I am still at a lost as to what to write. That plus the long weekend and my exhaustion mean I will not be posting ing next weekend at the latest. I rather not end this story just yet, but I do need a little more time. I thank you for your understanding and promise you a response just as soon as I can.
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Darin nodded at Ridahne’s instructions. She could understand the logic behind getting her out of the way. She just hoped that Talbot agreed to it. Darin bent down over the horse’s neck to rub as far down as she could reach. Talbot nodded, and she hopped that meant he agreed with the Elf. Well, she didn’t have time to wonder if the plan was something that everyone agreed on because they were soon surrounded. Darin looked at the Eluri members of the so-called Red Hand. Had Mark been part of the Red Hand? Darin didn’t know, and that bothered her. Still, there was nothing for it now. The only thing that worried Darin was that there was no telling how many people across Astra actually knew who she was. She was starting to wonder if there was actually a point to trying to keep her identity a secret.
She didn’t have time to think about that, because at Ridahne’s barked order Talbot took off in a full gallop. Darin hadn’t even needed to react. The human just wrapped her hands and arms in the reins and did her best to not fall off. That was not something she could afford to do right now. They practically flew by the rest of the group surrounding them. Soon there were off the path and the trees started growing closer together. An arrow whizzed by her ear. Darin turned to see that the archer was following them on a horse Darin hadn’t spotted before. She guessed it had been hidden away. The horse looked like it was built for speed and not endurance like Talbot. Talbot flicked his ears at her. This wasn’t good. The enemy would soon catch up. Without really thinking about what she was doing, or home much it would hurt if she failed, Darin found herself moving to stand on top of Talbot’s back. It was a good thing he was so big, or she might have lost her balance. Then with a grunt she reached out to grab a branch and pulled herself into the canopy.
She looked down to see the archer stare up at her in shock. She made eye contact, but after that brief pause, she was moving again. She moved from tree to tree with an ease that surprised even herself. She leapt from branch and soon came to a tree that seemed bigger than the others. Darin climbed a few branched before pressing herself next to the trunk. She kept her eyes darting around to keep an eye out for the archer or any other enemies. She didn’t want to be caught off guard. That would not be a good thing. She didn’t want to let Talbot, or worse, Ridahne, down. She had to survive this. There was no other option at this point.
A voice called out in a language Darin knew to be a branch of Elurian, “Well, that was certainly impressive Seed-Bearer. I didn’t expect that from someone who looked at you.”
Darin called out, clumsily matching the language, “What did you expect?”
The other speaker seemed surprised, “You speak Elurian? Very impressive for a someone that looks like a farm boy.”
Darin laughed, “That’s basically all I am. That’s all I’ll ever be. I don’t know what else you expected from someone called The Seed-Bearer.”
He didn’t hesitate, “A warrior.”
He didn’t get a chance to continued as Darin burst out laughing, “Me! A warrior! What next? A ruler? A noble? Farmers and gardeners deal with seeds. That is all I will ever be.”
As Darin spoke, she removed her sickle from its sheath. Then she started moving towards the sound of her enemy. She was careful to move slow, so she didn’t rustle any leaves. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself. The Eluri was still speaking, and Darin used that to try and find them. Other than that she ignored them. Soon she had the Elf in her sights. Darin couldn’t believe that she was planning this. That didn’t mean she could back down. She needed answers. She wasn’t sure she had another way to get them. Darin carefully lowered herself behind the horse. It was just bad timing that the Eluri looked down right that moment. Darin’s eyes went wide as she lashed out with her sickle. She managed to get the archer’s leg. At that moment something crashed into the man’s horse. Darin let out a screech as she quickly scurried backwards. It was Talbot. The other horse spooked and tossed their rider. Darin was quickly on top of the enemy. Her sickle made contact with their arm. There was blood everywhere and most of it was the Elf’s, but Darin was certain she had ripped at least one set of stiches. The archer reached for their bow, but Darin was faster. She grabbed the bow and tossed it away. Talbot was on top of it in a moment to break it. Darin let out another scream as she attacked the other shoulder. The Elf managed to push her off, but, as he moved to grab his knife Talbot stepped in between the Elf and the human. Then the horse threw the Elf into the nearest tree. Darin was only shock for a moment before she scurried up. She hurried to grab the rope from her pack on Talbot’s saddle. She stumbled a little bit, but soon the enemy was tied to the tree.
The Elf spat at her, “Do you think this will hold me for long, you pathetic farm boy?”
Darin was sure, “It doesn’t have to hold you for long.” She probably over tied the Elf with the strongest knots she knew, “It just has to hold you long enough for my associate to get here.”
She didn’t have time to think about that, because at Ridahne’s barked order Talbot took off in a full gallop. Darin hadn’t even needed to react. The human just wrapped her hands and arms in the reins and did her best to not fall off. That was not something she could afford to do right now. They practically flew by the rest of the group surrounding them. Soon there were off the path and the trees started growing closer together. An arrow whizzed by her ear. Darin turned to see that the archer was following them on a horse Darin hadn’t spotted before. She guessed it had been hidden away. The horse looked like it was built for speed and not endurance like Talbot. Talbot flicked his ears at her. This wasn’t good. The enemy would soon catch up. Without really thinking about what she was doing, or home much it would hurt if she failed, Darin found herself moving to stand on top of Talbot’s back. It was a good thing he was so big, or she might have lost her balance. Then with a grunt she reached out to grab a branch and pulled herself into the canopy.
She looked down to see the archer stare up at her in shock. She made eye contact, but after that brief pause, she was moving again. She moved from tree to tree with an ease that surprised even herself. She leapt from branch and soon came to a tree that seemed bigger than the others. Darin climbed a few branched before pressing herself next to the trunk. She kept her eyes darting around to keep an eye out for the archer or any other enemies. She didn’t want to be caught off guard. That would not be a good thing. She didn’t want to let Talbot, or worse, Ridahne, down. She had to survive this. There was no other option at this point.
A voice called out in a language Darin knew to be a branch of Elurian, “Well, that was certainly impressive Seed-Bearer. I didn’t expect that from someone who looked at you.”
Darin called out, clumsily matching the language, “What did you expect?”
The other speaker seemed surprised, “You speak Elurian? Very impressive for a someone that looks like a farm boy.”
Darin laughed, “That’s basically all I am. That’s all I’ll ever be. I don’t know what else you expected from someone called The Seed-Bearer.”
He didn’t hesitate, “A warrior.”
He didn’t get a chance to continued as Darin burst out laughing, “Me! A warrior! What next? A ruler? A noble? Farmers and gardeners deal with seeds. That is all I will ever be.”
As Darin spoke, she removed her sickle from its sheath. Then she started moving towards the sound of her enemy. She was careful to move slow, so she didn’t rustle any leaves. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself. The Eluri was still speaking, and Darin used that to try and find them. Other than that she ignored them. Soon she had the Elf in her sights. Darin couldn’t believe that she was planning this. That didn’t mean she could back down. She needed answers. She wasn’t sure she had another way to get them. Darin carefully lowered herself behind the horse. It was just bad timing that the Eluri looked down right that moment. Darin’s eyes went wide as she lashed out with her sickle. She managed to get the archer’s leg. At that moment something crashed into the man’s horse. Darin let out a screech as she quickly scurried backwards. It was Talbot. The other horse spooked and tossed their rider. Darin was quickly on top of the enemy. Her sickle made contact with their arm. There was blood everywhere and most of it was the Elf’s, but Darin was certain she had ripped at least one set of stiches. The archer reached for their bow, but Darin was faster. She grabbed the bow and tossed it away. Talbot was on top of it in a moment to break it. Darin let out another scream as she attacked the other shoulder. The Elf managed to push her off, but, as he moved to grab his knife Talbot stepped in between the Elf and the human. Then the horse threw the Elf into the nearest tree. Darin was only shock for a moment before she scurried up. She hurried to grab the rope from her pack on Talbot’s saddle. She stumbled a little bit, but soon the enemy was tied to the tree.
The Elf spat at her, “Do you think this will hold me for long, you pathetic farm boy?”
Darin was sure, “It doesn’t have to hold you for long.” She probably over tied the Elf with the strongest knots she knew, “It just has to hold you long enough for my associate to get here.”
Darin nodded as she accepted Ridahne’s answer. To be honest she wasn’t sure she wanted to find a village. If the Eluri really did receive vision it was possible that one or more of them already knew who and what she was. That would be the very opposite of the discretion she was trying to maintain. The young human was almost half tempted to tell her companion that maybe they should avoid towns until they finished being in the Eluri land and crossed over to Azurei land, but the goal was to make friends. She wasn’t going to be able to do that if she avoided people. She needed to talk to as many people as she could. She needed to learn as much about the cultures as possible. Darin was going to have to step out of her comfort zone. She just hoped that was never obvious. She had a feeling it would be.
Darin was about to speak when she noticed the silence. It was instant; every creature in the forest stopping making noise all at once. It was odd for a forest this size. It was odd for any forest. There was something out there, and she was willing to bet that it didn’t belong there. As soon as she had that thought The Seed began to burn against her leg. It was sharp and sudden. It was vaguely familiar, and it took a moment for Darin to recognize it. When she did, she knew her eyes had to have grown impossibly wide. It was the same feeling she had when she had first met Ridahne right outside of Greyrock. It was someone like Mark. They might even be connected to the same group of people like Mark. Her grip on Talbot’s reins became impossibly tight. She didn’t know what to do. She knew Talbot had sensed the strangeness. She could only hope Ridahne had as well. Then, if there was a fight, she could only hope to stay out of the way and trust that the two of them could handle it.
She stayed silent until Ridahne spoke up. Then she nodded as she whispered her answer, “Yes. I feel it. It’s like Greyrock. Do you remember?”
Darin didn’t want to go into details. She didn’t know who was listening and who wasn’t. She didn’t want them to know that she knew what they were. It was another monster. She still didn’t know what they wanted. She just knew that they wanted her from completing her mission. Of course, that was only true if this was the same group of people connected to Mark. There were other evils. She did have to wonder if people would be looking to stop her if they knew the truth the same way she and Ravi knew. They might even encourage her. It depended on what their true goals were. Darin had to wonder if they would be open to starting a dialogue. Somehow, she didn’t think that would be the case. Besides, she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone what the true goal was. She hadn’t even told Ridahne.
Darin continued, “I don’t want to be caught of guard.” Talbot nodded in agreement, “We should find someplace to make a stand.” There was another nod, “Maybe even find a place to make camp. The sun does look like it’s about to go down.”
The truth was Darin didn’t trust her abilities to defend herself while standing firmly on the ground. Trying to do it while Talbot was battling and Ridahne was fighting next to her would be downright impossible. It would be wiser if they got somewhere where Darin could get out of the way; either by hiding in a cave or climbing up a tree. Darin knew that one day she would be expected to fight her own battles, but she didn’t see that day happening today. Right now, her arm was torn practically to pieces, she had an injured hawk to look after, and she was tired. It was not a good combination at all. She could only hope that Ridahne could see the sense in getting the human out of the way. Though Darin wouldn’t be surprised if the warrior decided that battle would be the perfect place to hone her skills. That seemed like something the Elf would do.
Darin was about to speak when she noticed the silence. It was instant; every creature in the forest stopping making noise all at once. It was odd for a forest this size. It was odd for any forest. There was something out there, and she was willing to bet that it didn’t belong there. As soon as she had that thought The Seed began to burn against her leg. It was sharp and sudden. It was vaguely familiar, and it took a moment for Darin to recognize it. When she did, she knew her eyes had to have grown impossibly wide. It was the same feeling she had when she had first met Ridahne right outside of Greyrock. It was someone like Mark. They might even be connected to the same group of people like Mark. Her grip on Talbot’s reins became impossibly tight. She didn’t know what to do. She knew Talbot had sensed the strangeness. She could only hope Ridahne had as well. Then, if there was a fight, she could only hope to stay out of the way and trust that the two of them could handle it.
She stayed silent until Ridahne spoke up. Then she nodded as she whispered her answer, “Yes. I feel it. It’s like Greyrock. Do you remember?”
Darin didn’t want to go into details. She didn’t know who was listening and who wasn’t. She didn’t want them to know that she knew what they were. It was another monster. She still didn’t know what they wanted. She just knew that they wanted her from completing her mission. Of course, that was only true if this was the same group of people connected to Mark. There were other evils. She did have to wonder if people would be looking to stop her if they knew the truth the same way she and Ravi knew. They might even encourage her. It depended on what their true goals were. Darin had to wonder if they would be open to starting a dialogue. Somehow, she didn’t think that would be the case. Besides, she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone what the true goal was. She hadn’t even told Ridahne.
Darin continued, “I don’t want to be caught of guard.” Talbot nodded in agreement, “We should find someplace to make a stand.” There was another nod, “Maybe even find a place to make camp. The sun does look like it’s about to go down.”
The truth was Darin didn’t trust her abilities to defend herself while standing firmly on the ground. Trying to do it while Talbot was battling and Ridahne was fighting next to her would be downright impossible. It would be wiser if they got somewhere where Darin could get out of the way; either by hiding in a cave or climbing up a tree. Darin knew that one day she would be expected to fight her own battles, but she didn’t see that day happening today. Right now, her arm was torn practically to pieces, she had an injured hawk to look after, and she was tired. It was not a good combination at all. She could only hope that Ridahne could see the sense in getting the human out of the way. Though Darin wouldn’t be surprised if the warrior decided that battle would be the perfect place to hone her skills. That seemed like something the Elf would do.
Hello. First let me say that I really enjoy our role-play. I have no desire to end it. However I need to be honest. Given my current work schedule I can only really post on the weekends. So going forward I will only be posting on weekends. I understand if this means you want to back out but I am hoping we can work something out.
Darin looked around the forest as Ridahne mentioned that the landscape was changing. It looked more and more like the forest near the mountains. Darin had never gone too deep into the forest back home. She didn’t need to be warned that it was a completely bad idea. She was clumsy and had no sense of direction with no real skills to protect herself with. She mostly stayed to the forest directly near the village in order to pick herbs and escape the elders from time to time. Even then she never went far enough to lose track of where she was in relation to home.
That was why she was glad that the Azurei warrior was here now. It was basically what Ridahne had done earlier in her life; guiding people through the Dust Sea. Only this time the people was carrying The Seed and it was all of Astra. That didn’t seem to bother Ridahne though. Darin had seen the map and the Elf seemed to have a much better sense of direction than the human did. Right now, Darin really needed a sense of direction even if she was borrowing it from someone else. Darin already knew that this trip was going to take a long time. She didn’t want to imagine how long it would take if she just traveled without knowing where she was going like she had been doing.
Darin looked forward as she responded to Ridahne’s comments about marriage, “That makes sense. And I suppose in a nation of many more people than in my village it would help keep strangers from trying to woo you. Back home I could go around and talk to everybody in the span of two days or so. Gossip was prevalent as well. It was easy to let people know that you had committed to someone. Then they start a new family.”
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. People usually stayed with their parents in their home until they had built their own home. Some stayed until their parents were gone. It depended on what you and your partner were after and what your goals were. Darin had planed on spending the rest of her life in her farmhouse with her mother. She hadn’t given much thought to inviting another person into her life. There was no one back in her village that she was interested in and they weren’t interested in her either. There was that one boy from Lively, but that would never work out. He wanted a girl who could help him run his parents’ fabric store. If Darin ever did pick someone, they would have to help farm. So, they were incompatible. At least that was the way it was then. Darin had no idea how it would work out now that she was carrying The Seed.
Darin asked another question. “Will we reach a village or a town or will we need to stop to make camp? Either is fine. I don’t really care which. I was just wondering which it was so I would know.”
That was why she was glad that the Azurei warrior was here now. It was basically what Ridahne had done earlier in her life; guiding people through the Dust Sea. Only this time the people was carrying The Seed and it was all of Astra. That didn’t seem to bother Ridahne though. Darin had seen the map and the Elf seemed to have a much better sense of direction than the human did. Right now, Darin really needed a sense of direction even if she was borrowing it from someone else. Darin already knew that this trip was going to take a long time. She didn’t want to imagine how long it would take if she just traveled without knowing where she was going like she had been doing.
Darin looked forward as she responded to Ridahne’s comments about marriage, “That makes sense. And I suppose in a nation of many more people than in my village it would help keep strangers from trying to woo you. Back home I could go around and talk to everybody in the span of two days or so. Gossip was prevalent as well. It was easy to let people know that you had committed to someone. Then they start a new family.”
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. People usually stayed with their parents in their home until they had built their own home. Some stayed until their parents were gone. It depended on what you and your partner were after and what your goals were. Darin had planed on spending the rest of her life in her farmhouse with her mother. She hadn’t given much thought to inviting another person into her life. There was no one back in her village that she was interested in and they weren’t interested in her either. There was that one boy from Lively, but that would never work out. He wanted a girl who could help him run his parents’ fabric store. If Darin ever did pick someone, they would have to help farm. So, they were incompatible. At least that was the way it was then. Darin had no idea how it would work out now that she was carrying The Seed.
Darin asked another question. “Will we reach a village or a town or will we need to stop to make camp? Either is fine. I don’t really care which. I was just wondering which it was so I would know.”
Okay. That makes sense. Thank you for clarifying. We could do that. Did you have a character in mind? If you want to write a love story then I need to make sure the characters could fall in love. I hate trying to force to incompatible characters together just because they are suppose to fall in love.
@Sharidi37495 I'm going to do something dumb, but I am tired. Please forgive me. I feel like you are missing a word in the last sentence, and I can't figure it out. Can you look at it and let me know if I'm just seeing things. Thank you.
@Sharidi37495 I only read the first of those books and that was a while ago. So I'm a little spotty on the details. I still like cyborgs. Did you have a plot in mind?
I thought I let you know that I'm suffering a bit of writer's block. I'm not sure what to have Darien say or do next. Also my mom is flying into town this weekend so combining those two facts means I'm not entirely sure when I will get you a post. I will get you one. It just might not be for a week or so. Thank you for understanding.
Darin clicked her teeth together that threw that idea out; the idea being that the tattoo for being the Guardian could be a symbol already in use just in a different color. The truth was Darin wasn’t sure she was the one to be designing something like this. She knew nothing about tattoos or symbolism. She had already been more direct than symbols required. Though that did lend itself to an idea. Maybe it didn’t need to be a symbol. Maybe it could be direct. Though Darin wasn’t sure about that either. She did know it had to be small and discreet while still being seen.
She did explain one thing, “You are the first Seed-Chained Ridahne. You will not be the last. At least I do not think you will be the last. So while you are correct that the ojih are an Azurein thing the symbol needs to be something that anyone can wear or tattoo in other places. It needs to be something that anyone in Astra will one day know by sight. Like the outfit the Workers wear.” She was checking on Taja, “At least that’s what I think.”
Darin was also thinking about Ridahne’s belief that she would be married when they got to Azurei. The thought of Ridahne married made the human apprehensive for a reason Darin didn’t quite know. She didn’t know if she was jealous or angry or what it was. She did know that she was worried. Darin was hoping that on day Ridahne would be free to live her own life; free from being marked a traitor and from being Seed-Chained. The problem was that the warrior wasn’t free yet. Even throwing out the fact that Darin had inadvenrtanly Chained her to The Seed Ridahne had still agreed to see this journey through to the end. Darin wasn’t going to stop Ridahne and Ajoran from getting married, but she did have to wonder if it was a good idea. There were some … less than good people that wanted The Seed. Would Ridahne be able to leave Ajoran to finish the job of protecting Darin? If the choice, Tree forbid, between Ajoran and The Seed came up what would Ridahne pick? More importantly, would Darin press her into picking the right choice? What even was the right choice? Darin wasn’t sure.
So instead she asked, “What is the symbol for marriage. Why do people even get married? Is it religious or what?”
People in Lively got married for tax reasons. Darin had a vague idea of what taxes were. It was money the lord collected to pay to repair roads and protect the people. Her village didn’t have taxes. If something needed to be fixed the people came together to fix it. If they needed protecting, they took turns keeping guard. Some of the traders got married for religious reasons; a belief that their deity or deities told them to get married. Her home didn’t really have a god beyond The Tree. So there was no reason to make living their lives with someone official or what not. Maybe an explanation from someone who wanted to get married would help it make sense to Darin. She didn’t think so though. She didn’y really like anybody enough to spend her life with them.
She said the next part out loud, “Expect you Talbot.” He snorted at her in question, “I would spend my life with you.” She flapped a hand at the bird, “And maybe Taja if he stops trying to take my arm off, but so far that doesn’t seem to be happening.”
She did explain one thing, “You are the first Seed-Chained Ridahne. You will not be the last. At least I do not think you will be the last. So while you are correct that the ojih are an Azurein thing the symbol needs to be something that anyone can wear or tattoo in other places. It needs to be something that anyone in Astra will one day know by sight. Like the outfit the Workers wear.” She was checking on Taja, “At least that’s what I think.”
Darin was also thinking about Ridahne’s belief that she would be married when they got to Azurei. The thought of Ridahne married made the human apprehensive for a reason Darin didn’t quite know. She didn’t know if she was jealous or angry or what it was. She did know that she was worried. Darin was hoping that on day Ridahne would be free to live her own life; free from being marked a traitor and from being Seed-Chained. The problem was that the warrior wasn’t free yet. Even throwing out the fact that Darin had inadvenrtanly Chained her to The Seed Ridahne had still agreed to see this journey through to the end. Darin wasn’t going to stop Ridahne and Ajoran from getting married, but she did have to wonder if it was a good idea. There were some … less than good people that wanted The Seed. Would Ridahne be able to leave Ajoran to finish the job of protecting Darin? If the choice, Tree forbid, between Ajoran and The Seed came up what would Ridahne pick? More importantly, would Darin press her into picking the right choice? What even was the right choice? Darin wasn’t sure.
So instead she asked, “What is the symbol for marriage. Why do people even get married? Is it religious or what?”
People in Lively got married for tax reasons. Darin had a vague idea of what taxes were. It was money the lord collected to pay to repair roads and protect the people. Her village didn’t have taxes. If something needed to be fixed the people came together to fix it. If they needed protecting, they took turns keeping guard. Some of the traders got married for religious reasons; a belief that their deity or deities told them to get married. Her home didn’t really have a god beyond The Tree. So there was no reason to make living their lives with someone official or what not. Maybe an explanation from someone who wanted to get married would help it make sense to Darin. She didn’t think so though. She didn’y really like anybody enough to spend her life with them.
She said the next part out loud, “Expect you Talbot.” He snorted at her in question, “I would spend my life with you.” She flapped a hand at the bird, “And maybe Taja if he stops trying to take my arm off, but so far that doesn’t seem to be happening.”
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