Troubled Times

[Curinth]

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Torches were beginning too flicker as the shadows of night spread, making little bastions of light in the town nestled within the forest. The merchant caravans that frequented the small town no longer moved about, content too rest for a night, their masters content too sleep away and dream of the money that filled their minds. A few guards still roamed about, a fraction of an already tiny force of law keepers.

As the moon began to rise high into the cloudless night sky, the faint sound of laughter broke through the silence that had settled. Through the trees two shapes darted, never more than but a few feet from one another. The crunch of leaves and fallen branches echoed all around them as they ran, a young girl having taken up the lead, and glancing over her shoulder now and then to see if her companion was keeping up. Finally the chase came to a close though, as the cool touch of the girl’s pursuer grasped her by the hand, and yanked her back. They fell too the ground, laughing as they collapsed in each other’s arms.

For a time they rolled around in the dewy grass, playfully teasing one another as their sweet laughter echoed amongst the trees. As they broke apart, rolling onto their backs, the moonlight broke through the canopy of branches above, briefly illuminating the young lovers below. The girl laid in a short, tangled mess of dark reddish brown hair, her brown eyes just barely showing beneath it. She was draped in purple clothes, though revealing they were indeed. Her pants were the only thing upon her that was not purple, rather, they were black, and tight too her skin. Her shirt left the somewhat tanned skin of her stomach uncovered, for all the world too see. Pointed ears revealed her for what she was…an elf, of some sort or another.

Slowly the boy crawled over to the girl and laid his head upon her smooth belly, glancing up into her eyes, and then up into the stars. The elven girl giggled as his short white hair tickled her bare stomach, but she did not object too his presence. Her eyes and his were one and the same, both brown, one of many things they held in common. Their race, however, was something they did not. As the moon’s silver light passed slowly by, it revealed him for what he was. Black skin, like pitch, and pointed ears…a Dark Elf, to be sure. A strange match to see, indeed, especially in times as dark as had befallen the lands of late...

 

[Curinth]

There came a scream, a bloodcurdling scream that tore through the woods, washing over the young couple. The boy bolted upright, his pointed ears twitching with the sudden high pitched noise. His eyes darted from place to place, searching for any trace of where the sound had come from. Beside him, the elven lass seemed to be doing the same thing. Then they saw it. Fire. In the distance, clouds of black smoke swirled high into the night sky, blocking out the moon and plunging the forest into near total darkness. Screams began to echo more freely…more than one person was screaming.

The Dark Elf leapt to his feet and offered out his hand to the still seated girl, pulling her to her feet. Looking back to the distant flames, he dashed forward, hand still tightly gripping the elf’s. The run would not be a long one, but they could smell what had happened before their eyes could fall upon it. Death. It lingered in the air. The bodies of the town’s defenders and most of the townsfolk littered the ground, the earth beginning to stain a dark red. The girl recoiled, falling into the Dark Elf’s arms, tears streaming down her face.

Slowly, the boy began to walk them back, away from the village, to hide them from sight as his eyes took in all that was happening. Hooded men were hurrying through the village…burning and looting. Women were grabbed off the streets by the men as they scampered about. But the young Drow had but one duty now, and that was to keep his love away from the reach of the bandits. He knew what they were raiding their village for...and he was going to make damn sure they didn’t lay a hand upon his mate…

 

[LadyFairy]

Lana awoke in her bed, she could smell the smoke, and hear the screams of the other villager's. Quickly she dressed pulling on a white longsleeved shirt, brown tunic, and leggings. Grabbing next her cloak, and dagger as she slid on her knee high soft leather boots before heading down the stairs.
She had just barly mannaged to make it out the back, when she heard the front door being smashed in. Slipping from shadow to shadow, and running for all she was worth Lana ducked into the woods as quickly as she could.
For she had seen what men like these did to women of any race, and had no wish to join them. Tho she felt a great deal of pitty for them there was not she could do to help them at presant.

 

[poohlive]

Sarage hadn't been aware of much until now. This small village, with a wonderful array of merchants and the like, didn't see any trouble. Apart from the occasional skirmish over price or product, it had been years since Sarage even unsheathed his blade.
The thing was of poor quality, all the town could afford. Beaten metal, rusted over in parts, dull, unclean, unkempt. It reminded him of an angry tooth, decaying in the gums, but refusing to give up, just yet.
Well, seeing as the night watch was just as boring as the day watch, except at night you could find a darkened corner and sleep, he had decided to find a darkened corner to sleep.
Just getting comfortable, relaxing himself against a crate of lettuce and carrots, he heard the first screams of pain, and the first shouts of triumph.
Sarage made a mad dash out to the streets, already seeing fire begin to scorch the night sky. Without hesitaiton he took out his weapon, glancing forward. What had happened? Were they under attack? No one was their enemy... at least no one he had heard of.
But, it became obvious, when he moved to the other end of town, looking for the oncoming marauders. This wasn't a battle, this was a raid.
Hooded men, ravishing, looting, burning, taking what they could, women, children, gold. He could see the men either dead or dying in the streets.
Three of them noticed him, and were already moving closer. He braced himself, blocking a few well placed blows, and retaliating with the like. If his sword had been sharp, and moved with ease, he might have just taken them down with a few swings, but instead, by the time the first one fell, the other two were already on top of him.
It took a great match of strength to fling them off, falling to the ground, one of their swords nears his face. He grabbed for it, an elvin blade, remarkable to his touch. It willingly bent to his will, and by the time the other two got up, they were both dead.
Another half dozen noticed this, and were coming around to match him.
Sarage was no one's fool. He knew this raiding party could not be taken on by himself. In a desperate attempt, he had hoped for backup, someone, that could help him, aid him now, but those left alive were either running, captured, or being gutted like chicken.
He sheathed the new blade, not wanting to do turn and flee, but he did so, passing through secret entrances within the city, and emerging in the forest on the other side. He ran in, just far enough so no one could notice him, but so he could still see the village.
It burned. Boy, did it burn.
He gritted his teeth.

 

[LadyFairy]

Lana stayed still where she was afriad to move holding her dagger close. She had seen the stranger run into the forrest, and couldnt see him very well in the dark, unsure wether he was friend or foe. She decided to let him make the first move.

Lana is a 5ft 6in' half elf, slender of build. Her breasts are full, and ferm. Not those of a child, but nether thos of an older woman. She has long black hair, and gray green eyes much like those of a cat.

 

[poohlive]

Sarage ducked down from view, behind a fallen log, when he heard voices moving out along the treeline. They seemed to be searching the surrounding area, but with little help. The night, the thick foliage, and the loud crackling of the fire made it near impossible to find anything without actually wedging through the forest.
And in the dark, that would be a stupid mistake. They thought so too, and cut their losses, returning to the apparent victory party already being celebrated deeper in town.
They'd be gone by morning. He could wait here until then. Sitting upright, making himself more comfortable against the log, he took out the sword he had stolen, trying to examine it in the poor moonlight waning through the trees.
Elvish, he could tell from the craftsmanship. It had a wonderful curved feel, almost like a scimitar. Sharp, and well crafted. Someone had put a lot of time and effort into this. Elves? He couldn't imagine elves attacking an elvish settlemtn, not unless they were drow, on some death search...
But, Drow hadn't attacked here for years. This was a relatively small town, in the middle of nowhere. It had no advantage whatsoever.
He rested the sword on his lap, sighing in great relief. His face was covered in sweat, ash in his shoulder length brown hair, tall lean figure. He was one of the few humans in this city, and had chosen the watch for his skills in weaponry and strength. The elves were elegant, distinguished, beautiful and graceful, but in a down and dirty fight, he'd bet on a lowly human any day of the week.
His blue eyes hadn't even bothered with his own surroundings until he heard something faint. A breath on the wind. Immediately he rose, his sword in hand. Was someone else here? He studied the wilderness, his eyes adjusted to the pale moonlight. He saw the figure, behind a bush, his sword out straight to meet her.
"You are..." But he recognized that figure, that grace, those green eyes, someone he had known in the village for years. His heart lept out that she hadn't been taken.
"Oh Lana," He was so happy, he bent down to hug her, holding her tightly in his arms, "I thought the worst. They came down, no warning at all. Taking women, children, killing the rest. Are you all right? They didn't hurt you, did they? I got out by the skin of my teeth."

 

[Curinth]

“Shh…” The boy whispered as he pressed his fingers to the elf girl’s lips. She nodded wordlessly, wiping the tears from her eyes, and peeked out over the surrounding bushes, eyes quickly falling upon the bandits that were scouring the area. She flopped back down behind the bush, crouched low beside the Drow, waiting for their chance to move. As they’d fled from the area around the town several of the bandits had caught sight of them, and pursued them deeper into the woods. While the two could likely handle the six bandits, they preferred not to take the chance that came with it rather...they wished to escape without a fight.

The wait, the long silence weighed upon them, daring them to move, daring them to take action…but still they remained. Soon enough there came the realization that the voices of the bandits were beginning to grow more distant…they were departing. With a nod to the brown-haired girl beside him, the black-skinned teenager rose steadily to his feet, and was met but with silence. Motioning to his mate, he waited for the girl to rise before he began to move once more. His hand gently wrapped about hers once again, guiding her through the woods.

As they reached a hill, its sides wet with the morning dew, the boy lost his footing with a shout, sliding down the hill, his grip on the elf’s hand pulling her right with him. They slid right into a mass of bushes at the bottom of the hill, easily announcing their presence to any nearby.

 

[LadyFairy]

"Sarage its you thank the gods your alive." She breathed with obvious releaf. " I would have spoken sooner had i reolized it was you, and Nay i am not hurt nor did they find me, i barly mannaged to escape myself."
Slowly she stepped back out of his arms her eye's roaming over him searching for any injury even a small one. She new it was foolish for she didnt think he held the same feelings for her that she held for him.
She had always been attracted to Sarage ever sence he had come to the village. Tagging along after him insisting he teach her to defend herself. He had laughed, and teased her about her wanting to learn but had taught her all the same.
Quickly they both jerked searching the dark quietly, for the people or the animal that had made such a noise in the bushes beyond. quietly she prayed that it would be one of the villager's or a wild animal.

 

[poohlive]

Sarage moved with decisive quickness, sloppy and unaligned though it was. He did have twinges of jealousy towards the elves, they could turn anything, even cleaning up after themselves as graceful and ellegant as bowing to royalty. Humans had no such luxury. When Sarage wanted to move ass, he did so, but as bluntly as a mad cow in heat.
When he came upon the scene, his first instinct was hate, pouring out to the drow who seemed to be tangled up against the young elf maiden. He didn't recognize either of them, but he couldn't see them very well in the moonlight either. He saw the dark skin, and that was all he needed to see.
His newly aquired blade went right up against the drow's throat, as Sarage spoke low, and harsh.
"Those are your friends back at the village, aren't they? Picking up women, taking children. I thought you drow had no honor, but no dignity as well? You better explain yourself right now... or we'll see just how dark drow blood really is."

 

[Curinth]

The Dark Elf groaned, rubbing his head from the fall...only to find a blade pressed against his throat. He immediately feared the worst, thinking it the blade of a bandit, but as his eyes slowly fell upon the warrior before him, he realized he'd seen the man before. He'd been a guard...a townsguard, yes that was it...but the problem still remained. He was pressing a sword to the boy's throat. Raising his hands slightly as a sign of goodwill, he made no movements to suggest he might lash out at the man.

"Look, I'm a townsperson, from the same damn town that just started to burn! Those are not my friends, I don't know who the hell they are." His gaze bore into the man unwaveringly, seeming as if to see right through him. But soon enough the rustle of the bushes at his side pulled the boy's attention away, as the young elf girl rose unto her feet.

Pulling a few brambles and vines from around her body, she turned to search for her mate, but was quite startled to see the others. She didn't even bother trying to recognise them. In heartbeat her blade had been drawn and she lashed out at Sarage, just trying to knock his blade aside, and push him back.

"Get away from him!" The fiery elf shouted.

 

[poohlive]

Sarage didn't believe him fully. He knew something of what was happening in that town, Sarage had a gut feeling he knew at least a little. But, that he was a resident of town, just running for his life? The town held little drow, none that he could think of, but the fear and wavering in his voice were true enough. Sarage believed that part.
He let the sword waver, pulling back, unsure what to do now.

 

[LadyFairy]

Quickly Lana moved into position between Sarage and the elf girl. Knocking the blade from her hand, and bringing the elf girls arm behind her back as she had been taught holding the elf as still as she was able, Speaking as she did so. Waite all of you stop. Please lower your wepon Sarage. It is as he says he is from the village i recognize them both.
She watched as Sarage lowerd his wepon, the look he gave her was enough to say that he was not pleased with her interfearance. She new he had much reasion to distrust the Drow race, as did she after this night's work,but she new these two were not the enemy.
Tho she did not know them by name she had seen them sevral times threw out the last few years. Slowly she released the elf girl, and watched as she ran into the arm's of her Drow lover. Wishing she herself could do the same. Looking down she noticed that she had not been quite so quick at blocking the dagger. It was not a bad cut, and only stung a little, she may not have even noticed had it not been for the tair in her sleeve. Shething her dagger. She appologized for both her, and Sarage, which earned her another of his dissaproving glances and introduced herself. My name is Lana, and my companion's name is Sarage, Please accept my Applolgies we are all on edge with the village being attacked and your ummm fall into the bushes. Let us hope there are other's who may have escaped as we have.

 

[LadyFairy]

pulling some herbs out of her pouch she began treating everyones wounds as well as she was able in the dark.

 

[Curinth]

The young Elven girl cast a glare at the other woman before hurrying over to the Dark Elf's side, wrapping her arms about him. Slowly, she began to realize the other girl looked familiar...another townsperson she'd seen from time to time she supposed. As her eyes wandered to the Human warrior, she recognized him in near an instant.

"Sarage" She whispered aloud, a smile forming upon her fair face. She knew of him well, having seen him around town many a time, and spoken with him every now and then, whenever she went to visit the guards. She had always enjoyed being around them, listening to the guards' old tales of battle...but now such things seemed like a fleeting memory of peace...washed away in a river of flame and ash.

"Sarage," she began nodding to him slightly as she motioned for the dark elf boy to rise, "tis good to see you are still alive and ah...sorry for um...attacking you there....but...um...anyways...are you...the only guard to escape? What happened to the others?" Her voice was lined with tones of both curiousity and sadness as she spoke, fearing the worst for her friends. They had all seemed so adept with the blade...she didn't know how any of them could fall so easily. Head turning slightly towards the boy, her devilish grin flashed again.

"This is Zeshin...I don't believe you two have met..." Before anyone else could get a word out, she turned to the other girl, hurriedly introducing herself.

"Hi! I'm Dru, I don't think we've met before. No hard feelings for before!"

 

[poohlive]

"Anyone else?" Sarage looked back at the village, now nothing more than flames licking at the twilight above. It didn't seem possible, but morning would soon come, rise up on this day like any other.
Only, this day would be different, so different from all the rest.
"No, no one was left. They tried to fight off the attack, but it was too much. I could only take out a couple of them myself, but the odds were overwhelming. So much for just a tiny village? I don't know..."
He leaned in, giving them all a once over as they introduced themselves. Just the four of them? A city of at least a hundred, with merchants passing here and there, now only four remained. Well, three and a drow.
But, Sarage tried not to think of that.
"I got this blade, off of one of them. He didn't seem to need it much anymore. I think it's of elvish quality, but I'm not sure. I'm no blacksmith."

 

[LadyFairy]

Lana nodded to the elf girl Dru... in acceptance. She didnt really expect her to remember who she was anyway. They had only met in passing a few times. Lana had always made sure to disapear when the other girl arrived to listen to the stories the guards told. Most of the women in town and her family had never approved of her learning to defend herself. Thus Lana had done her best to stay away from all of them.
Walking over to Sarage, listining as he talked, with the Drow Zeshin about the blade he had taken. She placed a hand upon his arm to offer what little comfort she may. The morring would be arriving soon, and it would be a long hard day for all of them. Would they find more servivers?? or only ashes, and death?? We should probly take turns at a watch and try and get as much sleep as we can the morrow looks to be long and hard.

 

[poohlive]

"I'm not sure sleep is the best thing right now. One of two things could happen."
He spoke in hushed tones, hunkering down behind the bushes.
"Either by morning they'll be gone, and we can salvage what's left of survivors and supplies, or by morning, they'll be waiting for anyone to come back. Maybe even scower the whole mountainside for anyone left. And... who knows where they are going next? They could go to the next village over, and start again. I don't know, without knowledge of who they are, or what they want, I can't be too sure about what they're going to do."
He looked at the others, this tiny group... all too tiny, not even enough to do a proper raid if they wanted to do so.
And right now, that was on his mind, going back in there, and tearing as many throats out as possible. But, he couldn't. Not leave Lana behind here alone... she'd be unprotected. He needed to make sure she was ok first, revenge came after that.
"I don't know what to do, but whatever it is, we'd better do it fast."

 

[LadyFairy]

Lana looked up at Sarage she could tell that he was torn, he wanted to go tearing after the one's who had attaced the village ,and at the same time didnt want to leave her alone.

Walking up to him, wraping her arms around him, and holding him close, she said with determanation in her voice. I am comming with you..... staying here would not be wise for any of us, but i wont leave you to go on your own, and i refuse to be left behind. Please dont ask me to stay. Raising her hand, she layed it gently to the side of his face, and turned his head so that she could look into his eyes. I know not the skill of the others, but you yourself have taught me, to fight we will have a better chance if we all stay together. Lana new that being this close to Sarage always aroused feelings in her that she couldnt quite control, it took everything she had not to give in, and lean forward those last few inches to Kiss him.

 

[poohlive]

"Lana..." He found it hard trying to tell her no, with that look in her eyes, and that plea in her voice, "Practicing with me in the field isn't the same as fighting them. They will kill you, and they will take you two, even three at a time. If you stay here, I can..."
What?
He stopped, biting his lower lip. What could he do? Go and kill himself, leave her here unprotected... or worse, alone with this drow. Apart from not being the enemy, he wasn't a friend at the moment. An ally... a temporary ally.
"All right. Fine. We'll leave. Another city. We'll tell them what happened, get support. Maybe, if we went fast enough, we could even save some of those captured."
It was the best plan he could come up with, one that wouldn't get Lana hurt. She could stay in the city, safe, and he'd finish what was started here.
"We should hurry, morning approaches."

 

[LadyFairy]

Smiling Lana threw her arms around him, she couldnt help it, This time she did kiss him, he wasnt leaving her behind. She new when they got to a village that he would try, and leave her behinde then, but that argument could wait. He wasnt leaving yet. Slowly she released him from her kiss, and stepped back, blushing she turned to the others clearing her throat, said. I beleave his is the best plan we have, and our best chance to get reinforcements and aid. Lets go.

 

[LadyFairy]

ooc: for some reasion i was not able to read what was posted last it showed in my control panal that poohive had posted but when i went to the post it wasnt there.