Post by Alyssia Kanath on May 5, 2011 12:21:06 GMT -5
She fell back onto the bedroll gasping. “Passions woman! Alrigh'... Jus'...need to breathe...!”
A purring, liquid chuckle answered Alyssia's stuttered plea as Katryn settled against the length of her warrior's body. Throwing an arm loosely around the woman's waist, she nestled in close and lay her head down. “Big, bad Thunderlord indeed...” she giggled, listening to the strong staccato of Aly's heart beat thrumming beneath her ear.
Her answer was little more than a husky laugh.
Pulling the light, woolen blanket higher upon her shoulder, Kat shivered. She was just beginning to notice the chill that drifted around their little camp. “I wonder how late it is?” Looking around blearily she noticed that their fire was now little more than embers. “No wonder it's cold.” The last statement came out in a dissatisfied huff as she cuddled closer, seeking the heat of her lover's body.
“It wasn't tha' late when we started.” Katryn could almost see the sleepy, self satisfied grin that accompanied that tone of voice. Then, almost as an after thought, “We should reach the edge o' the wood in a couple days...” Alyssia murmured into her wife's chocolate curls, her words punctuated by a soft kiss atop her head. “Then it's another week o' trekkin' through the plains.”
With a sigh, Katryn rolled over onto her side and settled her head against the pillow. “Mmm...and you promised to show me 'somethin' I've NEVER seen before, right?” Though thick with the need to sleep, her voice still rang with amusement.
Aly grinned and rolled with her, wrapping strong arms around the woman's body protectively as she nestled tightly against her back. “Oh indeed...”
They lay like that for a length of time. Silent and basking in one anothers closeness. Katryn felt Alyssia's body relax slowly as the warrior drifted along the edge of dreams and the waking world. A familiar and sudden hiccuping sigh signaled Alyssia's impending unconsciousness.
They had been gone for months. With her renewed vigor, Alyssia had been struck with an intense wanderlust. She had been complacent in Sosaria for too long. Her aging body had stalled her. Her mind had become too jaded.
But now those wounds were healed. She felt young again. Veritably spry in fact. And so, one morning she had awoken to the idea that she was going to take Katryn on her first, real adventure. Show her sights and places that truly meant something to the Elder Thunderlord. Take her to another place, another world. It happened just like that. One moment they were eating breakfast and the next packs were being filled with supplies excitedly as her wife rambled about all the wonders she was going to share.
And it had been glorious. Smiling to herself, Katryn started to drift off into sleep.
But then, she felt Alyssia's body stiffen around her. The warm breath in her ear became more shallow, quieter. Something was wrong. She didn't know what it was. But she had learned to trust Alyssia's instincts. Katryn froze, instantly alert. She heard nothing.
But she felt something. A sudden intense tingling rippled outward and straight through her being. Alyssia had invoked her magic. With a silent summoning of will, the Thunderlord's static aura expanded around them. It crept slowly, an invisible wave of rolling energy cascading outward. Nothing could get within attacking range now without Alyssia being forewarned. Katryn felt the warrior's right hand slowly creeping towards the grip of her sword as it lay just at the edge of the blankets in front of Katryn. Aly always kept her weapons belt within easy reach, but this night it had been cast aside with little thought. Both of them suddenly cursed the lack of forethought due to heightened passion as it was suddenly realized the weapon was just out of reach.
Somewhere in the brush, a twig snapped. Then the sound of something large moving through the foliage not ten feet from the edge of the camp. Whatever it was, it was right in front of Katryn. A tremble of fear rippled down her spine.
“Shhh...” Alyssia whispered in her ear, her voice almost imperceptible. For all anyone would have known, Aly had done no more than sigh in her sleep.
Slowly, tentatively, Katryn could feel the woman's fingers groping under the blankets in attempt to grasp anything resembling a weapon.
Whatever was in the brush in front of them was less a concern to Alyssia than whatever it was that was behind her. It hovered just out of range of her static field. She could only barely sense it, flitting about like a ghost. It's energy would just barely brush against her perception and then it would be gone again. It was almost as if whatever it was knew that it had been detected and was toying with her.
Two things happened at once.
Alyssia's fingers wrapped around the grip of her hunting knife just as a large creature broke through the brush before them. In one motion, the warrior reared up pulled a startled Katryn beneath her protectively as her body twisted and arm flung outward. The blade hurtled through the air directly at whatever it was that was using it's partner as a distraction and creeping up from the rear.
Nonchalantly, Khandril Frostryn's upper body moved gracefully to the side as the large, single edged knife spun past her head and embedded itself deeply into the tree directly behind her. “Hello Alyssia.” The Vampire's voice was a flat monotone.
The creature, which Katryn now realized was a large barrel chested wolf, cleared itself of the bushes and padded over to the fire as if nothing at all were out of the ordinary. With a huff, the wolf lay down and watched the standoff patiently.
The sudden recognition of who was in her camp did not do anything to set Alyssia's mind at ease. In fact, she wasted little time rolling over Katryn's body and towards her sword. Instantly, the warrior was on her feet...Retribution's naked blade glinting wickedly in the moon's pale light. “Wha' are you doing 'ere....” Her voice was little more than a warning growl.
The tall, dark haired woman leaned down and slowly picked something up off the ground at her feet. Her movements were languid, easy, showing no threat. It was the Thunderlord's shirt. She bundled it up in her hands and launched it at Alyssia's head. “Get dressed. Then we'll talk.”
Alyssia caught the ball of indigo cloth in her free hand before it whomped her in the face and with slight embarrassment realized she was in fact, completely nude. The Thunderlord's glare was only partially replaced by a chagrined look. Angrily shoving the blade into the ground, she pulled shirt quickly over her head.
Khandril watched Alyssia dress quietly. An old, familiar routine that she had done hundred of times in the past. It had been years since they had seen one another though. Khandril had not seen Baeluel's handy work up close. Her gaze intently swept over the warrior's new, youthful body and memories of their past haunted her mind. She may never admit it to herself, but Khandril missed the one who at one time was her best and only friend. Especially now that she looked again so like she had when they were young.
That was not the only thing that was different. Fae glamour emanated from the Thunderlord's body now. All those years serving Silvara's court and Alyssia had hated being enchanted by them. When she left Bedlam, she broke her enchantments as quickly as possible. But over the years something had changed the woman's opinion. Khandril could pinpoint the sources. A bracelet of black and red gems adorned Alyssia's left wrist, ancient and powerful. As wolfen eyes swept down the woman's body, they rested on a large tattoo upon her left hip. It had been created of fae magics and skill. Though she could not see it's true image, hidden by glamour, it's mundane form was still remarkable. And dangerous to her.
Khandril shuddered, the glamour making her feel uneasy. Restless. As the shirt fell over the markings and sleeve around the bracelet, hiding them, she felt a distinct sense of relief. But she dare not get too close. That unease could easily give Alyssia the advantage and spell her doom. Then she suddenly wondered if Alyssia actually would kill her if she had the chance. Could she? The last time Alyssia had tried, Khandril had barely escaped
“I'm dressed. Talk.” Retribution was in the Thunderlord's hand again and held at the ready.
The lithe woman snapped back to reality and focused her strange, icy eyes upon both women. In her moments of reverie, they had quickly dressed. Katryn still sat upon the bedroll, watching Khandril with a soft, curious expression. They had never spoken much. Khandril suddenly regretted that. By the time Katryn had entered Alyssia's life, Khandril's relationship with the warrior had already been strained. Their friendship had faded and Alyssia's ego coupled with Khandril's growing sense of self loathing had turned them both cold. Khandril had become a weapon in Alyssia's arsenal, no more. One used carelessly and without thought. Their final encounter had ended with the enraged Thunderlord banishing the vampire from her sight. But not before Alyssia had beaten her savagely and threatened to stake the woman to the doors of the Yew Abbey.
The same Abbey that just weeks before that incident, Alyssia had commanded her reluctant assassin to murder three innocent monks in an attempt to set up one of her enemies. The ploy had worked. It had also destroyed the last shreds of their friendship. She was done doing the former Arbiter's dirty work.
“Put your weapon down. I'm not here to fight.” Khandril sat heavily upon a fallen tree trunk with a morose look. Glancing up, she saw a distinct sense of mistrust flicker over Alyssia's face.
“Lyssy...” Katryn said softly, “Put the sword away....” Alyssia growled, frowning down at Katryn briefly before turning and picking up her sword belt. She jammed the blade into it's scabbard and stalked over to the fire. Picking up a stick, she stirred the coals with a sour look.
She was suddenly aware that the wolf was scooting closer to her, ears flat and tail down. Submissively he bumped his head against her leg and looked up at the woman with a mournful expression. Alyssia sighed. “'Ello shade...” Despite herself, the discomfort quickly eased and she ran a hand over his head and ruffled the wolf's silky black ears.
Nodding in satisfaction, Katryn turned her attention to the woman who sat at the edge of the small clearing. As Alyssia tried grumpily getting the fire going again, Kat asked softly, “You came all this way for a reason, Khandril. Wha' is it?”
“You have to come back.”
Katryn frowned, “To Sosaria? Why? What's happened?”
Khandril suddenly felt self conscious as Alyssia's hard gaze swept over her again. “N...nothing....” She shook her head, black hair falling before her face as she turned her head away from them. Both women could feel the Vampire turn in on herself, withdrawing suddenly. There was silence for a moment. Steeling herself mentally, Khandril suddenly turned back to face them. “I require your assistance with something.”
The night was pierced by a bark of snide laughter from Alyssia. “Yer nae serious? You tracked us to hell an' back so I could do you favor?” The Thunderlord shook her crimson maned head and took on an incredulous look. “I can't believe...”
“You owe me this...” Khandril said quietly.
This caused Alyssia to stiffen. “Fuck off.” She growled. But it was half hearted. Those soft words were like a knife in the warrior's heart. Khandril was right. Alyssia owed her. Owed her a great deal. And despite her denial, Alyssia felt terrible over how she had mistreated her once best friend. Memories of that last terrible night trickled back and sad emerald eyes stared into the fire. Silence hung about them all like a black cloud, smothering everyone.
Tentatively, Katryn reached for her wife and lightly touched the woman's back. “Lyss...?”
Alyssia suddenly gave a deep, shuddering sigh and dropped the stick she had been using to poke at the fire. Letting her head fall into her hands, she rubbed her face wearily and in a muffled voice she said, “It's two and a 'alf weeks to the moongate. Unless we cut through the mountains. Tha'll shave our time by a few days....” The words came out almost lifelessly. Deep disappointment that their holiday would have to end.
As Alyssia looked up and out into the darkness, she heard Khandril's voice again, “Thank you...” Nodding absently, Alyssia did not answer.
Katryn felt her wife's sudden detachment. Pre-occupation with whatever lay ahead. Two thoughts consumed her mind as she stared between the two women before her.
One; she had to know what bound the warrior to this woman so deeply.
And two; no matter how hard Alyssia tried, she would never be free of Sosaria.
A purring, liquid chuckle answered Alyssia's stuttered plea as Katryn settled against the length of her warrior's body. Throwing an arm loosely around the woman's waist, she nestled in close and lay her head down. “Big, bad Thunderlord indeed...” she giggled, listening to the strong staccato of Aly's heart beat thrumming beneath her ear.
Her answer was little more than a husky laugh.
Pulling the light, woolen blanket higher upon her shoulder, Kat shivered. She was just beginning to notice the chill that drifted around their little camp. “I wonder how late it is?” Looking around blearily she noticed that their fire was now little more than embers. “No wonder it's cold.” The last statement came out in a dissatisfied huff as she cuddled closer, seeking the heat of her lover's body.
“It wasn't tha' late when we started.” Katryn could almost see the sleepy, self satisfied grin that accompanied that tone of voice. Then, almost as an after thought, “We should reach the edge o' the wood in a couple days...” Alyssia murmured into her wife's chocolate curls, her words punctuated by a soft kiss atop her head. “Then it's another week o' trekkin' through the plains.”
With a sigh, Katryn rolled over onto her side and settled her head against the pillow. “Mmm...and you promised to show me 'somethin' I've NEVER seen before, right?” Though thick with the need to sleep, her voice still rang with amusement.
Aly grinned and rolled with her, wrapping strong arms around the woman's body protectively as she nestled tightly against her back. “Oh indeed...”
They lay like that for a length of time. Silent and basking in one anothers closeness. Katryn felt Alyssia's body relax slowly as the warrior drifted along the edge of dreams and the waking world. A familiar and sudden hiccuping sigh signaled Alyssia's impending unconsciousness.
They had been gone for months. With her renewed vigor, Alyssia had been struck with an intense wanderlust. She had been complacent in Sosaria for too long. Her aging body had stalled her. Her mind had become too jaded.
But now those wounds were healed. She felt young again. Veritably spry in fact. And so, one morning she had awoken to the idea that she was going to take Katryn on her first, real adventure. Show her sights and places that truly meant something to the Elder Thunderlord. Take her to another place, another world. It happened just like that. One moment they were eating breakfast and the next packs were being filled with supplies excitedly as her wife rambled about all the wonders she was going to share.
And it had been glorious. Smiling to herself, Katryn started to drift off into sleep.
But then, she felt Alyssia's body stiffen around her. The warm breath in her ear became more shallow, quieter. Something was wrong. She didn't know what it was. But she had learned to trust Alyssia's instincts. Katryn froze, instantly alert. She heard nothing.
But she felt something. A sudden intense tingling rippled outward and straight through her being. Alyssia had invoked her magic. With a silent summoning of will, the Thunderlord's static aura expanded around them. It crept slowly, an invisible wave of rolling energy cascading outward. Nothing could get within attacking range now without Alyssia being forewarned. Katryn felt the warrior's right hand slowly creeping towards the grip of her sword as it lay just at the edge of the blankets in front of Katryn. Aly always kept her weapons belt within easy reach, but this night it had been cast aside with little thought. Both of them suddenly cursed the lack of forethought due to heightened passion as it was suddenly realized the weapon was just out of reach.
Somewhere in the brush, a twig snapped. Then the sound of something large moving through the foliage not ten feet from the edge of the camp. Whatever it was, it was right in front of Katryn. A tremble of fear rippled down her spine.
“Shhh...” Alyssia whispered in her ear, her voice almost imperceptible. For all anyone would have known, Aly had done no more than sigh in her sleep.
Slowly, tentatively, Katryn could feel the woman's fingers groping under the blankets in attempt to grasp anything resembling a weapon.
Whatever was in the brush in front of them was less a concern to Alyssia than whatever it was that was behind her. It hovered just out of range of her static field. She could only barely sense it, flitting about like a ghost. It's energy would just barely brush against her perception and then it would be gone again. It was almost as if whatever it was knew that it had been detected and was toying with her.
Two things happened at once.
Alyssia's fingers wrapped around the grip of her hunting knife just as a large creature broke through the brush before them. In one motion, the warrior reared up pulled a startled Katryn beneath her protectively as her body twisted and arm flung outward. The blade hurtled through the air directly at whatever it was that was using it's partner as a distraction and creeping up from the rear.
Nonchalantly, Khandril Frostryn's upper body moved gracefully to the side as the large, single edged knife spun past her head and embedded itself deeply into the tree directly behind her. “Hello Alyssia.” The Vampire's voice was a flat monotone.
The creature, which Katryn now realized was a large barrel chested wolf, cleared itself of the bushes and padded over to the fire as if nothing at all were out of the ordinary. With a huff, the wolf lay down and watched the standoff patiently.
The sudden recognition of who was in her camp did not do anything to set Alyssia's mind at ease. In fact, she wasted little time rolling over Katryn's body and towards her sword. Instantly, the warrior was on her feet...Retribution's naked blade glinting wickedly in the moon's pale light. “Wha' are you doing 'ere....” Her voice was little more than a warning growl.
The tall, dark haired woman leaned down and slowly picked something up off the ground at her feet. Her movements were languid, easy, showing no threat. It was the Thunderlord's shirt. She bundled it up in her hands and launched it at Alyssia's head. “Get dressed. Then we'll talk.”
Alyssia caught the ball of indigo cloth in her free hand before it whomped her in the face and with slight embarrassment realized she was in fact, completely nude. The Thunderlord's glare was only partially replaced by a chagrined look. Angrily shoving the blade into the ground, she pulled shirt quickly over her head.
Khandril watched Alyssia dress quietly. An old, familiar routine that she had done hundred of times in the past. It had been years since they had seen one another though. Khandril had not seen Baeluel's handy work up close. Her gaze intently swept over the warrior's new, youthful body and memories of their past haunted her mind. She may never admit it to herself, but Khandril missed the one who at one time was her best and only friend. Especially now that she looked again so like she had when they were young.
That was not the only thing that was different. Fae glamour emanated from the Thunderlord's body now. All those years serving Silvara's court and Alyssia had hated being enchanted by them. When she left Bedlam, she broke her enchantments as quickly as possible. But over the years something had changed the woman's opinion. Khandril could pinpoint the sources. A bracelet of black and red gems adorned Alyssia's left wrist, ancient and powerful. As wolfen eyes swept down the woman's body, they rested on a large tattoo upon her left hip. It had been created of fae magics and skill. Though she could not see it's true image, hidden by glamour, it's mundane form was still remarkable. And dangerous to her.
Khandril shuddered, the glamour making her feel uneasy. Restless. As the shirt fell over the markings and sleeve around the bracelet, hiding them, she felt a distinct sense of relief. But she dare not get too close. That unease could easily give Alyssia the advantage and spell her doom. Then she suddenly wondered if Alyssia actually would kill her if she had the chance. Could she? The last time Alyssia had tried, Khandril had barely escaped
“I'm dressed. Talk.” Retribution was in the Thunderlord's hand again and held at the ready.
The lithe woman snapped back to reality and focused her strange, icy eyes upon both women. In her moments of reverie, they had quickly dressed. Katryn still sat upon the bedroll, watching Khandril with a soft, curious expression. They had never spoken much. Khandril suddenly regretted that. By the time Katryn had entered Alyssia's life, Khandril's relationship with the warrior had already been strained. Their friendship had faded and Alyssia's ego coupled with Khandril's growing sense of self loathing had turned them both cold. Khandril had become a weapon in Alyssia's arsenal, no more. One used carelessly and without thought. Their final encounter had ended with the enraged Thunderlord banishing the vampire from her sight. But not before Alyssia had beaten her savagely and threatened to stake the woman to the doors of the Yew Abbey.
The same Abbey that just weeks before that incident, Alyssia had commanded her reluctant assassin to murder three innocent monks in an attempt to set up one of her enemies. The ploy had worked. It had also destroyed the last shreds of their friendship. She was done doing the former Arbiter's dirty work.
“Put your weapon down. I'm not here to fight.” Khandril sat heavily upon a fallen tree trunk with a morose look. Glancing up, she saw a distinct sense of mistrust flicker over Alyssia's face.
“Lyssy...” Katryn said softly, “Put the sword away....” Alyssia growled, frowning down at Katryn briefly before turning and picking up her sword belt. She jammed the blade into it's scabbard and stalked over to the fire. Picking up a stick, she stirred the coals with a sour look.
She was suddenly aware that the wolf was scooting closer to her, ears flat and tail down. Submissively he bumped his head against her leg and looked up at the woman with a mournful expression. Alyssia sighed. “'Ello shade...” Despite herself, the discomfort quickly eased and she ran a hand over his head and ruffled the wolf's silky black ears.
Nodding in satisfaction, Katryn turned her attention to the woman who sat at the edge of the small clearing. As Alyssia tried grumpily getting the fire going again, Kat asked softly, “You came all this way for a reason, Khandril. Wha' is it?”
“You have to come back.”
Katryn frowned, “To Sosaria? Why? What's happened?”
Khandril suddenly felt self conscious as Alyssia's hard gaze swept over her again. “N...nothing....” She shook her head, black hair falling before her face as she turned her head away from them. Both women could feel the Vampire turn in on herself, withdrawing suddenly. There was silence for a moment. Steeling herself mentally, Khandril suddenly turned back to face them. “I require your assistance with something.”
The night was pierced by a bark of snide laughter from Alyssia. “Yer nae serious? You tracked us to hell an' back so I could do you favor?” The Thunderlord shook her crimson maned head and took on an incredulous look. “I can't believe...”
“You owe me this...” Khandril said quietly.
This caused Alyssia to stiffen. “Fuck off.” She growled. But it was half hearted. Those soft words were like a knife in the warrior's heart. Khandril was right. Alyssia owed her. Owed her a great deal. And despite her denial, Alyssia felt terrible over how she had mistreated her once best friend. Memories of that last terrible night trickled back and sad emerald eyes stared into the fire. Silence hung about them all like a black cloud, smothering everyone.
Tentatively, Katryn reached for her wife and lightly touched the woman's back. “Lyss...?”
Alyssia suddenly gave a deep, shuddering sigh and dropped the stick she had been using to poke at the fire. Letting her head fall into her hands, she rubbed her face wearily and in a muffled voice she said, “It's two and a 'alf weeks to the moongate. Unless we cut through the mountains. Tha'll shave our time by a few days....” The words came out almost lifelessly. Deep disappointment that their holiday would have to end.
As Alyssia looked up and out into the darkness, she heard Khandril's voice again, “Thank you...” Nodding absently, Alyssia did not answer.
Katryn felt her wife's sudden detachment. Pre-occupation with whatever lay ahead. Two thoughts consumed her mind as she stared between the two women before her.
One; she had to know what bound the warrior to this woman so deeply.
And two; no matter how hard Alyssia tried, she would never be free of Sosaria.