ENDLESS JOURNEYS (O/A)

[Kerana]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Alec stood up and insisted, "Of course I do. But we should be careful until we've had a chance to speak to our parents. If things are as bad as my wolf spirit says, then our people are on the brink of war."

"Kerana, I've loved you since the day I was made your guardian, but we have to think beyond us. Or do you want our parents to try and kill each other?"

Kerana sighed to herself and shook her head, "...and that's why we can't truly be together, despite how we say we feel for each other... You're too afraid! Too afraid of what would happen at home that you miss so many opportunities here and now... What will you do if I die before we have the opportunity to speak to our parents?" At that she started to walk away.

Normally she wasn't so stobborn. In the past Kerana assured that neither one of them weren't breaking rules or breaking code of conduct. The reasoning would have been sound before, she would have agreed and supported him on such a matter but for some reason, not now.
 

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec's jaw went slightly agape as Kerana turned her back to him. It was then that he was sure...something happened to Kerana. Trinity must've been on the right track.

In prior heated conversations, Alec could pic up on Kerana's emotions due to the various scents that were put off from someone depending on their mood. In that most recent exchange he could pick up on anger through scent alone, and he could tell she was frustrated and disapointed from her speach.

It was what he expected to find, but didn't, that put him on edge. Alec had brought up their people going to war, and Kerana didn't even care. There was no sympathy, no hesitation, no remorse...no fear.

Alec swiftly marched up to Kerana and grabbed her wrist firmly. He spun her around and took hold of her shoulders. His eyes pierced hers as he asked, "Kerana, what were you doing before you pulled the earth diver out of the ground?" in a tone he only took when her life was in danger.

Kerana

 

[Nova Blancke]

"He's....not the easiest man around. Pour enough Frostbite into him and he'll talk. Mostly about you. But that is not for me to talk about. It's not right to talk about what one man keeps inside to someone else. All I can say is, talk to him after this." The giant hunter said.  

[BeaMichelle]

Keleth couldn't believe what she was hearing. But Leo had no reason to lie. If the hunter was right, then she had her father figured all wrong

She stretched the wraps on her chest just enough so she could comfortably tuck the scale into her considerable cleavage. Once she was satisfied, Keleth looked up at Leo amd said, "You have my eternal gratitude, Brother Leo."

She waited a few seconds, but then she couldn't hold herself back any longer. She threw her arms around the giant and squeezed him as hard as she could. A moment later she let go and giggled. She then looked over to Trinity, picked up her hammer, and jogged over to her.

"Trinity! Did you see that! He gave me the scale! I'm so happy...and in so so much pain." she groaned while holding her ribs and grinning.

PixelMuse

 

[PixelMuse]

Trinity smiled at her accomplishment. "Yes, I saw that final blow. Good work." She pat her shoulder gently considering how tender she was. Normally she would have Kerana take a look at her wounds and try to avoid having Nova use his magic because of his condition. But considering her strange behavior she wasn't sure that was the best idea. She began to get the hang of an accelerated healing spell but it wouldn't completely heal her wounds like what Nova or could do which could heal a wound completely. It would heal the wound by the end of the day if it wasn't bad or a week if it were real bad.

"I could try to get that to heal at a faster pace. Kerana is usually very good at healing up wounds but I'm afraid she may be out of sorts at the moment." She noticed how their conversation intensified she rubbed the back of her head.  

[Kerana]

Kerana looked into his eyes with lack of any fear he tried to instill upon her. Instead of coming to her senses she let out a low growl. "So that's how it's going to be! You push me away when I try to share my affection but pull me in when you share your aggression!" She pulled her arm away from him. "You see that elders!"

"I thought we could be something together without fear.… but I'm wrong. I'm just wrong about everything!" she ran off with intent to be rid of her final weakness, her heart. It ached when she realized the 'truth' about Alec.

"I'll be right back." she told the dragon-kin.

Before Alec could go after her Trinity held his shoulder. "Quell your haste. Follow but make sure she can't detect your presence. Let her lead you to the answers you seek." She may have bought the fox girl some time but it was clear that was not her intention. "Come with me we can close to her without being detected." She offered her hand. He took her hand and she brought him close to where Kerana stopped but far enough away to not be detected. Her voice resonated in the darkness off his ears "Good Luck". She felt that it was their conflict to work through and it wasn't her place to intervene.


Tears rolled off her cheek as she was on the ground not far from the rune she drew. "What's the point of having a heart, if the one who loves you repels it out of fear. My love for him is only another form of weakness, just like my fear… a lot of weight had been lifted when I removed that… but that wasn- wasn't enough… I was wrong … despite his words … he didn't want to … try…" she gripped the grass. "I'm sorry to call you so soon after you've gotten rid of my fear... I need … cleanse myself of my love for him to be an asset to the team…" she drew the rune.

"I, Kerana call upon the daughter of shadows to appear before me."
 

[Nova Blancke]

Leo gave the young dragon-kin a nod. Then she hugged him. Guess she could only hold herself back for so long. He chuckled as she rushed off towards the rest. His team and himself went back to get a cart to transport the Earth Diver with.

Nova made his way to Kaleth with Ruby still on his shoulders.

"Well done. Feels good doesn't it? The pain as well. It's a good kind of pain. "  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Kerana

"I thought we could be something together without fear.… but I'm wrong. I'm just wrong about everything!" she ran off with intent to be rid of her final weakness, her heart. It ached when she realized the 'truth' about Alec.


Before Alec could go after her Trinity held his shoulder. "Quell your haste. Follow but make sure she can't detect your presence. Let her lead you to the answers you seek." She may have bought the fox girl some time but it was clear that was not her intention. "Come with me we can close to her without being detected." She offered her hand. He took her hand and she brought him close to where Kerana stopped but far enough away to not be detected. Her voice resonated in the darkness off his ears "Good Luck". She felt that it was their conflict to work through and it wasn't her place to intervene.


Tears rolled off her cheek as she was on the ground not far from the rune she drew. "What's the point of having a heart, if the one who loves you repels it out of fear. My love for him is only another form of weakness, just like my fear… a lot of weight had been lifted when I removed that… but that wasn- wasn't enough… I was wrong … despite his words … he didn't want to … try…" she gripped the grass. "I'm sorry to call you so soon after you've gotten rid of my fear... I need … cleanse myself of my love for him to be an asset to the team…" she drew the rune.
"I, Kerana call upon the daughter of shadows to appear before me."

"Kerana wait!"

He leaned forward to give chase, but he was stopped by Trinity's thoughtful intervention. With some trepidation he allowed himself to be placed close to where Kerana stopped. He said nothing to Trinity, but he did nod in response to her well wishing.

He dropped low to decrease his silhouette and shuffled up to an overgrown drybrush to conceal his presence. He focused his ears and eyes on Kerana's actions. He could tell she was drawing something in the ground. Perhaps a rune? But to his knowledge she rarely ever used runes outside of healing. Her words concerning him brought a piercing pain to his stomach and chest. Something had to have gotten to her for her to act so impulsively. And who was the "daughter of shadows?"

Kerana's shadow stretched and distorted into that of an adult woman. The silver eyes pierced the darkness, and then Shade spoke.

"My dear Kerana. You look to have been crying your heart out. Tell me what is troubling you so." she cooed. Her eyes remained locked on Kerana even though she could sense the shadow of her guardian. Good, she thought. This will make it all the more enjoyable when I destroy her heart.

Alec could feel the hairs on his neck stand on end as the unseen woman spoke. He couldn't make out Kerana's shadow from his vantage point,
but the voice was sending up all sorts of red flags.  

[BeaMichelle]

Nova Blancke

Leo gave the young dragon-kin a nod. Then she hugged him. Guess she could only hold herself back for so long. He chuckled as she rushed off towards the rest. His team and himself went back to get a cart to transport the Earth Diver with.

Nova made his way to Kaleth with Ruby still on his shoulders.

"Well done. Feels good doesn't it? The pain as well. It's a good kind of pain. "

Keleth smiled brightly and replied, "Yessir! Although the more I calm down, the more it hurts. At least he hit my ribs and didn't break my swinging arm. That's my favorite arm."

She laughed and winced from the pain her own lungs caused, but she kept smiling all the while. She looked up at Ruby and said, "Whatcha think Ruby? Earth diver blood looks good on me, no?"  

[Kerana]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Kerana's shadow stretched and distorted into that of an adult woman. The silver eyes pierced the darkness, and then Shade spoke.

"My dear Kerana. You look to have been crying your heart out. Tell me what is troubling you so." she cooed. Her eyes remained locked on Kerana even though she could sense the shadow of her guardian. Good, she thought. This will make it all the more enjoyable when I destroy her heart.

"That's just it… my heart… I thought for certain that without fear I would be able to give my heart to him. Instead he refused it because he said he was afraid of what would happen at home." She rubbed her eyes, "I can't help but feel he was just using that to not be with me, at this rate one of us could die and we would miss out sharing our lives together… the very thought it ales me so."

" I know I've asked you of something recently and it did bring some level of freedom. The fear was constraining me so much I even considered that Alec and I should become vegetarians to save more lives… but I knew thajt it wouldn't make sense and Alec would just simply be appalled by that mere suggestion. The others would have laughed at my notion… you really are the only one I can talk to."

"I'm sorry to ask you of this favor… if it's not too much trouble … Oh Shade daughter of shadows remove the pain that resides in my heart."
 

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Shade emerged from the ground and drifted up to Kerana slowly. "My dear Kerana...while I would be more than happy to take away the pain as I did your fear, I believe there is an underlying issue to your strife."

I knew it! Alec thought to himself. But his vindication was cut short when the shadow creature emerged. He covered his mouth and nose with his hand and dropped down lower. Now the fur on his ears and tail were standing straight. What has she gotten herself into?

"The boy cares so much for those around him. I feel that, perhaps, he takes on too much. A wonderful trait for a guardian, but a poor one for a potential lover."

"What if you could eleviate his greatest concern? Your safety. What if you were more than capable of taking care of yourself? So that he can focus on loving you."

The shadow slinked around to Kerana's back and drummed her fingers in Kerana's shoulder until they laid flat.
She leaned in until her "head" was iver Kerana's left shoulder and right by her ear. She whispered sweetly,
"What if you were more powerful than Tri-ni-ty?  

[Kerana]

Kerana listened to the daughter of shadows. The fox girl's brow furrowed. "That does make a lot of sense. Though, to tell the truth I think I'm more capable than Trinity magic wise. However when it comes to fighting, shadow manipulation or holy… that seems to be where her strength was especially with hand to hand combat."

"When you say more powerful than Trinity…how do you mean?"
 

[PixelMuse]

Thinking that Alec and Kerana would be able to figure things out on their own and emerged from a shadow near Nova. Then she sensed shadow manipulation near by and she wasn't manipulating it.

"Nova, do you sense something?" She looked in the direction of where she left Alec. She truly wondered what that fox girl has gotten herself into. Regardless she was beginning to sense that Alec may not be able to handle the situation.

show spoilerhide spoiler

Nova Blancke

Rikki Tikki Travi

BeaMichelle

 

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Kerana

"When you say more powerful than Trinity…how do you mean?"

It was everything she could do to stop herself from grinning. If she were able to, Shade would be trembling with excitement.

She slithered around the Fox-kin like a hungry panther. "She doesn't know it, but I was the one who gave her the power to manipulate and travel the shadows. She was a heartbroken and half dead when I came upon her. Now she is a modern legend."

"But what I gave her was only a fraction I can give. It is as you say, you are far more gifted in the mystical arts. I can give you power second only to me. Then you could protect not only yourself, but the people Alec worries about as well."

"What say you, Kerana?"

Alec stifled a growl and balled his fists. The desire to tear the throat out of the shadow creature was almost too much to bare. But he knew it was vastly more powerful than he was. Plus he knew that Kerana, fear or no fear, was too smart to fall for what it was selling.