Post by Mausu Sama on Dec 23, 2006 20:48:21 GMT -5
Troops waited silently outside of this long forgotten city, filled with more dust than inhabitants. It was almost a sad sight as two women walked about the men as they lay or sat exhausted. No armor was in perfect condition, though all weapons were still in good condition. Spreading healing herbs throughout the camp, filling pots of thick, heartily scented stews, one of the women, dressed in primarily green looked up as the gentle scents of rosemary floated through the camp. Likewise, the second woman dressed mostly in red lowered her hands as the scent hit her. Both ewe women smiled slightly as the silhouette of their leader stood against the brilliant sunset of orange, gold and midnight.
Burning so close to the short nailed hand of the silhouetted woman, the cleric moved foreword through the tired men, gladly leaping over them and in one moment on them in order to stop the flames from reaching the flesh of their leader. The illusionist, having moved in the same fashion met her mirror image at the side of their leader, becoming no more than silhouettes themselves to the tired troops. The cleric smiled sweetly, her voice more delicious than fresh honey, "Best be careful, Dear Yael, now is not the time for mindless injury."
The second, the illusionist, nodded, "Come now, Our Yael, come rest by a fire. We have been marching for several days now. Even you must be tired."
But their leader did not answer, she allowed the burning rosemary to be taken from her hand and set atop a rock close by, though she continued to watch the sunset with almost a longingly mornful expression. Her arms by her sides, standing up straight and tall- a giant among even her own men. Her hair whisping and swaying gently to the lead of the wind's dancing steps. The illusionist and cleric both stayed close by as they slowly prepared the space below the rock for their soon to come rest. Neither spoke again beyond basic instruction to one another. Their orders had come from their Yael when she had suddenly called the troops to stop- though none questioned verbally, all did mentally- or at least those who had not collapsed from exaustion.
As both ewe settled by the fire, the doe finally came down from her rock. Look forlorn and almost lost, she settled near the twins and the fire which had been freshly made. Speaking not a word to either, the ewes both set to offering her random bits of food and drink. Of which she took none and requested it be given to her troops. Looking at the stars, the doe watched the sky as each brilliant pin point began to filter in. Her voice gentleand thoughtful, as it had always been, Yael's blue tinted lips parted, "I have found no sign of life- my scout failed to see anyone. In this town we will find little provisions here but I have sent two scouts to see what they could find. I watched them enter the city and hope to see them return."
Ears twitching slightly, the cleric asked, "But isn't the city visibly abandoned?"
The illusionist shook her head, "But remember, Viola, that does not mean it isn't filled with traps, tortures or even angry spirits."
Nodding slightly, sea-green locks shimmering as ocean eyes hid behind dark veils of long lashed flesh, "I will stay up and wait for my scouts. I require you two to rest, tomorrow we clean up the camp and head out."
The cleric paled slightly, leaned foreward and bleated softly for a moment before clearing her throat, "But the men are exausted- and not from my affections at that! Can't we have a longer break if the city is proven empty and safe?"
Standing up, long legs making the doe seem taller than the eldest of the sacred trees of their homeland. Her voice came out cold and harsh as she turned, "We leave tomorrow at noon and will maintain the same pace we have been for the past few days. There is no space for deliberation and I will not be swayed."
Before the cleric could speak, the illusionist put a hand over Viola's mouth and spoke softly, "As you wish, Our Yael."
With this said and agreed upon, the doe walked back up her rock and continued to watch the paths below as her troops began to rest in shifts and to recover their strength as the words of her order was spread through the camp. There were no sounds of disspoinment, resentment, or sorrow at the news. All knew this was to be a harsh path and harsher run and it was the fault of no one and nothing- beyond the desires of their leader.
It was hours before the sound of eating and chatter faded off and moments before the shape of the doe was gone. Sitting up in a panic, dawn far away, the cleric shook the illusionist awake, "Midori! Midori, Yael is gone!"
Sitting up at once, Midori looked to where her eyes had last seen the long legged doe, then stood almost as quickly as she had sat up, "Have the scouts returned?"
Looking about, Viola shook her head, "No- not that I have seen, but her scythe is gone."
"Then we must go find her. Something must have been seen and she left to help."
The other twin stood, shivering at the chill of the moonlit night air, she found the one assigned to the first squadron of their men and both gave exact instructions on protecting the troops. Bowing quickly and even more quickly sending the few men who were awake, the mole man assure both all would be well. And with that both ewe went to find their leader.
Walking alone, heels making barely a sound, ocean eyes scanned the area as the scent of old dust found her nose- even at the entrance of such a lone and quiet village. No trace of her scouts was present and this is what worried her the greatest. Her men, her soldiers were her life- currently like sheep she led so willing as their attending shepard. Each sheep was under her care and watch and if any, just as they had now, go astray- she would find them. Now where could those two have gone?
Burning so close to the short nailed hand of the silhouetted woman, the cleric moved foreword through the tired men, gladly leaping over them and in one moment on them in order to stop the flames from reaching the flesh of their leader. The illusionist, having moved in the same fashion met her mirror image at the side of their leader, becoming no more than silhouettes themselves to the tired troops. The cleric smiled sweetly, her voice more delicious than fresh honey, "Best be careful, Dear Yael, now is not the time for mindless injury."
The second, the illusionist, nodded, "Come now, Our Yael, come rest by a fire. We have been marching for several days now. Even you must be tired."
But their leader did not answer, she allowed the burning rosemary to be taken from her hand and set atop a rock close by, though she continued to watch the sunset with almost a longingly mornful expression. Her arms by her sides, standing up straight and tall- a giant among even her own men. Her hair whisping and swaying gently to the lead of the wind's dancing steps. The illusionist and cleric both stayed close by as they slowly prepared the space below the rock for their soon to come rest. Neither spoke again beyond basic instruction to one another. Their orders had come from their Yael when she had suddenly called the troops to stop- though none questioned verbally, all did mentally- or at least those who had not collapsed from exaustion.
As both ewe settled by the fire, the doe finally came down from her rock. Look forlorn and almost lost, she settled near the twins and the fire which had been freshly made. Speaking not a word to either, the ewes both set to offering her random bits of food and drink. Of which she took none and requested it be given to her troops. Looking at the stars, the doe watched the sky as each brilliant pin point began to filter in. Her voice gentleand thoughtful, as it had always been, Yael's blue tinted lips parted, "I have found no sign of life- my scout failed to see anyone. In this town we will find little provisions here but I have sent two scouts to see what they could find. I watched them enter the city and hope to see them return."
Ears twitching slightly, the cleric asked, "But isn't the city visibly abandoned?"
The illusionist shook her head, "But remember, Viola, that does not mean it isn't filled with traps, tortures or even angry spirits."
Nodding slightly, sea-green locks shimmering as ocean eyes hid behind dark veils of long lashed flesh, "I will stay up and wait for my scouts. I require you two to rest, tomorrow we clean up the camp and head out."
The cleric paled slightly, leaned foreward and bleated softly for a moment before clearing her throat, "But the men are exausted- and not from my affections at that! Can't we have a longer break if the city is proven empty and safe?"
Standing up, long legs making the doe seem taller than the eldest of the sacred trees of their homeland. Her voice came out cold and harsh as she turned, "We leave tomorrow at noon and will maintain the same pace we have been for the past few days. There is no space for deliberation and I will not be swayed."
Before the cleric could speak, the illusionist put a hand over Viola's mouth and spoke softly, "As you wish, Our Yael."
With this said and agreed upon, the doe walked back up her rock and continued to watch the paths below as her troops began to rest in shifts and to recover their strength as the words of her order was spread through the camp. There were no sounds of disspoinment, resentment, or sorrow at the news. All knew this was to be a harsh path and harsher run and it was the fault of no one and nothing- beyond the desires of their leader.
-------------------
It was hours before the sound of eating and chatter faded off and moments before the shape of the doe was gone. Sitting up in a panic, dawn far away, the cleric shook the illusionist awake, "Midori! Midori, Yael is gone!"
Sitting up at once, Midori looked to where her eyes had last seen the long legged doe, then stood almost as quickly as she had sat up, "Have the scouts returned?"
Looking about, Viola shook her head, "No- not that I have seen, but her scythe is gone."
"Then we must go find her. Something must have been seen and she left to help."
The other twin stood, shivering at the chill of the moonlit night air, she found the one assigned to the first squadron of their men and both gave exact instructions on protecting the troops. Bowing quickly and even more quickly sending the few men who were awake, the mole man assure both all would be well. And with that both ewe went to find their leader.
--------------------
Walking alone, heels making barely a sound, ocean eyes scanned the area as the scent of old dust found her nose- even at the entrance of such a lone and quiet village. No trace of her scouts was present and this is what worried her the greatest. Her men, her soldiers were her life- currently like sheep she led so willing as their attending shepard. Each sheep was under her care and watch and if any, just as they had now, go astray- she would find them. Now where could those two have gone?
