Phoenix Rising (Private RP)

Orderedchaos • 22 February 2017 at 7:45 PM

@bunnyshadow

That laugh. Lin froze in her tracks. That wild man couldn't be the beast but it did speak...

Lin tensed as the man turned, there was something about those eyes that solidified the thought that this man and the beast might just be the same. So when the man tossed the deer carcass at their feet Lin's mouth dropped open in astonishment. Generosity from the beast, no, man who chased her like prey came as a shock.

It was Sasha who stepped forward and grabbed the carcass by the legs. "We thank ye." The gruff man hoisted the carcass over his shoulders. "May all yer hunts be good ones."

As the others began to move away Lin stood still, head cocked slightly to the side as she stared at the man in confusion.

"Lin, you comin'?"

"You're a very strange person but thank you." Lin said as she backed away. "I won't be your prey." Her voice was soft, soft enough that she could be sure the man heard her. Was the man's hearing as good as a beast's? Lin didn't stay to find out but turned and quickened her pace to catch up with the others.

bunnyshadow • 23 February 2017 at 11:14 AM

@Orderedchaos

~~~

If he could, his ears would have perked up in amusement at the quiet words that nearly slipped by unnoticed. Enoche picked up one of the bones he had torn from the deer, playing with it absentmindedly as he smiled a smile that was all tooth. Thanks to one of her packmates, he knew her name and branded it inside his mind.

"I'll see you around, Lin." Enoche said, smile widening at the game of cat and mouse to come.

---

"I have a massive headache." Aero admitted as he mounted his horse. The winged man struggled slightly to get on the stallion, the animal pacing forwards unhappily at the return of it's heavy owner.

"I wonder why." Jenaux said back, a pointed glare echoing her harsh words. She pushed the large stone off the wall, allowing the reins to be released from underneath. The woman could see Justicar getting on his golden-brown stallion without nearly as much struggle as Aero had. Jenaux, in turn, got on her stallion.

"Where are we heading?" Justicar asked blandly.

"No where for now." Jenaux glanced up at the sky, searching for the sun. It was midday at most, but the clouds were already brooding heavily in the air. "A storm is coming." She said to the other two. Her hands tightened around the reins, and she dug her heels into the side of her black stallion.

"We'll patrol the border." She commanded as her animal broke out into a trot towards the edges of the outer ring.

Orderedchaos • 28 February 2017 at 4:50 PM

@bunnyshadow

As the group made its way back to the city the air began to feel heavy with an approaching storm. Lin's thought's were just as stormy. The last couple days had given Lin much to think about. Cracks had begun to appear in her worldview.

The first crack was the encounter with the beast. A beast who turned out to also be a man, a man who showed at least a smidge of humanity. Lin had always felt safe at night, when the shadows were so deep she move throughout the outer and middle rings with out being noticed. She used to feel like she ruled the night but now she had to share it with a predator who was out to hunt her.

The second crack was Jenaux. All her life Lin had been taught to hate the elite, especially those who had power as Jenaux obviously did. She was taught that the elite would show her no mercy if their eye should fall on her. Yet, it was Jenaux who chased off the beast. It was Jenaux who bandaged Lin's wound and left Lin with the gift of a nicer cloak than the one she had. Lin had no doubts that Jenaux would show her no mercy if she knew what Lin could do, but the kindness of the other night was more than Lin thought she'd ever see from one of the elite.

The third crack was Sasha's comment about the rebels. Lin had never given much thought to them before, but now her thoughts kept circling back to them. Could they really know what happened to her cousin, Andre? Did her friends have some sort of connection with the rebels? Could they even be rebels? Lin sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She didn't like to think such things. Life was much simpler without such thoughts.

The wind picked up bearing the scent of rain and chilling the air. The group quickened their paces wanting to get back to the city before the storm. It wasn't a good idea to be caught outside of city during a storm, storms brought out terrors that could drive a person mad if they managed to survive them.

bunnyshadow • 28 February 2017 at 9:39 PM

@Orderedchaos

~~~

The three of them meandered near the outskirts of the outer ring, stopping occasionally only to greet and speak to the soldiers already patrolling the area. The short breezes that had lifted Jenaux's hair in the morning had now turned into howling pulses of strong wind. Clouds had begun gathering in the sky, knitting tightly against one another as they masked the sun beginning it's slow descent in the horizon.

Jenaux had sent the last of the guards back, commanding them to take an early day off. The woman wanted no distractions on her hunt that night.

"Will you be alright?" Jenaux asked suddenly, tugging at the reins of her stallion. The animal slowed to a stop, and she turned to face Aero.

"I've flown in stronger winds than this." Aero replied.

"It's only going to get worse." Justicar pointed out, horse nickering uncomfortably as the wind steadily picked up.

"If you're sure." Jenaux said doubtfully.

"How are we going to find this so-called beast?" Aero asked, effectively changing the subject.

"The monster had been hunting a woman that had strayed out past curfew last night. Perhaps it will again search for her. It seemed bent on getitng a nice bite out of her flesh."

"Should we not wait near her abode then?" Justicar asked with furrowed brows.

"I don't want to startle her." Jenaux said.

"You? Caring about startling a peasant?" Aero interjected.

"I have my suspicions..." Jenaux trailed off, then forced her dark stallion to step forwards again. The horse turned sharply around as she pulled the reins to the side. Though Lindarin's words seemed honest, Jenaux had yet to put her trust on the other woman completely. "However, you may be right. We'll wander around her street until we can decide what to do next."

"As you wish." Aero said, following suit.

The heels of their mounts' hooves cracked noisily against the floor, echoing around the buildings almost as greatly as the beast's howls. Perhaps more slow and a lot more careful, but still distilling just as much fear among the people as the monster did.