Dusk

[suko]

Suko stood at the edge of the clearing, just under the cover of trees. She hadn't been with them long and was still wary of all contact with others. Sighing, she climbed the nearest tree and ran across the branches. She had made herself a nest to stay in the had a full view of the clearing but was hidden unless you knew what you where looking for and where to find it. Just the way it was made.

She wasn't tired yet so she just sat in the branches that where woven just right to provide support. She had learned the trick form a troop of monkeys that she met while wondering and managed to convey that she wasn't a threat and wished to learn how they made their nests.

Suko smiled. She had the knack of communicating her intentions to animals and knowing what they say from all the years listening to them and watching. She learned many things from the animals that her father could never teach her. Like how to make a sturdy nest, hide from predators and not be seen by prey, the best way to kill without much energy and inflicted pain. But the most important one to her is how to live in harmony with the environment.

It was getting darker and she saw that her fellow Grellons where settling down. Suko herself would settle down shortly, but not until everything was quiet again. A rustling in the brush brought her attention to under her nest. Someone was approaching and she wasn't sure who.

[Jotari]

Black Star checked on each person in the village that day, from the least to the greatest. They were actually in pretty high spirits with the festival and the steady flow of supplies and goods they had managed to obtain, by hook or by crook. Still, the outlaw queen had been busy lately dealing with dragons and royalty. She had wanted to make sure everyone was doing well and happy as possible. Black Star had the reputation of being an evil thief, and this reputation was earned in some ways. But to her Grellon, she was kindness itself. Just this afternoon she and the children had enjoyed a long game of tree tag. Basically it involved several children running around in the treetops, dangerously balancing on delicate branches. The children were surprisingly good at that game and enjoyed it quite bit until Hector had stepped on a dead branch and had fallen to the ground. He had a badly bruised body and a coupe cuts, but no broken bones. Black Star had checked him over and had turned it into a lesson on how to identify a dead branch. Black Star had also given time to the many adults of her band but had noticed one missing.

Suko had not been in the Grellon very long and Black Star sensed a distrust. The outlaw left a small group around the main fire and went to find Suko. It proved to be an interesting challenge as Suko had actually left a bare trail. Eventually though, the outlaw queen knew there was only one more place left where Suko could possibly be hiding. Swinging onto the lower branches of a tree Black Star scanned the limbs for life.

Suko was there and quiet as ever. Black Star came close but still didn't get overly friendly. " Hello Suko. I've been a bit worried about you lately, you don't seem to be getting with the group very much. Is anything wrong?" Though the outlaw queen could be a nasty bitch to an outsider, here her voice was filled with a gentle concern. She merely wished to make sure that Suko was ok. Black Star understood if she was simply a loner, but still, the outlaw leader wanted to make certain.

[suko]

Suko relaxed a little when Black Star jumped to the lower branches. She was the only one Suko trusted, though just a little, and was fine with her presence. She was worried about her and came for a visit. Suko sighd and quikly replied,
"Black Star, i told you my past before you took me into the Grellons. If you look into it you would know i don't like others very much. Too much of a group and you won't hear the dagger sliding out of it's sheath to stab you in the back. Besides the fewer connections i make the fewer pieces my heart breaks into when they are torn away from me."

She finished and turned her head away from Black Star and watched camp as a few bedtime stragelers whent to thier apointed bunks. She knew her words where blunt but they were also true. in a few short minuites, everything one holds dear can be taken away and shatterd. She would know, Suko had it happen twice. First with the destruction of her villege, then the betrayel from her brother and death of her father. The center of her world, dead before his time.

[Jotari]

Black Star listened, placing her back against the trunk and flicking out her dagger to play with it. The Grellon leader was pretty relaxed and in a decent mood but Suko still was a worry. Black Star knew the girl's past and Suko had not had it easy. "This is the Grellon. I may be considered a killer, most of us are here, and even though we steal, you know the truth. We simply do this so that Magrej will basically ignore us and we can get people out of Murate. You don't need to feel tense. Only a couple other people know we're here and if an army ever came Kaori would wipe them out. No one here is going to hurt you Suko. Black Star sighed and for a few brief second her eyes glinted a white fire and her gem glowed slightly.

She was remembering her own betrayal, the betrayal that had started this entire mess. Rashok, where was he? The surviving people of the island were mostly right under them sleeping, though some were in Kiyer and even spying in Murate. Black Star spoke again, " Betrayal is a hard thing, I know trust me. A single betrayal destroyed my entire world, nearly destroyed everyone else's world too I suppose. I lost everything and to make matters worse I lost it on my wedding day. I also endured a year of torture from Magrej himself. I say all that to say this, you aren't alone Suko. Most people here have been through a betrayal that forced them here. But we've made the best of it. You can too. Her words were simple, perhaps a bit cliche, but they rang strong and true. No one was alone in this.

[suko]

Suko sighed and turned back to Black Star.The hurt evident in her eyes that wirled a mix of green and grey.
"I understand your words and concern, but i can't share your opomism. To rebuild my life means finding a man that can beat me in combat and having kids to restore the tradition that is dying. My nature is to be alone and not submit to a authority not of my own. You i can work with becouse you can lead without ordering around."

Suko turns away again. Looking at the fire that was in the center of the clearing on her left. She touched the scar running over her right eye. "I dont think ill ever be in true peace again until i can avenge my father and regain the pride i held before this scar. Until then, those i don't trust are potential enemy's and the trees are the only freinds i have."

Suko finished and layed her chin on her knees, the memoris of that fatfull day flashing through her mind like a ghost that haunts its killer. Always on the edges, taunting them, until richesness is brought. Untill then, she'll have to deal with the gohsts in her past and the nightmares that haunt her sleep.

[Jotari]

Black Star swung to the ground and looked up at Suko. She choose her words carefully, trying to emphasize her point here. Though this may seem slightly rough, Suko still needed to understand this. " I understand revenge Suko, I will be the one that kills Magrej if he can be killed. I plan to do it slowly and excruciatingly painfully. But even thought many Grellon members will be part of that, I will not drag them down with me. Get your revenge, but do not drag others down with you. I will help as I can, though it is getting....harder....for Magrej to now know that I'm there. Unfortunately we have a...connection. But I do have other ways to help, spies and such to locate anyone you want.

Black Star was having small flashbacks, glimpses of her past, as she found several similarities between herself and Suko. The real big difference is that Black Star was more outgoing and cheeky. That and she also had to survive for others. Suko had the liberty to be moody.Goodness knows, Black Star could get into some horrible moods, but she had to come out of them pretty quickly. But honestly, Black Star didn't know how else to help Suko. " But I suggest at least trying to get along with everyone. You don't need to be a shining star, but they are probably nervous about you, worried that if you don't be one of the family you may be willing to betray us. We can't afford to be too distant out here. I do know several of them are concerned about you, simply because you're so quiet and seem lonely. These are good people Suko, they are here because they are good. They aren't going to hurt you and they are willing to help you with just about anything, legal or illegal. The outlaw sheathed her dagger and waited for any response.

[suko]

Suko smiled the first genuine smile she made since her father died and her trust in Black Star rose even more. She thought for a while then replied,
"I'll think about it tonight. There is one thing i wish to ask, your spies, can they get into the Murate army or spy on them. I have a feeling the one that im searching for lies there. If not then i wish to go about my revenge on my own. But know this, betrayl is in my past, not my personality. I have alot of respect for you and will never give you up, even in exchange for my life."

The words she said where true. She'd spit in the face of death and fade into oblivian before she would give up the one person that reached out to her in a time where her blood was worth a large bounty in Murate's military. Her thoughts wirled around her head with ideas of what she would give her new freind to sell or keep to help the Grellon's. In this one night Black Star had opened up a heart that was closed to the world and forged a link of freindship that could stand to any weather. Man-made or nature thrown.

[Jotari]

Black Star looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded slowly, "It can be done I think." The outlaw slowly began to move away, back toward the main fire. Sitting down slowly the outlaw stared into the flames. No one else was around, they had all gone to their families within the camp. Sighing she prodded the flame and tossed in a few more sticks. Her heart was heavy within her, sorrowful. Rain began to fall steadily and steam rose from the fire. Instead of heading for shelter, Black Star stood and headed for the cave that tunneled to the very highest peak of the entire Orestes. She walked silently through the row of makeshift homes, glancing around satisfied that everyone was safe. They had families and friends.

She herself walked slowly through the tunnel up to stand where the wind was so strong it nearly shoved her over. Fire blazed in her eyes in anger at former betrayal. Talking with Suko had in some fashion brought back memories the queen wished to forget. Now standing on a wide flat peak that had Ellsinora on one side an Murate on the other, she looked toward Murate. For a few moments in the storm she seemed to suddenly be taller, more regal then usual. Black Star was considered to be a worthless outlaw, but her secrets were many and few knew what really made this woman tick. She would kill Magrej, even though she knew that she would probably die in the process. The wind whipped the ebony raven hair and she stood as she should have been for years, a true princess perhaps even queen by now. It had started with Rashok, Magrej had betrayed the betrayer and destroyed everything.

One day, revenge would come, and she could finally show the world her real power and potental.

[suko]

Suko was glad when she heard that it was possible to spy on the army. Suko whisperd a goodnight to the retreating figure of her leader. Suko finaly accepted that is what Black Star is to her, not an enemy. She frowned slightly as the rain started and climebed farther up the tree to weave the branches above into a makeshift roof over her nest. After that was done, she climed down again and unbuckled her backe and fastened it around the trunk of the tree near her head with the buckle and pack facing her to reduce the chance of theft. Then Unslung her sword and curled up in her nest with the sword at her side within easy reach.

As She drifted off, Suko's thoughts where on a gift she wished to give her leader as a sign of thanks. She had found some obsidian nearby that would make a nice neclace and match Black Stars hair nicley. Mabye shaped in the form of a star. Shed make it small enough to be hidden under a dress if need be but big enough to be looked at. Suko fell asleep to the sound of rain and a promise to herself to be at the fireside at breakfast in the morning and to try to talk to others, even though she wont eat in thier presence. That will recuire more time to learn everybody.

END POST