Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on May 30, 2008 14:58:47 GMT -5
Seren moved through the woods without sound. His feet leaving no mark, his eyes missing nothing a ghost among the ghosts. In his wake went the feel of his curse, or what some would call his curse though he did not view it so. It was his blessing, the only way he had ever known the only way he had ever been and he had embraced it long ago, left behind the thing he had been once and embraced the darker ego he was today. Creatures large and small shuddered at the feeling a cold tingling of the spine, a quiver at the base of your neck these mark the passing of Tash's claw.
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on May 30, 2008 15:12:58 GMT -5
There were other creatures who moved among the tree soundlessly, it was those that lived in the trees. As animals cowered in his presence, and the birds took the skies, even the winds ceased when he was in the forest. Sarai, however, did not know fear, she didn't know what those other creatures were feeling. Taking to the branches, nimble steps were taken from branch to branch as the trees assisted in her travelling. Those silver-grey eyes focused closely on this figure that envoked fear within the forest.
Finally, she managed to gain a bit of a lead before the man down below and stood on the bough of a tree right in front of his path. Arrow was hitched onto the string of the bow, as her voice was strong, and confident, calling out to the man. "Do not move, or I promise your next step will be your last..."
The trees around him seemed to creak with anticipation, as the wind picked up a bit, billowing through those mahogany brown curls of her. Gaze was piercing right into him, and never breaking concentration as the leaves wrapped around her body and then blowing back through the trees.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on May 30, 2008 15:19:34 GMT -5
Seren's eyes strayed lazily up into the trees. The woman in the trees was different from others he had seen. Most people shuddered or trembled in his presence, feared and screamed as he came near them and only were silent in death. This woman though was strong her voice unwavering her body taught and ready, a challenge. Seren regarded her calmly. With a sudden paralyzingly quick motion he moved darting to his left with uncanny speed, before the knife he had aimed at her throat was halfway to her Seren was moving quickly up the boughs of one of the trees.
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on May 30, 2008 15:41:19 GMT -5
Sarai should not be underestimated, to her his actions were playing in slow motion, as he reached for the knife and threw it arrow was quick to block the flying knife. Blade hiting the hilt of the knife it was turned and fell to the ground along with the arrow.
Grabbing another arrow from the quiver, Sarai jumped from the tree right after him. Practically body slamming him against the trunk of the tree he was climbing towards, Sarai's look of utter determination bore straight through his own gaze. Stepping back, she didn't need to look down to maintain her balance on the branch. Arrow was restrung onto the bow and pulled taught.
"Who are you?" Voice was a hiss against the wind blowing around them. The woman had confidence that was evident, but perhaps confidence shouldn't be mistaken for being egotistical, for Sarai was anything but.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on May 30, 2008 15:52:58 GMT -5
Seren regarded the woman with an almost confused expression. He... he had never been asked that before... it occurred to him vaguely that he had never had to tell anyone his name, his new name that is. He had been called Tash's Claw, had had that name whispered to him from his earliest years "You are the dark that men fear, the cloud before the stars, you are the Claw of Tash!" But he had abandoned all that on that night so many years ago. His mind snapped back to reality to the tip of the arrow of the bow in front of him. "Seren." He said. One word, but a word that defined him, a word that said I am not who they said, I am myself, though to be honest, he still wasn't sure who himself was.
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on May 30, 2008 16:45:25 GMT -5
The woman was incredibly wary of the man despite the fact that he ceased his fighting. Bow still in hand, she allowed the string to loosen its tauntness around the end of the arrow. "Seren...." His name flowed through her lips like water running through a stream.
Grey gaze narrowed on him, as she did not stop studying him. "Why do you bring fear where you walk?" It was true, the woman could sense it all around her. That fear in the eyes of the animals scurrying down below, the birds not being able to bare his presence. The trees how they even quaked against his steps. The ground shivering in his wake as if trying to brush off such a horrifying creature. Sarai, however, despite the other animals, and the land, did not fear him. She acknowledged his presence, made note of the feelings her gave off, but did not sense that ever present fear. She couldn't. It wasn't part of her. Fear. An emotion she couldn't understand.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on May 30, 2008 16:52:12 GMT -5
"Fear..." The word had been used of him before, but never with disdain. This woman didn't want that fear... "Fear..." he said again slowly. "I am fear. I was made fear..." He was still trying to piece all this together, fear being seen as a negative was something he had never encountered before, this woman was different not just then any other woman he had ever met but then anyone he had ever met... it was... frightening. He didn't fear death, death when it came would come as a relief she was a better warrior than anyone he had ever fought but that wasn't to say she was better than him. But her... strength, her courage was something beyond what he had ever seen or felt. "Who are you?" It occurred to him briefly that he shouldn't care. That "who are you" was completely insignificant but... for some reason... he wanted to know.
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on May 31, 2008 0:29:28 GMT -5
A sneer curled over the woman's lips. "Fear. You are made of fear?" That did not sound good in her mind. Again the arrow would be pulled taut and aimed directly for his heart. "I have no fear. Fear comes from those who have never experienced life. I have no life to experience. I have no fear." Wow, that was rather powerful, her voice was strong and crisp, and clear like the breeze in the middle of autumn.
"I am Sarai of the Dryads." The was pretty blunt, and honest, and there was no easier way to explain her. "What brings you to the Lost Forest?" Her gaze never pulled away from the man, though, the wind continued to curl around her body. Leaves circled around her, as those mahogany brown curls of hair kept sweeping in front of her eyes, but she never pulled away from watching Seren despite the hair in her eyes. She had to make sure he wasn't going to pull any of those sudden moves on her like he did before.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on May 31, 2008 9:23:22 GMT -5
Seren moved quicker then thought one hand flicking down to draw his sword the other reaching out to grab her bow. He didn't move the bow away from him though instead he shifted it's aim up aiming the bow directly at his head. Anyone else would have fired accidentally but whatever else could be said of this woman she knew her trade and was very good at it. His sword flicked out and stopped inches from her neck. They stood there for a moment each, in theory, able to end the others life with a flick of the wrist, two beings frozen in time. Two warriors at their apex, neither in fear, neither flinching. "I did not choose to be this. " Seren said his voice clear and certain now. "Sarai of the Dyads, I was too long kept in prison, to long in the dark. I do not fear the dark of death, only the dark of a cage. I come to the forest seeking an answer, I do not know what it is, but it is here. I seek purpose, what is yours?"
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on May 31, 2008 12:56:39 GMT -5
Sarai wasn't surprised when he swiftly unsheathed his sword, infact a coaxing smirk curled on her lips as he seemed to be initiating a battle. Remaining poised just like she was before, Sarai narrowed her gaze on him as he began to speak. "Fear is a form of weakness...."
Instantly (seriously this is matrix fast, xD!), the woman practically bent over backwards to refold her bow and arrow back into her quiver and pull out a long sword from the sheath hidden beneath the quiver. Metal clattered against metal as she made sure to block his sword from her neck, aiming it directly in the same position he was holding against her. All of this while still naturally balancing on the branches.
"I have nothing to seek for I all ready know everything that is vital to my survival." Sword gently slid down the opposing one. Was she coaxing him into a fight? It certainly looked like it, that grin never left her lips, as those steel grey eyes bore right into him. "How do you know if you have found your answer, if you don't even know the question? Perhaps you have all ready found it, you just do not wish to acknowledge it."
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on May 31, 2008 13:06:50 GMT -5
She was impressive that was for sure. Her skills were very good and if the two took it to the death it was likely to be a fight for the ages, but it wasn't her blade work that made Seren hesitate. The two were polar opposites one born of the dark the other of the light, on an abomination to nature and the other a pure and clear example of all that nature could be, and to be honest it had taken Seren back. "What would that answer be then Sarai?" He asked, their swords rested on one another, neither faltered or teetered on the branch they stood. Titans awaiting a single moment an apex that would unleash a battle for the ages. Seren suddenly realized something.... "I don't want to hurt you." He said it was less of a statement and more of a question... a revelation... something that he had never felt before everyting he had met in this world had been worthless, shuddering lumps of humanity as easy to kill as a common animal and seemingly no less valuable. This one was different. Oh he would still kill her if he had to, Seren was still Seren after all, he would kill her and walk away without a second glance but for the first time in his life. He didn't want to.
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on May 31, 2008 20:45:22 GMT -5
"I cannot give you answers that you are supposed to find yourself, I am merely stating that you should not look so hard for them for answers are like the wind they come and go as they pleased." Just as she spoke, the wind seemed to wrap him, whispering in thousands of different languages and billowing through the branches of the trees. Sarai paused, this man was a complete mystery to herself as well. She didn't understand how someone with so much hate, and cynicism about them could not be sure of themselves. He seemed confused and yearning for answers yet not willing to ask for help.
A brow arched slightly as he spoke his second statement, and her sword clattered against his own as she pushed the blade away from her neck, and quickly pulled back her own sword, still gripping the hilt, and on alert for any sudden movements from the man. "Then don't." Two simple words, so simple, and blunt.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on Jun 1, 2008 6:19:06 GMT -5
"Then don't." Huh... so simple and yet so.... unheard of. Two parts of him seemed to be screaming at him, one yelling to kill her, spill her blood and taste it, to revel in his victory and to glory in her defeat. There was a long pause as Tash's Claw wrestled within himself a violent struggle of wills between a man and the monster in a man's body, between a blank slate and the dark marks that had been etched in it. Slowly almost as if his mind wasn't fully registering what he was doing, as if his hand was acting but his mind remained opposed to the action. He slid his sword back into it's sheath. "What is your life Sarai? I have been dead too long."
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on Jun 1, 2008 7:05:01 GMT -5
The action spoke on so many levels with Sarai, as she swung her sword back over her shoulder and slid her own sword back into the hidden sheath beneath the quiver of arrows. Head bowed respectively at the man as she stepped back to give him room and show she was no longer playing the instigator.
Then he asked that question, that question that so many ask the Dryads. "My life is long, and etches deep into the ground of Narnia. It's solid like the trunk of a tree, and undetermined like the wind that blows through it's branches." Those silvery-grey eyes focused directly on him, as the wind no longer stirred around them with such veracity and instead resorting to blow the underbrush around the ground, stirring the animals out of their hiding places and pushing dust and dirt, and leaves around the ground.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on Jun 1, 2008 7:28:50 GMT -5
"Can you show me?" Seren asked. He was in unfamiliar territory now. He wanted to know more, wanted to know what made this person that was so like him, so different from him. What gave her the courage that he had without the curse that he bore? He had become who he was through torture and pain, he wondered how she had become who she was.
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on Jun 1, 2008 16:13:03 GMT -5
"Show you?" Sarai's gaze finally glanced up towards the branches, as they swayed against the gentle breeze. "You are looking at it...." Sarai's movements were swift as she seemed to somehow end up behind him. The woman was significantly tall. Six feet of lithe limbs, but strong. Six feet of power and wisdom embodied into this Dryad.
Leaning forward, voice was close to his ear, and cool like an autumn breeze. "Look around, my life is all around you...." Calming, and soothing in it's tone, it was also strong and determined. Gaze continued to peer up at the branches that swayed back and forth, almost like they were dancing to a song that only they knew. Sarai knew it. She heard it. Hypnotic in it's beat, and nuturing in it's tune.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on Jun 1, 2008 20:17:50 GMT -5
Seren looked at the forest around him. He didn't understand. "This is your life? Your purpose? The forest?" Everything for Seren had always fall cleanly into two categories friends and enemies. He hadn't ever had anyone who fit into the first category and as such everything was inescapably simple anything that moved was a threat to be eliminated. Now here was this woman strong and beautiful and noble and... perhaps even, while still not in the first category, not in the second. She moved behind him lightning fast but then so was Seren, he could have countered, blocked, or moved but he didn't, for some reason beyond anything he could fathom he didn't mind. "What do you mean?"
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on Jun 1, 2008 20:38:42 GMT -5
Sarai had to smirk, it seemed like such a simple purpose in life. Perhaps it was, but it was what kept her alive, and made her whole. Falling silent for a moment, it seemed like she wasn't going to answer him. Instead she was looking around as well, at the way the branches kept swaying, and the sounds that echoed through the forest. "The forest is my life. It gives me life, just like the air in your lungs... the trees are my breath, the soil is my beating heart. The rivers are my blood." Voice trailed off, as the branch beneath them seemed to come to life as well, a soft thump like a heart beat could be felt beneath their toes.
"Dryads have no other purpose but the dedication, and determination to prevail. The will to survive, and the yearning to grow..." Sarai could make so much sense sometimes, and be so philisophical. She was a strange one, but all pure blooded Dryads were like that. All the pure ones held that sense of certainty, and composure about them. She knew who she was, and what she was doing. It was in her nature.
|
|
Seren
New Member
I am the dark that you fear.
Posts: 37
|
Post by Seren on Jun 2, 2008 2:10:52 GMT -5
Seren could feel the passion behind her words, could feel the streangth behind her words and he found himself feeling the forest around him. Not wary of it, or suspicious of it but feeling it for what it was. "We are not that different then you and I. We each live to prevail to defeat what it is that stands in our way. We each yearn to grow, to become more then what we are. But is there nothing else? Why do we do this Sarai? Is it just for survival? Is that what are lives are?"
|
|
|
Post by Sarai of the Dryads on Jun 2, 2008 7:16:53 GMT -5
Passion, not so much as honesty and knowledge. The forest came alive the sounds of birds returning to their nests from their flee, as well as animals chattering amongst each other. It was this sort of liveliness that brought bliss and ease to Sarai. As Seren spoke her silvery gaze returned to look at him. "I believe that we are different. I do not yearn to be more than I all ready am, for I know that is not possible. I do not yearn for anything, for it is attainable if you try without fear to attain it." Sarai's voice carried with the wind and as she spoke it seemed like her words echoed through the trees.
"It is not 'we' who do anything, Seren. It is you. Why do you do it? What are you running from that you cannot face without anger and fear? Is that what you want your life to be? A constant battle of wits, and strength?" Sarai had a point, didn't she? She fights for survival, and protection, she doesn't go out seeking to battle with another.
|
|