluded that it was a diplomatic technique. Things like that form into habit and rub off in people’s daily lives. Much how Mok walked on the balls of his feet, he figured Carina was always using her rhetoric even in daily conversation.

Putting on his hood Mok began to walk with the seductress towards the exit. Mok glanced over his shoulder once more and in total shock saw the man that they were supposed to be “visiting”. He was riding a horse and was gaining on them quickly. Immediately, the half-blood grabbed Carina’s left arm to stop her. “Shh,” he gestured and pulled her into an ally. Concealed in the shadows, Mok leaned against the wall like a stone statue. As the man passed by, Mok held his breath and tried to hear anything at all, but was miserably unsuccessful.

“That was him, Canali,” Mok whispered to his companion, “the…the…the guy that you’re supposed to talk to. They pointed him to me. That is him. On horseback he will reach the camp before us.”

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Carina]

Carina watched when Mok arched an eyebrow at her remarks, it was a response she found to be very typical of men, and to an extent, she expected it. From her perspective, it conveyed curiosity and interest -- something that was necessary for many of he 'jobs' to be successful. Thoughts of such topics left her mind when Mok spoke, confirming he was ready for travel. What caught her attention the most, was what sounded like 'solat', it was no doubt a foreign language, but what could it have meant? Before she had a chance ask, she was surprised when her entire body was being propelled backward away from the main street. Under normal circumstances, she would have pulled out one of her daggers and tried mutilating whatever bold fool had the courage to hold her against her will. However, before her unsheathed blade met Mok's skin, she heard his voice shushing her. After the excitement had left her, she surveyed the surroundings and quickly realized the two of them were standing in a dark alley. Letting out a short exasperated sigh, she took the spot next to her guard, leaning against the wall. In the background, Carina made out the sounds of a cat yowling near the rear of the alley. It was obvious to her ears that the feline was hungry and looking for handouts from whomever would take the time to look upon the sad creature. Its target this time, a drunkard who had found his bed amongst the trash that lined the walls. In his state of stupor and self indulgence, he shooed the cat away, mumbling some indiscernible slurred curses. Turning her attention away from the two sad figures at the back of the alley, she listened in silence to the mix of noises coming from the main street. Her gaze drifted from Mok to the oblivious passerby's that strolled down the streets, lost in their own conversations. Some of them were even taken off guard when a man on a horse galloped down the middle of the street, making a bee-line for the Sunberth entrance. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she waited for an answer to why they were standing in a dark alley way. She didn't have to wait very long; just after the galloping horse passed the alley they had taken up residence in, he began speaking. When he did, she felt a twinge of annoyance as he called her Canali, confusing her with another women in the newly formed gang. Sure, everybody was newly introduced to each other, names and faces were probably still getting sorted out in peoples minds, but it was still unacceptable. Believing, firmly, that she was far more unique then the other female members, in her mind there was no excuse for such a mistake. Out of all the things that could have bothered her, being mistaken for another women was something that annoyed he the most. Inwardly she wanted to lash out at Mok, her designated guard. She would keep her composure though and let him finish speaking. Surely giving into her desire to correct him with harsh words would put a damper on the relationship that had just started. The relationship of the guard, and the guarded. When he finished speaking, a gentle smile graced Carina's lips; a smile to mask her annoyance. "Thank you, Mok, for pointing him out to me, but at the moment, seeing him isn't going to help us any. Its was too dark to see any prominent features, and I'm guessing you weren't able to hear anything ether." Pushing herself away from the wall, she positioned herself in front of him, leaving little more then one foot of space between them. "I understand you eager to go 'meet' with the gentleman, but don't let the situation get the better of you. We will meet him in due time, although first we need to start that journey." Then without warning, she closed the small gap between them and rose her hand up, resting her finger tips gently against Mok's cheek and said with a quiet and sweet voice, "Before we go, I'll tell you. Its rude to call a woman by anothers name. And mine is Carina, not Canali. Be sure to remember that, or I'll have you screaming it." Then she took a step away from Mok, towards the main street, her fingers trailing over his abdomen. "Are you trying to make me jealous," she asked playfully, laughing a bit threw closed lips. Not expecting or waiting for an answer, Carina stepped out into the main street where a large crowd of people had just been. Glancing back over her shoulder at Mok and noticing he hadn't moved yet, she turned to face him. "What are you waiting for? Sunrise?... We have a pretty boring trip ahead of us, so I suggest we find something interesting to do to pass the time." With that, she turned and started walking towards the entrance at a slow pace, waiting for Mok to join her. Roughly ten minutes had passed and they were just leaving Sunberth. Outside the cities limits it was quiet and dark. And unlike inside the city, it was noticeably cooler, the lack of civilization and body heat contributing to that. Looking down the road, she only saw different shades of darkness. The dirt path stuck out from the surrounding forest and foliage, their chances of stumbling off the road seemed pretty slim. But while she could see the road, she couldn't see into the wildlands that surrounded it, nor whatever might be hiding in wait for unsuspecting travelers. When that thought crossed her mind, it coaxed her to ask a question. "Mok... how well trained are you?" Whether our of curiosity or fear, she wanted to know how well her guard would be able to protect her if things took a turn for the worse. "My life is in your hands." Of course, if she needed to, she could defend herself. But she wanted to emphasize the importance of his skills for this missions. OOCI know Carina sound vain! XD I purposefully made her that way, but that doesn't mean that I, her creator, think that she is better then other women. Its just how her character is played. lol

[Mok]

Normally, Carina’s initial response would be unacceptable to Mok. What is she talking about? Mok thought to himself. Fool of a human. That is not the point. If he saw us, the “mission” would be over. He would flee his camp and we would never see his likes ever again. Standing completely erect Mok watched as his companion stood directly in front of him. Working with her would be difficult, Mok immediately realized. He was either going to have to explain everything he said as if he was talking to a child or just ignore it and do all the critical thinking himself. He couldn’t blame her though, she wasn’t thinking about some of the more practical matters of the journey. She was the diplomat and it was his job, no duty, to make everything went smoothly. He chose not to comment on what she said and remained silent as she continued.

Carina looked at him straight in the eyes and continued. “You-“ Mok started but suddenly, without warning the woman stepped into him and touched his face. The myrian warrior was shell shocked for a moment as her cool, gentle fingers brushed against his skin. Mok wanted to respond but he couldn’t. In seconds Mok was completely torn in two. His myrian half wanted to retaliate and tell her off. Canali, Carina. It did not matter to him. Coito woman! Mok wanted to say, but his human half held him back. It wasn’t worth the trouble or anxiety he concluded and remained silent. He would not let his emotions take him. No. He would remain composed and professional.

As she backed away her finger tips touched his abdomen sending an electrical feeling through his stomach. A warm feeling bubbled in Mok’s core as she trailed away and teased him. For a split second he imagined kissing her soft, sweet lips and embracing her in his arms. He would sweep her off her feet and forget the whole mission. Mok could always get the “man” later, now he wanted Carina. This feeling didn’t last long though. The half-blood had gone through much in his life and this wasn’t the first time he felt a moment of lust for a woman. He had a plan and she was not part of it. In order to do what he does, Mok could not distract himself. One hundred percent of his body and soul must be put into the task at hand so that they did not falter. Failure meant death and that was not an option for Mok.

“Nothing else matters,” he mumbled silently to himself as his companion walked into the crowded street, “nothing.”

Ten minutes later Mok found himself walking side by side with Carina down a well-trodden road heading west out of Sunberth. They were several hundred yards away from where the heavy wilderness began. The two remained silent up until Carina ask him how well trained he was. It was an interesting question to ask and most had trouble deciding what to say. Letting a whole minute go by, Mok glanced at her but did not turn towards her, “I have lived under the guidance and instruction of the Jagged Blade for most of my life, since I was a small child.” Seeing that the words he just said meant nothing to Carina, Mok took the time to explain himself, “Far away in the jungles of Faylndar there is a city called Taloba. There is a clan called the Jagged Blade. It is in tradition that the Jagged Blade is the most ferocious warriors in all the land. As small children the Myrian are trained in martial arts. I am proficient with my blade and my body.”

The moment he finished his words, Mok began to walk off the path. He knew that Carina would question him so he explained to her over his shoulder, “We will not travel the roads. It is too risky and I do not trust these trees. We will travel stone’s throw from the road and out of site. It is safer this way,” and just in case she protested Mok slyly added, “You can stay on the road if you want, but that would be against my suggestions.” With that Mok drew his gladius and lead the way through the brush. He planned to cut along the way any loose branches of leaves to make it as easy and comfortable as possible for Carina. “Tell me your plan once we reach the camp – Carina” Mok did not emphasize her name, but he made sure to pause so she could hear him clearly.

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Carina]

When her Question was answered with silence, Carina actually began to worry a bit. Was he really cut out for the mission? She wouldn't push for him to answer though; after all, patients was one of the necessary skills used in her 'missions'. And when it payed off, it payed off well. Sure bruit force was effective enough, but there was only so much you could accomplish with it, mostly ending with enemies or people obeying out of fear, not cooperating out of desire. From the experience of her past excursions, she found that willful alliances were far more efficient then forced ones. When he eventually did speak, he spoke in a mix of common, and.... a language she didn't recognize. It sounded like the names of people or places though, that much she was fairly certain of. But since she didn't recognize the words, they held no meaning to her. As if he were reading her mind, he tried explaining what the different words were. One of the places was far away in a jungle where, apparently, a clan called.. 'Jagged Blade' existed. When he told her that the most ferocious warriors came from that land, her confidence in his ability to protect her, rose a substantial degree. She was pleased in his willingness to talk and discus matters of his origin, it opened the door to other conversations that would surely take place during the extent of their trip. Carina continued to listen quietly and contently while Mok carried the one sided conversation on. Although, the fact that she didn't need to respond gave her the time she needed to apply the foreign words to memory. She payed special attention when he said the word Myrian, it answered one of her questions. From that, it was easy to assume he was speaking Myrian, a language she recalled coming by in an old book. Listening without replying, Carina mouthed the foreign words. She wasn't sure if she was mouthing them correctly, or if she could speak them correctly, but over time she would learn. As the newly assigned diplomat of the newly formed gang, she would need to set time aside to study different races, their histories, and their languages. That sort of information could be invaluable in future... 'meetings'. But when she heard Mok's last sentence, she was forced to hold in a chuckle. Its not that it was essentially funny, but her mind had twisted it into something funny... or at least mildly entertaining. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips and her eyebrow arched a bit. "You say your proficient in both blade and.. body? Would you mind giveing me a personal show this evening then?" She knew he was referring to martial arts when he added body to his proficiencies, so she didn't expect him to comment or give an answer to her suggestion, she was only entertaining herself. Coming to a dead stop, Carina watched as Mok began heading over the roads shoulder and down towards the brush. It confused her a bit, but she wouldn't have admitted it verbally, let alone show it externally. Once again, as if he understood she was confused, or was reading her mind, he explained his reasoning and extinguishing any chance of protest. Claiming that it was safer to travel off, away from the road and out of site, but still leaving her the option of staying up on the road if she wanted to. His bold actions left her with a growing frustration that was only evident in the way she crossed her arms across her chest. Looking down the extent of the dark and foreboding road, her gaze shifted back to her guard as he started disappearing into the foliage. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she reluctantly fallowed after Mok. As she closed the distance between them in haste, she commented under her breath, "I hope we don't get lost because of this." Standing around five feet away from Mok now, her eyes caught the shimmer of a blade -- his gladius. When he started hacking a path threw the branches and tall grass, he disappeared further into the brush. Quickening her pace to catch up, once she was within an arms reach from Mok, she reached out for him. Pressing into his back, she wrapped one arm around his waist and her other hand rose up the length of his arm where her fingers wrapped around his wrist. Standing about six inches shorter then the Myrian, she rested her face against his back and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "What are you doing? Aren't we supposed to keep attention away from us? Hacking away at the branches and plants is a little too noisy, don't you think?" Pausing for a moment, she wandered if he would be upset by the sudden.. restraint she tried to place on him. "I doubt you would need to cut a path threw the forest if it was just you traveling. I don't need that convenience ether." Finishing her piece, she took a few steps backwards, away from Mok. Then pulling her cloak aside, she extend her leg a bit and presented her shoes. "You might not be able to see it in this darkness, but I picked these boots out, specifically, for traversing difficult terrain... I know I may appear to be nothing more then a delicate flower, but you'll find out soon enough, that I can adapt in most any situation." Then shifting her weight to one leg, she placed a hand on her hip. Her elbow opened her cloak up just a bit, but from within its folds, the metallic blade of her dagger was visible. It was sheathed in something that wrapped around her upper thigh. If she had been wearing her more typical clothing, it would have been concealed beneath her clothes, but her current attire clung too tightly to her figure to allow for such enclosure. Then referring back to the subject of Mok cutting a path threw the forest and the noise it made, she said, "When its comes to missions such as this -- ones that endanger our lives -- if the situation permits it, I prefer subtlety." With nothing more to say, she motioned for him to lead the way threw the forest. Hoping her emphasis on subtlety had been received, they continued their trek through the dark forest.

[Mok]

Suddenly and unexpectedly the woman wrapped her arm around Mok’s waist and grabbed his wrist. The jungle man stopped all his movements and looked over his shoulder. “What the hell is she doing? The whole damn trip she has been acting strange.” Mok raised an eyebrow when Carina asked him to not cut a path for her. The half-blood did not see any reason for not cutting through the forest. Being two stone throws from the road no one would see them let alone hear them. As far as he was concerned, the minimal amount of noise he was making was negligible. He only wanted to make it easier and faster for his female companion. “O well,” Mok thought to himself, “Less work for me.”

Sheathing his gladius, Mok turned around without responding to Carina. She then showed him that she was prepared for the journey at hand; she had boots specifically for traversing terrain. Mok grunted softly when she said this, “Specifically? Heh.” She followed her special boots with a dagger strapped to her leg. After everything was said and done, Mok decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, however he was going to question her thoroughly to make sure that she was fit for combat. He had seen some of the other members fight, but Carina…well she had the complete opposite reputation.

Mok began to lead onwards and by sheer luck he found a deer trail. As they walked Mok finally began to talk, “Carina. You mentioned subtleness. I must explain to you that I am no coward. I fight every man head on. Toe to toe. I find it useless to use trickery or subtleness in matters of honor and pride. This man we seek. He has dishonored me and dishonored the Crimson Edge. For me that means his death. But. I am no fool. I understand that we cannot kill everyone. I understand we need something from him. I know that we seek a non-violent resolution. Understanding these facts is enough for me to hold my blade and my tongue. But. I warn you. If this man dishonors you, me, or anyone in our clan, I will be the first to challenge him, and I will kill him. Do you understand?

oocSorry for the rushed reply, but I am going to be out for several hours. (going to the bar ) I wanted to have something up for you to reply to. Feel free to power play or use Mok however you want, provided that it is in character. Or just continue the dialogue... your choice. See you when I am back!

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Carina]

When Mok sheathed his blade, she was pleased to see him comply with her wishes. It was true that they were a fair distance from the main road, but that didn't mean they were free to make as much noise as they pleased. Even without the threat of the road, there was still plenty to be weary of out in the thicket. Mizahar was not a tame world, creatures formed from djed prowled the land, always seeking there next prey. And Carina simply did not want to be their next meal, hoping to avoid such an outcome by being as silent as the two of them were able while they made their way down the animal trail. Fallowing closely behind her guardian, she didn't see much more then his back as they continued. Trusting him to lead her safely, she listened to the environment. The trees creaked and moaned when the breeze pushed against them, making her wander just how they withstood anything stronger then a light wind. And further away in the distance, she heard the calls of unknown creatures. Her thoughts returning to herself, she thought about this venture and place she found herself. Admittedly, things were a bit more difficult then she had anticipated since leaving the main road, but she knew it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. Since Mok had stopped cutting a path, their trek had been a silent one. No words were shared between the two, and the quiet was appreciated, but it forced her to listen to all the other noises surrounding them. All the creepy, eerie, and normal ones. And while she would have liked something less disturbing to listen to, she cringed inwardly when Mok began to speak; her worries of wild creatures attacking them, returning. Naturally, she hadn't spent very much time out in the wild, let alone off the established roads, and it was cause for speculation as to what exactly did happen out in the untamed world. And while she wished that he would use a quiet voice when speaking, she wouldn't ask him to be quiet. Listening to his words, she appreciated the diversion. When he finished, it was her turn to speak; maybe some conversation would make the time pass quickly, or at least.. marginally faster. "Of course your no coward; your from the 'Jagged Blade' clan. Pronouncing the name, Jagged Blade, horribly. You said that the fiercest worriers come from there, and I do believe you. Especially if Cade is also from that clan. And back when we were all gathered at the pigs foot tavern, it sounded like you were really laying it into Cade... I admit, I'm not sure what you two were going on about, but it sounded like one heated argument, that much I'm certain of." Chuckling for a moment, she realized she was going off on a tangent and forced herself back on topic. "Tell me, why are you so bent on death as the penalty for dishonor? Personally, I'm not much for defending honor, but if I was, I wouldn't go around killing people that dishonored me or my family... Killing every person that did would be too light a penalty in my opinion. I would make certain that the rest of their existence was a miserable one. How could somebody, through death, learn to regret what they've done?... And yet you will still kill him if he dishonors us. I suppose that's the way of those who live by the sword." Carina wandered if she was treading on fragile ground when she started to disagree with Mok's method of handling such things. If he was really related to Cade, she knew there was a chance he also had a short temper. "If you really feel like you must kill him then that's fine I suppose. But would the kill help build a reputation for the Crimson Edge, or will it go unseen and ineffective out here in the unknown? Maybe a good beating would put the fear in him. Although I can see how that could back fire; it might make others view us as weak or too soft." Then her voice fell silent as her mind wandered for a moment. "This is why I wouldn't make a very good leader I guess. I'll just leave those decisions up to Eryss and the others... I might be wicked, but not in the same way as the others. They are purely devilish, while I am but a widow using poison and beauty to get what I want." The comparison sounded a bit strange to her ears, but it was fairly accurate. While the others pieced together the whole picture, she was along for the ride, taking what she could along the way. And while it might have sounded a bit on the melancholy side of things, but if he was to turn to glance at her, he would see her smiling.

[Mok]

Mok continued traversing through the forest as he listened to Carina’s words. “Interesting,” Mok thought to himself, “Too light of a penalty? I see.” The young myrian closed his eyes for a moment to think of his response to his companion.

“Carina. An old myrian warrior once described to me his internal conflicts. Within his heart there are two tigers. One is cruel and evil, the other is good and docile. They are always fighting with each other. I asked him: Which tiger wins the fight? The wise man paused and pondered and answered: The one that I feed! These tigers will provide you with qualities that are important in life. Tolerance: accept your imperfections and the imperfections of others. Humility: that you will open your heart to learn from those before you. Loyalty: that we may serve our friends without a doubt. Love…that you may give yourself fully to others even in death. This, Carina, are some principles I follow. Love for my companions. Those who dishonor them will die. There is not reason to torture them and I will explain why. All beings on this realm have hope, no matter how small, this hope will remain. It is true a slow death will bring momentary joy to oneself, but that person still has hope. Hope that will survive and remain alive. No I will extinguish everything that they have in one fatal swoop. Humility, Carina, is what allows me to do this. I do not want their regret Carina, I want their hope in my hands then I will crush it.”

Mok took a huge breath after saying that. A drop of sweat rolled down the side of his face. He did not mean to start this conversation with the woman. The diplomat would not understand Mok for he was a warrior. There were several things about the Crimson Edge that rubbed the half-blood the wrong way. Sometimes Mok could not stand the mentality of the lay people of the guild. He understood that they were important to the guild’s success and he thanked them, but there were certain attitudes that killed him a little inside. Mok took a loud breath and continued,

“Carnia, I agree with you. We must not kill everyone for the sake of the group’s progress, which is why we are going to reason with him first. However, if he continues to spit in our face his life is on forfeit. It is simple. At that point, it doesn’t matter what others think. Anyone who disagrees can go whine about it then drink the milk from their mother’s breast. Hmph. Fuck all those people.”

Mok continued onward silently through the forest path.

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Carina]

While listening to Mok speak, she tried to understand him and where the words came from. Whether from life experiences, or rules that had been drilled into his mind at a young age. He didn't give much of a hint at one or the other, but he did give her an interesting story to listen to. It was one about two tigers fighting, and the one that was fed winning the fight. It made her wander about which one she was feeding, the good or the evil one. That was something she hadn't thought about before, believing herself to be a neutral agent. Was it possible to feed both the tigers? Since she didn't have an answer for herself at the time, she set her thoughts back on Mok, whom was still talking. He spoke with a calm yet firm voice, one that hinted at an anger he was able to control. Maybe that anger wasn't directed at her, but someone, or some place unknown to her. And that control was slightly surprising to her; the first Myrian warrior she had met was Cade, and from his behavior it seemed that his kind was a hot blooded race. Then when she met Mok, his said kinsman, at the gathering and formation of the Crimson Edge, they felt like complete opposites to her. No, its not wise to judge a whole race by one persons misguided actions, but what else can you do when you have no other reference to go by? Over time, Mok was beginning to disprove her first impression that all Myrians were quick to anger and lustful beings. When he finished speaking, she wandered how she was supposed to respond. It seemed she wouldn't anger him so easily, but Carina still felt that she needed to be careful with the choosing of her words. Keeping that in mind, she began to speak in the whispered tone she had been using through the extent of the journey thus far. "I think I can understand where your coming from, Mok. Once I too had that desire. The desire to crush any hope a person might have... And that's exactly what I did. I was happy about it too. And although I do not regret my choice, I do pay for what I did in other ways. Because of that price, I have come to prefer torture over death. If a person can stay strong and endure through it, then they have earned the right to live." Then she fell silent, her mind returning to the past. Her words held more of a meaning then what Mok may have caught; referring to past experiences, things she had done, and things that had been done to her. The only evidence of the toll her past had taken on her, in the moment she thought back on it, was the goosebumps that appeared over her exposed skin. Them being easily mistaken as the result of the chilled temperature, she wrapped her cloak tightly over the front of her. Once appropriately covered, she began speaking again. "I understand the purpose of the guild and all that comes with it. Eryss explained that fairly well back at the tavern. I know the importance of the role I play and what is expected of me in this arrangement. And although I may not like the outcome of situations in the future, I will do anything that they ask of me; as long as it will strengthen the guild and its members. Not out of a want, but out of a necessity to survive." By the time she had finished speaking, her voice had risen slightly in volume and passion but was quickly brought back down to silence when she realized it. Tilting her head back, Carina looked up at the moon through the swaying tree branches and dancing leaves. Unlike before they had left Sunberth, it appeared that all the starts were visible now. Setting her focus on the moon, she took note that it had already peaked and was going to be making its descent down towards the horizon. After watching for a few seconds while she followed behind Mok, her hood slipped away from its perch upon her head. With it, came her long hair showing a ghostly color against the moons pale light. "How much distance do you think we've covered," she asked, distracted by the sky as she followed Mok blindly. And in that short moment of not watching her step, her foot was caught under one of many protruding roots. From behind, Mok would be able to her her audible gasp as she stumbled forward. Before she fell though, she caught herself one one foot, but not before bumping into her guard's back with her shoulder. Hoping he wouldn't notice, she cleared her throat and steadies herself in an effort to appear as if nothing had happened. OOCSorry for the delay in this post x.x... Yesterday I didn't really have any inspiration and wanted to play a video game. Hope you enjoy the post! >.<

[Mok]

Everything that Carina was saying was irrelevant to the myrian. Although logically she did have a point, Mok did not acknowledge normal reasoning. Prudence was important, however in Mok’s mind, a warrior needed to go above and beyond normal intelligence to succeed. Through the myrian’s red tint eyes, “reasonable” thoughts were easily predicated by enemies. Instinct was needed to survive and madness was required to destroy. Thus in his mind, Carina was completely utterly wrong. The young blood just shrugged and assumed her ignorance was due to the fact she was a diplomat. She would never understand, until she really found herself in a battle. Not a battle of words or sneakiness, but a true war. Mok wondered to himself if she would hesitate at the moment of truth, the instant that would decide either life or death. “She has a dagger… but will she get her hands wet? I will not doubt her. She will be tested soon enough.”

Mok’s mind snapped back into focus, he could not afford to let it wander. He could not let his guard down no matter what. The soldier continued to think of his response to Carina, but the right words couldn’t come to his mind. What he wanted to say went beyond mere vocabulary. It was much more important. Mok wondered if Cade would be able to describe the…feeling…. the battle fever that only warrior could understand. The main difference between the peasant class and the warrior class was this… this unspeakable thing. The warrior decided that he needed to explain to his enchanting diplomat what he meant as well as responding to her fallacies.

Suddenly, Mok stopped completely and Carina bumped into his back. Mok was about to speak from deep within his heart. After a few seconds, the warrior than began to speak in a low voice, his words full of conviction and emotion. “They say… that when you kill someone in battle, their spirit haunts you forever. This is the difference between a warrior and peasant. You cannot understand Carina, you can only accept my words or reject them. A warrior has an unspeakable….will inside their body. Whether or not they recognize it is up to the individual, regardless it is there. Carina. You mentioned that one must pay in other ways when they kill another.”

The frenzied man then turned around and looked into Carina’s eyes. Mok’s dull eyes locked in with Carina’s. The moment was so tense that Mok began to sweat. The dedicated soldier placed a curled fist on his heart and declared to the diplomat sacred words, “I will pay the price. But. I will not count the cost.” These words meant so much to him that a single manly tear rolled down his check. He maintained a steady gaze at the women in front of him for several moments longer, but even the seemingly stoic myrian could not hold his stare forever. Looking down at the floor, Mok began to take deep, noisy breaths to calm himself down. Now Mok’s mind began to race. Why did he speak those words to her? She was not a warrior. No. She was the guilds diplomat, not worthy of such words. Shaking his head, Mok changed his mind. There was no way about it. If they were to travel together and face the same opponents it was inevitable that this should occur. The half blood then looked up into the moonlit sky and laughed. Fate was a mysterious thing.

Just when Mok appeared to be done however he started up again the emotion and conviction still in his voice, “Carina. You say that you fight to survive. But I don’t fight to survive. Survival is out of the question. I fight for my brother. I fight for Eryss. For Cade. For Antar and Kiara. Even for that blasted woman Canali… I fight for you. I am ready to spill blood for the Crimson Edge. I care little for the ideals in this guild Carina. I care for you…That being said , the wheel in the sky must pass another quart of a tick before we reach our destination”

Mok stood for a second to wait for her reply, but if none was given right away he would continue to lead the way in silence once again.

Red = Myrian
Orange = Common