Hmmm..

Mallory made a fairly good point in her comment on the last post. Why would Rhia jump so quickly to believing that Alan had betrayed her? Well, let's look at a few facts within the sample itself that hint at why she would think like that. First of all, as they were saying, Rhia was convinced she could not die. So, she went 'unconscious' in the middle of enemy territory during a battle. And woke up to find herself buried alive in a coffin. Immediately, her mind, like anyone elses' I would assume, went to trying to figure out how the hell she got in that position. The first thought is that the enemy has done this to try and get rid of her. Then she notices something on her neck she hadn't had there at the beginning of the battle. Looking at it, she finds the pendant she gave to Alan. Now, she's already thinking that the enemy has done this to her. To find something that only Alan had with her puts him logically with the enemy. Thus, she assumes he's betrayed her. Now, why would she so quickly want to get her revenge? It's time to go beyond the sample itself. Rhia's history - past, present, and future - is wrought with betrayal, misfortune, revenge, and just plain bad blood. Not only has she been betrayed, but she, as well, has done the betraying. To be in her situation, in a panic, and see something linking the closest person to her to the situation, it was fairly easy for her to think she'd once again been betrayed. There is a lot that's happened to these people before and after the sample I've given, and I'm still trying to sort that at all. You have to understand, for me, when I write these little samples, I don't have anything in mind for where they're coming from. I write the sample, and as I'm doing it, the story becomes clear, and it allows me to make another piece to put in the puzzle of Rhia's life that I'm creating, each annoying squiggle at a time. Now, there's one other thing that has come up that I've decided to add into the storyline. I'm supposed to be doing this historical account of the world and humans, etc, right? So, what the hell happened to all the elven cities after they left or were killed? It's something I've been struggling with. Civilization on Earth isn't supposed to have begun until only a little under ten thousand years ago, or something of that sort. And even then, it was mostly primitive. Cities were becoming organized, but they weren't at all advanced. So, if these civilizations belonged to humans, where were the grand elven cities that existed for centuries before them? Is there no record of them anywhere on earth? Well, yes, there is. At least, that is what I'm going to suggest here. Just last night, I watched a program on a city that went under water right around the end of the ice age, when great masses of land were submerged under a swelling sea. The city isn't alone. There are cities under water off the coast of India, among other places I've yet to research. These cities date back up to ten thousand years ago, and are much too advanced, far too organized and outstanding to be anything made by what was believed to be the skills of humans at the time. They're unexplainable. If you haven't gathered this already, I suggest that these are the lost cities of the elves, or of dwarves. The lost civilizations of the lost races. What if Atlantis, and the mysterious Stone Henge, these sunken cities...what if they were created by these lost races? They're unexplainable, precisely why I am going to use them for something I, too, cannot explain within the restrictions of earth's history. But look beyond that. What if the great wonders of mankind were not entirely man-made? The pyramids are a modern wonder, that some people even insist were designed by aliens. Well, why not elves instead of aliens? I've already begun to propose that Rhia had a lovely hand of hers in the designing and construction of the mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The things that humans have some how been able to produce, at such large scales, seemingly without any leading-up to their creation in theories and failed attempts.. The mass mazes of boobytraps or revolving chambers or elevators found in the pyramids of Egypt, and simultaneously across the world in South America, don't seem bloody possible coming from humans of those days, and yet here they are. The vast knowledge of astronomy and mathematics these people seemed to have picked out of the air and put into use with a miniscule margin of error. It doesn't seem humanly possible. So I have decided to say that it isn't. Instead, it was taught to them. Or not done by them at all. To take the unexplainable and explain it with what in my little alternate Earth is unexplainable on its own. That is what I propose to do. Now just watch as I fumble it all up and fall on my nose.

::cracks knuckles:: Here goes nothing.

"But she said... She said she couldn't die! How can this be real!?"
"I don't know. I just don't know," he said, eyes squeezed shut. In his arms laid a young, battle-worn woman. Her chest was still, her body only moving with the movements of the man holding her. She was dead, as dead as any of the other men being carried home from the battlefield.
"But...but Alan...Alan, she said!"
"I know she said she couldn't die!" Tears fell down his cheeks as he pulled the woman closer to his chest. The young woman looked away, raising an arm to cover her own eyes as she cried. After a few minutes, Alan regained his composure, saying quietly, "Come on, Darla. Let's put her to rest... It was...one of her greatest wishes, after all."
Darla's lip quivered, but she nodded and moved towards the rows of coffins those remaining in the village had toiled to make. Alan followed, though slower. His heart ached more and more with each step towards the coffins he had helped make. Never would he have thought or even had the mind to ponder that his dearest love, the savior of that city, of that country, perhaps the world at some time or another, would be one of the ones laid to rest in those cursed boxes.
It wasn't long before the whole city was gathered for the mass funeral to be held for all those who had fallen in the battle. Everyone had known her, and everyone cried for her. None of them understood it. They had seen it with their own eyes. She couldn't die. She could be run through time and again, but she would still live. So why; why was it that now she had fallen? Who's sword could pierce her heart when no one else's could? She couldn't die, and yet, they all saw plainly the lid of the coffin nailed in place and then watched as she was lowered into her grave. They all watched intently as the dirt began to be piled on top. Many of them half-expected her to come busting out of the coffin and chide them all for not listening to her before. But, another shovelful of dirt, another second, and not a sound came from that coffin. Soon enough, the grave was covered, as were the others, and it was over.
"It's over," Alan muttered, trembling as he stared down at the headstone. He sank to his knees as the grief overwhelmed him. His wife... It hadn't even been a year since they were married, and already this... They hadn't even yet had children. She was completely gone.

It was midnight, the turning over of a new day, and Rhia's eyes slowly drifted open. Darkness? She blinked a couple of times so her eyes could take on their infrared capabilities again after so long of not needing them. She frowned when she saw wood so close to her nose.
"Where am I...?"
It didn't take long before her eyes grew wide and she at once began to look around her.
"A coffin?!"
She felt something foreign on her chest and lifted one of her hands to lift it up. Again a look of surprise grew on her face as she took in the sight of the pendant she had given Alan.
"He...he did this?! He's betrayed me! I'll kill him! I'll kill you, Alan!"
She gripped the pendant tightly in her hand as she thrashed about. Just how on earth was she going to get out of this? Quite suddenly, she stopped and fell silent. What was that? She tilted her head and rested her ear against the side of the coffin. A voice. From the surface, perhaps? Was the ground carrying sound of the surface to her? Her brow furrowed again as she recognized the voice, but the words were not ones she had expected.
"Rhia...how could this have happened...? How could...how could you have died...? You told me you couldn't...you promised...you said you'd always come back to me, no matter what. Why...why did you die?"
"Die? Me? I was dead...?"
She pulled her head back, slowly looking around again. Well, time to put revenge behind her, then. She needed to get out. As she took in another breath, she found herself coughing.
"What?! My air!"
She lifted a hand to her throat as she tried to gasp for another breath. She was using it all up. Her struggling was a big mistake.
"Alan!"
Her voice choked off as her gasp brought in almost no oxygen.
"Alan..."
A tear drifted down her cheek as she slammed a fist against the lid of the coffin. But it was weak. She was already feeling lightheaded from lack of oxygen.
"Alan..."
"Stop your blubbering, will you?"
Rhia's eyes widened at the familiar voice, her tears instantly dry. Arcane? she thought to herself. Or, well, not really to herself.
"That's right. I'm pleased you could at least remember my name, if nothing else."
As she tried to take another failed breath, she began to panic all over again. You have to help me! Please, Arcane, I'm begging you!
"Oh, cut it out. If you would relax and think a moment, you would realize I am helping you."
She did her best to relax, but only choked on another empty breath. I don't understand!
"Why do you breathe, Rhia?"
Wh-what?
"Why do you breathe? You do not need to eat, to sleep, worry over your wounds... Have you forgotten already that I am taking care of you? Why do you breathe, Rhia? You breathe only to speak, not to live."
Her eyes grew wide. He was right. For decades not so long ago, she hadn't taken in one breath. How could she have so easily forgotten? At once she relaxed, and the illusion of suffocation faded. She was fine.
Arcane...thank-you.
"Yeah, whatever. Now let's get you out of this stinking coffin, shall we?"
H-how?
"That's right...we haven't done this in a very long time, have we? Teleport, of course."
We can- Oh...I remember that now. But what am I supposed to visualize? I don't know what anything up there looks like...
"Your lover is up there, isn't he?"
Yes, he is. Okay, I can do this. She smiled gently to herself as she closed her eyes. She could visualize him. The long dark hair that hung in his eyes, sunbaked face, his warm and loving smile. How he carried himself with pride and dignity. She could always visualize him.
"Stupid woman. You want to end up in the middle of all that dirt? He doesn't look like that now, wench."
She frowned, not quite sure what he meant. That was when she heard it all over again. His anguished cries, his pleading with her grave stone. He was hurting. He wasn't happy, or carefree as she was remembering him. Suddenly the image in her mind began to distort. The twisted and pained emotions she had seen in the faces of her past lovers, or of those she had hurt or wronged; she was seeing them on his face. Tear-stained cheeks, hunched shoulders, his mouth gaping as he cried to God for mercy. Her eyes squeezed shut tighter as she visualized the pain she could hear him going through, and would have sobbed had she had air in her lungs to do so. Her hand grasped her chest ever her heart as she saw him clearly now, the pain she had brought him, his agony. Oh, Alan...
"Good, good. That's much better. I can definitely work with that."
She could almost hear Arcane's sly grin as he took pleasure in her pain. Before she really realized it, the air around her was suddenly freezing, but fresh. She gasped in a breath and slowly opened her eyes. She was met with the face of her lover, staring down at her in disbelief as he cradled her in his arms, which was where she had been teleported to. She took in a few more painful breaths, her lungs no longer used to being inflated, before reaching one of her hands up to his face.
"I...told you...I can't die..."
His jaw trembled, but her words and touch seemed to convince him he wasn't delusional or dreaming. He let out a sob and pulled her in close. "Rhia...my Rhia...you're alive..."
She weakly lifted her arms up around him, burying her face in his neck. "That's right. I'm just fine..."
Thank-you, Arcane...
"Oh, save it. Stupid woman."

Another night of pulling something from nothing.

She made her way over the bridge, already crowded with people as noon drew near. She stopped at the center and raised her arm to cover her eyes as she gazed up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight, and the sky itself was a pale, summer blue. It was hot, all right. She lowered her arm, clutching her bag tighter. No use just standing around. She began to turn forward again when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. She stopped in her tracks, eyes directed at once towards what she had seen. Her breath caught in her throat, but she was at once in motion.
"Watch it!"
"Look where you're going!"
"Stupid girl!"
She ignored them as she ran the rest of the way over the bridge and skidded around the corner. It was him. It had to be him. "It has to be..." Gritting her teeth, she dug in and ran faster. She ducked through alleys and around fruit stands, doing her very best not to run into anything or anyone. That would only slow her down. As she came out another alley, she caught another glimpse. She took in a deep breath and pushed herself yet again, just a little more. Where on earth was he going? Didn't he see her? No, of course not. Would he even recognize her?
She turned a corner and let out a shout as she slammed into someone, ending up sprawled on the ground.
"Oof.. Oh, dear, I'm quite sorry.."
She slowly opened her eyes as she recognized the voice. Her mouth dropped open as a hand was offered down to her.
"Please, let me help you up."
She couldn't speak. She lifted her hand to take his, and he slowly lifted her up. As kind as she remembered him to be. She smiled weakly as he helped her to her feet. Just as he began to let go of her hand, he stopped. If his eyes weren't blindfolded and useless, she suspected they'd be wide right about then.
"It's you...Typhoon..."
"Master. You don't have to call me that." Her voice wavered as a tear slid down her cheek, tightly grasping his hand. "Master..."
He lifted his other hand to run over her cheek, wiping the tear away. His brow furrowed as he felt the deep scar that was now buried in the skin. "You have been busy, my dear."
She closed her eyes and nodded. "I'm afraid so."
"Then please. Please come stay with me for a little while. You must be tired. You smell of the road."
She smiled warmly and looked up at him. "Thank-you, Master."
"Not at all. You were my apprentice, after all."

((Eh, it's not much, but it's something. It's not even really what I wanted to get out. But I've got another idea brewing that I might have the energy to chug out tomorrow. We'll see.))

Let's see where this one goes.

Rhia found herself sitting against the town's well, cup of sweet-smelling water in hand. She let her gaze wander the streets as she drank. She almost felt sorry for them. The war going on in the neighboring countries was destroying the economy for these small villages, and times were rough. Their farming was going fine, but the food couldn't be traded. All the trade routes were now highways for the warriors in the war, and it would be suicide to use them for anything besides that. The town was falling apart without the money and resources to repair it.
She sighed and closed her eyes as she lifted the cup to her lips again. Just as she swallowed, a beautiful sound floated over to her ears. Her eyes drifted open. Laughter? In a place like this? Her eyes suddenly went wide as she took in those streets with a whole new light. The people; they weren't sad. They weren't depressed. The laugh had come from a young man who had just brought some firewood to an old couple on his cart. How could it be that they were all so...happy? Content? Can't you see you're all going to wither away into nothing, she wanted to cry. She lowered her gaze, brow furrowed as she felt all the worse for the people. Did they not even realize they were doomed? If they didn't fade away, they would surely get ransacked and pillaged. It had been happening all across the countryside.
"You look rather tired."
Rhia jerked her head up, glancing towards the voice. The young man she heard laughing... She looked away again and rested her arm on the bag that sat on the well beside her. "It's in a wanderer's nature to be tired."
"Hahaha. Is that so?" That laugh again. She liked that laugh. "I've never seen a wanderer as tired as you. Or as depressed."
"These are trying times."
"Are they? Yes, I supposed they are. Say, do you have a place to stay?"
"I was going to stay at the inn." The town needed the money.
"Nonsense. My wife would be glad to have you come stay with us."
She turned to face him, look of confusion in her eyes. "How could you say that?"
He blinked, looking rather taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"This place... Don't you think it could use all the business it can get? I'm willing to pay to stay the night."
He smiled gently, a wisdom in his eyes she hadn't expected to see. "Do you really think one night's board is enough to save this town?"
Again her eyes widened. They weren't ignorant, then?
"We're prepared for what's to become of this place. We decided as a people that we would not dwell on it. Now come, it is getting late. And I'm rather hungry. Nadine won't be pleased with me if I'm late."
She slowly lowered her gaze, considering his words. She still wasn't entirely sure she understood; facing death gracefully was not something she had yet been forced to grasp. But, at his urging, she lifted her bag over her shoulder and began to follow him.
They would come to one of the smaller houses on the edge of the busier part of town. Only two rooms by the look of it - a main living space, including a small pit to cook over, and a sleeping area. As they approached, a young girl would rush out the walkway, running to the young man.
"Daaaaady!"
The man laughed as he let go of the cart to pick the girl up. "Casey! How are you, little one?"
"Mommy says dinner will be ready soon. Who's that?" The girl's eyes fell on Rhia, tilting her head.
He set her down, motioning to Rhia. "This is a new friend. She's a wanderer... Um.."
"It's Rhia." She glanced to Casey, her heart aching as she thought of the children of the town going under with them.
"Ah. Well, Casey, this is Rhia. Why don't you go tell mommy we have a guest for dinner?"
"Okay!" The girl grinned and ran inside to do as her father said.
He looked over at her again, offering her his hand. "My name is Richard. Please, eat with us. You can stay at the inn if you insist, but at least humor us in eating here."
She watched him for a long moment, then gave a sigh and took his hand. "Fine. I'll do as you ask."
He smiled and led her inside. "Nadine, darling?"
A woman with dark hair and a kind smile looked over from the fire she was cooking over. "Hello, Richard. Ah, so she is the guest, is she? Rhia, was it?"
Rhia nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Wonderful! You're in luck; I made too much for just the three of us. Come in, sit down. It will only be a few more minutes. And Richard, wash your hands."
He laughed that same, wonderful laugh that caused Rhia to look over. "Yes ma'am!"
Rhia went and sat down at the small table Casey was already sitting at. At Casey's bright smile, Rhia had to look away, faint blush on her cheeks. Not only was the cheerfulness and kindness a shock from the people of the town, but she also wasn't used to it being directed towards her. It was a little embarassing.
As promised, within a few minutes, the four of them were all sitting at the table around bowls of pea soup. Nadine watched as Rhia tentatively ate from her bowl.
"It isn't poisoned, miss," she said jokingly, smiling at her. "Where is it you're headed, anyway?"
Rhia kept her gaze on the bowl, eating slowly and carefully so as not to fill her stomach, as her magick didn't take kindly to it. "No where specific. Just wandering."
"Well then," Richard said, "where is it you came from?"
She was quiet for a long moment, the couple watching her with mirrored looks of worry. She could tell they were wondering if they'd asked something they shouldn't have. Her eyes drifted shut, then opened again to look over at them, a gentle look in them. "I don't remember."
Again their looks were mirrored, this time looks of shock. Nadine leaned forward some, head tilted to the side. "How long have you been wandering?"
Rhia slowly shook her head, looking down again. "I don't remember."
Richard frowned, but little Casey spoke up before he could. "Are you sick?"
Rhia looked down at her, head shaking again. "No. I just can't remember back that far."
Richard spoke this time, chin settled on his hand. "And just how old are you, then? And none of this 'I don't remember' stuff."
"Honey," Nadine said quietly, hand resting on his arm.
He ignored her, however, eyes narrowing at Rhia. "Humor me, please."
Her mouth opened as she looked over, though quickly looked away. "Far older than anyone you have ever known."
He set his jaw, looking at her skeptically. "You look younger than I am, and you say that?"
Rhia sighed, setting her spoon down and rising to her feet. "It seems my staying here has become too complicated. Thank-you, Miss Nadine, for the wonderful food."
"Now, wait one second!"
Rhia's eyes, now piercing, settled on Richard as he started to get up. He stopped quickly as he stared into those eyes, a chill passing through him. He quickly sat back down, mouth open as he watched Rhia pick up her bag and leave.
"Sh-she...she isn't human.."
Rhia sighed again as she made her way down the street. Now she had to leave the town completely. It was for the best, she considered. It was far too depressing to stay there and watch them anyway. As she began to turn a corner, a scream broke out from the edge of town. Rhia's eyes widened and she reached into her bag as she began to sprint towards the sound. She saw it as soon as she rounded the next corner. The warriors had finally decided to make use of the dwindling resources of the town. She didn't hesitate a moment as she dropped her bag, drawing from it her sword. She wouldn't allow the town to be pillaged while she was still there. She couldn't. Maybe at one time in her life she could have, but now... That man's laugh filled her ears and she charged with all the more resolve at the warriors.
By the time they caught sight of her, it would be too late. Just as Richard had said: she wasn't human. And no human stood a chance against thousands of battles' experience. Within seconds the five men that had made it into the town so far were strewn across the ground, Rhia crouched in the middle of them. The men's blood dripped from her sword, though steam began to rise from the sword. No, not steam; the vapor was red, not white. The blood was evaporating from the blade. Everything was silent as the people gathered at the edge of the square in which the brief battle had taken place.
"What has...what is going on?" It was Richard, now standing among the crowd, Nadine and Casey close to him.
Rhia slowly rose to her feet, grip tight on the hilt of her sword. She slid her foot back and lifted her other hand to the hilt, sword poised before her. She spoke over her shoulder to the crowd. "You should all get away from here. There are more coming. I may not be able to fight them all off. You will survive if you leave this place. There is a river five miles from here. It could provide you life."
Again silence. Just as more warriors could be seen coming through the woods, four men came to stand beside Rhia. Her eyes widened and she stood a bit straighter. "What are you-"
Richard was among them, they all holding their own weapons, though they were mostly farming equipment. "This is our home. We will protect it."
She began to protest, but it was too late for that, as a dozen rather imposing men charged them. Stubborn humans. But, she supposed, at least now they're choosing life. Maybe, just maybe they could survive, if this fighting spirit stayed with them.

Winging it, Big time.

"Land! I see land! Land-ho!"
Rhia glanced up towards the crow's nest when she heard the long-awaited call. She set the wooden sword she'd been practicing with down beside the mast where Diego sat with their son. She ran with the others to the bow of the ship, a smile soon on her lips as she found herself gazing at the glimmer of land off on the horizon. "We've made it, then." She turned to look up at the young man that came to stand beside her. "Well, Chris, how does it feel to have sailed beyond the Edge of the World?"
"Pretty damn good, Rhia." He grinned down at her, patting her shoulder. "How long has it been since you were in India?"
"Too long, I'm afraid. I'm glad my son will get to see it."
"Ah, yes. To think, that we left port with forty-one, and shall arive with forty-two. It's a shame our logues will only ever show forty."
"Yes, well, that is something that cannot be helped, I'm afraid. Thank-you, Chris, for taking me with you. I know women aren't the best of luck on the sea."
"Not to mention the Typhoon." He smiled to her, shaking his head. "Think nothing of it. It was with your cousin's help that I got such a good crew."
She nodded gently. "Yes. Jason can be good for something every now and then, can't he?"
Diego made his way over, the baby still cradled in his arms. Rhia smiled pleasantly and reached out for him, taking the boy and turning him to face the horizon. "Look there, Tristan. India." The boy blinked lazily at the evening sun, not paying the horizon any mind. Rhia and the men around her laughed, relief swelling in all of their hearts. Land. It had been a long and trying voyage on the Santa Maria. By the next afternoon, they and the crews of the Pinta and and Nina could all finally be reunited on dry land.
Diego slid his arm around Rhia, smile directed towards the sky. "Come. We've had a long day, and there is crew enough in reserves to take our places. Let's get some sleep."
Rhia nodded, leaning gently against him. She glanced over to Columbus. "You should sleep, too, Chris."
"I will. Thank-you, Rhia. And you, de'Arana. We would not be here if it weren't for the two of you."
They both gave sheepish smiles, before heading below deck to their cabin. It was true. The harbours they had to navigate before leaving the west coast of Europe had been flooded with pirates. Without Diego, the ship's Master of Arms, and Rhia, the ships would most likely have been looted or comandeered.

Rhia was up early the next morning, leaving Diego and Tristan to sleep a little longer in the private cabin they'd been given. She made her way up onto the deck, not wasting any time in heading over to the bow. She frowned when she noticed Pero and one of the cabin boys, Pedro, standing with a spyglass. She noticed they were looking at the shore, a smile coming to her face.
"Trying to get a good look at the shore, hm?"
Pero glanced over at her, a troubled look on his face. "You could say that."
She tilted her head, the tone of his voice a little off. "What's the matter, Nino?"
"Take a look for yourself." He handed her the spyglass.
She took it, closing her left eye as she raised it to the right. Her brow furrowed when she saw the problem.
Pedro looked up at her. "I thought the shores of India were littered with ports and great palaces and shops..."
Rhia slowly lowered the spyglass and handed it back to Pero. She looked down at Pedro. "Go get the Captain. Chris isn't going to like this." Pedro nodded and ran off to fetch Columbus. Rhia looked back out at the fast-approaching shore. "Something tells me this isn't India."
"Then what, Rhia?"
"I'm not sure, Nino..."
A few minutes later, Pedro came running back, Columbus in tow. "What is it, what's the problem?"
"Get a look at the shoreline," Rhia said as Pero handed him the spyglass. "Those are not any shores of India I know."
Silence filled the air as Columbus gazed through that spyglass. He swallowed uneasily as he lowered it. "Well, of course it has to be India. We're on the right longitude line, right, Nino?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Then that is most definitely India. Don't worry about it. We're probably just coming to some unknown shoreline. It's possible we could've drifted a few dozen miles off course in the last storm, but not any more than that. I'm sure once we reach the bays, we'll only have to travel along the shoreline for a few hours, a day at the most, before we hit a port."
Rhia, not at all convinced, just sighed. The other two seemed reassured, though.
Columbus clapped his hands lightly. "Alright, enough of this. There's work to be done, right?"
Rhia watchd as the three of them went back to work, though she couldn't help but look back out at the approaching shore. "Jason...is this the new world you were talking about? Is this really where I was before?" She thought back to the strange country she'd lived in a few decades with a group of Vikings nearly five hundred years before. But she'd been certain that was just a part of Russia, or the island she had crossed the bridge of ice to get to three hundred years before. She sighed and ran her hand over her face. Was there really a whole part of the world she never knew was there? If it were true, to think, she'd even been there and hadn't realized! A part of her hoped it wasn't true. A new world meant new conflicts in the Old one. The last thing she wanted to be a part of in the humans' lives was some mass conquest of a new world. Besides, she missed India, and really did want Tristan, and Diego, to see it. Well...it would only be a few more hours before they would know for sure.

((All names besides Rhia and Jason are real people. Christopher Columbus we all know, Diego de'Arana was in fact the Santa Maria's Master of Arms, Pero Nino was her pilot, and Pedro de Terreros was a cabin boy on board. The Vikings she had been with were led by Leif Ericson, and were the first people to truly colonize North America. And before that, it was the Bering Straight I made reference to as the Ice Bridge.))

Contemplating

Well, things are taking a frustrating turn where the Hunters are concerned. It was easy to figure everything out about them while thinking about them in the way I had them for my rp with Rhayvin. In order to tie them closer to our rp, I had it so that they descended from Rhayvin, through Haru. It made so much sense, and still does, with how long I've thought of them in that way. And, normally, I would go ahead and change my original sl idea to incorporate the new one. However, there is one phrase that will not allow me to do that, one which I attatched to the Hunters quite a while ago. That is "Descendents of Seth". Soon after I coined this phrase, I learned, well, that I hadn't coined the phrase at all. In fact, it's a biblical reference, I was told. In Genesis, the third son of Adam and Eve, after Cain and Able, is Seth, and they are his descendents that we all come from. This means that Mankind are the Descendents of Seth. This is by far too good a parallel to pass up in order to take the easy way out. Of course, this leaves the very difficult task of re-writing the history of the Hunters. But, before I do that, let me lay out a few facts about them.



The Hunters were creatures that Tobias hired way back when he first put the bounty out on Rhia. They hunted Rhia down mercilessly, and after a few decades of their pursuit, Rhia began to call them Hunters, as she had no idea what they were or what else to call them. For thousands of years they hunted her, they the only enemy she ever truly feared. Why, if they've hunted her so long and never caught her, you might ask. But it isn't that they never caught her. Quite on the contrary. They caught her hundreds, maybe thousands of times. It was that they could not find a way to kill her. No amount of cutting, slicing, burning, chopping, or anything else they tried seemed to kill her. And so each and every time they got their hands on her, she went through a living hell. On the outside, it would seem as though they were only playing with her. Taking her right up to the edge of death, then leaving her, waiting for her to get well, only to come back and try it all over again.
Now, I said that Rhia had no idea what to call them, because she did not know what they were. This is because their breed was one almost never seen in Rhia's time, or any other time but their own (I'll explain that in a little bit). They communicated not through words or any language known to Rhia - which almost always meant the language didn't exist then - but rather through whistles, hisses, and clicks. Luckily, there was some order to their communication, and Rhia eventually learned the basics, enough so that she was able to better predict their movements and became even more the moving target for them.
A good little trick they had to incapacitate her was that they could feed from her magick. Once they were within one mile of her, they could tap into her energy and magick and directly feed from it. It was an ability passed down to them through their mother. While they did feed from her, an illusion would be created by her magick, as a sort of red flag of warning to Rhia and whoever was with her to get away. That illusion was blood that would come from an imaginary cut on her forehead. Also, if she even felt the tiniest inkling that they were close by, she came across a spell that would tell her if they were near. All that was needed was a glass of water, and her handydandy magick. By turning her finger clockwise around the rim of the glass, and repeating "Aquae Vitae" (Which I believe means Water of Life..it's been a while since I came up with it) either out loud or in her heart, the water would turn black if the Hunters were within five miles, or remain clear if not.
Oh, on to what they really are. Dragoons. That is, half dragons. In the little sub-world of Earth I created for my fantasy side of the story, there are two major types of dragons. The smart ones, and, well, the dumb ones. The stupider breeds took on the form of the big, fire-breathing lugs we all know and love (not all of them breathe fire...still have all the different classes of dragons, of course). The smarter ones evolved from these guys, and began to be able to take on the form of elves or humans, all depending on which they were more around where they lived. Now, they had in-between stages, including being able to call out their wings, along with their fangs, talons, and even scales. Some of them enjoyed keeping their tail around as well. They also had a form that was a sleeker version of the big, full-scale dragon. It was compact, and good for weaving through enemies without presenting a huge target.
The smarter breeds would often live one or two to a large group of the stupider ones. They would lead them, protect them, and often had one dragon they were closest to. However, they would never even consider mating with them. They wanted there to be no chance of their own offspring to come out even remotely stupid. Instead, when their own kind began to thin out, they would take on their humanoid forms and mingle with the humans or elves. They would go for decades or centuries under the guise of one of them, until they were born a child, after which they would take the child and disappear. It's these offspring that became known as Dragoons. While, yes, this went on for quite some time, the reason they were not seen much at all, if ever, by anyone other than dragons was because they were short-lived, at least compared to their dragon and elven parents (they would live longer than humans). Not only that, but they were sterile. So, no, there aren't any quarter-dragons or the like.
Now, the dragoons could never take on the appearance of a full-scale dragon, or even that sleeker form. But, they were able to take on all of the intermediate forms, as well as their entirely humanoid form. And, while they weren't exactly stupid, they weren't nearly as smart as their dragon parent. In fact, they often acted more as pets than members of any sort of family.
As you can see, their being sterile, and the dragon's stubborness not to breed with the lesser dragons, they were dying out fairly quickly. The Great War between Elves and Dragons all but wiped them out, though that is another story altogether.

So, just what happens to bring about the Hunters? That is the very question I am trying to answer all over again. I know who the mother is. Seth's daughter, Cecelia. I know who the father is. A dragon who had stolen away in a deep underground cavern to sleep, named Adonis (maybe. That's the name I've been using for now). It's all a matter of how to get her to him in time.
Okay, so let me talk this out for a bit. It helps. Zelda is born approximately 14 months before Haru, though in appearance they are two years apart. As such, when they enter school, Zelda is two grades ahead of him. Cecelia is born nine months after Seth and Redairu's wedding, and she is still pregnant when he returns with Stacy (don't worry if some of this doesn't make sense. A lot goes on...). Stacy would have been about Zelda's age, and came into the picture when she was around eight or nine. So, it is about ten years later that Zelda and Haru graduate high school, meaning Cecelia is around ten. Now it gets sticky. The Academy is supposed to be destroyed in Zelda and Haru's third year there, which would make Cecelia thirteen or fourteen. One or two years later, the Apocolypse is supposed to begin. By the time Cecelia should have met Adonis, fallen in love, and had a son with him, she'd only be fifteen or sixteen. Which, in itself is entirely possible, except for the little fact that she's supposed to be some courageous and well-known explorer when she finds him. Not exactly something a fifteen or sixteen year old does. Then again... Well, here we go.
Seth becomes a teacher for the Academy fairly quickly, and actually becomes quite the researcher in overseas expeditions. During the summers, perhaps he takes Cecelia along with him during a couple of his trips, during which she was reckless, fearless, and gave the overall impression of being the perfect explorer. It could be during one of these trips that she stumbles across Adonis.
::sighs:: What a relief. I knew I made this blog for something. I can work with this.

Oh, by the way, there's a new picture uploaded on the site linked in the last post, and the one that was difficult to see has been darkened. Enjoy!

More Promises Kept.

As I said I would, I figured out how to scan those pictures. Here's the lovely little link you'll be needing, of course. http://photobucket.com/albums/f338/rhiakolareny/?action=view&current=zeldateddy.jpg I apologize that some of the scans are rather difficult to see. I tend to draw lightly, and once I finish, I get too lazy to go back over the lines. Enjoy. Update: The link is to a slideshow, just so everyone knows. And to Jaeger - Well...she's a Kolareny kid after all, isn't she?

Some progress.

I had a little bit of inspiration today, drawing-wise, and took quite the advantage of it. It started with a picture of Arcane having an angsty moment, the pose for which came to me while I was doing a bit of acting-out, that I tend to do when I've got something bottled up inside. Thank goodness I'm alone when that happens, ne? That turned out alright, I think. I then went on to draw a picture of a young Jason pulling on an even younger Rhini's hand to take her somewhere. While I drew the detail on Rhini first, it turns out Jason looks much better, and Rhini just looks out of place, so I tend to not bother looking at her while studying the picture @-@ Then I went on to a picture of a very little Zelda running with an over-sized teddy-bear bigger than she is, a scene which came from an rp session a few days ago. That turned out very well, and as soon as I figure out how my scanner is hooked up to the various computers in the house, I'll have a link to it on here. Then, I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening drawing Rhia's largest family. The kids, at least. Four kids from the time of Babylon. The eldest, Marcus, is twenty, dressed in his armour for war, knelt down looking very exhausted. On the opposite side of the picture is the next oldest, at twelve, Medwin. While not in armour, he does carry his father's sword and shield. Between the two, closest to Marcus, is the third oldest at ten, Xenon, holding up the army's pennant, which is hooked on the end of a long spear. And finally, betwen Xenon and Medwin, clutching to Xenon's shirt, is the youngest at five, the only girl, Demeter. There's quite the tragic tale among these four, though I have yet to really hammer it out, so wouldn't even dream of putting up anything here just yet. What I can say is that Demeter is the first of Rhia's daughters to have been graced with Elbereth's mark, a silver star-shaped birthmark, found on Demeter right between her shoulderblades (On Rhia, it's on her right shoulder). There is a goddess to which Demeter becomes a priestess under, and I'm thinking I may trade out the name Elbereth for whomever this goddess is, though I cannot remember her name at the moment. Anyway, these pictures will hopefully be online soon. There's still some work to be done with them. I'll be doing pictures of Rhia's other kids over the next few weeks, I hope. If I can hang on to my talent long enough, anyway. Oh, one other picture I hope to get up here soon, is of Mirian and Julian. I don't believe I've mentioned it here, but it's absolutely gorgeous, if I do say so myself. Sure, some things still aren't perfect with it, but the colouring came out just lovely, and it's by far the best I have to date. So yeah. Perhaps sometime tomorrow I'll have my father explain all of these computers to me. What a mess.

Her eyes slowly drifted open, a cold wind chilling her already numb body. Her clothes were torn and tattered, soaked with her own blood and the blood of those of her enemies, and comrades. With effort, she pressed her hand against the ground and pushed herself up to her knees. A groan pulled from her throat as an ache returned to her senses, the wounds from battle screaming in her ears. As she began to realize her where-abouts, taking a good look around, she felt herself grow even colder. There was nothing; not even the signs of battle. The ground felt like stone, though she could not see it beneathe a thin, though dense fog that whisped around her hands and knees. As she breathed out, she saw her breath rise in front of her. It was colder than she thought. But it had been summer on the battlefield. Where could she be?
Her ear twitched as she caught the sound of something off to the side. She turned her gaze towards the sound, taking in the strange sight of a cloaked figure standing in a small reed canoe. There was a river; that must be where the fog was coming from. She watched as the canoe ran up on the shore, and the figure stepped out onto the bank. He moved with grace, as if his feet did not touch the ground at all, approaching her much more rapidly than she would have expected. He was upon her before she could get up, standing inches in front of her. She looked up as she tried to stand, but she could not see his face beneathe the hood of his cloak. She could smell him, though, and it was a foul, terrible stench. The smell of Death.
Her eyes widened and she struggled to get to her feet. However, she felt cold hands take her wrists and ankles, and upon looking down she could vaguely see figures beneathe the fog. Spirits, reaching out from the shallowest levels of Hell. Her breathing quickened and she used more force to get to her feet, barely able to lift her hands from the hard ground.
"Where are you going?" The whisper came from no where, and Rhia let out a short cry of surprise, looking from side to side to try and steal a glimpse of the speaker.
"Don't you want to stay with us?"
"Stay a while. We'll take care of you."
"He wants to help you. Go to him."
"Come, stay with us."
"Won't you stay?"
Her heart pounded in her head as the voices continued to whisper into her ears. She then noticed the figure before her adjusting his cloak. Stepping from it would be a young girl, wrists shackled and chained to something within those empty robes of the figure before them. The child's eyes were empty, no emotion on her face, as she reached her hands out towards Rhia, beckoning to her. And still those voices continued.
"Just take her hand."
"You are so tired; won't you rest a moment?"
"You deserve to sleep a while."
"Just release yourself."
"You don't have to struggle any longer."
She felt herself weakening, the hands of those spirits strong on her limbs, pulling her back down. She was beginning to feel faint from the smell of Death and the voices at her ears. It would be so easy to give in. She did deserve to finally rest. And the arms of that child were so welcoming. She slowly closed her eyes and leaned forward, hands allowed to lift towards the girl.
"Don't make me come after you, understand, Rhia?"
Rhia's eyes snapped open, the memory of the night before the war clear in her mind.
"I'll be okay, Guardian."
"Perhaps. War is a terrible thing, Rhia; you may not be the same after seeing what you will see."
"But I have to see it. You understand, don't you? I can't just ignore the call of my mind. Even if they have exiled me for so long, they need me now. And I have my own grudges against the Dragons; I do not mind joining the Elves to ssettle the score."
Guardian sighed and reached a hand over to touch her head. "Just be careful. Don't make me come after you, understand, Rhia?"
She smiled and nodded, stepping closer to him and nuzzling up against his chest. "I understand."
Rhia grit her teeth as she lifted a glare to the girl before her. "I am not ready for you yet, my dear." With that, a new strength found her, and she began to stand, albeit with some effort. Though the voices continued to whisper loudly in her ears, she no longer heard them. She could see the cloaked figure tense. He reached around behind him, pulling from no where a giant scythe. The blade looked as though it was carved from bones, welded together with some black metal. The staff itself was black as night, as black as the emptiness within the figure's hood. "So, you are Death after all."
She was almost on her feet now, moving her arms a bit more freely. She lifted a hand and drew a line in the air beside her. It would seem to cut into the very dimension they stood in, a blinding light shining through. The line would end after about three feet, and she lifted her hand over the end she had just finished drawing. Bringing it down over the light, she would clamp her hand around something. At that very moment, the light would flash, and in her hand would be held a golden rapier, her treasured Sabre of Light.
The figure, Death, hissed, and the girl between them would dash back under his cloak. The hands binding her released her at once and retreated back into the depths of Hell, the voices instantly ceasing at her ears. She was pleased to know they were smart enough to tremble before a weapon of Heaven, the light of which illuminated the ghost of an angel's wings at her shoulders. She knew she would still be in for quite a fight to get home, but at least now she stood a chance.

((By the way, kudos if you recognize what song this description comes from.))

War

"What the hell do you mean 'She's going to war'?!" General Awada glared into the face of the cheeky Lieutenant, who waved a couple of pieces of paper around in front of his face. "Just as it sounds, General. The time has come for our new weapon to go through a trial run," he said with a smirk. The General fumed, hands curling into fists. "She's only six years old!" "You're mistaken, General. Our weapon is three years old. Long past due it's first appearance." "She's not an 'it'! She's a little girl!" The Lieutenant smiled, enjoying this torture he was bringing upon the General. "And this girl has been getting more training than the vast majority of the soldiers already out on the field. She's almost a better shot than you, and has no trouble maneuvering the mech suit she'll be staying in the whole time." "It's not about how capable she is physically! Grown men come back from war like zombies because of what they've seen, and you want to send a child? A little girl?!" He reached out and grabbed the Lieutenant by the lapel, jerking him up onto his toes as he drew him close. "This game of yours has to end here!" The Lieutenant didn't look fased, still smiling cheerfully. He took Awada's hand, forcing him to let him go. "This game is hardly my own, General. Her father has already approved the orders. And they are orders from the top. I am only the messenger who happens to agree with them." "You little bastard!" the General cried as he drew back a fist. However, just as he was about to land one hell of a punch on a now frightened Lieutenant, a cough came from the door. "Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" The General quickly stopped and straightened up. He immediately went into military mode as he snapped to attention, he and the Lieutenant turning at the same time to face the man who'd come into the room, arms rising into salutes. "Ambassador Isari. No, there's no problem, sir." While on the outside the General was the image of obedience, completely calm, he was raging on the inside. This was him. This was the man who'd stolen Red away from a peaceful death and brought her into this nightmare of a life. And she had no idea. The girl was so innocent that she held no malice towards the Ambassador, or the Lieutenant. They were nothing but nice to her when she was around. And they wanted to send this innocent, pure soul into war. "Good. At ease." The General lowered his hand and relaxed a bit, hands resting behind his back. "What brings you here, Ambassador, and at such a late hour?" He knew already, but he also knew the Ambassador would expect the formality. "To see my daughter, of course. I know she'll be going to war in the morning, and I wanted to give her something." "She's in her quarters. I'll take you there now." He glanced towards the Lieutenant, who was smirking in petty amusement. The General scowled and snatched the orders from him, stuffing them into his pocket. He then led the Ambassador through the warehouse they'd been standing in, back to the room Red slept in. Well, for most of the time, at least. Whenever the General wasn't on duty in the evening, she stayed at his side, sleeping with him in his room. The General knocked gently to wake her up, then pushed the door open. She wouldn't even be allowed to have one last good night's sleep. "Redairu? Red, wake up. Your father is here." He couldn't help but leak out some of his own malice when he said 'father'. To call him such was a horrible insult to the girl's real father, who'd been killed by the military Red was now a part of. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. "General..?" Her eyes opened and she looked towards the door. A light entered them when she saw the Ambassador, throwing aside the covers and hopping out of bed. "Daddy!" Isari smiled and lowered to one knee, taking the girl into his arms. "Hi there, Red. You're looking well." As if he cared, the General thought to himself, hand curling around those orders in his pocket. "I have something for you, my dear," Isari said as he pulled something from inside of his coat. He revealed a small plush teddy bear, its fur pure white and eyes blue, a red ribbon tied around its neck. "For me?" she said as se gazed up at him affectionately. "That's right. Go on, take it. She's yours." He patted her head and she took the teddy bear, hugging it close. She then hugged the Ambassador. "Thank-you, daddy. Are you going away?" she asked as she pulled back again to look up at him. He smiled faintly and stood again. "No, darling. You're going to be going on a little trip tomorrow, and I want you to keep that with you always, understand? Don't ever let it out of your sight. It will keep you safe." She tilted her head, but nodded and smiled to him. "Okay. I will." "Good girl. Now get some sleep." He reached down to ruffle her hair, then casually left the room. The General watched him go, then turned and crouched down in front of Red, smiling warmly to her. "What a nice bear." "Yeah." She smiled at him, though it faded after a few seconds. "Where am I going?" He let out a heavy sigh. He stood and lifted her up into his arms, going to sit on the bed, resting her on his lap. He ran his fingers through her hair, comforting her before speaking. "You remember when all the guys got on the plane and left?" She nodded once. "Yes. They were going to...to..." she trailed off as she thought about it, brow furrowing. "Oh, that's right. They were going to war. Am I going to war, too?" She smiled up at him, which nearly broke his heart. She was so young... He nodded in response. "Yes, you are. They need your help." "The guys?" "That's right. They're in trouble and need your help. You're going to do your best, and always do as you're told, no matter what." She grinned. "Of course, General. That's what soldiers do." "Good girl..." He hugged her close, an embrace far warmer than the one the Ambassador offered. And Red knew it, happily curling close to his chest. "Are you coming, too, General?" He closed his eyes, hand running over her head and down her back. "No, I'm afraid not. I haven't been orderd to. Besides, I have to stay here and take over your job while you're gone. You know that generator's been acting up." She giggled and nodded. "Yeah." She closed her own eyes, little arms wrapping around him. "General?" "Hm?" "Will you stay with me 'till morning? I don't think I can get back to sleep alone." He smiled and gently kissed her head. "Of course, Red." He stood up slowly and with the greatest care laid her down on the sheets, pulling the blanket up and over her, tucking her in. He then removed his shoes and his jacket, crawling onto the bed and laying down beside her. He rested his arm protectively over her, laying his head on the pillow beside hers.

Egh..

Well, I got an email telling me about a comment I got today on a post. Of course, any time I get a comment, I get excited, hoping for feedback of some sort. I check my most recent posts, and don't find somments there. Okay, I think.. So I go back to the email and actually open it, and find "Fatima." I kind of stare at it for a second, wondering "What..about her?" I click the link that sends me to the post the comment was left for, and find myself looking at my list of girl's names. I tilt my head wondering just what the comment was left for. Is this person, listed of course as Anonymous, suggesting a new name? In that case, I can't use it, as the name is already in use by the Angel inhabiting Rhia. I glance up at the list and see one of my Japanese names, Yatima, and wonder, "Okay, is he/she trying to correct my spelling?" In which case that as well doesn't help much, because the name is actually spelled Yatima. At the moment I've forgotten just what it means, but that doesn't really matter since I'm not using it anyway. Not for a main character, anyway. ::sighs:: So, basically, the comment did nothing for me. People, if you're going to get me all excited, follow through, would you? Leave something that actually helps or might inspire any kind of emotion. Drill into me, make me feel like shit because I suck. At least then I might get an idea as to how you readers feel. ((And no, I know I have 'some' talent and I don't completely suck. I hope >>)) Just throw me a bone here, would you, people? If you can't find anything helpful or mean to say, don't say anything at all. Especially one meaningless word left by Anonymous.

Zack

"What in the world are you finding so funny?" Rhia watched the boy, perplexed by the boy's cheerfulness. He seemed to be amused by every little thing she did or that happened.
He only looked to her with a bright smile, shaggy blonde hair hanging down in his face as it always did. "Everything," he said, so simply. He sat on the stairs of the old cathedral, one foot hanging down over the stairs, the other leg tucked up on the stair he sat on, hands resting on his ankle. He wore the clothes of a peasant, as Rhia did, yet somehow he was able to wear a smile so much more innocent than one any other peasant of that plague-riddled town could.
"Everything, huh? You're a strange kid," she muttered as she eyed him closely. She had met only one other like him, and that had been a long time ago. She was impressed a human could be so carefree.
"I get that a lot. So, what happened? They kick you out?"
Rhia's brow raised. "You knew I was staying here?"
"That's why I'm here now. I saw you a couple of times. Not every day you get to meet the Typhoon."
Her eyes grew wide and her heart constricted. He knew that as well??
"Let alone find her staying in a church. I found that the most interesting of all. You are the legendary murderer, are you not?"
Her breath quickened, grip on the strap of her bag tight. "Who...are you?"
"Michael Isaac. Though most people call me Zack. Just a kid, Miss Kolareny. A kid with a good pair of eyes. That's all. You needn't worry."
While still not entirely convinced, she found herself relieved, sigh escaping her lips. "Well, Zack. I haven't been kicked out. I'm leaving. It's just that time."
"I see. That's probably a good idea. The plague is growing thicker here."
Rhia tilted her head, pondering that fact. "You are right about that. It seems that you've been able to avoid it, haven't you?"
"That's right."
"Then that's why you came to me, isn't it? Well, that's fine. You can come along. But you will have to come now. I have no time to wait for you to gather your things."
Zack's smile grew all over again and he gave a nod. "Very well. I haven't anything to bring, anyway."
Rhia returned his carefree smile and stretched out her hand. "Then, come with me, Michael Isaac."

A couple new ones.

"What a mess..." A flash of blonde hair lit up the doorway of the twelfth-floor apartment. Her skin was pale, and her eyes a deep, sapphire blue. Eternally eighteen, as heaven had frozen her beauty in time.
Julian looked up as he moved back into the livingroom, hand stopped in the process of brushing his hair back from his face. "Mirian?" He wasn't much older than she appeared to be, and only slightly taller, skin tanned and his black hair streaked with his mother's blonde. He had his mother's blue eyes as well, something his father found comforting. To have his black eyes would have surely bound the boy to the duty of collecting souls as an angel of death.
She glanced over, and a smile graced her lips. She shut the door behind her and straightened out the sundress she wore. "Hi, Julian. Are they okay?" A look of worry crumpled her brow, and Julian couldn't help but think the look suited her. Being the eldest of all the Kolareny children, she had plenty of practice fretting.
His own features changed to one of worry, though, as he remembered the dillema he was in. "My mother's sleeping, but I can't find dad. I called for him, but he wouldn't answer."
Mirian stood beside him and pondered for a moment. "You're sure you looked everywhere? He's been through a lot; I'm not so sure he would want to answer someone's call, especially yours. I heard on the way over that he carried your mother all the way back here, walking. They're saying God stripped them both of their powers."
Julian's eyes widened to hear that. "Jeeze... Well, I guess I'll look again."
She nodded reassuringly, hand lifted to pat his shoulder. "Good. While you do that, I'll take care of the mess in the kitchen."
He smiled in thanks, watching as she went to wash the dishes he could only assume Romeo had used to make his mother something to eat. He then went in search for his father again, checking on his mother in the process. But after a few minutes, he returned to the livingroom, a bit flustered. "He's not here.."
"Oh, he's here," Mirian said as she dried off her hands and made her way over to him. "Come on. It's weak, but I can sense him here. He's just good at hiding. Probably learned that from mother." She smiled cheerfully to herself as she led Julian through the hallway that led to the bedrooms. She stopped as she passed a doorway, slowly backing up and stepping inside. Another few seconds, and she would point to the closet. She kept her mouth shut, glancing to Julian, who gave a nod and walked over to the closet.
He couldn't imagine his father, head of all angels of death, a seraphim, cowering in a closet. Would he even recognize the man he found as his father? Gritting his teeth, he reached out and opened the door. "Dad? Are you in here..?"
From the back corner of the closet, where the most shadows fell, two eyes of midnight raised up to look at Julian. He sat, crumpled, utterly defeated, as if he no longer could go on under the weight of his shame.
"Oh, father.." Julian reached out and took Romeo by the arm, carefully pulling him from the closet and helping him to his feet. It took a moment to steady him, and Mirian soon came over to help.
The angel's eyes lifted to see Mirian, faint bit of life lighting them. "Mirian..." he whispered, leaning some of his weight on her shoulder as she took up his other arm.
"Hello, Guardian. Let's get you into the livingroom, shall we?"

((I think that's good enough for now. I need a nap...or to watch Jing: King of Bandits...or both. Heh. My job is almost over. One or two more days. I'm on retreat this weekend, so I won't be posting again until Sunday evening at the earliest. Though it'll probably be Monday some time. 'Till then, enjoy. And comment. >>))