A Lesson in Manners [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

Caelen

08-17-2008, 07:30 AM

**Continued from <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=389100" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Beast Ascending</a>**The golden rays of the early light of dawn danced down from the heavens, shimmering and fading as they broke through the thick blanket of clouds that rolled out across the brightening sky above Rhylea's head. The old dirt road he had been following wound through the rugged steppes, and all around him the craggy outcroppings of jagged rocks and the bare stone ridges of the sweeping hills were painted in the pastel hues of pink and gold. He hugged his chest tightly as the chill wind of the early dawn bit through his striped fur. There wasn't a sound to be heard save for the sharp clatter of his teeth chattering against each other, but even that was drowned out under the bluster of the wind as it whistled past his ears.He was feeling quite miserable as he made his way up the steadily inclining dirt path and turned to face the land that lay behind him. The grass of the valley shimmered like a vast sea of brownish-green as the wind passed over its blades. Rhylea squinted under the weight of his weary eyelids as he searched for signs of the snarling dog-men that had been tracking him for the past two days. He had hardly slept at all since he and Ekoko had parted ways, partly out of fear of the strange new world he inhabited and partly out of the sheer determination to get as far and away from the city of Qeynos that his legs could take him.Indeed, each time he laid to rest under the shelter of the stony crags he would be awoken by the clacking and rattling of loose stones falling from above, or be stolen away from his slumber by the faint sound of a growl or a bark. Once he thought he had felt the hotness of one of the creatures' fowl breath upon his face, but he awoke slashing at nothing but the chill wind. Never did his frantic searching reveal his pursuers, but at all times he felt the piercing gaze of their savage eyes staring down at him from ridges above.Therefore, it was with this cautious sense of paranoia weighing down upon his shoulders that Rhylea traveled, constantly hoping that the sight of the village he had long been searching for would break over the next hill that he climbed, and each one after that. Feeling confident that his shadowy pursuers were not at his back he turned back toward the trail and followed it to the top of the small knoll, and as he planted his foot firmly into the soft earth he let out a roar of excitement that thundered across the length of the valley.He had finally found the village.With all his remaining strength Rhylea broke into a gallop toward the small cluster of buildings; the rough quality of their cobbled walls and their thatched hay roofs became clearer and clearer as he bolted down the trail. If anything were following him, it would be a hard task finding its way out of the cloud of dust he left in his wake.Onward he pressed, and the village was finally within reach. Had he not been so possessed in his determination to race into the safety and shelter within the village's borders, however, he might have heard the warning call of the guard who was now charging at him with his sword drawn."Halt!" cried the man again. "I'll teach you damned raiders to come down upon my village!"This time Rhylea heard him.A giant of a man thundered toward him at a tremendous speed, wielding in both his hands the largest sword Rhylea had ever seen. Wisps of his long brown hair whipped behind him as he ran and a scruffy braided beard all but hid a fierce snarl. With a booming battle cry he swung his arms around, whirling his sword in a heavy arc.Shaken from his trance by the image of the lumbering guard, Rhylea rolled into a defensive stance. He had come too far, and had too far left to go, to be killed now, but before he could even form the words in his head the guard's goliath claymore came gliding toward his neck. With a slide of his feet Rhylea plunged backward onto the hard earth below as the edge of the great sword wheeled through the empty vacuum just inches above his nose.The tip of the sword gleamed as it reached its pinnacle, towering high into the air under the shimmering light of the sun. The clouds glowed golden behind the blade, bathed in the radiance of the morning, and then like a great silver falcon it plummeted back down to the earth below.A loud thud shook the ground beside Rhylea's ear as he rolled across the ground, narrowly avoiding being cleaved in half. He coughed and sputtered, choking on the dust as he inhaled it, and pleaded silently with his aggressor. If only he could have the time to form a coherent sentence.Again the sword climbed into the air."Wait!" cried Rhylea, taking the only chance he might have.Again the sword streaked down in a blur of silver."What's the matter, kerran," started the man as he heaved the great blade once more, wedging it into the soft ground between Rhylea's scrambling feet. He gasped furiously for breath as he pulled the blade from the earth. "Are you no match for the likes of a simple farmer? Perhaps my young daughter was a more suitable opponent for you and your band of cutthroats!"Rhylea's head was spinning. What was the farmer talking about? He had met no one in his travels up until this point, be they a little girl or the group of bandits that had allegedly attacked her. The images of the vicious canine-like men pressed upon Rhylea's mind then, their long, frothing jaws snapping at him from all sides as sharp incisors pulled at bits of his fur and flesh. A shudder went down his spine at the thought of what those creatures would do to a young girl if she had the misfortune of crossing their path."I've done no wrong this day, farmer!" shouted Rhylea, but his pleas went unheard. "I don't know what happened to your daughter, but I swear I played no part in it!"Rhylea was losing ground with every step he took as each swing of the great sword put his back closer to the rough natural wall of the rocky ridge behind him. Each ring of the blade dropped his heart into his stomach as it cut past his flattened ears, and with every swipe of the blade he could feel the instinctive rage of the beast he had been trying to suppress within him begin to swell.The lumbering man swept his great blade once more but was caught of guard when Rhylea bent low and turned into the swing, using his own momentum against him. The tip of the blade pierced the earth as he staggered to catch his footing and fell. In a flurry he scrambled back to his blade, and as he took hold of the handle to lift it he let out a groan of pain. Streams of blood trickled down his tree trunk arm from four large bolts of gashed flesh. His gaze turned from his arm to Rhylea as he lifted up a single clawed hand and snapped it down, sending a crimson shower of blood into the grass."I seek no fight with you, farmer. I am only looking for a place to rest."The man's face contorted angrily at Rhylea's calm demeanor, and he retorted, "You seek rest? Oh aye, I can give you that, kerran, when I lay you in your grave!"Again the man charged, swinging his sword wildly. There was no room for error, if Rhylea placed one wrong step it would be at the cost of one of his limbs, or worse. He frantically bobbed and weaved under and to the side of the hulking steel blade, narrowly avoiding having his head taken off on several occasions. Any chance of escape was quickly diminishing as Rhylea continued to be pushed back toward the wall of stone; his only option now was to try and move in close to disarm him.As the man readied his next lunge Rhylea pushed off the arches of his feet and drove his shoulder into his chest, knocking him off his balance. He quickly reached up for the hilt of the blade and struggled with the man to pull it down to the ground, but was like wrestling with a vice. They were shoulder to shoulder now; both were grappling at the hilt of the great sword, each trying to pull it away from the other as the blade weaved and circled in the air. Rhylea could feel the heat of the man's breath as he gasped for air, and Rhylea too was growing tired of the struggle. Desperately they gripped each other's hands, trying to wrench their fingers from the rounded base, and then, with a loud crack Rhylea's head exploded into a haze of sparkling white light.Dazed and disoriented, Rhylea staggered backward and fell against the rocky wall of the ridge that towered above him. He swiped frantically around him, hoping that he would connect with the farmer before the blade was dropped on him, but he slashed at nothing but the air. Warm blood trickled down his throbbing forehead and into his eyes, and as he wiped it away his vision began to clear. The farmer, too, seemed to be coming out of a daze from the headbutt he had just given Rhylea, and rather quickly. With a shake of his head he heaved his sword back up and took up his charge.What little civility Rhylea had learned from Ekoko in the days prior was quickly being overcome by his determination to survive. A guttural rumble began to build at the base of his throat as the man advanced him. He knew the end would come swiftly as the cold, jagged rock pressed stiffly into his back. He was cornered against the wall of stone. To his left and right the swift cut of the great sword waited as patient as a guillotine, and just as ready to drop. And there in front of him stood the imposing silhouette of the swordsman, stoic and unmovable, his figure blackened against the glare of the burning sphere of the morning sun rising up behind him."This game is at an end, kerran," spoke the man in softened tone as he raised the gleaming blade one final time; there was a hint of relief that underlaid his words as they fell from his lips. "May you find the path through the Ethernere to whatever god awaits you, for your path in this realm is at an end."Rhylea's nose and the few parts of his face that weren't warm with fresh blood had gone numb from the cold bite of the wind as it howled around him. His great ears were ringing from the loud cry of the valley current, and he could almost hear a voice, faint though it was, as if it were being carried on the very fringes of the gusts that blew the great man's mane of hair wildly about his head. Rhylea shook his head and his ears lowered in a feeble attempt to drown out the monotonous droning. Louder the wind cried, and its pleas were quickly carried away over the rolling waves of grass that stretched into the horizon. The ominous figure in front of Rhylea grew larger against the rising sun and from within its darkness stretched the silver gleam of the blade, and all went silent as it began to drop.

shadowedwolf

08-19-2008, 11:34 AM

Very nice. Excellant job with the setting... I could almost feel the bite of the wind. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Caelen

08-24-2008, 10:09 PM

((Thanks for the reply! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Glad to know people are reading!))"Stop!" cried out a voice from beyond the wind.With a booming thud the blade drove into the earth next to Rhylea as the man suddenly turned around.Before the two of them there stood the figure of a small girl. Her brown hair was twisted into two tiny braids that rested on either side of her small, round face, which was covered with numerous scratches and bruises. Her eyes burned hotly with a great fire of determination that the man could not turn away from."Beda, you must go!" he shouted as he put a large, calloused hand up into the air to caution her away. "Who knows how many more of these beasts are prowling about the lands!""But father, he is not one of-"Seizing the only opportunity he would be afforded Rhylea leapt onto the man, bringing him down with his great claws to the hard ground below. The young girl screamed as she watched her father's great bearded chin collide with the ground at her feet, the very impact of it sending his head recoiling back into the air. He struggled to turn under the weight of the great kerran that pressed onto his back, and as he twisted he felt a searing pain erupt in both his shoulders. Rhylea's talon-like claws pierced into the flesh beneath them, pinning him to the earthen floor. Pools of blood began to well up under the blackened points."You should have left me be when you had the chance," Rhylea growled as he dug his claws deeper in the man's flesh. A soft whimper escaped, not from the man but from somewhere behind him. In all his rage Rhylea had one singular focus, and had ignored the presence of the young girl whose pleas had been drowned out by the very fighting she had been trying to stop. She had not listened to her father's warning, and now stood face to face with the creature that threatened to end his, and possibly even her own, life. Her bright blue eyes cut into Rhylea deeper than any blade edge ever could, and a small sinking feeling began to weigh on his racing heart.It didn't take long for his opponent to take advantage of the opening. His corded muscles tightened throughout his entire body and surged with power as the blood coursed hotly through his piping veins, and with all his might the man wrenched his hands around Rhylea's hands and began to force them away. Rhylea's gaze once more locked onto the man's eyes, no less wild than his own as he grappled for some kind of an advantage from below. The man's groans slowly built into roars as he felt Rhylea's grip begin to weaken. His gritted teeth were clamped in a vice-grip, hardly allowing even the air that rasped out from his lungs any escape and with one final burst of power he heaved Rhylea from atop him.Rhylea lay motionless.The man stood, towering above his young daughter, an unstoppable pinnacle of terrifying wrath and unyielding love. He stared down at his small child, dwarfed by his own massive size, and studied her. She didn't dare make sound. His face was grave, squared by his clenched jaw hidden under the matte of his beard, and without uttering a word he turned and stepped solemnly toward his sword. His heavy legs carried him to where Rhylea was sprawled out.Rhylea would put up no more fight. He was beyond exhausted, and even opening his heavy-lidded eyes proved to nearly be an impossible task-nearly. His lids parted just enough to see the blur of the great man's figure grow larger, and with a loud crack, the world went spinning into darkness.

Caelen

09-02-2008, 07:43 PM

The sound of trickling and the feeling of cold pressure on his head awoke Rhylea from the blackness of his slumber. Every muscle in his body ached and felt as they had been stripped from his bones, and he could hardly lift his head to make out the image of the woman who was wringing out a small cloth into a basin of water. Behind her was a large figure, blocking out light of the lantern that flickered behind it. Immediately Rhylea knew who it belonged to and a rumble began to escape from his throat."Easy, stranger," cooed the voice of the woman, making her best attempt at sounding soothing. "Your battle is over; you are a guest in my house now.""Then what is he doing here?" Rhylea snapped in response."He came-""I'm here to be sure I made the right decision by letting you live, kerran-to be sure I wasn't as crazy as my daughter-and to watch over Brianna here to make sure nothing happened to her.Brianna gave a grunt and stood up, suddenly throwing the rag into the basin and splashing Rhylea, so that she could point her thick index finger at the man. "I'll have you know, Bron Wyborn, that it was on your insistence that you are here. I don't need you looking over my back!" Her finger turned on Rhylea then as she continued. "Do you think he'd be the first kerran that I'd have had to scuffle with?""Easy, Brianna," Bron replied as bent his arms up defensively. "I only meant-""You meant nothing! Now go make yourself useful and get me a clean rag and some fresh water."The dim light hid Bron's reddening face as he gathered up the basin and quietly stepped out the door. Rhylea lay in astonishment as he gazed upon the gruff woman. She was nearly the same size as Bron when she stood, and she seemed just as fierce. With only a few words she had sent him out of the room with his tail between his legs; it brought a smirk to Rhylea's swollen face."Oh, heavens," she started again, this time with a softer tone. "I've gone and got you all soaked. You'll have to excuse my temper, that Bron is as stubborn as on ox-and as hard-headed too." She gave a wink and went to adjust Rhylea's pillow. "He means well, though, always looking out for us and our village ever since he arrived here with that sweet little daughter of his, the poor thing."Rhylea remained silent as the woman talked. Her voice was deep, and every word she spoke revealed a small hint of the power that was behind it; but it was peaceful too, and Rhylea felt as though he could lay there for hours just listening to her talk and nothing in the world could bother him. But something was indeed bothering him. The mention of the girl had brought back the images of her battered and bruised face, and the tenacious light that shone from behind her scintillating blue eyes. Had he not hesitated, if he had never broken his concentration, he could have robbed her of having a father. If he had, could he have stopped his bloodlust in time to keep from killing her too? The very thought sent a chill down his back.Without a moment's hesitation Rhylea started to rise, but was too weak to resist the firm palm to his chest that pushed him back onto his bed."And just where do you think you are going?" inquired Brianna. "I have to leave this place," pleaded Rhylea in a harsher tone than he had intended to use."I think not, friend. You're nowhere near recovered from your tussle with ol' Bron. You still need to get some food in you and rest up before you can even start thinking of picking your trail up again, and I've a few questions for you that still need asking."Rhylea began to growl in protest, but it quickly turned into a sputtering of coughs and he lay back down, yielding to the woman. She reminded him of Ekoko, and that provided for some measure of comfort in such a foreign place."You've a lot of wounds on you, kerran. Surely they can't all be from today. The road from Qeynos can be a dangerous one, even for seasoned travelers."Rhylea eyed her suspiciously. "I never said I was from Qeynos.""Aye, that's the truth of it. But it doesn't take long for old Brianna to put two and two together. And I'd say from the condition you're in and for the fact that you didn't pack even a loaf of bread for such a trip that you were in something of a hurry, weren't you?"A feeling of uneasiness began to creep its way up Rhylea's back as the woman continued to press him. Would these people also run him out of their village as the people of Qeynos had if they learned the truth of what he had done in that small house so very far away? Ekoko had told him that he could find help here, but now he was unsure. Rhylea found it hard to swallow as he thought over how he should approach his tale, and the glistening pair of eyes that examined him in that darkened room did not make finding the right words any easier for him.

Caelen

09-07-2008, 10:10 PM

"I'm not just a traveler," he started, fidgeting nervously. "If that was your guess, then you were right."The room was quiet save for the heavy rise and fall of Rhylea's breath and the accompanying chorus of crickets that sang out into the night outside. Brianna remained silent as Rhylea contemplated how he should say his next words."And it's true that I came from Qeynos, though it wasn't my choice. I'm wanted in my home city for the deaths of several people-including a young girl. She was only a child, no older than Bron's daughter." He could not stand to face Brianna's look of shock at the mention of the girl and his eyes sank to floor alongside his heart within his chest. He would forever be ashamed of his crime, his true crime, of robbing the girl-the only friend he had in that prison of a house-of her life."You have committed a serious crime, kerran. Regardless of the circumstances, the killing of an innocent child is unforgivable," Brianna paused for several moments as she studied Rhylea's face. "Yet I see that you are not without remorse. Your eyes reveal much about you, as did your actions today out in the fields. But still I wonder-how many lives were lost in exchange for your freedom? How fair was the price that you should live and they should die?"Rhylea could hardly contain the emotion that had been steadily building within his chest. He lay there, broken and helpless, a stranger lost in a foreign land. He was a stranger in his own skin, forced to examine himself and his course of actions that had led him to this point. He knew he didn't deserve to even get as far as the open door of the mausoleum that became of his home. Yet against all wisdom and logic he had received help to get this far, even by the hands of his perceived enemies. Perhaps there was something more that others could see which he himself could not."Were you alone in your flight from the city?"No answer came from Rhylea's lips save for a small whimper. The once menacing kerra was now curled in a pitiful heap, and he was too lost in his own thoughts to form the words to make a reply. "Earlier this day, while you slept, I undid your bandages to examine the extent of your injuries, and was surprised to find the gash on your leg had been bound with this," she paused as she held up a bloodied piece of torn cloth. "I recognize the pattern of this cloth, kerran. It carries the distinct markings of the gi worn by the initiates of the Silent Fist Dojo within the walls of your city. You must tell me if anything has become of them."Rhylea gazed up at the woman in confusion. It was Ekoko who had wrapped his leg while they hid in the underbelly of the city. She had dressed his arrow wound herself, with her own supplies. Was she one of these initiates than Brianna was inquiring about?"Don't worry," replied Rhylea quietly. "No harm has come to them by my hand, if that is what you're getting at. I came to their dojo a few nights ago, when I made my escape. I was looking for a place to hide. I didn't think there'd be anyone there at that hour, and not even a lantern was lit. But I was wrong. I came face to face with a woman who appeared from within the shadows. She helped me escape through the bowels of the city.""A woman?" inquired Brianna as her eyebrows lifted. "What did she look like?"Rhylea could detect a hint of eagerness now in Brianna's questioning voice, and the edge of uneasiness that had settled upon his heart was beginning to lift. He sat up in the bed and continued."She was young, but her hair was as white as the moon that lit my path, and she was strong, and very agile. Her ears were strange for a human; they were short, but they had pointed tips. I liked her face, it looked caring, but her eyes, they were milky and cold-it felt as though she could look right through to my soul. Her name was-" "Ekoko," finished Brianna, with a slight smile."You know of her?" Rhylea asked in a more excited tone."Know of her? Oh aye, I know. She is no human, or at least, she is only partly. I remember her mother-the poor dear-she gave birth to Ekoko right here in this very village. Such a pretty little thing Ekoko was, and her eyes were so alive back then-blue and sparkling as a clear mountain stream! But alas, the joy of a new birth eventually faded, and it didn't take long for people to begin talking.""Talking?" asked Rhylea as his faint smile began to fade."Aye, and it was like that in the beginning too, but those of use with enough decency to mind our own business had hoped that the others would have let the matter drop once the child was born. You see, nobody really knew who the father was at first, but of course there was no short supply of names floating around the village-whispers drifting about with each passing day."How could you not know?" puzzled Rhylea. "This place isn't big enough to hide a secret like that.""It certainly isn't, kerran. You are right about that. But many a-traveler roam through these parts, though the one thing we were certain of from the beginning was that Ekoko's father wasn't a human. Just as you had noticed, our only clues as to who her father was were her tiny, pointed ears."Rhylea stared on at the large woman in front of him. He didn't have to ask her the question that was dancing around inside his furry, striped head-his eyes, filled with blank confusion, did all the talking."Marr's teeth!" exclaimed Brianna suddenly, hardly able to keep her surprised laughter at bay. "You do know an elf when you see one, don't you?"Rhylea shyly scratched at a tuft of fur on the side of his neck as he thought long and hard. "So, Ekoko is an elf?"Brianna could contain herself no longer and a burst of laughter rumbled forth from her belly. "Heavens no, kerran. Her father was an elf. Ekoko is a half elf. Did you never set foot into the very city you fled from, or did you just live under a rock outside it?"The heat of Rhylea's embarrassment was slowly boiling into the flush of anger by now. She had no idea what it was like living in that hovel. While she was tucked away in the mountains he was bound in chains, made to serve and treated as though he was merely a pet. What did she know of it? What did she know of any of it?"I-I didn't mean to offend, kerran," spoke Brianna in a calmer voice now. It was apparent that she had struck some sort of a nerve, but how deep it was rooted she could never have guessed. "I only meant, well, it's just-""I have a name, you know," snapped Rhylea as he crossed his arms over his chest. "How rude of me, of course you do," replied Brianna, and she too began to feel the warmth of embarrassment flush her cheeks. "Please, what shall I call you then?"He sat up a little straighter now that he had the woman's attention. The pink lips that edged his fanged mouth pouted a little as he jutted his chin out proudly and continued. "When the rest of the world called me Beast, Ekoko called me Rhylea."

Caelen

09-14-2008, 09:49 PM

Brianna could do nothing to keep from smiling but futilely press her thick fingers to her curving lips. It was just like Ekoko to see someone for who they really were, even if she couldn't truly see them."Rhylea is a good name," nodded Brianna. "A strong name, from the sound of it. I'm sure it had a great measure of meaning to Ekoko."Rhylea breathed a bit calmer now and he lay back against his crossed arms. There was a hint of smugness to the smirk that was on his face, but it only made Brianna smile more. She was beginning to see the heart that Ekoko had found buried under the rough exterior of the kerran, even if it was just a passing glimpse."So did you ever find her father, then?" asked Rhylea after he had taken his fill of basking in the moment. Brianna merely shook her head, smiling, and continued."Well, it's not often the elves come to visit Thundermist, you see. It didn't take long for Adele-Ekoko's mother-and those of us willing to help, to track down the one she believed had fathered Ekoko. The news didn't do much to sway the hushed chatter that buzzed about the village, especially not when we learned that he wasn't just an elf, but a prominent member of the Concordium back in Qeynos."Rhylea thought hard about where he had heard the name of the Concordium before. If they were as important as Brianna had said, then he didn't doubt that his previous masters had mentioned their name more than a few times in the past.Brianna, seeing again the inquisitive look that set upon Rhylea's face continued, this time taking extra caution to not offend her guest. "The Concordium is a guild of mages in the district of South Qeynos. It's located there in a place they call the Three Towers."Rhylea's eyes widened at the mention of the tower. He had seen it before when he had been very young, and again on the very night he had made his escape. All his life he had wondered what secrets that spire held, locking them away in its pointed shafts so far above the rest of the world. Had Ekoko's father been there in his tower the night she helped him escape? Would he have helped him too? He shook the thoughts from his head as Brianna continued her tale."None of us were sure if he'd even bother to come, even if it was to simply refute Adele's claim. Time passed without sight or sound of a response and we were beginning to think that our suspicions had been right, but then we received a letter simply stating that he would arrive in a day's time and that he looked to put the matter swiftly behind him. The next day most of the villagers kept to the confines of their homes, save the few villagers who stood out in the yard to meet the elf and take him to see little Ekoko.A frightful mess she was, Adele. When that elf arrived she didn't even have the strength to get out of bed, as ill as she was. I was with the babe, giving her a bath at the time. When I looked at her there was no doubt in my mind that he was her father, she looked just like him-right down to her little button of a nose. I took her to see him not long after he had arrived. None of us really knew what to expect, but when he saw her for the fist time he just lifted her right out of her my arms and set those deep eyes of his on her, studying her from the white locks on her head down to her tiny, curled little toes. She didn't make a peep the entire time; she just gave him that same stare right back with those jeweled eyes of hers, and he too knew without a doubt that she was of his own flesh and blood. He took her then, that very day, back to Qeynos with him.""Didn't you try to stop him?" Rhylea interjected. "Didn't her mother go too?"Brianna merely smiled and shook her head. "If only things were as easy as that, Rhylea. None of us could have argued against Ekoko's father, not with a man of his station. And deep down we all knew it would be best for Ekoko, including Adele. This village, these steppes-this is no place for a child. You saw what happened to Beda, Bron's little girl. At least in Qeynos Ekoko had security and her father was able to provide her with education and an opportunity at a life that none of us here could have given her."Rhylea's ears were attentive and alert. Perhaps the woman was right. This was a harsh land, and even he had experienced the dangers of it first hand. His thoughts carried him to the sight of Bron's daughter, and how even with the injuries that colored her body all shades of black, blue, and red, even in the face of his own savagery, she still dared to stand at her father's side. He saw many things similar to her and Ekoko. These were a strong people, and Rhylea was beginning to understand that there was still much about his new life of freedom he needed to learn."Where is Ekoko's mother now, Brianna? Can I meet her?""I'm afraid that time has long since passed, Rhylea. Adele remained in the village for the few remaining years that her life had brought her. She knew that the city it was no place for a woman like her, but she took comfort in knowing that Ekoko was well taken care of there. And so, just as the wind passed through the valley, she too passed on, drifting to some better place far away from the harshness of this world."Rhylea's ears lowered as he thought of the woman. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her, and he pitied her that she had never gotten the chance to see the woman that her young daughter had become."Do not mourn her loss, Rhylea," spoke Brianna with a warm smile, and she put a soothing hand gently on his shoulder. "She would not have wanted it that way. It is the way of life, here. We come and we go as often as the wind blows; so it has always been, and so it will always be.""And what of Bron and his girl? Why do they not leave and make a life for themselves somewhere else? Why do any of you remain?""Because, kerran," said a voice from the darkness behind Brianna. The wind whistled over the opened door and around the shadowed figure that stood within it. "This is our home. We cannot simply forsake it."Bron stepped into the light of the dimly lit lantern and dropped a wooden bucket to the floor next to Rhylea, sloshing water onto the dry, cracked floor as it landed. His mane of hair was wild and wind-swept. He tossed a few pieces of fresh cloth onto the table next to Brianna and crossed his arms."But Brianna is right," argued Rhylea. "This is no place for a child!"Bron turned a scowling look to Brianna, who sat calmly, unmoved. "It is none of Brianna's business how me or my family lives. Even if we could leave, where would we go? To the south our river is a barren wasteland, housing those godless abominations-the undead. To the north and each side flanking it lie the crushing foot of the giants, or the point of a gnollish spear. And always are we under attack by the centaur tribes, who are a constant threat to any who travel the roads. We are surrounded-trapped-we cannot leave this place. It is our tomb."Rhylea remained silent. Was that really the truth of this place, that it was their tomb? These were good people though; he just couldn't come to grips that their lot in life was to fight all their lives until the day they were claimed for such a meager existence. Was it anymore a tomb than his home had been in that hovel in Qeynos? He had broken free, and he had no doubt that they could do the same. He felt determined to do something, anything, to prove Bron otherwise. But it would have to wait for the time being-Rhylea's stomach grumbled and groaned and all three of them began to realize just how long it had been since they had last had anything to eat.

Xada

09-18-2008, 06:59 PM

It's a real shame almost no one else has posted in this thread. Best writer on the forums, in my completely biased opinion <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Caelen

09-23-2008, 04:45 PM

((A very special thanks to my number one fan! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />))Rhylea sat alone at the old wooden dining table, shifting nervously in his chair from one position to the next. He envied Bron's little girl, being able to take her supper in bed while she recovered. He stared down the length of the warped wood, following its weaving and knot-marked grain as though it would mark the path of escape from that small room he had been seated in while the other two began preparing their late supper in the adjacent kitchen. Small bits of saliva began to bead up around his lips as he lifted his nose and sorted the smell of roasting chicken from several other unfamiliar meats as it wafted from one room to the next. His ears danced as they followed the crackle of crisping bacon, and the zest of a variety of different herbs and spices filled the air. His tail twitched back and forth excitedly as his mind swam through the colorful imaginings of the feast to come, each dish tantalizing his senses more than the last.He wished they would hurry. His belly roared impatiently, but all he could do was restrain it with hugging arms. With a resigned sigh he hunched over the table and his chin came to a rest on the rough wood. His eyes glanced about the room for what he could only imagine was the hundredth time since he had arrived, and still it remained as small and as sparsely furnished as it had been since he had first arrived. The walls were bare, save for the bricks that patterned their foundation, and the floor, littered with rogue strands of the straw-thatched ceiling, would probably creak under the weight of a mouse. It was warm though, and the people that inhabited it made it cheerful place. It was more like a home than anything he had ever had.A quick flash of Brianna moving past the open doorway promptly brought Rhylea's attention back to the kitchen. A small puddle of drool was left in the wake of his resting chin as Rhylea lifted his head observantly. His ears perked up at the sound of a crash and the muttering of several curses accompanying Bron's name. Brianna, still cursing, stormed out through the doorway, bringing a handful of pointed and edged utensils piled on top of a stack of plates to the table, setting them down in front of Rhylea."Rhylea, be a dear and set the table for us, would you?" asked Brianna hurriedly, but with a great deal more of politeness behind it than with Bron. Before he could answer she had already returned to the kitchen to curse at Bron some more.Set the table? He didn't know how to set a table any more than he knew how to properly eat with these things-he was used to taking his meals on the floor and eating it with his bare hands, without the luxury of forks and other utensils. With another resigned sigh he stood up tall from his chair and scratched at his furry chin with the tip of a single, black claw before going to work. By the time Brianna returned from the kitchen he had long been done, and stood proudly as he gazed at his handiwork. Perhaps adjusting to his newfound civilized life wouldn't be as difficult as he had thought. But if that was the case, then why was Brianna chuckling and shaking her head?"A valiant effort, Rhylea," smiled Brianna as she too looked upon the table. Three forks rested in the plate at the end of the table where Rhylea had previously been sitting, three spoons lay inside a cup in a seat next to his, and down at the other end, separated from the other two seats, three knives had been stuck into the wood of the table, as though to wall off the plate and the person sitting in front of it. That was where, she assumed, Bron had been assigned to sit.She patted Rhylea on the back and went to pry the knives from the grip of the table before saying, "At least you got the plates right."As Brianna set down the last fork, knife, and spoon in their proper places next to each cup and plate Bron made his way through the door of the kitchen carrying several large trays of the most delicious looking food Rhylea had ever seen. He had nearly forgotten about his grumbling stomach up to that point, but was swiftly reminded now, greater than ever before, that it was time to eat. As he resumed his seat he could hardly keep himself from grabbing at the food as it was placed before him, until finally he could contain himself no longer and reached to tear a leg from the still sizzling chicken-only to have it slapped away by the thick fingers of Brianna.He couldn't tell if the growl that emerged from within him had come from his throat or from his stomach, but just as quickly as it had reached his hand slunk back to his chest. He rubbed it, not understanding what he had done to deserve the slap."Under my roof you wait ‘til everyone's seated and served before digging in, Rhylea. You've waited to eat for this long; a few more minutes won't kill you."Rhylea pursed his lips, half scowling and half pouting. His eyes squinted as he realized Bron was smugly chuckling to himself as sat in his seat across the table from Brianna, far closer to either of them from where he had originally set Bron's plate. But all that mattered for not as Brianna began cutting into the various dishes and serving them onto Rhylea's plate. He sat stone-still, only daring to move his eyes as Brianna turned to dish out some food to Bron. If he could just tear a piece-a small piece-while her back was turned-"Rhylea!" shouted Brianna as she had turned her head to glance at him over her shoulder. She now stood with her fists firmly planted at her hips, sternly looking at the kerran. "What?" he asked as he looked up at her with large, innocently shining eyes. She would have believed that they truly were innocent too if the particularly large slab of meat that hung limply from the side of his mouth hadn't betrayed them.She gave a soft sigh and with a shake of her head Brianna replied, "Nothing. You enjoy your meal, dear." With a smile as warm as the food they ate she began to serve herself before finally taking her seat next to him at the table. That night, and for many nights following, the three of them-made four once Beda had recovered-ate as a family. They were the first real family Rhylea had ever had.

Caelen

10-06-2008, 03:58 AM

The warm summer air blew through the small pass that sheltered Thundermist Village and all its inhabitants. Rhylea brought a large hand to his striped brow as he gazed across the expanse of the rolling fields to scout for any signs of attack. The caravans that had pulled through the village several days before had brought with them murmurs of a planned attack by the centaurs, but no sight or sound of them could be found by neither Rhylea nor Bron in the days since. Not even the earth could tell him anything as Rhylea laid his ear to the ground, save for the frustration that weighed down the stomp that Bron had just firmly planted into the ground."Where are they?" Bron shouted. "Where are those damned beasts?"Rhylea merely yawned and sprawled out in the cool grass, letting Bron throw his tantrum. From the way he had been acting the last few days, Rhylea was beginning to think he wanted the centaurs to come. It had, after all, been quite a while since the last time Bron's blade had tasted blood. Had it really been a month since he had arrived at the village? Rhylea could hardly believe that such an amount of time could move so quickly."Isn't it a good thing that the centaurs might not be coming after all, Bron?" asked Rhylea as he slid his arms behind his head and stared up at the sky.Bron simply grumbled in reply and kept his eyes on the horizon. "Bah, of course it's a good thing, kerran. But it bothers me that it has been so quiet for so long, now. Not one attack, not a single one, since the day you showed up.""Perhaps Beda was right," smiled Rhylea. "Maybe I am a good luck charm after all!"Bron grunted and kept his eyes to the horizon. "Perhaps, Rhylea, but it can't hold out forever. I fear this may well be the calm before the storm."The tip of Rhylea's tail rose and fell half-heartedly in the thick of the grass and he thought of the friends-no, the family-that he had made there in the village. He thought of Ekoko too, wondering what she would think of him now that he was free, hoping that she would be proud. And he thought of the places he still needed to go, and the journey he still needed to make, and all he could do was sigh. Bron was right; he and whatever luck he had brought could not remain there forever. Perhaps he was right about many things, but the skies looked clear from where he was laying."And what if they do come, Bron? What then?"Bron gave a snort. They both already knew the answer to that question. "Then I will fight, kerran, as I always have.""And perhaps you always will," Rhylea muttered under his breath, and was surprised when Bron turned to face him."Perhaps I will," replied Bron. What bit of his face that wasn't covered in his dark mane of hair was lined with age, but his eyes shone like his daughter's, filled with the determination to survive-the same will to live. "And so it will be, for as long as they come. You have to choose your battles, Rhylea-find something that's worth fighting for. This is my home, just as much as it is Brianna's, or Beda's, or even yours." He paused then, watching as Rhylea tried his best to mask the struggle within him that his face refused to hide. Bron merely shook his head and turned back to the open fields, masking his own struggle to keep from smiling even just a little."You'll find your way, kerran," he whispered to the wind as it coldly passed over his dry, cracked lips. "You'll find it."

Caelen

10-12-2008, 08:50 PM

The thinly veiled sun had already begun its descent by the time Rhylea and Bron were relieved from their watch, and so marked another day of fruitless searching. Rhylea wasn't sure which he looked forward to more, the day that they finally spotted an attack or the day that he could finally go back to working in the village-at least then he'd have something more to do than lay in the grass while Bron stamped around like a wild horse. Not that he minded an occasional break-often he and Beda would sneak away from their chores to play in the fields together-but it had nearly been a week of nothing but sitting and waiting.It hadn't taken Rhylea or Bron long to finish their suppers, long before either Brianna or Beda even finished half of theirs. Rhylea left the surrounding area that encircled his plate in cleaner condition of late, a miracle Brianna liked to attribute to her extensive etiquette training he had reluctantly agreed to. But ever since he had taken up his post he hardly left a crumb that needed any cleaning up in the first place, so it was to welcoming arms that she scraped the rest of her plate onto his own."You and Beda are on dish duty tonight, Rhylea," said Brianna as she rose from her chair. "Bron and I have some matters of our own to attend to this evening," she paused as she caught the wink between the kerran and the young girl. "And I don't want to come back to find you sneaking away to tip another cow, you hear me?"The two of them fought to keep their snickers at bay as they watched Brianna and Bron leave the room. It had only been the one time-and maybe one before that. He was too tired for tipping anyway, he longed for the comfort of his softly padded bed and its warm blankets. Each day had been feeling longer than the last, and each night he looked forward to sleeping more and more.As the last morsel of food finally settled down into his quieted belly Rhylea stretched his arms out above his head and gave a low groan. "Come one Beda," he said as he rose from his chair and began collecting the other dishes. "Grab your plate and bring it out back, let's get these washed up."Together they worked, and played, as they had many times before. Rhylea held a bucket filled with water and poured it over the dishes as Beda wiped them down with an old rag. As they cleared through their stack of dishes Rhylea's tail flicked mischievously and a smirk began to curl up one side of his whiskered face. With a slight shift of his wrists he repositioned the tilt of the bucket, and as Beda held out the next dish the stream of water that was supposed to clear the plate landed squarely on the top of her head."Hey!" she cried out as Rhylea pulled the bucket away."Whoops!" He could hardly keep his body from shaking as he held in his laughter. "My mistake, Beda!""Just watch it, will you? Aim for the plate, not my head!"Rhylea gave a sly grin and nodded his head as Beda pulled out and washed the next couple of dishes. He feebly resisted the urge to soak her again for as long as he could, but eventually the stream of water once more found itself cascading onto the poor girl's head, almost of its own accord."Hey, cut it out Rhylea! Or-or I'll-""Or you'll what?" he said coolly with a mouthful of grinning teeth, but his answer came without hesitation. In place of toothy smile there now was a thick glob of dark mud, heavily dripping its way down Rhylea's chin. Beda let out a playful cackle as Rhylea spat and wiped the mud away, flicking it to the ground from his fingers."Oh, you'll pay for that one, girl!" he snarled playfully in return. But before he could exact his revenge another barrage of the thick brown mud streaked across his already striped body, and before he knew it he was retreating with his tail tucked between his legs. Beda gave chase, and together the two of them made enough noise to wake the whole village-crashing through the barns, ducking around corners and laughing all the way through-but they cared not. To them, they were the only ones out that night, the only ones in the world. It was to his surprise, then, that when Rhylea had turned a corner to get the jump on Beda he found the wide frame of her father instead."Confound it, Rhylea!" snapped Bron in a stern but hushed voice. "Are you two trying to wake the whole of the steppes?""I-no," panted Rhylea as he placed his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath. He looked up just in time to see the silhouette of Beda being led back to the house by the much larger figure of Brianna."What is-is that mud all over you?" Bron asked inquisitively. "It is," huffed Rhylea."By Brell, kerran, you two haven't been playing in the riverbed have you?" "The riverbed? No, of course not! Bron, I would never-this is from the dishwater. Beda and I, we got caught up in playing, and-""Good heavens," exclaimed Bron in great relief. "You gave me a fright!""No, I would never take Beda there, let alone go myself. You should know that.""Aye, I know better, Rhylea, I know it. There's just so much she needs protecting from in this damned place I can't let her out of my sight for but a moment without getting worried, especially after what happened the last time.""You mean before I arrived here?" asked Rhylea as he stood up straight and tried to brush some of the dried mud off from his fur."Aye, Rhylea, it was hardly a day before then. I thought you were one of them, come to finish her off. It doesn't happen often," Bron said as he puffed up his chest, pausing for only a moment before continuing. "But I was wrong."Rhylea just smiled and shook his head as he picked off more pieces of the dried mud. He knew it was hard for Bron to admit a mistake, no matter how small, so he savored the fleeting moment of sincerity."Did I ever tell you why I pulled you in from the fields? Come, let's get you cleaned up and I'll tell you on the way."Rhylea was in shock at Bron's rare demeanor, but he obliged and returned toward the house at Bron's side, talking along the way."It was the way you looked at her, Rhylea. Beda, she may be young, but those eyes of hers are the truest things on this earth. I saw the way she looked at you, and what it did to your heart. She's a right judge of character, Beda is. When she looked at your face she didn't see that of a killer's, and neither did I."The irony of his words sent a chill down Rhylea's back."I know you care about her Rhylea, and she cares about you too. You're probably the only friend she's ever had in this place."Rhylea could feel the warmth of his cheeks growing as the blood rushed to his face. It was a sharp contrast to the cold water he had steadily been pouring over his fur while Bron talked."I guess the point I'm trying to make here, Rhylea," continued Bron as he cleared his throat and attempted to put some gruffness back into his voice, "is that no matter what happens, you've got people here who care about you."Rhylea stopped for a moment and looked up at Bron, trying to read more into what he was saying. "Bron, I'm not sure I understand.""Oh, come on, Rhylea," replied Bron in a much rougher voice. "You and I both know this is no place to make a life, especially for someone as young as you are.""But I'm happy here," argued Rhylea. "Why would I want to leave?""Are you, then? I've seen the way you look out upon the fields, kerran. I see that spark behind your eyes fade little by little as each day passes-just as mine did.""Why Bron, why did you never leave?"With a pained sigh Bron stroked his beard and continued. "After my wife died I had no reason to leave this place. I made her a promise, Rhylea. I swore to the gods above that I'd avenge her, even if it meant slaying every creature that hides in the depths of these hills. But they don't stop coming, Rhylea, and they never will. There is no end to them, so I will fight them until mine. But you-you still have a long path before you, and I'll be damned if I let you end it here.""I-I don't know what to say.""There is nothing to say, kerran. Brianna and I have made the arrangements-there is a caravan that will be coming through here in a day's time-we both think that it's best if you go with them."Deep in his heart Rhylea knew Bron spoke the truth, no matter how much he tried to deny it. He had no choice but to accept Bron and Brianna's wishes, though he knew he still had a long way to go before he reached the end of his journey."Rhylea," started Bron again, this time a little more softly, as he put a large hand on his shoulder. "You'll always have a place here with us in Thundermist, but take it when you're ready.""Thank you," said Rhylea quietly. A small smile set upon his face, but he couldn't help but feel a small amount of sadness in the thought of leaving the village-and his friends-behind.

Menzoberranzen

10-17-2008, 03:13 PM

I want more! Just found this messing around on the forums..love it!

valkry

10-17-2008, 03:26 PM

It's good, isn't it. /waits for next update.

Caelen

10-19-2008, 08:42 PM

((Thank you both very much for the kind words, it means a lot to know that I've got people reading my work. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> Unfortunately this post marks the end of this particular chapter of the story, but I hope to continue Rhylea's journey home soon, after I visit some other characters and friends of mine. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> Until then, it's been a pleasure, I hope you've all enjoyed reading this one as much as I did writing it!))The next day went by faster than Rhylea could have imagined. It was hard to believe that it was his last night there in Thundermist. He felt as though he could squeeze his arm and would still feel the bruises from his fight with Bron. Indeed, his arms were still sore, but not from any battle. He should have known better than to think that just because he was leaving it would mean he would be exempt from his chores, and Bron made sure he had plenty of things to do to keep him busy throughout the day. But Rhylea appreciated it. He knew that it was Bron's way of trying to help take his mind off of his impending departure.Brianna did her best to fill his belly as well. Together, she and Beda packed everything Rhylea could need to take with him, though Beda stuffed his bags with some reluctance. If Rhylea were to miss anyone after he was gone, it would have been her that he missed the most. He had finally found his peace, and perhaps some reconciliation for his past, in her friendship. Though it had only been a short time that he spent with the villagers of Thundermist he would never forget their friendship.The sky was painted a deep red in the dusky hours of the early evening. Rhylea laid in the grass of the small hill just outside of the village, and next to him sat young Beda, her dark locks of hair blowing freely in the valley wind. They were both quiet, swimming in their own thoughts, both awaiting the sight that would mark their parting of ways.Rhylea's tail rose and fell in the grass, just as lazily as it ever had. Every now and again, though, it would come to rest on Beda's hand. She broke their silence with a small giggle and took hold of it, and Rhylea gave a quiet laugh."I'm going to miss you, Rhylea," she said at last, turning head toward him, away from the wind."I'll be back before you know it, you'll see," Rhylea said, trying to convince himself that it was true just as much as he was trying to convince her."Promise me that you will, someday," she pleaded, giving his tail a tight hug."I promise, Beda. I promise."Together they sat quietly once more in the dimming evening with nothing but the sound of the wind whistling past their ears, until finally, in the distance, the shape of the long train of wagons broke on the horizon."Come on," said Rhylea, and together they walked back to the village, Rhylea in front and Beda behind, still holding on to his long tail. When they took their place next to Bron and Brianna they all watched in quiet contemplation as they followed the long trail of dust that followed behind the train of wagons. They grew and grew until finally Rhylea could make out the figures of the drivers.The same sinking feeling that had weighed upon his heart when he and Ekoko had parted was beginning pull at it again as the wagons pulled to a stop within the borders of the village. The wagon men were all very grizzled looking, with tired eyes and sunken faces. Their livelihood couldn't afford much rest, Rhylea imagined. He did not envy them. Without even the faintest smile the men set to work unloading the supplies for the village, their worn muscles tightening under the weight of the packages they delivered. Crates of cloth, grains, metals, and various other things were haphazardly strewn about the ground. It was apparent to Rhylea that the village's livelihood couldn't afford their rest either.When they had finally finished unloading the supplies the haggard-looking driver turned to the group and dusted off his hands before saying flatly, "Any passengers coming along had better git on. We've a schedule to keep an' I wanna git to the docks before the night blackens these hills completely."Rhylea turned to Brianna, unsure if he should step forward now more than ever. But with an assured nod of her head and tight hug with her massive arms, she pushed him on his way. With his bags in hand and a resigned sigh, Rhylea turned toward the waiting caravan."Wait!" cried the small voice of Beda, who fought hard to keep the tears from streaming down her little cheeks. As Rhylea turned back one last time he was met with the young girl who plummeted a hug into his midsection. Her father merely shook his head and smiled under his shaggy beard."We will meet again, little Beda," said Rhylea as one of his large hands pet down the back of her hair. When she finally let go he turned back to the caravan and hoisted himself into the cargo hold and sat down by himself. He would return someday, but there was still much that he needed to do and many places yet to see. He would miss them all, those three. And in his moments of quiet solitude as the wagon began to pull away from the Village of Thundermist he gazed up at the awakened stars and could not help but think of Ekoko. He hoped someday their paths would cross again somewhere, anywhere, in this vastly growing new world.The large wheels of the wagon creaked thunderously as the caravan rolled along, bringing Rhylea out of his peaceful contemplation. He wished the road wasn't so rough as he rubbed the spot on the back of his head where it had just collided with the back of the cart. The village was only a speck in the distance now, and was only growing further and further away as the surrounding rocks and trees sped by. The rising moon had cast the hills around the road into a shadow, and Rhylea's thoughts led him back to the times he spent with Bron at their post, watching the borders of the village many a-night to no avail. He wouldn't have been long off duty had he been posted this night, he realized. Several trees stood crookedly atop a rocky hill, then vanished. He wondered how much longer they would keep up the guard now that the caravan had come and gone. Several more trees bent low on the outcroppings above him, distracting Rhylea from his thoughts. Had one of them just moved?At once a chill crept down his spine as he focused his eyes on the shadowed darkness of the hilltop above. In the distance several pairs of eyes gleamed back at him, twinkling in the darkness like burning stars, and at once, just as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone. The night they had all feared had finally come, and Rhylea was helpless to do anything to protect them. Rhylea began to wonder if it had been planned this way all along to keep him out of harm's way."Driver!" he screamed over the howling air that flowed over the cart. "Driver, you must turn around!""Not on your life, kerran! I know what haunts these hills and we'll not be stopping ‘til the planks of the docks rattle under these wheels!"Rhylea stood straight in the back of the cart, fighting to stand against the force of the wind as it screamed past his ears. He would not give up as easily as that, even if it meant him having to run back on his own two legs. He had found something worth fighting for, even if it was at the cost of his own life. He had a family that needed him.With a great leap Rhylea soared through the darkness, his fist pounding into the earth as he landed, his feet planting down hard behind. The sound of the cursing driver and the rumbling carts were quickly drowned out in the solemn stillness of the night, and where once Rhylea had stood there now were only shadows and dust.

Jakimo

10-20-2008, 01:50 PM

I also just found this story, and I love it! Please count me as one of your fans. Thanks, and I look forward to additional installments.