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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 15, 2009 19:55:46 GMT -5
Hazen still sat there, deep in meditation. He didn't even appeare to be breathing, simply setting there, eyes closed, body rigid yet setting in a lucid pose. She finaly see's him breath, slow, drawn out before the breath escaped him and he once again sat motionless.
"Yes Akiva?"He voice was quiet, barely audible.
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 15, 2009 20:30:32 GMT -5
"You were so quiet, and... I hear voices." She said suddenly alert, she sat up and looked around the darkening forest.
"Hello?" A female voice called, projecting her voice instead of yelling.
"Are you crazy, solders are going to hear you and get us killed." A male voice complained in a urgent whisper.
Two silhouettes walked into view, Akiva jumped to her feet. "Who are you?" She asked. Her eyes were firm, but not hard.
The travelers turned to face her and everyone froze. "Are you a survivor, from this village?"
"I asked you first." She said, folding her arms. The two got closer without ill intention, it was apparent in the way they moved they did not mean harm. In fact they were almost cautious as they approached.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 15, 2009 20:47:41 GMT -5
"You may relax Akiva, they mean us no harm, there is no malice in their voice."Hazen says raising his hands in a prays like motion before opening his eyes. He lowers his hands and stands, his figure rising quickly to a imposing stature.
"She is from that village, I am mearly a traveling craftsmen who wishes no more harm than already has been done to these children of the earth."His voice trailed for a second but a no momment loosing its strong tone. "By your words I take it that unfortunate souls met their passing?"
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 15, 2009 21:20:27 GMT -5
"We're looking for other members of our group." She said, looked at them. "We got split up trying to warn another village about the attacks."
"They didn't listen of course." The man stated bitterly, looking past her at the tree's and the setting sun behind them. "Their Emperor would never do something so cruel." He looked torn between regret and disdain.
"Ignore him." The woman said solemnly. "I'm sorry about the terrible thing that has happened here."
Akiva turned away from them. "We can't change it now, so there's no need for you to be sorry."
The woman shot her companion an angry look. "I'm Izumi, and this is Wolf." She said. The man nodded, and continued to look around.
Izumi was a tall but slight. Her dark black hair, fell about to her shoulders. In the dark setting her eyes looked orange. Her clothing was black and grey, a short skirt with pants underneath, and a loose fitting top. She was carrying a pack on her back, and had two holsters on her belt. One for a revolver and another for a dagger. But the thing that stood out most about her was her gloves. They were white with strange symbols on the palm. Wolf on the other hand was built, his shirt was sleeveless and his biceps were bulging. Not too large but big enough to make an impression. His hair was shaved so he was almost bald and his eyes were dark brown. He had loose slacks, and the same belt as Izumi only in black but on it he carried more weapons. A dagger, a sword, two guns and a small pouch containing who knows what.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 15, 2009 21:41:10 GMT -5
Hazen's expression didn't change, he does however give a graced bow as they introduce themselves.
"I'm Hazen."
"You said you had a group, of how many, and where did you get separated?"
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 15, 2009 22:11:34 GMT -5
"I'm Akiva." She said.
"Three were with us." Izumi said.
"We haven't seen anyone." She said, concern creeping into her voice. "How did you get separated."
"The Personal Guard cut through a village a few miles from here." He said, shifting his weight as he turned to look at them. He placed a hand on his belt. "There was a lot of chaos and we're not sure if they made it out. We're headed back to our home now, that's the best bet we have if we want to find them. Thanks for your help but we really need to get going." Wolf turned to walk away.
Izumi hesitated. "You should come with us." She said.
She looked startled. "No, no thank you. We'll be fine on our own."
"Really? And where are you going to go?" She asked calmly. Wolf too looked startled but for a different reason.
"Maybe we should consider this Izumi..." He said.
She shook her head. "The Personal Guard is looking for something, and they aren't going to stop until they find it. No matter where you go. We can keep you safe." She said looking at Akiva with an intensity that made her feel uncomfortable. Wolf on the other hand was looking at Hazen suspiciously.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 15, 2009 22:20:31 GMT -5
"I am with no opposition to go with them, however it is not my true place to be with them."Hazen says to Akiva."If you choose to go with them I will see you only as far as their door to assure no more missforture befalls you, if you'd let me, but I will continue my journey."
Hazen adjusts the pack and sheath apon his back, and picking up the insscents dish.
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 15, 2009 22:56:02 GMT -5
She touched his arm. "But..."
"Every town around here is marked for destruction." She said holding out a hand to silence Wolf. "We've been trying to warn people but they wont listen to anyone. You've seen what they've done." Her words were gentle. "You could help us."
Akiva nodded, and looked over at Hazen. She barely knew him and yet he was the only one she had. "Will you come with me?" She asked. She wasn't sure if she could trust them, but there was something about their manner that told her she could.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 16, 2009 17:52:59 GMT -5
His face was stone, but his eyes gave away the deep state of thought he was in.
"I will."He says.
He places himself next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. His palm was warm, and gave a reassuring surge of heat that contrasted the cooling air.
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 16, 2009 18:28:27 GMT -5
"Then it's settled, come with us." Izumi said leading the way.
Akiva took a deep breath and followed, while Wolf rushed to Izumi's side looking rather unhappy. "Where exactly are we going?" She asked.
"Our base." He replied.
She looked up at Hazen, conveying the confusion in her eyes. It was obvious they were rebels, something that should have kept her from following them. It was also obvious that they were fighters. "And were would that be?" She asked.
"You'll see when we get there." He replied quickly.
Akiva frowned, she was in no mood to have all her seemingly reasonable questions shot down. As they trekked through the forest the trees began growing closer together. Animals could be heard rustling the branches of the tree's and scurrying through the foliage, but there were no human sounds other than their own footsteps. It was a serene place to be under any other circumstances. But Akiva's heart was heavy, and so were her feet. It was as if which each step she took away from her home, the less she felt like herself. She was sure she had never before been this far from home, and now if she turned back she would have no place to return to. All that was left were ashes. She was in essence surrounded by strangers, well meaning but unfamiliar and with no comfort to be derived from their company with the exception of Hazen simply because he had a calming aura about him. She felt lost, like a young ewe, and such a feeling brings with it the fallacious notion that she had no choice but to follow these two. Not to say that it was a bad choice, they had nothing to fear from these rebels for they bared no ill-will toward them, but it was still a horrible feeling.
"Can we at least know how far we must walk?" She asked.
"A few hours more at least." Izumi answered, her gaze wandering over what little there was in the way of land marks. A mossy rock, misshapen trees, old spider webs, but nothing easily recognizable.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 16, 2009 18:41:51 GMT -5
"Something troubles you."Hazen states, he had his arms folded like a monk would when they tucked their arms inside of their sleeves. "If it's personal I will not inquire, but if you need to express yourself and all the ill-will and greif that be, please I am here."
His footfalls had not slowed or haultered from the momment they started walking, he was obviously well traveled and used to long treks with the large pack of tools he carried.
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 16, 2009 19:05:25 GMT -5
"What's there to express... my life as I knew it is over..." She said looking down at the dirt, seeing that some had made its way into her sandals. "I'll probably never see my family again..." She kicked a pebble into a tree root and watched it thud against the bark. She wasn't quite sure how far a few hours would take them, but she had the feeling everyone else here was very comfortable walking long distances.
"They were lucky - the Emperor was taking prisoners this time." Wolf said grimly. "It could have been a lot worse, instead of the mines they could have been burned alive."
She cringed at the thought. "Well don't you have a cheery disposition." She said.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 16, 2009 19:25:49 GMT -5
"He speaks like one that knows lose first hand, something, or someone precious."Hazen says aloud, letting them all hear it, though his voice gave no sense of sympathy.
Hazens arm around her shoulder gives her a small squeeze, letting at least her know that there was something going on behind his blankend expressions.
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Post by Lady Kuri on Sept 16, 2009 20:01:37 GMT -5
Akiva felt the corners of her mouth turn upwards.
Wolf grumbled something under his breath that sounded like 'you know nothing about me'. Izumi clapped him on the shoulder and he winced. "Like I said, ignore him. He doesn't have any tact. I assure you the rest of our companions are not at all like him." She seemed distracted, and continued to ignore the happenings of the rest of their party as she scanned the forest.
"What are you looking for?" She asked finally.
"Signs of others who have passed through here." She replied. "Feel free to tell me if you see anything."
Akiva looked around and saw nothing but animal tracks, little paw prints here and there in the dirt. A couple broken branches and some bark had been rubbed off the trees by the antlers of big male deers. What she didn't notice were the small lead shells that could be mistaken for part of the dirt in the darkness. They were scattered beneath their feet, but there were no foot prints or horse tracks to be seen.
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Post by Lord Eshmon on Sept 16, 2009 20:17:51 GMT -5
Hazen kept walking, he gave Akiva a small glance. There was a great deal of remorse in his eyes, but no where else on his face.
There was a small crunch under his foot as a lead shell caught under the edge of his sandal and shot out sideways, it bounces off Akiva's lower calf which much the same sensation as a insect bite.
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