Shadows of What We Were {OPEN}

[AmberEyedWolf]

Orion

A figure moved through the ruins of the once beautiful castle. Dark-clothed and dark-robed, he was a shadow amongst shadows. Like a cat, he climbed over the crumbling stones, to rest atop a pillar. Ice blue eyes looked coldly over the land that had once been so great. In the courtyard below, overgrown with weeds, the gallows that had been erected to hang the accused still stood.

Black Star was gone. The Grellon was gone. Ellsinora was gone. The rogue stood, overlooking the last village to fall under Magrej's shadow. A dark anger burned within him. Anger at Murate, anger at Magrej, anger at the king's soldiers, anger at Ellsinora's royalty. Anger that had flared up before, yet had been contained. But the one who had helped him fight off the anger was gone. Black Star was gone. Hanged by Ellsinora on the claims of an assassin, then kidnapped by Muratian guards.

The red-haired rogue leapt from his perch, climbing down the castle wall with the ease and grace of a leopard. Landing softly on the ground, he looked around before rising up to his full five foot eleven inches. He walked across the rocky courtyard and climbed onto the gallows. He moved carefully over the platform, as many of the boards were beginning to rot.

He knelt down, his hands pulling up a few splinters of wood. Pulling a chip of flint from his pocket, the rogue worked quickly. Soon, a small fire was growing, spreading rapidly. Picking up a burning stick, Orion moved, allowing the fire to reach more of the gallows. Within minutes, the entire structure was engulfed in flames. As he moved to the edge, he paused for a moment. Should he stay and allow himself to be engulfed by the flames? Or should he move on, to avenge those dearest to him?

Standing there, the fire raging behind him, his hood swept back to reveal his flaming red hair, he looked like an angel or demon from hell. The sight of the rogue shadowed by the blaze would have awed anyone who could see it, but there was no one around. Or was there? Seeing a flicker of movement, Orion snapped out of his thoughts. Leaping down from the gallows, he raced toward the movement, swiftly drawing Aithne from it's sheath. The sword glittered in the light of the fire as Orion chased down the one who had spoiled his fun.

[arkainon]

A dark shadow stepped out of the woods. The shadow paused to take the measure of the fiery adversary before him. Agile hands flitted to the hilt of the impressive sword scabbarded at his hip, but then withdrew. The shadow raised his hands slowly up, a gesture of peace.
Hold, sir. Would you raise arms against an ally?
The shadow lowered his hood and stepped forward into the light of the fire, revealing a strong, rugged countenance beneath. His gaze was wary, but self-assured. The man was dressed in form-fitting black leather that had allowed him to approach silently. He regarded the slightly younger man before him another moment before turning his eyes to the bonfire before him. His gaze hardened slightly.
So. I had heard the stories and rumors, but I had to come to see it for myself... I had intended to meet the... occupant of this shameful thing only a few days before this happened. I am a mercenary. Until a few months ago, that was my sole cause. I was content with myself and my lot in life. Not precisely happy, but content. I knew where I belonged...
The mercenary paused for a moment, turning once more to the fiery man before him.
My apologies, sir. I forgot the introductions. I am Gavlin. I am a sell-sword, but I am not seeking a contract at this time; I merely came to... Pay my respects. When I had caught wind of this woman's acts, I realized that I was not truly satisfied. I have been turning my blade to targets other than the ones I truly desire. When Black Star never showed up for our meeting, I merely assumed she had decided against allowing me into her rebels. Now I know what happened. Would that I had been here. I took a contract the next day, joining the guard of a merchant caravan after the hurricane. I've been on the road ever since, but one hears things.
Gavlin stalks over to the fire and drew his sword. He eyed the burning gallows with a calculating, expert look and then suddenly strikes it with incredible force, cleaving one of the poles in one mighty swing.
A good thing you started here... but someone may surely notice the commotion. I, for one, would like to see the end of this blasted thing.

[Desperanza]

The young girl had simply been making her way among the trees. She had simply been searching for somewhere warm. The winter was once again closing in and she was struggling to get by with her tiny slender body and her lack of a proper diet for years. She had shared the meat of a rabbit with Kyoko the night before but still. It had been cold and raw and it had taken too long clean the blood from the meat to make it edible. Kyoko appreciated the metallic tang of the blood but she only liked it so much and couldn’t handle it well. After all, she wasn’t a tiger though she rather thought that she was by this point. It had been so long that she had been around Kyoko and originally she had been taken in by Kyoko’s mother, Bae, and now she had spent years with the beautiful tigress’s son that she believed herself to be one of them. Now she had somehow made her way closer to Ellsinora after spending some time within the forest. When the wicked King had burned the forest, she and her furry friend had been forced to flee their temporary home. She had whisked away into the night with Kyoko and a few nights after filled with fear and terror, unable to find her way from the flames before finally Kyoko had showed her the way.

However now it had led her here, to the edge of Ellsinora where she stood peering out of the trees at the tall castle that stretched towards the sky and where the King and his Queen lingered within the walls of the castle. She had yet to go closer however as she was unsure. She was hesitant, unsure that she would necessarily be finding what she needed here. She stood there at the edge of the trees, the tiger seated and purring at her side. Her small fingers reached out to stroke the white and ebony striped fur. Blue eyes stared out along with soft sea green ones as the pair peered out of the trees and the child came to lean on the shoulder of the feline at her side. Kyoko’s wicked claws were arched into the ground and his ears twitched. After a moment, a soft growl escaped his throat. He could scent and detect Orion before the girl could. The flame haired outlaw made his way to the gallows and after a few moments, the gallows were swallowed in flames. Her eyes grew large and she gasped, watching as flames licked the sky and dark smoke rolled into the air. She thought to go closer as she knew that the wild dancing lights held heat, she had seen them once before but she knew that it was also painful to get too close and the dancing figure that darted about them made her nervous.

She shifted at the side of her companion as the feline stood from his seated position, on the alert towards the stranger that was lighting the night ablaze and yet while the feline eyed the creature with vibrant blue eyes, Nadessa stared thoughtfully, ever curious of the man, that was until he threatened to attack. The flash of his blade, the singing of the razor sharp metal sent a quiver down her back. She gasped, inhaling quickly to scream before suddenly, a racket of sound erupted from her right and Gavlin sprang from the trees a few feet from her and she tucked in at Kyoko’s belly. She watched as the man strode forward, rather not having realized that he was there. She whimpered softly, tucking in at Kyoko’s side now as she watched the man silently, nervous. Her vibrant green eyes stared up at the sight of the two men. The man with the flame red hair and the other wearing the ebony leather that encased his body. Still hesitant, the child bit her lip, her fingers tucked under her chin. The tiger slowly knelt down at her side, his nose reaching around to help the small child to his back before the feline stood with a growl, hissing at the sudden movement to their right. A soft roar left the mouth of the creature and Nadessa sank forward between the blades of the white beast’s shoulder with a shiver. The cold was once again getting to her and she was beginning to fall into a steady tremble as her body grew stiff from the cold. Snow had yet to fall but when it did with the lack of food traveling around she had a chance of getting sick, if not dying. Kyoko provided heat when she slept nestled at his side but he could only do so much for her against snow fall. Now, with the temperature dropping and the hard ground chilled, she curled her fingers to the fur of the creature as the feline padded forward, drifting closer to the man as he growled softly once more, turning a cautious eye to the men as they bantered between each other and the small girl remained at his back, her eyes staring towards the flames thoughtfully before closing slowly for a moment instead. She was aware that Kyoko was bringing her closer to the men so she stiffened, frightened. She wondered that if maybe she didn’t move and didn’t make a sound that perhaps she would simply melt into camouflage at Kyoko’s back and then she and Kyoko could escape without harm.

[/font]

[AmberEyedWolf]

Orion

Orion said nothing as the man spoke. He didn't move, didn't blink, didn't sheath his sword. As Gavlin walked over to admire the rogue's handiwork, Orion remained, his icy gaze fixed upon nothing.

Upon hearing the crash of the falling beam, his head turned. His voice came out, deep, rugged, and as harsh as the fire that lit up the night. "No. Leave it. If Magrej's dogs come running, let them. They've never caught me before, and they won't tonight." Suddenly, Orion darted forward, ascending the gallows with a haunting ease. He climbed from the platform onto one of the remaining support beams.

Standing upon the top, he looked around. "If those curs of Murate come out to play, then play we shall." Looking down, he noticed the tiger. A beautiful beast, rare white, with.. a child? Orion blinked, making sure the fire was not playing with his eyes. There, laying across the tiger's back, was a young girl. Immediately, Orion's mindset shifted. If soldiers did arrive, the child would be in danger.

Chips of ice looked around again. He noticed a group of soldiers running toward the source of the fire. A grim smile played across his lips. Quickly, he planned out his next moves. Swiftly, he climbed down from his perch. He looked over to Gavlin. "You are certain you are an ally? Because about ten of those curs are headed this way." He pointed with Aithne to the direction the soldiers were coming from.

On light feet, he moved to the tiger and child. He went down on one knee, dipping his head to the tiger as he looked to the child. "Dear child, my name is Orion. I will not hurt you, I promise. But there are some very bad men coming this way. I want you to go hide in the trees while these men are taken care of. I shall come get you when they are gone. Can you do that for me?" While he was speaking, he noticed the poor girl was shivering. He removed his cloak, warm from his body and the heat of the flames, and draped it over the girl. He nodded to the tiger once more before rising. As he moved to face the guards with Gavlin, he only hoped the child would do as he asked.

Orion ascended the gallows once more as the guards arrived. The head guard stepped forward. "As an officer in the army of His Majesty King Magrej, I order you to throw down your weapons and surrender yourselves!" The man's voice rang clear in the night air. Before silence could follow the man's words, however, a laugh filled the night.

"You expect me to follow your orders? Just because some poor excuse for a king said you could give them? Ha! I'd rather remove my own heart with a rusted dagger." Teasing soldiers was something Orion had done most of his life, and he knew how to touch just the right nerves. "Hey, don't I remember you? Oh, yea! I remember now! You're the brother of that girl I was flirting with! And you can running after me, pissed because you thought I was trying to get in your sister's skirts!" Orion had, of course, never seen the guard before. But, he had been in that situation so many times, it was highly possible it had happened. The guard already looked furious, but Orion wasn't through yet. "Oh, and by the way, your sister is amazing in bed." With a smirk, Orion jumped from the burning gallows and raced across the courtyard, the guard right on his heels.

Orion climbed up onto a rock ledge on the castle wall and began to fight. He handled Aithne as an extension of his arm, the wickedly sharp blade slicing through the air. Every time their swords clashed, golden sparks flew. Orion leapt from the ledge, running back into the center of the courtyard. He danced around, lithe and agile, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the soldiers that surrounded him. Adrenaline pumped through him, and he felt more alive than he had in months. He had missed this feeling, and it was intoxicating to be able to experience it after so long of waiting.

[Desperanza]

Nadessa slowly lifted her head as Orion approached. The man with the fiery read hair and the wicked sword. Her vibrant eyes were wide with shock and fright, realizing that her blending maneuver was not working. She hardly understood a darn thing that he said as she didn’t speak English, she spoke tiger. She tilted her head curiously to him and glanced back towards the trees for a moment, realizing that he intended for her to hide. Glancing back towards the approaching Murate soldiers she held her breath for a moment, her eyes wide. She felt Kyoko’s shoulder blades shift and she slid from his pack for a moment as the cat’s tail lashed, blue eyes piercing as the cat glanced up at Orion thoughtfully before glancing past to the soldiers with a low growl. The feline was hesitant, glancing back to the child at his side as she stared up at Orion curiously for a few moments longer before he whisked away and she held her breath for a moment, hesitating. She glanced towards the soldiers thoughtfully for a few moments before glancing back towards the fire instead. There was the warmth. What was it that the man had said? He was speaking in a language that she didn’t know. She offered a rather confused glance and cast a look towards Gavlin before she turned her gaze once again as she darted close to the fire, taking refuge behind the burning platform for a moment as the soldiers approached.

Orion came to perch towards the top of the platform and she gave a rather wide eyed look for a moment as she glanced up at him before she let out a short scream and a growl before she leaped to her feet and darted off towards the trees with the tiger loping along at her side. The child was not dressed in much. A few strings of ivy clung to her form and a few soldiers glanced after the child as she darted towards the trees but when the feline swiveled to face the men, they seemed to have second thoughts and others were distracted with Orion at the moment. The girl paused, glancing back at Kyoko as her brother came to face the advancing soldiers. She hissed, frowning. A whimper escaped her lips and her fingers pressed at her lips for a moment as she gazed at the soldiers for a moment, hesitating her pace to the trees as she glanced between Orion and Kyoko for a moment before she winced, backing a few steps with a soft growl from Kyoko before she turned and made her way towards the trees she slipped into the cover, kneeling down amongst a bit of brush she weaved her way into the thorn lined brush before she settled, peering out through the limbs towards the scene of the sword fight as she held her breath.

Kyoko however padded forward closer to Gavlin. With Orion balanced atop the platform, the tiger remained on the ground, glancing at the men thoughtfully with a lash of his tail. He however did not wander far from Nadessa and simply stared at the wicked men as they approached, blades flashing as the tiger paced the tree line, daring any soldier to approach and any soldier that did, would have to deal with the wild beast. With a hiss, he glanced towards Orion as the man taunted the soldiers before the white beast turned and disappeared among the brush once more as he pressed closer to the child. He settled just outside of the brush, the tiger’s blue eyes staring out at the world from the spot that he waited with the girl hidden at his side to the battle that raged ahead of them, his tail continued to lash but he waited silently, remaining alert and at the ready in case the battle came to them.

[/b][/font]

[arkainon]

Gavlin nods grimly at the flame-haired man on the gallows. He calmly steps forward to the lead soldier and kneels before him, not looking at him, resting the point of his sword in the ground. He lowers his head as if in prayer or fealty.
I am sorry.
The guard sneers at the man kneeling before him. At least someone here knows where the power lies. The Muratian draws his blade and moves on past Gavlin, with the rest of his men following. Now look here, why don't you follow the same route as your pal here, and surrender quietly?
I am sorry I have to sully your keen edge on these vermin. Forgive me, friend. Gavlin kisses his sword and swiftly stands up. He swings the mighty blade in a great arc, completely catching the nearest soldier by surprise and lops off his head. He roars a battle cry and charges into the rest of them, raging in a blood fury, hacking and stabbing with deadly precision, moving with a power and grace reminiscent of the tiger watching from the woods. He knocks another soldier with the flat of his blade and sends him sprawling. As he draws back for the killing blow, another one comes up behind him and smashes his arm with a dire mace, shattering his upper left arm and making him scream. By the gods, you'll pay for that!

[AmberEyedWolf]

Orion

With a backdrop of fire, the deadly tango in the courtyard cast dancing shadows upon the ground. Lithe and agile as a cat, Orion spun around in an intricate dance, his sword singing through the air. Again and again, his opponents fell to the ground, cut down and defeated by the fiery rogue.

Upon hearing Gavlin's cry of agony, Orion spun, darting over to slip Aithne into the soldier's back. He nodded to Gavlin before throwing himself back into the fight. It wasn't long before all the soldiers lay dead or dying. Orion looked over their handiwork, panting. "Looks nice, doesn't it?" A tired smile crossed his face as he tried to catch his breath.

After a few minutes, the rogue realized something was wrong. No matter how hard he tried, he could not catch his breath. A dull pain in his left side made itself known to him, and he looked down. Sticking out of the left side of his stomach was a dagger. Obviously, he had acquired the injury during the fighting, yet hadn't realized it until now.

In awe, he touched the end of the handle gently, causing a shockwave of pain to radiate from the wound. His features dropped into a frown, and he grabbed the handle. He took a deep breath, before pulling the invasive metal from his body. The pain the action caused forced him to his knees and drop Aithne in the process.

Both hands flew to the bleeding wound as he fought back a cry of pain. Slowly, he stood, picking up and sheathing Aithne as he did. He turned towards the woods and limped off, wincing. "Better get going, before more come." He entered the woods, searching for the little girl.

[Desperanza]

The child watched, her eyes wide with surprise and fear. She thought of turning and running, fleeing the frightening scene that unfolded before her. The men themselves already made her nervous and the chill that crept around them was seeping right into her bones. She shivered violently and after a few moments she felt the form of her feline brother reaching her side. Taking a breath, she curled against that rare white coat and onyx stripes.

The tiger growled softly, eyeing the scene with displeasure. His tail lashed but he remained still, able to detect the fact that the poor child was freezing. The pair remained tucked among the brush, settled in among the branches that folded around them. Nadessa winced when Gavelin cried out at his broken bones. The sound made her nervous and she tucked closer to her feline friend. Her eyes squeezed closed tightly as she trembled and lifted her hands over her ears to press her palms there.

Holding her breath, she sighed softly as she glanced around herself for a brief moment before she closed her eyes slowly again instead and she awaited this nightmare to end. It wasn't much longer before Orion was making his way towards her. His words echoed into her ears and slowly her sea colored eyes fluttered open. She gasped, glancing up at the sight of the man with blood staining his clothing against his side where the dagger had entered. She gasped, staring at the frightening wound as she stirred from where she sat upon the ground.

As her small form unfolded itself at the side of Kyoko, she leaned forward slightly to stare up at the man silently for a few moments but she nodded slowly though she had no clue what his words meant nor what he had said. They were just noises to her but the fact of the matter was that she understood the urgency of the situation. She glanced towards Gavlin before returning her gaze again as she held her breath and slowly climbed to her feet, continuing to eye Orion with a wary glance as she awaited what would happen next.

[/font]