Advertise/Affiliate Other Forum Main Page The World Before You Play

Let Go [GoblinFae]

Started by Cheesigator, February 05, 2017, 08:43:38 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Cheesigator

Her ruby red eyes blended in quite well with the oranges and burgundies of the fall leaves on the trees and bushes. A shiver ran through her body as a gentle breeze brushed her brown hair, and she paused.

Rukiji was used to traveling off-path, wandering endlessly through forests. But the air was different here; she raised her head and sniffed, catching a stale scent that seemed to wander everywhere around here, a scent of one person. One person who had wandered through these parts not all that long ago.

She grit her teeth and tugged her cloak a little tighter around her. The winds were starting to change, and up here in the mountains that change got a little bit colder than it did on the lands below. Pretty soon this pilfered cloak wouldn't be enough and she'd be better off using her own fur to fend against the changing seasons.

Still, it struck her as odd that she detected one person's scent all around her. It wasn't a trail, like someone walking with purpose or traveling--and few people would leave the beaten path to begin with--but it was like whoever it was was wandering. Patrolling. There was a possibility that someone owned these woods--a concept that made no sense to her.

You can't own the land, the land belongs to everyone.

So she continued on.

She came across a pathway, one that she could smell that scent a little more strongly on, and out of her own curiosity, she decided to follow it and see where it led. Perhaps it might lead to a shelter, or the person in question. She wasn't sure, and she didn't really care either way--she had nothing better to do. And yet she still tread carefully, wary of traps or making too much noise, but that was normal for her. She'd learned long ago that sound could be just as deadly as a hunter's arrow, and neither were things she wished to tempt today.

Eventually, with a growling belly she came across the remains of a home. For the most part, it looked intact enough, however there was... Something off about it.

She paused, maybe ten feet from the front door, rubbernecking around to see if there was anyone in the immediate area. Her sensitive ears picked up nothing, nor did her nose. Just that same scent, and even here it was still old. Whoever it was, a man, judging by the smell of it, hadn't been here in some time.

She walked around the perimeter of the home, gazing in through the windows, brushing her fingers along the wall, observing it, trying to understand it. It was somebody's home, but she had the distinctive feeling that that somebody, or somebodies, most likely, as this was big enough to fit a quaint human family, were nowhere to be seen. It felt... Sad. Lonely.

Rukiji came back to the front door, tested it. Locked. She let out a breath. The sun was starting to set and she was still hungry. This place offered shelter from the wind, a potential promise that maybe winter this year might not be cold. She had stayed in homes before, but never for a whole season. She licked her lips, understanding yet again, as she did every winter, why a permanent residence could be so tempting for just such a reason.

She sniffed around some more and found some small twigs, brittle from the cold and dryness in the air, and set to work. It took a good hour or so before she finally got the lock open, not due to lack of skill, but rather lack of appropriate tools. Metal worked much better for this, but no matter.

The door creaked open and she stood there in the doorway, the darkness inside looming. There were other scents in here, very faint and old, but there. It smelled like a family, a family that was now gone. Judging by the look of the house, not by their own choosing. It was too strange; a perfect home, abandoned. She tentatively wandered in, saw furniture still there, bowls and eating utensils, cloth--untouched. Maintained. But there was dust, she found when she blew on a counter, watching the particles stir in the air.

This house was death.

She curled her lips, bared her teeth. No living thing was in here, so she would do further investigations later. She stripped her clothes and changed, padding back outside on all fours and nudging the door closed. She was gone maybe an hour, catching a rabbit or two, eating them and coming back with a full belly and the urge to stay out of the wind, curl up and sleep. She changed back into a human once inside, shut the door behind her and paused, standing there in the center of the living space, chilled by the air inside and still naked. She investigated the rooms, found signs that confirmed her suspicions were right. This house was death. There was nothing else useful to be had.

So she left the other rooms, doors to which had been shut, untouched, and put her clothes back on--a bandit's shirt, two sizes too big for her, a man's leather boots, and a tattered skirt she'd ripped the bottom length off that she'd stolen from a woman she'd found dead in a ditch. Such was life, such was death. She curled up in some blankets she found and settled in to sleep.

GoblinFae

Place the wood. Raise the axe. Swing the axe down. Split the wood. Now, start again. The tall, heavily-muscled man breathed deeply as he repeated the mantra in his head like a prayer as he went about his work. Anything to distract him from his thoughts was a welcome relief and so the mantra continued. He had been living rough for months now in order to escape the guilt of his past. Already, it had been weeks since the last time he had checked up on the maintenance of that place and yet still he could not bring himself to return quite yet. For three days, Segari had been putting off returning to the secluded, homely house on the mountainside in favor of splitting wood.

Now, though he was just tired. His body did not enjoy the abuse its owner was placing on it with sleepless nights on cold forest floors instead of soft, warm beds under strong handmade roofs. His next swing faltered and the handle clattered against the wood rather than the blade cracking into it. With a sigh the man wiped his brow and stretched, grimacing at the spasms of pain along his back and shoulders.

A glance towards the sky told him night was fast approaching and yet another day was passing without him fulfilling his promise to himself. 'Get it over with, man. There's no use in wasting another day on putting it off again,' he self-chastised.

Grabbing up his axe and formerly discarded jacket, Segari finally managed to trudge his way further up the mountain towards home. No, not home. It would never be home again to him, not as long as-

He fought to drown the thoughts and memories in darkness, the closer he got to the old settlement that only a few months before had been so full of love and life. Left foot forward. Right foot forward. Repeat. On and on his feet dragged him until he was standing before his door. There though a sight he did not expect made his blood turn to ice within his veins. Someone or something had broken the door's lock. 'They're back!' his mind screamed. 'Murderers! Thieves!'

Segari gripped his axe tighter, feeling the bite and grip of the old wood against his palm. A deadly calm settled over him as he pushed the door open and crept inside. If the men who had destroyed his life, tearing it into complete pieces, wanted to return to finish the job then let them. He would not go so easily.
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Cheesigator

Rukiji had never been, and probably never would be, a heavy sleeper. After all, the life she lived meant that sleeping too hard would almost certainly kill you.

She had just started to drift off into a light sleep when the sound of the doorknob turning on the front door creaked too loudly in the otherwise still house. A quiet footstep, the breathing of a human, or human-like person. Ruby red eyes opened and she froze, listening; the gentle draft of air coming in through the doorway and circulating around the room brought with it the scent of a man, the same one she had picked up on the trail and in this house earlier--this place was his. And he had, for some reason, chosen tonight of all nights to come back and check on it.

Every hair on the back of her neck raised and she silently pulled her shirt a little farther over her head, hiding her bright mess of hair as she did what she'd had plenty of time to practice over her lifetime, that was looking like a pile of rags on the floor. To look inconsequential, nothing worthy of note.

Her heart started to beat faster and she desperately tried with that iron will of hers to keep it under control; whoever this guy was, it was hard to tell if he could hear it or not. She kept her breathing to a minimum, and every breath was purposefully drawn out, slow, and almost impossibly soft. Her sharp ears were pricked for the sounds of his movement; his breathing, the shifting of his clothes, the creak of the floorboards underneath his boots as he slowly moved about the home.

Either he was paranoid, or he wasn't stupid and picked up on the unlocked front door. She was guessing it was the latter.

It felt like an eternity as she lie there, completely still, hidden in shadows and rags on the floor, waiting for him to give her an opportunity to escape.

She peeked out of her shirt just enough to see his big form starting towards that hallway where those rooms where, and she licked her lips with nervous tension. It was now or never.

Rukiji carefully and slowly slid out from her nest, maneuvering on all fours as she tentatively crawled across the floor, her steps feather-light. It was imperative that she moved quickly, before he could decide to turn back and see her halfway across the living room or something. She stuck to the shadows as best as she could, keeping a careful eye on him, until there was a point where the front door was within sight, just 8 feet or so in front of her, but a table blocked her path. It was bathed in moonlight; she could either take the shortcut, dart out into the light and make a beeline for the door, or she could take her chances with the long way and edge her way around it, trying to hide in the shadows as much as she possibly could, and hope the man didn't turn around and see her.

She decided to take her chances. Watching him carefully, she started to creep forward to go under the table and make a break for the door, but before she could, she had lost just enough of her focus within the hammering of her own heart that she didn't notice the slightly off floorboard, that let off a sudden loud creak that echoed throughout the house like a gunshot as soon as she placed her hand upon it.

GoblinFae

He passed by the living room without taking notice of it. The bedrooms were his first stop. That is where they had gone last time, the monsters. Segari had nearly made it to his intended destination when a creaking floorboard squealed in protest. Despite his large size, Segari was rather quick and agile. He barreled into the kitchen, for he had stepped on that same floorboard a thousand times over and knew its call like no other.

"Come to finish the job have you?" he roared as he attempted to maneuver himself to block the exits from the band of men he expected to find. Axe raised above his head and stance set for battle it was therefore a shock for him to find in the pale moonlight filtering in from the windows, not a hoard of murderous thieves but one lone thing. This creature was not human and as his mind tried to understand how and what this came to be in his home his guard was lowered. The axe lowered to his side and his posture slackened unconsciously as he stared awestruck ahead of him.
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Cheesigator

The sound of the too-loud floorboard made Rukiji instantly recoil; she hissed and heard the swish of wind, the rushing of quick and agile footsteps. She got to her feet, standing in a defensive stance as her bright red eyes darted this way and that, looking for some kind of escape route. All she saw were the windows, and she knew well enough by now if she tried jumping out of one of those it could be just as dangerous as facing this man head on.

For the first time now, the two of them finally got to take a good look at each other. Rukiji, a tall and slender woman who looked no more than the age of 25. Her long hair was a mess, and her ruby eyes almost seemed to eerily glow where she stood in the shadows. Her teal ears were flattened against her head and her tail held absolutely still behind her.

This man on the other hand seemed pretty tired and weary from what she could see. Even taller than she was, he was built like a bull, strong and intimidating. But she wasn't going to just let him win, Rukiji was never the type to cower in fear. However, if there was one thing she'd learned over her years, it was that perhaps she could talk her way out of this one.

"Sorry." She ground out; just from that word alone it was obvious that she wasn't used to speaking any kind of language. She struggled with the s and the y. She had a hard time smoothly connecting the syllables.

"I am sorry. Did not..." She struggled for a moment, to find the words. "Kn-know human s-still stayed... Here."

She stepped forward from the shadows, her stance still weary and defensive, but she knew that he might be more willing to listen to her if he could see her more clearly. Maybe see that she didn't look like a threat.

She had to restrain herself from still wildly looking around the room, instead forcing herself to meet his gaze head-on. If she looked for escape routes he might doubt her sincerity, even though she was only speaking the truth. The windows were her only chance if this went south, and her ears swiveled as she picked up the sounds of the wind rustling outside, locating the window closest to her and praying to whatever gods may listen that this man didn't go nuts and try to murder her with that large axe right then and there.

GoblinFae

She was definitely not a band of ruthless cutthroats out to destroy his home and take his life. If anything she was just a scared little thing looking for shelter in the night. Segari sighed and brushed his free hand tiredly over his face as if he would be able to wipe away his own weariness. He could send her right on her way yet looking at her, the tussled hair the nervous stutter, it reminded him so much of his own little ones.

No. He would not think of them. Now was not the time. Realizing that he still had said nothing, he grunted at her and shook his head. Slowly he placed the axe down against the wall in good faith and moved to light some of the lamps.

"I don't," he finally replied, his voice raw and hoarse. "You can stay the night," he decided aloud with his back to her. His shoulders were practically to his ears as his body tensed at the shadows and colors the light cast about the room and home he had abandoned. "You leave in the morning. I don't take to loitering no good-doers."

The large man turned to look at her, the candle in his hand making her red eyes glow unnaturally.  "Understood?"
,___,
[O.o]
/)__)
-"--"-


"No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us"
~ Micah Bazant ~

Spoiler
Leaderships
Tirial Province (Serendipity)

Talu Territory (Adela)

Ninja Flamingos

Guilds - Under Construction and Revamping
Blood of Ash || Cleara Verdad || The Creoptera || The Reaper's Chalice || The Runner's Society || Vigilant Shadows

Characters
Agapito Perlaceo Calogero-Marcello da Lume || Ainsley Muir || Alanna Mercer "The Lioness" || Amleah Dvorak || Ariel "Owlet" Sowa || Artorius Winterbottom || Aurora "Makani'kai" Wiater || Autumn Laurel || The Bad Barkers || Benjamin Hase || Cally Foster || Cornelia Grey || Dagrun Baarda || Derrick Elthif || Donovan Cabello || Eireann Lehr || Elmira Sassafrass || Emma Fiore || Emyr Kasabian || Ferra Bestley || Fintan Kfir || Gilroy Bleddyn || Hanalei Keets || Hilarius Winterbottom || Imogene Khale || Incana Winged Blaze || Inteus Wapapow || Iorwerth/Ylli || Ithel Conlaoch || Justina Allons || Jypsei Danzer || Kailee Glint || Kaliko || Keegan Phillips || Kendall Wendle || Kenneth Kent || Kesrel Torv || Kharn Segal || Kirsikka Solvi || Ladybird "Petal" Hornwort || Lassassasya Ashaugh Seocss || Logan "Kotori" || Lorcan Dempsey || Malakai || Margot Lemaire || Maverick Alinari || Morgan Loone || Naomi Kita || Navarre Esken || Ocarern Farwind || Oddmund Greatdrool || Oliver Cabello || Pannoowau || Peregrine Liebling || Primrose Dragoslav || Pyske Daas || Qaletaqa || Quilla Anobe || Rene Zephra || Riley "Minnow" Bellerose || Ro'or Dvorak || Rosie || Rowan Alvar || Rylan Silvanus || Segari "Errum" Ggorf || Shamira Kashi || Solanacae || Sor Avi || Squeaker || Starbright Skye ||  Tiraris Silverd'art || Tighearnán High Eoforwine || Theodore Archer || Tyler Brice || Una Ornell || Vanora Partholon || Waman Pertinacity Sewati || Weilen Brunbek || Wilbur "Wilby" Smalls || Yalwa al-Kahinah || Yasmine Fairchild || Yura Elek || Zhirai Ver || Zurna Nali
[close]

Cheesigator

There was a good, long, and painful period of silence between when Rukiji finished mutilating the Common language and when the big guy finally decided to reply. She could only stand there, staring at him, heart beating wildly in the base of her throat as she waited for a response that would tell her whether or not she was safe to survive another night.

When he did finally reply, it seemed like his exhaustion won him over. The axe was set down, though the tension remained in his stiff shoulders and thus it remained in Rukiji's. He didn't trust her, and she didn't trust him. Fair and simple.

When he told her she could stay her ears pricked up and she blinked a bit owlishly. He spoke with his back to her, which she felt was stupid on his part, but she eased up from her defensive stance only slightly. When their eyes met again she stood on alert, ears pricked right up and focused on him.

Understood?

She nodded. It was easier than saying 'Yes.'

With the lights flickering over the corpses of abandoned furniture and old housewares, she saw the home more clearly in its saddened state. He said he didn't live here, so she wondered if he was a guard, or if perhaps this had been his home at one point?

Well, it didn't matter to her either way.

Warily she stayed far away from him, stepping around the perimeter of the room to find the nest she'd made earlier, eyes never leaving him all the while even as she settled into her spot of blankets. She rarely blinked, watching him like a hawk as if she expected him to change his mind at a moment's notice--for all she knew, he might. But having a place to stay for the night would be nice, and she could handle herself enough in a scrap that she figured it might, might be worth taking the chance.

Tags: