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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 21, 2008 6:41:33 GMT 10
"Ready?" Shad asked, looking between Kavlin and the rat. Shad, you've lost it completely. You're talking to a rat! he scolded himself. He shook his head and turned back towards the woods. "Come on, if we hurry, we should be there within an hour."
Shad slipped into the woods, barely making a sound as he traveled. He tried to keep his pace slow so that Kavlin's shorter stride could keep up. He warred with himself as he walked. What were you thinking? Why did you invite someone you don't even know to your home? He shoved a hand through his hair, suddenly nervous at the thought of Kavlin joining him, and not realizing that he had picked up the pace significantly.
(Sorry, guys, I totally can't remember how I started it before. That's as close as I could get. And Tes...I'm Cass, midnight just sounds too weird.)
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Post by tesumi on Feb 21, 2008 7:09:26 GMT 10
(He he alright, I just didn't know if everyone else knew ya as Cass. Didn't want to get everyone confused ) Tes lept from her tree gracefully once the pair was a safe distance away. She traveled quickly and quietly through the forest, the only sound coming from the heel of her boots occasionally clipping a tree branch. She really wasn't accustomed to traveling in the forest in this form and she made a mental note to get some boots made in town tomorrow, ones without heels. Six inch heels where not the best for forest tracking, they where rather cumbersome even with her feline grace. Tes chuckled quietly, surprised to find she was actually enjoying herself. Tracking Kavlin and Shad had all the thrills of hunting without the guilt after wards. (Well she hoped she would have nothing to be guilty for when she was done.) She had to take many things into consideration, Kavlin's voskon who's sense of smell was sure to be as good as hers, the Falsko who knew the woods far better than she did and who's scent was practically knocking her unconscious, as well as the unusual tasks of remaining quiet and unseen. Far more difficult and more fun than hunting. She smirked triumphantly, so far (to her knowledge) she had remained in detected. (heh, I think thats what I wrote before...)
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Post by emmaline on Feb 22, 2008 0:33:05 GMT 10
Kavlin followed Shad through the brambly woods. It was easy at first, but as the woods got thicker Shad seemed to get lost in thought and was going faster and faster. Kavlin struggled to keep up with him, plunging through thick weeds and up small inclines. He was panting with the effort. --Ask him to slow down,-- Reg said, peeking his nose out from his position inside his shirt. --Kavi, you're hurt. Stop being stubborn.-- --I'm fine!-- Kavlin snapped, immediately feeling guilty. --Sorry.-- Reg didn't respond, but he didn't seem angry either. "Wait, Shad, please," Kavlin said reluctantly. "Just a moment to rest."
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 22, 2008 6:27:06 GMT 10
Shad stopped in his tracks and spun around to look at Kavlin. "Why didn't you say something earlier?" he asked, taking in the boys ragged breathing and feeling a hint of guilt creep over him. He realized now that he'd been in his own world and had been moving at his normal speed through the woods, not a speed that someone unused to the terain would find easy to keep up with. He jammed his shoulder into a tree, blending with it, and watched Kavlin closely.
"Are you okay?" he ventured a few minutes later. "I'm sorry for moving so quickly. Got lost in my thoughts I guess." He shrugged slightly. "How's Reg liking the wilderness compared to..." Shad stopped abruptly as a sound in the darkness caught his attention. He casually slipped his bow off his shoulder, trying to make it look as if he were simply taking a break from carrying it, but his other hand held an arrow, ready to notch it in less than a split second of time if the need arose.
Idiot! You should have been paying attention to what was going on around you! Shad's muscles tensed, prepared for battle, but hoping that there wouldn't be one. He sorted through his memory, trying to distinguish the sound. Footsteps? Yes, but definately not animal. Who would follow us? Is Kavlin hiding from someone? Or are they after me? Shad ran through scenarios in his head, but couldn't come up with anyone who would have any reason to come after him. Kavlin then, but why?
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Post by emmaline on Feb 22, 2008 8:19:50 GMT 10
Reg perched with his head resting on the collar of Kavi's shirt, peeking out at the dark wilderness. He listened to Shad's apology, liking him more and more with every word. Not many would apologize to a street urchin--and most would certainly not invite them to sleep in their home. He stiffened when the Falsko cut off and pulled out an arrow. His ears pricked and he could hear something in the brush. He had been so focused on Kavi, he hadn't heard a thing! He sniffed the air, sorting out the smells of trees and wilderness. It only took him a moment to isolate the smell and realize it was familiar. --Our Voskon from the inn is about, if I'm not mistaken,-- Reg said to Kavi. He caught tighter hold of the shirt as Kavi shifted beneath him, looking around. "Tes?"
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 22, 2008 8:28:03 GMT 10
"Shh," Shad hissed, silently stepping closer to Kavlin and Reg. He stooped to sit his bundle on the ground, but his eyes never left the forest around him, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. He casually laid his dagger in Kavlin's lap and leaned closer to the boy. "Stay here. Yell if you need me." he whispered, his face centimeters from Kavlin's ear. He straightened and notched his arrow, before moving back the way they had come, every muscle in his body alert for any sound that didn't belong in the nighttime forest.
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Post by tesumi on Feb 22, 2008 9:14:42 GMT 10
Tes cursed and stepped back quickly, she had not expected the pair to stop so suddenly and nearly fell off the tree she had been climbing in order to stop herself. For a brief moment she thought she managed to get away with it, but the sudden caution and tension that filled the air proved her wrong. She smiled wryly, Hmm the Falsko pretty good, this should be fun. she chuckled lightly creeping up the tree branch. She started for a second when she heard her name called faintly. Ah, my that could have been dangerous for you if I was anyone else. You mustn't be so familiar with dangerous people Kavlin dear... she scolded him mentally. Still for some strange reason she was smiling, enjoying their reactions. Well, might as well say hello. she thought contently. Tes eyed Shad's bow and frowned, wondering how ready he was to use it. You should be able to dodge it hopefully if he does attack. And theres no way he could be faster than you.... Tes deliberated on this for a moment then shook her head to clear her thoughts. After tucking her cloak under her arm she crouched down on the branch then leapt forward. She landed neatly on all fours only a few yards away behind them then straighten up quickly. Her lips twisted up into cat like smirk and she tossed her damp hair over her shoulders. "Hey Kavlin...." she purred with easy familiarity.
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 22, 2008 9:30:06 GMT 10
The sound of something falling out of a tree had Shad spinning around quickly. He caught a glimpse of a familar face before his arrow, meant to scare her, thudded into the tree right above the girl's head, exactly where he wanted it. A second one was quickly in his hand and notched as he sprinted back to Kavlin's side. He was slightly shocked to meet the gaze of the pretty girl he'd noticed in the tavern, but didn't stop until he was between her and Kavlin.
"What do you want?" he hissed, a menacing glare on his face, white eyes glowing with expectations of a fight, and every nerve in his body straining against the tight control he held to keep from letting his arrow fly. He seemed to focus on Tes, but his mind was alert to any sound that might warn that she wasn't alone.
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Post by tesumi on Feb 22, 2008 9:50:14 GMT 10
Tes turned around to look at the arrow that just missed her head. She stared at it for a long moment before bursting into laughter. "Hmm I guess I'm not the only dangerous one in these forests." she chuckled shaking her head. "Easy Falsko, I mean no harm. I was simply....curious." she smiled dropping her cloak to the ground. "I honestly don't mean any harm..." she sighed, frowning now. "Hmpf fine then..." she grumbled reaching into her boot with deliberate slowness and retrieved the dagger she hid there. She held it up for his examination before tossing it too him. "There, I'm unarmed...now could you please lower your weapon?" she growled in an irritated tone. It wasn't the bow that was irritating her however, it was Shad's blood. It was far stronger than she guessed and it was really throwing her off balance. He must be controlling me somehow...right? I mean I've never heard of Falsko's having powers like that, but what else could it be? She sank to the ground and folded her legs in a sitting position, she reached out and pat the ground next to her beckoning Kavlin and Shad to join her. Her irritation made her loose her welcoming expression and in its place was an unusual puzzled expression. "Could you please stop doing that? Whatever it is your doing, I can hardly think straight...your blood scent is so...distracting." she demanded. "I only followed you to make sure it was safe to stay in town...I was...rather careless around you. I was too....thristy to be as careful as I should have." she said with a sigh relaxing a little. "You musn't blame me for it though, I'm sure you would have done the same." she said resting her chin on her fist. Tes studied the Falsko intently taking in his every feature, This is disapointing....he's not as...welcoming as I expected....
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 22, 2008 10:08:17 GMT 10
Shad slowly allowed the bow string to relax, but he kept the arrow notched. He dropped it to his side, but kept his hand on it, ready to throw it up again if he needed to. He had no reason to trust the girl and every reason to fear. His race was not well recieved among the other races and so few of the Falsko remained. All of his life, he'd met resistance at every turn simply because his features portrayed his Falsko blood. He bent to scoop up the dagger, slipping it into his own boot since Kavlin held his. He relaxed a little as the girl sank to the ground, but continued to stand, staring down at her, his face expressionless. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not doing anything, Voskon." He kept his tone flat, refusing to show any emotion until he knew for sure that she wasn't a threat. "And your reason for following us makes no sense. We left town. Why wouldn't you be safe. You have more to fear from us than from anyone left in the town."
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Post by emmaline on Feb 22, 2008 10:35:58 GMT 10
Kavlin jumped as Shad handed him the dagger. He examined it, then looked around his surroundings. He hadn't realized he'd said the girl's name out loud until Shad had reacted to it. He hadn't gotten confused between real speaking and his conversations with Reg in years, but his wounds were aching and he was distracted. He cursed himself. A thief acting like that wouldn't survive long on the streets, and he knew better. He had to be more careful, no matter his pain. He hefted the dagger in his hands, weighing it. Well-balanced and well-shaped, from what he could tell in the low light. He'd lost his own dagger some month or so back in a dash through the streets and had as of yet been unable to replace it, but he was familiar with the use of the weapon. He walked forward a few steps to stand behind Shad, attention caught by his name. --Stay out of it,-- Reg said sternly, climbing to his shoulder to gain a stronger foothold. --I don't want you hurt more. Not unless you have to fight.-- Kavlin tried not to be annoyed with the concern, but some of it got through to Reg, who didn't change his opinion in the slightest in response.
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Post by tesumi on Feb 22, 2008 11:17:39 GMT 10
Tes looked up still puzzled. "My names Tes...yours...is Shad I believe...if I heard correctly....I would rather you use my name, not Voskon." she said vaguely, her eyes where distant and distracted. Her head snapped up quickly as she processed his words, "Aren't you? My....thats odd. How do I describe it?" she said her confusion was plainly expressed in her golden eyes. Her cats like instincts seemed to have taken over completely and she could barely remember her original reason for following them, and she certainly didn't seem concerned that she had a weapon pointed at her. Her mind was overwhelmed with this new mystery. Ah how susceptible you are to distraction.... she murmured to herself. "Hmm, its so odd, its like I can't control my own emotions. If I wanted to become angry no matter how hard I tried I couldn't. Your blood had a strange calming effect...I thought perhaps you where controlling it, or maybe your are and your lying." she whispered more to herself than to Shad. "Like I said, I was careless. I revealed to much of myself, you know what I am. That could provide...complications for me. I wanted to watch you both, see if perhaps you would be tempted to reveal me. The royal guard would surely pay a high price for my head. Any one of my kind for that matter..." she frowned looking back up at Shad. This sensation was almost unbearable, she felt at ease when she knew she should have been panicking. Even more dangerous was the fact that she felt like she couldn't lie no matter how hard she tried. This kind of blatant honesty was so different from how she would normally carry herself. Now she wasn't even sure she would be able to escape if he attacked, the scent was even effecting the way she moved. Her eyes raked across the scene, her eyes settled on the rat resting on Kavlin's shoulder. "Ah...is this your friend you were speaking of earlier?" The intent of her question obvious. "I didn't expect him to be so...little."
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Post by emmaline on Feb 22, 2008 13:09:19 GMT 10
Kavlin froze when she indicated Reg. "I don't know what you mean," he said carefully. --No use pretending. She knows,-- Reg said. "You had to know following us was dangerous," Kavlin said, looking at Tes intently. "Why did you take the risk?" --I think I know what she means about his blood,-- Reg admitted. --I hadn't realized before, maybe because my sense of smell is weaker than hers, but perhaps that's a big part of why I feel Shad is so safe... And through our link, that has traveled to you.-- Kavlin thought about that a moment. --I would never follow a stranger into the forest, into their territory.-- --Exactly. It goes against all our learning on the streets. Kavi, I still think he's safe, but I can't be sure that isn't his innate ability tainting my feelings.-- --Then how do we know?-- Kavlin asked, turning a nervous eye towards the Falsko. --He hasn't killed us yet. I take that as a good sign.--
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Post by aftermidnight8 on Feb 22, 2008 13:22:54 GMT 10
Shad stared at Tes like she was crazy before answering. "Yes, my name is Shad, and I honestly don't have a clue what in the world you're talking about. I'm not doing a thing beside stand here like an idiot and listen to you tell me that my blood has a calming effect." Shad expression quickly changed to bewilderment before he gathered himself and replaced it with his blank mask.
"As for turning you into the guard...I'm not that stupid. I'm accepted in this town, but as a whole...My life isn't any safer than yours. Why would I turn on another outcast? Where would that get me." For some reason, he was mad. Mad that Tes had managed to follow them this far. Mad that she thought he would turn on her. His temper was beginning to boil and he knew he had to get moving before he did something that he'd regret later. Shad swiftly yanked his arrow out of the tree and slid it into his quiver along with the one from his bow and gathered his pile of pelts. "I'm going on. Do whatever you want." He strode off into the forest, not really caring what they did. He hadn't gone twenty yards before he stopped and turned back to them. He couldn't leave Kavlin alone in the forest. "Kav, are you coming, or do I need to take you back to town?"
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Post by emmaline on Feb 22, 2008 13:47:02 GMT 10
Kavlin shifted uncomfortably at Shad's anger. It was unnerving. He'd been around anger before, certainly, it was a normal part of life for a thief. But he'd never stayed around anger, not when he could take off into the streets and disappear. And Reg's anger felt like his own anger in a way, due to a leak over their mental and emotional connections. Anger in an acquaintance, with nowhere to run if things went rocky, put him on edge. --He's still not killing us,-- Reg observed, huddling against his neck. "Yeah, we're coming," Kavlin finally said, hurrying to catch up with Shad.
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