The Awakening

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Her keen sense of hearing heard wicked words echo across the lands and she knew it was something she experienced before but still her memory failed her. The hair on the back of her neck rose and a cold chill ran down her spine. She rushed over and picked up the feline which finally reappeared and once in her hands she waste no time taking the stranger up on his offer for a ride.

"Catch!"

Without waiting for him to be ready she tossed the cat up into the arms of the knight and without haste she took a few steps, grabbed his arm, and then leaped up and placed herself behind him on his steed.

"The cat is right," though she had no clue how she knew this, "we must go now!"

Grabbing the cat from his hands she sat her around the back of her neck.

"Hang on my friend for we are out for a wild ride."

Tightly she wrapped her arms around the knights waist and hung on as if her life depended on it, which it pretty much did. Looking out into the horizon there she saw the bird circling as if pointing out their whereabouts to some unknown force. That eerie voice still echoing in her ears, how did she know that their lives were now in the hands of this stranger who has now become their savoir.
 
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"Hyah!"

The horse snorted and bolted toward the sun. The trails of the wood had not been travelled in quite some time, but the steed cut through the growth with little effort. The raven's cry could be heard, echoing through the forests as it loomed what seemed like mere paces ahead. The skies had begun to darken, the scent of brimstone wafted in the air.

"We draw closer!" Tyrtaeus said as he pointed his lance ahead.


...


Xanatos stood near a window, looking out over the land. There was darkness and fire as far as his eyes could see. At the base of his tower, a loud mob had gathered. Savage, jagged blades were raised. Beastial screams eminated from the masses. Xanatos looked upon this and smiled. A pale hand rested upon his shoulder.

"Master...the Bonesplinter tribes have agreed to unite under your banner..."

"Good. Have them march on the Kharzai. They have been a nuisance for quite some time now..."

"As you wish, Master..."
 
Looking around the knights shoulder she could see the Raven still circling up ahead and just beyond it she swore she saw a pair of the most evilish glaring eyes she had ever saw. She wondered what she had gotten herself into. Maybe she should of stayed behind and not taken the stranger up on his offer.

"Oh Dear Feline," she took a breath, "what have I gotten us into?"

She dug her knees inward within the steeds muscular sides and kept her arms wrapped tightly around the knights waist. Nostrils burned from the awful stench which filled the air, a smell that seem'd very familiar and also made her blood run cold.Then out of no where screams filled her ears, and the deafening sounds made her head spin. Why did it seem to effect her so much when the knight and the feline seem to be unfazed by it all. Then a flash back of the clan wars, the death and destruction that fell upon her home, death of friends and family members.....Ayenee was no more.
 
And so, our adventurers rode on. They chased the setting sun and the taunting call of the raven. The smell of ash and brimstone grew stronger, but as the rode, a bitter cold crept into the air. Tyrtaeus slowed the steed and removed his fur lined cape to drape it over Nalya and Swish.

"By the creator...this cold..." He said, words given form as a white puff.

They rode on. The once green forests had slowly turned into a snowy wood. Tyrtaeus looked about and through the woods, spotted a mountain in the distance. their path had grown steeper; The terrain less forgiving...

...

Xanatos peered at Nalya through the raven's eye. A sinister smile slowly spread across his lips. He whispered to her, his words venomous and serpentine. "What is your name..." He asked her. He knew she could hear him. He could see the fear in her eyes.

Below the tower, the savage green skinned beast men gathered. "Formations!" Loud voices would bellow as they clattered into rank and file. "Order from Master! KILL ALL KHARZAI!" In unison they cheered. One particularly large one would raise his massive warmaul.

"Sons of Bloodhammer! We go! I, Grom, lead them!"

All fell silent as the red armored beast men came forward to the base of the tower. The pale woman smiled as she walked toward the lot. Heads lowered, they kneeled. She placed her hand upon the forehead of Grom and, with her clawed finger, sliced an x.

"Lord Xanatos gives you this honor, Grom Bloodhammer...bring us the head of the Kharzai chief...spare no one else...do not fail."

With a smile, she touched Grom's cheek and waved him and his men away. Thunderous cheers arose as the red armored savages marched toward the mountains..
 
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His kindness was something she never knew from a stranger, she wrapped her arms tighter around his waist as his cape draped down over herself and Swish. She wanted to ask him why he was being so caring to them both but now was not the time. The feline's legs hung down past her neck and she took advantage of it. The smell in the air grew stronger so she buried her nose within the cats fur in hopes it would at least block out some of the stench. Amazingly though the cold air didn't seem to bother her much, and actually she rather preferred it.

"What is your name?"

The evilness of the voice gripped at her soul, her heart beat harder and try as she might she could not block out the words. Tighter her arms squeezed around the knight, she prayed he not notice for she truly did not want to explain her actions.

Her attempt to block the voice from her head was in vain, she tried to think of times past but still she had no knowledge of what was. All the memories she had were gone but the sensation of things she experienced remained. How could she remember feelings good as well as bad, but not the actual event. This was so fustraiting but nothing could be done about it, at least nothing she was aware of.
 
Swish knew that smell, she knew that sound, the harsh cry of the raven, the cry and smell of violence and death. She knew as well, that she could just vanish, leaving the man and woman to their own devices, she knew she could vanish and take them with her to a warmer part of Ayenee. But doing either of those things would draw the fight to the one peace filled spot left in this dark land, and going alone would make Swish a coward, something she had never been before, nor vowed to ever be. She felt the vibrations of the words spoken to the lady, felt the woman's body tighten as the horse and it's gallant knight speed on. Here, she could help, it might just be a little help, but a little is better then none.

"Perhaps, just perhaps mind you, such a bold approch is not so clever as one shrouded in mystery...."

With this said, the feline faded out of form, no longer a small cat curled upon the lady's shoulder, but instead a thin veil of warm mist encompassing the group, with a pair of half seen feline eyes, the size of the horses head out in front. It's voice now floated from all around.

"If I'm not mistaken, and I rarely am, this should ease the pain from your head M'Lady, and the veil should protect us from prying eyes...If only for the time being"
 
"Prying eyes?" Sir Tyrtaeus asked as they continued to ride. The display of magic did not seem to bother him. The raven, however, furiously squawked and looked about, confused at the sudden disappearance of the trio.

"You cannot hide forever..." the voice said, the sound trailing off in Nalya's head as Swish's magic raised suitable defense. The snow was growing deeper now. In the distance, small wisps of smoke could be seen. A group of yurts sat nestled in a half circle not too far away.

Snow began to fall upon them. The white powder cascaded from the tree tops and heavily dusted the group. For a moment, Tyrtaeus raised his hand to cover his face. The horse began to prance in panic "I cannot see!"

"That is the point..." a voice said. Suddenly Tyrtaeus was toppled off the horse by a masked man. From the treetops, four more masked bandits descended upon the group with a net, aiming to trap the horse and those still upon it. Tyrtaeus frantically reached for his sword, but found his arm pinned and a dagger against his throat. Still, defiant in the face of death, his free arm brought a gauntlet clad fish to his assailant's temple.

"Off me, dog!"
 
Toppling off with Swish still laid upon her shoulders she attempted to keep a firm grip around the feline as she fell to the softness of the fallen snow. With Swish now within her arms she allowed her body to role freely until coming to a stop against some still exposed brush. Quickly she lay Swish deep in the underbrush before rising to one knee. Instinct took over and a low throaty growl rose from her throat. Her body twitched as bone cracked and muscle grew, her back hunched over as thick black fur sprang from her skin.

As the Knight laid his fist to his assailant's temple she sprung into action and allowed her body to come down hard upon the man's torso, her massive jaw opening and took his throat within her large white teeth. She hesitated on finishing him off., She kept her hold on his neck firm but refrained from snapping his head off. She stood there as if waiting for the knight to give her the go ahead and would finish him off if it was his wish for her to do so.
 
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The bandit reeled from the punch, only to be toppled and pinned by a wolf that suddenly appeared. His steely eyes widened as the wolf bore down on his throat. He reached for his dagger, but found it pinned by Tyrtaeus' boot. Tyrtaeus turned to the others who struggled to contain his warsteed in their net.

"Stand down!"

Silence. The bandits dropped the net and nocked arrows in their composite bows with frightening speed. But Tyrtaeus stood fast and looked them each in the eye.

"My sword remains sheathed. We mean you no harm, but if you do anything other thanlower your bows, your friend will find death in the jaws of this wolf..."

The four archers looked at each other, their masks obsuring all but their eyes. "Khan?!" One called out, voice revealing them to be female. The pinned bandit sighed and spoke. His voice strained through the vice of the wolf's jaw. "Lower your weapons..."

The bandits slowly lowered their bows. the female archer pulled down her mask revealing her face. Black lines were painted on her eyes and chin. Her hair was braided against her scalp, but hung loosely in back. Her skin was dark like the earth, but her ears gave homage to ancient heritage. Tyrtaeus spoke softly, staring in djsbelief at this woman's beauty.

"Elves?"

"Release my brother." her expression was stone. Her eyes hard and as blue as they were cold...
 
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The drool dripped from her lips but yet she did not tighten her hold, she simply waited for the knight to give the go ahead. She could smell the fear in the man though he tried to remain calm all the while not moving a muscle in fear it would encourage her to chomp down around his neck.

From the bushes she could hear a tiny voice calling to her begging her to not harm the elf, to not give in to her savage lust and the taste for blood.

Unwillingly she released her hold on the elves throat and dashed off into the forest, suddenly her human nature took over and she felt almost ashamed of her actions. She ran deep through the trees until she came across a small cave in which she took refuge in. Her body shook as muscle tore and once again the snapping of bone was heard. A howl bellowed out from deep within her and then changed to a agonizing scream,.....then darkness.
 
Back at the Black Tower...

Xanatos narrowed his eyes and scowled as his vision became obscured. As the images faded, his eyes fell upon Swish. She was the last image he saw before he leaned back on his obsidian throne. Pale arms snaked around his leg, holding tight. His hand rested upon her head once more.

"Master...what ails thee?" She asked while nuzzling his knee. Xanatos rested his hand upon his chin and sighed. "Old magic....magic that hides things from even my eye....they've the favor of a Great Cat..."

"Are you certain, master?...the Great Cats are long gone...purged during the burnings...."

"Duvessa...I know what I saw...and what I now cannot. Ancient magic is returning to these lands..."


In the woods...


Khan slowly rose to his feet and tore off his mask. "You are not one of them, are you..." He slowly approached Tyrtaeus. "Kill him, Khan!" The woman called out as she raised her bow once more. By then Tyrtaeus had turned away and was following the tracks of the wolf, calling to her. The steed had taken off after him.

"khan! He is alone!"

"No, Karma...if he was one of them, he would have given the order for the wolf to kill me. He never drew blood... I have question of his motive."

"but-"

"Enough, sister! Cousins, gather our things...I would have words with the knight and the wolf..."

Khan then proceeded after Tyrtaeus, Karma not far in tow.
 
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Her body shook, tears fell from her eyes, the sound of screams of family members burning alive filled her mind. The smell of burning flesh almost to real to bare.

"NO! Mother, father!" she cried out. Her body sprang upright as eyes scanned her surroundings. "A dream Nalya, it was just a dream.'

"Nalya!" Someone was calling to her, was it a trick, was it real or was it that mythical voice which she heard earlier? She was unsure and to afraid to answer.

Again she heard her name, "Nalya,....it is I Tyrtaeus."

Was this a trick, should she reply or remain still. Slowly she crawled to the cave opening and peered out looking to the direction in which the voice came. Just then through the trees she saw him, the knight. Carefully she removed her self from the cave, standing at the opening she brushed away the dirt which covered her.

"I am here Tyrtaeus," with a sigh of relief and a faint smile she walked gratefully over to him.
 
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It had been so long since Swish had used the magik of the veil form, once the action started her veil stretched to include the battle,but once the fight was done it took a few minutes for Swish to return to one small solid form. She chose to reform upon the riderless horse, paws placed gently on the beasts neck, her forehead touching the back of the horses head as her voice whispered soft and soothingly to the terrified beast.

"Twas a wolf but not a wolf, none will harm the likes of you, so slow great beast and graze tell your knight once more holds your reins."

The beast slowed, then stopped, snorting softly before lowering it's great head to graze. The feline curled up in the saddle and let wisps of her magik flow out to see what had happened and what still happened. The bird! The damned bird!Swish's first thought and worry....What had the birds owner seen before the veil.Did it know...Murmuring to herself, her voice tainted with worry, but not fear.

"In for a penny, in for a pound...Years of nothingness tell now...Perhaps the time has come...Yes. Yes! Change is in the air, be it for better or worse, I will not abandon them, the time for change is here..."

The feline had always been more then she appeared to be, and her growing strength matched her need of change. She had not stumbled upon these two by accident, no. Long ago the Great Wolf was her ultimate friend, and the Wolf's Knight had treated Swish with the same kindness... It was time to repay those friends kindness.
 
Tyrtaeus had managed to scoop up his cloak during his short walk. Upon hearing Nalya's voice, he followed it until he found her. As she approached, he wrapped the cloak around her and patted her shoulder.

"You there! Knight! I would have words!"

Khan walked with a swift, powerful stride, his finger pointed at Tyrtaeus. Karma had broken off and began to semicircle the group. She glared at Tyrtaeus, a cold vengeance in her blue eyes. Tyrtaeus did not seem dismayed, but he did put himself between Nalya and the two. "Speak them."

"You are not of the dark tower's legions. Anyone who was would have tried to kill us. Why are you here?"

"I come seeking the demon, Malach. It is my task to end his life and relieve this land of this dark plague."

Khan laughed. "There is much you need to learn..."
 
His kindness was something she had never known before, at least not from a stranger.

" .........Tyrtaeus," she stumbled over her words, " I ......uh."

What could she possibly say, how did she explain something she herself didn't understand.

"You there! Knight! I would have words!"

Startled she stood very close behind Tyrtaeus as he spun around to look to the person yelling to him. He looked familiar but couldn't place how, leaning slightly out from behind the knight her eyes focused on the elf. His voice seemed angered but though she didn't sense he was a threat but the female, that was another story all together. Nalya watched the female elf as she circled around herself and the knight. Tightly she wrapped the cape around her body, the female elf was definitely in a foul mood and by what she could read from her body language would, if able, not hesitate to kill them both if the opportunity arose.
 
Nudging the great horse into a slow trot, she guided it back to the group of people just in time to hear the conversation. Swish dropped to the forest floor, landing upon all fours but then flipped over on her back, watching them all upside down,but mostly the female elf, a bemused smile playing on Swish's lips, the humor touching her eyes and making them sparkle with what one could say a look of mischief. Now, if you have ever seen a cat smile, then you know it can be both mystifying and frightening at the same time, especially when the smile was set below two eyes that glowed like faint flames. Swish rolled and wiggled tell she was covered in fallen leaves, then stretched out on her belly, inching toward the female elf as she spoke.

"Tisk, tisk...Karma is such a lovely and pure name, yet you are full of hostile thoughts and want swift action...act first, questions later....Not often unwise when clearly facing evil, but unwise in this case, because you know we are not of evil intent..."

With her thoughts said, Swish walked to the Lady, leaves drifting off her fur as she moved. Once she reached her destination she curled her tail around the Lady's ankles and directed her words to Tyrtaeus.

"Best talk of this under cover, the damned bird will return to eavesdrop!"
 
Tyrtaeus raised a brow at Khan, silently questioning his words. Khan continued to speak.

"There is far more to this than a single demon. There are armies out there of savage beasts who feast on the flesh of men! Hordes of abominations that are neither living nor dead...your task is not that simple, knight. My people too thought that we could stop this darkness. Thousands perished at the battle of Mount Myrmos."

Tyrtaeus did not flinch at Khan's words. Karma sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Brother, your words are wasted. This noble fool will ride to his demise for a land long gone. Leave him to it."

Khan backed away, his eyes never leaving Tyrtaeus'. Karma disappeared into the tree tops and made a series of bird like sounds. The group gathered to her and they began walking toward the yurts in the distance. Tyrtaeus took Nalya's hand and whistled for his steed.
 
Wrapping the cape tightly around herself she stood close to Tyrtaeus. She felt him take her hand in his as he called to his steed.

"Tyrtaeus," she asked of him. " why is this so important to you?"

Her voice soft and soothing and as she spoke her eyes searched deep into his as if trying to read his thoughts. Her hand slid slightly up his arm as she spoke.

"I have no memory of times past and I guess this may be the reason I ask this of you. But though I have no knowledge of what was I do and am able to feel the urgency of your task. "

She allowed her right hand to lay upon his strong chest, she could feel his heart beating through his protective gear, or at the least she could sense it and how strongly he felt to proceed with his quest.

"Do not allow them who will not listen or those who may feel you are uncapable of doing what you must cause you to vaulter. You are a noble knight Tyrtaeus, and you will achieve great things. And if they,"

 her body shifted to his side and her hand lowered back down to his as her eyes shifted in the direction of the female elf in the tree,

"feel differently, well then that is their right just as you are entitled to your own feelings. Now let us find Swish and be on our way."
 
Almost as if speaking to her self, but saying it loud enough for all, including the elves to hear, Swish voiced her thoughts with a touch of sarcasm.

"Sure, no one listen to the cat...What the hell does the cat know?...Like how the elves are walking right into a trap? Or that her current companions should not, I repeat, Not, be speaking about such things out in the wide open, for any beast or BIRD to hear!...No, no, carry on, the cat knows nothing!!"

Tail twitching, nose held aloft, the feline marched into the shadows muttering under her breath.
"Going to get us all killed...ARG!!"
 
"Arg!"

Then, an explosion. Tyrtaeus jerked his head in the direction of the sound and peeled himself from Nalya's arms. Fire had erupted on the horizon. Beastial screams could be heard. Suddenly, Karma shrieked.

"Khan! The village!"

Khan's heart began to pound as he descended from the trees and landed atop the snow. The fleeted footed elves began to sprint toward the flames. The sound of clashing steel rang in the air. Tyrtaeus' steed watched as well and trotted over. He knew what the knight was thinking.

"Nalya, Swish. I do not ask you to come with me..." He said as he mounted his steed. "But I am going to see what is happening."
 
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