Lord Dragoon

Mentas: Sealing

When Catiel heard the sound of footsteps, she stopped looking skyward. Great, a human. He's probably just passing by, maybe if she ignores him he'll leave her alone. That possibility was laughed at and soundly pounded into mulch when he started walking towards her, and started up a conversation. 'Let the torture begin,' she thought to herself sardonically. "I was hoping to have some peace, but it seems you humans have to ruin even that," she replied, giving him a look filled with disdain. Why would she show this human any respect? Most humans his age just saw her as a bulls-eye to shoot torment at as if they were arrows. The sad thing is, she didn't even know why they were so cruel to her. All she knew was that they hated her, and so she'll return the favor.

Mentas: Sealing

She was floating... Or at least, that's what it felt like. The elven girl no longer felt fear, she just felt like she was being gently carried somewhere. Absent-mindedly, she noticed it felt like something was floating away. Too bogged down with the peaceful feelings, she couldn't identify what they were. At least, not until the image of her father started to fade away. Horrified, she figured it out. Her memories. Her memories were floating away from her. Despite how horrified she was... She gradually began to even forget to be horrified by the prospect of losing her memories. Instead, she just felt sorrow. As the image and name of her father disappeared, her mother soon followed. Her subconscious was frantically grasping at memories, trying to save as many as possible. The memory of her beloved snake was saved, albeit damaged into a state of being little more then a niggling feeling of something being missing. This, she had to save this. As well as that. No, the memories of her race and culture are gone! Damn, there goes the memories of her training, well at least there's still muscle memory. Ah, it managed to save some history, albeit only the most general of facts. However, despite the few victories it managed, there was still one loss that even in her current state she couldn't stop the tears from dribbling down her cheeks. Her brother's image... Already gone. Both his name and the memories of their time together already faded away. But at least... At least her subconscious saved some important details. For example. Her name... Her name is... Her name is...

---

Catiel groaned, covering her closed eyes as the sun got in them. "Where... Am I?" She mumbled, pushing herself up. Looking around, she saw... Sand. A lot of sand. And... What is that blue stuff to her right? And those brown and green things? Dully, her mind started to interpret the images. Ah, those things are water and trees. So much water... What do they call this much water...? Ah yes, a lake. Wait, this water is salty. Ohhhh, so this must be the 'ocean'. Looking at her reflection, she frowned. Why are her ears so pointy? Looking at the sand, she ran her fingers through it, feeling the grains running out using the gaps between her digits. Absently, she noted she had something on her back. Removing it, she stared at the curved piece of wood and string. Now... What was it called again...? Oh yes, a bow. Does she know archery? Glancing at a tree, she noticed a claw mark on it. "Perfect," she said to herself, pulling out an arrow. To her amazement, she instinctively knew how to notch the arrow and draw it back. Without even realizing it, she started to adjust for the wind, and let loose the arrow. Blinking, she saw it hit the very edge of the mark. "That... That was..." When she drew the arrow, when she pulled the string, when she released the projectile, when the string sung... She felt a burst of joy. She was... Having fun. Smiling a little, she drew another arrow and tried again. A few arrows later, she swiped the sweat from her brow, and smiled gleefully at the fifth arrow in a row that hit the mark dead-center. "I did it," she cheered. She blinked, what was running down her cheek. A tear...? Somewhere deep within her sub-conscious, buried so deep that she didn't even notice it, a tiny voice said one thing. 'I wish big brother could have seen it.'

---

Years later, the wayward elf was standing in a small human village. It was now her 16th year, as she managed to remember. Staring out over the nearby farms from this fenced off ledge, she sighed. Once again... She felt so alone. Over the years, she realized that she was the only one within a thousand miles with pointed ears. That she was in a place ruled by 'humans', and that she is an 'elf'. Sure, some humans were sympathetic to the amnesia-plagued girl, but just as many, if not more, humans were not so kind. Over the years, she had been discriminated against, gossiped about, had stones thrown at, and flat out ignored. Over the years, she came to hate the humans who despise her so. But, deep within human territory, there was only one time where she could truly be alone. When it rained, when the sky seemed to cleanse the earth with its tears, when most creatures would seek cover in order to avoid being drenched. It was at those times when she was at peace, when she could let her mask of indifference drop, when she could... Cry. As it was raining now, she leaned against the fencing, her sad violet eyes counting the crops. Hm, looks like the humans have a good crop this year. With her slender build, lean muscles built up from repetitive practice of the one joy she still has in this world (archery), she probably was fairly attractive, if the stares she saw that had no anger or pity in them were any indication. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a pendant. It was a simple, silvery thing. A silver chain, holding onto a simple silver oval with a violet crystal in the middle. It was very simple, yet somehow that simplicity made it more beautiful. She often considered wearing it, but decided against it for fear of it being stolen. She had long since out-grown the tunic and pants she wore, considering they were getting too short as well as too tight in certain areas. Now, she was wearing an outfit composed of a brown jacket that was intentionally stopped short of her belly with a red band of cloth wrapped around her left arm, a pink mini-dress, 'panty-hose' (as the merchant called them), and a belt made of three large circles connected to a plain brown belt that wouldn't wrap completely around her waist otherwise and a (somehow) silver false gem in the middle circle of metal. It pretty much cleared her purse, so now she didn't have enough money to afford many luxuries, which left this pendent and the gemstone still in her pocket as her only possessions that had nothing to do with archery or staying dressed. She would have trouble making ends meet, if it weren't for the time-honored art of killing the fuck out of creatures that might want to eat you and then turning their remains into something edible. Oddly enough, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get the feeling that she was used to something different then bug-things. "And another year goes by in my personal hell," she mumbled bitterly, staring at the sky. No, those certainly were not tears running down her cheeks, those were just raindrops... That got in her eyes.

Mentas: Sealing

"Ateznus," Catiel gasped, checking on him. "This... This doesn't look good." Seth's tail whipped out, slamming a Lost's skull against a tree when it tried to take advantage of the older elf's injuries. Before he could tell her to leave again, he felt something that he was not used to from the perpetually sad-eyed girl. He felt a glare on his back. "I am not leaving you alone with that kind of injury." Looking around, she saw a low branch. Remembering how in the story, dad had advised Ateznus to get on one for safety's sake, she allowed a slight grin. "I'll fill them with arrows from up there. Would that be safe enough for you?" She asked. Without waiting for his answer, she got on Seth's tail, and gave him the order to catapult her onto a branch. Catching it, she swung herself on top, her bow slung over her back before she got this far so that she could use both hands to get on the branch. "If a few accurate non-magical arrows won't work... What if I try turning them into pin-cushions with an enchantment on my arrows?" She muttered, drawing an arrow. The arrow began to glow, as she notched it and drew it back. Releasing the arrow, she watched as it flew and nailed a Lost in the chest, making it stumble back a few paces, a noticeable burn on its torso where the magic scorched it. "Yes!"
Before she could start notching another arrow however... Something she did not foresee happening... Happened. Namely, the branch choosing that time to snap off the tree, dumping her near the Lost... Which decided to all swarm her en-masse, with the exception of some Lost that were attacking Ateznus and the snakes still. Dazed, she barely managed to get back up on her feet when a Lost grabbed her roughly by the back of her tunic and tossed her into a tree. Wait... Since when did Lost use things that used more skill then blindly charging at someone? When her vision cleared, she saw a sight that would forever mark itself upon her mind. The rotting face of one of these physical ghosts, these poltergeists, staring balefully into her eye, before it grabbed her by the neck and lifted her overhead.
"C-Can't... Breath," she gasped, the monster somehow restraining itself to slowly choking the life out of her instead of just snapping her neck. "H-Help... S-Seth... M-Mother... Father..." She struggled for air. "Atez-... B-Brother," she could barely see now. Consciousness fading. "S-Someone... Help... I-I don't... I don't want to die... Someone... Anyone," she pleaded, tears starting to flow. She was afraid. So afraid her brain couldn't even process the fact that someone was closing in on her and the Lost. She could only think of one thing. One thing that continued to repeat. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to DIE. She DIDN'T want to die. She didn't WANT to die... SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE! And with that thought echoing in her skull, her eyes closed.

Mentas: Sealing

Catiel squeaked, terrified. Seth hissed at the Lost, slithering away to save its master. It kept going for some time, the elf girl slowly regaining her nerves. However, once she regained control over her nerves, she remembered... They were leaving Ateznus behind. Her brother... One of the few people who believe in her. He may have killed some when he was a kid... But this was an army. If he died...
She patted a hand on Seth's head, making the snake look at her in curiosity. "We can't leave," she said. Before the serpent could figure out what she meant, the elf girl pretty much threw herself off, grasping at her bow. Notching an arrow, she watched the Lost. Good, none of them seem to realize she's still around. If she could just get a good shot. Like... About... "Now!" She fired an arrow, which imbedded itself in a Lost's head. Not letting up, she notched two more arrows, firing them to get a couple in the chest. Then she fired another one to get a fourth in the neck. Taking a deep breath, she started to mentally congratulate herself... When she realized that the shots didn't kill them at all. If anything... It just made them pissed. "W-What? B-But those were direct hits, to lethal-" She stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening. That's right. These things aren't really alive. They're more like solid ghosts, a few arrows will do nothing to them. Lost started to shamble in her direction, intending to rip her apart, or do whatever they do when they want to murder the fuck out of someone.

Mentas: Sealing

Catiel felt a slight twinge at the corner of her mouth, a grin trying to form... Which she mercilessly beat down, looking away. "Even if you say that... I wouldn't matter to them," she muttered. "If it's a moving target or something, that wouldn't mean anything. So... Even if what you said was true... In the eyes of the others... It's still nothing impressive. And they'd still say that stuff." Staring at her bow, she sighed. "I remember when this used to be fun... But now, it's just... What even is the point anymore...?" She mumbled to herself.
Noticing its master was upset, the giant black and green snake unwrapped itself, and slithered over. Butting its head against her hand, it got her attention so that it could tickle her on the nose with its tongue. "H-Hey, Seth, stop that!" She giggled, the snake continuing to tickle her. Eventually, she just couldn't keep her sour mood anymore, and she just started petting the snake, a slight smile on her face. "Thanks Seth..."

Mentas: Sealing

"Yeeees," Catiel said, unenthusiastic. Truth be told, this is the fourth time she heard this story. No matter how many times she hears it, it just never interested her. She just... Doesn't like this story. At all. Sure, she gets that she should be careful and all that, but still. Notching a couple arrows, she fired them at the same time, Without even waiting for their arc to finish, she brought out another one and fired it off. The young elf girl really didn't want to be here. If she ever actually saw the Lost, that might change things a little. However, since she hasn't, these training sessions just seem tedious to her. Especially target practice with Ateznus, since she generally winds up missing for hours on end because, what do you know, this generation's 'greatest prodigy' is just too good for the 'lame second child' of their family to land a hit on him unless he actually let's her. That's sort of how things have been for as long as she could remember. Ateznus gets praised, and people practically worship the ground he's walked on... And people generally whisper behind her back that she was likely born just for the purpose of marrying her off. No matter what she did, someone somewhere just acted like it wasn't good enough. As a result, she'd probably spend her days laying about, occasionally leaving the house just so she could spend time with her snake, if no one pretty much dragged her out kicking and screaming. She just saw no point in any of this, since she probably really will wind up in some kind of political marriage or something, at least that's what she figured.

Mentas: Sealing

When Ateznus revealed his scar, she cringed a bit. She always hates it when he does that. "Are you sure?" Catiel asked as she got off her snake, petting it on the head as she thanked it. "I mean, arrows are not exactly known for safe for a sparring session." Although that's partially an excuse. Since not only does it rarely end well when they spar, but she really does not like hearing this story. But even if it was just an excuse, the fact of the matter is that her weapon of choice, the bow and arrow, is something that will injure him it she manages to hit him.
Her snake watched lazily from outside of the area, flicking its tongue out every once in a while to check for the scents in the air. Sensing no threats nearby, it curled itself up to take a short nap. She happened to notice this, and smiled fondly at her snake. While it's true that it was a rather lazy snake, she really did like it. It was really friendly, and when it had to act, it did a good job. She remembered when she got it, every day she'd spend hours recounting her day and it patiently listened. Basically, it was both a close companion and a scaly diary to her, with extra emphasis on the former.

Mentas: Sealing

"Training," she sighed. Absent-mindedly, she scratched the side of her snake's head, a just as huge serpent with the coloration of a Ribbon Snake, black with streaks of green running down its length. It flicked its tongue in appreciation, slithering along behind the older elf's snake. "It's just that it gets really boring out here, Ateznus." Slouching slightly, she stared out at the desert-forest. "I mean... Hardly anything interesting actually happens out here." She was three years younger then Ateznus, and it definitely showed with how she was acting. She really hates these training sessions, especially with him. Whenever they're out here, he always runs her ragged. And by the time they get back, she just wants to go to bed and flop on top of the covers and pass out. As it is, she's still tired from yesterday since she didn't get much sleep last night.

Mentas: Sealing

Groaning, the silvery-white-haired girl slouched on her mount. "This is boring, and it's hot, and I think my butt's gluing itself to the my snake's back," she complained loudly. She was an elven girl, which was obvious due to her pointy ears and somewhat pale skin despite the fact they're living in a desert. Granted, the desert was once a forest, which got buried under a ton of sand, and the trees were tall enough to still tower over everything despite the many miles of sand underfoot, but it was still a desert. And it was blazing hot, even though the sun was a glowy ice crystal in the sky... This world is odd indeed. And that's not even taking into account the fact that elves apparently ride on giant snakes here. Frowning, she started playing with her hair, tied back into a mid-back-length ponytail, her violet eyes darting about. As for what she was wearing, well it was essentially a green tunic that extended far enough past her hips to count as a mini-dress, a pair of tan pants, light boots designed to make it easier to walk around in the desert, and of course there's the black hair-tie in a visible knot. Hanging from her back was a backpack, a bow and quiver full of arrows slung over her shoulder. This girl was Catiel of the elves.

Mentas: Sealing

Well, here we go.