Savage Dawn ((private thread))

[Jenny]

The same thoughts had crossed her mind, but the mainland was a better choice. When the enemy could stalk you, an island seemed in a way clausterphobic. But knowing Asher would be by her side gave her hope. He was a powerful shaman, and she could take a single form. The saber tooth cat. If need be, they could shapeshift into their animal forms and hide out that way from danger, rather than human form, exhausting though it may be

She eased off Asher's back and waded though the water to the shore. Upon reaching the sand, she found Asher before her. She smiled warmly at his words. "I was frightened at first, truth be told. But I knew you would not hurt me. And it was a good idea, what you did."

[Joe]

"Not as much a good idea as a convenient one." He gazed at the forest and the lands before them. "I confess I do not know where we may turn now.." His eyes drifted to the sky, and in the distance dark clouds billowed towards them. "We should find shelter, it will be a start at least." Asher nodded to her and started to slowly walk towards the forest, he supposed they would just keep going until something came before them.

[Jenny]

"All we can do is go on, until we find a place of peace. There is bound to be a welcome tribe, for not all have violent blood within them. Our tribe proved such a thing. If we cannot find like minded people, then some other place where we may be left alone." She spoke as she walked beside him.

"But, we have each other. Surely that is a good beginning."

[Joe]

He cringed as she mentioned her own tribe, it was his doing that they now had nowhere to turn and no one to help them. "A single blessing, but it is enough.." He smiled to her as the forest engulfed them. It was a sparse coniferous forest, as was natural to the cold climate. The dark clouds swirled overhead, and rain began to fall. Wherever they tread, darkness seemed to follow. Through the woods, shapes formed ahead, and as they grew closer a small abandoned village appeared before them.

Asher glanced at Amber with a look of surprise as he jogged forward into the village center. Most of the small huts and tents had broken in, but several still stood strong. One large one in the center obviously had once been the home of a chieftain. He stepped towards it, leaning his head through the doorway. It was almost completely barren inside, a few remnants of old furs hung on the walls and scraps of simple wooden furniture lay in the corners of the room. He walked inside, closing his eyes for a moment as he reveled in the serenity; the only sound was that of the rain softly padding on the ground outside. It was the first time in a long while he had felt relaxed.

[Jenny]

She furrowed her brow at his reaction and turned her eyes away, for a moment disheartened. She had not meant to make him awkward, she had considered him as part of her people. She had not meant to alienate him. But then again, his own tribe had been those that had lived and died within the confines of the island. "Asher, " She spoke softly. "What happened is in the past. It is true that I miss my kin, but it was the will of the gods and not of your own. You were there from the beginning to aid us." Her words may not comfort him, but she did not like seeing his face that way. She had said before that she had forgiven him for what had transpired on the sea, and that was all that she could do to try and put his guilt to rest.

Amber smiled warmly at him as the smile on his face returned. Then she saw the surprise and turned her head forward towards the abandoned village. She followed quickly, wondering at the mystery of this place. Who had lived here? How long had it been empty?

But it was also welcome, a shelter from the rain and a touch of civilization that had not been expected in the reaches. She stepped inside after him and looked around at the tattered remains of the past. She looked down and saw a hearth, the ashes now cold and the wood that had not burned rotting. It's earthy smell filled the room.

"We may have a fire," she exclaimed with joy.

[Joe]

He opened his eyes again, snapping back to his corporeal form as she spoke. He stood behind her, peering into the hearth. "How long has it been since we've felt the warmth of fire?"

Asher walked to a nearby window, gazing out into the woods as thunder rumbled overhead. These moments of peace was his first chance to think of all he had learned. The bodies in the catacombs, Azunai - revived memories seemed to suggest he had a life before, one that he couldn't remember. He had been used as a tool to slaughter the people who had taken him in. Amber's tribe, how had he come to be among them? He couldn't remember. He furrowed his brow as he tried to remember; was he placed there to bring all this to pass? Used again as a tool of senseless destruction? It was shortly after their discovery of the Eikem's advance that all this had transpired. He felt as if he had never really known himself, and every thing he thought he knew was a lie. He glanced back at Amber - she had stayed with him, forgiven him for taking everything she knew away from her, why? He didn't deserve a companion such as her, and every moment he was with her only put her in danger, danger that he could not foretell or prevent. He turned back to the window and hung his head, his eyes welling up with tears.

[Jenny]

"Too long." It posed to much of a danger ever since they had left the mainland. The last fire they had seen was upon the shore when her people still lived. It had been a feast. Her belly growled in response to the thought of food and she frowned lightly, pressing her hand to her stomach as if it would quell the feeling.

She looked to Asher in his silence, and felt that a great sadness had passed over him. "Asher, are you all right?" She spoke softly and approached him, wishing to look upon his face. "Are you unwell?"

[Joe]

He sighed, running his sleeve across his eyes to hide his sorrow. "N-no I.." He shook his head, "Simply glad we can rest at last." He had never felt hunger in his life, and it often made him forgot that others did. It was not quite evening, but the storm would make continued travel difficult. He cleared his throat, "Will we rest here tonight?"

[Jenny]

Amber remained silent at first, watching his face, worry on her brow because she didn't believe him. He was hiding his feelings, but they were his to keep, not hers.

She nodded, smiling a little at last. "Yes, I think that is best."

In the corner of the hut was dry wood piled up in a small bundle. She went to it and bent down, carrying tender to start a fire going. Amber moved aside the rotted wood to one side of the hearth and reached in her pocket for flint and steel and was thankful that her hands closed around it. So it had not been lost. Deftly, she struck a flame and fed the fire that bloomed upon the wood. She sat back on her haunches and watched the flame catch and lick hungrily at the firewood, sighing in happiness, enjoying it's warmth. Again, she wished for food. But she had no arrow or spear, and any prey were certainly huddling in hiding places against the rain.

[Joe]

He turned from the door and strode to the fire, taking a seat across from Amber. He sat in silence for several minutes, stealing glances at her as he gauged her state of mind. He cleared his throat, "I know it has been some time.. but there is something I'd like to share with you, in regards to your training." He reached out for her hands, their touching necessary for the ritual ahead.

[Jenny]

Amber watched him with a serene look on her face, for the moment happy. She blinked at him in surprise at the sudden turn of events but reached out to take his hands, her mood sobering.

[Joe]

He gently squeezed her hands and gazed into her eyes. The world began to fade around them, as if they were moving to the spirit world as they done before but this reality was different. Everything was in sharp contrasts - the walls around them and the dirt beneath them were all a dull grey. Living things appeared in outlines, their "bodies" made up of a thick colored mist. Asher's body was a deep dark blue that seemed to flow downward, a strange sparkle nestled within the core of the fog. The trees outside were a vibrant green, softly glowing. "This is the world's pure emotion." His voice came to her mind as if an echo over the hills, "Everything living exudes feeling, and you can feel it here." Being so in proximity to Asher would make her feel overcome with guilt and sorrow, but moving away would make the feeling fade.

[Jenny]

She gazed into his eyes alone, keeping their eyes locked. She saw the emotion of the world, not simply in her peripheral vision, but also in feeling, as he had promised it would be. This world was soft around the edges for she was not in attune as strongly as he yet. She felt his own feelings, the guilt and sorrow, and felt those meld with her own, a sense of wonder and uncertainty. She did not speak aloud, but with much concentration she tried to communicate all the same.

I feel the world but most of all, I feel you. Why do you carry such sadness within you?

[Joe]

The mists within his frame swirled as he reacted to her thoughts.

You know why. Every sadness you feel is my fault, whether witting or not. I don't know what I am, or what further horror I may cause you. And you.. you fight for me still. I do not deserve you, a life with me can only bring pain.

[Jenny]

She frowned in disapproval, but she could not cast aside his feelings, for it was what was in his heart. The feeling of sadness deepened still as her own heart ached for his words. Without you in my world I am utterly alone, Asher. Perhaps you will bring me more pain, as I have brought you pain. If you cannot suffer me, then... then, I cannot hold you back. I may not know you, I may not know your true self, but I am willing to learn. That is what I wish.