Winter Wonderland

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Arabesque-MIDDLE.jpg] When I looked back to her, I noticed a shiver slip over her body, and I wondered if it was a reaction of the wind coming off the sea or if it was something deeper. She did not meet my eyes, but I had the distinction that she understood what I had said. Or maybe that was simply my ego reassuring me, but there you are. ‘Maybe… maybe things were different for you, on the other side of our country, but where I come from, it was not so out of the ordinary. I am much relieved to hear it is not this way everywhere.’ These words seemed to unwound the tense muscles in my shoulders; I felt my hackles start to lay down. I could admit that perhaps things were different on the other coastline. Yes, I could admit that. It disguisted me that their customs were so unhonorable, but it also relieved me to realize that I had been raised in a far prouder world. I had been able to reveal to Kayden, who so obviously resented Arabia, my fondness, fondness that had been put in the correct place. I would not say that Arabia was the purest land, oh no. I had wronged many wolves. I had participated in some things that I was not too proud of. Despite all that, however, I had maintained that code of honor. It is difficult for another to properly understand unless they’ve experienced it, but never had I wronged a woman. Never had I harmed a child. And never had I killed for nothing but the sheer joy of it. I drew my boundaries with a definite line. ‘Do you still go by the old ways? Were your people ruled by the Word of the desert spirits?’ These questions surprised me, and I was taken aback for a moment. By the old ways? What precisely did she mean? I interpreted this in the only way I could. “If you mean we looked to Allah and his prophets, then yes.” I hoped that she did mean this, and that she, too, was Muslim. It would simply give us something in common; and, for that matter, I had not met another creature who held the same beliefs as I. It was a depressing thought. I’d never been overly religious, but it still saddened me to not have a connection with others like I should have. Then we got to the reason she was there, and I saw her turn and looked back the way that, I assume, she had come from. I wondered the reason behind it, but I quickly discarded it. I turned my body toward the inner land; we’d follow the coastline for a short while before turning inland, following a twisting stream that transformed into a wide, flowing river. That would lead us to the main camp. ‘I came all this way to give my allegiance to Serena and her Warriors- I don’t mean to leave without having done that, and the war finished besides.’ I started forward, considering her words. “Then it sounds like you’ve made a long journey, to come here just for this.” It was still hard to understand why one would trek all this way to become a part of this group, for I myself was still struggling with my reasoning for being here. I was here because Shyne was here, and that’s all there was to it. I was slowly beginning to find that I did enjoy belonging again, remembering the Protocol that I had once lived and (at times) nearly died by. But I just couldn’t see why one would come as far as she might have. But there’s the difference in our views. I hoped that one day I would have enough perspective to see around my adoration for Shyne, and realize why I wanted to stay, love aside. “So,” I began conversationally, “How did you manage to find this island?” This I was indeed curious about, because I had no recollection of my own journey. The edges were blurry, and it hurt if I thought too hard about it. I remembered, and very clearly, that I had left Arabia. That I was not likely to see the sands again. I’d moved onto another continent, and at about that time my memory became frayed. Certain things must have happened, because then I ended up in this land where vegetation was overwhelmingly abundant. I’d never known that a land could hold this much green. It had come as a considerable shock. Ooc:// Not my best post, my muse has been very flighty, but here you are. I’m not sure what we’ll actually do about the whole acception process…Maybe you can PM Serena or something about that, if you’d like. ^^

[Aylenni]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/30w71ae.jpg] The male started to relax. His hackles went down slowly, and when she asked his about his faith, she was just as surprised as he was, but for a different reason. He’s going to answer, she thought. He’s really going to do it. She hadn’t expected him to treat her seriously, especially when it was such a random question. ”If you mean we looked to Allah and his prophets, then yes.” Kayden blushed furiously. ”We were forbidden from calling the desert spirits by name,” she said embarrassedly. ”Has… has the angel Jibrael ever appeared to your people? A… a friend of mine… thought he saw the angel and heard his message. We thought that we were unworthy to behold the spirits’ Word, but now I’m not sure.” She was still blushing. No matter how much she longed to know if she’d truly had a vision from the spirits, she was not prepared to tell this male that the vision hadn’t come to a man at all. ”It sounds like you’ve made a long journey, to come here just for this.” The male turned toward the land and began to walk as he spoke. Kayden nodded. ”A difficult journey,” she commented lightly. She wasn’t sure how much she could tell this male. He was unpredictable. She had no idea what to expect from him. Sometimes he seemed to look down on her because she was a woman, and then he contradicted her when she told him how limiting the desert culture was for women. He was so backwards that he was beginning to make Kayden doubt even herself. ”But I think it was worthwhile,” she added as an afterthought. She fell into step next to him, thinking. This whole place is different. Even someone from the same place as me is different. Everything is backwards here. ”So. How did you manage to find this island?” Kayden considered the question. Should she lie, as she had lied to everyone else she had met on the island? Or should she tell him the truth? He’ll only laugh, she thought sullenly. He won’t believe that the spirits sent me a dream. He wouldn’t possibly. So she shrugged instead. ”Luck, I suppose. I followed the main roads for a while, and then turned to find water. It’s so strange… I crossed many rivers, all of which flowed toward the island. It is as if Traum were attracting nature itself. Everything is drawn to it- animals, rivers, trees, people. I think perhaps more is meant to happen here than anywhere else. I think this place has been blessed by the desert spirits, and perhaps the spirits of the forest and plains and mountains as well, if those places even have spirits.” She closed her mouth, aware that she was babbling. What was it with her and babbling recently? Now the male would think her stupid. The wind changed direction suddenly, and Kayden’s nose filled with the scent of wolf. She bristled and turned, searching the coastline for the other. Within a moment, her olive eyes snapped onto the wolf. The wolf was stopped some distance away from the pair, one paw raised slightly. Kayden sniffed the air again and frowned. The scent was female, decidedly so, but the wolf in question didn’t look it. He or she was built heavy and powerful, but as they drew closer, Kayden blinked in surprise. The wolf had a tapered waist and a feminine face. Kayden cringed when she saw the wolf’s eyes. They were amber, and reminded Kayden so fiercely of Auburn that she wanted to cry. At the same time, however, she knew that she could trust this wolf, be it female or male. ”Arabesque. Well met.” The wolf nodded to the male, and Kayden masked her surprise. So his name was Arabesque all along! I can’t believe I didn’t think to ask. And I can’t believe he didn’t volunteer the information, either. The wolf turned toward Kayden, her ears tilted forward. ”I’m Idris verch Rhonwen, stranger. Who might you be?” Kayden knew then by the sound of the wolf’s voice that she was female. Kayden bowed her head in respect. Inside, she was alight with excitement. A female Warrior! The first Kayden had ever seen, and so far she did not disappoint. As Kayden brought her head back up, she noticed a light lavender feather behind Idris’s ear. What does it mean? she wondered. Is it some Warrior thing? But if that’s so, why doesn’t Arabesque have one? Kayden didn’t know what it meant, but she liked the style, and made up her mind instantly to see what it took to get one. ”I’m Kayden, Kayden al Howaitat of the western desert. I was hoping to join the Warriors.” As the words left her mouth, Kayden realized how weak they sounded. Why would this Idris and this Arabesque let her in just because she said she wanted to join? How would she ever explain to them that she had been sent to aid their cause by a divine spirit? ”I used to hear stories about the Warriors, growing up. For years I’ve dreamed about coming to Traum to join their ranks.” She cringed mentally again. She sounded so weak. ”I… I’ve had a chance to see what the Revolt is like,” she said quietly. It hurt to admit that she’d been there with Auburn. ”I was lied to about their involvement in this war, and I was not pleased about either one- the lie and the involvement.” It was still not enough. But if she tried to add more now, it would only make her seem desperate, and that was as good a reason as any not to let her in. I’m fast, she thought. And I’m observant. I can be quiet when I’m on a hunt, and I’m not afraid of death- mine or others’. I need this. Please let me in. If her thoughts could have been heard, Kayden would have deafened both Arabesque and Idris. Please…