Among the Forest Nymphs

[The Rahzgriz]

((This RP is a sort of prequel to this one: Click Here. It stars the same male character I use in it, Corydon. This is set in the time before he was captured and enslaved by the Romans, while he was still a Spartan warrior. PM me if you feel like joining.))

The world was dark, pitch dark, blacker than the waters that run through the caverns in Hades. But the sounds that echoed and reverberated in his ears were not those that fit in the world he was seeing. Chirping of birds. Rustling of leaves in a light breeze. He thought he heard a fish jump in some unseen pond. Perplexed by the contrasting messages his senses were sending him, Corydon stirred where he sat. He felt soft grass beneath his hands, and bark rubbed against bronze torso armor. Then it struck him as to why the world seemed so opaque, despite his eyes being open. His heltmet had twisted on his head, and was blocking his vision. Sighing at his foolishness, he lifted his helmet off anf observed the area in which he sat.

He was sitting with his back against a tree in a lightly forested area. Wide and narrow columns of sunlight blazed from the sky above, which explained why the grass still grew here. A lake spread out in front of him, its tranquil surface only rippling when a fish came too close to the surface. As he took in his settings, Corydon tried to remember why he was here. Looking down at himself, he found his armor and clothing splattered with dried blood. His favorite spear, with one of the largest and widest spearheads ever smitten, lay beside him, it too covered in dried blood of a now dead foe. But one oddity jogged his memory: an arrow in his armor. Its head penetrating his armor, and him as he soon found out.

He remembered now. In an ambush of his phalanx by Roman soldiers, he had been hit by this arrow. His fellow Spartans pulled him and set him against this tree, that was all he remembered before blacking out. He assumed they must have retreated or chased after the Romans, and left him there. Seeing as he was still here, they must have thought he was dead. After removing his armor and pulling out the arrow, he found that the arrow only penetrated enough to make him bleed himself into unconsciousness, but not kill him. Throwing the arrow away and standing up, Corydon started to think about what he would do now.

"I need something to drink."

Striding over to the lake edge, he felt his body still ache. He knelt over and washed his face and drank. Though he thought he heard something behind him, he continued to splash the water on himself.

 

[Asa]

Aria

*She carefully tried to hide from any and all places that she could be seen by anyone. She had lived in this forest for months now after her escape. SHe did not realize he was there as she neared the waters edge to take a swim. Slipping from her tattered gown she slipped into the water and moved slowly around in the water. Her raven hair billowing behind her and her china blue eyes reflecting the sun on the water.*

 

[The Rahzgriz]

Corydon stopped moving as he noticed something. Not a noise, but a sudden appearance of ripples on the water's surface. Not the ones he had made, and no fish could make these kind, unless it was one monster of a fish. Someone or something was probably making the tiny waves. Not one to take any chances, he calmly stood up and reached for his spear.

"Who is there? Friend or foe?"

Putting his weapon into a throwing position, Corydon now looked mush like the javelin throwers of the Olympic games. Should the thing or person make their presence known and be an enemy, he was ready to spear them like they were the catch of the day.

"Show yourself!"

 

[Asa]

*A terrified yelp at the voice though she tried to stifle it. Blinking she moved a little more in the water scared to death but dared not speak due to her past existance. Looking to him she did her best to stay covered by the water with only her head and shoulders above water*

 

[The Rahzgriz]

A distinctly female squeal answered Corydon's call, and alerted him to the person's relative position. At least he knew his assumption was correct, there was someone around the area. But he did not trust what he could not see at the moment, so he did not toally assume the voice was from a woman. His instincts, though, told him it was most likely a young woman, so he lowered his spear to a more relaxed postion. Walking along the edge of the water, he scanned the water's surface, looking for his woman.

After coming around a few yards, he found what he was looking for. His eyes lighted upon a young naked woman in the water. For a few moments, he sized her up, trying to discern any information about her or why she was here without speaking. Taking a few seconds, he then turned to face her fully and waded into the water until he was thigh-deep in it. Taking his spear, he pointed the tip right at her.

"Who are? What are you doing?"

 

[Asa]

She tried to back away fear flooding her eyes scared to speak but finally trying to speak*

I... I am Aria *Her soft voice trembled as she spoke* Who... Who are you?

 

[The Rahzgriz]

He noted the genuine terror in her eyes, but kept his stance and stoic expression. Letting her back away a little bit would help ease the way she felt. Though Corydon was still on the look out for anything that would label this as a trap or ambush. So far nothing. Going against his instincts, he replaced the spear at his side, it stood slightly taller than him and with the blade pointing the sky.

"Tell me, Aria, why are you here?"

 

[Asa]

*Biting her lip she watched him scared that he was a runaway slave hunter that had finally found her*

These woods are my home

 

[The Rahzgriz]

Her answer did not phase him much, if at all. It was actually quite common to find persons taking up residence in the wild or, in this case, haevly forested areas. Though her obvious fear was a more difficult answer to discern from what little time he had been with Aria. So he guessed the more likely answer from what he could think of.

"Do not fret Aria...."

He started to turn away from her and walk back to dry ground.

".... I am not a slave tracker. Come."

The Spartan motioned her to follow him.

 

[Asa]

*Nodding she slipped over to her gown and trying to redress without offering any real sight of herself she then moved over to him. THe scars on her wrists from shackles still fairly well visable now that she was out of the water.*

It is good to hear *A faint smile tried to grace her porcelin face*

 

[The Rahzgriz]

The Spartan walked with Aria at his side over to where his armor and helmet were still lying. For the most part he kept his eyes and mind from wandering to rather shameful subjects involving Aria. But the male mind was not perfect, and he was no exception. Once or twice he caught himself looking over the rather beautiful woman he had just met.

"Tell me, Aria, just whom did you manage to escape from?"

 

[Asa]

*She whimpered thinking about her old master and his sons* Farinon and his house

 

[The Rahzgriz]

"Farinon?"

The name sounded familiar to Corydon for some reason. Perhaps one of his fellow soldiers or officers had spoken of him once, but he was not certain of that. Whoever that person and his House might be, they could not have been very "friendly", to say the least. It was probable that he was an important Roman figure, since they were the ones who occupy most of the lands, or were encroaching on it.

"Sounds familiar, but I cannot recall him exactly..."

They had arrived at the place where he left his armor and helmet. Bending down to pick up and clamp his chest armor back on, he continued to speak to Aria.

"... But who ever he is, you are away from him now..."

Taking up his helmet, he slid it over his head.

"... I will look after you until we find the rest of phalanx. You can stay with us then."

In a sign of friendship, Corydon outstretched his hand for her to take.

 

[Asa]

*Nodding she whimpers a little and looks to him recoiling out of instinct about a man moving a hand towards her. SLowly she moved her hand to his trying to show some trust in this stranger no matter how terrified she was deep down*

They will not hurt me?

 

[The Rahzgriz]

Corydon noticed how Aria recoiled slightly when he made the move toward her. Her reaction was not a surprise to him. From what she had described about her previous life, it could be assumed that she had developed a rather fearful instinct. But to prove he meant no harm, he kept his hand steady and relaxed his body. Soon she reached out to him.

They will not hurt me?

He gently clasped his fingers around her hand when they reached his hand, and massaged it slowly with his thumb. The Spartan hoped this movement would calm her much like a scared animal or child.

"They are well-trained and focused. If it is commanded that they not lay a finger on you, then they shall not. Come, we must start traveling while it is still daylight."

With that said, Corydon led her back into the forest while still holding her hand softly. He still held her for two reasons: He wanted her to stay with him as they walked, and he liked the feel of her silken skin. It contrasted sharply with his rough, scarred hands.

 

[Asa]

*She remained close to him not offering to remove her hand from his. Walking along she kept a close eye out around them and when they got near other soldiers she whimpered faintly and moved to remain closer to him than before*