OOC: Into the Water

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Into the Water
~PM me if your interested~
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This story is of a young girl who grew up on the outskirts of a village. Her parents left her sometime during the night. She grew up on her own, with no one really noticing her. They knew she was there, they just didn't want to bother with her. As she grew over the years, she found her own small shelter.. abandoned house... barn... cave.... etc... During one of her visit to the pond she saw something in the water...

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The girl walked towards the pond in the tattered dress that hung loosely on her body. No one noticed her walking and kneeling on the water's edge. She was just a girl, nameless to the villagers more like a small nuisance really, an embarrassment. She had no name at least none they knew, she knew she had one and she chose to keep it to herself. No one watched the young girl put her hand into the water and no one noticed the hand under the surface emerge and pull her under. No one saw because no one cared. If they had been looking they would have seen that the girl was in fact a small woman. If they had ever taken the time to watch the girl grow from a small tiny frail creature into the stunning beauty she had become, then the villagers would have noticed her, then the men would have searched her out.

Alas, they didn't, but he did. The man in the pool. He had watched her from the moment she had first walked to the water's edge. He had seen her when he was just a boy, small and frail himself not yet a man but no longer a child. He had seen her when she was a young girl of eight and he had watched her come to the water's edge and fill her hungry belly with water when no food could be harvested from the village garden or when she could not steal it. He had seen her body change from girl to woman as his own changed from boy to man. He had watched her from under the water for many days before deciding to contact her, and though for many years they communicated silently, letting her eyes speak the emotions she felt as his mind filled hers, with thoughts and images of the world beneath the water. When it was time for her to join him, he raised his hand to her and felt the first touch of her delicate fingers. His body warmed the water around him as her skin connected with his. Slowly he eased her mind and helped her to become one with the water.

She was frightened as she felt her body become completely submerged in the pond. Her mind panicked, as thoughts of drowning entered her. Feeling her friend's hand pull on her chin she turned to look at him. His lips closed over hers as she felt a great rush of air fill her lungs. His lips moved from hers, and she breathed deep, letting her lungs fill with the air in the water and yet no water entered into her lungs. Together, hand in hand the two friends swam deeper into the pond until they came to a great cave. He motioned her to follow and she did, trusting him so completely and never having her trust waver, as the cave entrance closed them off from her former life. The water in the cave suddenly began to recede and the two friends hand in hand walked through the cave and out into a beautiful under water world.


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PM me or post here with suggestions on how you could see this story unfolding.... Thanks for your input...

Looking for a lead male and female... I don't have to write the lead female, I'm more then willing to have another female do it. A possible narrator?? I'm sure other parts are possible as the story moves.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I am giving a gentle nudge of this thread, hoping to bump into a player. With my fingers moving slowly over the keyboard, I type out the words that sentence me to begin this story alone...

Please PM or post here if interested any time...

~Red~

I'll start the story in a few more days...

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I am giving a gentle nudge of this thread, hoping to bump into a player. With my fingers moving slowly over the keyboard, I type out the words that sentence me to begin this story alone...

Please PM or post here if interested any time...

~Red~

I'll start the story in a few more days...

"Oh goodness!" I exclaim as I bump into this thread, knocking over the books and dust falls everywhere. Soon I am sneezing, and my eyes are itchy. "Well, I hope it stays a bit cleaner here now." I think to myself, as I leave to see what else I will write this evening.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I'm going to start the story here, and if anyone wishes to join just post and I'll move my work to a seperate thread... if not, then please enjoy the read and fill free to leave any comments or suggestions or questions...
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Characters...

Maduri~emerald green eyes~yellow gold hair~4'10"~tiny and beautiful
Inesh~silver grey eyes~sandy blonde hair~6'2"~large build, normal sized muscles, not garishly noticeable, but a worthy man for a lovely lass

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

First 3 paragraphs... from post #1


The girl walked towards the pond in the tattered dress that hung loosely on her body. No one noticed her walking and kneeling on the water's edge. She was just a girl, nameless to the villagers more like a small nuisance really, an embarrassment. She had no name at least none they knew, she knew she had one and she chose to keep it to herself. No one watched the young girl put her hand into the water and no one noticed the hand under the surface emerge and pull her under. No one saw because no one cared. If they had been looking they would have seen that the girl was in fact a small woman. If they had ever taken the time to watch the girl grow from a small tiny frail creature into the stunning beauty she had become, then the villagers would have noticed her, then the men would have searched her out.

Alas, they didn't, but he did. The man in the pool. He had watched her from the moment she had first walked to the water's edge. He had seen her when he was just a boy, small and frail himself not yet a man but no longer a child. He had seen her when she was a young girl of eight and he had watched her come to the water's edge and fill her hungry belly with water when no food could be harvested from the village garden or when she could not steal it. He had seen her body change from girl to woman as his own changed from boy to man. He had watched her from under the water for many days before deciding to contact her, and though for many years they communicated silently, letting her eyes speak the emotions she felt as his mind filled hers, with thoughts and images of the world beneath the water. When it was time for her to join him, he raised his hand to her and felt the first touch of her delicate fingers. His body warmed the water around him as her skin connected with his. Slowly he eased her mind and helped her to become one with the water.

She was frightened as she felt her body become completely submerged in the pond. Her mind panicked, as thoughts of drowning entered her. Feeling her friend's hand pull on her chin she turned to look at him. His lips closed over hers as she felt a great rush of air fill her lungs. His lips moved from hers, and she breathed deep, letting her lungs fill with the air in the water and yet no water entered into her lungs. Together, hand in hand the two friends swam deeper into the pond until they came to a great cave. He motioned her to follow and she did, trusting him so completely and never having her trust waver, as the cave entrance closed them off from her former life. The water in the cave suddenly began to recede and the two friends hand in hand walked through the cave and out into a beautiful under water world.

~~~~*~~~~​

"Maduri," a voice spoke to her, turning she looked into the eyes of her friend. Tears welled in her eyes, as her lips trembled and shook. She felt his thumb rub away the single tear that had forced itself free. "Why do you cry?" he asked?

A quivering response fell from her lips, "That is the first time I have heard my name spoken since the night my parents kissed me good night."
He pulls her close, and holds her. Language barriers had fallen between them long ago, as he communicated with her telepathically. She had whispered her responses to him, not wanting anyone to see her or hear her talking to what they thought would be the air. So he knew her voice and he had known her name, the day she had first seen his image in the water. "I would like to hear mine from your lips," he looked at her tear filled eyes, the wetness of them made the green emerald color sparkle.
"Inesh," she whispered as she went into his arms, and for the first time in forever, the woman experienced the warmth of another's embrace. "I have no words to describe to you, my feelings of unworthiness and how now I only sense the amount of things that were denied me."

Inesh rubbed her back and pulled his arms tighter against him. "There is so much I wish to share with you. Come we have far to travel till we reach my families farms."

Taking her hand, he helped her down the narrow, moss covered steps that had been carved into the wall of the cliff, thousands of years ago. Maduri was only somewhat unsure of the new adventure she would begin. She shivered slightly, as the reached the bottom of the stairs, turning her head she looked up. "Will I ever have to return?"

Inesh touched her chin and lifted it, "Only if you wish, you will be welcomed here. My village knows of you, and I have shared their plight with you. Some are against bringing outsiders in, but others welcome it. Here this is Bharati, she will let you ride her, I have sent her a message that you are kind."

Looking at the animal that her friend now had brought to her attention, Maduri's eyes grew huge. "She is larger then any horse I have seen!" A trickle of fear ran through her. Maduri knew how to ride, she had snuck into the village stables at nights and slowly began making friends, first with the ponies, and as she grew and the ponies grew she would sneak them out and ride across the lands, always returning before the morning villagers began their chores.

The animal that stood before her now could only be described as a mixture of two animals. Maduri had never seen one such as this, though her mind pulled at her to remember it. It had the head of an eagle and the wings of one also. The front legs were clawed with large talons, its back half was that of a lion. She had seen eagles swoop down and pluck hares and other small creatures from the meadow and had often seen them swoop in and steal a fish that was spawning on the low banks of the water.

Lions she remembered from the tales of bravery men would face in the stories her mother would read to her. She looked at the creature and reached out with a nervous hand to smooth its feathers. It cooed into her chest and then brought its beak up to nuzzle her cheek. "She is lovely, and seems to be so kind."

Inesh looked at the creature and the woman, "She can be deadly though, if the wrong thoughts are sent to her, unless she has become yours, right now, she is mine and only a member of my trusted family or friends can send her thoughts, and those can not be thoughts to hurt me, unless I am being foolish and hurting myself."

"What kind of creature is she? She seems familiar to me."
He grinned at her, "She is what in your world call a Griffin. We have many creatures here that your world do not believe in. Here I will help you mount her. She is similar to riding a horse if you have her on land, but in the air it is different."

"The air!" Maduri's emerald eyes grew huge in her face. "I will fly?"
"Yes," he laughed, "just hold onto her feathers here and she will do the rest. She will follow me."

After he assisted Maduri on to Bharati's back he mounted her mate Abhay, and he whistled for their journey to begin. The griffins and their riders lifted into the air. Maduri's eyes lit up with pleasure as the wind whipped gently across her face.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

After he assisted Maduri on to Bharati's back he mounted her mate Abhay, and he whistled for their journey to begin. The griffins and their riders lifted into the air. Maduri's eyes lit up with pleasure as the wind whipped gently across her face.

Maduri looked over the head of the griffin Bharati, her sights full of lush green trees. Looking down, she took her fill of looking at the animals so small below her, as she and Inesh flew by. She felt free and alive, something she had not felt since she was 8. Now as she and Inesh flew through the air, she wondered what more would she see, what great things would she discover.

Inesh watched her. His eyes took in her face, her smile, her sense of peace. He had watched that face shed many tears and now, all he saw in it were thrills and the desire to see everything. Inesh moved Abhay forward, his knees turning the great beast to the left. Maduri followed, or more like she was taken, as her griffin went behind its mate. Treetops came closer to the couple as the griffins prepared to land. Their talons raised as their feet landed softly, yet firmly on the moss covered grown.

Moving from the back of his ride, Inesh placed his hands on Maduri's waist and lifted her from her perch. She thanked him, and pet the soft feathers and fur on the pleasant creature that had carried her though the skies. She turned to look at her friend, her heart filled with gladness, their hands intertwined, he lead her towards the building that rested off to the right of the others. "What of the creatures?" she asked him, as she looked back at the griffins, now cooing and cleaning each other.

Smiling Inesh replied, "They are fine, remember I told you I only have to think of what I need and they will come to me."

"I forgot. I have some much to learn and so many questions."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, her scent filled his nostrils. Thinking to himself, "How I wish I had told her how much I loved her." Shaking the thought from his head, he now could only hope she felt the same way.

Maduri smiled back at her friend, "What is this place?"

"My families farm."

A series of barns of all shapes and sizes, clustered together as small birds roamed freely, their colors bright and brilliant to Maduri's eyes. She watched as they chased larger animals from their food. Miniature horses were corralled in a pen, while larger ones roamed on a hillside. Squinting her eyes, she gasped, "Horns!"

Inesh looked to where she was now gaping, "Ahhh... yes, another of your worlds mythical creatures. We have many."

"But how?"

"Your world had them, they just refused to care for them, and so we took them, saved them and welcomed them into our world. In return they serve us." They arrived at the steps and before either one lifted their feet to ascend them, a door swung open.

Looking up Maduri's heart stopped and her stomach flipped. She felt her heated blush rise to her face as she gazed up into the soft green eyes of a man. He stood the same height as Inesh, but his chest was firmer, his shoulders wider, and his face though marred slightly by a deep scar on one cheek, showed a sign of both strength and gentleness.

"Cousin, I see you have brought your outsider," the contempt not hidden from the man's lips.

Maduri paled at the vile sound of his statement, she looked to Inesh, "Who is this?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

"Cousin, I see you have brought your outsider," the contempt not hidden from the man's lips.

Maduri paled at the vile sound of his statement, she looked to Inesh, "Who is this?"

Inesh looked at the man that had spoken so rudely at his friend, his love and then looked to Maduri. "This is my cousin Daruka. Please do not mind his rudeness."

Daruka sneered, "Oh please mind it, for you are not wanted here, so watch out pretty one, for you'll not enjoy your time in our world." With those words he leered down at her body, and felt a stirring in his groin. Pushing between the couple he pressed himself close to the woman, and breath deep her scent. Again he felt his body respond to her, and he didn't like it. "Be sure to stay away from me, or Inesh will not like what happens to you." He growled at his cousin, when he felt the pull of his arm. Spinning to face Inesh, he looked down on him, "Keep her from me and the others, or return her, for she isn't safe here."

He stormed off leaving Inesh and Maduri standing on the edge of the porch. "Perhaps I shouldn't be here." She looked at Inesh, once more a feeling of rejection swept through her. Did no one want her? Was she that impossible to love?

Taking her hand in his, Inesh looked into her eyes, "I can hear your thoughts, and you are not impossible to love and you are wanted. I will ease you into society here, and I will teach you to shut your mind so others can not hear you." Inesh had planned on teaching this art to her later, but now that Daruka had threatened her, he knew she would need to learn this trick first. "Lets get you some food and drink and then I will teach you the most important thing for defense here in our world." He shook his head in disgust as he looked back at his cousin, "I believe you will need to use it often."

Maduri followed his eyes to the figure of Daruka walking away. She had felt something inside her flip when he had pressed between her and Inesh. Not understanding it Maduri chalked it up to nerves of meeting someone new that obviously didn't like her. Together with Inesh she turned back and walked into the home and soon was sat at a table with her friend, enjoying a light meal. Thoughts of Daruka and his rudeness no longer on her mind.

~~~~~*~~~~~~

Daruka kicked at the pile of straw he had shoveled into the stall. He had known the woman was trouble, back when Inesh had mentioned her as a young child. Lost and alone he had secretly gazed upon her reflection and as she grew, he like Inesh, began to feel something for her. When Inesh had told him, he was bringing her to their world, he had at first felt his body heat in passion and fire, as it had when he had first watched her bath in the pond after she had begun developing into a woman. He desired her, just like Inesh, but he also knew that as an outsider she would be hard pressed to make friends here as well.

He had told Inesh not to bring her, that in time she would gain the attention of the villagers, but Inesh had not listened as the evidence pointed out to him today. The evidence of the beautiful woman standing before him, whose thoughts he read. "She had found me attractive at first sight just as I did her," he realized that is what drove him to be rude to her. Inesh loved her also, and she was his find, not Darius therefore he would not allow himself to care for her.

Soon the meaningless chore was over and he called to his griffin Daya and hopped onto his back, "Let us fly for a while, my friend." He patted the beasts neck and then lifted out into the afternoon sky. Thoughts free only to him, he remembered the stolen moments of seeing Maduri at the pond's edge, and feeling the ripples in the water hit his skin when she would bathe or swim in it. "I don't know how I will avoid her, Daya... but I must."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Maduri had enjoyed the light meal with Inesh and now found herself resting comfortably in a room in his home. He was retrieving her blankets and fresh clothing from another room, and she sat in a soft chair facing the window. Her eyes were constantly shifting from one griffin to another as she watched them fly high then plummet quickly low, before once more returning to rise high again.

She turned when she heard Inesh re-enter the room. Rising from her chair she went over to help him. Taking the pile of blankets their fingers touched, “Sorry,” she blushed as she moved away with her blankets and laid them on the bed.

“No problems,” he answered, smiling inside over the light blush that crossed her face. “She is so lovely,” he thought to himself. He wanted to move slowly with her, she had not ever had experience with people and he knew for her to suddenly be thrust into the mix of a huge community and a new world also, would be very trying on her.

Inesh had hoped that his cousin Daruka had not been at the house, but he was and Inesh would deal with that. He had no idea his cousin's hatred for the top landers was so deeply rooted, he hoped that he would learn that Maduri was not a mean tempered outsider like the man that had wedded Daruka's mother.

He sighed, “I should return to the barn and work.”

Maduri looked up, “May I come with you?”

“That would be most welcomed,” he extended his hand to her and led her to the barn. “We have quite a few animals you will find very interesting. You'll enjoy them all I'm sure.“

“I'm sure I will also.” Maduri was no longer thinking of the rude man that she had met earlier, as Inesh led her into the barn. The smell was familiar to her, “Inesh, no matter where a person goes I wonder if the smell of a barn is any different.“

He laughed and pulled her to him, giving her a hug, “You are probably right.”

“Careful, cousin she'll have you in her bed, before noon if you keep holding her so close.“

Maduri's mouth hung open as the words reached her ears and her face blushed brightly as she understood their meaning. She had not been so ignorant to not know what was happening in the houses where the ale ran free and fast on some nights. Her fist clenched to her side.

“Daruka, apologize to my guests. You are staying here uninvited and only because we are family do I not ask you to leave.“ Inesh said, his anger evident in his words and his tone.

Daruka looked at his cousin then to the woman he had offended, “I apologize to you Maduri, my words were said in jest and I shalt not repeat them again.“ He tipped his head to her and left the barn, turning away and moving back towards the house.

“I'm sorry too, Maduri, he is an angry man, and perhaps one day he will tell you why. I know not all the reasons, but I thought he had gotten over his dislike for the top landers.“

She smiled at him, though it was a broken one, “It is okay, I have dealt with rude people before, the difference is this, one I have you and two, he is the first rude one that actually spoke to me, no one else spoke to me for 10 years Inesh, they just would look through me as if I wasn't there, until you... I thought perhaps I wasn't real.“

He touched her cheek, “Your very real Maduri.” He wanted to kiss her then, to take her lips to his and taste the smoothness of them, but he didn't. “Come I'll show you Ika, our newest griffin youngling.“

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

a bump and a bit more story... if you would like to play.. just post here.. *smiles*

Daruka had watched them for a short time, before speaking the rude statement. Even now as he sits looking out the farmhouse window, he has no clue as to why he had said such a thing. He had read her thoughts when she was in her world. He had watched her grow up, just as Inesh had. The difference was, he had also read his cousins thoughts. Inesh had no clue that Daruka had done this, he rarely invaded into others thoughts. But after Inesh had kept returning day after day to speak with Maduri, Daruka had to know what he was thinking.

When Inesh's thoughts moved from friendship to love, Daruka closed off his mind and refused to intrude again. Now he fought an inner battle not to read Maduri and Inesh's thoughts. He wanted to know what she was thinking, it was like he was drugged to her thoughts, but he fought the temptation, he knew it wasn't fair, she didn't know the way to block it, Inesh would have to teach her soon.

He saw them approaching the farmhouse and he locked his own thoughts away. Inesh had not intruded on his mind in years, and after he had done it that last time, he had made sure that Inesh knew not to invade his space again. The door opened and closed then the couple immerged.

"Daruka, we are back," Inesh shouted as they moved into the room. "Ah, you are here."

"Yes, what do you need, cousin?" His eyes focused on the man in the room, not on the woman by his side. He set a thought to Inesh, "She needs to cover her mind, teach her."

Inesh studied his cousin, "I shall, I have to go to the council and tell them of her arrival."

"You can not take her into the village!" his thoughts raged at Inesh, "she is not aware of the multitude of people."

Maduri stood there watching the two men stare at each other, her thoughts only focusing on the intensity of their body language and their eyes. She knew of the mind communication, but she had never witnessed it between two people. The intensity of their stares surprised her.

"Inesh," Maduri placed her hand on his arm, "Please, I can't understand you."

Inesh looked to her and apologized. "I have to go to the village and I need you to stay here. Daruka will remain here also. If you want to stay in your room, I'm sure that will be fine."

Daruka rolled his eyes, "She'll need to eat, Inesh!" He nodded his head towards the door, "Go to the council, she'll be fine here, I'll not bite her." His eyes looked over body, "Not unless she asks."

"Daruka," the strong thought crossed from Inesh to his cousin. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Maduri."

She watched him leave and then turned back to Daruka, "I'm sorry if my being here troubles you."

He walked off to the kitchen and began preparing the evening meal."This will take awhile to cook, fill free to do something somewhere else, till I tell you it is ready."

Maduri looked at his back, "Stupid Ass," she thought as she turned the corner.

Daruki slammed the pot down, but stopped himself from speaking to her. She didn't know better. He closed his eyes, then opened them, returning to his task at hand. He set the stew to cook and moved back to the other room. Maduri sat there looking at a book.

"You can read our language?" he looked surprised at her nod. His brow lifted.

"Your surprised?" she asked, confused by his expression. "I spent hours, years with Inesh, learning everything I could about your homeland. Why would you be surprised by me?"

Daruka looked at her, "I must have missed that," he thought to himself, "what more did she know?" He stared at her, then felt the familiar pull of his heart reaching for her. Trying to ignore the sensation, he returned to his own book. He picked the novel up and began to read enjoying the silence they created.

Soon, the meal was ready. Daruka and Maduri sat together. He watched her closely, his eyes following her every movement. Studying her smile, her fingers, the tilt of her head. "Man," he muttered, then rose up to leave.

"What?" she asked.

He looked at her, "I don't think you should be here."

She looked at him confused, "Here in this home with you and Inesh, or here in your world?"

Daruka pushed himself from the counter, "This World."

Maduri's eyes squinted, "I don't fit in any where, so here is where I will try to." She spun on her heels once more. Thoughts of pure rage filled her, she stormed out of the house towards the barn. The whole time, she cursed Daruka and his ignorance. Soon a hand was gripping her arm, and spinning her around.

"I'm going to teach you the first reason you don't belong here." Daruka glared into her eyes, reading her mind and sending her the images of all the things she had been thinking, all the vile thoughts she had spewed at him, without her thinking about the fact he could hear them. "You toss your thoughts, like that and you'll never live long in this world."

"Then teach me," she told him.

Daruka looked at her stunned, "That is Inesh's job."

"He isn't here," she said, "and I have many more spew to toss at you, so you had best teach me this trick or you'll hear them all, very soon."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Daruka laughed inside, and took her hand, it was warm to his touch, and his thoughts creeped in to see what she was feeling about his hand upon hers. He smiled wider, as he led her to a rise in the hill behind Inesh's home.

Maduri's stomach raced in circles, as Daurka held her hand, she tried to focus on the sky that was beginning to darken, but all she could feel was his hand on hers. Soon he released her and told her to sit down.

Once she had sat upon the soft, yellow tinted grass, she looked up to him. He sat across from her, took both her hands, and stared into her eyes. At first Maduri felt nothing, but the warmth of his hands in hers. She soon felt something else, something deeper, a feeling of something reaching in and pulling at her. Pulling her hands from his grasp she looked at Daruka, "What was that?"

"That was what it feels like when someone is invading your space on purpose," he told her.

"I never felt that when you listened to my thoughts inside."

"No, you didn't notice it, before."

She looked at him, with questioning eyes, before returning her hands to his. "What does it feel like when I want someone to read my thoughts?" she asked.

"Think of something you want me to know, it can be anything, I will seek it out and you'll feel the difference."

Maduri closed her eyes, and thought of the night her mother kissed her good night, and her father had read her a story. Her heart was a peace, her body was light and airy, as the sound of her mother's voice played in her mind, as her father reenacted the animals that were in the story. Her body hummed in melodic melodies of love and joy.

She felt a finger against her cheek, opening her eyes she looked at Daruka and the hand that was touching her face. He pulled his hand away, and rubbed the tear that had started to fall between his finger and thumb. "Your parents loved you very much, I can feel it."

Her heart broke, and for the first time since the young girl of 8 woke up, lost, alone and hungry, great tears raked her body, she huddled deep into herself and cried with all that she had never allowed to bring her down, slowly began to seep out and carry her away.

Daruka stared for a moment, the images of her life filling him, with anger, sorrow, heartache, pity, desire, passion and the strongest image of all love. He pulled her to him, his hands holding her close, as her tears soaked his shirt. He whispered words of comfort, as she allowed the tears of 10 years to fall upon his clothes.

Soon hiccups were coming from her, and he eased her back. She refused to look at him, ashamed for her tears. Daruka took her hands, "I'll finish your lesson later," he moved to rise, but was soon pulled back down by her gentle tug.

"No, please, we need to continue."

He nodded his agreement, "Concentrate on an image, something similar to a wall, or a rock, something that would take great power to destroy."

Maduri, locked her image in her head, and Daruki asked if she had it, "Can't you see it?" she asked.

"No, I'm not trying to," he chuckled.

"Oh, yes I have it, now try to break through."

Daruka smiled, "Keep the image Maduri, for I'll try hard to break free of the wall you have built."

Maduri nodded her head, and concentrated on the force she felt was indestructible. She felt a small amount of pressure on her being, so she concentrated harder on the image, not losing any part of it, keeping the picture clear in her head.

Daruka watched her, as he tried to press further, his own image appeared to him, and he tried to push through it. Confused that he would fail in this attempt so soon in his teachings, he pushed further, deeper, again his image bounced back to him. Daruka clenched his hands into fists and physically imagined he was tearing through the wall she had made, only to be deflected by his image again.

He opened his eyes, and stared at her. "Maduri," he called her name.

She slowly opened her eyes, "Yes, you didn't get in did you. I felt you trying, you were giving me a headache, but you didn't get in."

"No, I didn't, I'm sorry for your headache, I pressed hard, but I couldn't penetrate the wall you created." His head shook in amazement, "You should do well, the wall you built is solid and not easily moved."

"Oh course not," she said as she stood up, dusted her skirts, and moved away from him, "The image wasn't a wall Daruka."

"It wasn't?" His eyes showed his puzzlement, "What then?"

"It was you," Maduri, headed down the hill and back to the house, leaving a stunned Daruka behind her.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Ever get the feeling someone is watching you? If your reading, I hope your enjoying.

Daruka watched her travel down the hill and eventually into the house. He thought over what he had seen while he tried to press into her thoughts. The image had been of him coming back to him, but he thought it was because she had blocked him so well. When in fact what it was, was his own image that had been her barrier. Confusion ran through him. Why chose him? Did it mean something more to her, or did she see him as an unmovable force?

He finally made his own way back towards the house. The moons were rising higher, each one glowing a different color. He had watched the moon on her world settle many times. Now, he thought of his own place, the one she now was invading. Daruka went into the house, scanned their living room, saw Maduri was not there, so he went in and settled back down. Thoughts of the top lander ran through his head.

His mother had married a top lander after his father's death. Daruka remembered how his mother had grieved over his father's untimely fate. He had watched the wild Griffen come towards them, his beak foaming and his talons all ready covered in blood. His father had charged in front of him, and his mother. They had been having a picnic, and his father had no weapon with him. He deflected the animals attention, by placing him in his path.

Daruka watched the beast tear his father to pieces, as his mother pulled him away. The sounds of his father screaming still came to him at night. His mother and him, had made it to where their own Griffen's had ran off to, then they had flown deep into the city. Hunters found his father's mangled body, then the bodies of another group of travelers. Later they had been able to find the lair of the Griffen, and with a tame female Griffen that was in heat, they had lured it out and killed it. The diseased beast was so riddled with whatever sickness it possessed that he could not be communicated with.

Memories assailed him further. Thoughts of the weeks and months that followed as his mother moved them into Inesh's families home. How she had then started traveling to various pools in the country, each day coming back feeling lost and rejected. He had known she was searching for another mate, but he didn't want her to find one. Daruka had told her this, but she said he needed a figure to follow. What she finally brought home was not someone he wanted to follow. His name was Micheal, he was from above, just like Maduri.

His mother, Emila had chosen Micheal as her mate, because he had seen her below the water, she had read his thoughts. He had thought of her as a water sprite, beautiful and delicate. She had pressed into his head, and saw terrible sadness and pain. Emila was a healer and she thought she could heal his pain. But after several weeks with him on her world, she had not realized that his pain was imbedded into him, and it had festered into a black heart. Now she to was lost to him. Micheal's rage had taken her life, and Daruka had taken Micheal's.

Shutting the light off, he headed upstairs, paused at Maduri's closed door, and opened it softly. No light escaped from the room, and he saw her sleeping. How many times had he imagined himself watching her sleep. Hundreds? Thousands? He couldn't count, the number of times he wished for this moment, to gaze upon her. Daruka walked towards her bed, and did just that. He took in her lashes, resting softly against her skin. Her lips slightly open as she breathed. The long strands of her hair, laid in ripples over her pillow. Delicate fingers rested on her stomach. Her breast rose and fell with each breath.

He bent his head, and breathed in the scent of her hair, placed a kiss on her temple and sent a thought of sweet dreams and love to her mind. Turning away, he left the room, closed the door and left a piece of his heart behind it. Daruka made his own way to his room, and silently readied himself for bed. “Inesh will return by morning, then I will have to leave, I can not stay while she falls in love with him.”

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Inesh had left the council, his anger fueled further with the glares that he recieved as he made his way back to his griffen. He had been surprised, shocked even that he was to take Maduri back to the top landers, and to not bring any more of her kind to their world.

He had asked, for an explanation, demanded one. They had all voted earlier, while he had been getting her. That there were to be no more top landers brought into their world, that the cultures clashed and the violent natures of the others, mingled with their mates. Then it flowed into the veins of their children.

They threw information that had been gathered. Logs that dated over several hundred years. Each year the deaths of the Insiders, grew. Each year they rose dramatically higher. Children of mixed blood, became increasingly violent. Marriages ended in death or forced annulments.

Women of the Inlanders were raped and beaten by other Toplanders, and the men of their world were often forced to wash their wives that had been chosen from the Toplanders, become mates with many men, and even sometimes women.

Inesh had pleaded with them, told them that Maduri was different. She had not been exposed to evil. She was pure and kind. Her life was that of an innocent, and she was not nor could be corrupt.

Still they refused to listen. Thoughts of hate filled his mind, as he pushed his beast toward home. He would not send her back to her world, she was his and he loved her, he needed to protect her.

He entered his home, his head pounding with rage. Taking the stairs two at a time, he stopped at Maduri's door. He looked inside and his body stiffened as he watched his cousin kiss Maduri's head. Inesh pushed his body away, and placed a black wall around his thoughts.

He hurried to his room, and shut the door. “How could she do this, how could she welcome him to her bed, and Daruka, how could he take her?” Inesh had been angry before, but with Maduri, he had always felt calm and serene. She filled him with the peace that his body needed to contain the anger he often had to bottle away.

Opening his door, he went to Maduri's room, and shut the door behind him. “Whore!” he shouted to her.

Maduri shot out of bed, and stared at Inesh. “What is wrong?”

Inesh stared at her. “Your not welcomed here and must return to your world.” He stalked towards her and grabbed her arm. “I'll have what my cousin had first.” He crushed her lips to his, and his tongue forced itself into her mouth.

“Inesh!” Daruka shouted out, bringing a hail of thoughts with him. He fired them at Inesh, and broke through the thick shield.

“What are you doing?” his thoughs carried the question.

Inesh spun around, “You took her, and you know she was mine.”

“I have not taken her,” Daruka spoke outloud. “We will speak in front of her, for this concerns her.”

He glared at Daruka. “The council says she can not stay, so I'm going to have her then return her to her people.”

Maduri looked at the two men, “I don't understand. Why are you acting this way?”

Daruka tried to see inside his cousins head, but a covering of a strong blanket was weaved over his mind once more. “I know what is wrong.”

Inesh looked at him, “You'll stand down Daruka.” The voice that left the young man was no longer Inesh's, it was now deeper and full of evil.

“Maduri, come to me. We can not reach him, he is lost to us.”

She gazed at Daruka, then back at Inesh, “But he is my friend, what is wrong with him, why does he speak so strangely?”

Daruka hung his head, “The council controls him, they have filled his mind and they speak for him now.”

“Take her and go, Daruka. Or she dies and then so do you.”

He pulled her to him, and held her close. “We both will go, and we'll not return.”

“You chose to live with them, as one of them?”

“I chose to live in a world wear ones thoughts are no longer invaded and where one can chose freely who they mate with.”

“Then leave!”

A giant wind slammed into the couple, and they both were lifted off the ground. Maduri, screamed in pain, as her mind was invaded, by horrible images. Daruka fought to ease her suffering as his own head was filled with terrible sights. Soon they both collapsed and their worlds were black inside their minds.