Lore: Behind Stone Walls

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:44 pm

Neko screamed above the roar of the growing fire as she watched, horrified, Laya jump out the window. Thank the gods it was only a one story building. But as she ran to Laya's side she realized Laya was not moving.

"Laya!" she screamed, getting no response from the girl. Neko began to panic. Was she dead? No, she couldn't be! Kratos was coming up behind her and together, they lifted Laya off the ground and they retreated back to the road where Adonis and Telanis were, neither had yet realized what happened to Telanis.

"She's not dead." Kratos breathed in relief.

"Thank the gods." Neko cried happily. Kratos was aware of the danger they were in standing out in the open, they needed to get out of here quick before more trouble came.

"We need to move quick out of here. Where's Telanis?"

Post by **Emora Deen** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:33 pm

Laya blinked her eyes and groaned, raising her head to dizzily notice she was being carried. She remembered her kimono open and she fumbled with it, though she didn't know if she was doing any good. She didn't even know who was carrying her. They were blurry. She groaned and moved, trying to kick her way free.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:23 pm

Adonis peered through the smoke, trying to make out what was happening. He could feel pain and anger inside. Technically, he had what he'd come for. Telanis lay still at his feet. But something kept him waiting, watching for the humans...no, for the girl to come back out.

His ears perked forward as they appeared out of the smoke, the two siblings carrying Laya toward him. He tossed his head impatiently, hearing more soldiers coming their way from nearby. As Kratos reached his side his bit onto the collar of Laya's half-open kimono and helped tug her up onto his back. He turned to Neko and nudged her with his head, urging her to mount behind Laya and hoping Kratos could carry Telanis. His brother only weighed about 80 pounds; probably they could make it back to the house, though what to do from there was a whole other problem.

He really wanted to carry Telanis to ensure his safety, but unless he trusted Kratos to protect his brother, Neko would be on foot...he wasn't sure if she was injured or not; he hadn't had time to tell.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 3:04 pm

Neko followed through to the horse's silent commands, trying to gently throw Laya on his back. Carefully, Neko mounted on behind her to hold Laya in place and steady.

"We'll get you home Laya..." she promised to her friend. Neko looked down to her brother and he nodded to her.

"Go. It's better if we split for a little while. I'll take Telanis back home a different way. Go!" he yelled when Neko hesitated to spur the horse forward. Obeying her brother's commands, Neko held on to Laya and Adonis as the horse urged forward back home.

Not taking time to watch them go, Kratos helped Telanis back to his feet and half dragged him down the alleyways he knew back to home. Hopefully, seperating like this would confuse the soldiers allowing them to escape safely.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:20 pm

Adonis ran under Neko's command, too disoriented by the excitement to really give thought to the fact he was leaving Telanis behind. He pumped his legs into the earthen street and took off in the direction from which he'd come, watching carefully for soldiers. Just in case, he sifted around through the streets a bit, taking a roundabout route until he was sure no one followed them. It probably wasn't the smartest idea to go directly back to the house, where they might be identified, but he had to see that Telanis made it back. When he got back to their property, he immediately trotted behind the house where there was more privacy, ducking into the stable with the two women. His back was slick with heat and sweat.

Telanis, meanwhile, slowly came back to his senses. His first reaction when he realized he was being carried was to spasm away from what he thought was his captor, throwing Kratos off balance as he pushed loose and landed in the dirt. He looked up and finally recognized who was carrying him, cooperating wordlessly as Kratos grabbed him again under the shoulder and half dragged him onward. THere was no time to waste, but the stunned unicorn's legs weren't the most effective to begin with.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:31 pm

Laya groaned and lifted her head up for a moment, her eyes falling on her wrist which was now turning black from a bruise around the dislocated area. "Can't... stay... well for more than... a few days." She grumbled.

Laya tried to sit up or something, not really noticing she was on the back of a horse.

"Telanis..." she muttered, wondering where he was, if he was okay... If he was safe... and untouched.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:16 pm

"He's alright, let's get that looked at." Neko said hurriedly, sliding off the horse and easing Laya to her feet. "Thank you," It was for the horse, Adonis. She regretted having no time to do what was proper to cool him off, but she had a friend to tend to.

"Kratos will be here soon with Telanis," Neko soothed Laya, walking gently, but hurriedly back into the house where her mother waited anxiously for them. Neko and her mother spoke in high tones to each other, Neko recounting what had happened and her mother scolding them all.

It wasn't long before Kratos came stummbling in, almost dropping Telanis. The siblings mother broke away from the tending's to Laya's wrist to help Kratos. meanwhile, Neko finished the binding.

"Try not to move it too much." she told her friend with a tried grin.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:14 pm

Telanis made an effort to walk by himself as they got inside, but he looked rather pathetic, as if everything he'd learned about his human form had gone out the window. Perhaps his instincts were fighting him and demanding to know why he was back here, instead of in the forest where he'd tried to go in the first place. He sternly squelched them to silence, falling into a chair and pinching his throbbing temples with his left hand. He wasn't sure to begin, but quickly remembered Laya, and the fire. His eyes widened, and his hand dropped. "Is everyone safe?" he asked hoarsely, glancing up at Kratos. Aside from the concern in his voice, there was no expression on his face, like a blank mask.

Adonis stood hidden in the stables as the humans rushed each other into the house. He saw Kratos show up with Telanis and relaxed slightly. If the idiot human had lost his brother, Adonis really would kill him.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:23 pm

Laya held her kimono closed, trying to get this piece of string she had stollen around her waist... but her dislocated wrist wouldn't cooperate to let her tie the kimono closed. She gave up the moment she saw Telanis come in and she walked up to him slowly, looking him over to make sure he was okay.

She was afraid to touch him, because she knew what it felt like to have men touch her that way. She knew that she didn't like to be touched unless it was by someone she trusted and cared for.

Telanis was a creature that probably would never trust humans again, thanks to what those people did.

She looked alright, except for her disshoveled appearance, and the cuts across her face, and hands... and other parts of her body. Her wrist was wrapped up nice and secure, thanks to Neko's good handywork. "Are you alright?" She threw her armsaround him and hugged him tightly, glad he was safe.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:55 pm

Kratos, groaning, relaxed (or tried to) on the couch while his mother beraded him. Neko, though, through all the rejoicing of being alive in one piece, slipped outside to see the horse.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:15 pm

To Telanis's own surprise, it took some effort not to shift away from Laya's embrace. He was shellshocked from his experience a few moments ago, coarse and unfamiliar emotions still fading at the edges of his consciousness, and he felt like the next thing that touched them would bring them all back. Now that he'd felt those things, they were a part of him; he could never be ignorant of them again. But he wasn't even human! Was he? He didn't feel like a human, but he didn't feel like a unicorn either.

"I'm alright," he assured quietly, gently touching her hands and sliding them off his shoulders to meet in front of his chest. His hands gently encircled her wounded wrist, and a warm glow spread into it, helping it to heal faster. If he touched his brow to the wound, the spell would be stronger but he didn't....want to. He let go of her half-healed hand carefully, not meeting her gaze.

"This town seems unsafe for us. I apologize if I have made the situation worse, but if we are to leave, I believe we should leave now," he said, his gaze meeting Kratos's eyes probingly. He was aware of Kratos's desire for revenge; would he still be bent on fighting?

Adonis raised his head as he heard the door to the house slide open.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:28 pm

Kratos' thoughts warred in his mind, and he didn't answer Telanis immediantly. When he did, he didn't utter a word but instead looked at the unicorn man with a most pathetic expression.

Neko jogged towards the stables and approached Adonis carefully. "Thanks boy, you got us home safely." she patted his neck gently. "You wanna cool off?" she inquired. It was odd, she knew she should be in the house with everyone else right now, but all she wanted to do was be with this horse. her own, selfish desire to get away from the world's problem's. Like she was once again a small child.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:41 pm

Adonis definitely did want to walk around and cool his cramping legs, but at the same time he didn't want to be spotted from the street by going in the open. He jerked his neck away from her touch, but then slowly forced it back, trying not to be mad at this human for what had happened to Telanis. If not for them, this opportunity to enlighten his brother might never have come to pass. Still, he felt tense, like he wanted to kick something. He realized with a bit of surprise that he was worried. He snorted quietly at Neko and pressed against the wall of the stable, as if his weight had just become more than he wanted to support. It wasn't a graceful position, but he figured he was a horse anyway; and maybe his dignity felt a bit more secure with the girl around. He discarded the latter theory, and yet he certainly wouldn't be caught dead slouching in front of other humans.

Telanis stared knowingly into Kratos's eyes, understanding what he saw there. For a long moment he was silent, his disapproval filling the room like an unseen pressure in the air. Finally, his chest rose slightly. "The soldiers spoke of a meeting at three, in the town square. They will discuss their strategy there. I believe all ranking soldiers will be in attendance," he said, his voice ever so calm and controlled. The meeting would begin in less than half an hour.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:44 pm

Kratos nodded mutely. He wanted revenge, to save this town, but other senses were telling him it was too late and to just escape while he could. Both seemed like the best option.

Neko sighed and pulled up and bucket of water for the horse to drink. She set it next to a tray of apples and carrot slices.

"I believe we owe you our lives." She told the horse like it had a specific interest.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:53 pm

Adonis twitched his head at the food that was set in front of him. Was she trying to appease him with food like a horse? He wasn't fond of that idea, but it seemed like there was more in the gesture. She was really thanking him. And he was truly hungry. With a proud tap of his hoof on the stall floor, he stretched his long neck toward the food and ate some of the fruit, one at a time, like a human would eat. His eyes never left her as he did so. He was intrigued by her, unable to decide how he felt about her continued presence in his stall. Remembering his human manners abruptly, he nosed the tray lightly and peered at her, implying that she should eat as well.