Galvanized N-O-B-O-D-Y [Open]

[N a r u n a]

What were those fools waiting for?

It had been months since the rumors had begun; leaked throughout the northeast and spread through Jasiri's kingdom. It was incomprehensible that most would not know of what was beginning... what had already begun. Yet how many had come foreward to meet the challenge set before them? How many knew that union was the only way to keep this land at peace? The people were good, they were just. How could they be any different? She'd spoken with these peoples... walked and worked and joined with them before... She knew them as they knew her...

Didn't she?

Naruna's thoughts were scattered every which way with the soft, yet cold breezes; her mind seemed determined to defy her... for the first time in her entire life, she was unsure of her own people. It was indeed a fleeting feeling... and it would soon be replaced with her own pride and confidence once she returned to the city... but... After all, that was why she'd come here, wasn't it? Suddenly she'd questioned it all. She wanted to understand it all, yet she couldn't. She needed to know more... after all, she hardly recieved any direction from her liege anymore...

She needed to know what they were up against, and that was the problem: Hardly anybody knew.

Stepping carefully over fallen rocks and small chasms, the vix had found herself at a steep outcropping of cliffs blotched with mixed ground cover and colors and looking out over a vast dispensation; all of which seeming only of dark hue. Her hair, normally pulled carefully back, was now hanging loosely over her shoulders, a few strands floating with the breeze. All the usual tense and worked stature had eased out of her, and her arms rested at her sides uselessly. Even her eyes, usually bright and focused, were now cloudy and unclear. Only her bitten lip gave a sign of contemplation and focus to her form.

They said it was unwise for her to be out as far as she was now... all the way here at Dangai. Any number of enemies could be lurking here, just waiting for her to fall into their hands... Yes, it would be quite an accomplishment to retrieve her... the voice of her people. That's what they all said. Yet when they'd told her that, it wasn't fear that had been sparked... it was an idea that turned over and over at the back of her subconcious. Her enemies... even the few that would dare to come here...

Enemies.

She wanted to know what she was up against.

She needed to know.

To know her enemies...?


(Okies, this is open to anyone, light or dark... quite a few things that could happen... lol)

[x.Wolf.x]

An easy silence had calmed Iekika all the way here and will probably do the same on the way back to the castle, only the sounds of horse hooves meeting gravel roads and the tiniest creak of the wooden wheels of the trade wagon. Right now, the wooden trade wagon remained empty only a thin girl wrapped in a long sweater sat atop the wagon and even she seemed hidden with the black hood of the sweater pulled over her head, covering most of her face. Liquid blue eyes watched every corner, every dark forest and every rock for the dangers that Jasiri had warned her about but so far, Iekika met none of these at first she feared that telling the king to stay at the castle would prove her death but now, the maid seemed half way relaxed. Usually, maids were to stay at the castle at all times and watch over the castle and royal family, but she was the only other one living in the castle and Jasiri wouldn’t be able to travel through the enemy lands as easily as she did. Though, she didn’t doubt the king’s strength for a second, she knew if Jasiri was caught by one of Kamenwati’s troops…she’d never see him again. Jasiri was Iekika’s best friend since as long as she could remember; he was and still is her first crush though she wouldn’t admit it to a single soul and most of all he was her king. She knew, because she was nothing but a maid, she wouldn’t be allowed to be nothing but friends with Jasiri and over the years, she’s learned to accept all of that. Still, memories of last night flooded through her thoughts again, when Iekika was held by Kamenwati, the king had a look of genuine concern and not only that…but he had found out her darkest secret and yet, he still trusted her so much. She had tried to explain herself as nothing but a monster but in the end Jasiri had dismissed her completely on that. Could it be that she truly loved the king and if she did, could they ever really be together with Kamenwati targeting them and her being a mere maid?

No. This wasn’t the time to allow such thoughts, she had work to do. If the war was going to drag on further then the last battle, which Iekika knew it would by Kamenwati’s attack last night, they would need supplies. Iekika would need a sword to train with, medical supplies are needed to tend to the wounded, and food for the castle was running low and many other important matters to tend to. Yeah, Iekika was running out on this important mission once again, though this time she knew no fear as she passed through the lands.

Memories from last night had left the girl blind and for a moment, she nearly over looked the girl standing along the cliffs. At a second glance, Iekika knew exactly whom it was….she was Naruna and yes, she was on Jasiri’s side. Halting the team of two horses, Iekika came to a complete stop just feet away from the girl, perfect!

“Hey Naruna!” Iekika’s voice broke through the silence once again as she greeted the girl.

[N a r u n a]

[lol... Neither of them have any idea.]

How could she possibly accomplish such a feat though? She knew all too well the power Kamenwati posessed, yet she knew nothing of her cronies. What of them? They were-

Her eyes narrowed every so slightly at the sound of hoofbeats in the distance, and her jaw clenched ever so slightly as the wagon approached from her side. Indeed, she had been gifted with more than just the ordinairy... though very little of her talent lay in attack. A prodigy wouldn't have been too far beyond her reach... if she had but applied herself to it. No. Her strength lie in defense, foresight of opposition. If there was a threat approaching, she would be ready.

Or will you? After all, you can hardly focus right now, can you?

She wouldn't listen... Naruna would not be directed away from focus... she never had been, and never would be in her own eyes. Yet she found herself ever so slightly curious as to the voice that yielded from the wagon behind her... She knew it. Naruna had known Iekika since she herself was a child. Albeit, they hadn't played together often... considering her father's look on rank. Yet Naruna had defied her father and met Iekika before... she was, after all, a dexterous child. Now though, the two were in much different places. Iekika's residence at the castle as Jasiri's castle maid, her bond to their king... and Naruna, not residing far; after all, she did consult often with Jasiri in the people's name. Yet, unlike Iekika, she had less direction. It was true that she was an ambassador for Jasiri, and that she had allegience to him with both heart and mind... but she had more freedom on her hands than Iekika could possibly afford... twas Naruna who found herself wishing to be told what to do, not asked what should be done. She was, indeed, envious.

"Hmh? Oh, Iekika?"

Approaching the other girl slowly, she brushed a stray lock behind her ears, taking in the cloak [sweater haha] she was wearing, before looking to the wagon she was seated on. "Mind if I...?" The question was pure. If she would be interfering by joining her, then she would be happy to disperse. "Um... did Jasiri send you to do something?" Her thoughts were clearing now, and sense was coming to her again... Yet she still had a shadow of a new thought.

She was jealous of Iekika.


For more than simply freedom.

[xx.'Till the Fat Lady Sings.]

His tall silhouette could be barely made out against the horizon line as Jasiri walked in silence along the jagged edges of the cliffs. Not the safest place to do so, mind, but he thought nothing of this. He knew these lands well, and did not fear them merely because they were feral. Neutral, they were called, which meant that for all he knew, Kamenwati herself could be wandering these cliffs. But for the moment, that didn't seem to matter. In fact, this was one of his favorite places to come and sort his thoughts. This would need doing, particularly after last night. Memories of this still seemed to be a blur to Jasiri, and he was almost tentative to mull them over. Iekika's secret had startled him, to say the least. No, it had completely thrown him. Now, he had no idea where they stood, or what they were supposed to do or say if their paths crossed again, as they surely would. What Jasiri had said about trusting her was true. Despite Iekika's heritage, he knew it was true. But, although the two were best friends, she didn't seem to want to accept this fact. Jasiri sighed to himself, drifting deeper into thought by the moment. In fact, he had hardly noticed the presence of the others, whom he was quickly approaching now. It was only when he tore his amber gaze away from the horizon to scope the lands to the other side that he noticed them.

There, side by side, were two figures that he recognized as Naruna, and...Jasiri could have sworn, his heart had nearly stopped. Or jumped. Maybe something in between. Iekika was there too. Trying quickly to clear his thoughts, Jasiri sighed again and approached the two with a weary smile. "Hello Naruna, Iekika." The greeting was slightly formal, but still held a friendly tone. His gaze rested momentarily on Iekika before he turned away, nodding to Naruna as well. There was no reason to expose Iekika's secret to everyone, or continue their rather pained conversation here. Still, this made things no less awkward...maybe even more so than if he wasn't pretending that anything was different than it had been a night ago.

[x.Wolf.x]

Before Iekika could answer any of the girl’s inquiries sounds of another approaching had forced her answers to catch in her throat. Before Iekika turned to see whom was approaching, or even heard the sounds of soft crunching dirt beneath feet Iekika had scented the new king. She knew instantly from the scent that Jasiri was out and about, dangerously far from his lands and without bodyguards, men-at-arm’s or even spies and secret soldiers to watch his back. Reckless and thoughtless on Jasiri’s part, but whom was she to point this out? Iekika was a mere maid in Jasiri’s castle, no matter their past or the friendship between the two, there was rules….always rules and they needed to be obeyed and followed or chaos would follow. By the young king’s scent and slightly hidden expression, Iekika sensed he was thinking of last night as his gaze met that of the maid’s…..for, she too had let these thoughts distract her from her mission and from doing anything useful at the castle and nonetheless had haunted her through nightmares. Last night, after Jasiri had found out about the monster that ran through her veins; the encounter was a mere disaster with enough silence to drag on through countless years of suffering. For a moment, her soft blue gaze locked onto that of the king but she turned away before she let any emotion shine in them she couldn’t let him think that she had regretted last night. In a way she did, she wished it had never happened but on the other hand, Jasiri had finally found out and she wasn’t forced to dodge any conversations about vampires or her past. She didn’t have to lie about it countless times over about where she came from or who her parents were.

After a moment’s silence that followed after the king had spoke, Iekika’s scattered thoughts had brought up something else. Jasiri now held not the slightest hint that he knew of Iekika’s dirty little secret and that he had no intention of telling the very woman that he should be telling everything. For a moment, Iekika felt as if she was going to leap from her perch atop the trade wagon and hug the young king for keeping this out of the conversations, though now it didn’t matter who knew of her vampire blood, people would surely hunt her down and slaughter her if they knew. Iekika wouldn’t object to being killed if it meant the end of her suffering, from knowing she was some fluke and shouldn’t be standing here today, knowing that many people thought her vampire ruled over her human blood and of loving someone but not holding the ability to admit it to herself or anyone else.

The silence that now hung in the clearing hung heavy over the small crowd of people and at first, Iekika was afraid to speak and break the silence. The silence seemed to fit in perfectly here, just as it did last night in the training room but she knew she had to pretend to have forgotten of it and not bring it up unless the king did first. She didn’t want to drag him through anymore stress or pain unless she was forced to and even then she would try to find a new way out of it. Finally, Iekika’s gaze fell to Jasiri once again and the maid drew in a sharp but silent breath as she began to speak, “Hey Jasiri. I wasn’t expecting you’d be way out here.” She spoke the truth, she hadn’t expected Jasiri to even leave the castle, he never did that much since Kamenwati’s change of heart and all. He was cooped up in the castle forced to find new attack and defense plans, rebuilding his lands from battles fought and finding ways to keep his people calm while he stressed over every problem in both day and night. It worried Iekika to see such a young king under such stress but she couldn’t do a single thing to help him, besides what she had began to do the night Kamenwati attacked herself, last night. Iekika had picked up a sword once again, despite her fear of hurting the people close to her as she did before, and train harder then she ever did before. She would train both her vampire blood and human blood for battle so she would be more then ready to defend the lands with her very last breath and to think, most girls her age were creating drama, getting boyfriends and wasting time on make-up and shopping. Iekika was different, she was from the beginning, at grade school Iekika was out playing football with guys instead of gossiping on which of the players were cuter.

For a moment, Iekika was prepared to let the silence between the three to drag on but then she remembered Naruna’s questions were sill hanging, unanswered, of course she would need to answer those. And so, Iekika once again turned to the girl her amber eyes changing emotion completely. Iekika patted the wooden bench on which she was perched above the other two and grinned slightly, giving the smallest smile “I don’t mind” She replied to the first inquiry in which the answers were silenced by the appearance of Jasiri. Once again, Iekika spoke the truth in her words; she wouldn’t mind company of anyone after all riding alone for little over an hour grew boring quickly and with Naruna with her, who would dare attack the trade wagon? And now for the second question that had been unanswered until now, “The castle supplies are running a bit low, I’m out trading and buying to restock them” She answered it as truthfully as everything else that had passed her lips today. The castle staff, king and army men could go another two weeks with the supplies they had but in times like these a battle could break out and supplies would be limited. Iekika seized this chance to get out of the castle and a time of silence from Kamenwati to restock the store rooms of the castle.

[xx.'Till the Fat Lady Sings.]

Jasiri blinked and averted his gaze for a moment, his amber eyes narrowing as he turned to the cliff-sides. For a moment, he almost seemed to have left the conversation, and become deep in thought, his gaze lost in the ruddy hues of the canyon-like environment. But no, he couldn't let these thoughts distract him now, in the middle of a casual conversation. When Iekika replied, he turned back to her, glad for any distraction that he could find. With a slight smile, Jasiri nodded to this comment, his gaze meeting her's casually once again. Indeed, some might not think that being out here was such a good idea, and they were probably right. But although his confidence was a bit reckless, he trusted it, for the moment, or so he told himself. At any rate, he was glad to have company, although the two seemed busy, and this might not last long. Still trying to ignore the past experience between Iekika and himself, Jasiri answered her in a light-hearted tone.

"I didn't really expect to come. I guess I just needed some time to think, and it doesn't get much quieter than this place." He returned, his smile broadening briefly. But now that he had spoken, the young king knew that the silence would inevitably fall until Iekika or Naruna chose to again. But, Jasiri tried not to display the slight discomfort he was feeling, and glanced curiously toward Naruna to see if she would have any reply to Iekika's statement. It was a smart choice, he realized, to make sure that they were stocked up, just in case of emergency. He cursed himself for not being more up-to-date on this, and silently thanked Iekika with a glance.

"You didn't have to," He added audibly. "I could've sent someone else. But thanks." With a nod, Jasiri fell silent again, letting a brief sigh escape his lips. He refrained from saying any more, in case Iekika wanted to be on her way, but instead only waited for either of the two before him to either add something to the conversation, or be on there way.

[x.Wolf.x]

Iekika answered this statement with a mere shrug, true it really wasn’t her job to be out here and gathering supplies but someone had to and she wasn’t going to bother the young king with a problem as simple as this. Besides, Jasiri wasn't the only one that needed some time alone to think. Iekika had a dream last night, more like a twisted nightmare with no end. She had dreamt that her vampire blood had finally overthrew her human blood and she had became a full fledged vampire. She had slaughtered everyone in the castle and then went after Jasiri, though he had told her he loved her she felt nothing...only to drive his own sword through his heart. The young maid cringed at the thought, the dream had felt so real. She had scented the blood and tasted the fear the humans held for her, at the time it had made her feel powerful.....at home amungst the corpses but now she couldn't stand the thought.

Jasiri had spoke again and had snapped Iekika's thoughts back to the clearing. To the conversation at the cliffs...to what was happening now and now then. She gave a small nod and added her words to the conversation once again, "Of course, but this is a simple run...and with everything done at the castle I had nothing else to do and to bother you over a small thing like this...." She broke off at the point. It would've been many things and so, she left it to his imagination to finish the sentence. She did leave a letter for him at the castle, informing her she had left for the trading cities so that she wouldn't leave him alone to worry. Worry. As if, Jasiri worry for her? A simple maid?

[N a r u n a]

[Sorry~ I was a.w.o.l for a while...]

Naruna paused, awaiting Iekika's answer just as Jasiri had approached and joined the two. Her glance hung on him for a moment as him and Iekika spoke, two completely different thoughts running through her mind as she listened. Talk of running errands and time to think - all important subjects for the king and Iekika of course... Yet it was clear small talk. Right? The few pauses in the conversation posed a question in Naruna's mind, but she pushed it back like most other inclinations of hers. Naruna usually trusted her instincts, and the clearly uneasy air that had hovered momentarily over them seemed unavoidable, but why? Naruna had known Iekika since they were young... and the king longer... yet something was different. She wasn't naive.

The glance didn't go unnoticed and Naruna was finally happy to oblige with her own comment to-wards the other girl. "He's right Iekika, you are truly an asset." Pausing, she gave, for the first time in the conversation, a childish smile and glanced up honestly. "And I'll admit, much more sufficient with duties than myself." With the acceptance of her proposal, she stepped easily up onto the wagon and seated herself aside Iekika before looking over the cliffs once again. Jasiri was right. It was one of those few places where one could think. After all, she herself was found her, away from everyone quite often... She wasn't one to shirk her duties, but she had as many doubts as everyone else. She was flawed... more than most... incompetent, cocky, opinionated. Hardly the flaws she should have, but she was dealing with them; hiding them.

Pushing her bangs back over her head, she glanced at the two again, thinking. Finally managed to keep her voice level when she did address him finally. "I must ask, Jasiri... You are only here to think? I am sure Iekika and I can afford this feat... being ourselves after all, but you? Surely it is rude to ask, but next time to need to think alone, might I ask you to bring someone with you? I'm sure Iekika,..." Trailing off, she looked toward the latter for a sign of assent.

She hated being the bad guy.

It was clearly not her position to command such a thing of her very king, but being herself, she felt she needed to. Like Iekika, she was worried... Yes, in probability he was much more capable than either of them... Yet from what she knew as a politico... and what she knew as just Naruna... Taking a chance like that could cost everyone too dearly.

[xx.'Till the Fat Lady Sings.]

OOC//Hey Naruna, and that's alright, we're glad to have you back ^^.

IC//Jasiri merely nodded to Iekika's words, but before he had a chance to reply, Naruna spoke. He switched his gaze, listening quietly as she spoke, and for a moment, said nothing in response. He reflected, of course, that Naruna was probably right. No, definitely right. It was reckless, plain dangerous, to wander out here alone. Perhaps he was too independent for his own good. He sighed, and with a small smile, nodded to Naruna's words. "I agree," He spoke at last. Despite his own stubborn nature, Jasiri realized that he shouldn't put himself, and through this, the kingdom at such a great risk. "You're right, Naruna." This came out as more of a sigh or resignation, however. "Sometimes I'm more reckless than I realize." Although it was hardly a laughing matter, Jasiri gave a wry smirk, turning his amber gaze away from Iekika and Naruna, and instead, to the cliffs' edge. The wind whipped at his reddish hair, causing his eyes to narrow against t. His expression somewhat thoughtful, Jasiri maintained the silence he had fallen into save for a brief sigh that escaped his lips, returning his attention to the other two and waiting to see if either of them would speak again.

OOC//So museless today >< Sorry