ENDLESS JOURNEYS (O/A)

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec was stumbling with his lessons. Despite his unknown connection to wind, he still had trouble applying the control of it. He could perform druidic charms with no problem because all he had to do was talk to nature. This required a lot more concentration on his part.

He was busy making a leaf dance between his hands when something tickled his nose. The leaf fell as he grimaced and stuck his tongue out. "Oh man, what smells?"

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There was no answer from the Necromancer, rather a small child came from behind a bush. The kid was completely androgynous and dressed in rags. It spoke to Shara with the hinted malice of the Necromancer.

"Shara, I presume. The master sent me to assist you in your endeavor."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec held his hands up to his nose and looked around for what the source of the odor might be. "I don't know. I've never smelled anything like it. Whatever it is I hope it leaves soon.

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The child flatly stated, "I don't have a name. If you.feel you must call me something, call me Child. Please lead the way.I am eager to get to what I was created for."  

[PixelMuse]

Trinity noticed that the young ones were sensing something. Well, better get this out in the open. "Hey! Alejandro, is there something you want to tell us about these woods?" She stopped with the rest of the group stopping behind her. She asked him because he seemed to be the least deterred about the situation at hand.  

[Kittyusha]

Alejandro Inazuma

Ale stopped but did not look at Trinity when she asked about the forest. "First, I'd like to say the following quote from a certain place... Abandon all hope ye who enters this place. It is more or less what will happen in this forest as well... And to help explain this, I must ask how much you all know about the art of Golem's or spirit infusion and swear to never speak of it. Ever." He said as he turned to face the group, a rather uneasy look on his face. "Back in the earlier days of my people when we were first discovered by your kinds, we were considered to be rather... How should I put it? A good hunt, if you will. Hunters were coming and going, trying to kill us off like some sort of animal. Eventually, the second generation of elders decided to use some of the arts of golems and mixed it in with the whispers of the forest. The result was a black wolf with wings like ours and light green symbols on its sides that show its age." He started to explain, suddenly glancing around the woods. "They named it Kajoko, or Harvester of Souls in my language, and was set to guard these forests and the barrier to our village. Many years have passed, many people it has killed... And yet still I wonder where it was and what it was doing while everyone was killed... Its main duty was to protect the blood-seal stone that was set to hold the barrier around the village which only our kind can move, and yet it just...." He stopped talking when a sudden and rather loud howl emitted from further away from the group. "I think it just picked up on your scents... None of us have any way of harming it ether... We'ed best move higher up the mountain and camp there for the night if we wish to live..." He said as he turned and began to move at a slightly faster pace then before. He had heard of what this beast could do, and had met it only once. If he was wrong about his speculation, however, he could try to reason with it and maybe gain an ally for the time they had to spend up there. If not, time was against them now... "Welcome to the jungle..."  

[Nova Blancke]

Nova listened to Alejandro's story. He felt bad about their history. Humans do have a tendency to cause something like this. Maybe because they are less in tune with nature than the other races. He remembered the Golems and their creation. Spirit infusion....forcing a spirit into a shell with a set of commands. Personally he was against it.

"Tell me something. Is the spirit inside a crystal that operates the body or is the infused with the body? Also do you happen to know what kind of spirit resides within? If it is a wolf perhaps Alec can communicate with it." Nova asked curiously. He didn't seem intimidated or threatened by the presence of the beast.  

[Kittyusha]

Hasaii Inazuma

Ale once again stopped and looked back at Nova. "I honestly have no idea where its located... As for the gem..." He began to say until he stopped dead, turning pale as if he had seen a ghost. "Or... Y-you could... Ask h-him yourself..." He stuttered as he pointed behind the group to a large, black wolf with wings like his. It snarled and growled at them, staring each of them in the eye. "Hello humans." It growled between breaths, just before laying its eyes on Ale. There was a moment of silence that followed, then the creature turned its head in confusion. "You, winged one. You seem familiar... Your scent is of one that I recognize..." It said as it moved closer to him, walking through the group as if they weren't even there. Ale just stood there, not sure what to do. He looked over at the others to see if they were planning anything, then back at the beast. It stopped a meter from him, then suddenly crouched back and grinned. "Ah, I recognize you now winged one..." It began as it stretched its wings out, ready to pounce. Ale began to slowly step back, anticipating what could be a very heavy object about to slam into him. The last thing he heard before he pounced on him was mostly reassuring. "Master Hasaii, your home!!!" It yelled as it tackled him down.  

[Nova Blancke]

Nova was on edge thought he did not show it. His retained his usual calm demeanor. He was ready blow this golem to kingdom come if it attacked. It would be bad for the Valkyeries but he wasn't about to die for this.The situation changed as he heard the golem cry out cheerfully.

"This is what you were worried about?" Nova said between bursts of laughter." Don't scare us like that man."  

[PixelMuse]

Trinity was calm as she heard Alejandro story. As the beast howled she looked toward the direction of where it came from.

When she saw the thing she took a stance but then found that the beast was acting like a pet. She caught what the beast called him. "Hasaii? Is that your true name?"  

[Kittyusha]

Hasaii Inazuma

Hasaii gave a sigh or relief that the golem had remembered who he was. He dusted himself off as he stood back up. "I guess I was wrong once again... Nice to see you too Kaj." He replied to the wolf as he patted it. He looked at everyone's looks of surprise, and couldn't help but laugh. "Master, who might these fellows be?" Kaj asked as it sat by his side. "Well, the silent one over there is Trinity, the one who asked about you is Nova, and the two young ones are Alec and Kerana. I am leading them up to the village in search of the well." He explained just before hearing Trinity's question. "Ah yes, that would indeed be my true name. Hasaii Inazuma of the Yakashima tribe, also the last remaining Valkyrie." He replied with a formal bow. "I'm sure your aware of this master, but the blood-stone seal was moved, breaking the barrier... I have been guarding the ruins of the village, but its been getting harder ever since dark soul'ed people have been launching raids on this forest. Lucky for you they haven't been able to get through!" Kaj explained as it looked at him. "Then we'ed best hurry to the village. Or, what's left of it... Lead the way Kaj." Hasaii replied.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Kerana

Kerana's concentration on her fire ball which faded as Alejandro told his story. When she heard the howl she hid be hind Alec holding him tight.

Then the beast came and tackled Alejandro. She started to think of what she could use against him. When it started to behave like a pet welcoming the owner home. When Nova seemed sure it was safe she stood next to Alec and looked to him wondering what he thought of all this.

Alec was easily as startled and perplexed as Kerana was. When he heard the howl, and felt Kerana grasp him, the hairs on his body stood on end. He felt the beast stur within him, calling him to protect her. And protect her he would.

That is, until the monster pounced on Alejandro like a pup that had just seen it's master come home. He loosened up a bit, but was still on guard. He looked over his shoulder at Kerana and shrugged, unsure of what to think of the situation.  

[PixelMuse]

Trinity drew closer to the Valkyrie,"Hasaii... do you know how the blood stone got moved? Or who took it? It may not be much but we can help get it back if need be. So that at least the protection can be restored."  

[Kittyusha]

Hasaii Inazuma

Hasaii looked at Trinity. "Only one of our kind could move the stone, but everybody swore an oath to never endanger the clan... The stone reacts to Valkyrie blood only. Should any outsider try to touch it, it would send a signal to Kaj over here and stop the intruder from proceeding any further." He explained, slightly worried as to who would betray them. "The last time I checked, just last night, the stone was still at its usual place, still on its side." Kaj commented to Hasaii, who nodded back. "Alone the stone has no worth at all. But when a special type of magic is involved... One that bears symbols similar to those on pillars around the well." He continued, looking back in front of him. "Once we're done here, I shall replace the seal myself before we go."